I agree with jaegerla, the chameleon was a great addition to this well developed film. I was a big fan of Rapunzel in this film, making lemonade out of the huge lemon of never being able to leave her tower. She read, painted, did chores, was a very hard-working girl. And another aspect of this film I found fascinating was the fact that she actually loved the old shrew that imprisoned her, because I always assumed from the fairytale versions that there was no love between Rapunzel and the old shrew. It was also clever of Disney to make her the long lost princess and the man who ends up finding her, a poor thief whom she falls in love with. I was also amused by the attitude of this young man, he was rather silly and arrogant and tried to charm the much too smart Rapunzel. This film was a lot of fun, from beginning to end, made more so with the addition of the chameleon and the imperial horse, who goes to great lengths to track down the thief. This is a film that will be enjoyed by all ages.

I have to admit that this wasn't that bad of a film. I was hoping to like it more than I did, but that is because I think it is marketed as a comedy, and I would consider it more of a serious film with some humor throughout. I personally don't like when they market films a certain way, but the film itself has a completely different tone. I think this happens a lot with dramedies, a film is marketed as a comedy, but is much more a dramatic film, such as the Bill Murray film Lost in Translation.
**Spoiler Alert**
This film is about Reese Witherspoon's character dealing with the fact that she no longer has a softball career and is not positive of the direction she's moving in. She dates Owen Wilson, a wealthy insensitive baseball player who falls in love with her, and Paul Rudd, a man who is about to be indicted for fraud that his father Jack Nicholson, is responsible for. Overall, this film does have some comedic moments and some touching ones, but because of my lack of preparation to watch such a serious film, I've rated it 3.5 stars (see? I'm being nice). Unless you are looking for a dramedy to watch and enjoy the actors in this film, this one can be missed. (P.S. Can someone please explain the appeal of Paul Rudd? I have liked some films he's been in, but I can't stand when they cast him as a whiny character, which if you ask me, frequently happens.)

I finally got around to watching this movie a few nights ago and have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. I admit to wanting to have seen it since trailers of the film were released and an OPI nail polish line inspired by the film was launched. (The polishes are great, especially the shimmers.) Anyways, after time, I had heard some not so great reviews and became less eager to watch the film. If you enjoy dancing, music, flash and flair, and burlesque shows (which I always have) then you don't want to miss this film. The story itself is familiar and used; girl works as a waitress in a small town, has big aspirations to be a "star," finally makes her way into a club when she gets a chance, has two choose between two guys, and helps the club owner save the club from going under. However, the singing and dancing is fresh and fun, and the small town girl is Christina Aguilera, the two guys she has to choose between are Cam Gigandet and Eric Dane, and the club owners are Cher and Peter Gallagher (plus her stage manager Stanley Tucci). The cast is fantastic, and the music, dance, and costumes will win almost everyone over. Also, it was interesting to see Kristen Bell as the bad girl in a film for once. This film is definitely one you should check out.

A Matter of Class was originally published in 2009. It was with the publication of the large print version in March of this year, that I noticed this novella. Mary Balogh, one of regency romance’s best writers brings us the story of Mr. Reginald Mason and Lady Annabelle Ashton forced into marriage by her disgrace and his father’s fortune. Growing up, Reginald was always aware of his father’s desire to turn him into a gentleman and have him marry into a title. After he spends lavishly on carriages, clothes, and gambling clubs, Mr. Mason gives his son a choice, either marry Annabelle Ashton or be cut off without a penny. Lady Annabelle Ashton grew up knowing she was expected to marry nobility to strengthen her station. But after her father’s loss of fortune and the courtship of a noble she has no interest in, Annabelle runs away with a servant, to live the way she always intended, by her own rules. After she is caught and returned home, Annabelle has a choice, to either marry Mr. Mason or become a servant in a noble’s home.

As all descriptions of this book state, there is a twist, but anyone who reads frequently will figure out the plot in the first thirty pages. It is a very charming book, very well done, as all Balogh’s books are. If you enjoy it you may try reading some of her other works, the Simply Series, the Slightly Series, the Huxtable Series, and my favorites No Man’s Mistress and More Than a Mistress. Also, there is a four disc unabridged audiobook of A Matter of Class. Enjoy!

Linger is the second book of the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy. Our story begins about three months or so after Shiver (the previous book) ends. As with Shiver, Linger continues telling the tale from the viewpoints of Sam and Grace, and includes the additional perspectives of Isabel and Cole. Sam is now constantly in human form, but wakes everyday with the suspicion that he could shift and become a wolf again. As Sam feels more confident in his human form, he begins to actually wonder about his future and the responsibilities he has to the wolves. Grace, who is finally confident Sam is now a human, realizes that something inside her is urging her body to change and shift. Grace tries her best to keep her symptoms that start out as simple headaches, to herself, but is certain that whatever change that is taking place inside her, is fatal. Isabel worries about Grace, and what will happen to the wolves that have been lurking around the woods near her house, with her gun-toting anti-wolf father in residence. Cole, a new wolf, chosen by Beck (Sam’s foster father) keeps shifting back and forth between wolf and human forms. A few of these times Cole shifts by Isabel’s house. Isabel finds herself drawn to Cole, because he seems to be having the same problems she is, trying to deal with a reality that is all too real. Isabel still struggles with the death of her brother. Eventually Grace takes a turn for the worse and Isabel, Cole and Sam have to find a solution to save Grace’s life. (I’m not saying any more about plot, because I don’t want to reveal too much.) Linger started a little bit slow for me, partly because I was having trouble remembering the finer details from its predecessor, Shiver, and partly because I feel like the book jacket description wasn’t very forthcoming of what to expect in this book. At about half way through, major plots began to emerge and storylines became more clear/exciting/interesting. I especially found the addition of Cole helpful in moving this book along. I was also curious and fascinated by the dynamic between Cole and Isabel. They were a torn, broken version of Grace and Sam, and the dynamic between them was the first tangent element I grasped onto. I can’t wait to read Forever, the third and final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy.