The Sunflower Blogger Award (Part 2)

It seems that I've been nominated yet again for this award! Thanks very much to sweet Ruby for the nomination. I hope you head on over to her blog and read her answers to the questions posed by those who nominated her.

The Rules:

• Share 11 facts about yourself. 
• Answer the questions set by your Nomination Blogger 
• Nominate 11 bloggers. 
• Set questions for the nominated bloggers.

 (Yet again, I won't nominate anyone for the award since I love all the blogs I follow and I hate to narrow them down)

11 Facts about Me:

• I have a thing for shortish, stocky men like Martin Freeman, Seamus Deaver, Jensen Ackles, and Jeremy Renner. My best friend can attest to it.
• I met Michael Buble live and in person at his last concert! Fan-club prize passes are AWESOME!
• I never wear mis-matched pajamas, ever.
• My toenails and fingernails almost never match in the polish department.
• I'm a total Kevin Ryan fan on Castle. As soon as he started wearing those three-piece suits, I started paying attention and now I adore him.
• I listen to James Darren music while performing data entry at work. I commend those of you who know who he is.
• I'm a cat person.
• Disneyland is my favorite vacation spot.
• I've seen Phantom of the Opera on tour twice, LOVE IT!
• Mint green and shrimp are two of my favorite colors.
• I dream of someday running a literary themed bed and breakfast with rooms dedicated to The Great Gatsby, Romeo & Juliet, The Lord of the Rings, Gone with the Wind, etc.

Questions from Ruby:

Is there a fictional book you think everyone should read at least once?

I would say A Lesson before Dying by Ernest Gaines. I read it for college a few years back and it made a lasting impression about racism, sort of like To Kill a Mockingbird. It's brilliant and everyone should read it.

Mr. Darcy or Mr. Knightley?

I would pick none of Austen's heroes, but if I had to narrow it down, probably Mr. Knightley. Although I give more credit to Jeremy Northam's portrayal than to the actual character. I've yet to hate Northam in anything, even when he plays the villain. Like in The Net with Sandra Bullock. Yum.



What would your dream car be?

 A black 1967 Chevy Impala in pristine condition just like the Metallicar that my boys own in Supernatural.

Dude, that car is freakin' awesome!





Would you rather wear your hair in a bun or a braid?

My hair is baby fine so it always escapes a bun and looks entirely too messy. So I'm a braids girl by necessity, not by choice. Although a bun with a braid never hurts.

What is your least favorite movie (or miniseries) of all time?

Hah, that's a tough one. I pretty much hate Labyrinth and Willow, but I think the new winner in this category is the 1984 version of Dune. It's just gross. Love Paul, the hero, but it's disjointed and when it is cohesive there's a slobbery fat guy with homosexual tendencies pulling heart plugs out of his male servants so he can get aroused watching them die. Top that off with the rock star Sting playing the fat guy's nephew and very nearly stepping nude out of a shower and you've got a recipe for disaster. It's horrible so don't ever watch it, ever. 

What movie do you think is the most underrated?  Most overrated?


Well, let's see. The most underrated movie for me is the 1939 Pride & Prejudice with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson. I love it. I think the hearts of all the cast and the crew were in the right place, and I couldn't care less that the costumes are off by 20 years. A lot of Austen's books were published years after she originally wrote them so she never imagined the clothing in the Regency era either. So I don't care one whit about those who dislike the costuming because I think it's darling.

And the most overrated is not a movie but a miniseries, Downton Abbey. I watch it with my parents because they love it and I do find it fascinating, but it's not worth all this muss and fuss. Drama and tragedy is thrown in just to keep things moving and that's not fair to the fans or the characters. So, yes, at the risk of sacrilege, Downton Abbey is totally overrated.

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Is the ISFJ hard to understand?

Is the ISFJ hard to understand?

Yes, Ned the Piemaker from Pushing Daisies is, in fact, an ISFJ. He makes it into my top five favorite fictional ISFJs that include Captain America, John Watson, and Kevin Ryan from Castle. If anyone is hard to understand, it's Ned!

So, onto the question, is the ISFJ hard to understand? That entirely depends on how well you understand the ISFJ cognitive functions. Because Si is our top function we spend a whole of time living in the past. In fact, if we could wrap ourselves up in physical representations of our memories, then we would. In fact, I sort of do, judging by the classic movie posters on my walls and the unopened Elvis and James Dean collectible dolls on display on my bookcase. They're memories and whenever I see them, I'm reminded of what I love. If you can understand that part of an ISFJ, then you're halfway there. If you can't, it's probably because you're still trying to approach the ISFJ from your perspective instead of trying to see from our perspective.

