Book Beginnings and Friday 56 for May 31

Closing out the month today, and it's Friday!  That means it is time for Book Beginnings and Friday 56.

This week, I've been reading Murder for Choir by Joelle Charbonneau.  I've been enjoying it, and expect to finish it today at lunch time.  Come back this evening for my review.

Anyway, the book starts off with this line:

If Dante ever added a tenth circle of hell, this would be it.

And on page 56 we find:

I hoped my friends wouldn't spill my secrets to strangers or would at least hold out for a decent bribe.  Performers were always short on cash.  I wouldn't blame them for wanting to pay the rent.

So you can see why I'm enjoying this one.  Can't wait to see how it ends.

Movie Review: Camp Rock 2 - The Final Jam

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun music, enjoyable story

Cons: Average acting and choreography

The Bottom Line:

Story is better

It's good but forgettable

This is for the tweens

The Rock Increases in this Fun Sequel

Disney Channel and tween stars seem to go hand in hand these days, and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam is the latest attempt to cash in on this market.  A made for TV movie that's a sequel to a made for TV movie, it takes up back to the title camp for a second summer of fun, music, and hard work.  Speaking of hard work, the writers obviously put some into this movie because the story actually holds together better than the first one.

Mitchie Torres (Demi Lovato) is excited to be going back to Camp Rock.  She's ready to have some fun, reconnect with her friends, and work on her music.  Oh yeah, and Shane Gray (Joe Jonas) is coming back again this year, so they just might be able to officially start their relationship.

But it isn't long before Mitchie and her friends figure out something is wrong.  There aren't as many people at camp this year.  Seems everyone is heading to Camp Star across the lake.  Camp Star is being run by Axel, a former band member of Camp Rock's founder Brown Cesario (Daniel Fathers).  The first night, Axel manages to steal several campers and most of the counselors from Camp Rock.

The only reason Camp Rock stays open is because Mitchie and the older campers agree to take on counselor duties.  But then Mitchie gets the idea of challenging Camp Star to a head to head musical showdown.  Can Camp Rock pull off a number to save the camp?

My big problem with the first movie was a story that seemed to gloss over the needed resolution.  While this movie doesn't have long drawn out moments, it does a much better job of showing us the resolution to the story so the happy ending doesn't feel forced.  And there are some great moments in the climax that are merely pictures.

I was also glad to see that the Jonas Brothers had a much bigger part in the movie.  Shane was originally written to be a solo character, and when Joe was cast, they wrote in parts for his brothers.  In the first movie, they didn't have much to do, here they are given sub-plots of their own.  While Kevin pretty much just got to be a goof ball as Jason, I enjoyed Nick's sub-plot as his character, Nate, developed a relationship with Dana (Chloe Bridges), Axel's daughter.  (And in case you are wondering, no, I don't know my Jonas Brothers.  I was actually taking notes during the movie so I could keep them all straight in my mind.)

In fact, Nick gets my favorite song in the film as he finally starts opening up to Dana by singing about himself to her.  It's a silly song that is guaranteed to make you smile.  There are quite a few new songs in the movie (it is a musical after all), and most of them are pretty good.  I wasn't a fan of the more hip hop oriented songs from Camp Star, and the song the entire cast sings as they are throwing down the challenge wasn't a favorite, but I did enjoy most of them.

The choreography, on the other hand, left something to be desired.  Maybe my age is showing here, but I actually found most of the moves to be laughable, most like they were trying to hard to be hip and cool when it really wasn't working.

The acting was just okay.  There aren't any amazing performances here, but the script doesn't call for anything too deep.  The cast does an adequate job of bring their characters to life and keeping us in the story, and that was all that really matters.

The intended tween audience will really enjoy Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.  I found it fun, but I don't have a burning desire to see it again.

Music Review: Christmas Songs from Many Lands by Alan Mills

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Introduction to folk songs from many lands

Cons: Simple arrangements might get old in a hurry

The Bottom Line:

Simple arrangements

Christmas you won't hear elsewhere

Nostalgic for me

Enjoy a Multicultural Christmas with Alan Mill's Simple Christmas Songs from Many Lands

When I was in pre-school, my family got a record of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  Side one was Zero Mostel reading the Dr. Seuss classic.  Side two featured 13 Christmas songs from around the world by some unknown singer.  Over the years, those songs have become so much a part of my Christmas music collection, I actually put them on a tape when I moved out.

Fast forward to last Christmas.  I mentioned that I would love to figure out who sang those songs and see if I could get digital copies.  After about a minute of internet research on my brother's part (Why didn't I think of that sooner myself?) he provided a name.  The singer had been Alan Mills.  And the songs were about half of the songs from his Christmas Songs from Many Lands, a record originally released in 1957.

This record compiles Christmas folk songs from all around the world.  Now before you think you'll be listening to words you can't understand, don't worry.  Everything has been translated into English for you.

When my family first discovered the digital version of this record, we listened to some samples to make sure we were indeed looking at the correct disc.  There is no mistaking Alan Mills' rich baritone voice and the simple guitar accompaniment.  And that's all you get here, one voice singing and one instrument.  Yes, it can get a bit monotonous, although there is enough variety in the songs to keep me interested most of the time.  I also think the fact that I have a nostalgic attachment to half of the 25 songs on this disc helps me enjoy the whole thing.

Odds are only two songs will be familiar to the majority of American audiences.  Even then, the songs will have slight differences.  "12 Days of Christmas" features fiddlers fiddling for the final verse.  Never heard that anywhere else.  Maybe it is a Canadian verse?  I'm only guessing here since Alan Mills is a Canadian.  And there are two versions of "O, Christmas Tree."  The first is the traditional one, but the second one has a new, haunting melody.  I've never heard it before, but I do like it.

The disc starts off at the beginning of the story as "The Angel Gabriel" announces to Mary that she will bear Jesus.  Sadly, I don't know where this song originated, but it is wonderful.  It's got a minor key and is very pretty.  It's a ballad that pretty much retells the first chapter of Luke.

The rest of the disc doesn't really try to follow the Christmas story.  For example, we've got "No Room in the Inn" next, but "Gently, the Maiden," which talks about right after the birth, long after songs about the shepherds and wise men.

I've heard "The Friendly Beasts" a few other places over the years.  This English carol allows us to listen to the animals bragging to each other about the gifts they gave to the newborn Jesus.  It's a slower, quiet song that almost would work as a lullaby, especially when Alan starts picking the guitar.

On the more upbeat front, there's "Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow."  Obviously, this song encourages the shepherds to go find Jesus.  It's almost toe tapping fast with a fast strum the entire time behind Alan's singing.

One of the songs I hadn't heard before I downloaded the entire record was "Shepherdess, Oh Tell Me."  This song stands out to me because it's one of the few times that there's a range of volume.  Each verse is a conversation between someone asking a shepherdess about her visit to the newborn.  The questions that make up the first half of the verse are louder than the answers.  While the last few verses start out with the same questions (basically, "What further did you see?"), the answers change each time.  And the differences make it very easy to tell if we are getting a question or an answer.

The longest song on here is "Little Bitty Baby."  And this is the song that is supposed to be from America.  The only other place I've heard the song is a bit of it on Jars of Clay's Christmas disc.  Like "12 Days of Christmas," this song adds another number to the song with each verse.  It's got a steady strum that makes it sound pretty repetitive.  The lyrics are interesting.  Each verse starts "Children go where I send thee/How shall I send thee?"  Some of the verses make sense, like "I will see thee three by three/For three was three wise riders," referring to the three Wise men.  But then who are the "Nine who got left behind" or "Eight who stood at the gate?"  The little bit of research I've done over the years makes me wonder if anyone knows anymore.  I have also discovered the song originally had 12 verses, but there are only 10 here.  Logical or not, I find it fun to hear every year.

But this song is actually logical compared to another couple on here.  "King Herod and the Cock" tells what must be a legend about a dead rooster coming back to life to prove to this unbelieving king that Jesus had been born.  Never heard that story before.  And "Saint Basil" features the title character and en encounter he had with speaking paper.  Finally, there's the "The Wren Boys Sing," which seems to be more about drink than anything Christmas related at all.

Most of the songs are very short.  Only three of the 25 selections are over 3 minutes, and almost all of them are under 2 minutes.  Short songs usually irritate me, but in this case it works.  In fact, I think any longer and my eyes would begin to glaze over.  All but three or four songs are about the Biblical Christmas story, so if you don't celebrate Christmas religiously, this probably isn't for you.

Between the nostalgia and the short songs, I enjoy Christmas Songs from Many Lands.  It's very simple, but it's fun for something different during my Christmas celebration.  I'm glad that iTunes has made it available so I can enjoy it again year after year.

Download Length: 46:41

Tracks:

1. The Angel Gabriel

2. No Room in the Inn

3. King Herod and the Cock

4. The Friendly Beasts

5. Bring a Torch

6. Shepherdess, Oh Tell Me

7. The Huron Carol

8. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

9. Mother Mary, What is the Matter?

10. Mary Had a Baby

11. Little Bitty Baby

12. Joseph Dearest

13. O, Christmas Tree (a)

14. O, Christmas Tree (b)

15. As Lately We Watched

16. Haidom-Haidom

17. Gently, the Maiden

18. I Am so Happy

19. The Simple Birth

20. Fum, Fum, Fum

21. Bagpiper's Carol

22. Saint Basil

23. Come and Sing

24. The Wren Boys Sing

25. 12 Days of Christmas

Ornament Review: Candy Claus - Noel Nutcrackers #1 - 2008 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Creative use of candy to create Santa

Cons: Looks kind of ugly

The Bottom Line:

This one's a mixed bag

Creative use of candy

Not that appealing

Noel Nutcrackers Got Off to a Shaky Start with Candy Claus

As much as I love Christmas, I'm not a traditionalist.  Yes, I have some nutcrackers that are very traditional in their look.  But I also like to get some different looking nutcrackers.  That's why I started collection the Noel Nutcracker series from Hallmark.  It started with Candy Claus, which is the weakest entry in the series.

As the name suggests, this nutcracker is of Santa Claus, but he is made from candy.  He's standing on a peppermint base.  His legs are licorice, his shoulders and gum drops, and his arms are candy canes.  His hair and beard are frosting, although his nose and upper whiskers are a hard, wrapped candy still in its wrapping.  You get the idea.  Frankly, the way artist Sue Tague used candy to create this guy is very creative, and I love that part of the ornament.  In one hand he's holding a Christmas tree shaped lollipop, and in the other he's holding a stocking with a gingerbread man and a candy cane inside.  The gumdrops have flakes of glitter on them, making them seem like they are really made out of sugar instead of plastic.

And yes, he is a working nutcracker.  Just like on a real nutcracker, there's a tab in the back that lowers his mouth.  Naturally, I wouldn't put any real nuts in there to crack; it's just not strong enough to be anything but a decoration.

I bought the ornament when I started collection Hallmark at the beginning of the year.  Unlike the other two in this series, I can't decide if I like this one or not.  It's a nice idea, but the execution just doesn't quite work.  I like some of the details.  And one time when I look at it I think it's cute.  The next time, I don't especially like it.

The little brass hook for hanging Santa is hidden on the back of his head.  He hangs straight, or close enough to straight that you'd never notice.  The peppermint base he stands on also makes him steady if you want to leave him out somewhere, and it provides a nice place for the 1 in a Christmas tree that Hallmark likes to hide on all their series ornaments.

Considering how great the other two ornaments in the series are, it's a shame that they started with Candy Claus.  While there is some appeal to him, I probably would have passed him by without my collector's need to complete the series.

Check out the rest of the Noel Nutcrackers series.

Original Price: $15.00

Adventures in Odyssey Review: The Best Small Town

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun stories with good morals

Cons: Not that focused on the kids; weak "Imagination Station Revisited"

The Bottom Line:

A couple weak shows

But this radio drama

Will still entertain

Odyssey Attempts to Win the Best Small Town Competition

I stopped regularly listening to Adventures in Odyssey years ago.  It's not that I got too old for this radio drama for kids.  Well, age wise I might be, but I still found the shows entertaining.  I just had a hard time finding a radio station I could get them on.  Anyway, I recently picked up their 50th collection of episodes, The Best Small Town, and listened to it on a road trip.  I had a blast reconnecting with these old friends.

If you aren't familiar with this show, Adventures in Odyssey is an old fashioned radio drama.  Produced by Christian organization Focus on the Family, these stories are set in the fictional small town of Odyssey.  They follow the exploits of John Avery Whitaker (also known as Whit), a grandfatherly figure who runs the local hang out, Whit's End.  Other adult main characters include Connie, who helps run Whit's End among other things, Eugene, the local brain, and Wooten the mailman.  Over the years, a series of kids have come and gone, usually spending a year of two growing up on the radio.  The episodes usually alternate between something the adult characters are dealing with and something the kids are facing.  The shows are targeted for ages 8-12, so they never get too adult in nature.  They are definitely Christian themed, but they rarely resort to preaching.

Unlike many collections, this one has a self-contained story that serves as an anchor for the twelve half hour episodes contained here.  A magazine has selected the town to be one of the contestants for their annual Best Small Town issue.  All the residents attempt to put their best foot forward to win.  While Bart Rathbone, owner of the local electronics store, attempts to make his store more rustic, Connie tries to get everyone to be overly nice to everyone.  But the contest might have unexpected results when a much loved member of the town might have to leave.

Meanwhile, a time capsule has been found from 100 years ago.  What will the residents find in it?  The Washington family is offered a chance to portray a family in a living history museum.  Will they survive their training?  Whit's son Jason becomes the target of a villain after the computer program Applesauce.  And local shock jock Cryin' Brian Dern might have found a way to close Whit's End down permanently.  Will he succeed?

As I mentioned, most of these shows manage to teach important truths from a Christian point of view without preaching.  They use the characters and story to get their points across.  And they are fun.  I was actually listening to the shows with my roommate, although fan from years gone by, and we both really got into them.  It doesn't matter your age; these are just plain good stories that will entertain you.

The acting is almost always great on this show, and this collection is no exception.  And the sound effects are perfect as well.  There's nothing to pull you out of the world of Odyssey.

Over the years, the kids seem to take a back seat to the adults, and I did feel that happened here.  I can only think of a couple episodes that really featured the kids that are currently on the show.  I still found the shows fun, but wish they'd go back to the balance they used to have when the show focused a bit more on the kids.

These episodes originally aired in 2008, the 20th anniversary of the show.  There are some nice nods to that history, most noticeably the resurrection of computer program Applesauce, something that caused quite a bit of trouble in town that second summer.  (I still remember being glued to the radio all summer to find out how that would play out.)  In another nice nod to years past, they brought back some old friends for the two part "The Triangled Web."  We get phone updates from Robin, Lawrence and Jared, but Jimmy, Curt, Jack, and Lucy actually come back for a visit.  You've got to understand, these are some of the kids who were regulars when I listened as a kid.  The plot of the episode wrapped up a bit too conveniently, but there were some great laughs along the way.  And I was smiling the entire time hearing these old friends again.

The episode concludes with the two part "The Imagination Station, Revisited."  Throughout the entire collection, Whit's been upgrading his signature invention, a super powered computer that acts like a time machine, allowing the kids to experience history and Bible stories for themselves.  When this invention was introduced in the second year of the show, we experienced the death and resurrection of Jesus.  They go about to that story for these two episodes, trying it from a different point of view.  I have listened to the original "Imagination Station" two parter just about every Easter for 20 years, and I couldn't help but compare them the entire time.  This one just doesn't have the dramatic punch the original did, and I hate what they did to Judas, trying to explain his betrayal.  I did like a few of the scenes, but for the most part they didn't have enough new to say to justify revisiting this story.  You just can't mess with a classic.

As a bonus, they also include a tribute to Walker Edmiston, one of their main voice actors who had recently died.  It's very touching as the cast talk about their time working with him.  It's just a few minutes long.  I was surprised to recognize so many of the miscellaneous voices he's done over the years.  I never would have guessed.

So, yes, there are a few missteps along the way.  But for the most part, The Best Small Town is another great collection of episodes that will please the many fans of Adventures in Odyssey.  

