Prayer: the basics, the purpose and examples we can follow

Prayer is an important aspect in the Christian faith as it is with most other religions. Prayer is the communication process to talk to God. It is our direct access to Him as we seek His guidance, His revelation, and provision for our needs and desires. He wants us to communicate with Him. He wants us to come to Him with all our fears, needs, wants and desires. Examples of prayers are found throughout the Old and New Testaments. People make prayer very complicated, but it is truly very simple. Prayer is like talking with your best friend. Just talk. There’s no formula, no right or wrong, just talk and let God know what is on our minds and hearts. What are the basics of prayer? What are examples of prayers in the Bible and how can we use them for our own prayers? What did Jesus teach about prayer?

Many people struggle with what to say in prayer. First, seek forgiveness of your sins. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”  Second, tell God about our needs and fears. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Many of my prayers start with speaking to God about my fears and anxiety. Third, pray for each other. In John 17, Jesus prayed. He prayed for himself (verses 1-5) and the completion of his mission on Earth. He prayed for his disciples (verses 6-19). He prayed for you and me (verses 20-25) and that we would be an example of God so that the world would believe (verse 21).  Lastly, thank God for sending His Son Jesus Christ as John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Many people also struggle with how to pray. First, pray with confidence. Hebrews 4:16 tells us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence.” Second, pray with joy. Acts 2:28, Peter quotes David (Psalm 16:11), “you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Third, pray with expectation. Psalm 5:3 says “In the morning, O Lord. You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Fourth, pray with faith. Hebrews 11: 6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Lastly, pray in worship and reverence. Psalm 99:5 says “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.”

There are many examples of prayers in the Bible. When you look at the reasons for their prayers, you can see that they prayed for the same reasons we do. Hannah prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:11) and she prayed in gratitude when her son was born (1 Samuel 2:1-10). David prayed for guidance (1 Samuel 23:2), for revelation (1 Samuel 23:2) and for forgiveness (2 Samuel 24:10). Solomon prayed for wisdom (1 Kings 3:6-9) and Elijah prayed for fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:36-37). For me, Job’s prayers are some of the most relatable because Job went through trials in his life he didn’t deserve. He turned to God in grief. Job 1:20-22, he prayed in worship, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Despite his intense grief, Job recognized the Lord’s sovereignty. He prayed to compliant and seek relief and forgiveness (Job 7:17-21, 9:25-10:22, 14:13-22). He prayed to confess. In Job 40:3-5, Job answered the Lord, “I am unworthy- how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer- twice, but I will say no more.” He prayed in repentance. In Job 42:1-6, Job says he knows that God can do all things and that Job spoke of things he did not understand. With Job’s example, we can come to God with anything. We can question him “why?” We can rant and rave about the trials we are going through and trust that God will answer us. When we pray with requests, God always answers. Sometimes he says yes, and the request is fulfilled. Sometimes he says no, replying that his grace is enough (2 Corinthians 12:9). Sometimes he says not yet, and the fulfillment is delayed.

Another example of prayer is through Jesus. The Gospels gives many examples of when Jesus prayed, some of them I mentioned above. He taught how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15. He said to pray quietly and unseen (Matthew 6:6). He said to pray simply and directly, not to babble with many words (Matthew 6:7). Matthew 6:9-13 has been called The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.” The Lord’s Prayer gives us a pattern to pray. First, praise God. “Our Father in heaven” not only acknowledges that God is holy but also personal and loving. It is a statement of praise and commitment to honor God’s holy name. Second, praying for his work in heaven and on earth. “Kingdom come,” his spiritual reign. “Your will be done,” is not a resignation to our fates but praying that God’s perfect purpose will be accomplished. Third, prayers for our daily needs. “Give us today our daily bread” acknowledges that God is our sustainer and provider. We trust God daily to provide what he knows we need. Fourth, we pray for forgiveness. “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors” is to remind us that when we seek forgiveness, we must also forgive those who hurt us. Lastly, prayers for help in our daily struggles. “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” is a prayer for deliverance. God doesn’t lead us into temptation, but he allows us to be tested (Job is a great example). We ask God to help us recognize temptation and to give us the strength to overcome it.

In conclusion, the exact words of the prayers are not what is important. It is the motivation behind it. Prayers help us communicate with God. Prayers help us bring our thoughts, our troubles, our worries, our wants and desires to Him. And if it is in His will for your life, he will grant it right away or in the future. Prayer is to repent and seek forgiveness. Prayer is for comfort and strength. People may say that repeating certain prayers is how you pray and if you want to pray The Lord’s Prayer, that’s fine. However, remember it is not the words that matter to God, it is you coming to Him. Sometimes its hard to speak the words and pray. Sometimes, coming to him in silence with tears running down our face is prayer enough. Coming to Him in prayer with a simple “Please, Lord, help me” is enough.

“Your silent prayers uttered on tearstained pillows were heard before they were said.

Your deepest questions were answered before they were asked.

He sees you, He hears you, He knows you.”

-Max Lucado, God Came Near (1986)

How to Train Your Dragon Hidden World movie review

How to Train Your Dragons Hidden World opened in the US on February 22, 2019 to rave reviews. I loved the other films in the trilogy and was eager to see this one. Unfortunately, I was unable to see it in theaters. The Blu-ray and DVD were released on May 21 and I was determined to buy it. Hidden World is the last film in this trilogy, and we must say goodbye to this beautiful world and these outlandish but lovable characters. Always visually stunning with great characters, great moments and send off worthy of this wonderful series.

The film opens one year after the events of How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), Hiccup (played by Jay Baruchel) and his friends continue to rescue captured dragons. He brings them back to Berk where he has created a dragon-human utopia. Unfortunately, his place has resulted in an overpopulation of dragons. The villagers urge Hiccup to marry Astrid (played by America Ferrera) and take a larger role as chief. Unwilling to take that next step, Hiccup is determined to keep the dragons with them. He wants to find the Hidden World, a place his late father told him about as a child. Meanwhile, a white female Fury (dubbed Light Fury by Astrid) is discovered by Toothless. Unknown to Hiccup, the Light Fury is being used as bait by the infamous dragon hunter, Grimmel (played by F. Murray Abraham) in order to capture Toothless. As Hiccup searches for the Hidden World, he must decide whether to free Toothless and the other dragons or spend a lifetime fighting those who want to hurt them.

I loved this film. First, I love the characters. They have grown with each film; however still struggle with their insecurities/weaknesses. Hiccup is a great example. The boy would couldn’t or wouldn’t kill a dragon has grown in a man who hasn’t quite figured out his role as chief. He’s reluctant to marry Astrid, not because he doesn’t want to because he fears his dragon riding days are over. With the help of Astrid (who is my favorite character), he realizes that its time to say goodbye. Second, I like that the movie features a moral or lesson that we don’t have to be alone to solve our problems. We find strength, encouragement and solutions as we lean on others for support, advice and help. That we are better together as a partnership or a team than we are alone. Valka, Hiccup’s mother (played by Cate Blanchett) tells Astrid, “He thinks he has to lead alone.” Being a great leader means having a great team around him or her. Third, I love the theme that in life, sometimes we must lose who or what we love. In a flashback scene, Stoick (played by Gerard Butler) gives his son this lesson. “With love comes loss, son. It’s part of the deal. Sometimes it hurts, but in the end, its all worth it. There’s no greater gift than love.”

There were a few things I didn’t like. First, I was told and expecting a huge emotional response with the goodbyes in the film. While it was bittersweet to see Hiccup and Toothless say goodbye, it was not the emotional impact I was expecting. Maybe because I knew it was coming? Maybe because it wasn’t the goodbye, I thought it would be to warrant an emotional response? I’ve read reviews where people said they left the theater in tears and I saw nothing that was as a tearjerker. It was definitely not the emotional impact that Disney’s Coco (2017) had. Second, the villain Grimmel. While F. Murray Abraham played a great villain, the villain fell short for me. He reminds me of Drago, the villain from the second film. While Drago wanted to build a dragon army, Grimmel wants to rid the world of dragons as he sees them as an inferior species. Also, his role in the story was over too quickly. He shows up, they battle, and its over. Third, the flirtatious competition between Snotlout (played by Jonah Hill) and Eret (played by Kit Harrington) for Valka’s attention. It’s creepy and goes on too long and even gets creepier when Valka returns the flirts at the end.

Overall, I enjoyed this film and it is a fitting goodbye to these characters and the lovable dragons. The characters were great with Hiccup struggling to find himself as chief. Astrid as his confidante and partner as he learns to lead his people. The lesson of leadership and how great leaders don’t lead alone. And the hard lesson that sometimes we must say goodbye to those we love. I highly recommend How to Train Your Dragon Hidden World as well as the first two films, if you haven’t seen them. The trilogy is great for the entire family.

Avengers: Endgame review warning: possible spoilers

It all started in 2008 with Iron Man. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) seemed to come out of nowhere and dominate the superhero genre. Now 22 films in, The Infinity Saga is coming to a dramatic end with Avengers: Endgame. The anticipation has been high, and the fan theories have been flying around since last year’s Avengers: Infinity War. And how the world can see what happens to the heroes. With a runtime of 3 hours and 1 minute, Endgame proved to be an exciting, emotional ride with a satisfying ending to this saga and opens the door to new heroes and new stories. What is the basic story of the film? What did I like? And what am I looking forward to?

The film opens 23 days after The Snap, the Avengers are searching for Thanos and the Stones in order to undo everything. Fast forward 5 years, the world is struggling to move forward. Monuments have gone up to honor the disappeared and governments are being pieced back to together as the world moves on. The Avengers are scattered, barely together as they deal with the aftermath and trying to find a way to bring everyone back. When a plan comes together, they must travel to uncharted territories and face new challenges they couldn’t train for and fight for the hope that they can restore the world’s population to what it was.

There is so much about this movie and in order to avoid as many spoilers as I can, I will discuss a few aspects that I enjoyed about the film. First, to see how everyone reacts differently in the aftermath of The Snap. Captain America tries counseling a few survivors. Thor sinks into a deep depression. Black Widow takes a leadership role in the Avengers and tries to keep everything running. And Tony runs from it all and makes a quiet life in the country. Second, I liked how the writers dealt with the time travel aspect. With many Hollywood films using their own version of time travel and Endgame discusses many of them and why they don’t work, I liked how they use the Quantum Realm and the Pym Particle. Third, I loved Hawkeye’s character in Endgame. He has been one of my favorite characters in the MCU since his quiet introduction in Thor (2011) and I loved how he has evolved. Even turning into a vigilante after his family vanishes, he still wasn’t willing to let his best friend sacrifice herself in order to get the Soul Stone. They battle over it. Despite his loss, despite the face they were trying to get everyone back, he was still willing to sacrifice himself to accomplish their mission.

This is usually when I discuss what I didn’t like about a film. However, there was very little I didn’t like about Endgame. So instead, I’m going to discuss what I’m looking forward to as the MCU movies into its next phase. First, Spiderman: Far from Home (opens July 2, 2019). I look forward to seeing Peter as he deals with the events of Infinity War and Endgame. How does he move forward? I am interested in seeing how the MCU will introduce the multiverse as the movie trailer hints that they might. Second, the other film featuring Marvel characters that I am not familiar with such as The Eternals and Shang-Chi. No exact dates have been set for these films yet. It will be exciting to see new characters and new stories in the MCU. Third, the sequels to the other films like Doctor Strange 2 and Black Panther. I am even looking forward to the Black Widow standalone film. I am also looking forward to the streaming shows that are planned for the Disney + service. The next phases of the MCU will be exciting.

In conclusion, Avengers: Endgame is a great ending to the 22 film, 11 year build up that has captivated audiences around the world. While it has been bittersweet to say goodbye to the storyline and even some of the characters that I have watched in action for 11 years; however, the future looks bright for the MCU. My only hope is that they keep up with the quality of stories and characters as they did with the Infinity Saga. One piece of advice though, if you have not seen the majority of the MCU films, then there will be much of Endgame that will be missed. I recommend watching all the MCU films. It will be worth it. 

Young Guns and the Lincoln County War

I love history and I love historical films. I also enjoy discovering what the films got right, what it got wrong and what it twisted for dramatic effect. Most everyone is familiar with the 1988 film, Young Guns starring Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland. Through the years and many viewings, I didn’t realize until recently when my husband and I were watching it again that the events in the movies were inspired by actual events. I realize that I didn’t really pay attention to the historical aspects or just assumed it was a fabricated conflict set in the American West. The Lincoln County War is an Old West conflict between two rival factions: the Murphy-Dolan faction and Tunstall-McSween faction. Beginning in 1878 in the New Mexico Territory, it would drag on until 1881. The feud became famous due to the participation of Billy the Kid. What started the war? Who were some of the key figures? How accurate was the movie, Young Guns?

The conflict began over control of dry good and cattle interests. John Tunstall arrived in Lincoln County in November 1876 and started a business with Alexander McSween, a lawyer, and John Chisum, a cattleman, to develop a cattle ranch, store and a bank. They became competition for the general store called “The House” owed by James Dolan and Lawrence Murphy who economically and politically controlled the town. According to historians, one main event which led to hostilities was the controversy over the disbursement of an insurance policy. Emil Fritz was a partner of Murphy and when he died in 1874, the executors of the estate hired McSween to collect his insurance policy. After collecting, McSween refused to turn over the money to the executors because The House claimed the money was owed to them for a debt. “McSween also knew how badly strapped for cash the House was and as a business competitor was likely loathe to see the money go to them, whether their claim was legitimate or not” (Nolan, 1992). A court order was later issued to seize all McSween’s assets and included Tunstall’s assets as well (Nolan, 1998). Sheriff Brady formed a posse to seize Tunstall’s ranch and Dolan would hire various gangs including the Jesse Evans Gang to harass and rustle the cattle from the Tunstall and Chisum ranches (Harden, 2012). Tunstall would be murdered on February 18, 1878 bringing the hostilities to full steam. Various battles and skirmishes would occur leading up to the Battle of Lincoln on July 15-19, 1878, a 5-day gunfight and siege resulting in the death of McSween and scattering the Regulators. Surviving Regulators, including Billy the Kid, would continue hostilities and would end in 1881 when the last of the Regulators were gunned down.

Billy the Kid was born Henry McCarty on September 17 (or November 23), 1859 and used the alias William H. Bonney. He would be gain notoriety from his participation in the Lincoln County War. He was shot and killed by Pat Garrett on July 14, 1881. However, in the decades following his death, many men would claim to be him which is the basis for the story of Young Guns II (1990).  John Tunstall was born on March 6, 1853 and his death would be the catalyst which would ignite the Lincoln County war. His death deeply his associates especially Billy the Kid whom he had always treated well. Alexander McSween was born in Canada and after attending law school, made his way to New Mexico. He originally worked for Murphy and Dolan but left to form a partnership with Tunstall. James Dolan was born on May 2, 1848 in Ireland and would immigrate to the US and serve in the Civil War. He would be a key instigator in the conflict. Lawrence Murphy was born in 1831 in Ireland and would serve in the US Army before moving to New Mexico. His store with Dolan charged high prices for their goods to the local farmers and ranchers, making them hated among much of the local population. When Tunstall and McSween opened their competing store, which enraged Dolan and Murphy supported any means necessary to end the competition. William Brady was born on August 16, 1829 in Ireland. He was elected sheriff of Lincoln County in 1876 and become close friends with Murphy and sided with the Murphy-Dolan side of the conflict. He was killed in an ambush with the Regulators on April 1, 1878. Billy the Kid would be tried and convicted of his death and sentenced to death; however, he escaped before the sentence could be carried out.

Most Hollywood films based on historical events are not known for their accuracy and Young Guns is no different. First, the movie portrays John Tunstall (played by Terrence Stamp) as an older English gentleman. Tunstall was only 24 years old when he died. Tunstall also wasn’t trying to civilize the rough and tumble youth of the area. He was looking for hired hands who could protect his interests. Second, the movie portrays Lawrence Murphy (played by Jack Palance) as the main villain. In fact, Murphy was dying of cancer by 1878 and left most of the business to Dolan, the real rival of the Regulators. Third, speaking of the Regulators. The movie portrays that there were six members: Dick Brewer, Billy the Kid, Doc Spurlock, Charlie Bowdre, Jose Chavez y Chavez and Dirty Dave. In fact, these six were just a part of dozens of Regulators as well as Mexican supporters who participated in the events. Third, in the film, a character remarks that none of the Regulators are over 21. From the Regulators portrayed in the film, Billy the Kid was the only one under 21. Chavez was 26, Charlie was 30, Doc was 29, and Dick Brewer was 28. Lastly, the movie portrays the primary motive for the building hostilities was money. While money was a main issue as both sides were vying for a military contract with nearby Fort Stanton; however, it was only one factor. Another factor was ethnically based. Dolan, Murphy and many of their men were Irish immigrants or of Irish decent and Catholic. Tunstall, McSween and their allies were mostly English Protestant. And it came down to class too. Tunstall and McSween thought they were better than the lowly Irish men as they were better educated Englishmen.

In conclusion, while Young Guns is not historically accurate, and it should not be viewed as such, it can be the jumping point to discover the true story of the Lincoln County War and the Regulators. It has brought to my attention a small piece of historical events of the American Wild West. In the film, there was clear cut bad guys and good guys. However, there were no real good guys or bad guys. Both sides were motivated by greed, religious and ethnic prejudice. While the events helped spur Billy the Kid’s reputation and the beginnings of his legend, many of the individuals involved in this conflict have been left to a small portion of American history that many people are not aware of. After watching a film that is based on a true story or historical event, take the time to learn more. Find books or documentaries to discover the story beyond the Hollywood version. You may discover hidden gems of history.

References

Harden, Paul (September 1, 2012). "Cowboys and cattle rustlers". DC Chieftain.

Nolan, Frederick (1992). The Lincoln County War: A Documentary History. Santa Fe, NM: Sunstone Press.

Nolan, Frederick (1998). The West of Billy the Kid. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press.

The Scent Keeper: one girl's discovery of her father's secrets

The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister is the story of Emmeline, a young girl who lives with her father on an isolated island. She listens to her father’s stories especially the ones about Jack the Scent Hunter and she’s curious about the mysterious bottles with blank pieces of paper in them that her father stores in drawers. When her life on the island abruptly ends, she must adjust to life in a small town and struggles with who she really is as the information her father gave her seemed to be far from the truth. She slowly learns her father’s true story and leads her on a journey to discover who she is and the mother she thought she didn’t have. Will Emmeline be able to handle the truth? Will she be able to tell who is telling her the truth and who is still hiding behind lies?

From the opening lines, The Scent Keeper pull you in and doesn’t let you go until the final page. I was instant engrossed in Emmeline’s story with the beautiful imagery of their island, the stories her father told and the mystery behind who he was and the reason they lived on the island. At the end, I was speechless and in awe at this beautiful story. There were a few moments that I gasped with realization and tears filled my eyes at the pain and truth that Emmeline discovers. It is a gripping story from beginning to end. I didn’t notice the length as I read page after page until I finished it in a several hours. It is a story you will not want to put down! I highly recommend The Scent Keeper!

The Scent Keeper

will be available May 21, 2019

in hardcover and eBook

Secrets of Wildflower Island: a great mystery that will keep you guessing!

Secrets of Wildflower Island by Michelle Files is the first book in the Wildflower Mystery series. The story opens with the Carmichael family, Tim, Roxanne and their 15-year-old twin daughters, Mary and Piper, as they sit down for a family meeting. They own the Wildflower Inn and Café on the island off the coast of California. Tim and Roxanne have employed girls who need a place to stay after leaving a bad home situation or after getting in trouble with the law. The locals affectionately call these girls, “The Wildflowers” and the current girls, Frankie and Anna, are working well with the family and the community. Suddenly everything goes wrong after an earthquake and tidal wave which wreaks havoc on the island and in the aftermath and clean up, the body of a teenage boy is found. Soon accusations are flying, and fingers are pointing at the less than reputable individuals in the community. Will the killer be found? Will the residents be able to restore their once peaceful and beautiful community?

Secrets of Wildflower Island is a fast-paced mystery will no clear clue as who the killer is and the reader will be kept guessing until the very end! It has an abrupt ending but since this book is the first in the series, I assume the aftermath of this case will continue in the next book along with a new mystery. The main characters are the teenage girls at the center of the case and each one has a secret to hide. I enjoyed each character and the tension and fights between the girls feel very realistic. I could easily imagine these girls in a real high school or community somewhere. I highly recommend Secrets of Wildflower Island and I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

Secrets of Wildflower Island

is available in paperback and eBook

Aquaman: an enjoyable superhero film from the DCEU

The DCEU films have been hit and miss for me. I enjoyed Man of Steel (2013) and Wonder Woman (2017) while having a hard time watching Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017). So, when Aquaman was announced, I was skeptical and wasn’t in a hurry to see it. The film opened in the USA on December 21, 2018 and went on to gross over $1.1 billion worldwide. It is the highest grossing DCEU film and highest grossing film based on a DC character, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Recently, my husband and I were given the opportunity to watch it, so we decided to give it a try. Aquaman was directed by James Wan and stars Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Amber Hera as Mera and Patrick Wilson as King Orm. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this film.

The film opens in 1985, Maine as lighthouse keeper, Thomas Curry (played by Temuera Morrison) recuses Atlanna (played by Nicole Kidman) during a storm. Atlanna is queen of Atlantis and is running from an arranged marriage. They fall in love and have a son, Arthur, who can speak to marine life. Too soon, Atlanna’s location is discovered and she is forced to return to her kingdom. Fast forward to the present, several months after the events of Justice League, Arthur has developed the nickname, Aquaman, as he recues others at sea. Meanwhile, his half-brother, King Orm is attempting to unite the kingdom, claim the title of Ocean Master and attack the surface for their atrocities at sea. Mera knows King Orm as Ocean Master would bring terrible consequences for the ocean and the surface that she seeks out Arthur and urges him to find the Trident of Atlan and reclaim his rightful place as king. The trident is a magic artifact, once belonging to Atlantis’s first ruler, and gives the bearer the throne of Atlantis. Through a series of clues, they journey to the deepest parts of the ocean and the center of the earth. Arthur meets Karathen, a mythical leviathan and keeper of the trident. He must prove his worth to obtain the trident and claim control of over the seven seas and defeat Orm.

What I liked about this film, first was Jason Momoa as Arthur. Although I do not find him as attractive as many women do, he was perfect for the role of Arthur. Especially once the traditional Aquaman uniform was revealed, Momoa makes a usually mocked character, look like a formidable opponent. Second, one of my favorite line is Queen Atlanna’s response to Arthur’s question about what can be greater than a kind. She replies, “A hero. A king fights only for his own nation. You fight for everyone.” It acknowledges that Arthur fights for both sides of his heritage: his home on the surface and everything in the ocean. Third, Patrick Wilson as Orm. Wilson plays a terrific villain. He is very convincing as a man who will do anything to see his plan play out. Lastly, the soundtrack was a great addition to the film. From “Ocean to Ocean” by Pitbull to “It’s No Good” by Depeche Mode, the music was powerful for its scenes and added drama to the movie as music should.

There was little that I didn’t like about this movie and if I didn’t like it, it could be overlooked. For instance, there were aspects of Arthur and Mera’s journey to the trident that ignored science. However, it is a superhero film about a man who can speak to marine life. Scientific accuracy really isn’t a strong argument to dislike the movie, as many critics tried to use. I could see why buy seriously it’s a superhero movie, scientific facts are usually stretched. Second, there were times when the dialogue was very juvenile and failed as a joke. In one scene, Arthur and Mera are in the Sahara desert where they find an Atlantean artifact. When Mera realizes they need water to activate it and takes sweat from Arthur’s brow, Arthur responds, “Show-off. I could’ve just peed on it.” Really? Disgusting. However, I realize that the demographic that this movie is written for may have enjoyed this joke. And maybe not but it was a joke that I thought was inappropriate and wasn’t necessary.

In conclusion, Aquaman was surprisingly enjoyable and a movie I would watch again. It had all the elements of a good superhero story as well as an action film. The special effects were good. The battle scenes were enjoyable. I liked Jason Momoa as Aquaman and the overall story. While there were points in the story that were inaccurate and dialogue that seems inappropriate, I still enjoyed this movie. The DCEU has a long way to go to match the caliber of the MCU; however, if they look at the success of Wonder Woman and now Aquaman, they could be a strong competitor. I recommend Aquaman, even if you haven’t seen the rest of the DCEU films, you can enjoy Aquaman.

Aquaman is now available

on DVD, Blu-ray and various streaming services

When Love Comes: a beautiful love story in a gorgeous setting

When Love Comes by J.H. Croix is the first book in the Diamond Creek, Alaska series. Hannah Gray is a young woman who returns to her hometown in Diamond Creek, Alaska. Her parents had died in a tragic plane accident two years prior and she had not been home since; but now it was time to come home. Hannah reconnects with her friends and community when she meets Luke Winters, a local businessman. There is an instant attraction, although both are reluctant to be more than friends. As time goes by, Hannah and Luke cannot resist their attraction and they begin to date until the past reenters Luke’s life. As Hannah is dealing with this surprise, she discovers a secret from her parents’ past. Will she allow her heart to open to Luke? How will she deal with this secret her parents managed to keep quiet all these years?

When Love Comes is a great love story. It was filled with drama and heartwarming moments. It also had great love scenes which were romantic and beautiful. I enjoyed all the characters from Hannah and her struggles to Luke and his own demons and their friends and family were rallying around them. It is a great picture of a community in a beautiful setting. I look forward to reading the other titles in the series. I highly recommend When Love Comes.

When Love Comes

is available in paperback and eBook

Red Flags: what they are and why we shouldn't ignore them

Recently, I have been evaluating relationships and why they end the way the do. Sometimes it is because it has run its course and the individuals in the relationship no longer relate to each other and time begins to separate us. However, some relationships have red flags that something is wrong and we either ignore them or do something about them. Red flags are a signal for a problem that requires attention. It was first used in 1602 in the military as a signal to prepare for battle. It was also first used as a severe weather warning in 1777. Today, it is used in terms of relationships, usually romantic relationships but they can be signs in any relationship. What are the red flags? Why do we ignore them?

As I researched red flags, I found many articles which had long lists of red flags. I found that red flags fall into general categories. First, a lack of communication. The person gives you the silent treatment instead of discussing important issues. Second, he or she is irresponsible, immature and unpredictable. This person might be unable to master or maintain basic life skills. For example, they can’t take care of themselves or their personal space. They also may not be able to manage their finances and other responsibilities. They cannot hold down a job. They may also be unable to take responsibility for their own personal errors in past relationships. They blame others for their relationship failures. They are unable to evaluate why past relationships didn’t work out. Third, there is a lack of trust and they do not respect boundaries. In the terms of a romantic relationship, your significant other is weirdly possessive or secretive about their phone. Fourth, they refuse to spend time with your family or friends and may even try to drive a wedge between your and other significant people in your life. Also related to this red flag, is that your family and friends do not like this person and tell you that something is “off” about the person. Lastly, he or she may have trouble apologizing for even the smallest infractions.

