Reading Challenge: Sequel Spring

So I'm a little worried that I'm not going to have Spring Into Reading coming up this year.  I haven't heard anything about it from the new host of this very informal, relaxed reading challenge.  However, I may have found something to fill in for me - Sequel Spring.

As the name implies, the focus is on reading sequels during the Spring.  (Shocking, I know.)  It runs from March 20th to June 20th.

Now, I have quite a few firsts on my To Be Read pile.  However, I also have several sequels I can't wait to get to.  Additionally, I have books by favorite authors in their series coming out that I can't wait to read.  So even if I do get to some of those firsts, I think I'll be fine for this challenge as well.

I'm not going to stress over the challenge.  I'm going to say I will read 6 sequels for sure, or half of what I expect to read this Spring.  It may wind up being more.  It may be less.  We'll just have to see.

Naturally, I'll fill in titles and link up my reviews as I go along.

1. Let the Storm Break by Shannon Messenger
2. I Even Funnier by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein
3. Inherit the Word by Daryl Wood Gerber
4. Ghost of a Gamble by Sue Ann Jaffarian
5. Poached by Start Gibbs
6. Blue Sea Burning by Geoff Rodkey
7. Nick and Tesla's Secret Agent Gadget Battle by Science Bob Pflugfelder and Steve Hockensmith
8. Death Runs Adrift by Karen MacInerney
9. Unlucky 13 by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
10. Death of a Mad Hatter by Jenn McKinlay
11. Boiled Over by Barbara Ross
12. 'Til Dirt Do Us Part by Edith Maxwell
13. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
14. A Sense of Entitlement by Anna Loan-Wilsey
15. Clobbered by Camembert by Avery Aames
16. Mr. Monk is Open for Business by Hy Conrad
17. Kingdom Keepers VII: The Insider by Ridley Pearson
18. The Reversal by Michael Connelly

Cookie Review: Marshmallow Crispy Oreo

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Sweet flavor

Cons: Too sweet at times, misses target Rice Crispy Flavor

The Bottom Line:

Taste disappointing

Misses target flavor and

A little too sweet

Interesting Idea Doesn't Quite Work in the Execution

I can't seem to resist new flavors of old classics.  I enjoy Oreos, but that meant I had to try the limited edition Marshmallow Crispy Oreo I spotted in a store recently.  Unfortunately, they'd don't live up to the promise.

While no where is it stated on the package, these are obviously supposed to taste like Rice Crispy Treats.  How do I know that?  While the title is a clue, the big picture of one on the package is a bigger giveaway.  And occasionally if I really concentrate, I can taste it from the cookies.  But usually, I can't.

Instead, I get a very sweet flavor with maybe a hint of marshmallow in there.  It's sweet to the point of almost being sickening, which is a shame since I wanted to like these cookies, but there's no real substitute for the real Rice Crispy Treats.

These are the Oreo vanilla cookies they've started making in recent years with the fake marshmallow (aka white) center.  That's one reason it just becomes too sweet I think.  And the vanilla overpowers the center most of the time.

Of course, being cookies, these are no remotely healthy or good for you.  2 cookies contain 140 calories and no vitamins at all.  The ingredients do list flour, but the rest isn't that good for you either like sugar and oils.

Between the disappointing flavor how bad these are for you, it's easy to skip the Marshmallow Crispy Oreo.  I know I won't be tempted in the future.

Movie Review: Veronica Mars

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: All the characters are back for another great mystery

Cons: I would have liked more Wallace and Mac

The Bottom Line:

Snooping once again

Recaptures spirit of show

And honors its fans

"So, What Do You Think of Neptune High?"  "It Really Does Sit on a Hellmouth."

Yes, I was a huge fan of Veronica Mars when it was on TV.  (Heck, while admitting the weaknesses, I actually like season 3.)  No, I did not join the Kickstarter campaign to finance the movie cast reunion, figuring I'd just go support it when the movie actually came out.  Even so, I've been hoping it was good and didn't wind up disappointing me.  After all, how could they adequately update us on everyone and solve a mystery in two hours?  I'm very happy to say that Veronica Mars lived up to all my hopes and didn't truly disappoint me at all.

If you've missed the show (and based on the ratings many of you did), it starred Kristen Bell and Veronica, a teenage detective.  She lived in Neptune, a California coastal town that had the super rich and the super poor.  Class warfare was an ever present part of life.  Every week, Veronica found herself with a mystery to be solved, either for her friends at school (and she wasn't super popular) or helping her dad, who was a PI.  But there were also longer mystery arcs to be solved with much higher stakes.  If you want to know more, read my review of season one.

Now, the big question.  Can you enjoy this movie if you haven't seen the show?  I would argue yes.  The first few minutes serve as a crash course in the show, although there is much left out.  Do be warned, there are spoilers for the big mysteries of seasons one and two.  You won't get many of the jokes and nods put in especially for the fans.  Obviously, I'm not the best person to judge, but I seriously do think you could enjoy it.

So let's get down to it, shall we?

It's been nine years since we last saw Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell).  In that time, she has not solved a case.  In fact, she left Neptune, transferring to Stanford and then going on to law school.  She's just graduated and is looking to get a job at a law firm in New York City.  She's also reconnected with college boyfriend Piz (Chris Lowell), and they've been dating again for a year.

So it is with some reluctance that she takes the first call she has in nine years from Logan Echols (Jason Dohring), her on again off again high school boyfriend.  He's been dating a pop star, and he's been found next to her murdered body, naturally making him the prime suspect.  She reluctantly agrees to come home, but just for a day to help him interview lawyers.  However, once there, she begins to get involved in the case.  Can she clear his name without being sucked back into her old ways?

As I said earlier, this movie knocked it out of the park for fans.  In addition to the returning cast I've already mentioned, all the main characters are back.  We're talking Tina Majorino as Mac, Percy Daggs III as Wallace, Ryan Hansen as Dick (who still lives up to his name), Francis Capra as Weevil, and of course Enrico Colantoni as Veronica's PI father Keith Mars.  There are many smaller appearances by the majority of the supporting players as well, all of them fitting naturally into this new story.  In fact, I can really only think of one character from the show that might have appeared who didn't, and as much as I would have loved to have seen her, I don't know how they would have done it without forcing it.  All of the cast, including new comers to the franchise, are great at bringing their characters to life.  But the returning cast?  Absolutely wonderful to see them again and see how effortlessly they slipped into their characters.

The mystery?  Certainly worthy of the show.  I did suspect one piece of the puzzle early on, but there were still twists I didn't see coming.  In the end, it was all wrapped up logically with a very suspenseful end.  This mystery lover (the original reason I tuned into the show) was very satisfied.

And yes, Veronica hasn't lost her snark at all.  Even though this isn't an outright comedy, there are plenty of laugh lines in the movie.  As I mentioned earlier, there are also some jokes and lines put in specifically for the fans.  The opening day audience I saw the movie with loved them as much as I did.  In fact, it was fun to share this experience with a room full of strangers who all got the same things I did from it.

I do have one complaint, but it's tiny.  I would have loved to see more of Wallace and Mac.  They are there and a presence in the movie for sure, but I do wish it had been bigger.  I will admit, I suspected this would be the case early on and it was one reason I was a little worried going in, but it turned out to be a minor complaint over all.

I left the theater grinning.  It was wonderful to see Veronica Mars back in action and on the big screen to boot.  It was a much better end to the series than we got from the third season finale while still leaving the door open for future adventures.  And it was a love letter to the fans.  Those who did support it via Kickstarter will be very happy.

Now, bring on the novel.

March 15th's Weekly TV Thoughts

The Amazing Race - Not sorry to see that team go.  And while it looked like a rough day for just about every one, I would have enjoyed it.  How can you miss with all that water?

Survivor - Finally, the Brains did something smart.  I just can't believe it took them this long to vote out the weakest member of the tribe.  Remember, you need to wins challenges early to make it far enough to outwit at the end.

Melissa & Joey - Why is it I am most interested in the Zander/Lennox story going on right now?  And yes, I am totally rooting for them to get back together.

Psych - I thought when they were trying to up the antics that I would find it annoying.  Instead, I found it fun.  The killer was obvious by the time we got there, but only because they'd eliminated everyone else.  And that final scene?  It was the funniest scene in the show.

The Big Bang Theory - I'm really torn on this one.  I wasn't impressed with the Sheldon and his mom plot for obvious reason (let's make Christians out to be hypocrites yet again), although I did feel it was fairly well handled all things considered.  The murder mystery plot?  Absolutely inspired, however.

Suits - Wow that was intense.  How much longer are they going to play out the Mike's secret thing.  Louis knows, but he doesn't know he knows yet.  It's just a matter of time.  I liked Jessica's story this episode.  But seriously, Mike is in serious trouble.

The Crazy Ones - I really did not care for Andrew's sisters.  They really made the episode kind of "Meh" for me.

Sirens - I was going to give the show one more episode before I decided.  I've decided.  I'm done.  I'm officially no longer a USA Network junkie, I guess.  Which means I'll have to decide about the second season of Graceland.  I may quite that show, too.

Enlisted - So obviously this show is not doing things in order at all since we've already seen the middle brother dating the bar tender.  Having said that, the vets being mirrors of the brothers was fun if predictable.  It was another fun episode overall.

TV Recap: Once Upon a Time in Wonderland 1-10 - Dirty Little Secrets

Well, that went about as well as expected.  Seriously, never break up.  Have these people never watched a horror movie?  Plus we’re back to fighting against overwhelming almost invincible odds.  How are they going to resolve everything in just 3 episodes?

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Let’s look at what happened before we worry about the future.

We did have a flashback last night, so let’s start there.  It’s set 100 years in the past and shows us just how Cyrus and his brothers became genies.

It seems that the pre-genie Cyrus wasn’t that nice a guy.  When we meet him, he’s cheating at cards.  The guy he beats isn’t too happy about it, and when Cyrus and his brothers return home, they learn he’s just set it on fire with their mother trapped inside.

March 14th's Book Beginnings and Friday 56

Happy pi day.  Also known as PI day this year.  If I hadn't double booked myself, I'd be going to the Veronica Mars movie tonight.  Instead, I'll have to wait until Saturday morning, but make no mistake about it, I will be there.

But that's movies, and we're here to talk Book Beginnings and Friday 56.  The book I'm reading through this week is Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace.

This is a different book for me because it's non-fiction.  It uses the logic and tools that a cold-case investigator uses in his job to look at Christianity.  As a Christian with an interest in apologetic, I'm enjoying it.  But the lines I quote won't be quite as teasing as they are when I'm reading fiction.

The first line is:

"Jeffries and Wallace," Alan barked impatiently as the young officer scrambled to write our names on the crime-scene entry log.

Okay, maybe I should mention he does use stories from his time on the force to illustrate points he's making.  Hence the beginning of the book.

Moving ahead to page 56 (watch, I'll find another quote to use):

The scream was very short and was heard by a neighbor who was watering her lawn next door.

Okay, no quote this time, but it does give you a feel for this book.  It isn't dry and boring but an interesting way to look at the claims of the New Testament specifically and the historicity of Christianity.

VeggieTales Review: Veggie in Space - The Fennel Frontier

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Good moral and great laughs for all ages

Cons: None I could find

The Bottom Line:

Space exploration

A challenge that needs sharing

Sit back, laugh, enjoy

"In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream Excessively Loud."

It’s been quite a few years since we have Veggies in space, so when I saw the newest episode in the long running VeggieTales series would be Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier, I was excited.  I was hoping it would prove plenty of laughs, and it did.

As the episode opens, Larry the Cucumber is hanging from a rope over the countertop.  Despite his requests for help getting down or getting warm or getting something to eat, all his friends aren’t willing to share what they have with him.  That reminds Bob the Tomato of an e-mail asking about sharing, and it sends us off to space.

We join the crew of the USS Applepie as they get involved in a dispute over some newly discovered mewantium.  But that’s just a precursor (I suspect really a time filler) to the main story in which Captain Cuke (Larry) and his first mate Mr. Spork (Bob) set off to discover why the planet Fennel is stealing all power from anything that comes close to it.  When they arrive, they find that the planet is not the resort community it once was and it appears that it's ruler, Luntar the Looter (Mr. Lunt) has turned into a space pirate.  Why is he stealing all the power?  And can sharing really help solve the problem?

It’s been a while since there was an episode that had humor clearly geared for the parents in the audience.  Don’t misunderstand, the video is still completely clean and appropriate for all ages.  But being a scifi spoof (Star Trek most prominently, but there are plenty of other references), there are spoof jokes that the kids won’t get but will crack up their parents.  I know I was laughing at quite a bit of the show.

At times, the lessons in these shorts can be pretty heavy handed these days.  While it is obvious here that sharing is good, it is worked into the show in such a way that I didn’t feel preached at.  And there is certainly nothing wrong with teaching kids that sharing is a good thing.

The new silly song is “Asteroid Cowboys,” with original verses and a chorus inspired by “Home on the Range.”  It’s pretty amusing if not quite a silly song classic.

All told, Veggies in Space: The Fennel Frontier is a great addition to the VeggieTales series.  You’ll laugh and be reminded that God wants us to share.

TV Recap: Agents of SHIELD 1-15 - Yes Men

They never answered my most pressing question last night, and it is something that stemmed from the teaser at the end of last week’s episode.  Did the one guy’s new bride take him back?  I sure hope they were able to work that out off screen.  After all, he didn’t leave and follow Lorelei on his own.

But I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.  The story this week worked in the elements and a minor character from the Thor movies.  Lorelei is a woman who can bend men to do her bidding – sometimes by voice alone but sometimes she needs to use touch as well.  She has escaped her confinement and landed on Earth.  Naturally, our team is sent in to stop her.

Fortunately, they aren’t going in alone.  Lady Sif is sent from Asgaard to help them.  And she has a collar that will cut off Lorelei’s powers.

What's in the Bible? Review - God's Kingdom Comes! - Volume 13

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Entertaining way to learn good theology

Cons: It’s the last one

The Bottom Line:

Covers last few books

Including letters, locusts

And a great wrap-up

Finalizing the Bible with More Letters and a Forest Look at Revelation

When Phil Vischer set out to cover the Bible in 13 hour long episodes, I didn’t think he could do it.  But here we are with Volume 13 of What’s in the Bible? – God's Kingdom Comes!, and that’s exactly what he has managed to do.  He’s even managed to keep these videos entertaining.

If you’re just coming to the series here, go back to the beginning.  While Phil himself does some of the talking, he is assisted by a collection of puppets.  Those personalities provide much of the humor of the series.  Additionally, the themes we’ve been following come full circle here, and the summary happens at the end.  I’m not saying you would be lost, but you won’t get the full benefit of things if you jump in here like you would watching it all the way through.

As you can imagine, this is a quick look at the books of the Bible.  While some things are faster than others, this is not the place for an in depth Bible study.  However, it gives anyone from grade school up a good frame work for understanding every book of the Bible and what it shows us about God.

As always, there are two 30 minute episodes on this DVD.  The first covers the general epistles, also known as the books Hebrews through Jude.  Each book gets discussed, including author and general theme.  There is nothing too revolutionary here, but it is a good summary of what these books are about.

The second episode focuses on Revelation, the final book of the Bible.  While some of the puppets are hoping for a nice easy book to end things on, as is quoted multiple times, this is the hardest book in the Bible because of the symbolism and imagery used.  While all the various events and imagery is covered, Phil gives us some help in trying to interrupt it.  Even so, he reminds us that what is most important with the book is not identifying and explaining each creature or image but in getting the big picture – the forest not the trees if you will.  It’s a very helpful reminder that I often forget myself, and really could have used a few times in college while discussing the end times.

This final episode then ends with the bird’s eye view of the entire Bible, discussing the various sections and what we learned from them.  Considering it’s a five minute or so part of the video, it’s amazing how much truth and theology is packed into it.  And it is all wrapped up with a challenge.  What will you do with what you’ve learned now?

I started volume one because I liked the idea behind the series and was curious to see how Phil would pull it off.  I stayed because I was amazed to see him doing exactly what he set out to do with great theology and entertainment.  (I have one quibble with one line in volume 1.  That’s it for the entire series.)  That holds true here.  While he didn’t make me see things differently this time around, he did remind me of some things I already knew.  Sometimes, that’s just as valuable.  And he does it with humor as the characters react to what they are learning.

Honestly, I’m sorry to see the What’s in the Bible? series end.  God's Kingdom Comes! sends things off on a high note however, and will leave the series fans happy they invested the time.  More importantly, it will give them a frame work for understanding the Bible as they delve into it on their own.

(And yes, we do find out if Michael and Pierre ever get to Grandma’s house.)

March 12th's Waiting on Wednesday

Greetings and welcome to this week's Waiting on Wednesday.  Over in my little corner of the web, this week I'm waiting for Ghost of a Gamble by Sue Ann Jaffarian, the fourth in the Ghost of Granny Apples series.

I don't normally do paranormal with my mystery, but for this series I made an exception because Sue Ann has become a friend.  I'm glad I did because it really is fun.

The series features Emma Whitecastle who discovered her ability to see and talk with ghosts after her great-great-grandmother, Granny Apples, made contact.  Together, the two help ghosts solve mysteries that are connected to the past and the present.  The characters are good, but none better than Granny herself who is a hoot as she indulges in modern things like TV.

This book will feature a case set in Las Vegas and involving the Vegas of the 1950's.  As usual, I'm keeping myself away from too much information about the book until I sit down to read it.

While this is book four in the series, it also represents the first book to be published by Berkley Prime Crime.  The previous three were published by Midnight Ink.

The book comes out April 1st (no, I'm not fooling), and you can bet I will be diving into it soon after.