Castle's Christmas Episode

Last night I was finishing up addressing my Christmas cards and when the Castle family came on and the first thing they were talking about was how everyone had to come up with a poem for their family Christmas card, I thought what a great idea! But it was too late for my family card.  Maybe next year. Of course, Kate hadn't gotten around to hers because she thought it wasn't a big deal.  Shouldn't she know by now that most stuff like that in the Castle household is a big deal?

Well, the first scene was actually of some guy (who could run really fast!) running away from a car.  The car has several advantages on the runner, the first being speed, and the second that the driver shoots the runner.  The victim crashes through a storefront window and the driver gets out (in a Santa suit! Yeah, I was glad none of my kids were still up.) and shoots the victim one more time for good measure.  Yikes.

The team is on it and figure out that the victim was an ER doctor named Eric Mercer.  His co-workers tell the team that he missed work to help his uncle, only he doesn't have an uncle.  When they track down the address that Eric was secretly going off to, they find out that he was actually moonlighting as a mob doctor for the Carlucci family.  Not surprisingly, Castle has a connection to the now head guy of the Carlucci family, Dino, (he sure knows a lot of mob guys from his research. I found that a little unbelievable, but I digress.)  They go to Dino's headquarters, which is a strip joint.

Oddly, they show Rick enjoying the strippers dancing while he's with HIS NEW WIFE.  Beckett tells him if he doesn't quite staring he'll have to get the two drink minimum and he doesn't even hear her.  I didn't like that part actually. He's a newlywed for Pete's sake.  Why do they have him doing that in front of her? Yuck.  But, anyway, one of the stripper's touches Castle's shoulder on her way by and Beckett is all, really? Yeah, that's what I was saying, too.

They get to talk briefly to Dino, but things get a little chilly when Castle introduces his wife (I still love that he can say that now) and she informs them she's NYPD.  His head of security (Rocco) and number two guy (Christopher) join the meeting, but Dino says he has no info for them.  Beckett is continuing to try to question the guy when she gets a call from Ryan.  They found Dino's number two guy Christopher's car with a Santa suit and blood on it.  She brings Christopher in for questioning.

Christopher isn't talking and even the mob crimes detective they bring in to consult (who was oddly a very stiff actor) doesn't really have a lot to add to the circumstantial evidence.  Dino calls Castle to a meeting and after a discussion with Beckett about being careful about mob people, Castle goes.  This was a very strange meeting. Dino is giving his daughter Jane a wad of money when Castle comes in.  And Dino then tells Castle he knows Christopher is being set up, that he raised Eric as his own, and wants to find out who is behind all of this.  Well, he wants Castle to find out who's behind all of this.  And in order to make sure that happens, he quickly cuts his own hand and cuts Castle's, then swears a blood oath. Ew.

Beckett gives the okay for Castle to keep investigating their closed case (why did they close that so quickly? They sure didn't have much) and Castle goes to talk to Christopher who now sings like a bird.  Eric needed some surveillance equipment and Christopher sent him to his friend, Rita. Rita actually provided Eric with a bunch of stolen credit cards.  Which the team try to track, but no joy. They do get something from the lab, Lainey found out that the crystals on him came from rock salt. Surprise! There's a rock salt warehouse near where Eric was killed.  Caskett goes there and finds Eric's backpack filled with bloody clothes with bullet holes in them.  Dun, dun, dun. The plot thickens.

The oddly stiff mob crime detective tells them that the owner of the bloody clothes could be Luka Tessaro, a guy from a rival mob.  He disappeared a few nights ago after gunfire was reported in his neighborhood. The team goes out to the underpass where the gunshots were supposedly fired, and find a slug and a bloody bracelet that the crime scene unit missed. Yikes.  Somebody getting fired over that I wonder?  Anyway, they match the blood on the bracelet to Jane, Dino's daughter.

