I think I've told you before that it was a mystery series that got me hooked to reading in general; maybe I'll go into a little more detail about that.
For Christmas or my birthday one year (I forget which), my grandma got me the first four books to a series called The Boxcar Children. The first book doesn't have too much mystery in it, aside from the mysterious grandfather the kids are running away from, but it caught me hook, line, and sinker anyways.
What kid doesn't get excited learning about the adventures of four kids living on the run and still managing to have a great time? Henry, Jessie, Violet, Benny, and Watch (the kids' watchdog whom they met in the woods) were just so appealing!
For years after reading those first four books, I would beg for more in the series. The original author has long since stopped writing them, but the series has been continued to include more than 100 normal books and goodness-knows-how-many special books. I now own several (and I mean SEVERAL) of those, and I borrowed even more from the library.
In the first few books, the children aged normally. Summer would come and go and the kids would solve a mystery, and the next book was the same with the kids a year older. But eventually, Henry, as the oldest, would have had to move away; so the problem of Henry leaving was solved by reversing all the kids' ages and keeping them permanently set there.
Henry forever after remained 14, Jessie 12, Violet 9 or 10 (I think 10), and Benny 6.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 16
Now that I'm talking talking about the details of each game, let's go over all the Rune Factory stuff in general.
I'd kind of like to try playing the first RF game again, just because I never made it very far the first time I played. I remember what a few of the bachelorettes looked like, but I probably only remember three names total out of all the characters, one of whom shows up in RF2.
Rune Factory 4 has been released, and I sort of wonder if my brother has it or is expecting to get it sometime in the foreseeable future. I think that, other than the second generation of RF2, it's the first game where you can choose your protagonist's gender. So that would be interesting.
Then again, I might choose to have my protagonist still be a boy anyways just because of my bad experiences with female leads in the Harvest Moon games. There were never any good potential love interests in those games.
But you've heard that rant already. And who knows, maybe RF will succeed in the one area HM seems to have failed me.
Anyways, either way, it'll be interesting to see the plot of this fourth game. The first, of course, I didn't play enough to get a grasp on. The second focused on the child's adventures. The third had a half-monster for a protagonist. What next?
Some of you are probably just dying inside because you know the answer and my ignorance is annoying. To you, I apologize. And respectfully, I end this post here.
I'd kind of like to try playing the first RF game again, just because I never made it very far the first time I played. I remember what a few of the bachelorettes looked like, but I probably only remember three names total out of all the characters, one of whom shows up in RF2.
Rune Factory 4 has been released, and I sort of wonder if my brother has it or is expecting to get it sometime in the foreseeable future. I think that, other than the second generation of RF2, it's the first game where you can choose your protagonist's gender. So that would be interesting.
Then again, I might choose to have my protagonist still be a boy anyways just because of my bad experiences with female leads in the Harvest Moon games. There were never any good potential love interests in those games.
But you've heard that rant already. And who knows, maybe RF will succeed in the one area HM seems to have failed me.
Anyways, either way, it'll be interesting to see the plot of this fourth game. The first, of course, I didn't play enough to get a grasp on. The second focused on the child's adventures. The third had a half-monster for a protagonist. What next?
Some of you are probably just dying inside because you know the answer and my ignorance is annoying. To you, I apologize. And respectfully, I end this post here.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 15
This post should wrap up Rune Factory 3's bachelorettes, and maybe even wrap up my Rune Factory series that's been going strong for about three weeks by now.
Earlier, I completely forgot to mention Marian, who is also a bachelorette living in town. I'll talk a bit about her before going to Kuruna.
Marian is a crazy witch-in-training, granddaughter of the witch who runs the local apothecary. Marian is wild and, sadly, rather incompetent; but if you ask her, she's great at what she does and her few "mistakes" are nothing to be concerned about. Yes, even though she blows up her best friend at one point, she faces it all with an attitude of "whoops, sorry; but you'll be fine! 8D" She carries with her an over-sized syringe that controls her magic, and she absolutely adores giving people shots with it.
Okay, now Kuruna, finally. Kuruna is a univir, which means she pretty much looks human except for the horn on her forehead and her much-longer-than-humans lifespan. She's the leader of the settlement in the desert, which is a sanctuary for anyone not human, so she gets to know Micah through his Wooly half and is clueless about his human half. Although Kuruna actively despises all things human, she does have a very secret obsession: human food. She tends to lose her dignity anytime she has a cake craving, and she sends Micah on a couple missions to snag her some of the beloved dishes.
Alrighty, that should wrap this section up. For now, at least. I'll figure out later if I can continue any Rune Factory stuff, or if I should start something new.
Earlier, I completely forgot to mention Marian, who is also a bachelorette living in town. I'll talk a bit about her before going to Kuruna.
Marian is a crazy witch-in-training, granddaughter of the witch who runs the local apothecary. Marian is wild and, sadly, rather incompetent; but if you ask her, she's great at what she does and her few "mistakes" are nothing to be concerned about. Yes, even though she blows up her best friend at one point, she faces it all with an attitude of "whoops, sorry; but you'll be fine! 8D" She carries with her an over-sized syringe that controls her magic, and she absolutely adores giving people shots with it.
Okay, now Kuruna, finally. Kuruna is a univir, which means she pretty much looks human except for the horn on her forehead and her much-longer-than-humans lifespan. She's the leader of the settlement in the desert, which is a sanctuary for anyone not human, so she gets to know Micah through his Wooly half and is clueless about his human half. Although Kuruna actively despises all things human, she does have a very secret obsession: human food. She tends to lose her dignity anytime she has a cake craving, and she sends Micah on a couple missions to snag her some of the beloved dishes.
Alrighty, that should wrap this section up. For now, at least. I'll figure out later if I can continue any Rune Factory stuff, or if I should start something new.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 14
Let's continue to introduce the available bachelorettes from Rune Factory 3, starting with Sophia.
Sophia is one of the two daughters of the richest man in town. She has a very unusual quirk when speaking: Like her father, she always says the opposite of what she means. Well, that's what the game says, but she only says the opposite of some stuff, or her speech would get way too weird. To avoid confusion for the player on what she really means, any words that are part of her opposite-speak are red. Throughout the game, Micah eventually learns to sync up with the way she talks and interact with her with clarity.
I think I'll mention Evelyn now because even though Micah can't marry her, she technically is still a bachelorette. Evelyn is Sophia's older sister and the only member of their family who does not speak in opposites. She runs a store in her home's downstairs that "might" be open at certain times, and she sells different outfits that Micah can wear in the game. She also sells some decorative furniture objects which I feel just get in the way. Sometime after Micah gets married, Gaius will ask for your help to propose to Evelyn.
The last person in town who's a bachelorette is Carmen, sister of the man who runs the local artificial fishing area. She's a tanned tomboy fisher who quickly asserts herself as Micah's master in all things fishing. Over time, though, she makes it a point to step down as master and step up as official girlfriend, going so far as to arrange Micah to get her brother's blessing on their being together.
Last up will be Kuruna, who lives in the desert settlement. I'll talk about her tomorrow.
Sophia is one of the two daughters of the richest man in town. She has a very unusual quirk when speaking: Like her father, she always says the opposite of what she means. Well, that's what the game says, but she only says the opposite of some stuff, or her speech would get way too weird. To avoid confusion for the player on what she really means, any words that are part of her opposite-speak are red. Throughout the game, Micah eventually learns to sync up with the way she talks and interact with her with clarity.
I think I'll mention Evelyn now because even though Micah can't marry her, she technically is still a bachelorette. Evelyn is Sophia's older sister and the only member of their family who does not speak in opposites. She runs a store in her home's downstairs that "might" be open at certain times, and she sells different outfits that Micah can wear in the game. She also sells some decorative furniture objects which I feel just get in the way. Sometime after Micah gets married, Gaius will ask for your help to propose to Evelyn.
The last person in town who's a bachelorette is Carmen, sister of the man who runs the local artificial fishing area. She's a tanned tomboy fisher who quickly asserts herself as Micah's master in all things fishing. Over time, though, she makes it a point to step down as master and step up as official girlfriend, going so far as to arrange Micah to get her brother's blessing on their being together.
Last up will be Kuruna, who lives in the desert settlement. I'll talk about her tomorrow.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 13
Let's pick up where we left off yesterday, talking about the eligible bachelorettes in Rune Factory 3.
Next up is Pia, the sort-of adopted daughter of the local innkeeper. In other words, Pia and Sakuya are more or less sisters. Pia isn't human, though; she's a mermaid. You can discover this fact anytime Pia steps foot outside while the weather is rainy, since she transforms back into a mermaid whenever she comes into contact with water. Like most mermaids, Pia despises the thought of eating fish (which has lead to war between her and Sakuya at times, since Sakuya loves sashimi), but she absolutely adores eating mean old squids because they attack innocent fish.
Collette, daughter of the local professional chef, is also available for marriage, although it took me a while to figure that out, for some reason. She's an aspiring chef with an extremely fast metabolism, so she's always eating but she stays small. Because she looks so small/young, I didn't realize she was a potential wife until seeing the hearts next to her name in the list of all characters Micah has met. She'd probably be mad at me for that too, since her size is a very sore subject and she's constantly trying to have a growth spurt.
Let's go to my favorite now: Karina. Karina is a very lazy girl, the daughter of the woman who runs the general store in town. Karina has an obsession with the city because she thinks everyone in the city gets to be lazy all the time. Sometimes, her obsession can lead to her asking dangerous requests of Micah; at one point, she actually tries to catch a cold. But most of the time, her motivation fizzles out before any real progress is made.
Wow, only got to three girls again. o_O This is going to take a while... Well, on the upside, at least it means the girls in this game have the most character depth.
Next up is Pia, the sort-of adopted daughter of the local innkeeper. In other words, Pia and Sakuya are more or less sisters. Pia isn't human, though; she's a mermaid. You can discover this fact anytime Pia steps foot outside while the weather is rainy, since she transforms back into a mermaid whenever she comes into contact with water. Like most mermaids, Pia despises the thought of eating fish (which has lead to war between her and Sakuya at times, since Sakuya loves sashimi), but she absolutely adores eating mean old squids because they attack innocent fish.
Collette, daughter of the local professional chef, is also available for marriage, although it took me a while to figure that out, for some reason. She's an aspiring chef with an extremely fast metabolism, so she's always eating but she stays small. Because she looks so small/young, I didn't realize she was a potential wife until seeing the hearts next to her name in the list of all characters Micah has met. She'd probably be mad at me for that too, since her size is a very sore subject and she's constantly trying to have a growth spurt.
Let's go to my favorite now: Karina. Karina is a very lazy girl, the daughter of the woman who runs the general store in town. Karina has an obsession with the city because she thinks everyone in the city gets to be lazy all the time. Sometimes, her obsession can lead to her asking dangerous requests of Micah; at one point, she actually tries to catch a cold. But most of the time, her motivation fizzles out before any real progress is made.
Wow, only got to three girls again. o_O This is going to take a while... Well, on the upside, at least it means the girls in this game have the most character depth.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 12
In Rune Factory 3, there are ten girls Micah can choose a wife from.
The first girl is the classic girl-who-convinces-boy-to-live-on-local-farm. This game's model is named Shara, granddaughter of the mayor. She wears flowers as her outfit. I'm not even kidding; there are flowers in her hair and all over her clothing material. She works part-time in the flower shop and picks out cologne for Micah to use if he asks for it.
The next girl to be introduced to Micah is Raven, who comes across as quiet and rude and just generally antisocial. But when Micah got attacked in an opening scene, she ran to find Gaius (the dwarf she lives with who is like a father to her) to get Micah a decent weapon. She works sometimes in the forge's shop, and she enjoys making accessories. She also makes sure Gaius doesn't overwork himself.
After Shara and Raven, the other girls can be introduced in whatever order is most convenient, or whichever you choose. I'll start at the top left of the town and work my way through as if I'm reading. =P In that case, Pia and Sakuya would be up next.
Sakuya is the daughter of the town's innkeeper, and she has a very business-minded personality. She does what she can to turn out profits, and she runs a sort-of mini-shop within the inn wherein she sells items dropped by monsters. To an extent, you can control what items she carries by throwing the item you want to see in her shop into your shipping bin. (By the way, the same goes to the flower shop and perhaps a couple other stores.)
Whoops, looks like I'm out of space for this post. I'll begin with Pia next time. =3
The first girl is the classic girl-who-convinces-boy-to-live-on-local-farm. This game's model is named Shara, granddaughter of the mayor. She wears flowers as her outfit. I'm not even kidding; there are flowers in her hair and all over her clothing material. She works part-time in the flower shop and picks out cologne for Micah to use if he asks for it.
The next girl to be introduced to Micah is Raven, who comes across as quiet and rude and just generally antisocial. But when Micah got attacked in an opening scene, she ran to find Gaius (the dwarf she lives with who is like a father to her) to get Micah a decent weapon. She works sometimes in the forge's shop, and she enjoys making accessories. She also makes sure Gaius doesn't overwork himself.
After Shara and Raven, the other girls can be introduced in whatever order is most convenient, or whichever you choose. I'll start at the top left of the town and work my way through as if I'm reading. =P In that case, Pia and Sakuya would be up next.
Sakuya is the daughter of the town's innkeeper, and she has a very business-minded personality. She does what she can to turn out profits, and she runs a sort-of mini-shop within the inn wherein she sells items dropped by monsters. To an extent, you can control what items she carries by throwing the item you want to see in her shop into your shipping bin. (By the way, the same goes to the flower shop and perhaps a couple other stores.)
Whoops, looks like I'm out of space for this post. I'll begin with Pia next time. =3
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 11
Just like in the previous game, courtship and eventually marriage is very important for the plot of Rune Factory 3 to be finished.
In order to talk the mayor into letting you hold a festival for humans and univir alike, you must first reveal your true half to at least one eligible bachelorette. To get Micah to work up the nerve, you must get the girl to fall in love with you and make a special request, during which Micah learns more about the girl and decides he wants the girl to know more about him too.
In order to meet the being that sent you to this town and stole your memories, you need to propose marriage to a girl. Right before your wedding, your fiancee will mysteriously vanish, and Micah will go crazy obsessed with trying to find her.
In order to get the Sharance flowers to bloom, you need to defeat the kidnapper and marry your wife. People will comment on the beauty of the blooming flowers that day.
After marriage, you can eventually have a total of three kids over time. But no matter how much time passes, I don't believe they will ever reach adulthood.
Your wife will also make you a lunch every day, depending on her own particular tastes. One girl will give you a baked riceball or toast; another girl will give you a variety of squid dishes over time.
So, seeing as how marriage is so important, I guess I should introduce you to the girls next time. =P
In order to talk the mayor into letting you hold a festival for humans and univir alike, you must first reveal your true half to at least one eligible bachelorette. To get Micah to work up the nerve, you must get the girl to fall in love with you and make a special request, during which Micah learns more about the girl and decides he wants the girl to know more about him too.
In order to meet the being that sent you to this town and stole your memories, you need to propose marriage to a girl. Right before your wedding, your fiancee will mysteriously vanish, and Micah will go crazy obsessed with trying to find her.
In order to get the Sharance flowers to bloom, you need to defeat the kidnapper and marry your wife. People will comment on the beauty of the blooming flowers that day.
After marriage, you can eventually have a total of three kids over time. But no matter how much time passes, I don't believe they will ever reach adulthood.
Your wife will also make you a lunch every day, depending on her own particular tastes. One girl will give you a baked riceball or toast; another girl will give you a variety of squid dishes over time.
So, seeing as how marriage is so important, I guess I should introduce you to the girls next time. =P
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 10
In Rune Factory 3, taking advantage of your protagonist's monster form can be really fun!
Don't let the term 'monster' fool you; Micah turns into a golden Wooly, not some Orc or other scary and naturally mean-seeming monster. But Micah keeps this half of his identity a secret from the villagers anyways.
In which case, Micah can talk to each of the villagers while pretending to be just an average Wooly, and he'll receive varying reactions. Some people just look at him, some people want to hug him or sell his wool, and some people shoo him away.
It's when Micah meets the settlers out in the desert that his Wooly half really comes in handy. The settlement's leader, a univir, hates any and all humans, and she kicks Micah out on sight if he dares to show up in human form. So, opposite of what he does in the village (seeming fully human and all), Micah disguises himself as a full-blooded Wooly in order to meet the settlers and interact with them.
Later in the game, we players find out the reason Micah ended up in this town. At first, with Micah's partially restored memories, he thinks it was just because he was chasing the five monsters that, one by one, start terrorizing the village and/or the settlement.
However, he is eventually told that, because of his monster and human blood both, he was sent to be a bridge between the monsters and the humans. Only he could mend the rift and get the Sharance flowers to bloom.
Don't let the term 'monster' fool you; Micah turns into a golden Wooly, not some Orc or other scary and naturally mean-seeming monster. But Micah keeps this half of his identity a secret from the villagers anyways.
In which case, Micah can talk to each of the villagers while pretending to be just an average Wooly, and he'll receive varying reactions. Some people just look at him, some people want to hug him or sell his wool, and some people shoo him away.
It's when Micah meets the settlers out in the desert that his Wooly half really comes in handy. The settlement's leader, a univir, hates any and all humans, and she kicks Micah out on sight if he dares to show up in human form. So, opposite of what he does in the village (seeming fully human and all), Micah disguises himself as a full-blooded Wooly in order to meet the settlers and interact with them.
Later in the game, we players find out the reason Micah ended up in this town. At first, with Micah's partially restored memories, he thinks it was just because he was chasing the five monsters that, one by one, start terrorizing the village and/or the settlement.
However, he is eventually told that, because of his monster and human blood both, he was sent to be a bridge between the monsters and the humans. Only he could mend the rift and get the Sharance flowers to bloom.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 9
Okay, let's start talking about Rune Factory 3, the latest game in the series that I've played.
This time, the amnesiac has the default name of Micah, and he has a secret that he remembers partway through the game: He's only part human, and another part monster!
In monster form, Micah crashes unconscious in front of the mayor's house, where his granddaughter Shara finds the monster and brings him inside. When alone, Micah transforms back into a human, wakes up, and leaves. Commence normal girl-convinces-protagonist-to-stay-and-farm scene.
This game is unique in many ways from the first two games. First off, there's the whole half-monster situation.
Second, Micah slowly regains his memories throughout the game; each time he defeats the boss monster of one of the four monster-infested areas, Micah gets an orb that restores part of his memory.
Third, there are three characters that you won't meet until later in the game because they've been ostracized from human society for centuries. Micah has the difficult task of planning a party that will bring the two types of characters together.
Fourth, my conscience is somewhat settled regarding the marriage situation. I can't remember exactly how it was done, and maybe it's still lacking and irritating, but this game comes the closest to outright saying that Micah can marry a girl in this new town without worrying he's ditching some old wife/fiance from his previous home.
This time, the amnesiac has the default name of Micah, and he has a secret that he remembers partway through the game: He's only part human, and another part monster!
In monster form, Micah crashes unconscious in front of the mayor's house, where his granddaughter Shara finds the monster and brings him inside. When alone, Micah transforms back into a human, wakes up, and leaves. Commence normal girl-convinces-protagonist-to-stay-and-farm scene.
This game is unique in many ways from the first two games. First off, there's the whole half-monster situation.
Second, Micah slowly regains his memories throughout the game; each time he defeats the boss monster of one of the four monster-infested areas, Micah gets an orb that restores part of his memory.
Third, there are three characters that you won't meet until later in the game because they've been ostracized from human society for centuries. Micah has the difficult task of planning a party that will bring the two types of characters together.
Fourth, my conscience is somewhat settled regarding the marriage situation. I can't remember exactly how it was done, and maybe it's still lacking and irritating, but this game comes the closest to outright saying that Micah can marry a girl in this new town without worrying he's ditching some old wife/fiance from his previous home.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 8
*announcer's voice* Next up in Rune Factory 2: Kaiti describes the male mock marriage candidates for Kyle's daughter!
First up I guess would be Roy, son of the local weapons and armor dealer. Roy, like Cammy, was present in Kyle's day and was a real troublemaker, though he continuously claimed it wasn't on purpose. He would break something of his mom's and beg Kyle to find a replacement before she found out. In the second generation, he seems to have matured just a bit. Instead of breaking stuff, he complains about schoolwork while admitting he likes going to see his friends.
Next, let's introduce Leonel, son of Dorothy and Barrett. Not exactly sure how this odd couple produced such a different child, but I guess who am I to question? He's a super cute boy who is often mistaken for a girl, which annoys him. To which I say get a haircut! Anyways, he seems to enjoy cooking, and your protagonist will comment on how mature he seems when he tries to willingly eat stuff he doesn't like. And don't let my complaints fool you; I do like this kid.
Finally, there's Orland, son of Jake and Cecilia. He takes after his father in his serious, sometimes rude, mannerisms and convictions that elves are better than humans. He's serious about working hard in school, and he even tries to get the teachers to give harder lessons because he thinks the current ones are too easy!
Well. I suppose that about does it for the romance section of Rune Factory 2. Now I have to decide if I want to tell you more about the game itself and potentially give away spoilers (eek!), or if I want to just move on to the third RF game.
First up I guess would be Roy, son of the local weapons and armor dealer. Roy, like Cammy, was present in Kyle's day and was a real troublemaker, though he continuously claimed it wasn't on purpose. He would break something of his mom's and beg Kyle to find a replacement before she found out. In the second generation, he seems to have matured just a bit. Instead of breaking stuff, he complains about schoolwork while admitting he likes going to see his friends.
Next, let's introduce Leonel, son of Dorothy and Barrett. Not exactly sure how this odd couple produced such a different child, but I guess who am I to question? He's a super cute boy who is often mistaken for a girl, which annoys him. To which I say get a haircut! Anyways, he seems to enjoy cooking, and your protagonist will comment on how mature he seems when he tries to willingly eat stuff he doesn't like. And don't let my complaints fool you; I do like this kid.
Finally, there's Orland, son of Jake and Cecilia. He takes after his father in his serious, sometimes rude, mannerisms and convictions that elves are better than humans. He's serious about working hard in school, and he even tries to get the teachers to give harder lessons because he thinks the current ones are too easy!
Well. I suppose that about does it for the romance section of Rune Factory 2. Now I have to decide if I want to tell you more about the game itself and potentially give away spoilers (eek!), or if I want to just move on to the third RF game.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 7
As I've mentioned before, in the second generation of Rune Factory 2, a whole new world opens up for you as Kyle's child. But because I have already talked about it, I'll just for now talk about the mock marriage ceremonies.
Because our new protagonist is a child, you understandably cannot actually marry in this generation. But you can go through multiple wedding ceremonies that Gordon (resident priest) will obligingly perform for you. As a boy, you can "marry" Cammy, Leann, and Sera and Serena.
Cammy is actually a character Kyle has met; she was a child in the first generation and apparently has not grown up in the 7-9 years since you played as Kyle. She's Dorothy's sister, daughter of Gordon, and pretty wild. Her first generation requests whipped Kyle into a "capable man," if that tells you anything about her personality.
Leann is the daughter of Max and Julia, so she's grown up a rich kid - perhaps spoiled, but not bratty.
Sera and Serena are twins, the daughters of Ray and Rosalind. They're pretty much inseparable, and they go crazy anytime they do get separated. You can also "marry" these twins if your protagonist is a girl, due to the girls' confusion about the concept of marriage.
This seems like a rather short post, but I think I'll end it here anyways. Candidates for "marriage" if your (second generation) protagonist is a girl will be for tomorrow!
Because our new protagonist is a child, you understandably cannot actually marry in this generation. But you can go through multiple wedding ceremonies that Gordon (resident priest) will obligingly perform for you. As a boy, you can "marry" Cammy, Leann, and Sera and Serena.
Cammy is actually a character Kyle has met; she was a child in the first generation and apparently has not grown up in the 7-9 years since you played as Kyle. She's Dorothy's sister, daughter of Gordon, and pretty wild. Her first generation requests whipped Kyle into a "capable man," if that tells you anything about her personality.
Leann is the daughter of Max and Julia, so she's grown up a rich kid - perhaps spoiled, but not bratty.
Sera and Serena are twins, the daughters of Ray and Rosalind. They're pretty much inseparable, and they go crazy anytime they do get separated. You can also "marry" these twins if your protagonist is a girl, due to the girls' confusion about the concept of marriage.
This seems like a rather short post, but I think I'll end it here anyways. Candidates for "marriage" if your (second generation) protagonist is a girl will be for tomorrow!
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 6
Let's finish up with the Rune Factory 2 Generation 1 bachelorettes: Rosalind, Cecilia, and Dorothy.
Rosalind is the daughter of the richest man in town and siblings with Max, Julia's potential love interest. Somehow, she brings out a really serious side of Kyle. Your rival for her heart is Ray, the son of the town doctor (siblings with Alicia) and himself a doctor-in-training.
Cecilia is a half-elf who works as a maid for Rosalind's family. She actually was a character in the first Rune Factory game too; she appeared as a little girl who called herself Ceci. Because she knew Raguna (default name for RF1 protagonist) and now knows Kyle, she actually mentions their similar situations a couple of times. The guy Cecilia will marry should you choose not to marry her is Jake, also a half-elf, and he hates your guts just because you're human.
Dorothy is an extremely shy girl who is a nurse-in-training and daughter of the resident priest. Her withdrawn nature is starkly contrasted by her younger sister Cammy's extremely outgoing personality. In fact, you could play the entire game all the way through and only ever see what Dorothy's face looks like once. She pulls her hair back from her face for her wedding, and that's it. Aside from potentially Kyle, Dorothy's love interest is the mayor's son and resident bad boy Barrett.
So those are all the women Kyle could marry. It's possible to get the proposal item for each and every one of them, but of course, you can only propose to one girl. Giving the proposal item to anyone else after you're married will result in varying reactions. Some take it as a normal gift, and some bluntly point out that polygamy is illegal.
Rosalind is the daughter of the richest man in town and siblings with Max, Julia's potential love interest. Somehow, she brings out a really serious side of Kyle. Your rival for her heart is Ray, the son of the town doctor (siblings with Alicia) and himself a doctor-in-training.
Cecilia is a half-elf who works as a maid for Rosalind's family. She actually was a character in the first Rune Factory game too; she appeared as a little girl who called herself Ceci. Because she knew Raguna (default name for RF1 protagonist) and now knows Kyle, she actually mentions their similar situations a couple of times. The guy Cecilia will marry should you choose not to marry her is Jake, also a half-elf, and he hates your guts just because you're human.
Dorothy is an extremely shy girl who is a nurse-in-training and daughter of the resident priest. Her withdrawn nature is starkly contrasted by her younger sister Cammy's extremely outgoing personality. In fact, you could play the entire game all the way through and only ever see what Dorothy's face looks like once. She pulls her hair back from her face for her wedding, and that's it. Aside from potentially Kyle, Dorothy's love interest is the mayor's son and resident bad boy Barrett.
So those are all the women Kyle could marry. It's possible to get the proposal item for each and every one of them, but of course, you can only propose to one girl. Giving the proposal item to anyone else after you're married will result in varying reactions. Some take it as a normal gift, and some bluntly point out that polygamy is illegal.
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 5
In Rune Factory 2, when you play as Kyle, there are seven girls your protagonist could potentially marry, four of which have rival love interests.
The first bachelorette you meet in the game is Mana, the girl who gives you your farm and has the overprotective father. She's usually the girl I choose to have Kyle marry; I just like her personality the best. You do not have a rival for her heart.
Alicia is the town fortune-teller, also the disappointing daughter of the town doctor. Alicia dresses like a witch and has accurate weather predictions, but she makes sure to make any of her other predictions come true herself. Case in point: She once predicts for Kyle that he'll have money trouble, and then she charges him an unfair rate for that particular fortune. You have no rival for her heart.
Yue is a traveling merchant, sometimes found in town and sometimes found outside of town. She often talks about her travels to other towns, and most of her requests are business-oriented. There isn't a specific rival for Yue's heart, but if you marry a girl who does have a rival, Yue will marry that girl's other love interest so that the kids in the next generation are constant.
Julia runs the town's bathhouse and is obsessed with beauty. She's insecure and tries not to show her true self to anyone, but she also seems to have no problem letting her inner frustration loose on Kyle. Your rival for her heart is Max, son of the town's resident rich man.
Okay, four down and three to go. See you tomorrow for Rosalind, Cecilia, and Dorothy!
The first bachelorette you meet in the game is Mana, the girl who gives you your farm and has the overprotective father. She's usually the girl I choose to have Kyle marry; I just like her personality the best. You do not have a rival for her heart.
Alicia is the town fortune-teller, also the disappointing daughter of the town doctor. Alicia dresses like a witch and has accurate weather predictions, but she makes sure to make any of her other predictions come true herself. Case in point: She once predicts for Kyle that he'll have money trouble, and then she charges him an unfair rate for that particular fortune. You have no rival for her heart.
Yue is a traveling merchant, sometimes found in town and sometimes found outside of town. She often talks about her travels to other towns, and most of her requests are business-oriented. There isn't a specific rival for Yue's heart, but if you marry a girl who does have a rival, Yue will marry that girl's other love interest so that the kids in the next generation are constant.
Julia runs the town's bathhouse and is obsessed with beauty. She's insecure and tries not to show her true self to anyone, but she also seems to have no problem letting her inner frustration loose on Kyle. Your rival for her heart is Max, son of the town's resident rich man.
Okay, four down and three to go. See you tomorrow for Rosalind, Cecilia, and Dorothy!
Monday, July 14, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 4
In Rune Factory 2, after you take control of Kyle's child, the game takes on a new plotline.
With Kyle, your main goals were to get married and build a school, with side goals involving befriending other villagers plus monsters and planting a bunch of crops everywhere. (I still think it's really wrong for our amnesiac to be getting married; who's to say someone isn't waiting for him in his past...?)
With Kyle's kid, your main goal is to find Kyle again, or at least find out why he left. Side plots include going to school (which is optional, but I recommend it, unless you go online for all the recipes Mana will otherwise teach you), expanding the school, befriending all the villagers, and perhaps finding a few love interests among your classmates.
As a child, you can have multiple love interests and actually go through a marriage ceremony with all of them. After all, they're only about seven, so the ceremony is just a mock wedding.
Like I mentioned earlier, your child can expand the school Kyle built. When you do, you'll have a way to make your own food and weapons and medicine, you'll also be able to access many more magic books, and you'll also be able to fight monsters in a controlled and adult-approved environment.
Very few of the adults know that your child ventures into the monster-infested areas. All the kids eventually know, but they keep it secret for you because the adults would be upset if they knew.
Hmm, this post feels poorly organized. o_O' Sorry about that. But it's a great game, and I have great fun playing as Aria, Kyle's daughter's default name. (I played once as his son too, but I forget what the default name for him is.)
With Kyle, your main goals were to get married and build a school, with side goals involving befriending other villagers plus monsters and planting a bunch of crops everywhere. (I still think it's really wrong for our amnesiac to be getting married; who's to say someone isn't waiting for him in his past...?)
With Kyle's kid, your main goal is to find Kyle again, or at least find out why he left. Side plots include going to school (which is optional, but I recommend it, unless you go online for all the recipes Mana will otherwise teach you), expanding the school, befriending all the villagers, and perhaps finding a few love interests among your classmates.
As a child, you can have multiple love interests and actually go through a marriage ceremony with all of them. After all, they're only about seven, so the ceremony is just a mock wedding.
Like I mentioned earlier, your child can expand the school Kyle built. When you do, you'll have a way to make your own food and weapons and medicine, you'll also be able to access many more magic books, and you'll also be able to fight monsters in a controlled and adult-approved environment.
Very few of the adults know that your child ventures into the monster-infested areas. All the kids eventually know, but they keep it secret for you because the adults would be upset if they knew.
Hmm, this post feels poorly organized. o_O' Sorry about that. But it's a great game, and I have great fun playing as Aria, Kyle's daughter's default name. (I played once as his son too, but I forget what the default name for him is.)
Friday, July 11, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 3
Rune Factory 2 is probably my personal favorite out of the series so far; though admittedly, it could have something to do with the fact that it was the first in the series that I played.
This game's protagonist has the default name of Kyle. You can change it if you want when you play, but that's what I'm going to refer to him as. He's found wandering the cherry tree grove by Mana and, later, her father Douglas.
Upon learning of Kyle's amnesia, Mana offers Kyle the farm she and her father own. When Kyle protests, Douglas intimidates Kyle into taking it. But he makes it more than clear that, while Kyle is to do whatever Mana says, he is equally supposed to actively avoid getting any romantic ideas towards her because Mana (when she was six) had promised to stay Douglas's little girl forever and never get married.
So after this awkward welcome, Kyle is quickly integrated into village life. It's a smaller village than in RF1, and there are only four areas Kyle can go to that have monsters. Those four areas represent the four seasons, and you can grow crops in them year-round that correspond to their particular season. (Did I mention that caves, in the RF1 game, have a similar feature?)
Although Kyle is great fun to play, the game really begins after he has his first child. He'll want to build a school. When the building is finished and he sees it, you'll lose movement control for a while as Kyle discusses stuff with himself and others.
Kyle's memory returns one stormy night and he runs off, leaving behind his wife and child (whose gender you can choose or leave to chance). The game picks back up seven years later, I think; our protagonist now is Kyle's child, just beginning school.
This game's protagonist has the default name of Kyle. You can change it if you want when you play, but that's what I'm going to refer to him as. He's found wandering the cherry tree grove by Mana and, later, her father Douglas.
Upon learning of Kyle's amnesia, Mana offers Kyle the farm she and her father own. When Kyle protests, Douglas intimidates Kyle into taking it. But he makes it more than clear that, while Kyle is to do whatever Mana says, he is equally supposed to actively avoid getting any romantic ideas towards her because Mana (when she was six) had promised to stay Douglas's little girl forever and never get married.
So after this awkward welcome, Kyle is quickly integrated into village life. It's a smaller village than in RF1, and there are only four areas Kyle can go to that have monsters. Those four areas represent the four seasons, and you can grow crops in them year-round that correspond to their particular season. (Did I mention that caves, in the RF1 game, have a similar feature?)
Although Kyle is great fun to play, the game really begins after he has his first child. He'll want to build a school. When the building is finished and he sees it, you'll lose movement control for a while as Kyle discusses stuff with himself and others.
Kyle's memory returns one stormy night and he runs off, leaving behind his wife and child (whose gender you can choose or leave to chance). The game picks back up seven years later, I think; our protagonist now is Kyle's child, just beginning school.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Rune Factory Pt. 2
The first Rune Factory game is the one I played the least out of the three I've played so far, though I'm not entirely sure why.
The default name for this amnesiac protagonist is Raguna, and the farm he borrows belongs to Misty, I believe. Raguna was about to pass out in front of her house when she found him begging for food and water. So she gave him a hoe and a watering can. Yesterday's long story short, Raguna stays at her farm.
This game has a bunch of caves that Raguna can explore, but the town's authority (mayor, I think?) bans anyone from going there. Raguna has to get a special license each time he wants to visit a new cave. I believe each cave also has a boss monster that Raguna is expected to send back to the Forest of Beginnings.
Speaking of which, that forest is different world entirely, and it's mentioned in every RF game I've played. It's not explained very well in any of them, sadly - just that it's where all monsters comes from and where they return to upon being defeated in battle. There are also gates that bring monsters from that world into this one.
Aside from the whole cave situation, there are other activities that are found in each of the following games. Farming, of course, is one. Finding a wife is another (which, by the way, I find wrong, considering the possibility that maybe he's already married or betrothed but can't remember...). Raguna, I'm sure, can also eventually cook food and forge weapons and perhaps even make accessories and medicine, but I had yet to get to those parts before getting bored with the game for some reason I still can't identify.
So, yeah, there's what I remember from RF1. I know lots of people that really enjoyed that game, so don't let my review get you down. It could just be something as simple as the fact that I played RF2 before RF1, so I was a bit spoiled by all the new and improved stuff in the second game.
The default name for this amnesiac protagonist is Raguna, and the farm he borrows belongs to Misty, I believe. Raguna was about to pass out in front of her house when she found him begging for food and water. So she gave him a hoe and a watering can. Yesterday's long story short, Raguna stays at her farm.
This game has a bunch of caves that Raguna can explore, but the town's authority (mayor, I think?) bans anyone from going there. Raguna has to get a special license each time he wants to visit a new cave. I believe each cave also has a boss monster that Raguna is expected to send back to the Forest of Beginnings.
Speaking of which, that forest is different world entirely, and it's mentioned in every RF game I've played. It's not explained very well in any of them, sadly - just that it's where all monsters comes from and where they return to upon being defeated in battle. There are also gates that bring monsters from that world into this one.
Aside from the whole cave situation, there are other activities that are found in each of the following games. Farming, of course, is one. Finding a wife is another (which, by the way, I find wrong, considering the possibility that maybe he's already married or betrothed but can't remember...). Raguna, I'm sure, can also eventually cook food and forge weapons and perhaps even make accessories and medicine, but I had yet to get to those parts before getting bored with the game for some reason I still can't identify.
So, yeah, there's what I remember from RF1. I know lots of people that really enjoyed that game, so don't let my review get you down. It could just be something as simple as the fact that I played RF2 before RF1, so I was a bit spoiled by all the new and improved stuff in the second game.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Rune Factory
I've talked to you a lot about the Harvest Moon games that I've played, but I don't think I've yet mentioned the spin-off series called Rune Factory, so here we go!
So far, I believe there are four Rune Factory games. I have played the first three, but I have not played the first one enough to remember much about it. I do remember that, so far, all three games have the same beginning, simply with different characters.
The games begin with the main character wandering into a small town. A girl (eligible maiden, actually) finds our protagonist and asks him what's going on. He responds that he doesn't know because he has lost his memory.
The girl gives our protagonist a name, which the player can choose but the game does offer a suggestion. Then she invites our hero to work on her farm, claiming it's just going to waste anyways and he'd be doing her a favor.
At some point during the girl's persuasion, our hero can tell he's being taken advantage of. However, it's either the girl or the girl's father that absolutely refuses to take no for an answer.
And so the game begins, with our protagonist living on a borrowed farm, expected to jump right in to the village life and have a blast.
There are variations between the games, of course. But I'll mention those when I come to each of them. Ciao!
So far, I believe there are four Rune Factory games. I have played the first three, but I have not played the first one enough to remember much about it. I do remember that, so far, all three games have the same beginning, simply with different characters.
The games begin with the main character wandering into a small town. A girl (eligible maiden, actually) finds our protagonist and asks him what's going on. He responds that he doesn't know because he has lost his memory.
The girl gives our protagonist a name, which the player can choose but the game does offer a suggestion. Then she invites our hero to work on her farm, claiming it's just going to waste anyways and he'd be doing her a favor.
At some point during the girl's persuasion, our hero can tell he's being taken advantage of. However, it's either the girl or the girl's father that absolutely refuses to take no for an answer.
And so the game begins, with our protagonist living on a borrowed farm, expected to jump right in to the village life and have a blast.
There are variations between the games, of course. But I'll mention those when I come to each of them. Ciao!
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Chinook at the Park
A while ago, my mom and I took our dog Chinook to a park, and he took to it better than expected.
Our dog, sad to say, is a bit of a coward. He fears fireworks and thunderstorms and even our freezer. He runs away from strangers when they approach him, though he'll bark at them all day if he's safely inside and they're ringing our doorbell outside. He doesn't usually care for new environments.
However, the park we took him to was apparently different. The park was mainly a water park, but it also had a dog park and some trails for walking or biking.We stopped by the dog park first.
It was a hot day, and there were only three other dogs there. Chinook sniffed each one, but none of them (Chinook included) were interested in playing because of the heat.
So Mom and I eventually decided to take Chinook out of the dog park and go on a walk. Chinook didn't like any of the bridges, but otherwise he seemed to enjoy the trip.
When we got back to our vehicle, Chinook didn't want to get inside. He didn't want to leave!
So, yes, that day was a fun experience.
Even if it lasted only about an hour due to the heat. ^^'
Our dog, sad to say, is a bit of a coward. He fears fireworks and thunderstorms and even our freezer. He runs away from strangers when they approach him, though he'll bark at them all day if he's safely inside and they're ringing our doorbell outside. He doesn't usually care for new environments.
However, the park we took him to was apparently different. The park was mainly a water park, but it also had a dog park and some trails for walking or biking.We stopped by the dog park first.
It was a hot day, and there were only three other dogs there. Chinook sniffed each one, but none of them (Chinook included) were interested in playing because of the heat.
So Mom and I eventually decided to take Chinook out of the dog park and go on a walk. Chinook didn't like any of the bridges, but otherwise he seemed to enjoy the trip.
When we got back to our vehicle, Chinook didn't want to get inside. He didn't want to leave!
So, yes, that day was a fun experience.
Even if it lasted only about an hour due to the heat. ^^'
Monday, July 7, 2014
Lord of the Ring
Lately, I've been trying to read J.R.R. Tolkein's Lord of the Ring series.
Late in the previous semester at college, my college had a book sale. At this sale, my friend found the entire series plus a bunch of bonus stuff in one book. She was considering buying it until I mentioned that if she didn't, I might.
I'd never read the series before, and I remember very little of the movies that I saw only once a few summers ago. I'd honestly never had much of an interest in them until so many of my friends at college would randomly go off on long discussions about how awesome it is and quote a few lines at every turn.
Almost instantly, my friend backed off on her claim to buying the book, encouraging me to buy it.
So I did. One novel divided into three sections, which in turn are each divided into two sections, before coming to the breaking down by chapters.
Sadly, my progress is slow. I've been reading it steadily for about a month, and I've only finished little more than a sixth of the book. But I think I'm picking up my pace now that most of the world-building has been completed and I can focus on plot.
I'll probably let you know my thoughts when I've finished. Deal? =)
Late in the previous semester at college, my college had a book sale. At this sale, my friend found the entire series plus a bunch of bonus stuff in one book. She was considering buying it until I mentioned that if she didn't, I might.
I'd never read the series before, and I remember very little of the movies that I saw only once a few summers ago. I'd honestly never had much of an interest in them until so many of my friends at college would randomly go off on long discussions about how awesome it is and quote a few lines at every turn.
Almost instantly, my friend backed off on her claim to buying the book, encouraging me to buy it.
So I did. One novel divided into three sections, which in turn are each divided into two sections, before coming to the breaking down by chapters.
Sadly, my progress is slow. I've been reading it steadily for about a month, and I've only finished little more than a sixth of the book. But I think I'm picking up my pace now that most of the world-building has been completed and I can focus on plot.
I'll probably let you know my thoughts when I've finished. Deal? =)
Friday, July 4, 2014
Dee Henderson
Now that I've talked about all of Dee Henderson's books that I've read, I'll try to touch on some of her other books.
The only two O'Malley series books I didn't really say much about were Full Disclosure and Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story. But since in a previous post I did give a bit of info on them both, let's move on.
Henderson's Uncommon Heroes series has a few more books. In order, they are True Valor, True Honor, and True Courage. I have never read any of them, nor have I heard Mom talk specifically about them, so I can't give you much in the way of plot summary and writing quality.
Henderson also has a series called Shield of Honor, but I can only find listed the first book in the series: The Witness. Again, I don't know anything about it.
Finally, Henderson seems to have written several stand-alone books. Then again, Full Disclosure is actually listed on Goodreads as though it is a stand-alone novel, even though every impression I got from my Mom pointed towards it being part of the O'Malley series. So I'm not sure if any of these other "stand-alone" books are actually somehow connected with some of Henderson's other series.
Anyways, if you wish to see the list of Henderson's books for yourself, please follow this link. Kaiti out.
The only two O'Malley series books I didn't really say much about were Full Disclosure and Jennifer: An O'Malley Love Story. But since in a previous post I did give a bit of info on them both, let's move on.
Henderson's Uncommon Heroes series has a few more books. In order, they are True Valor, True Honor, and True Courage. I have never read any of them, nor have I heard Mom talk specifically about them, so I can't give you much in the way of plot summary and writing quality.
Henderson also has a series called Shield of Honor, but I can only find listed the first book in the series: The Witness. Again, I don't know anything about it.
Finally, Henderson seems to have written several stand-alone books. Then again, Full Disclosure is actually listed on Goodreads as though it is a stand-alone novel, even though every impression I got from my Mom pointed towards it being part of the O'Malley series. So I'm not sure if any of these other "stand-alone" books are actually somehow connected with some of Henderson's other series.
Anyways, if you wish to see the list of Henderson's books for yourself, please follow this link. Kaiti out.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
True Devotion
Now that I've told you about all of the O'Malley series that I've read, let's turn to the only other Dee Henderson book I've read: True Devotion, the first book in a series called Uncommon Heroes.
The two protagonists in this book are Kelly Jacobs and Joe Baker.
Kelly was the wife of a Navy SEAL who died some time before this book begins. Now she's hurting emotionally and spiritually, and it takes a near-drowning experience as she tries to rescue a teenaged boy before she can start straightening her life back out.
Joe, also known as Bear, is a Navy SEAL who was best friends with Kelly's husband. He knows exactly how much Kelly hurt when her husband died, and he can't ask her to risk that pain again, no matter how much he loves her.
And then - danger. Closer than any of them could ever suspect, the man responsible for Kelly's husband's death is back. Not only do our heroes have to worry about the deadly missions, but important work gets done before each mission as well. This man's last contact (for clarification: not Kelly's husband) ended up washed up on a beach dead; and now, Kelly is his new contact. Joe pulls out every trick in the book to keep the past from repeating itself, but it just might not be enough.
I liked this book. The only thing keeping me from reading the others in the series is the fact that Henderson seems to thrive on murder mystery material, and at least one murderer appears in every book of hers that I've read so far. Reading too much of that might start to depress me, or scare me; not sure which one.
But in small doses, I like her books, and this one is no exception. I feel really awful for one of the characters, and I forget what happens to him by the end of the book; but other than him, pretty much every ends up with their happily ever after.
The two protagonists in this book are Kelly Jacobs and Joe Baker.
Kelly was the wife of a Navy SEAL who died some time before this book begins. Now she's hurting emotionally and spiritually, and it takes a near-drowning experience as she tries to rescue a teenaged boy before she can start straightening her life back out.
Joe, also known as Bear, is a Navy SEAL who was best friends with Kelly's husband. He knows exactly how much Kelly hurt when her husband died, and he can't ask her to risk that pain again, no matter how much he loves her.
And then - danger. Closer than any of them could ever suspect, the man responsible for Kelly's husband's death is back. Not only do our heroes have to worry about the deadly missions, but important work gets done before each mission as well. This man's last contact (for clarification: not Kelly's husband) ended up washed up on a beach dead; and now, Kelly is his new contact. Joe pulls out every trick in the book to keep the past from repeating itself, but it just might not be enough.
I liked this book. The only thing keeping me from reading the others in the series is the fact that Henderson seems to thrive on murder mystery material, and at least one murderer appears in every book of hers that I've read so far. Reading too much of that might start to depress me, or scare me; not sure which one.
But in small doses, I like her books, and this one is no exception. I feel really awful for one of the characters, and I forget what happens to him by the end of the book; but other than him, pretty much every ends up with their happily ever after.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The Rescuer
The last book in the main part of Dee Henderson's O'Malley series is The Rescuer, in which we mainly follow Stephen O'Malley, but Meghan Delhart is also a protagonist.
Stephen is having issues. He used to be a firefighter with Jack, but then he became a paramedic. After several years, he developed a phobia of blood and had to quit. Doubled with quitting his job, his sister Jennifer dies, so Stephen does the adult version of running away: He takes an extended vacation.
Stephen's first and last stops along the road happen to be at Meghan's house. Meghan is an old friend who went blind after a car accident years ago. Since then, she's been living alone with her guide dog in a small town where she works for her father.
When Stephen stops running, he settles down in an old farm house just outside of Meghan's town. I think that's around the same time that a gem thief and eventual murderer comes into town. While Stephen is working towards turning his hobby into something that will make him a living, he discovers what the gem thief is looking for: jewelry pieces hidden all over the farmhouse and even in the barn, hinting that not all was as it seemed with the man Stephen bought the grounds from.
So, as per the norm, danger follows as, one by one, secrets in the past become revealed. And in the midst of all the danger, the protagonists managed to make some good memories.
My usual complaint about the romance applies here. Meghan is a Christian, and Stephen is not. But Meghan was definitely better than most of the others about resisting, despite the fact she'd had a crush on Stephen since before she got serious with God. She earned my permanent respect by outright telling Stephen that if it came down to a choice between him and God, Stephen would lose.
I also must say I think I enjoyed the Christian aspect more in this book. Stephen didn't make his choice when his life was at stake; he made his choice when he realized, on one calm night, that eternity was at stake.
Stephen is having issues. He used to be a firefighter with Jack, but then he became a paramedic. After several years, he developed a phobia of blood and had to quit. Doubled with quitting his job, his sister Jennifer dies, so Stephen does the adult version of running away: He takes an extended vacation.
Stephen's first and last stops along the road happen to be at Meghan's house. Meghan is an old friend who went blind after a car accident years ago. Since then, she's been living alone with her guide dog in a small town where she works for her father.
When Stephen stops running, he settles down in an old farm house just outside of Meghan's town. I think that's around the same time that a gem thief and eventual murderer comes into town. While Stephen is working towards turning his hobby into something that will make him a living, he discovers what the gem thief is looking for: jewelry pieces hidden all over the farmhouse and even in the barn, hinting that not all was as it seemed with the man Stephen bought the grounds from.
So, as per the norm, danger follows as, one by one, secrets in the past become revealed. And in the midst of all the danger, the protagonists managed to make some good memories.
My usual complaint about the romance applies here. Meghan is a Christian, and Stephen is not. But Meghan was definitely better than most of the others about resisting, despite the fact she'd had a crush on Stephen since before she got serious with God. She earned my permanent respect by outright telling Stephen that if it came down to a choice between him and God, Stephen would lose.
I also must say I think I enjoyed the Christian aspect more in this book. Stephen didn't make his choice when his life was at stake; he made his choice when he realized, on one calm night, that eternity was at stake.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
The Healer
The Healer is the next book in Dee Henderson's O'Malley series, and the two protagonists are Rachel O'Malley and Jack's boss Cole Parker.
I forget the official title of Rachel's job, but her specialty is helping kids through trauma. She's good at helping anyone through trauma, really. She's also there for her own family as they deal with Jennifer's cancer.
There's a minor problem, though. Everyone relies on Rachel, including Rachel herself. All the years she's been doing this, she's never relied on anyone else, and she finally seems to be reaching her breaking point. Even though she accepted Christ in the previous book, Christianity is so new to her, and it scares her to know that there's nothing she can do in return to merit the love of Jesus - and she's facing a similar problem with her current romantic situation.
To be honest, I don't remember too much of Cole in this book. I remember a lot about him from the last book, but not so much in this one. He's strong physically, mentally, and spiritually. He becomes a shoulder for Rachel to lean on, and boy does she need it.
Aside from Jennifer's cancer, there's another crisis Rachel ends up in. I think the book started off with a flood, but the biggest mass trauma started in a school shooting. And if memory serves, there was another murder incident too.
So, yeah. Drama. Lots of it. It's been so long since I've read the book, I don't remember the finer details of my opinion towards this book. But I'm sure it was decent, at the least. =)
...Wow, that wasn't very convincingly put, was it? But I mean it; I'm sure it was pretty good overall.
Ohhh, wait, I just remembered another tragic event that happens in this book. Yeah, this is probably the most depressing book in the series. Maybe that's why I don't remember much of it: Too much sadness, so I made myself try to forget it?
I forget the official title of Rachel's job, but her specialty is helping kids through trauma. She's good at helping anyone through trauma, really. She's also there for her own family as they deal with Jennifer's cancer.
There's a minor problem, though. Everyone relies on Rachel, including Rachel herself. All the years she's been doing this, she's never relied on anyone else, and she finally seems to be reaching her breaking point. Even though she accepted Christ in the previous book, Christianity is so new to her, and it scares her to know that there's nothing she can do in return to merit the love of Jesus - and she's facing a similar problem with her current romantic situation.
To be honest, I don't remember too much of Cole in this book. I remember a lot about him from the last book, but not so much in this one. He's strong physically, mentally, and spiritually. He becomes a shoulder for Rachel to lean on, and boy does she need it.
Aside from Jennifer's cancer, there's another crisis Rachel ends up in. I think the book started off with a flood, but the biggest mass trauma started in a school shooting. And if memory serves, there was another murder incident too.
So, yeah. Drama. Lots of it. It's been so long since I've read the book, I don't remember the finer details of my opinion towards this book. But I'm sure it was decent, at the least. =)
...Wow, that wasn't very convincingly put, was it? But I mean it; I'm sure it was pretty good overall.
Ohhh, wait, I just remembered another tragic event that happens in this book. Yeah, this is probably the most depressing book in the series. Maybe that's why I don't remember much of it: Too much sadness, so I made myself try to forget it?
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