(Late) Mish Mash Monday

Anyone notice that I've been MIA for 2 weeks? 2 weeks ago, I was performing in Jesus Christ Superstar and last week I was recuperating (emotionally and physically). Let's just say the production was cursed and anything that could go wrong, did. I've never been so glad to be done with a show in my life.

For your viewing pleasure, however, here are 3 dances that I choreographed from the show. I'm the very pale devil.

Videos to watch: Simon Zealotes, Overture, and Jesus Christ Superstar!

I'm now spending some much-needed time with my pups and my friends.

If you pray, my best friend is very sick. She's been sick for a long time, but things are taking a turn for the worse. Could you send some prayers and/or good vibes Jen's way? Thank you! That would be much appreciated.

A to Z Book Survey

Feel free to play along. :)

A: Author you've read the most books by: Probably Lisa Gardner. I believe I've read all her suspense books. You can find the list here, broken down by series or character involvement.

B: Best Sequel Ever: One of my ab fab fave books, The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra Kring has a wonderful sequel, A Life of Bright Ideas. Both books follow the unlikely friendship between the rural Button and the worldly Winnalee.

Bright Idea #91: When the weather's bad and your lights go out, have a pajama party. Eat till you feel sick, hula-hoop, paint your faces. Catch fireflies, and dance naked in the rain. If you do, then your bare butt will light up like a firefly after it's been let out of a jar.

C: Currently Reading: To Be Underwater by Tom McNeal

Judith Whitman always believed in the kind of love that "picks you up in Akron and sets you down in Rio." Long ago, she once experienced that love. Willy Blunt was a carpenter with a dry wit and a steadfast sense of honor. Marrying him seemed like a natural thing to promise. But Willy Blunt was not a person you could pick up in Nebraska and transport to Stanford. When Judith left home, she didn't look back.

D: Drink of Choice While Reading: I like to drink tea while reading Agatha Christie. It feels like a given.

E: E-Reader or Physical Book? Both, although I'm reading a lot more e-reader books since I get daily emails from The E-Reader Cafe who tells me Amazon's daily freebies & cheapies. If you like e-readers, you should subscribe.

F: Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Dated in High School: I would have wanted to date Mr. Knightly from Emma, even though everyone else would've been swooning over Mr. Darcy. Emma is actually a FREE download from kindle right now. Click on the book below for your download!

G: Glad You Gave This Book a Chance: Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson. I've read it a few times now. A very funny off-beat novel about family, relationships and college. I also recommend Case Histories by Kate, but I don't like the sequels to it at all. Read the first one only.

H: Hidden Gem Book: Although she doesn't write fiction anymore, I highly recommend reading any fiction book by Fiona Robyn.

I: Important Moment in Your Reading Life: I always loved reading, but reading The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin was my first foray into the cleverness of mystery. No matter how old I get, I will continue to re-read this book.

J: Just Finished: Long Time Coming by Edie Claire - It's currently Free on Amazon! It's a light romance that deals with coming to terms with a friend's death.

K: Kinds of Books You Won't Read: I'll never be reading 50 Shades of Grey/Gray. Not into S&M thankyouverymuch.

L: Longest Book You've Ever Read: Strangers by Dean Koontz is one. I think I might re-read this one since it's been so many years.

M: Major Book Hangover Because Of: Although I'm not a huge Jodi Picoult fan, My Sister's Keeper is superb, although I heard the changed the ending when they made it a movie - which is dumb.

N: Number of Book Cases You Own: 2

O: One book you have read multiple times: The Westing Game, as I said above.

P: Preferred place to read: Snuggled up in my bed.

Q: Quote That Inspires You/Gives You Feels From a Book You've Read: Anything from The Book of Bright Ideas

Bright idea #90- After you play beauty shop, your husband might say you look like a beauty queen, or he might just ask you where the phillips screwdriver is. Either way, it doesn’t matter as long as your new hair makes you think nice things about yourself.

R: Reading Regret: Even trying to read Twilight. HORRIBLE.

S: Series You Started But Still Need to Finish (All Books Are Out): Just bought the final book in the [Insert Word] Your Love series by JC Reed yesterday. These are kind of racy but well-written and engaging.

T: Three of your Favorite Books: How do I choose?

U: Unapologetic Fangirl For: The Flowers in the Attic series by VC Andrews. They just did a remake of the movie on Lifetime - horrible acting just like the first. :) You can download the whole series for kindle by clicking on the image below.

V: Very Excited for This Release More Than Others: Anything by Lisa Gardner

W: Worst Bookish Habits: Starting several books at the same time, then leaving them pile up next to my bed.

X: X Marks the Spot, Start at the Top of Your Shelf and Pick the 27th Book: I'm not at home, so I don't know.

Y: Your Latest Book Purchase: Confessions of a Call Center Gal by Lisa Lim. Anything hailed as "The Office meets Avenue Q" that's only 99cents is good enough for me.

Z: Zzzz-Snatcher Book-(The last book that kept you up way too late): Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner, although it was one of my least favorite books of hers.

Monday Mish Mash

Every Monday I bring you a list of things I like and/or am thinking about. Feel free to join in. If you do, post in comments and I'll read yours. :)

1. Amanda Bynes - WHY did a judge overturn her hold in the hospital? She's out and out of control. She needs protection from herself. Mental health issues are no joke.

2. My musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, is cursed. No joke. There have been 4 deaths of relatives of cast members since we started and various other drama - and I do mean extreme drama. I just need to get through the next 2 weeks and the performances. Can I make it?

3. I'm going to participate in The Broke & the Bookish's Secret Santa Exchange. You should too!

4. I'm taking a bit of a break from reading right now. Not really in the mood. I have a lot of other things to worry about - like a craft show I have on Fri and Sat. I need to make some more journals for stock.

5. Watched Rocky Horror with a bestie this weekend. Loved it as always. I need to find my dvd of when I played Janet in the stage musical . . .

Undertow by Jen Greyson

Undertow
by Jen Greyson
Add to Goodreads | Purchase on Amazon
Published by: Alexander Cole Publishing Group - October 24, 2014
Genre: NA, Romance
Rating: 3.5 Stars

NOTICE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Six single girls. One sexy billionaire bachelor. On water. What could possibly go wrong?

When Sangria Henlie's firm takes on a reality TV client, Sangria has no choice but to wade through ridiculous and tedious paperwork, heightening her distaste for unscripted television.

Mateo Darger puts the family shipping business ahead of everything—especially women. Six weeks with six lovely ladies in exchange for one hour of weekly prime-time television? Done deal.

But when Sangria visits his office to brief him about the do's and don’ts of this crazy cruise, the only thing he can think of is her—and by her clipped remarks, she thinks he's an unmitigated ass for taking part in a farcical charade.

At the last minute, he gets her on the boat. But he hasn't thought through his next move. She's furious—and Mateo has six other women to…ahem…impress? Will Sangria let down her guard, or will it be the longest six weeks of Mateo’s blessed billionaire life?

I loved the story. I loved Sangria and Mateo. I wasn't impressed with the run-on sentences. This book would have been a 4 if not for those. I know this is an uncorrected proof and I'm hoping these were edited out. . .

"I think Sangria is great, bummer that Stuart is being a turd about it." The comma should have been a period.

There was also another place in which Rinnae's character was called Sarina. Those things still need edited.

As far as the story and the zing between Sangria and Mateo, it got heated a couple of times and worked well. Sangria's wit and Mateo's ability to read Sangria were genuine touches to the characters. I cared about them and wanted them to get together. The other contestants were less well-drawn and a bit more ambiguous. The author tried to play up Kat as the nasty one and had Stuart telling Sangria that he wanted her to stick to Kat like glue. While Kat was nasty, she really only had one big moment where she let her true colors fly. That was long after the author built up the image of her being catty. Also, the only time Sangria had to be paired with Kat was on the treasure hunt. The bargain that Stuart made with Sangria, saying she had to be with Kat at all times just didn't ring true with what actually happened. The author put ideas out there, but the plot didn't necessarily justify what was said.

I really enjoyed the book overall and would read another novel by Jennifer Greyson. I just think this one needs some more polish.

Definitely, Maybe in Love by Ophelia London

Definitely, Maybe in Love
by Ophelia London
Add to Goodreads | Purchase on Amazon
Published by: Entangled - October 28, 2013
Genre: NA,Pride & Prejudice modern adaptation
Rating: 3 Stars

Spring Honeycutt wants two things: to ace her sustainable living thesis and to save the environment. Both seem hopelessly unobtainable until her college professor suggests that with a new angle, her paper could be published. Spring swears she’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that happens.

"Whatever it takes," however, means forming a partnership with the very hot, very privileged, very conceited Henry Knightly.

Henry is Spring's only hope at publication, but he's also the über-rich son of a land developer and cash-strapped Spring’s polar opposite—though she can't help being attracted to the way he pushes her buttons, both politically and physically. Spring finds there's more to Henry than his old money and argyle sweaters…but can she drop the loud-and-proud act long enough to let him in? Suddenly, choosing between what she wants and what she needs puts Spring at odds with everything she believes in.

I love P&P modern takes and since this one was only $2.99 I snatched it up. I also liked that the Darcy character's last name was Knightley. I love Mr. Knightley too, so I enjoyed the homage.

The story followed very close to the original. Her best friend (Jane) fell for Dart (Charles), but Knightley (Darcy) busted that up. Alex (Wickham) used to attend school with Knightley. They were friends until Alex did some questionable stuff, not only to Knightley but to Knightley's sister. There was no deviation from the plot except for the setting. I was okay with that, because I love the story, but there were some things that bugged me.

Page 41 made me sad, because it contained my least favorite dialogue in a book:

"Alex, hey."
"Hey yourself."

I am a "Hey yourself" hater. Do people actually say that in real life?

But then there was the redeemable quote from Knightley to Spring: "Whatever you're feeling about me right this second," he continued, "believe that. Please."

SPOILERS BELOW!

The whole Alex and Cami (Knightley's sister) thing was a bit dramatic as well as the Alex and Julia situation. The author over-dramatized those scenes and made them very unbelievable. I highly doubt that when Dart (Charles) went to rescue Julia from Alex, and he found them naked after having just been together, Dart would have carried Julia to the car and immediately gotten back together with her. Just didn't make any sense. Then there's Spring's excellent retelling of Knightley's letter in which he explains what kind of person Alex truly is: "He takes girls - after he severely impairs them, or finds them severely impaired - to some, I don't know, some honeymoon cabin at the beach. It's date rape but on steroids." I'll let those strange sentences sink in for you for a minute . . .


And as far as I know, the author never explained what happened to Cami's baby.

There were weird examples like those throughout the book.

One major difference between the original and this retelling is that Spring (Elizabeth) was kind of a perpetual b*tch to Knightley without a lot of good reason. Yes, he broke up Dart and Julia, but overall, Knightley was a nice guy in this book. Spring was the one who had a burr up her crawl.

Maybe I shouldn't write reviews when I didn't sleep the night before (like right now) . . .