Dream Dark (Caster Chronicles #2.5) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl: Book Review

I liked this story, mostly because I really like the character of Link. I was, however, quite disappointed that Dream Dark isn't told from Link's POV, but rather, from Ethan's. Don't get me wrong, I love Ethan too, but I felt it was not Ethan's tale to tell. It would have been far more entertaining coming from Link's brain. It actually took me a couple of screens (on Kindle) to figure out that it wasn't Link speaking.

Anyway, it's a nice addition to the story, but doesn't really add much to the overall tale. It still leaves one confused about what in the world Ridley was doing at the end of book two, and I wasn't quite sure what Macon's point was in sending Link on this errand. Did he mean for Link to die? Or did he know what was going to happen? This could have been fleshed out a bit more without giving away too much from book three, I feel.

If you read this on a Kindle, expect it to end around the 42% mark. The rest is just a sneak peak of book three. It ends abruptly and leaves you wishing it was longer. I would much rather have had 200 pages of this story than the first 200 pages of book two. Overall though, four stars.

Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles #2) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl: Book Review

Boy did this book take a long time to get going. I honestly had a difficult time reading it (and caring about reading it) until exactly the half-way point. In a book that's 500 pages long, reading 250 pages before anything good happens is just too long in my opinion. Close to nothing happens in the first half, and then almost too much happens too fast in the last 250 pages. The end climax was especially frenetic and confusing. I'm not 100% sure I understand what exactly happened. People kept popping up where they shouldn't have been and everything was twisted and turned upside down. People who were dead really aren't dead, people who were dark really aren't dark, and no one is sure of anything. Least of all me.

Book #2 really suffered from lack of the Lena-Ethan story. In fact, I didn't like Lena at all in this book. She was whiny and mopey and boring, and I couldn't find it in me to care what happened to her. Thankfully the characters of Ethan and Link are more interesting; this book was more about Ethan's journey than Lena anyway. I really like Link, and I'm looking forward to reading the short story Dream Dark, which takes place between this book and book #3.

I think this book also suffers from the difficulty of having two authors. It's just hard for two people to write one story, and it showed in this one. I felt there were continuity issues throughout, little things that weren't consistent and that jarred me from the story.

I thought the characters of John Breed and Olivia (Liv) were kind of pointless distractions. What is their purpose? If Lena and Ethan's love is so strong and so real, why was there a distraction in Liv and John? The fact that both Lena and Ethan were so easily drawn away from each other and to the characters of John and Liv made it seem that their love really wasn't all that strong to begin with. So why have a story? And what happened to Liv in the end? Both characters just seemed unnecessary to me. The same action could have happened completely without them.

I loved Link, Ethan, Lucille Ball the cat, Macon, Marian, Lila, Ridley, and the sisters. They were the only things that saved this book from two stars for me. I will read Link's short story, but beyond that, I'm not sure I care to read on.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (Caster Chronicles #1): Book Review

This story was better than I expected. I enjoyed the modern-day, sleepy Southern town setting. I definitely related to that. The characters were likable and believable. I liked the term Caster and enjoyed the witchy lore part of that. My favorite parts were the flashback scenes to the Civil War days. Incidentally, those are my favorite parts in The Vampire Diaries TV series.

A friend and I just rented the Beautiful Creatures movie and watched it this past weekend and I tell ya, I'm so thankful I didn't pay money to see it in the theaters. It was awful. And I'm positive that if I had not already read the book, I'd have absolutely no idea what was going on in the movie. So if you haven't watched it, don't bother. Just stick with the books.

I will probably read on in this series. It's entertaining and easy to read, with good pacing, an interesting plot and good character development.

Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse #13) by Charlaine Harris: Book Review

I cannot believe I have read 13 of these books. Really? I've invested that much time in Sookieland?! But it has been a fun ride! Thirteen is my favorite number, and while this wasn't my favorite book in the series, I thought it was better than most.

I liked how all the important (and some not-so-important) people in Sookie's life made an appearance in this last installment. All the loose ends were tied up and all the conflict was resolved...for me, in a pleasing manner. We're done with the fae (thank God, right?), done with the fighting and fearing for Sookie's life. And in the end she chooses to be with the right guy, the one I was rooting for all along.

I felt like the writing was a clunky and awkward at times. It certainly didn't feel as good quality as most of the past books (minus maybe #1 and #s 10-12). And I think the plot was a bit convoluted and difficult to follow. I couldn't figure out why the "bad guys" were trying so hard to get Sookie, why they cared. Their reasons for wanting to kill her just didn't make sense. And the connections between all the "bad guys" were just weak. It certainly seemed as if Harris was a bit tired and ready to be done with Sookieville. I don't blame her; it was time.

I'm glad I met Sookie and all her crazy, scary friends. And I'm really glad I never got into watching True Blood on HBO. From what I hear, the books are far superior. This was a great way to pass the time during the summers. Definitely not high-quality literature, but fun, popcorn reading to put in between heavier selections for the past few years. Thank you, Ms. Harris!

Get your own copy of Dead Ever After on Amazon.

Read about the author, Charlaine Harris, on Goodreads.

Her Father's House by Belva Plain: Book Review

This book was not at all what I expected. My mother recommended it to me, and even gave me her copy to read. It sat on my to-read bookshelf for years. I guess I have learned my lesson...never judge a book--or your mother--by its cover. Wow! I know my mom tends to enjoy sentimentally sweet, somewhat predictable, feel-good stories...kind of like the ones you read at Christmas, or like a Hallmark movie. She also enjoys Christian fiction. So having those things in the back of my mind, in picking up this book and reading the title (Her Father's House...that sounds like it could be her Heavenly Father's house, right?) and in looking at the portrait of the author on the back dust cover, I just made an assumption. A silly assumption.

This is a wonderfully written, engrossing tale about a man who falls hard and fast for a charming beauty in New York City. He's a lawyer who is quickly making a name for himself, climbing the ladder of success, and so forth. Lillian seems to be a perfect match for him, and his life is charmed. Soon Lillian becomes pregnant and things start to fall apart...and he starts to question whether he really knows his wife at all. After some shocking revelations and careful planning, he makes a decision that will change his life--and the life of his child--forever.

The characters are more than believable; it's like they're your own friends, acquaintances, or family members. Belva Plain has extraordinary insight into the human mind and human nature. She writes it and you feel it, you see it, you're there. I felt Donald's pride, his astonishment, his shame, anger, fear, and hope. And I couldn't wait to find out how the story would end. Once I realized this novel was not going to be Christian fiction, I assumed it was a romance. Nope, not that either. I guess the best category for it is general fiction. Very good, general fiction. In looking up information on Mrs. Belva Plain, I learned that she died just a few years ago, at the beautiful age of 95. She wrote many, many novels, of which 22 were New York Times Best-sellers. I am most definitely interested in reading a few more of Mrs. Plain's gems. And I'm starting to wonder if I really even know my mother at all. :) 4.5 stars from me.

Get a copy of Her Father's House from Amazon. 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes: Book Review

This book is absolutely beautiful. It affected me so deeply, and it has taken some time for me to process it enough to write a review. I had no expectations going into it, other than my best book buddy said it was excellent. (She's always right.) Me Before You is the second 5-star book I've read this year, and I'm pretty stingy with my stars.

I really shouldn't tell you too much about the story. You need to read it with no preconceived notions. Will is a high-powered big shot who lives life to the fullest every day. He's successful, rich, handsome, and used to everything going his way. He's traveled all over the world, and always dates the most beautiful women. And then he has a tragic accident that leaves him without the use of his limbs. Enter his paid companion, Lou (short for Louisa). She's a small-town girl who has never been anywhere exciting, hasn't done anything exciting, and has no desire to do anything exciting. She's lived in the same town where she was born, still with her parents, and has stuck with the same, boring boyfriend for years. But she's content that way. Will is downright mean to Lou when she first starts her job as his companion/caretaker. But she tries to understand his anger and frustration, and she refuses to let him get her down. Eventually, her quirky, upbeat personality wins him over, and they forge a beautiful friendship. I won't tell you more.

There is a very controversial social/moral issue at the heart of this story, and I feel the author addresses it beautifully. You find yourself seeing and understanding both sides of the issue, and for me, it really made me question what I would do if put in that situation--either myself personally, or someone I loved and cared about. Moyes presented this issue without judgment and without being preachy or pushy, yet she moves you deeply and you care (and cry) before you even realize it. Bravo, Ms. Moyes!

Because the story is set in modern-day England, there was some British slang and references to things and places that had zero meaning for me. I ended up Googling and Urban Dictonary-ing several things, and I highly recommend you do the same if you find yourself a little confused. It makes a big difference.

Don't even go into this book thinking it's a romance. It's really not. It should be categorized as simply really good modern fiction. Don't miss it though. Truly one of the best reads of the year for me. Five stars without hesitation; I wish they were all this good.

Get your own copy of Me Before You on Amazon.

Read about the author, Jojo Moyes, on Goodreads.

Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1) by Gail Carriger: Book Review

Soulless is a pleasant blend of paranormal, romance, Steampunk, and mystery...with a bit of humor for good measure. I was surprised at how much I liked it.

Alexia Tarabotti is a self-proclaimed spinster living in Victorian London society. She is very intelligent, loves to read and debate, and is happy being unmarried. Oh yes, and she was born without a soul. That fact makes her the antidote to vampires and werewolves, both of which are a mainstreamed part of society in her world. As soon as Alexia makes physical contact with a vampire, his fangs retract and he's human again...until the contact is broken. At the very beginning of the story, Alexia is at a ball and is awaiting her tea when a rogue vampire attacks her in the library (the nerve of him!). She is forced to defend herself and ends up killing him with her wooden hair pin. This self-defense murder catapults Alexia into an investigation of the missing rogue vampires and werewolves in the area.

The plot is a bit thin in this one, but the witty banter and dry humor more than make up for it. It feels a bit like a 21st-century independent woman was dropped in the middle of Jane Austen's time, with civilized vampires and werewolves mixed in...and I loved it! I am definitely interested in reading Parasol Protectorate #2.

Get a copy of Soulless from Amazon. 

Read about the author, Gail Carriger, on Goodreads.

Kiss of Life (Kiss Trilogy #2.5) by Debbie Viguié: Book Review

Kiss of Life is a very short addition to the trilogy, telling a bit of the back story of the Baron. It was too short, however, and really didn't answer any questions. It was interesting to see a bit of where he came from, but the glimpse was so tiny that I didn't feel it really added much to my overall understanding of the characters or the story. In fact, it took me the entire reading to even remember who the Baron was and why I was even reading about him. I wish it had been longer.

I tend to dislike these sorts of publications because they seem to be just ploys for more money. Even at $.99 on Kindle, I felt like it was a bit much for just a 40-or-so-page read that didn't add anything to the story. If you really fee compelled to tell a tiny tidbit of a minor character's story, why not put it in the epilogue of the previous book? Or even the prologue of the next one? I couldn't get it out of the library so I just paid my dollar and read it. Whatever.

Kiss of Revenge (Kiss Trilogy #3) by Debbie Viguié: Book Review

Kiss of Revenge is a fairly satisfying conclusion of the trilogy. Though, is it actually the conclusion? I understood going in that it is the end of the story, yet there are allusions to a continuation by a couple of the characters at the end. It really should be the end of the story. The characters who make references to continuing on are some of the least developed and least interesting; I do not think another story focused on them would be very interesting at all. I would much rather follow Gabriel and Paul in the future.

Consistent with the previous two installments, the most interesting parts are the flashback episodes to the story of Carissa and Fleur, cousins and ancestors of present-day cousins Susan and Wendy. You finally find out what makes that cross necklace so darn interesting and powerful, why Raphael and Gabriel are at such odds, and what finally happened to Carissa (though that revelation was anti-climactic, in my opinion). A couple of other twists are revealed as well, but I was left again with the distinct impression that all the present-day humans were just flat and uninteresting. I really didn't feel connected to them at all, and their love for their respective significant others just didn't seem authentic.

The plot was a bit hard to follow, mostly because there were so many different lines and because it kept jumping back and forth in time. By the end, the whole Richelieu plot line seemed superfluous, and I wondered if it might not have been a better book if he hadn't even been a part of it. I still never figured out what exactly would happen if his plan had succeeded.

What I do like about this series, however, is the creativity of the premise -- that vampires are cursed to their existence because they were terrible humans, and the extra long life gives them more of a chance to see their depraved state and finally turn to God, thereby redeeming themselves. While this idea does bring up other issues, and it's obviously not Biblical, what is appealing is the idea that no one is beyond redemption, and that God does not desire that anyone should perish. So try not to think about it beyond that, and you will enjoy the story. Enjoy the what if? of it. Something that the author made more specific in this book that wasn't said explicitly in the previous two is the idea that vampires we're actually created by God himself, and that Cain, upon killing his brother, Abel, was the first vampire. Because a vampire is cursed - created - by ingesting the blood of the sire vampire, all vamps have the blood of Cain in them. I found this to be a very entertaining idea, and wait until you find out what Cain's alleged sacrifice to God was, the sacrifice that was found unacceptable. Little things such as these were what made the book even more enjoyable to me. I just wonder why this particular point was not made earlier in the series; it would have added a bit more interest to them.

I give this book 3 stars for plot, human character development, and writing; and 4 stars on creativity, uniqueness, and vampire character development. I hope Viguié will consider writing more about Gabriel and Paul, and even the other vampires. Gabriel continues to be my favorite, though I still do not see why he terrifies everyone.

Get a copy of this book on Amazon.

Read about the author, Debbie Viguié, on Goodreads.

Kiss of Death (Kiss Trilogy #2) by Debbie Viguié: Book Review

Kiss of Death is definitely better than Kiss of Night. I absolutely LOVED the flashback/diary scenes to 1198, where you learn more of the origins of Raphael and Gabriel, and their connection with Carissa and Fleur (the ancestors of present-day cousins, Susan and Wendy). However, I found even more that I just do not care about Susan, Wendy, and David (could they have more boring names?). I didn't like any of them in the first book, mostly because I didn't get to know them; there was just no character development. The majority of Kiss of Death (book 2) is flashback, so there is really very little you have to trudge through with the present-day folks, and that is why I loved it so much.

I cannot figure out why everyone is so terrified of Gabriel. He doesn't seem scary in the least. I actually think he's the most interesting character of them all and I can't wait to find out more about him in the third book. I hope it doesn't disappoint.

What does disappoint, however, is that we STILL do not have a clue why that cross necklace is so important. And just what exactly will happen if Richelieu's plans succeed? The story keeps telling us that it will be awful, horrible, terrible, but I'm not buying it. It's just not convincing enough.

While we're on the subject of Richelieu, tell me again how he has managed to survive 400+ years without someone recognizing him as THE Cardinal Richelieu? The author tells us that he doesn't have to have an all-out war to gain ultimate power because he has spent centuries putting his own men in very powerful places. Whaaaa? And just HOW has he done this without someone noticing that he keeps on living century after century without aging? This is just one teeny tiny example of my "huh?" moments throughout this series. I realize it's a vampire book, so of course NOT REAL, but sometimes I feel the author asks a bit much in the way of suspending disbelief.

What I do love about this series, however, is the author's premise that no one is beyond redemption, that the blood of Christ is sufficient for anyone, no matter what they have done. The letter from the author at the beginning of this book was very helpful to me in further understanding her reasons for writing this sort of story, and I wish I had read it first, before reading book one. If you happen to be reading my review and you've never read this series before, I urge you to pick up a copy of Kiss of Death and read the author's letter at the very beginning FIRST, before you read any of the books in this series. "Every person, no matter their circumstances, past, or the evil they have done can be redeemed by God through the blood of Christ. In the end, that blood is all that matters." Love that! As I mentioned in my review of Kiss of Night, I do worry that the intended audience will miss out on this book and the series. Devout Christians will probably avoid the series altogether because, how could a book about vampires be anything a devout Christian should read? It can't be good, right? And non-Christians might be drawn to it because of the vampire craze, but may be left even more confused about Christianity than they were before picking it up. It is considered "Christian fiction," but there isn't a whole lot of true Christianity throughout (minus a few references to prayer and not wanting to kill people, and a Bible verse to begin each chapter), and some things, albeit small, are even in error. (For instance, the cup from which Christ drank at The Last Supper, the "holy grail," never actually held His blood. It only held wine, which represented His blood in the new covenant. But the characters at one point believe that Richelieu is pursuing The Holy Grail because of the fact that it once held Christ's blood.) Things like these may seem small, but they can become huge stumbling blocks for those who are seeking or who have questions about Christianity.

I know I sound harsh but I still give it 4 stars because it's just so unique, well-written, and not preachy. The writing is sound, and the story is compelling (even if you don't particularly care for the present-day human characters). There is plenty of action to keep the pages turning quickly. I will definitely be reading book three in this series. I can't wait to learn more about Gabriel and Raphael!

Get your copy of this book from Amazon. 

Read about the author, Debbie Viguié, on Goodreads.

Kiss of Night (Kiss Trilogy #1) by Debbie Viguié: Book Review

I wanted to love this book. Christian vampires? What? The cover is so beautiful - that man, the darkness, the hair, the red scarf, the gorgeous font, the tantalizing title. But I was disappointed. The entire thing was just so clunky and awkward. I didn't like any of the human characters at all; they were all just as boring as their names - Susan, Wendy, David. Too much forced interaction, too little authenticity, too many unanswered questions. It reminded me of those years of my life I wasted watching the TV series LOST. Remember that? Every episode ended with more questions than were answered. Sheesh! If I didn't already have book two and hadn't already been told that book two is the stronger of the two in this series, I probably would not read on.

Although I must say that I love the idea of Christian vampires, those souls finally redeemed. In Viguié's vampire world, vampirism is a curse bestowed upon the most terrible, most inhumane humans so that they will live long enough to see the error of their ways and become redeemed. Brilliant. I just wish the author had gone a little farther with that in this book; the execution of that idea is a little flat. There's really not a whole lot of "Christian-y stuff" in this book. Maybe that will change with Kiss of Death, book two. I worry that non-Christians will be drawn to this story because it is about vampires (and has such a beautiful cover), but will be left even more confused about Christianity. I also worry that Christians won't read it because they think it can't be good if it has sexy vampires in it.

Get a copy of this book from Amazon.
Read about the author, Debbie Viguié, on Goodreads.

The Tell-Tale Start by Gordon McAlpine: Book Review

Written for older elementary to middle school kids, this is a clever book about identical twins named Edgar and Allan Poe. These boys, the great-great-great-great-grandnephews of the great Edgar Allan Poe, are not just identical but also interchangeable. Somehow, they share thoughts. Edgar and Allan have lived with their aunt and uncle since an unfortunate space accident claimed the lives of both their parents. The boys are good-natured but a handful; they really are too smart for their own good, and because there are two of them sharing one mind, they're even more of a handful! Their beloved cat, Roderick Usher, is cat-nabbed, and the family embarks on a cross-country road trip to get him back. When they finally arrive, they stumble upon a nefarious plot by a mad scientist - a plot that includes killing one of them - and they must use their intelligence and quick wit to catch the bad guy and foil his plans.

Everything about this book is great. I thoroughly enjoyed all the literary references and witty banter. I loved that the boys were so smart and could always cause trouble, but it was always in good humor (or to teach someone a lesson). No one ever got hurt. I think my favorite scenes were those of Edgar Allan Poe himself in the spirit world, dealing with his annoying boss. Just wait until you find out who he is!

I think any kids aged 8-12 would love this (especially boys), and their literary-loving parents would too.

Get the book on Amazon.com ($5.98 for Kindle at the time of this review).

Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley: Book Review

I loved this little story! Eleanor and Nicholas are introduced when they are children and Eleanor's uncle is marrying Nicholas's mother. Nicholas stole a kiss from her and embarrassed her in front of everyone, and from that day forward he was a thorn in her side. Fast-forward 15 years when Eleanor is about to be forced into a marriage she doesn't want and Nicholas comes home from the army after two years away. You can imagine what happens. Yes, it's somewhat predictable, but it's very sweet.

I loved Eleanor and Nicholas. My favorite type of heroine is one who is tough, spunky, and witty without being mean, and Eleanor was great...especially considering how short this novella is and how tough it must be to properly develop characters in very few words. I love that Nicholas has loved Eleanor since they were children, and I loved his reason for pestering her. I also love that he loves Eleanor's fire and that he pushes her to stand up to her uncle.

The main reason I stopped short of five stars for this review is the grammatical errors and obvious editing issues. It started out as just a dropped letter here and there (i.e., you instead of your) or a misplaced comma, but by the end there were really big errors that made it seem like the author really didn't understand the usage of certain words. For example, she used wane instead of wan, thing instead of think, and breath instead of breathe. It got sloppier as the story progressed. But this was a great price of free on Kindle from Amazon, so I'm not really complaining.

The story was full of great quotes and one-liners, especially the banter between Nicholas and Eleanor, and Nicholas and the mean uncle. I have to mention two of my favorite lines from the story. Eleanor says, "I am not scandalous, thank you very much...But stubborn and willful? A woman never argues with a compliment." And later, "If you are mad enough to marry me, my love, then I am likewise inclined."

I very much recommend this novella as a quick, sweet story, and plan to find more to read by Erin Knightley. Four and a half stars from me.

At the time of this review, the novella was available for Kindle on Amazon for FREE! Get it now! Click here. Find out more about the author, Erin Knightley, on Goodreads.

My quest to get Outlander added to QuizUp is working!

Thank you to those of you who have helped me get the word out to the folks at QuizUp about adding Outlander to their fantastic new trivia game! I received an e-mail from QuizUp today, asking me to submit  questions for consideration! YAHOO! Yes, I'm probably way more excited about this than I should be, but that's okay. They need at least 300 GOOD questions in order for the category to be added. So yeah, I'm already hard at work. :)

If you'd like to help me out, please send me a few trivia questions related to the Outlander series (along with the correct answers, of course) at ravinmaven13@gmail.com. Or you can post them in the comments section below. There is a 130-character limit (including spaces) on the questions, and a 30-character limit (including spaces) on the answers.

If you have no earthly idea what I'm talking about, then you need to download this game! Check out my original blog post about QuizUp here. Start playing the game now at QuizUp.com. See you there!

NOV. 20 UPDATE: I just submitted 309 questions about the entire Outlander series (and Diana Gabaldon too) to QuizUp! Wahoo! It took me 48 hours, and it was trickier than I thought. I know that others out there are writing their own questions too - and hopefully they're not the same as mine - so maybe they will be able to get the Outlander category up and running verra soon! As soon as I hear word that the category has gone live, I will be sure to post an update!

Thanks again to all of you who took the time to send me your questions! And thank you to my friends on Twitter who helped spread the word. I appreciate the help!

You can still send me questions! I will continue to compile trivia questions for this game, so send me whatcha got!

Walker's Shortbread Highlanders: Product Review

We just returned from a 2-week trip to Scotland, where we learned that we love these shortbread cookies. We tried several different brands while in Scotland, but Walkers is the best. We brought several smaller boxes home with us, but those were either given as gifts or devoured soon after our return. I was thrilled to find them on Amazon.com, for quite a decent price. And due to Amazon's Subscribe and Save program, I can have my Scottish Tea fix any time I want. I've also found that they can be picked up at Whole Foods, also for a good price. It sure beats a 9-hour trans-Atlantic flight!

These "biscuits" are dense and crumbly, with a perfectly buttery taste. And they taste just right with any flavor hot tea, or even on their own. Delicious!

I just discovered QuizUp. Oh. My. Word.

I foresee losing countless hours of my life in the near future.

So Mr. Maven, who is an avid Star Wars g̶e̶e̶k̶  fan, heard about this awesome new (? I guess it's new. It's new to me!) trivia game app on one of the blogs he follows (Jedi News, if you're interested). He downloaded it onto his iPhone 4S and started playing. I think it took about 15 minutes of play time before he decided he'd better share his new discovery with me.

Now, I'm not a gamer. I actually detest most of the video games regular people love. The only kind of games I care about are word games, puzzles, Sudoku, brain teasers, etc. To give you an idea, my current favorite (and up until QuizUp, my ONLY favorite) was Scramble With Friends. Anything else just frustrates me. So I was really only half-listening to Mr. Maven. But then he got me at "Disney," and "Maybe there's an Outlander category; they've got lots of literature topics." So yeah, then I had to have a go. (And no, there is no Outlander category. Yet. See my last paragraph.)

I'm hooked. Seriously. I stayed up until 2am this morning, trying to become #1 in my state in Disney and/or Pixar trivia. Once I get there, I plan to conquer my state in either spelling or word definitions. After that, who knows!

Basically, you enter a game either with a random player or via a personal challenge with someone you know. Then you get a series of seven random questions, with 10 seconds to answer each one. The bonus round gives you 2x points, so it is possible to come from behind and win the match. You level up based on experience points you've earned (you still earn some even for losses), and the higher up in rank you are, the longer it takes to accrue experience points. Every ten levels you get a new title, based on whatever category you're playing, and you can choose to display that title or not. For example, in Disney trivia, at level 10 you earn The Sorcerer's Apprentice. In the General Literature topic, at level 10 you earn the title Pulp Fiction Writer. I love seeing everyone's titles when I play them (I'm still trying to figure out what category gives you the title Honey Badger  and Dough Boy).

The game has an excellent, clean interface. It's simple to navigate, even for non-gamers like me. The graphics are tight and flawless, with bright, primary colors. It's just pleasing to look at. The music is nice too; it's not annoying and it doesn't stress you out during the rounds. You can play with a world-wide opponent base or challenge your friends (sign in with Facebook to do this easily). For the most part, the questions are excellent - a good mix of easy to difficult in each category. There are a gazillion topics and categories. Lookie here:

That's 14 topics! And within all of those, there are even more topics broken down. Under Literature alone, there are 14 subtopics! Omg, how long will it take me to master all of those? Well, I know one I WON'T be mastering...Fifty Shades of C̶r̶a̶p̶ Grey! <shudder> There are Children's Lit, Classics, Harry Potter, Hitchhiker's Guide, The Hunger Games, Song of Ice and Fire, and Twilight, just to name a few off the top of my head. There are tons of questions in each category, and the developers seem to be adding more all day long, every day (there's a notification on the topics that have been recently updated). And what else is awesome is that you can contribute questions too. See that "Contribute Content" button up there? Click that and they ask you for 10 sample questions in a category. Mr. Maven got right on that, don'tcha know. (Sidenote: He's currently #2 in our state in Star Wars knowledge. @-@)

So after you've played a few games, you can do my favorite part....CHECK YOUR STATISTICS! Yes, I know. I'm a geek.

That's not me, by the way. That's Spencer Owen from the UK. I just grabbed his photo off a Google search. Thanks, Spence! And then there are achievements too. Woo hoo! It just gets better and better. One of my first achievements was Black Whole: "Congratulations...I guess. You just scored no points. This is the abscence [yes, I realize that's misspelled. So the developers aren't perfect. At least they got "you're" correct.] of points. Cheer up, at least you're not in the negative." In my defense, I was playing in the category of Kobe Bryant. I know nothing about Kobe Bryant. Well...now I do. Which, I guess, is the point. But anyway, there are about 100 achievements you can earn and they're all fun; I'm sure they'll add more.

So anyway, why am I still talking? Go to quizup.com and download your own game (it's FREE)! I promise you'll feel smarter and have fun doing it.You can play it on your iPhone or iPad. Maybe  Kindle too? I'm not sure. The last info I found said that they are currently developing the app for Android devices and it will be available soon. So hang on, Droid folks. Your fun is coming soon too!

If you try the game out, let me know how you like it. And maybe I'll see you there! (If you're playing Disney trivia, expect to be trounced. Muuuaaahaha!)

Oh oh oh! I almost forgot! I noticed the glaring omission in the Literature topic - OUTLANDER! WHAT?!! This fantastic game includes Fifty Shades of T̶r̶i̶p̶e̶ Grey but not Outlander? So you know I had to go and see what I could do about fixing THAT. Yeah, you can suggest new categories to the developers. So please, if you're an Outlander fan like me, blast out an email to topics@plainvanilla.is and (politely) ask them to add our favorite book to their Literature topic. And then, folks, we can start sending in our own trivia questions.... :)

So the Outlander World gets its first live view of Sam Heughan in a kilt...

...and goes WILD.

Sam Heughan, the Scottish actor recently cast as Jamie Fraser in STARZ TV's Outlander, presented the award for Best Actor / Actress in a Feature Film (along with Joanna Vanderham) at the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television) Scotland Awards on November 17, 2013. All of us not in the UK watched the live feed of the show on YouTube (thank you, technology), and got about 45 seconds of Sam in a kilt, walking and talking and smiling and even speaking a little Gaelic.

But before the show started, STARZ Outlander Tweeted photos of Heughan getting fitted for the kilt he would wear to the ceremony.

Photo released by STARZ Outlander.

And then right as the show started (I was surprised at how small and intimate the venue seemed, as well as how short the ceremony was), these photos were posted on Twitter:

                                                                                                   Photo by @KellyLy125 on Twitter.

Why is he standing like that? It looks like he just conquered something, or his kilt is in a wad...or something. Whatever, it doesn't seem natural. Surely this man is used to wearing kilts, right? Anyway, it's Sam. In a kilt. And so we can better visualize him as Jamie Fraser.

Then it wasn't too much longer before Heughan is onstage presenting the award. Here are a few screen shots of that:

 

Two photos above by @TheRealPernice on Twitter.

 

 Above two photos by @LadyRaven15 on Twitter.

Above photo by @KellyLy125 on Twitter.

I can totally see the young-20s-virgin in the above photo. At first, I wasn't sure Heughan could pull that off. He looked older and not-so-innocent to me in the few imdb and promo photos that were available at the time of his casting.

I think this one is my favorite of all of the screen shots from the BAFTA awards:

Photo from @JeSuisPrestNow on Twitter.

His hair looks like it's in an awkward growing-out stage. As soon as Ron Moore and Crew announced they'd cast Heughan as Jamie Fraser, I wondered if he would begin growing it out. It looks as though he has. That pleases me.

I had embedded a link to the YouTube video of the entire ceremony, but the owner of the page changed it to private. So, here's a second-best video clip for you; it's only 40 seconds long, from a Melanie Friedman on Facebook (Thanks Melanie!). Once I find a better one, I'll post it too.

LATER EDIT: The Scotsman just posted a beautiful article on an interview with Heughan, in which Sam talks about loving the beauty of Scotland and how he had "kind of forgotten what Scotland was like and I’d turned into a bit of a Londoner." <gasp> He says that the places they have been filming (like Doune Castle, which was one of my FAVORITES on my recent trip to the country) are so gorgeous that people will think they're fake sets and CGI. He also mentions all the Outlander fans (!!) and love scenes with Caitriona. I think you should check out the article yourself. 

So now you can just avoid Twitter and Facebook because it's craaaaaaazy out there! You're welcome. :)

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp: Book Review

What a beautiful, moving, gut wrenching book. When I started, I thought, "Only about 220 pages, and a smallish book? I can read that in two days tops." I was wrong. It's so deep, so moving, and sometimes so hard to read that it took me nearly three weeks. After the first chapter or two I wasn't sure I wanted to continue - the subject matter is so tough. But I see what she was doing. She had to tell you where she came from. You had to understand the depths of her pain and despair, and the reasons why she had such difficulty believing in a good God. Her transformation, due to the challenge from a friend, is remarkable.

Ann was angry and bitter and resistant to see the good in life. She was negative about everything, and became easily exasperated with her children and her life. Considering she lived on a pig farm and home schooled six kids, I can certainly understand! Then a friend dared her to write down 1,000 gifts - one thousand things that she loved, things that blessed her, things that made her happy. Throughout the journey of this challenge, her heart changed and she started seeing God's love in everything around her, everything. She slowly understood what eucharisteo, to give thanks, really means, and how it is the key to true communion and oneness with God. She learned that living a thank-filled life is truly the only way to know joy, and that eucharisteo - giving thanks - always precedes the miracle.

Ann Voskamp writes her memoir as poetry. Every sentence is lyrical and lilting and laden with emotion. The descriptions are so vivid and sharp; you can perfectly picture her farm house, her kitchen, her back yard, or the field where she met the moon. It's beautiful. But because of this, it can be difficult to read. If you're not a fan of descriptive, poetic writing, this may not be the book for you. Oh, but you will miss a gem! It's difficult to read this book and not be changed. Even a little bit.

The biggest problem I had with this book, and really the only one, is that in her poetic verse, she almost always refused to use adverbs. It was always "His eyes smiled brave," "I breathe easy," or "My heart beat slow." I realize it's her style, but it just irked me.

I started my own eucharisteo journal in January of this year, but now that I've read this beautifully moving book, I know I will see more of the miracle and more of His love. Thanks always precedes the miracle. I love it.

Get the book on Amazon here. Read more about Ann Voskamp on Goodreads.

Marvel's Thor The Dark World: Movie Review

Mr. Maven and I got a babysitter (woo hoo!) last weekend and went to see Thor: The Dark World at the local theater. I really wasn't that excited about seeing it, though I certainly didn't mind watching Chris Hemsworth in action. I honestly thought it wasn't going to be that great (what movie sequel really is?), and I cannot stand watching Natalie Portman try to act. Ugh. But I was pleasantly surprised. This movie was fun and funny and I actually enjoyed myself.

But I have to say that the actor who stole the show was Tom Hiddleston. Man, was he awesome! Loki totally stole every scene he was in, and I just couldn't tear my eyes from him. He is the deliciously tempting bad-guy-you-love-to-love. He's not evil, as I thought in the first movie. He's just corrupted by his desire for power and control. And why not? He's had to live in his big brother's shadow all his life! So it's difficult to hate him. Especially when just about everything that comes out of his mouth is witty and snarky. I want a Loki-only spin-off movie!

Okay, so the plot...umm...I'm not really sure what it was. There were some bad guys, dark elves, led by the big head evil dark elf called Malekith (which I think is a very cool name), and they were mad about...something. I think because Thor's father killed a bunch of them a long time ago? Anyway, they're not all dead and they're coming back to annihilate everyone in their path. And there is some sort of dark gooey stuff that has been hidden for a long time and somehow our dumb "heroine," Jane (Natalie Portman - ugh) has found it. The dark gooey evil stuff has
infiltrated her bloodstream and so she is a living weapon of mass destruction. So Malekith wants her, or the black gooey stuff IN her, and of course Thor cant let him have it. But Thor can't fight Malekith and his elves all by himself so he busts Loki out of prison and they team up.

Just don't think about it too much. The plot doesn't really matter in this one. It's just fun. Oh, and the snarky assistant, Darcy (played by Kat Dennings) is back and she's really fun again. So I recommend you see this film. Maybe if you're not crazy about the Marvel superhero world wait for it on DVD. But if you're a Loki fan, don't miss this one. And just wait until you see the Captain America cameo - brilliant! Four stars from me, for entertainment and eye candy.

The Cell Phone Lot by Stephanie Elliot: Book Review

This was a predictable, sweet short story with likable characters and plenty of hope. It was exactly what I was looking for today, and once I'd finished, I just felt happy.

Grant and Bridge have a chance meeting at the cell phone waiting area at the airport, and a flight delay gives them an opportunity to hang out at the bar and share a few beers. One thing leads to another and before they know it, they're hooked on each other. But there's a catch. Grant is at the airport waiting on an online date he was meeting for the first time. And Bridge is still hurting from a recent breakup. What do they do?
 
The characters were so sweet, and about as developed as you'd expect in a short story. I liked the modern setting; it felt relevant and believable. Just a good afternoon read.

At the time of this review, this short story was available on Amazon for $.99 (Kindle), or you can borrow it for free via Amazon Prime. Check it out here. 

New Pub Date for Outlander Book #8: June 10, 2014

On November 12, Diana Gabaldon announced that publishing would be delayed for book number eight in the Outlander series, Written in My Own Heart's Blood (AKA MOBY). This caused Mass Confusion and Uproar all over Facebook and Twitter. I was astounded at the outrage of some people. Apparently it had escaped their attention that Herself has been quite busy lately. But I absolutely loved Gabaldon's response to one upset fan. She definitely got the final word, as she should:

Disgruntled fan: "Clear the calendar you chose to clutter, and finish your book when you promised. you're behaving like an Irishman."

Diana Gabaldon: "All I _ever_ promise is the best book I can write. And that's what you'll get, whether you like it or not. <g>"

I heart her!

She didn't have to do this, but when Gabaldon announced the necessary decision to push back release of MOBY, she posted a list of reasons why. Bless her! Read what she said about that on her blog.

Then on November 15, a new pub date was announced. MOBY will be released in the U.S. on June 10, 2014. I have no problem with this. It's a big book, I'm sure. The pub date was only pushed back by, what, three months or so? Big deal. I honestly expected it to be longer than that. And anyway, she's super busy right now, with all the hubbub of the show's filming. Right? And all that other big-time author-y stuff she has to do. Rumor has it that the TV show will premiere sometime in the summer, so why not have the publication of MOBY coincide with that? Makes sense to me. But the bottom line is, I want her best work. And I'm glad she's determined to give us just that.

Read Gabaldon's own words on her blog post about the delay and the new publish date. She also answers questions about pub dates in other countries. 

Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson & Mark Schlabach: Book Review

This book will probably only appeal to folks who are already fans of the A & E series Duck Dynasty; the book is really written for those fans. It's Phil's story, the patriarch of the Robertson clan. Phil is a tell-it-like-it-is man, and he doesn't mince words. He doesn't even try to soften the fact that he was not always the God-fearing, God-loving, faithful husband that he is today. In Phil's words, he was an outlaw for a long time, and he was even downright mean and dirty to his wife, the loveable Ms. Kay. Those parts were hard to read.

Phil recounts his childhood, growing up in what was basically a shack in the woods, with no indoor bathroom and the only running water coming out of a 1-inch PVC pipe in the kitchen. They heated water on the stove and bathed once a week or so. It was rough living, but they were content. They lived off the land, in the same way that pioneer families of the late 1800s had, and that was something they were proud of. Phil and Ms. Kay married when he was 16; she was just 15! Ms. Kay attended high school and finished her senior year when Phil was a freshman at Louisiana State Tech, playing football. They had three boys very early on (Alan, Jason, and Willie), and that's when Phil hit his wild stage. Things were bad, and Ms. Kay took her boys and left him. Then he found Jesus, became a Christian, and completely turned his life around.

Things weren't all peachy from that moment on, however. They still struggled and still had problems, including similar "outlaw" behavior by several of their sons (So far Jase is the only one who has stuck on the straight and narrow!). But they also had hope, perseverance, and unconditional love for each other. They took risks and stepped out on faith together, and for the most part, those risks have paid off. Now their family business, Duck Commander, is a multi-million dollar enterprise that includes a TV show, merchandising, DVDs and more, in addition to making several different kinds of duck calls. They also own a bunch of land that was purchased 40 acres at a time so Phil and his boys could have plenty of space to hunt, fish, run wild, and for insurance purposes in case of another Great Depression. But it is also rich in oil, and so they have sweet deals with the local utility companies who want to run their pipes across Robertson land. God has certainly blessed the Robertsons. And it is evident in this autobiography of the man who started it all that he gives all the credit to his Creator and Redeemer.

I was surprised to read that Phil is an ordained minister...and so are Jase, Willie, and Alan. I knew about Alan, but the other two were a surprise to me. And apparently, not only that, but they are all very evangelical and enthusiastic in sharing their faith as well. No doubt the folks at A & E have made them tone down their brand of Christianity for the TV show, because you don't see that much of it in the show. But according to Phil in this book, they are all very outspoken about their faith, and it's apparently a common occurrence for them to baptize people in their back yard, or marry couples in their front yard. They're yard people, I guess.

Phil details how his company came to be, and explained a little how duck hunting and his special duck calls work. I wasn't as interested in that part, but it wasn't so boring that I couldn't get through it. I wanted to hear more about his boys and about their formative years, and about his relationship with Si, his brother. But I guess those parts are reserved for the books written by Willie and Korie, and by Si himself. I guess I need to check those out next.

This is a very quick read; I finished it in a day. If you're even remotely interested in the phenomenon that is Duck Dynasty, you should read it. And if you're not a Christian, don't let Phil's faith put you off. It really isn't preachy or pushy at all. He's just himself - laid back, easy-going...and happy, happy, happy.

Crow Boy by Philip Caveney: Book Review

Crow Boy is a YA Historical Fiction novel about a teenaged boy named Tom who is suddenly taken away from his home in Manchester, England to Edinburgh, Scotland by his own mother and her new boyfriend. Tom finds himself in a new school where he knows no one, and he is immediately targeted by the school bullies. Tom just wants to disappear. His class takes a field trip to Mary King's Close, a place steeped in history beneath the streets of the capital city of Edinburgh. It's a creepy place, and the sights and stories of their tour guide really set the tone for ghosts. Of course Tom sees a ghost, and he follows her into a restricted area of the close. He falls through the floor, is knocked unconscious, and wakes up in the year 1645.

Thankfully Tom had recently completed a project on the late-medieval plague, and he had actually been paying attention to the Mary King's Close tour guide. So when he finds himself somehow transported right into the middle of the terrible Edinburgh plague, he is able to think quickly. Luckily, he has time-traveled with his mobile phone, a 5-pound British note, and a partially used pack of antibiotics left over from an ear infection. Of course these items all figure prominently in the story. Soon Tom finds himself apprenticed - against his will - to the infamous Doctor Rae. Doctor Rae, Edinburgh's plague doctor, wears a thick leather cape, heavy boots, and a mask in the shape of a crow's beak. The beak is stuffed with herbs and other things that are meant to protect the wearer from the miasma, the vapors that are thought to be the source of the terrible disease. The effect of the doctor's costume is striking; the sight of him is terrifying to the sick and able-bodied alike. The story unfolds quickly from there, and the end comes before you know it...or want it to.

Speaking of the ending, it is disappointingly cliché, and the only reason I didn't give this gem of a book five stars. The whole story had been so interesting and unique that I truly was surprised that it ended so flatly. Right before I got there, I thought to myself, "No way. He's not really going to do that to me, is he?" But the journey there is so fun and deliciously creepy that it wasn't a deal-breaker.

I realize that some of my enthusiasm for this book may be due to the fact that I just returned home from my first-ever vacation out of the United States; we just spent nearly two weeks sightseeing in Scotland. On our very first day, we toured Mary King's Close in Edinburgh, and I was creeped out by the wax statue of Doctor Rae and the stories of deaths and ghosts in the cramped living quarters that make up the close. As we exited the tour through the gift shop, I just happened to see this book and thought I'd give it a shot. I love it when a chance purchase turns out to be so good. And bonus, the copy is signed by the author. But despite my bias, I still think it's a well-written and exciting story. Perfect for the almost-Halloween season. I would definitely read more by this author. Four-and-a-half stars from this girl!

At the time of this review, Crow Boy was available for Kindle on Amazon.com for $4.79. There are paperback copies available from third-party sellers on Amazon too. Click here to get your own copy. Read about the author, Philip Caveney, on Goodreads.

Celtic Colors Journal (Peter Pauper Press): Product Review

I purchased this journal, my fifth Peter Pauper Press journal, for our recent two-week trip to Scotland. It was perfect for what we needed. It's larger than a typical journal, which was great for all the detailed writing we did from our trip and all the extra souvenir-type things we added (ticket stubs, business cards, pressed flowers, etc.). The paper is smooth, and accepts ink very readily, but it dries quickly so you have fewer smudges. (I prefer to use free-flowing fountain-style ink pens rather than roller ball pens.) The paper is a bit thicker than everyday writing paper, so the ink doesn't bleed through the other side. The pages are faintly lined, to keep your writing straight, without being too bold. The book lies (lays? I never know!) flat so you can easily write on either side with no frustration. This particular journal has a subtle Celtic design at the top of each page too. Love it!

I highly recommend Peter Pauper Press for any journals you may need. At the time of this review, the Celtic Colors Journal was available on Amazon for $7.49 (Amazon Prime). You just cannot beat that. Click here to get your own!

My favorite book is about to become a TV series...

...and I'm not sure how I feel about that. (Warning: This is LONG. And emotional. And maybe even a little bit weird. If you're not a fan of Outlander, you probably won't care what I have to say, so you may want to just close your browser now. Consider yourself warned.)

I discovered Diana Gabaldon's masterpiece, Outlander, years ago when I was suffering from severe postpartum depression. I'd just given birth to my first child, and like so many other new mothers, I had a tough time. It got so bad that I could barely function. It was all I could do to change Mini-Maven's diapers and make sure he was fed. I was barely hanging on, barely keeping us alive until my husband came home from work every day and could take care of everything else, including the emotional needs of our firstborn. To tell you the truth, I don't even remember most of that time in my life. And I pray to God that he doesn't either, my sweet boy.

For some reason, one crisp fall day, I picked up my old copy of Outlander, a book I'd bought years prior at a used book store on the recommendation of the shop owner, and just started reading. It didn't take long; I was hooked. By page 100, I had cried five times and I knew that something in me had fundamentally changed forever. I would never go back. I started being feeling more alive during the day, playing with Mini-Maven more and just all-around being a better mother to him. At night I would lose myself in 18th century Scotland and the world of Jamie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp Randall. The more lost in Outlander I became, the better I got, and by the following spring, I was healthy again. I don't understand it but I truly believe that that book saved my life.

That Christmas, after I'd devoured the book (the first in the series), I ordered about 15 paperback copies and gave them to all the great women in my life. I wanted everyone I knew to be a part of it. It's just that good. To this day, I read something by Diana Gabaldon every fall. It just seems right.

Since then I've started researching my own Scottish heritage. I want to know more about my ancestors who came to America from Scotland, why they came here, and what life was like for them in Scotland. I've studied Scottish history, listened to and learned to play Celtic music, and bought a lot of Celtic jewelry (haha!). And this year, for my 40th birthday, my husband took me to Scotland. I can't even express what it was like being there. (That will just have to be another blog post at another time....)

So obviously, this book is not just a book to me. It has become a part of who I am, who I was, and where I came from. And it is most certainly a part of who I will be in the future.

I can remember telling my husband, in the midst of my first read of Outlander, "Man! I hope they make a movie out of this book! It is AMAZING!" That was my mantra for years afterward too. But then I realized that movies of really good books never do them justice. There's just not enough time in a movie, and who wants to wait ten years for a trilogy? Not to mention the exorbitant cost of such a venture. But at the time, Game of Thrones was not on anyone's radar. It had not yet become the groundbreaking TV series phenomenon, so I wasn't thinking, "Hey, they should make a TV series of Outlander instead!" Well fast-forward to June 2013, when it was announced by Herself that she had entered into a contract with the cable TV channel STARZ. I couldn't believe it. The time had finally come. I was so freakin' excited I could hardly stand it. Once again, my poor husband probably thought I was never going to shut up about Outlander (At that point, he had finally read the book himself a year or so previously...and loved it. Imagine my joy.). And it didn't help that our 18-months-in-planning-40th-birthday-trip-to-Scotland was coming up in just TWO MONTHS! Would they start filming WHILE WE WERE THERE?! Would we actually get to SEE SOMETHING?!! I couldn't believe the timing. (As it turned out, production didn't actually start until about two weeks after we had returned home again. Shucks.)

Not a day goes by now that I don't see or hear something related to the filming of "my" show. I've joined every Facebook page, Twitter feed, Instagram account, and e-mail list I can find that has anything to do with Outlander. I've always watched Diana Gabaldon's blog and accounts, but now I watch them much, much closer. Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming. I thought I was a true fan, but let me tell you, there are some folks out there who are Cray. Zee. No joke. The level of dissection and examination of every single facet of every tidbit of anything related to this show is just...mind-blowing. I've had to pull myself back from the craziness of it because it was starting to make me sad. I don't want to know everything about everything before it even airs. I want to experience it all at once in its final form. I want to know Sam Heughan as Jamie Fraser and never have competing images from fan art (that has Photoshopped red hair from the cover of a goofy bodice-ripper onto his head) in my mind as I'm watching. I don't want to second-guess Ron Moore's every move, and I certainly don't want to presume to have a better idea than Diana Gabaldon, the creator of these fictional characters Herself. It drives me bonkers when people have virtual fights (with Facebook posts that are hundreds of comments long) over what Jamie Fraser looks like or what his body type is. He's not real. And if anyone knows Jamie Fraser, certainly it's Diana. Right? My husband just laughs and tells me, "Welcome to the world of fanboy-dom!" As a life-long Star Wars geek, he has long known of this Dark Side of fandom.

I love the intelligent discussions, though they seem to be few and far between. I love it when someone posts a question on one of the Facebook fan pages, asking what others think about a certain passage in one of the books (you know the series has seven books now, going on eight, right?). I've never really had anyone to discuss the books with, and this is like my own little book club. (If only there had been Facebook when I first read Outlander!) But the ugliness - and the crazy - just really overshadows the good. I find myself feeling selfish. All those years I wanted someone to love these books as much as I did, someone I could share it with and talk to about. All those years I wished there had been a movie so I could see the story come to life. And now it's finally happening and I'm finding myself thinking, "Whoah! Wait a minute! Hold on just a second. I was a fan first! I loved these books before you! You were just a BABY when this book was first published!" Isn't that crazy? Why do I feel this way? I think about all the women who are drooling over Sam Heughan, and getting creepy about it, and I feel...what is it? Jealousy? Sheesh! What is wrong with me? But it's not jealousy for him. It's jealousy that now the books and the story aren't just mine. I've always felt like, whenever I open one of the books, Jamie and Claire and Lord John Grey are my old friends and we're getting reacquainted again. It's a very personal thing when I read these stories. These characters saved my life. And now thousands of strangers are talking about my Jamie and Claire as if they know them too, and the whole thing feels like a runaway train down a greased track. The craze has left the station and it's passed me by. And I'm really surprised at how it has affected me.

People who don't read may not understand the power that a truly good book can have. And people who have never experienced the dark and lonely depths of depression will not understand what it feels like to finally pull yourself out of it. I can't wait to see Outlander on my TV in my very own living room. I truly think it's going to be a blockbuster show. And maybe by then I will have worked out my weird angst about the whole thing. I sure hope so.

ENJOY Sulfate-Free Luxury Shampoo & Conditioner: Product Review

This shampoo is nice and very rich. It's supposed to be sulfate free, though it lists Olefin Sulfonate, a surfactant, as the second ingredient. I'm no chemist, but it sounds like that may be similar to a sulfate, or possibly a derivative of one. It lathers, which I wasn't expecting; the other sulfate-free products I've used in the past do not lather at all. (Maybe this is what the Olefin Sulfonate does? As I said, I'm not a chemist.)

The shampoo is very concentrated. It truly only takes a tiny amount, which is nice because it's so expensive. I've found that if I thoroughly soak my hair for at least one full minute, even up to 90 seconds, before applying the product, it requires less to do the job. I currently have a very short bob cut, and I typically use a dime-sized dot of shampoo.

The conditioner is very thick, and if I don't rinse thoroughly, it can leave residue in my hair that causes it to be limp and dull. It will also coat the bottom of my shower; I almost slipped and fell the first time I used the conditioner and obviously didn't rinse the shower down well enough. I've found that it seems to rinse best if I use the coldest water I can stand. That also seems to seal in the moisture and make it shinier. It seems to be fantastic at taming my frizz-prone hair though, which is great.

I don't really notice the scent of either the shampoo or the conditioner, so I suppose they must both be light and/or unobtrusive. At any rate, the scent isn't unpleasant. 

I do believe that regular use of this shampoo and conditioner lengthens the life of my hair color and shine. 

At the time of this review, these two products (10.1 oz. each) were available on Amazon.com for $28.98. You can purchase them here and here.

Elta MD UV Lotion SPF 30+: Product Review

This product was recommended to me by my dermatologist. I have very fair skin, and am prone to sunburn (of course), freckles, and moles, and skin cancer seems to run in my family. I've been using this product for about 6 months now, and I love it. It's very light, goes on easily, and quickly absorbs. It doesn't irritate my skin or my eyes, and it doesn't have much of a scent at all. It purports to be a moisturizer and UVA/UVB sunscreen, but I find that it is not as moisturizing as I'd like it to be. In the summer it was fine, but I may need to add a layer of regular moisturizer along with this product during the winter. I highly recommend it, for daily use on the face, neck, the backs of hands, and arms.

At the time of this review, an 8-ounce bottle is available for $22.80 on Amazon.com (Amazon Prime).

Click here to get it from Amazon.