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Book Review: Death by the Book by Julianna Deering (2014)

Death by the Book by Julianna Deering
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is 1932 and only a few months have passed since the events that turned Drew Farthering's peaceful existence on its head. All he wants now is to convince Madeline, the love of his life, to marry him. Unfortunately for Drew, life throws another wrench in his plans, both by dropping off Madeline's aged, incredibly stubborn aunt on his doorstep as well as a new string of murders that connect to people Drew either knows personally, or knows of through a friend. Drew struggles with Aunt Ruth's disdain and mistrust of his intentions towards her niece, just as he is also dragged back into solving mysteries with the local constabulary. The last thing he anticipated was that the murders, people left slaughtered with a hat pin stuck into their chest bearing a note in Shakespearean script, would slowly creep ever closer to his home. Just as life was returning to normal, mayhem erupts again and Drew must find a solution before people close to him start dying.

There are very few authors I love enough to mentally note their name in anticipation of their next book. Julianna Deering happens to be one of my recent favorites so when the chance came to review her latest release via Netgalley, I jumped on it. And, exactly as I anticipated, she didn't disappoint! Death by the Book is a little bit of a slow starter, which is strange because it begins with a murder, slam-bang right on the first page. But it didn't really snag me fully until I was 50% in, but I blame that more on my distractions and less on Ms. Deering because her entertaining style remains exactly the same as her first book, Rules of Murder. In other words, she's a genius. And once I was able to dedicate lengthy periods of time to finishing the book, I literally didn't want to put it down.

One of the best things that happened at the end of Rules of Murder was Drew's salvation experience. Not that he wasn't a darling to begin with, but it's delightful seeing him run a God filter through his thoughts and actions before saying or doing something in Death by the Book. His salvation experience was genuine, and he did it for himself, not just for Madeline. The attraction between Madeline and Drew grows stronger with each book, which is probably why Aunt Ruth put in an appearance. Although I did find her fears amusing since Americans usually have worse reputations than Brits, but oh well. So, Drew and Madeline have to put barriers in place because the closer they get, the more temptation raises its ugly head. And I love that because it's a representation of real life, of genuine physical attraction. And Drew's resistance to physicality reveals that he loves her for more than just her physical self. It's fantastic.

The mystery itself was a tad confusing for me, mostly because I could only snatch snippets of time here and there to get a chapter read. Once I sat down and dedicated a few hours of time to the book, it clicked into place. I will say that some of the scenes read a little bit like Tommy and Tuppence by Agatha Christie, but that's not really such a bad thing. After all, Christie is one of the greats, and the Beresfords are amazing literary inventions. So, I can't complain. At the beginning I was a little dumbfounded that Drew would find himself embroiled in another mystery especially since he's a gentleman and not a detective or a lawyer or attached to the police force in any way. It made sense at the end of the book but for awhile I just didn't entirely buy Drew's presence at yet more crime scenes when he really didn't need to be involved. I only doubted for about half the book, and was thrilled when  Ms. Deering gave her readers a reason behind Drew's involvement.

I think that's what she does best. She makes the reader wonder how something fits, or makes us think something is a cliche, and then she turns it upside down with a brilliant AHA moment. I loved that about Rules of Murder and she keeps some of the same surprising twists and turns in Death by the Book. Plus, faith is a natural element in Ms. Deering's work. It's never forced, always natural, and I loved the sincerity of Drew's faith when we reach the end of this book. Once I reached that halfway mark, and had time to spend, I literally couldn't stop reading. Now, my one regret, is that yet again I have to wait some period of time for Ms. Deering's next book in the "Drew Farthering Mysteries," already titled Murder at the Mikado. Ooh, I hate waiting!

- I received this book from Bethany House publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

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LoVe - Veronica Mars: The Movie (2014)

Well, Veronica Mars fans, the movie is awesome. One of my friends and I hit the high road this afternoon after church, driving 50 minutes to reach a theater playing Veronica Mars. And do you know the main reason why we went? In the hopes that the movie would finally give us both the ending we wanted!

This entire movie is LoVe themed (for the uninformed that's Logan/Veronica). She's had many boyfriends over the years, but the backbone of the entire show was always the chemistry between Logan and Veronica. So, for those few Duncan fans out there, you're out of luck. He's not in this movie at all, not even mentioned, and I don't miss him one wee little bit. Duncan was one of the most boring male leads ever to be written into a television show so I'm happy to have an entire hour and forty-eight minutes without him. Piz fans (seriously, who named this guy!?), you're out of luck too. Not that I ever disliked Piz, I just never cared one way or the other. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but let's be honest, V doesn't stay with good guys for very long.

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ISFJs are evil? . . . I think not!

Elijah Mikaelson - one of the hottest vampires on television and an ISFJ to boot!

People now write the darndest things into my search box. It's kinda funny!

Like this latest one, ISFJs are evil.

Umm, no, we're not. The ISFJ can be conflicted sometimes like Lord Grantham in Downton Abbey or even Ned Stark in Game of Thrones, but you couldn't call either of those characters "evil."

One of my absolute favorite ISFJs in television is Elijah in The Originals, but he's not a villain despite the occasional moment of heart-ripping that he does to protect family. Nope, instead that honor goes to Klaus, a truly wicked ENTJ. Fortunately, most ENTJ's never reach his levels of manipulation and scariness.

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Hamlette's Soliloquy: "Ivanhoe" (1982)

All right, darlings, please make sure to read Hamlette's review of Ivanhoe starring Anthony Andrews. It is the official final post for the Anthony Andrews Blog Hop in February, and she absolutely loved the film just like the majority of people who see it. Enjoy!



Hamlette's Soliloquy: "Ivanhoe" (1982): I was so excited when I won a copy of this on Musings of an Introvert !  I'd only seen the 1952 version before, and it rather... lacks...

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The Sunflower Blogger Award

I was actually nominated twice for this award, which is quite amazing and I'm truly honored! So, thanks goes to Anna at A Cowgirl and a Dream and Hamlette at The Edge of the Precipice and Hamlette's Soliloquy. I'm only going to answer the questions, not nominate anyone. :)


The rules:

1. Share 11 facts about yourself. 
2. Answer the questions set by your Nomination Blogger 
3. Nominate 11 bloggers. 
4. Set questions for the nominated bloggers.

So here are my 11 facts:

1. I was homeschooled through high school.
2. My family sold spices and jewelry at fairs and festivals as an income up until I was 8-years-old, traveling around the west and midwest.
3. I collect salt and pepper shakers.
4. My family has been accused ( ? ) of being British due to the way we drink afternoon tea.
5. I'm a cat lover.
6. I only have one sibling, my sister Caitlin.
7. I work for Compassion International as of last week.
8. Brideshead Revisited is one of my favorite books.
9. Sherlock is one of my favorite shows on television.
10. I don't have a huge shoe collection, but I have more purses than I can ever use.
11. I change my nail polish color every week.

My Answers for Hamlette

If you had to spend the rest of your life in a different century of Earth's past, where would you spend it?

Probably in the twentieth century. I love the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s so that seems like a pretty good option. Plus I would get to see Laurence Olivier play Romeo on the stage!

What's your favorite salad dressing?

Umm, probably Newman's Caesar dressing. It has a lovely kick to it!

What's the worst movie (that you liked least) you saw in 2013?

That has to be The Lone Ranger. Sorry, Rachel!

Do you paint your toenails?

Yes, but mostly in the summer when I'll wear sandals. Less now because I have to wear dress shoes at work.

What are your three favorite TV shows?

Sherlock, Castle, and The Originals.

Are there any books or movies you own more than one copy of?  If so, what are they?

I own three copies of The Lord of the Rings in book form. One that's a boxed set, one that's all wrinkled and gnarly because it was my first set, and one incredibly heavy book that's illustrated by Alan Lee. I also own an e-book copy of Cornelia Funke's Fearless along with the physical book. I own more than one adaptation of certain movies like Pride & Prejudice, but not more than one copy of the same movie.

My Answers for Anna

Dogs or cats?

Cats all the way.  Although I don't hate dogs, I just prefer cats.

Eponine or Cosette?

Mmm, neither really.  I'm not that big of a Les Mis fan.

What is your favorite kind of cultural food? (Chinese, Mexican, Italian)

Ooh, definitely Mexican. Although I love Chinese too, it's just that I adore enchiladas!

One dream role on Broadway? (yes one!)

Mmm, possibly Mrs. Fairfax in the no-longer-playing Jane Eyre that is absolutely brilliant.

"One Day More" or "Do You Hear The People Sing?"

Neither because I don't recognize the titles.

"The Phantom of the Opera" or "Love Never Dies"?

Phantom, hands down!

Favorite Book?

There are many, but Fahrenheit 451, The Lord of the Rings, and just about anything written by Cornelia Funke make that list.

What would your ideal first date be?

Since I've never been on a date, I have no clue. I don't see anything wrong with going to dinner and maybe seeing a movie.

Where do you find the most beauty of God's creation? (sky, trees, your own home, etc.)

For me, it's the power of the ocean. Some people are moved by mountains, but I have always found the ocean to be the greatest reminder of God's power and the glory of His creation. That's what comes of living in Oregon for 6 years. :)

Iced tea or lemonade?

Probably iced tea, although I like both.

Who are some of your favorite blogger friends?

Tops is, of course, my best friend Charity at Confessions of an INTP. Then there's Hamlette over at The Edge of the Precipice and Jody over at Author, Jody Hedlund. I also follow Lizzie at His Redeemed Child and Birdie at Lady of the Manor. I also have lovely friends who post on my blog, but don't necessarily have blogs of their own.

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Book Review: Ripples Along the Shore by Mona Hodgson (2013)

Ripples Along the Shore by Mona Hodgson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Caroline is slowly resigning herself to being a widow after receiving news that her husband, Phillip, died during the war between the states. Her options are limited, and she must live with her sister and family until she gets her feet under her again. Which had better be sooner rather than later since Jack, her sister's husband, makes certain she knows that she's not a welcome presence. Perhaps her only option of any value is to go west with the wagon train that will be heading out from St. Charles in a few months time. Add to her uncertain life situation, Caroline finds the tingling attraction to southerner Garrett Cowlishaw most disconcerting. Her husband and Garrett fought on opposite sides of the war and while a part of her fights against hatred, another part of her knows the hatred is unfounded and she feels something deeper for the man.

I'm not entirely certain what happened with this third installment to Ms. Hodgson's The Quilted Heart novella series. At least with the first two books she maintained continuity and resolved the romances in a positive manner. In this third and final installment, she leaves the story hanging. Caroline is going to travel in the wagon train, but that shouldn't be what this book is about because there is a full-length book to cover that story. Caroline and Garrett have no resolution at all, the story just ends. Which is quite a shame because I liked Caroline the best of the three heroines and would have liked to see a positive conclusion to the story, not having it be a lead-in for a full-length novel. I was just disappointed by the lack of a conclusion to the story. Perhaps the full-length novel about Anna resolves Garrett and Caroline's relationship too.

- I received this book for free from Blogging for Books and Netgalley for this review.

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Book Review: Bending Toward the Sun by Mona Hodgson (2013)

Bending Toward the Sun by Mona Hodgson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When Quaid McFarland returns safely from the war between the states, Emilie Heinrich's heart skips an unusual beat. He's grown from a boy into a man, not quite what she expected, and he in turn finds her to be a handsome lass quite different from the girl in pigtails that he once knew. Emilie's loyalty is torn between her feelings for the handsome Irishman and the needs of her father who has no one else to care for him and help him run their general store. Can Quaid and Emilie convince Mr. Heinrich to bend his over-protectiveness towards his daughter and bless their union?

As I've said before, novellas are not really my thing. There's not enough time for character development and that's what I really value in fiction. At least in Bending Toward the Sun, I enjoyed the male lead better than in the 1st in the series. I happen to like Irish characters in fiction so Quaid endeared himself to me quickly. Perhaps it's the reluctant part of me that loves Branson in Downton Abbey that's done it, who knows. So, the male lead caught my attention quickly. The female lead is adequate too. I appreciate her loyalty to family, and her willingness to follow Quaid's lead in how they handle her father's wishes. They're nice, sweet characters that deserve a little happiness. Plus they knew each other when they were younger which makes the love story much more convincing.

Even though Ms. Hodgson didn't quite grab my attention with the 1st novella in the series, this 2nd one accomplished its goal for me of providing an easy reading for a grey and foggy afternoon.

- I received this book for free from Blogging for Books and Netgalley for this review.

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