Christian Fiction Readers Retreat :: 2016

Hello my lovelies! So you may or may not have noticed that things have been a little quiet around here for a couple weeks. Roadtrips to Nashville will do that! :) Surprisingly (probably) I didn't mention much about this trip (or anything about it actually) prior to going. I was a bit worried that things may not work out like I wanted, so I kept quiet. But! I did go and it was AMAZING. I have some stories to share (naturally), but I have no one in real life who wants to listen to my gushing over and over and over about how I still can't believe I actually got to meet all those wonderful ladies. So that means y'all get to listen to me here! (Or not. No pressure to read to the very end of this wordy post. I completely understand the commitment it requires! ;)

As you see above, I went to the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat. It was basically a chance for readers and bloggers to meet with the authors we love so much. A few authors spoke about their stories and what inspired them to begin writing, we had chances to ask them questions and just chat about how much we loved their books, and we got to have books signed and take pictures galore. The entire experience was a delight! I loved the whole feeling of the day. These were my people! They understood me, they knew my passion for reading, and they felt the same. It was glorious!!

Laura Frantz, Gabrielle Meyer, Kristi Ann Hunter

The Bloggers

First and foremost? The most unexpected and happiest of surprises? I got to meet Rel of Relz Reviewz!!!!!

I found out just a couple days prior to leaving that she was going to be visiting the US (she lives in Australia) and was going to be in the same city as I. I couldn't believe I would be that close and totally miss her! I tried to brainstorm some scheme to try and meet up, but I am not savvy and awesome like that so I came up with nothing. *cue sadness* However! She somehow decided to make a late afternoon appearance just as our retreat was ending and I was SO EXCITED. There are no words for how thrilled I was to see her! Seriously. I never imagined that I would ever get the chance. Australia is far, far away from my little spot in the world.

(Incidentally, I told her that meeting her was an honor because I was meeting REL. She is deserving of all caps and glitter! If you're part of the Christian Fiction blogging community, I know you've heard of her because she is just that amazing. She tried to tell me that she's perfectly normal and nothing extraordinary, but I, respectfully, beg to differ. :)

I pretty much gushed all over her and she was gracious enough to let me. She even seemed to like me too! Still pretty giddy about that. :)

And yet!

There is still more awesome to talk about because I met Jamie from Books and Beverages too! So I spent my day with one of the nicest and sweetest ladies around. She was another I was extra nervous about because, while I love chatting online with her, I was a bit worried she might not like me so well in person. I know! That's crazy talk, but I have to be honest. Good thing I was wrong! Because she was wonderful. Even if we didn't get to chat about Tolkien and Lewis nearly as much as I wanted. Next time, right Jamie? ;)

Krista Phillips, Pepper Basham

I remember looking in the doorway and seeing her in there already setting up. It's just the weirdest, craziest, most awesome thing to see a person for real! When you've seen their picture and had many a convo, when you feel like you've known them for years yet never met them, and then suddenly see them right in front of you, it's just....I don't really have the words to describe the feeling. It's just cool, is what it is!

There were several other bloggers there that I'd heard of but had never interacted with them. Namely Annie and Carrie, who helped host, along with Bonnie. (Those ladies worked tirelessly to get this day set up. They deserve all the kudos and cookies in the world!) I'm blanking on who else I met right now, but suffice it to say, there were many. And still more were there that I never even said hello to, I found out later. Next year I'm totally planning ahead better! :)

The Authors

• Mary Connealy and Ruth Logan Herne are absolutely hilarious! I could have listened to them all day long. Someone called them "the Laurel and Hardy of Christian Fiction", which is a perfect description. 
• Mary's last name is pronounced "kuh-NEAL-ly" NOT "KAHN-nelly". I've been saying it wrong for years! (At least I'm not the only one? Others were remarking on this too.)
• Ruthy is wonderful. She is so full of life and enthusiasm! I loved getting to know her a bit better.
• Laura Frantz is the nicest! Chatting with her felt like talking with an old friend.
• Julie Lessman has a beautiful heart. It radiates out when you meet her.
• Tamera Alexander, Carrie Turansky, Kristi Ann Hunter, Kate Breslin, Gabrielle Meyer, Jennifer Slattery, they all were so gracious and kind (even when I had to admit that I hadn't read Kate's or Jennifer's books yet, they both sweetly signed a book plate thing for me anyway).

  

  Rel, Kara Isaac, Tamera Leigh,
  Jamie, Dani Pettrey, Becky Wade,
  Pepper Basham, Julie Lessman, Laura Frantz

• I sat beside Melanie Dickerson. The entire day! That moment I looked up and she wanted to slide by me to sit down, I think my eyes sort of bugged out of my head for a second! ;D
• Becky Wade remembered my blog!!! That was a very giddy moment! :)
• Dani Pettrey (pronounced "PET-tree") has never been to Alaska! How is this possible anyway? Because her books clearly indicate that she has! ;) 
• Krista Phillips has an amazing daughter. She shared her journey with a few of us and oh my! That little girl is a walking miracle.
• I haven't read any of Mesu Andrews' (pronounced "MEE-su") books, but after having a chance to hear her tell about them (and because I've heard nothing but good things from fellow bloggers), I bought one and am excited to read it!
• Meghan Gorecki's beautiful smile just makes you feel happy! I love her dimples. :)
• Kara Isaac!!! Aaahhhh, I was SO excited to meet her!! She lives in New Zealand (I know) and aside from having an awesome name ;), she is another I never dreamed I'd get the chance to meet in person! We've chatted via twitter and she remembered me. *happy dance*
• Pepper Basham was absolutely a delight! We bonded over our mutual love of Catherine (and David! ;). 
• It was a total shock to look up and see Tamara Leigh! She wasn't even supposed to be there, so my fangirling probably got a bit out of control. ;) I have loved her books for years. 

L to R: Melanie Dickerson, Gabrielle Meyer, Laura Frantz,
Pepper Basham, Kristi Ann Hunter, Carrie Turansky
(These authors dressed up in the time period in which their books are set.)

Every single moment was so wonderful and I kept sitting there wondering if it was all real. It's incredibly surreal to look around you and see all these people who are so much more than just people to you! Their words bring happiness and have become part of my heart, their books feel like old friends, and there's simply this unexplainable quality about book people, isn't there? To quote myself, "Book people are awesome! Regardless if we read the same genres or no, regardless if we read lots or a little, no matter the differences, book people just get each other. It's true! There is absolutely nothing like talking with someone else who's passionate about stories. Who, when asked to name their favorite authors, whips out a giant list. Who grins secretly at me when I notice we're both standing in line at the library with our arms full. Who sees the book I'm holding and instantly says "Ooo, that's a good one! Have you read....?". There was a lot of secret smiling and general fangirling going on that day. These are my people and I loved every minute. :)

30 Days of Books :: Day 4

Hello my lovelies! I hope August is treating you well. It's been excruciatingly HOT here for the past few weeks, but we're surviving. And right now I'm sitting in air conditioning, in a comfy chair, writing about books, so I'm doing very well! :) By the by, anybody watching the Olympics? I am anything but a sports fan normally, but give me the Olympics and I become this crazy fanatic. Watching all the things, googling all the things, you name it. No matter how boring the sport, I am so there. Although I have decided that there aren't any boring sports at the Olympics. Because it's the Olympics! It's just magic, okay? ;)

Anyhoo, on to the fun stuff.

{joining Jenni}

Day 4 :: Your favorite book of your favorite series

Yay! Another easy one! On my last post, I said my favorite series is The Lunar Chronicles, so my favorite out of the four main books (excluding all the short stories. And I refuse to acknowledge that Fairest exists. I'm sorry. But I just can't.) is Scarlet!! I love the other three books a great deal, but my love of Scarlet knows no bounds. I'm not sure what it is about Scarlet and Wolf exactly (I did write this post about how much I love them though), all I know is they grabbed my heart from the first pages and have refused to give it back. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm realizing how much I love the Beauty and the Beast fairytale? I know that's not the one their story is modeled after, but it definitely has similarities. Whatever my reasons, I love how these two characters fall in love and proceed to care for each other no matter what happens to them. Their relationship is my favorite of the four main couples! :)

What about you? What's your favorite book of your favorite series?

Review: The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck

Once again, I was swept away into a Rachel Hauck novel and happily at that! She simply has a way with words. This wasn't a nail-biting, stay-up-way-too-late type of story for me, but that didn't matter. It was the gentleness and the care in her storyline that kept me picking the book back up again and again. Which probably sounds like it wasn't a great read, but it was! Oh, it definitely was.

The reason I enjoyed it so much? The characters, of course. Because I loved Haley. She's quite a force of nature! Now Cora, on the other hand, I wanted to shake her a few times. But Haley? I was right there with her every single step and wanted so badly for her dreams for the shop to come true. And as she dreamed huge, refusing to let pessimism crash into it, I kept hoping right along with her. It did help that I was rather fond of Cole, as well. (Who wouldn't be? ;) As these two worked together, I loved all their little moments. Their relationship is pretty fragile in the beginning, thanks to their past, but oh the sweetness that slowly develops! Definitely a favorite aspect of the novel for me.

Dual storylines can sometimes be confusing, if the writer doesn't differentiate between the characters somehow. I confess that I wasn't expecting all the POVs that we get, but Ms. Hauck handled them all well. Cora's bits were an interesting background for Haley's, and while I was more riveted with Haley and Cole, I did like watching Cora's growth as she figured out what she really wanted out of her life.

The bits of hope and grace that Ms. Hauck tucks into her story were lovely as well! By the time I closed the final page, I was smiling from all the cute and happy moments. And was glad that I had the privilege of reading this excellent story!

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes and Noble

"I had my adventure. After the air force I was supposed to come home and open the old wedding shop with Tammy." Haley smiled at the memory of playing in the shop with her best friend. "Man, I don't think I've really thought about that since high school. But if she were alive now, she'd be begging, 'Let's open the shop, Hal. Now's the time.'"
"The old wedding shop? What? I never heard this before. Why would you want to open that old place? The city owns the property and last I heard, was about to tear it down, thank goodness." Mom opened the bedroom door and hollered down. "Dave, is it almost halftime? We can do our goals."
Haley was on her feet. "Tear down the shop? Why?" Her dream with Tammy woke up, stretched, and rattled around in her soul.

Review: Told You Twice by Kristen Heitzmann

Oh friends, I was SO excited to read this one! Ever since reading Told You So at the end of last year, and being blown away, I had been anticipating Ms. Heitzmann's next book in the series. I was so sure I'd love it, no matter who it would be about, and guess what? I was so right! I will admit that I was extra special excited though, when I heard it would be Bo's story, because there was just something about that man when I met him in book one. He was so lost in heart-pain, yet the innate goodness inside of him shone through. Grace could see it and so could I. So count me doubly in to find out more about this fascinating character! :)

What a joy it was to discover Bo's heart. He has made and continues to make some really bad choices in his life, but watching as his layers slowly peel back and his true self starts becoming clearer to the others around him, as well as to himself, is a beautiful thing to witness! Of course, Grace (from book one) already knew this, but how much did I love that Exi could see it immediately as well. She is another character with so many layers and bad choices in her past, and it would seem like putting these two together would not be wise. But trust me, they fit each other perfectly! I'm always a bit leery of romances that start when one of the couple is already engaged to someone else, and I admit that Exi made some choices that frustrated me, but I have to give kudos to Ms. Heitzmann for handling that whole situation very gently. There are so many ways she could have taken it and I was very pleased with the way it all ended up.

This is a gritty and painful story. Bo has a lot of growth to undertake and in order for that to happen, he has to pretty much hit rock bottom. We all know rock bottom is not a pretty or clean place to be. But when he begins to let grace and mercy enter his life, it's a glorious moment and so worth all the hard to get to that point. He broke my heart so many times during this story! In all the best ways, of course. And I was rooting for him every single miserable step it took for him to begin to see light in his life. It was always there, he just had to realize it. Exi's storyline is just as compelling, and when she finally starts to understand herself and what she wants her life to be, ah how happy I was!

Together these two characters create a story that is entirely unforgettable! I love the way Ms. Heitzmann interweaves hope and grace in amongst all the chaos and drama. It's so true of real life, how we sometimes have to search a bit harder to find it, but it's always been there and when we go looking it shines bright. This is a story so worth discovering, friends! Read it and fall in love with these characters as much as I, okay? ;)

**I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Goodreads :: Amazon

Eddie studied him so long he squirmed.
Bo slouched back from the table. "My sister Barb never got the leads she deserved. Everything was heaped on me. Even her love and attention. Then she's just wiped out." His hands fisted. "Where's the open arms in that?"
Eddie let the anger splash over him and ebb into a frothy tide. "I believe they're around her now. In the eternal view, she got there first, while you're still floundering here."
Bo stared. He couldn't help it. Barb the lucky one? And yet...
"It's a picture of God's unquenchable love. If you're sorry, weary, and lost, there is a way."

30 Days of Books :: Day 3

Here I am again! This really is fun (except for the picking only one part!), you should try it. :D This meme is certainly make me use my brain, let me tell you. I'm so forgetful! It's a good thing there's goodreads to help an absentminded reader out.

{joining Jenni}

Day 3 :: Your favorite series

Now this is more like it! I knew immediately which series I was choosing, there was no hard decision-making involved at all. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer is EPIC and AMAZING and AWESOME and ALL THE ADJECTIVES. :D It truly is. I was a bit skeptical at first because when a book is majorly hyped, usually I'm not as big of a fan. But I tried Cinder anyway and was immediately blown away! And lucky for me I had only a few weeks to wait for Scarlet. But then...oh but then I had to wait an entire year for Cress. And then another almost two years for Winter! Those waits were excruciating let me tell you! (Actually I don't have to tell you, do I? Because I complained a lot on here about it. #Sorrynotsorry) Oh but I can't forget Stars Above! Because that epilogue/novella is a wonderful ending to the series. (Although I'm still sad the series is over! *sadface* At least I can reread as many times as I want, that helps. :)

Anyhoo, my point is, this series is something very special. I will gush about these books for years, I think. So you should read them if you haven't! And if you have, then feel free to gush in the comments. ;)

What's your favorite series? And do you read them as they come out or wait until they're all published before reading? Either way is pretty hard to do, I've discovered!

Review: Disillusioned by Christy Barritt

I've been a fan of Ms. Barritt's for several years now and she's one of the few mystery writers that can get me to read her stories. I'm not usually a fan of mysteries, but somehow she's convinced me otherwise with her books! :) It's always the characters that draw me in. As well as the edge-of-your-seat tension going on. I've found that it's usually wiser for me to read her books during the day rather than at night because otherwise I'll never get to sleep. And this one is no exception to that rule! We jump right into the action on page one and things never really slow down.

The characters and their relationships and interactions with one another is where Ms. Barritt's writing shines. Her ability to keep the tension building, while Nikki and Bobby navigate who they are and how life's circumstances have changed their brother-sister relationship, not to mention Kade and Nikki balancing their attraction with their desire to protect themselves from each other and the bad guys, comes together to create just enough edginess to keep you off-balance and turning pages. Learning to trust again, falling in love, protecting those we love, all these emotions came into play, as they do in real life, and I loved it! Forced into situations not of their own making, each of the three have to make choices that aren't easy and sometimes have to think pretty fast. Together, though, they are so much stronger and I loved it when they each began to realize that. We need our friends and family around us when things are hard, so I especially appreciated how Nikki strove to do all she could for her brother. No matter what.

The romance was, of course, a very enjoyable part of the story for me. :) There were several very sweet and tender moments that helped break a bit of the tension (which I appreciated, believe me!). And while there were bits that didn't flow as well for me, I was overall quite happy I read this! Ms. Barritt will definitely remain a mystery writer that will always keep me coming back for more. Which is an excellent accomplishment, if I do say so for myself! :D

**I received a complimentary copy from the author via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes and Noble

In an instant, Bobby's elbow snapped back and slammed the rib cage of the man beside him. The man dropped to the ground holding his stomach. Bobby grabbed his gun and, in one fluid motion, pulled the trigger. The man cried out in pain and clutched his knee.
Then Bobby turned toward Nikki.
He pointed the gun at her.
The air left her lungs.
No...She started to say something, but the words lodged in her throat. Beg for your life. Talk some sense into your brother. Buy some time.
Before she could say any of those things, Bobby fired.

30 Days of Books :: Day 2

Hello, my lovelies! I'm back for more bookish fun. Yay! :) I like this meme, even if I have trouble narrowing my choice down to one book. Let's see how I do today, yes?

{joining Jenni}

Day 2 :: A book you've read more than three times

Aaaaahhhh! Okay, seriously, HOW am I supposed to only pick one?! Jenni, did you make these questions hard on purpose? *sigh* I keep trying to be reasonable and logical, but I'm a reader. I reread a lot. It's why I have my own library basically, so I can reread all the bookish goodness to my hearts content. Therefore, asking me to pick only ONE that I've reread more than three times....I don't wanna choose! Humph. Okay, okay, let me think on it.....

So I'm going to go with Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh. I have reread this one countless times. I'm not sure what it is about Harri that I connect with, her life has been way different than mine. But I do understand her fears and how staying safe and comfortable is so much easier than being bold and stepping out in faith! And her antics always make me laugh. I think the reason I reread this one so often is because it's simply a feel good story. The drama is quite understated and the romance is pretty adorable. It simply makes me smile every time I read it, which is exactly what I need sometimes. (Maybe a lot of times...)

But just so you know, I totally coulda chosen at least three or four more books! I'll just save them for another post, but still...! ;)

What book(s) have you read more than three times? Or do you reread at all? (I know some people don't.)

30 Days of Books :: Day 1

Jenni hosted 30 Days of Books back in May and June, when I wasn't doing much blogging. But now that I'm back, I thought it sounded fun! So I'm going to try it. I should warn you that I probably won't keep up with 30 days all in a row, but I'll keep going as I'm able. Anyhoo! On to the fun stuff! :)

Day 1 :: The best book you read last year

Oh boy. I have to pick only one?! How am I supposed to do that???? I don't think that's possible. So I'm going to cheat, sorry. I'm picking three (well....technically I guess I'm picking five, but three are a series so...)

So! My favorite reads of 2015 are as follows:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater {Which is simply amazing, y'all! The writing swept me into the story immediately, plus Puck and Sean are so worth meeting. This book! Seriously such a great read.}

Winter by Marissa Meyer {Y'all know I'd been waiting for years for this final book! It's an epic ending to an amazing series.}



The Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien {SO glad I finally listened to the audio for this series! Tolkien is a master storyteller, he really is.}


I don't know how everybody else was able to choose only one, but anyway. There you have it! Or should I say 'them' not 'it'? *shrugs* What's the best book you read last year?

Review: The Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien

So I'm going to do something a bit different with this review. I suppose technically these will be more bite-sized than full on regular reviews, but it's been so long since I read them that I forget a lot of the particulars. I listened to the audiobooks as well, so that doesn't help my memory either. I do remember really enjoying all three books though! And I remember all the FEELS I had once I finished. Bear with me as I try to put words around my love for this wonderful trilogy...okay? :)

{Check out Jamie's discussion posts of this series (here, here, and here), as well as Hamlette's read-along. Because these two ladies single-handedly convinced me that I needed to read this series ASAP!}

The Fellowship of the Ring
The friendships are my absolute favorite part of this series! I knew coming into book one, having already seen the movies, that I was going to love Sam. But I did not realize all the other hobbits were going to make me love them too! As well as Legolas, Gimli, Aragorn, and Gandalf. Even Boromir! I wasn't so sure about him, but he grew on me. I love this whole world that Tolkien has created, but his characters are what kept me reading. The epic scale of this adventure for Frodo, which begins so quietly, builds and builds as the book progresses. What you think of as a pretty simple task (although you realize it is anything but simple) soon becomes life threatening and perilous. And each character's reasons for making their choices is so fascinating. I admit I was surprised at how long it took for the fellowship to actually come together, but I didn't mind it. Tolkien clearly loves his descriptions and we get complete visuals of each place that gets visited, as well as the myriad of characters (both good and bad) that we meet. I loved that each main character gets described slowly and lingeringly, and my impressions of them changed a lot because it takes time to truly get to know each one and their motivations. Definitely an excellent read and I was very glad to be able to dive into book two pretty quick after finishing this one! :)

The Two Towers

Okay first off? Shelob = just NO. I will absolutely admit to skimming that part really, really quickly! And as always, Sam continues to show his awesomeness. All the hobbits do actually! There was so much I'd forgotten from the movies (probably things that were even changed as well), so I kept being surprised with how things happened, when, and with who. I didn't like Frodo and Sam going off on their own, even though I understood it. I'm glad Sam convinced Frodo to let him come! Frodo can make some really dumb decisions sometimes, just sayin', so it's a good thing Sam was there! And I was sad that Pippen and Merry got separated as well. But the Ents? The Ents are awesome! And I loved how Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli determined to go rescue Pippen and Merry. The friendship between those three is so wonderful, especially Legolas and Gimli, who have the biggest prejudices against each other to get over. They added so many funny moments, which just made me love them more! :) The hobbits continue to prove how phenomenal they are, and how everybody keeps underestimating them, which they should totally not do! And once again, I am in awe of how Tolkien manages to create all these separate stories going on for the One Big Cause and bring them all together, even while the characters themselves may be separated. Seriously! The epicness of this series continues to amaze me! But that cliffhanger? So not nice! At all.

The Return of the King
So many things happen in this one! Well, I suppose that's true for all three books, but still. There's so much going on and I don't see how Tolkien keeps track of everything and never lets the reader get confused! He's a master storyteller for sure. Once again, the characters are all such a mix of good and bad (or at least they sometimes make wrong choices, even if they're not inherently bad) and they each make me love them for differing reasons. I mean, Eowyn! And Sam! And Pippen! And Merry! And Aragorn! And Legolas! And Gimli! And Faramir! And everybody! My list could go on, but suffice it to say I love these characters. But my absolute favorites? Are the hobbits. Their loyalty in friendship, their fierceness in battle, their courage no matter the odds stacked against them, I ended this series with a heart that belonged to the hobbits. I feel like this is one giant of a story all about teaching the people of Middle Earth just how amazing the hobbits are. And how everybody needs to seriously stop underestimating them! Because they are awesome, okay?! :) I was not expecting the final battle at the end of the book, but it made sense once I thought about it. And I loved that once again, the hobbits proved how smart they are. I will admit that Frodo frustrated me several times during this series, but I still like him overall. He was just really blessed with an incredible friend in Sam and I surely wish he'd figured that out a whole lot sooner than he did. I could try and express how epic and awesome this book (and entire series) is, but I could never do it justice, so I'll stop here. But trust me, if you haven't read this, then please do. Because these characters and their journey of heroism and friendship is so worth reading. It inspired me and I aim to revisit this adventure again someday. Maybe several times as it's definitely worth a reread or ten! :)

Jane Austen Would You Rather...

So I found this Jane Austen tag over here and here, I thought it looked like fun so I decided to join in! I mean, anything Austen related is always fun, right? (Of course I'm right!! :)

Anyhoo, it's pretty self-explanatory, so onwards to the questions, shall we?


Who would you rather have act as your matchmaker, Lady Russell or Mrs. Jennings?

Mrs. Jennings for sure! I think she'd maybe make me laugh while cringing in embarrassment. And she seems to tease about crushes that are pretty obvious. Lady Russell, on the other hand, doesn't seem to really see people's hearts, she only sees what they want you to notice.

Who would you like as a pen pal from Jane Austen's works?

How about Captain Wentworth? I wouldn't turn down a swoony letter from him, I gotta admit! :D Or maybe Catherine Morland because I think her letters would amuse me. Although she might only write sickenly lovesick letters after she's married, so maybe I'd write her before she's married...hmm...

Who would you rather go on a walk with, Colonel Fitzwilliam or Captain Benwick?

Colonel Fitzwilliam!! I imagine he would be a good conversationalist. As I'm not much knowledgeable about poetry, I don't think I could endure a convo with Captain Benwick.

Who would you rather have to befriend, Mrs. Elton or Lucy Steele?

Definitely Lucy Steele, she doesn't seem nearly as mean for means sake as Mrs. Elton. And this is only if I have to befriend her! Hopefully I wouldn't have to be around her terribly much.

Who would you rather have as a sibling, John Knightley or Mary Musgrove?

John Knightley. This is based on the adaptation versions of him as I haven't read his book yet, but I think Mary would drive me batty.

Who would you rather dance with? 

Mr. Tilney of course! He'd be fun to dance with, whatwith making me laugh and just generally having a good time.

Who would you rather refuse, Mr. Collins or Mr. Elton?

Hmmmm....how about neither? What, that's a cop out? Well humph. If I have to answer, I'll go with.......Mr. Elton. Because hopefully he'd take my rejection and leave me alone from there on out. Mr. Collins I'm not so sure understands the word no. Like at all.

Who would you rather match-make for, Miss Bates or Mary Bennet?

Mary Bennet. I'm not sure why, but I've a soft spot for Mary and I'd love to spend some time with her and see if I could get beyond her stiff outer shell. I'm betting she's got a soft heart she's hiding and I'd love to chat with her to try and figure out a way to find her someone special. Although I'd probably pick the wrong guy because I do not see myself as a matchmaker at all!

Who would you rather have as a best friend?

Anne Elliot, I think we have several things in common and I'd love a chance to truly get to know her. I mean, all the characters, aside from her horrid family naturally, that meet her in the novel really enjoy being around her, so that has to say something, right? :)

Who would you rather argue with? (Mrs. Bennet, Lady Catherine, Emma Woodhouse, Mr. Woodhouse, Mr. Palmer, Mrs. Jennings, Fanny Dashwood, Captain Wentworth, Mr. Darcy, ect.)

Oh gracious, I don't know. How about I just watch an argument between Lizzy and Darcy? I think their battles of wit would be greatly amusing to listen to, especially after they're married!

Would you rather wander the grounds of Pemberley and risk being 'discovered' or wander over the downs surrounding Barton Cottage in the rain and twist an ankle?

I'd rather risk being discovered! A little embarrassment could be gotten over a whole lot faster than a twisted ankle. I don't like pain. Not even if it meant having a handsome gentleman rescue me. (Plus that handsome gentleman has a high risk of being flighty and only after money, soooo....yeah.)

Where would you live in Austen's works?

Maybe at Barton Cottage because I think it might be fun to live with Elinor and Marianne. Although I'm kind of partial to the comfortable feel of the Morland's home (I'm forgetting the name of it now...). I think any of the other houses have certain people who would make me crazy. Actually, they probably all do for that matter. But Barton Cottage and the Morland's home seem to be the least craziest. Sorta. :)