Castle goes to Dino to tell him what he's found, but as soon as Castle points the finger in Jane's direction, Dino loses it and gets out a gun to shoot Castle. Luckily, Jane rushes in at the last minute and tells her father that she was there, that she was in love with Luka, he'd called her when he'd been shot and she'd tried to get him in her car to bring him to Eric to save.  But he couldn't be saved.  Hey, maybe the Tessaro family found out about that and killed Eric in retaliation? Hmmm...

Since Jane doesn't know who was after Luka or who killed Eric, the case is at a standstill until someone uses the stolen credit card.  Caskett follow it up and find Luka holed up in a warehouse with Jane. Seems they were faking his death to get out of "the life" and be together.  Eric was helping them and got the stolen credit cards to help them get away.  Luka talks about how before he was shot, he was supposed to be finding out who was moving in on their family territory.  Store owners were getting email demands for protection money and if they didn't pay up, their store was burned down.  No one knew who the guy was.  But Rita ends up helping the team track the anonymous guy's Cayman island account and it all leads back to . . . the odd mob crimes detective! I totally called that one since the guy was just so random.

Dino accepts his daughter and her Tessaro love and tells Castle he owes him one.  I'm sure that will come into play later this season.  Or, maybe not.  Anyway, Captain Gates comes up to tell Castle that while he was being transferred the mob detective guy (McBride I think his name was?) was killed and since Castle is connected to organized crime now, he can't work with the NYPD anymore. (I guess the mob killed him, so . . . that makes Castle guilty by association?)  The look on Castle's face was SO SAD. When Beckett comes up to him all happy with her poem, he puts on a brave front and doesn't tell her.  He just says nothing's wrong because she's there and goes over to the police station's Christmas tree and watches everyone dancing and happy.  *sniffle*

The other unhappy storyline is that Lainey had lied to her parents to get them off her back and told them that she was engaged to Esposito. They're flying in and she asks him to pretend they are engaged.  He agrees, and it ends up really cute with how much he wants them to like him.  But in the end, they both decide they don't love each other like that, and break up.  Wahhhh. I liked them together.  *sigh*

So, come January, Espo is a free man and from the previews, Castle is starting his own PI business and is in competition with our favorite team from the Twelfth Precinct.  Now that could be really fun. I can't wait!

Did you watch? What did you think?

Double Review With Lots of Bad Guys!

Today's review is of two awesome books!

First, Dennis Gaunt's Bad Guys of the Bible.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I picked up this book, but I loved it!  It's discussing what we can learn from the "bad guys" of the Bible like Satan, Cain, and Nimrod, and goes on to talk about bullies like Goliath and Sanballat to name just a few.  There were so many insights that can be applied to life in our day, things I'd never really thought about, that it kept me turning pages!

I also loved that Gaunt has a warm, conversational tone that really made this book stand out.  It wasn't preachy or condescending at all, it felt like he was this really smart, cool guy sharing stuff he'd been thinking about lately.  I definitely want my teenagers to read this, not only because they could learn something about how to deal with all the stuff they are bombarded with every day in our society, but also because I think some of the way the subject matter is presented will make them laugh.  It's an awesome twist to look at the bad guys for a change and what makes them tick and how to overcome whatever they dish out.  It's no wonder Mr. Gaunt is a sought after youth speaker! His personality shines through even on a printed page.

I would definitely recommend this one for teens and adults. You can purchase it here

Here's the back copy:

These bad guys are smart. You can be smarter. This entertaining book shows how knowing the enemy can help you be a righteous warrior in your own life. Any discussion of bad guys has to begin with “in the beginning.” From Genesis to Revelation, you’ll get the dirt on the dastardly deeds perpetrated by Bible characters ranging from the truly villainous to the temporarily wayward. Weaving together gospel truth and humor, Dennis Gaunt shows that you can’t have a great story without a great bad guy—and that by studying and knowing the mistakes that biblical bad guys made, we can avoid falling into similar perilous traps. This entertaining and inspiring book also wraps up each chapter with thoughtful questions that invite readers to ponder and apply in their own lives the spiritual lessons from these fascinating stories.

The second book is Rachel Nunes new one Blinded.  I've been following the Autumn Rain series from the beginning and I am so happy there's another one out! I'm not sure if this is the last one, it might be, but I hope not! If it is, though, the ending was still perfect.  Sigh.  I love a good (sort of) paranormal romance.

Autumn Rain can feel imprints from objects---emotions and scenes from previous owners.  Only this time, her gift is taken away from her right when she's in the middle of helping the police solve a case. It's devastating to her because she spent so much time trying to accept and embrace her gift and it became a part of her, only to have it snatched away.  I love the growth we see in Autumn and how much she's matured both as a person and as someone with a special gift.  I loved how sure she is of Shannon, and how they interact together now. They've come such a long way! Of course it was great to see where Jake was and Autumn's sister and father.  But the characters aside, the mystery was solid with elderly deaths, the mob twists, and all the turns.  I admit, I was a little surprised by who the killer really was! Ms. Nunes has done such a great job with Autumn.  I have truly enjoyed this series. If you haven't read it, you should! You can purchase it here

Here's the back copy:

Sometimes clear sight comes only after you’re blinded

When a rash of elderly deaths occur in Portland, Autumn Rain is called upon to use her ability to read emotions imprinted on physical objects in an attempt to track down the killer. The antiques shop owner and part-time police consultant is more than willing to go undercover to estate sales with detective Shannon Martin. After all, reselling antiques is her business, and spending time with the man she might be falling for is a plus.

But a chilling repeat imprint and a fiery near-death has Autumn rethinking everything she’s learned about her ability and what it has made her become.

Mobster Nicholas Russo is also back in town to claim the favor Autumn owes him. If she doesn’t pay, her life and those of her family will be at risk, but helping Russo might mean the deaths of other innocent people. Autumn has no choice but to find out for herself what’s really at stake before she gives him anything.

And then things really get crazy.

Freebie Friday--Free Christmas Music

Today's Freebie Friday is five free Christmas songs from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  This choir is amazing and their beautiful voices make every Christmas moment (like decorating the tree or going out to see the lights!) just perfect.

They are offering five songs for free today:  Come All Ye Faithful, Away in a Manger, One December Bright and Clear, I Saw Three Ships, and What Shall We Give.

I admit, I watched the provided videos and listened to the songs this morning.  What a great way to start the day and fill your heart with Christmas cheer.

Click here to download your free songs!

A Christmas Carol---Gets Me Every Time

So, we went to the play A Christmas Carol and as I sat in the theater in the round watching an amazing cast bring the story to life, I was re-evaluating my own priorities.  Was I a Scrooge?  Where could I improve and do better in noticing others' plight and helping them on their journey?

I love when a piece of literature can do that and it's even better when the characters are right in front of you, being acted out just like you imagined it when you read it.  I wonder if Dickens smiles down on people who take his work to heart.

But this little tradition of seeing/reading A Christmas Carol each year always puts me in the right frame of mind for the Christmas season.  Where have I been this past year?  Have I been kind and forgiving?  Have I been stingy and awful?  What decisions am I making in the present that will affect my future happiness? Do I need a ghostly visitation to remind me to be generous in my heart, spirit, and actions?

It was a fun and relaxing way to spend an evening, that's for sure.  But it also made me want to shout, "it's Christmas!"

Do you have any traditions that put you in the Christmas spirit?  Do you love The Christmas Carol?

Word Count Wednesday

I am so thrilled with my word count.  I was working on a mystery, but hit a glitch with that one, so I moved on to my Jake Williams novel (you might remember him from Ring Around the Rosie, he was a Homeland Security guy.)  I love this story and the scenes are coming so fast and furious I can hardly get them down fast enough.  I've had to do a fair amount of research so far, but that's been secondary to this story.  I am in writer heaven right now!  Almost 8000 words! Woohoo!

How did your week go? Working on anything new?

Castle Goes to the Movies

This week's Castle started out with a kid taking the garbage out from a theater and finding a guy's body out there.  And it was the body of the star of the feature show, Lance DeLorca. Then we cut to Caskett moving Beckett out of her old apartment finally.  I was surprised she still had it.  But Castle makes an offhand remark that he never liked her apartment and Beckett is bothered by that.  Her phone rings before they can discuss it further and they are called to the murder scene.

Of course once Castle sees the body, he realizes who it is and gives the team a little lesson on how DeLorca was with the Spanish CNI (a CIA equivalent), overcame substance abuse, and recently beat leukemia, so he was awesome onscreen and off.  Back at the station Castle is showing the guys one of his favorite scenes from DeLorca's Hard Kill movie and could quote it all of it.  Castle's face was practically beaming as he quoted the lines while the boys watched it on a computer screen.

The team starts investigating the murder and bring in Lance's wife, but they were in the process of divorcing and she didn't have much to add.  They talk to his partner Brock (who was directing a comeback movie for Lance and himself) but he was surprised Lance was still in town since his own driver had driven Lance to the airport.  Espo and Ryan squeeze the driver and he admits that Lance paid him to take him to a seedy hotel and not to tell anyone.  They go down there and find a bunch of weird stuff Lance left behind like blue craft paint and number stickers. They also figure out that Lance made two phone calls---one to his old partner's son Trey and the other to a former CNI agent who is now with Interpol.  (I think his name was Gomez?)  Anyway, MaybeGomez tells Caskett that Lance wasn't really CNI, that only MaybeGomez was and Lance just said that backstory to make himself look more interesting because Lance was really just a goatherder.  Castle is devastated by this information and his little pouting session by the door made me laugh. Hard.  "Why, is she a goatherder too?" Haha. Oh man, Nathan Fillion kills it with stuff like this.

The computer tech, Tori, traces the ear of a suspect and it's revealed that the ear belongs to Lance's soon to be ex-wife, Kat Kingsley.  They drag her off the set for questioning and Castle is in the room behind the mirror watching Kat pace the room in her costume.  Holding his poster of her. Haha.  He asks the boys if they think she'll sign it for him and they're all, when, before she goes to jail?  The ex-wife admits that Lance asked her to meet him, and said that if she gave him $200,000 he'd sign over his half of the eight million dollar house they were fighting over and she takes the deal. He called her for help later, begging her to meet him at the theater, but when she got to the alley, Lance was already dead. Beckett is skeptical, but the story checks out.

With a little more information, the team tracks Lance's movements and get some security footage of him being confronted by four guys in an alley that he takes out on his own.  It looked fake to me and I thought it was part of the movie set or something, but no, it was supposed to be real and make Lance look awesome.  Whatever. I can suspend disbelief on that point.  They track everything to a former co-star (who played El Jefe in Hard Kill) at a club (and he's now a real-life drug dealer that narcotics can't pin anything on, but not for lack of trying).

When Caskett go to visit him, Beckett notices a toy car that matches the numbers and paint the boys found in Lance's seedy hotel room. They then realize that Lance had bugged this office with the car and Beckett wants to go for a warrant.  Castle, however, is invited to go out for drinks by Lance's co-star Brock and he fangirls all over and goes with them.  Only they're not really going for drinks. Lance's "gang" from the movie Hard Kill is going to avenge one of their own and get that blue car in El Jefe's office.  Castle is pointing to the ring on his ring finger and says, "Guys, my wife is a cop and she will kill me."  Which the gang leader promptly makes fun of him for saying, but I melted a little. I love that he can say my wife. Awwww.

That "mission" was probably one of the funniest things I've seen on the show.  Castle is wearing a bandana on his head and they're doing a Mission Impossible sort of thing. So. Funny.  They nearly get caught, but Castle and the gang leader hide under the desk until the fire alarm is pulled.  They beat it out of there and the next scene is of Castle telling Beckett that a concerned citizen just handed him the car.  She's all, yeah, riiiiiight, but they take it over to tech to listen to it.  Beckett has earphones on so Castle doesn't get to hear as his punishment.  From the information they glean on it, they call Trey in (Brock's son who is also a night club promoter working with El Jefe.)  He claims he didn't kill Lance, but that Lance was trying to save him and pay $200,000 to get him out from under the drug dealer's thumb.  The drug dealer didn't go for the deal and in the end ordered Trey to take care of Lance, but Trey couldn't do it. He did call his mom and talk to her about it though.  He also mentions that Lance said he wanted to tell him something when it was all over.  Dun, dun, dun.

It all starts coming together when the gang realizes that Trey was nearly a perfect match to Lance when they were looking for bone marrow donors to help him beat leukemia.  Because Trey is really Lance's son.  The mom didn't want that little tidbit coming out because it would ruin her "family" (since she cheated on her husband with Lance) so she killed him.  Sad, really.

 With the case solved, Beckett goes back to her apartment to say goodbye.  There was a sweet scene with her and Lainey about how much Beckett had grown and accomplished in that apartment---falling in love, solving her mother's murder, etc.  Beckett carves her initial in a wall maybe? (which I thought was a bit weird but whatever) and then without saying a word, looks back and says her own silent goodbye. That scene had quite an impact, actually.

Loved the fun goofiness of this episode (Ryan trying to coin a catchphrase for himself like "it's Ryan time."  "You've got Ryan trouble." The look on Espo's face with each attempt was funny.) But Castle's fangurling was hilarious and Beckett's longsuffering was so THEM, you know?  I loved it.

Did you watch? What did you think?

My Top Picks for the Best Books of 2014

Since we are all going to be shopping for ourselves or other book lovers on our Christmas list, I thought I'd tell you what my top picks were for the books that I read this year.

**Disclaimer** There are so many great books out there, I couldn't possibly have read them all.  This list reflects the books that I personally read this year and loved and would definitely recommend to any book lover!

My Top Historical Fiction Picks

Glimmer of Hope by Sarah Eden (see my review here)

Hope Springs by Sarah Eden (see my review here)

Safe Passage by Carla Kelly (see my review here)

As You Are by Sarah Eden (see my review here)

Saving Grace by Michele Paige Holmes (see my review here)

Becoming Lady Lockwood by Jennifer Moore (see my review here You have to scroll all the way down!)

Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice by Heidi Ashworth (see my review here)

Old West Collection (Timeless Romance Anthology) by various authors (see my review here)

Loving Lucianna by Joyce DiPastena (see my review here)

My Top Mystery/Suspense Picks

Tomorrow We Spy by Jordan McCollum (Will review it this month. So good!)

Relative Evil by Debra Erfert (see my review here) (Currently on sale for 99 cents!)

Trouble at Red Pueblo by Liz Adair (see my review here)

Fortune Cookie by Josi Kilpack (see my review here)

Heart and Soul by Lee Strauss (see my review here)

My Top Non-Fiction Picks

Focused by Noelle Pikus-Pace (see my review here)

Bad Guys of the Bible by Dennis Gaunt (will be reviewed next week. So good!)

A Christ-Centered Christmas by Emily Freeman (see my review here)

How Do I Know if I Know? by John Bytheway (see my review here)

My Top Children/Middle Grade Picks

Fairy Tale Christmas by Michael and Scott McLean (see my review here)

The Janitors series by Tyler Whitesides (see one of my reviews here)

My Top Contemporary Picks

Thirty Going On Spinster by Becky Monson (see my review here)

Fortune Cafe by Julie Wright, Heather Moore, and Melanie Jacobson (see my review here)

Summer in New York (Timeless Romance Anthology) by various authors (see my review here)

The Change by Teyla Branton (This one is romantic urban fantasy so it really should be in its own category, but I put it in Contemporary. Bear with me.)  (see my review here)


So there you have it. Would you add any books to this list? What were your favorites this year?