We ignore red flags for many reasons. First, we are afraid that our intuition is wrong. Our gut tells us something is wrong; but we don’t want to admit we could be wrong about the relationships. Whether its pride or a fear of failure, we turn a blind eye to what is wrong. Second, we simply do not trust ourselves. When you sense that something is wrong; but you tell yourself that you’re overreacting and only focusing on the negatives. Third, the red flags seem minor. No one is perfect. No relationship is perfect. So, when we see something wrong, we tell ourselves it’s a minor flaw and ignore it or work around it. Fourth, we are so infatuated with the person that its hard to focus on anything else. Fifth, related with infatuation, we move too quickly into the relationship. The infatuation stage usually lasts between six and twelve months. When we intertwine your life with someone within this time period, it makes it harder to acknowledge red flags. Even when we see red flags, denial can be a powerful force when our infatuation overpowers our intuition. Lastly, we are stuck in wishful thinking. We want our relationships to work so bad that we chose to ignore the red flags. Our fantasies of what the relationship is or could be prevents us from seeing things as they really are.

When I decided to write about red flags and why we ignore them, I was thinking of someone close to me and a relationship that went wrong. While many of these red flags were present in that relationship. I realized that many of these red flags were present in a friendship of mine that recently ended. Looking back over the relationship, I realized that I ignored many of these red flags, either consciously or unconsciously, I chose to believe that my friend would never do anything to hurt me. I now realize that she did, not only did she, but she tried to place the blame on others in my life. She tried to drive a wedge between me and a family member. Why did I ignore these red flags? I think I saw the red flags as minor infractions. Until I realized that they weren’t minor. For example, I told her once that I do not disclose deep, personal information to just anyone and it takes a great deal of trust for me to talk about certain topics. I learned later that she was repeating some of these disclosures to others. People who had no business knowing these details. And when I finally had enough and established a boundary, she chose to shut me out and place the blame of our failed friendship on “my closed-mindedness and narcissism” instead of her own actions.

In conclusion, red flags are there to warn us and they should not be ignored. They signal a problem or issue that needs to be addressed. Their presence in our relationship doesn’t mean the relationship is bad, if we confront and deal with the issue, it could improve the relationship. And they can also signal that you need to end the relationship. In the case of my relationship, I admit my faults in the ending of the friendship and remind myself of what not to do in future friendships. We need to look at the red flags in our relationships, deal with them in the hopes to improve on the relationship and learn from them for future relationships.

Stone Devil Duke: a standard but enjoyable romance novel

Stone Devil Duke by KJ Jackson is the first book in the Hold Your Breath series. It is the love story of Augustine “Aggie” Christopherson and Devin Williams Stephenson, the 12th Duke of Dunway. Aggie is on a quest for revenge after her father is murdered and her older brother goes missing. She is on the hunt for the killers when she meets Devin, who is immediately intrigued by her. Although they resist each other, they soon find themselves drawn together by when a misunderstanding of impropriety. Soon it becomes apparent there is someone out there who wants Aggie dead. As they learn about each other’s past, still on the hunt for those who want to harm Aggie, the two began to heal from the past and fall in love. Will they find the man behind her father’s murder? Is her brother still alive?

Stone Devil Duke is a standard romance novel which was followed the typical formula. The heroine/damsel in distress is a bit unconventional which draws in the roguish man who most of society would have told her to stay away from. That being said, I still enjoyed Stone Devil Duke. I loved the interactions between Aggie and Devin. I like the drama around the mystery of who is behind Aggie’s father’s murder and who is after her. There are two other books, Unmasking the Marquess and My Captain, My Earl, in this series which feature characters we see in this book. I look forward to reading those stories as well. If you are fan of romance novels, you will enjoy Stone Devil Duke.

Stone Devil Duke

is available in paperback and eBook

Unmasking the Marquess and My Captain, My Earl

are also available in paperback and eBook

5 examples of movie adaptations that are better than the books

We’ve all heard the phrase, “the book is better than the movie.” As we all know too that there are usually exceptions to every rule. There are many examples of books being better than their movie adaptations, the Harry Potter series for one. However, there are many examples of movie adaptations being better than the book. While researching this topic, I found many examples of movies that were better than the original book. For this post, I will limit my list to movies that I have both read the book and seen the movies. Here are the 5 movies I believe are better than their literary origins.

First, The Last of the Mohicans (1992) was written and directed by Michael Mann and adapted from James Fenimore Cooper’s American classic, The Last of the Mohicans A Narrative of 1757 (1826). The novel is an 18^th century classic which features the French-Indian War (1754-1763) between England and France. However, it’s also laden down with dense prose and overly detailed descriptions with a plot which moves at a glacial pace. The movie streamlines the action and gets to the heart of the story. Wes Studi brings the sadistic Magua to life that leaps off the screen in a way the character does not in the book. Plus, the musical score helps enhance the drama of this part of American history. The soundtrack with its Gaelic methods and hauntingly beautiful love song, “I Will Find You,” performed by Clannad helps make this movie great.

