The Perfect Summer - DVD Review

Moving from everything you know and leaving your past behind to start over is hard enough. Especially for 17-year-old Jake Reynolds. He has already lost his father just last summer and now his mother, Alyssa (Sydney Penny) has left their family home in Chicago to move in with her father, Lou Reynolds (Erik Roberts) in North Carolina. She thinks the beach town is the perfect place for Jake to find his roots and perhaps a fresh start at a new life. But Jake is pretty determined to stay resentful of his situation despite how welcoming his grandfather is. The one thing he isn't expecting is to learn that cell phone coverage and Wifi isn't something that is available and he will have to seek it out in town at the nearby surf shop and cafe owned by Cody (Jason Castro, American Idol).

Jake thinks he may have found something to interest him beside the internet when he meets Kayla, a beautiful surfer girl who seems interested in him. But things go from bad to worse, when Kayla's ex boyfriend Tyler seems to think that Jake better find a new interest and hurry. Kayla reminds him that they are no longer a couple and she can do whatever she wants with her time and see anyone she pleases. But like all good bullies, that only adds fuel to the fire. No matter where Jake goes, trouble with Tyler follows and soon he is shown just how forceful they can be when they beat him up and break the surfboard his grandfather has loaned him.

Ashamed and feeling less than worthy, Jake feels that moving back to Chicago might be better than trying to fit in with his grandfather. His mother has found an ideal job working as a travel agent and believes they are finally on the right track. But there is always hope in starting over and learning to never live with regrets, something his grandfather has learned after leaving his own daughter behind. He offers to teach Jake how to surf, but the one thing Jake never realizes is that his grandfather is a surfing legend until he learns to trust and accept things on his own terms.

I received The Perfect Summer compliments of Word Films and Edify Media for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a great movie because it focuses on handling issues within the family from bullying, to regrets, to sobriety and shows how God's grace can give us all a fresh start at life and to begin to live our lives without regrets. Everyone can have a second chance if we are willing to leave our past mistakes behind us! This is such a great DVD for the entire family and the surfing is amazing. I easily give this a 5 out of 5 stars and family approved by the Dove Foundation and Uplifting Entertainment as their original movie!

For more information on The Perfect Summer, Word Films or where to preorder a copy of this DVD today due out in early August, please click on the links below:

The Perfect Summer by Word Films

You can find Word Films on Facebook to stay up to date with all their family entertainment.

 You can find The Perfect Summer on UpTv in your area!

A Prayer for Owen Meany

Owen Meany was an unusual boy at least that is how his friends would refer to him. Growing up, he had some disadvantages that others didn't. For one, his voice. Those who heard him would often say his voice could easily get on your nerves. It was child-like, soft and sounded like a cartoon character. In fact it could be said you could tell it was Owen talking just by the sound of his voice. Because it was so low, you either had to be close enough to hear it or ask him to speak louder, and that is exactly what Johnny Wheelwright, his best friend would ask him to do.

Johnny had Owen's voice down pat, and could imitate him if the need should arise, such as reminding his grandmother who Owen was. Being nearly 100 years old, the only way she could remember was when Johnny imitated Owen's voice. Then she would cover her ears and acknowledge that yes, she did remember who he was.

Another disadvantage poor Owen had was he was very small in stature. So small and so lightweight that in school whenever the teacher stepped out of the room, his classmates would take turns lifting him high over their heads and pass him around the class. This, Owen did not like. His change would fall out of his pockets, baseball cards meticulously sorted would become mixed up, and even though they would give everything back to him, he was not happy. In fact, anyone who met Owen, had a desire to pick him up, even parents.

Yet one fateful day would change forever how people perceived Owen and it would change how Johnny viewed God. That would be the day when Owen Meany hit a baseball and killed Johnny's mom.

In the latest novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, the reader is taken back to 1953 with a unique accident would forever change the lives of Johnny Wheelwright and Owen Meany and take them on a journey through their lives. What happens through this unique blend of storytelling in its finest is that Owen sees God in everything, big and small. Even the accident of Johnny's mother who Owen loved dearly is defined by Owen. In fact by the time you get to the end, you, the reader will realize that God is present in so many ways throughout, and you will get one of those "Ah ha!" moments at the end.

I received this book compliments of William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review and LOVED this one! If you loved The Cider House Rules or The World According to Garp, then you will love this one as well since John Irving is also the author of those literary masterpieces. From the first sentence until the last, John masterfully crafts this story to engage the reader and become an advocate for Owen throughout the whole novel. While it hurts to see him picked on in so many ways growing up, you can see that God uses everything that happens in our lives for good and this is Owen's story of how that happens. I highly recommend this book to those who are looking for a great feel good book with purpose and John delivers! I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information on this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

You can also find John Irving on Facebook by clicking here.

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reissue edition (April 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062204092
• ISBN-13: 978-0062204097
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches

Invisible

Lola’s not pretty. Lola’s not popular. Lola wishes she could disappear … and then one day she does just that…

For seventeen-year-old Lola Savullo, life is a struggle. Born to funky parents who are more in than she could ever be, Lola’s dream of becoming a writer makes her an outsider even in her own home. Bullied and despised, Lola still has the support of her best pal Charlie and Grandma Rose.

Not only is she freakishly tall, Lola’s a big girl and when forced to wear a bathing suit at her summer job as a camp counselor, Lola’s only escape from deep embarrassment seems to be to literally vanish. Soon after, she discovers the roots of her new “ability”.

Slowly, with Charlie’s help, Lola learns to control the new super power. The possibilities are endless. Yet power can be abused, too…

Then, when tragedy strikes, Lola must summon her inner strength, both at home and at school. She has to stand up for herself, despite the temptations and possibilities of her newfound super power.

A coming-of-age story that will warm the heart.

My Review:

Who hasn't wished at some horrible point that they could simply disappear or become invisible? This is just the beginning for a girl like Lola who is constantly being bullied at school based on her appearance of being tall and fat unlike the others in school. However when a boy by the name of Jon suddenly takes an interest in her seeing past her outer appearance, Lola feels that she can trust him with her new found secret in hopes of finally finding the perfect guy for her.

Along the journey through her year in school, Lola's source of contentment lies with her grandmother who confides in her that the power she possesses is a family secret! She teaches Lola how to use it not for revenge on those that have hurt her but to use it for the benefit of making her a better person. She struggles dealing with her parents who seem to be stuck in their own high school years, dressing and acting much younger than they really are, and a sister who will never understand the personal struggles, Lola faces.

This is such a great book for anyone who has ever been faced with the challenge of peer pressure or bullying. This story teaches Lola that rather than seeking revenge, she should use her abilities to see them as they really are and in the process come to a unique understand that appearances on the outside really aren't who people are on the inside.

I received Invisible by Jeanne Bannon compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and found such great insight on seeing things from a different perspective on those that have dealt with peer pressure and bullying and how they really feel on the inside. For that reason alone, this rates a 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are some uses of profanity in the book but it doesn't take away from the storyline, however some readers may find this offensive.

Here's an extra special treat, this ebook is available on Amazon and Smashwords for only .99 til December 16th! For more information about the book, the author and even where to purchase a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

Invisible by Jeanne Bannon

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