Friday Film Night - 27 Dresses

This Friday at The Pink Heart Society editor Trish Wylie talks to us about a film that brightened up her week no end ~ 27 Dresses...

Always A Bridesmaid…Never A Bride…

To me, this is exactly the kind of film The Pink Heart Society’s Friday Film Night is all about. It’s unashamedly a chick-flick/Rom-Com/Girls night out movie and has the kind of ingredients I love most when taking a break mid-book and not needing anything that’s gonna distract me too much from the people who are already taking up so much space inside my head. So what’s it all about?

Well first up there are two things you should know about Jane – the heroine in our film played by Katherine Heigl of Grey’s Anatomy fame; one - she's never says no to her friends and two - she's in love with her boss.

The film starts with her reminiscing about the first wedding she remembers helping at. It was also the first one she’d been to without her mother and as the eldest of two girls she has taken on the role of Mom after her mother’s passing. The bride has a crisis when she rips the back of her dress and our Jane, even at such an early age, ingeniously uses her younger sisters hair ribbon to save the day and is invited to carry the bride’s train as a thank you. Hence a passion for weddings is born.

We then see Jane in a wedding dress. Oh good we think. She’s about to get her own big day. But alas no – she’s the same size as the bride and she’s taking some of the stress out of the wedding morning by wearing it during the last fitting before she changes into her bridesmaid dress and rushes across town to meet the real bride.

But she’s not a bridesmaid at just the one wedding that day – oh no – she’s at TWO. How does she do this? Well by running back and forth between the two weddings, that’s how. But she’s been spotted by our hero – James Marsden of X-Men and Enchanted fame (where incidentally he NEVER gets the girl). As Kevin, he’s a reporter there to cover one of the weddings Jane is at and he can’t help but notice how she keeps looking at her watch and then disappears at regular intervals. When he sees her getting in and out of a cab outside he’s intrigued…

At the end of the night, Jane is at the first wedding getting ready to catch the bouquet which is headed straight for her when she’s tackled by some over-enthusiastic girls and knocked unconscious (having been a bridesmaid three times I can tell you that bouquet toss can be a wrestling match!). When she wakes up, Kevin is leaning over her and helps her up – she’s still dizzy – so he offers to accompany her home. On the way he comments on her two-wedding night and foolishly mentions his opinion about the ludicrousness of the ceremony - this sparks a lively debate about weddings and marriage which leaves Kevin charmed and Jane annoyed; How very refreshing she comments - A man who doesn’t believe in marriage! But she leaves her day planner in the cab and when Kevin discovers she’s been in seven weddings that year he smells a story. A story that might be big enough to get him out of what he calls the "taffeta ghetto."

It’s no surprise to learn Kevin is a cynic when it comes to love and marriage:

Kevin: Love is patient, love is kind, love is slowly going out of your mind…

Which means he’s pretty much the opposite of Jane, who can’t stay away from them and secretly yearns for one of her own while Kevin hates everything about his current assignments and can’t wait to write *real* stories for the paper. He’s attracted to Jane, but as we soon find out Jane is in love with her boss George (the gorgeous Ed Burns who pretty much treats her like she’s invisible) so she’s not interested. However, what Jane doesn’t realize is that Kevin writes under a pseudonym and as Malcolm Doyle he’s her favorite writer in the weddings section of the newspaper. She even collects his articles on weddings and engagements thinking how romantic and lovely they all are and how he must have the same appreciation of the events that she does!

Kevin sends Jane flowers to work - she mistakenly thinks they’re from her boss. So when she’s at an engagement party later that night she plucks up the courage to approach him after some encouragement from her best friend;

Casey: (after Jane turns down a drink offer from George her boss) He asks if you want a drink. You smile and say, 'Vodka soda.' If you already have a drink, you down it. Then there's some flirting, some interoffice sex, an accidental pregnancy, a shot gun wedding, and a life of bliss. How many times do we have to go over this?