Second, The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2011-2003) was directed by Peter Jackson and written by Peter Jackson, Barrie M. Osborne, Fran Walsh, and Tim Sanders. It is, of course, adapted by the beloved JRR Tolkien’s beloved trilogy, The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955). While I love the books, and enjoyed for many years before the movies, the movies help streamline the novels into a great cinematic experience and brought me deeper into the characters, their struggles and desperation. I feel in love with the books even more with the imagery of the movies in my head. I could see the horrors of Mordur and the stumbling steps of Frodo as he pushes himself to Mount Doom.  I know many purest fans were furious at the omission and changes made. However, some of the omissions were material that wasn’t necessary to tell the story of the journey to destroy the One Ring. There are whole chapters that a reader could skip and not miss anything related to the main story.

Third, Ready Player One (2018) was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline. It is based on the book Ready Player One (2011) by Ernest Cline. While I enjoyed the book, the movie brought the wonder of the virtual world and the devastation of the physical world that Wade, the main protagonist, lives in. Plus, the book had some video games references that only a gamer would know and, in my opinion, bogged down the main story of the search for Halliday’s Easter Egg. I am a novice gamer and I am not familiar with the detailed history of video games so the long chapters of explanation about these games were great for me as information; however, this information was not needed in the movie and would be hard to transform to the screen. There are also long chapters on the history of the mysterious James Halliday which is great as exposition in the book but would bog down a film.

Fourth, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-present) is a great adaptation of the beloved comics. I will admit that I have not read all the comics these characters appear in and I am not a big fan of reading the panel format of comics; however, I grew up watching the superhero cartoons. I have always been a fan of superhero stories. These movies are stunning visuals of these beloved characters’ adventures and builds a world in which they are all connected and fighting a main villain as well as their own specific adventures. The MCU has introduced me to characters that I had not been aware of, for example Black Panther and the Guardians of the Galaxy, and other characters that I only knew in passing, like Iron Man and Thor. Also, I believe the actors who portray these superheroes truly bring life to these characters and add more human dimensions that just straight forward superheroes.

Lastly, P.S. I Love You (2007) was directed by Richard LaGravenese and written by LaGravenese and Steven Rogers. It is based on the novel, P.S. I Love You, by Cecelia Ahern. The book was good; however, the movie had more of an emotional impact as the main character, Holly, deals with the aftermath of her husband, Gerry’s, sudden death and her struggle to move on with her life without him. As with any movie adaptation, changes were made, for example, the book is set in Ireland while the movie is set primarily in New York City. However, the essence of the story is there. I found the movie to be more focused on Holly’s grief as she struggles with life that goes on without her. The world doesn’t stop for her broken heart and she must learn to find her place in the world once again. Plus, Gerard Butler as Gerry doesn’t hurt.

In conclusion, most movie adaptations are poor reflections of their books; however, there are examples of movie adaptations that are better or enhance the magic of the book. A movie can make pages of scene description into a stunning visual which helps the audience focus on the story. Yes, there is more imagination involved when reading a book and visualizing the scene, And I think this is where people either hate or love movie adaptations because the directors and writers’ visualizing of a scene is not the one the reader had. There is a saying “Never judge a book by its movie.” Well, I say never judge a movie by its book. Some good books can be made into great movies.

If She Knew: a great, face-paced murder mystery

If She Knew by Blake Pierce is the first in the Kate Wise mystery series. Kate Wise is a 55-year-old woman who is a year into retirement after 31 years with the FBI. After the daughter of a friend is murder, Kate is drawn back in to find the killer as a favor to her friend. She knows she doesn’t have the same authority now as a retired agent, but she can’t turn down a grieving mother’s request. She quickly learns there is more to the victim than what it first appears. And she chases down new leads, she finds herself feeling the familiar rush and yet worrying about how this will affect her new life as she becomes a grandmother and is considering dating after the tragic death of her husband. The case leads to the victim’s close circle of friends, Kate must find out what secrets the group held before it’s too late. Will she find the killer in time?

If She Knew is a great mystery book! I was able to read the book in about 3 hours. Not because it was a simple read but because it held my attention. With each page turn, more was added to the mystery and I eagerly wanted to see who the killer was. I found Kate to be real as she struggles with how she defines her life now. She longed for the adrenaline of her job with the FBI but she also considered her daughter, her new grandchild and her own personal desires outside the job. The book was fast-paced, with great twists and turns and a shocking end like any great mystery should have. I highly recommend If She Knew!

If She Knew

is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook