Meanwhile, in Rivendell . . .

[Along with the review I posted recently, I'm hosting an author interview with Dancing and Doughnuts author Rachel Kovaciny -- featuring DD trivia and writing tips -- in celebration of the book release!] How do you pronounce the surname 'Algona'? It’s al-GOH-nuh -- there’s actually a town in Iowa named that. I gave them a different name originally, but I kept misspelling it as “Algona” and finally decided to just change it to that. How did you decide on all the names in the novel (specifically, those of the Algona girls)? It all started with Jedediah Jones, who named himself. It’s always the easiest when characters do that, but it only happens about half the time for me when I’m dreaming up a story. The rest of the time, I have to search for ones that fit and are era-appropriate. For the twelve dancing daughters, I researched common baby names from the 1840s and 1850s and paired up girl names I liked that sounded good with the last name Algona. I must ad...

[I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and am posting as part of the Dancing and Doughnuts world tour .   To see other posts in the tour, click here to see the full schedule.] *muffled squeals*  GUUUUUYYYYYYYYYYYSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! Dancing and Doughnuts has pretty much everything.  Plot, characters, humor, pacing, detail, and ATMOSPHERE out the whazoo.  It's wonderful. Let's start with characters. Jedediah Jones is the epitome of a likable protagonist.  This guy was witty, responsible, and unflaggingly honest and chill.  He doesn't feel the need to put on a 'tough guy' façade -- or any façade at all, for that matter.  He is who he is and he knows it and he's cool with it and he's not super interested in protecting himself from other people's judgments or digs or what have you and he's not irritating because he doesn't seem like he's trying to pass himself off as flawless or right all the time and ca...

First off, a quick clarification:  I don't actually love Amy.  I like her and I think she deserves a little more love and a lot less flak.  So here I be. ;) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Much like Susan Pevensie, Amy March seems to have been universally (or almost universally) deemed the "bad one" of her siblings.  People say that Amy is spoiled, bratty, selfish, vain . . .  Or, they simply invalidate her.  They say that they just don't like her, that she's just unlikable, usually for the aforementioned reasons. I myself might have considered her my least favorite of the March sisters once upon a time.  But lately I've come to realize that this attitude toward Amy is all wrong. Let's review :  Amy, at the start of the story, is twelve.   She is, ergo, the youngest of the March sisters. It is generally concluded that Amy is a little spoiled, and that she tends to be vain, selfish, and "flighty," and tries unsuccessfully to use ...

The inestimable Cordy over at Any Merry Little Thought is hosting another month-long blog party -- this time, devoted to classic movies!  As part of the kick-off, she posted one of her Would You Rather games, tailored to fit the theme.  So, today, I'm here to post my answers! :) Would you rather dance with Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly? Hmm, maybe Fred Astaire?  I haven't actually watched a ton of either of them, but I almost feel like Astaire's general persona might be more fun?  For me, personally?  But I don't know. Would you rather star opposite Cary Grant or Gregory Peck? HOW DARE YOU.  *carts them both away protectively* [But maybe Gregory.  For (very shallow) reasons.] (On the other hand, I really do like Cary, and working with him would probably be a blast.) Would you rather be serenaded by Howard Keel or Bing Crosby? Again, rude, but Howie is literally my jam, so, sorry, Bing. (Although tbh I'd rather not be serenad...

HI FAM WHAT'S NEW. (Me blogging, for one.  Heh.) YES, I have been pretty absent for awhile, and yes, there are reasons on which I may or may not elaborate in another post, we'll see.  (Short version:  two jobs + lack of inspiration + overwhelming desire to do nothing but surf Pinterest & YouTube and discover new movies and go thrift shopping = no blogging.) But anywho.  I only actually watched three new-to-me movies last month (heh), but luckily they were all good, and I'm rather obsessed with two of them.  So by all means let us rave about them. ;) (Oh wait actually that's a lie:  I watched four.  The other one was Breathe , but honestly that one was disappointing due to how it ended.  But, on the other hand, that may not have been the movie's fault . . . I'll discuss that one super briefly after I talk about the other ones.) * Quigley Down Under   {1990} * Guys?!?!   Guys?!?!   This?!?  Wa...

As you may know, Allison Tebo , author of The Reluctant Godfather , is relaunching the book in celebration of its new cover!  (I think I got that right?) The Reluctant Godfather is one that I've been wanting to read for a while now, and, y'all, I finally got to!  Ms. Tebo was kind enough to supply me with a review copy. SQUEE GUYS IT WAS SO GOOD!  I know you've probably all heard this so many times before, but it truly is an excellent novella.  {In fact, it contributed to making me late for work one morning.  So WAY TO GO, ALLISON. *scowls*  (Not really.)}  Burndee, in particular, is as grumpy and lovable as you've heard.   I think the humor is the best thing about this story -- the wit, the little twists that seem counterintuitive to the fairytale as we've come to expect it (such as Ella being terrified of mice, or Burndee's spell not working perfectly at the first try, etc.).  Also, I still love the idea of changing it to...

Preamble is unnecessary. ;-P A United Kingdom {2017} I liked it a lot!  Didn't become a favorite, but it's still powerful.  It improved on a second watching, too. Avengers: Infinity War {2018} Well, that . . . happened.  I gotta admit that I didn't see that ending coming and am now "confusion".  (And kind of sadness, too.) Oh, and for any of you who by this time are royally confused about my feelings on Marvel in general (I would be), here 'tis:  I really don't care much for the movies themselves, but I'm very invested in several of the characters.  So.  Don't like the genre, love some of the charries. (Although then the characters also irritate me sometimes, too.) Clear as mud?  Good. Bella {2007} You say you're alone, Bella?  I THINK FREAKIN' NOT. This was so good!  Jose was a precious cinnamon roll of a puppy and I loved him.  Also the ending is feelsy. Doctor Thorne {2016} This one had some...