Unfortunately Jane’s sister is in town, and when George meets Tess, its love at first sight. Enter Kevin to ask if Jane got his flowers and to return her planner with a jibe about her full-time wedding duties… probably not the best time to ask her for a drink…Especially not when she has to watch George and Tess getting on so well.

When Jane opens her planner in work the next day and sees that Kevin has written his name on every Saturday along with taking up a full page with his phone number she calls him and tells him to leave her alone, but he renews the offer for drinks saying if she ever wanted to hang out with someone who didn't need her to "take them to a fitting or a cake tasting" he would be available.

Jane: Can you please find somebody else to be creepy with?

Frankly he’s so cocky and confident and funny at this point that I’M falling for him.

After accidentally having to bear witness to the man she loves proposing to her sister, Jane finally agrees to meet Kevin at a bar. She explains her being upset as having to do with the anticipation of being dumped on by her sister to work out all of the wedding details and Kevin decides to help her practice saying NO.

Kevin: Jane, can I have $50?

Jane: No.

Kevin: (asks more firmly) Jane, can I have $50?

Jane : No.

Kevin : (gently takes her hand and softens his voice] Jane, I REALLY need $50, can I have the $50?

Jane : (sounding less convinced) ... No?

Kevin : See? That was good! (He then grabs Jane's drink) Jane, can I have your drink?

Jane : Sure. (His look says it all)

Poor Jane does of course get roped into her sister’s wedding plans, whirlwind that they are. And when she discovers that Tess is stealing all the dreams she had for her own wedding, groom included, she just feels worse and worse. To add to it all, who is covering the wedding celebrations but Malcolm Doyle aka Kevin! Jane says he lied to her. Kevin says he didn’t. Tess tells Kevin he’s Jane’s hero…

Jane: I feel like I just found out my favorite love song was written about a sandwich.

One of the funniest scenes for me was when Kevin came to Jane’s apartment insisting he needed to talk to all of the bride's friends and family for the article. While asking questions into a recorder he spies her closet full of Bridesmaids dresses:

Kevin: Wait, what are those?

Jane: Nothing.

Kevin: Are those?

Jane: NO.

Kevin: Are they bridesmaid dresses?

Jane: This is none of your business!

Kevin: Ohhh... good God. What, you kept them all? You have a whole closet full, why?

Jane: I have a lot of friends and I like to keep them.

Kevin: Right. Well, that makes complete sense because they're... beautiful.

Jane: Some of them are not that bad.

Kevin: Not that bad? I'd like to see one of them thats not that bad.

This leads to a kind of impromptu fashion show that brought back entirely too many memories for me and the good friend I’d brought with me to see the film. We’re both terminal bridesmaid’s and we know only too well the angst involved. But oh-my did we feel better after seeing some of Jane’s dresses:

Kevin: (When Jane pulls out a loud-looking Gone With The Wind dress) What is that?

Jane: Theme wedding!

Kevin: What was the theme? Humiliation?

It really is a very funny scene. And when Kevin, who has been surreptitiously photographing her in each and every one counts the photos and discovers - guess how many? He asks her why she does it. It’s a turning point. We category romance readers love them don’t we?

Kevin: You'd rather focus on other people's Kodak moments than make memories of your own!

This then leads us to Kevin attempting to postpone the story he has pre-sold to his editor while his friendship with Jane blossoms. We find out Kevin has his own reasons for being so cynical (I’m in love by now) – he discovers Jane is in love with George (and confronts her in a scene you just KNOW ups the tension between them) and then they end up stranded in the middle of nowhere when Jane loses control of her car mid-argument. So they do what all sensible people do and end up in a bar having a few drinks while Jane drowns her sorrows. She asks him about a specific wedding that he had written about where the ceremony was held on the anniversary of the parents' deaths and the brother was flown in from Afghanistan for it. Kevin claims he doesn't remember it and Jane says:

Jane: I think you should just admit that you're a big softy. That this whole cynical thing is just an act so that you can seem wounded, and mysterious, and sexy.
Kevin: Woah, woah, woah. What was the last one?
Jane: What?
Kevin: Did you say sexy?
Jane: What?
Kevin: Do you think I'm sexy?
Jane: No.
Kevin: Its OK if you do.
Jane: I don't.

What he does admit is that his favorite part of weddings is watching the groom's face while the bride comes down the aisle, which Jane had earlier recounted to George as her favorite part… sigh… They end up so drunk they’re singing on the bar with the rest of the patrons cheering them on and then, at the end of the song, when Kevin turns to help Jane off of the bar he admits that he cried like a baby at the wedding she mentioned and they kiss. Double sigh. And it leads to a night together in her car:

Jane: I never do anything like this.

Kevin: I know.

Jane: You do?

Kevin: Yes, you kept repeating that over and over last night - I never do anything like this... I *never* do anything like this... I never do *anything* like this...

Of course it’s not gonna end while they’re happy is it? Kevin’s article on Jane is published early without his knowledge, she feels hurt, betrayed and humiliated – she slaps him. And then she goes on to take how she feels out on the rest of the world, long over-due yes – but it leaves her feeling worse than before.

Jane's Aunt: Must be so hard to watch your younger sister get married before you.
Jane: Yes. Then I remember that I still get to have hot hate sex with random strangers and I feel SO much better!

I really did love this film. I loved that there was plenty there to keep the scenes rolling on, I loved that there was character development in both the hero and heroine, I absolutely LOVED the humor. And yes, it’s already on my Amazon wishlist for when it comes out on DVD here in the UK. It’ll go right on my keeper shelf for times when I need a pick me up or when the girls come round for a night in.

And for all those reasons and the general yumminess that was James Marsden in this film I give it a warm and fuzzy rating of nine out of ten. It’s my kind of romantic comedy!

H's & K's Trish

Trish has two books out this month - the first of which is her Presents release in the USA & Canada Her Bedroom Surrender - a favorite of Trish's that was previously released as Breathless! And that Trish is chuffed to bits has finaled in the Short Contemporary Category of The Booksellers Best Award!

To second is of course Gabe's book Claimed By The Billionaire Bad Boy which is out in Modern Heat in the UK and Ireland.

To find out more you can visit her Website or Her Blog

Thursday Talk-Time - The Best of Friends and Books

A big welcome to Shirley Jump, who joins us to talk about the joys of mixing business AND pleasure.....

They say you should never mix friends and business. It’s supposed to be bad on all ends. So many things can go wrong, etc. Yeah, well, I’m not one of those people who listens to those dire warnings, especially when I have a cool book idea and want to share it with someone.
That’s how the idea for the Wedding Planners came about (Myrna Mackenzie’s book, #2, The Heir’s Convenient Wife, is out now, Melissa McClone’s, SOS, Marry Me!, #3, is due out next month, and you can still order mine, Sweetheart Lost and Found, book #1, on Amazon, etc. Keep visiting our blog to keep up with characters and release dates!). I had a cool book idea, a cool group of friends I wanted to work with, we decided to mix the two together…and voila! We had a six-book series about friends working together in the wedding planning business. It would have been even more fun if we all lived nearby (or heck, even on the same continent!), but communicating and brainstorming via e-mail worked out fine, too, and when a bunch of us met up at RWA last year, we had a fabulous time (okay, the margaritas made it a real party, LOL).

Seriously, though. This business is hard enough. Publishing is a business that batters your ego, slams it against the ropes like a really angry WWE wrestler, then stomps on you some more just to make sure you got the message. Then, just as you’re getting up again, hey, one more time against the ropes. It’s a tough industry, not for the faint of heart (and apparently, for a lot of the “greats,” it wasn’t for the sober, either, but that’s a column for another day, LOL. Me, I have kids to drive to school in the morning. None of that Hemingway lifestyle for me).

Having friends in the industry makes a huge difference. Friends who understand, who speak writer. And even better, friends who can write with you, brainstorm a book with you…it’s as invaluable as one of those MasterCard commercials. I’ve had a long time critique partner (Janet Dean, whose first book with Love Inspired Historicals, Courting Miss Adelaide, is out this September), and she’s been a huge source of support and help.