Ornament Review: Season's Treatings #2 - Cupcakes - 2010 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Delicious looking cupcakes piled high with festive frosting - perfect for your tree

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Cupcakes and frosting

These Christmas treats will look great

Hanging on your tree

Drool Worthy Frosting on These Season's Treatings Cupcakes

Ornaments depicting food.  I'm still not sure if that is genius or torture.  Either way, based on how cute Hallmark's Season's Treatings series of ornaments is, I'm guessing we're going to get lots of these food ornaments to enjoy.  2010 saw the release of the second in this particular series, and it's just as cute as the first entry.

Each ornament in this series features a delicious dessert decorated with extra holiday cheer.  And they are just so incredibly cute.  This year's entry is cupcakes.  The ornament is a tin full of six different frosting covered cupcakes.  There is just a hint of the black cupcake hiding under the layers of frosting, and my guess is they are chocolate.  The cupcake liners are red, white, or green, adding to the festive feel.

But the frosting on the cupcakes are what really make this ornament so great.  Each of the six cupcakes is decorated differently.  One looks like a snowman's head.  One is a giant ball ornament.  Three are mounds of frosting with a candy cane, holly, or candy Christmas tree on top.  In the upper corner, there's a frosting bag with 2010, the original release year, on it.

While this ornament is still small, it is more dimensional than the first in the series.  The ornament is housed in a miniature tin that really does stick out in the back.  And the final cupcake, a Santa head, is sitting on the tray next to its hole.  The entire ornament is still small and just about an inch thick, but it looks like it has more depth than that.

Some Hallmark ornaments would work either set out to display or hanging on your Christmas tree.  That's not the case here.  Yes, you can set it out, and it would lay flat.  But it really will look much better if you hang it from your tree.  There's a small ring in the upper left hand corner just waiting for your ornament hanger.  It dangles at a 45 degree angle, but it's supposed to.  When you've got it hanging, the date on the frosting bag hangs straight.

Since this is part of a series, you'll find a 2 in a Christmas tree on the back of the tin, along with the copyright information.

The new series Hallmark released in 2009 seemed to do extremely well, but Season's Treatings was the sleeper hit, with the debut in the series now going for ten times the original selling price with no end in sight.  What will that mean for this ornament?  That's a pretty hard question to answer with any certainly.  My guess is that Hallmark produced a lot more of this entry.  But my guess is people will probably buy multiple copies in hopes that it will go up again.  Will supply meet demand or not?  With no way of knowing for certain, my advice is to get it now if you want it.  While it might not reach astronomical proportions like the first one did, I bet that it will increase in value.

And that's not a hard guess to make.  The decorations on the cupcakes are just so incredibly cute.  I'm not a big frosting guy, and even I want to eat them.

Season's Treatings is going to last as long as they can keep coming up with delicious ideas.  Based on the creativity of the Hallmark artists, I suspect that will be for quite a while.  Even if you missed last year's entry, get the cupcakes from 2010.  You'll enjoy them for years to come.

And check out the rest of the Season's Treatings series.

Original Price: $9.95

TV Show Review: Chuck - Season 3

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Excellent acting and writing bring great characters and stories to life

Cons: A tad more serious than previous seasons

The Bottom Line:

Chuck grows up a bit

So this season's less funny

But still fun to watch

Chuck Versus Spyhood

With all the TV I watch, there is a clear choice for favorite TV show - Chuck.  Although it was just a bit more serious than the previous seasons, the third season was just as awesome as the first two.

The third season actually picks up a few months after the conclusion of season two.  Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) has just returned to Burbank after some training that will help him use the enhanced features he got by downloading the intersect 2.0 into his brain.  Now, instead of just flashing on information, he can also flash on skills needed like hand to hand fighting or laser avoiding.  However, his emotions make these new upgrades glitchy, so his skills can come and go at the most inopportune times.

Meanwhile, his CIA handler Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) is back in town to rejoin the team despite the fact that Chuck broke her heart.  NSA handler John Casey (Adam Baldwin) is thrilled that with each new mission, Chuck seems to be becoming a better spy.  Sarah, on the other hand, is watching the man she fell in love with slip away behind the new spy Chuck.

And on the home front?  Chuck's best friend Morgan (Joshua Gomez) and Chuck become roommates.  Chuck's sister Ellie (Sarah Lancaster) gets a fellowship she wants while Ellie's husband Devon, aka Captain Awesome, (Ryan McPartlin) tries to figure out a way to get Ellie out of the dangerous world that Chuck inhabits.  The gang at the Buy More is still there to provide some comedy.  And we finally learn something that Captain Awesome isn't awesome at.

Underneath all this is a new group out to get the Intersect and steal all the secrets locked away in Chuck's mind.  Can the group bring them down while keeping Chuck's true identity a secret?

Why do I love the show?  Because it finds the right balance between comedy and drama.  The show takes itself seriously enough that we care for the characters and are concerned when they are in danger.  But the characters are just as likely to get out of danger by some crazy coincidence as they are by some great bit of action.  It's that unpredictability and humor that keep me loving every minute.

Plus there are the great characters.  Yes, the Nerds at the Buy More (think a Best Buy clone) are turning into one note characters and losing some of their humor this year.  But the rest of the characters are still very real, deep characters that we truly do care about.  I want to spend time with these guys, and above all, I want to see them happy.  The guest cast rounds out and compliments the great main characters.  Notable guest stars this season include Kristin Kreuk of Smallville, Brandon Routh from Superman Returns, and Scott Bakula. 

The show was originally renewed for a thirteen episode third season which was extended to nineteen episodes the rest of NBC's schedule did poorly in the ratings.  As a result, we get two story arcs that are sort of connected.  It's not ideal, but it does work and all the episodes are extremely entertaining.

This show is the perfect marriage of writing and acting.  There are many times where we know exactly what a character is thinking or feeling just by a look on their face.  You can't pull that off without both.  It does help that this is season three, so we know the characters.  But I still maintain that either poor writing or acting would produce laughable results instead of truly touching moments that reveal quite a bit about the characters.

That does bring me back to what I mentioned at the very beginning.  This season was much more serious than the first two.  Don't get me wrong, there were still some great comedic moments.  But they weren't as plentiful as the themes of the year grew more serious.  Some fans didn't like that; I found it to be a very nice maturing that felt right.  If they lighten things up again, I won't complain any, but for this season, it worked.

And I haven't even talked about the stunts yet.  This show is still an action show, and it manages to produce some nice sequences.  They aren't quite feature fill elaborate, but they are quite fun for TV.

All 19 episodes of season three are included in this boxed set.  We don't get any commentaries, but we do get deleted scenes and bloopers.  There's also a featurette with interviews about this season of the show and a mockumentary on Jeffster, the fake band two of the characters have.  It could have more special features, but the episodes themselves more than make up for this lack.

Slightly more serious or not, Chuck is still the best thing on TV right now.  If you haven't watched this show yet, you are in for a real treat.  And if you already like the show, you'll be thrilled to have season three at your fingertips anytime you want it.

Season 3 Episodes:

1. Chuck Versus the Pink Slip

2. Chuck Versus the Three Words

3. Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte

4. Chuck Versus Operation Awesome

5. Chuck Versus First Class

6. Chuck Versus the Nacho Sampler

7. Chuck Versus the Mask

8. Chuck Versus the Fake Name

9. Chuck Versus the Beard

10. Chuck Versus the Tic Tac

11. Chuck Versus the Final Exam

12. Chuck Versus the American Hero

13. Chuck Versus the Other Guy

14. Chuck Versus the Honeymooners

15. Chuck Versus the Role Models

16. Chuck Versus the Tooth

17. Chuck Versus the Living Dead

18. Chuck Versus the Subway

19. Chuck Versus the Ring: Part II

Music Review: The Edge of the Divine by Sandi Patty

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun songs with awesome lyrics; recaptures the classic Sandi feel.

Cons: "Mighty Fortress" and "We Shall Behold Him" are both subpar covers

The Bottom Line:

Sandi still can sing

Fun music plus great lyrics

For fans old and new

Divine New CD from Sandi Patty

Sandi Patty is now over 30 years into her career, and she's still releasing new music.  I must admit that I find her releases these days to be hit or miss.  I like one, but the next one leaves me cold.  I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up The Edge Of The Divine, her latest studio release.  I'm happy to say that this is a great release on par with some of her classics.

The disc starts out upbeat with "Faith Dancing."  Not only does it have a very catchy melody, but it really will make you want to get up and dance.  Heck, it puts a smile on my face.  It's a reminder to put your trust in God no matter what life throws your way.  The programmed guitar gives it a very modern feel.

Sandi slows things down on the title track.  "The Edge of the Divine" features some beautiful piano work underpinned by guitar, drums, and strings.  Again, it's about faith and trusting God, leaving the past behind and flying in the promises of God's love and mercy.

The upbeat is back for the keyboard based "Times Like These," which is again about trusting God.  And we've uncovered one reason I love this CD so much.  Songs about trust God always hit me, so a CD that talks about it so much is automatically going to be one I like.  Granted, I often failed to truly have the faith in God exhibited in this song, but it's always a good reminder for me of what I should be striving for.

I stuck this CD in my player and listened to it off and on for a few days, which is my normal mode with a new CD.  I knew that Sandi had done a duet on "When Life Gets Broken," but I hadn't paid any attention to who she was singing with.  Every time I heard it, I thought it sounded like something from Point of Grace.  Then I paid closer attention to the credits.  Sure enough, the duet is with Heather Payne, former of Point of Grace.  It's a soaring ballad about God's faithfulness to help us start over after something truly horrid happens.

"Worthy" deals with our sin and the holiness of God.  It's an amazing expression of God's forgiveness.  It's a slow song filled with strings and a bit of piano.  Sandi's vocals are perfect.  You can hear her passion for the lyrics.

But we're back to upbeat with "Makes Me Wanna Pray."  In fact, we're at a good old fashioned Gospel meeting.  I've got to admit, I didn't care for the electric feel to the Gospel style at first, but I've gotten into it as I've listened to the song more.  I really do like it.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of misses on this disc, and they are the two non-original songs.  "A Might Fortress is Our God" is a cover of the classic hymn.  It's recorded with a full orchestra and starts out quite nicely.  But as she goes on, Sandi goes into hyper opera singer mode, a mode I often don't like.  By the time she gets to the final verse, it's so over done I don't enjoy it.

She also has done a new version of her classic "We Shall Behold Him."  Again, she's singing with an orchestra.  The problem here is that the original is a classic for a reason, and this one does nothing to improve upon it.  In fact, at times, she rushes from one line to the next.  It's not just that I prefer the old one, the way the lines are rushed together actually does feel awkward since she only does it during the chorus but not the verses.

Those two missteps aside, this is a solid release from a Christian music legend.  If you've even been a Sandi Patty fan, be sure to get The Edge Of The Divine.

CD Length: 44:17

Tracks:

1. Faith Dancing

2. The Edge of the Divine

3. Times Like These

4. When Life Gets Broken

5. Worthy

6. Makes Me Wanna Pray

7. All to Bring You Glory

8. A Mighty Fortress is Our God

9. We Shall Behold Him

10. My Prayer for You

Ornament Review: Artist Snoopy - Spotlight on Snoopy #13 - 2010 Hallmark Ornament

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Definitely a fun and colorful ornament

Cons: Little ties to Peanuts or Christmas

The Bottom Line:

Smock, beret, palette

Snoopy's ready to paint a

Christmas masterpiece

Let Snoopy Paint a Lovely Christmas Picture for You

Over the last couple of years, the Spotlight on Snoopy ornament series from Hallmark has been declining.  I was pretty much ready to give up on it.  Then I saw this year's edition, Artist Snoopy.  I immediately fell in love with it.

The ornament is fairly simple.  Snoopy is dressed in a red artist beret and a green smock.  It's hard to see, but he is wearing a brown vest as well.  The vest is pretty well hidden by what Snoopy is holding in his hands.  His right hand holds a paint brush while the left holds a palette.  There are six colors on the palette, still in their wells.  It looks like Snoopy is just getting ready to start his Christmas masterpiece.  Woodstock, his faithful companion, is perched on the palette.

One complaint I have had over the last few ornaments is that they don't have anything to do with the strips.  I must admit that I don't remember Snoopy painting on a regular basis in Peanuts, but if he didn't paint at all, I can picture him doing just that.  That helps me like it.

Another thing I like is the colors.  The red and green Snoopy is wearing are bright and really catch your eye.  The colors on the palette are smaller but no less bright.

The last few ornaments in the series have had Snoopy standing on some kind of base to hold the rest of the props for the ornament.  We're back to Snoopy and very few props, something else I like.  This means that Snoopy has to stand on his own two feet.  He does stand, but he will wobble if what he is standing on gets bumped.  You'd have to really bump the ornament to get him to fall over.

The brass hook for hanging the ornament is near the back of Snoopy's beret.  As a result, he really tips forward when you go to hang him.  As long as you hang him high on your tree, it should be fine, but if he's too low, it will look weird.

This is the thirteenth ornament in the Spotlight on Snoopy series, so there is a 13 in a Christmas tree on the ornament next to the copyright information.  For once, it's not on Snoopy's feet.  I'll leave it to you to find it (although it's not that hard once you start looking for it).  While they often work a reference to the year into the ornament, I wasn't able to find one here.

Last year, I was hoping the series would wind down in a year or two, but now I'm positive about the future.  I love Artist Snoopy and hope it means a rebirth in what was once a great series.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Spotlight on Snoopy series.

Original Price: $12.95

Book Review: Burn Notice - The Giveaway by Tod Goldberg (Burn Notice #3)

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great story with perfectly captured characters and humor

Cons: Not a one

The Bottom Line:

Story is well told

The characters are perfect

Fans will love this book

Don't Giveaway Your Chance to Read This Book

Sometimes, not having time to read a book the instant it comes out can be a good thing.  While I've had Burn Notice: The Giveaway almost since it came out, I finally got a chance to read it this week, right after the summer finale aired.  While I'm still not happy about waiting until November for new episode, this tie in novel was the perfect way to ease my withdrawals.

The series revolves around Michael Westen, a spy fired in the middle of an assignment and dumped in Miami.  As he tries to clear his name, he takes on cases of people in need of help even the police can't provide to pay his bills.

It's never a good thing when Michael's "friend" Barry calls him asking for a favor.  Barry is an expert money launderer, and Michael owes him a favor or twenty.  So it is with some reluctance that Michael takes on the case of Bruce Grossman.

Bruce is a bank robber who did his time.  He's reverted to his old ways in an effort to raise the cash to take care of a mother who is dying of cancer.  But he's robbed the wrong people, specifically the Ghouls, a motorcycle gang.  And the Ghouls are hunting Bruce down to kill him.  Can Michael and his friends find a way to save Bruce?

Since this novel is based on the TV show, I expect it to feel like an episode, and it mostly does.  This book focuses exclusively on trying to save Bruce's life, while an episode of the TV show usually has a secondary story that carries on from episode to episode.  Frankly, with the evolving mythology of the show, it would be almost impossible to craft a "B" story that would work, so I'm glad the author didn't try.

Instead, we get a great story that feels like an extended episode of the show.  The intensity lags a little at times since it's hard to keep up the suspense of the TV show spread out over a 275 page novel, but that wasn't a problem for me.  There were still several nice twists to the story that kept me guessing just how Michael would solve the problem at hand.  I've felt the plots in the first two novels had a hole or two in them, but this time the plot held together completely.

And the characters from the TV show are spot on.  I've got to admit that I didn't have quite the feel for Barry and Michael's brother Nick, both of whom have appeared on the show.  The new characters were believable and felt real to me.  But series regulars Michael, his mom Madeline, Fiona, and Sam were captured perfect.  It didn't take any work at all for me to hear the actors delivering their character's lines.  Frankly, that added to the fun of this book for me.

Speaking of fun, the show also captures the humor of the series.  I laughed at loud multiple times over the course of the book, usually at the banter between characters.

The novel is narrated first person from Michael's point of view.  Since the show uses voice over quite a bit, that's actually a tall order.  Yet it works perfectly.  All the narration sounds like Michael's voice overs in the show.  Basically, this book can never break characters once, and it works.  A few chapters are third person from another character's point of view, but it is always easy to tell whose point of view we are following.

While being a fan of the TV show certainly helps, there is just enough background given that I think anyone looking for a fun book will enjoy the story.

Burn Notice fans rejoice.  This novel is the perfect way to distract yourself while waiting for a new episode.  You'll enjoy every page of The Giveaway.  And if you aren't familiar with the series, this might hook you on it.