But when I embarked on this six-woman project for the Wedding Planners, I had no idea that bonding and brainstorming with Myrna, Melissa, Linda, Susan and Melissa would be such an enriching and rewarding experience. Not just for the books themselves, because I think having six minds created really rich books, but for me. Those ladies were, and still are, some of my best writing friends.

And if we’re ever in the same continent--and the same state--I’ll treat them to some margaritas and tell them so. With the words I can’t always seem to get on the page. ;-)

Shirley's contribution to the Wedding Planners series got four stars from Romantic Times, which called it "...smart, funny and quite moving".

Writers' Wednesday - The Write Place

Our Trish has gone missing somewhere between Lincoln, where we were on a Mills & Boon Panel, and Middlesborough. Since it is possible she can't get an internet connection and has lost her mobile I'm not going to worry about her until Thursday night. If she isn't back in Ireland then it'll mean I have to do 'my' Film on Friday post.

So, it's me, Natasha. Again.

Actually, I think, this may well be the start of a series because creating the perfect creative space is a knotty writers' problem. You know how you feel absolutely certain you would be a better parent and your life completely joyous if only your house had more storage? Weeeell, I firmly believe I would be a better/more prolific author if I only had the perfect place to work.

Currently I work in a cupboard. Sometimes. Other times I am prized from the cupboard so the rest of my family can use my internet connection. And then, and this is the bit that really riles me, they shoooooosh my things out of the way. Oh and steal my pens. Hang on, I'll show you.

That's the result of offspring one doing his history homework and is how I found my desk this morning. Empty glass, headphones, laptop - NOT MINE. My things have been piled up in the corner.

As a direct consequence of this I am laying plans to claim the 'music room'. At the moment it has a piano - which will have to stay but then that'll be good because it'll prove to the tax man it's not a solely-used-for-business room. It has a sofabed - which is bad because it's less than a year old and the frame has buckled. (Don't buy from ScS. Here in the UK, after six months it becomes your responsibility to prove the goods were faulty as opposed to misused.) I may well get round to pursuing that but for the moment it makes me cross just looking at it.

That aside, it's all open to development.

I have found 'my' dream.

Want a peak at Anthony Horowitz's study? He's the author of the Alex Rider books and the TV series 'Foyles War'.


I would KILL for that view.

Obviously bookshelves are vital. His are gorgeous, aren't they, but surprisingly empty! I've done some research on the bookshelf market and, whilst I'm certain I've not hit upon my idea of perfection yet, here are some ideas you might like to consider for your own space.

This is the Equation Bookshelf and it's designed by Marcos Breder.

The idea is that you can divide things in order of priority. So, the most important can be stored between the parentheses.

Quirky but not big enough for me.

These are the Folding Bookshelves. They are made of cherry wood and, apparently, possess 'the lightness of rice paper'. They can be laid down, stood up, turned 90 degrees and be used vertically or horizontally. Only I'd just have them full and they'd stay like that which rather makes them pointless.

This is the Quad Bookcase which is designed to store CDs, DVDs, files and books. It's also designed to fit together to make a much larger piece of furniture. 'Asymmetry', as the designers do say, 'in perfect balance'.

Personally, I think it looks like it'll crumple my books so gets the thumbs down.

This is designed by Da-Euan Song - a man who clearly doesn't have many books because you really can't get much on the Shelf, can you?

Latvian designer, Stanislav Katz, designed the Shelves with a Bench.

For me, it's a no. I think it looks incredibly uncomfortable and there's not so much room for the books.

The search goes on ........



Much love
Natasha



Natasha's latest Harlequin Romance Wanted: White Wedding is released in NA and the UK this month.

Romantic Times Magazine says: 'Natasha Oakley's Wanted: White Wedding (4.5) has its share of deeply touching moments, but what makes it stand out are the humor and the wonderful characters.'

You can find out more about it on her website and you can hear her moan about her sheikhs and other assorted disasters by visiting her blog.

Her contribution to the Niroli series, 'The Tycoon's Princess Bride', is available here and won the Romantic Times Magazine Best Presents of 2007 and is nominated for a RITA®.

'Crowned: An Ordinary Girl' has finalled in the National Readers' Choice Awards.

Temptation Tuesday - A Touch of Elegance

This week our regular columnist Annie West looks at the fun of dressing up for an extra special occasion. For real or maybe just within the pages of a book!

I saw this picture of Clive Owen and thought YES! It fits exactly the idea for this blog: the joys of injecting a little elegance into our busy lives. And if Mr Owen doesn’t make elegance look enticing I’m not sure who could.

OK, let’s take a head count. How many of us sit down to write at the computer while wearing silks and diamonds? How many recline on Italian leather to read the romance they’ve bought, while wearing elegant couture clothing? Anyone.....?

An interviewer once asked if I got ‘frocked up’ in evening wear and jewellery to write scenes of beautiful people in luxurious surroundings. The idea was that by dressing the part I’d feel I was really there. Sadly I had to disappoint and tell him about that little thing called a writer’s imagination. Apart from the cost aspect, the idea of wearing Manolo Blahnik spike heels or something similar while typing just doesn’t work for me.

One of the joys of writing is that you can get up in the morning and start work while still in PJs. The only draw back is when you get carried away, hours pass and you’re so absorbed you lose track of time till a visitor arrives, stunned to see you in fluffy slippers when it’s nearly lunchtime! No, no, it wasn’t me, but still...

It doesn’t matter what I’m wearing, I can still inject a little elegance into my life as I write. Since I write for Harlequin Mills and Boon Modern/Sexy/Presents (depending on what country you’re in) part of my brief is to include glamour into the world my characters inhabit. As a result I pay attention when I see TV shows or magazine articles about beautiful people looking suave, sexy and fabulous. When I’m in a big city I window shop at the exclusive boutiques, knowing I’m not buying for myself, but thinking about what I might “purchase” for my heroine. World renowned jewellery stores take on a whole new dimension when you’re on the hunt for something that will bring a scene to life in your head. In my current release the hero owns a fine jewellery house, creating exclusive pieces fit for royalty (if they can afford it), so I felt it my duty to get a feel for his world...

However, this isn’t just about researching a story. I think there’s something positive we get out of making that extra effort for a special occasion. When I’m reading there are times when I love a little elegance in my fantasy world. Perhaps that’s part of the reason why stories with royal themes or wealthy tycoons do so well.

Occasionally, very occasionally, I get the chance to dress up. I put on the glad rags and go out to celebrate a special occasion. Usually it’s with friends to mark a special event, sometimes with fellow writers and, occasionally, it’s just me with my husband. Maybe it’s the change from my everyday world of washing to do, errands to run, homework, chores, work, and so on, but (after the initial panic of wondering if I’ve got anything to wear!) I love getting dressed up. It makes me feel special. It’s like a holiday from the daily routine. Even if it isn't silks and pearls, but a candlelit dinner on a fold up table with the one you love, I do think it’s good for the soul to add a touch of elegance occasionally.

What about you? Do you like dressing up for formal occasions? Or do you prefer to leave that world to the books you read? Do you have a favourite elegant outfit or piece of jewellery that always makes you feel special?


Annie's current books gave her plenty of excuses to search out elegant clothes and jewellery for her heroines. She also got to attend (er, create) some very exclusive formal occasions. The fashions pictured above helped provide a little inspiration. Her current release The Greek Tycoon's Unexpected Wife is on sale this month in North America.

The Billionaire's Bought Mistress, is out

now in the UK in the anthology Mills and Boon Presents... You can read excerpts of both on her website.

Male on Monday - Ioan Gruffudd

This week at the Pink Heart Society our Natasha brings us a Welshman ...

Having spent some weeks singing the praises of the English hero I thought it was time I redressed the balance a little and moved the focus to another bit of my heritage. I wandered over to Scotland for Burns Night so this week I reckon it's time I showed you the charms of a Welshman.

Ioan Gruffudd (which, should you meet him, you pronounce YO-an GRIFF-ith) was born 6 October 1973 in the village of Llwydcoed near the town of Aberdare, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, Mid Glamorgan, South Wales. It's perhaps easier to remember he grew up in Cardiff!

And if you're struggling with the name I'm afraid you are just going to have to work at it as he has no plans to change it.

'I'm determined not to lose my name. It's who I am. It has neither aided my progress nor hampered it. It's just who I am. My character. My make-up. My culture and heritage is a very rich one. So what if it's difficult for people to pronounce? We all learned how to say Schwarzenegger.'

His first language is Welsh and Ioan began his acting career in Welsh television. Between 1987 and 1994 he was in the soap opera 'Pobol y Cwm'. Then, at 18, he went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and in 1996 he played Jeremy Poldark in 'Poldark' on TV. Anyone else seen the original series???????

1997 he played Oscar Wilde's lover John Gray in 'Wilde' and Officer Lowe in 'Titanic'. Between 1998 and 2003 he's been Horatio Hornblower in the TV series 'Hornblower'.

Hornblower aside, you might also have seen him as Pip in the BBC production of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' (1999) and Philip Bosinney in ITV's adaptation of 'The Forsyte Saga' (2002).

Movie-wise he starred in '102 Dalmatians' (2000), 'Black Hawk Down' (2001), 'King Arthur' (2004), 'Fantastic Four' (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer' (2007) and as William Wilberforce in 'Amazing Grace' (2007).

2007 was a busy year as he also married his long-term girlfriend, Alice Evans. They met on the set of '102 Dalmations' and married on 14th September in Mexico. (And here's a bit of movie nonsense. Alice Evans stars in one of my Film on Friday recommendations, 'The Abduction Club', as does one of Ioan's close friends, fellow Welshman, Matthew Rhys. They shared a flat for something like eight years. You might know him from 'Brothers and Sisters'. All evidence would suggest Matthew isn't gay in real life, btw.)

Ioan and Alice now live in Los Angeles, California, and plan on staying.

'I had lived in London for 12 years and to be honest with you I haven't missed Wales – I've hardly missed London, I love Los Angeles that much. When you live here and get to know the place, it's just wonderful, such an easy way of life. I'm surprised that the place has offered me so much pleasure and I really enjoy it.'

Humph!!!! I still miss living in Central London and I left almost 17 years ago now. Grief.

This is a kind of hero quote:
'As long as you understand that you find happiness through family, friends and love, then money is just a nice bonus.'

For Trish, I have to tell you he's 5ft 11" which may not be enough.

Oh and he plays the oboe really very well.

So, what do you think?

Much love
Natasha

Natasha's latest Harlequin Romance Wanted: White Wedding is released in NA and the UK this month.

Romantic Times Magazine says: 'Natasha Oakley's Wanted: White Wedding (4.5) has its share of deeply touching moments, but what makes it stand out are the humor and the wonderful characters.'

You can find out more about it on her website and you can hear her moan about her sheikhs and other assorted disasters by visiting her blog.

Her contribution to the Niroli series, 'The Tycoon's Princess Bride', is available here and won the Romantic Times Magazine Best Presents of 2007 and is nominated for a RITA®.

'Crowned: An Ordinary Girl' has finalled in the National Readers' Choice Awards.

Weekend Wind-Down - Story Ideas with Kathleen O'Reilly

The PHS welcomes Harlequin BLAZE author Kathleen O'Reilly this Saturday with the answer to that common question:

Where Do You Get Your Ideas??????

People ask me where I get my story ideas, and I always tell the same answer. The New York Post. For those of you not familiar with the paper, it’s a combination of news, gossip, yellow journalism (sometimes) and actually pretty good investigative features. If there’s anything going on in New York that involves a) payola b) sex c) fame or notoriety or d) rich people, the New York Post is going to write about it first.

Today’s installment talked about the CNN anchor caught in Central Park with his pants down. Another story told how a man paid $175,100 at a charity auction for a Red Sox jersey that was buried in concrete at the bottom of Yankee Stadium. And then there’s the tale of how the City Council is paying out to non-profits that don’t exist -- stirring speculation of a money dodge to funnel city dollars into people’s profits (the investigation is ongoing). That’s only one day, Saturday, a traditional slow news day, and doesn’t even include Page Six, where all the gossip that’s not fit for print goes.

The cornerstone of the Post’s popularity is the headlines. I would love to write headlines for the New York Post, sitting around in the office all day throwing out punny humor. Some past classics include:

It’s enough to make your head explode (and probably make the Post in the process).

The paper has a surprising respectable history, considering its tabloid style. It’s over 200 years old, founded in 1801 by Alexander Hamilton. However, it’s been the source of many, many pot-shots since Rupert Murdoch took the helm in 1976 because there *might* have been times when they got caught tilting the truth. Since I use it as a creativity resource, rather than a source of factual data, I’m okay with that.

Reading the Post is a very guilty pleasure, practiced daily by nearly three quarters of a million New Yorkers, including me. Every morning, my head is filled with new and deliciously scandalous ideas, and sometimes it’s a story that I can write, and sometime it’s a little factoid that worms it’s to the back of my brain until I find a place where I can use it. I love the Post. I didn’t intend to keep my subscription when we first moved to New York (we got a free trial), but it was too tempting. When I sit down to breakfast, those scintillating pages call to me and it never fails to stir the creative juices. Real life is SO much stranger than fiction.

If you’re looking for story ideas, or simply an entertaining way to pass the time, I highly recommend it: http://www.nypost.com/

Kathleen’s latest book, Nightcap, was inspired by several different New York Post stories. The names have been changed to protect the innocent, and all characters are fictionalized, and not based on anything other than what Kathleen thinks would be fun.

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And some lovely news to add! A brand new heroine has entered our midst. Our very own Pink Heart Society editor, Jenna Bayley-Burke has very quietly sneaked off and had a bouncing baby girl! And as if that wasn't enough incentive for you to go visit her BLOG to see baby pics then it was also Jenna's BIRTHDAY yesterday. So pop on over and wish her well!!! Sneaky secret keeper that one!!!

Congrats Jenna sweetheart!!! From all of us here at the PHS...

xxxxx

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Friday Film-Night :: An American Werewolf in London

This week's must see film is an oldie but a goodie. It has passion, it has suspense, it has laughs, it has a faaaantastic soundtrack, it has youthful exhuberance, it has paranormal elements (which are huuuuge in romantic fiction right now), and it has romance. This week PHS ed Ally Blake brings you:

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON

Boy was that tricky finding a movie poster that wouldn't scare the bejeezers out of everyone when they clicked onto our site! Okay, so this may not be our usual Pink Heart Society fare. But it has a romance. And it's a film I like. So there.

THE STORY

Written and directed by John Landis who also brought you Blues Brothers, Spies Like Us and Animal House, this movie was an instant classic in 1981 when it was released. We start out with two possible heroes: David Kessler and Jack Goodman (David Naughton and Griffin Dunne) .

Two handsome, funny young American lads backpacking on the English moors. They land in a local pub, the Slaughtered Lamb. And we soon realize it is not as typical as we first expect. The locals are less than friendly, though they do at least warn our heroes that walking on the moors at night can be hazardous to their health.

But our hero (okay, now remember this photo was taken in the early eighties!!!) and his friend are manly men and feel as invincible as young men abroad for the first time must. Pity this doesn't stop them from being attacked by some kind of wild beast that finds them in the mist, mauling one to death and injuring the other. Eek! And I warn you it's soooooo scary it took me about ten years of trying to watch this movie to even get through the first fifteen minutes!!!

But get through this and our hero David wakes up in a London hospital. And this is where he meets our heroine, Nurse Alex Price. (The make-up. The hair! The early eighties!!!)

David is cut to ribbons yet his flirt gene has not been impeded. He is having horrific nightmares and our lovely young nurse feels for him. Enough that when he is discharged she takes him home with her! It doesn't take long for our couple to take their relationship to the next step.

And not that much longer before David's dead friend Jack begins to visit him, telling him the creature that attacked them was a werewolf and since he has been bitten, our hero will soon become one himself. These visits are delightful. Grisly to be sure (this movie won an Oscar for best make-up and it ain't of the pretty blush and mascara kind!). But hilarious. The tongue in cheek nature of the script and the acting lends the out of this world subject matter a sweet balance.

Naturally our hero thinks he's hallucinating, until a series of grisly murders takes place in and around London including a seriously scary scene in a train station, much of it filmed from a werewolf's POV (I have goosebumps just thinking about it!) leading up to the full moon culminating with David waking up naked in the wolf enclosure of the zoo.

Could his best mate be right? Might he truly be a werewolf? Right when he's found the woman of his dreams? And no it's not as silly as it sounds!!! It is handled with humour, and resonance, and sadness, and serious poignancy. The last phone call home to his parents to find he can only talk to his bratty little sister will give you a lump in your throat.

(calling home from a red telephone box) Hello? Rachel? Just say yes, you'll accept the charges. Just say yes, Rachel. Is Mom or Dad home? Where are they? Where's Max? You're all alone? Mom and Dad would never leave me alone when I was ten. No, not ten and a half, either. I'm still in London. I'm all better. Look, would you tell Mom and Dad that I love them? I don't care, Rachel, just do it for me. Okay? Good. And, Rachel, don't fight with Max. Well, try. Look, kid, please don't forget to tell Mom and Dad I love them. I love Max and you, too. Well, I do. No, I'm not being weird, you little creep. You promise? Okay. Be a good girl. I love you. Bye.

And that leads us to the great climax of the movie. Nighttime. A full moon. And David begins to feel a twinge…

THE TRANSFORMATION

This movie won an Oscar for Best Make-up. And even now, 27 odd years later you can see why. The effects while crude compared with what could be achieve today are amazing. They are realistic, they are measured, they don't hold any punches or hide behind quick cuts, and best of all they're scary as all get out! (I made this piccie small on purpose!!!)

THE SOUNDTRACK

…by Elmer Bernstein is faaaabulous! Inspired! Perfect. With songs like Running Through The Forest, Moondance, Bad Moon Rising and Blue Moon (during the transformation scene itself), there is not one note that hasn't been thought through to make this film a cohesive whole.

THE LOCATION

From the misty moors of middle of nowhere England to the garish slick set of Piccadilly Circus for the final dramatic scene, this movie makes a postcard of England. If backpackers could look past the whole werewolf angle, they'd be crazy not to want to visit ;).

THE ROMANCE

And I really like the romance within. David is strong and funny. Nurse Price is the epitome of the uptight librarian, all pinned up bun and seriousness at work yet she lets down her hair to become a real woman, lonesome, attracted to the strange stranger and then finally in love. The romance is natural, it's funny, and it's real. For a film that asks you to suspend your disbelief in a big way, the ending (which I ain't gonna give away) is terribly poignant and that's all because the romance while quick and brief is believable.

THE TRAILER

Grab a box of tissues, prepare to not ask too many questions, tickle your funny bone, stamp down your queasy gene and rent it today.

Warm and fuzzy rating: well it has to be the literally fuzziest movie we've reviewed!

Ally's latest release, the super sexy THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL, is out now in the UK.

Grab a copy now to find out what happens when a gorgeous, entirely too privileged for his own good, Luddite in a suit meets a lively dog groomer with persistent shampoo stains on her skirt and a past filled with disappointing men. Throw in matching mobile phones and match-making friends and you'll get yourself a Modern Heat!

Check out an excerpt, the Dear Reader letter, pictures of the hero and heroine inspiration and more at Ally's website today!