Some Favorites From Season 8/ Book Review

  

    Hello Hearties! I am finally back after a nice three week blogging break. It was great to be able to take a breather, and work on some projects of mine. And one of those said projects just happens to be the brand new banner and design of my blog! Ta-da! A bunch of you already responded about this on Twitter and I want to thank you not only for your kind words about the design but your warm welcomes back. You guys are such a blessing! :)

    I will be keeping to my new system of just one blog post a week. It's more manageable for me, and leaves me with time to work on my own story. ;)

    So, as for my first blog post since being back I thought I'd start with a look back at some of my favorite things from Season 8. Now I will fully admit that I don't consider Season 8 as my all time favorite season. There was just something... magical about Alfonso's storytelling during seasons 6-7. I think John Tinker tried to cram way too many storylines into each episode and didn't give enough time to properly flesh each character's story out. However I loved the grit and drama he added to the show, as well as the refreshing honesty in the characters dialogue. He also put faith back into Hope Valley which was sorely lacking for the longest time. AND... He put Lucas and Elizabeth together!!!😄

    All in all it was a mixture for me, but in the end I definitely enjoyed watching Season 8. So here is a list of some of my favorite things from the season!

 

 

 

Favorite Episode 

A Parade and a Charade: Written by John Tinker/ Directed by Peter DeLuise

    This definitely was one of my all time favorite episodes of the entire season. I remember finishing it Sunday night and just knowing it was my favorite episode I had seen so far. It was such a wonderful mixture of romantic moments and heart-felt ones. It gave us the fun and romantic young love of Christopher and Rachel, the heart-tugging moments between Henry and Christopher, and that incredibly romantic (And steamy) office scene between Elizabeth and Lucas.

    All together it was just a wonderful episode that I enjoyed a lot.

Favorite Storyline

Henry & Christopher

    Now obviously I could have gone the very obvious route and flat out say "LUCAS AND ELIZABETH!!!" Lol! Their storyline was the one I most looked forward to every single episode. (And was very disappointed if I didn't get enough of them. Lol!) But I'm trying to pick some of my favorites that aren't the... cliche answer for a Team Lucas fan to say. (If you get what I mean. :)

    There was another storyline that absolutely stole my heart, and tugged on all my little heartstrings. And that would be the newly added storyline of Henry and his estranged son Christopher. 

    (Sighs...) Guys... Oh my heart! I positively loved watching their plot unfold. It was full of emotion, tension, and moments that just make you want to cry. It was such a joy to watch them go from being very cold and tense with each other, to Christopher actually coming to admire and respect his father. Before we knew it he was striving to be more like Henry and working to help him and make him proud. 

   And Henry... oh sweet Henry. He found a new purpose in life. He so wants to right his very messy past and fix the things he broke. And that includes his relationship with his son.

    And by the end of this season... we got one of the most heart-tugging, and beautiful scenes as Christopher told his father that he loves him. And Henry in his own sweet way said the same back to his son. (A moment I will talk more about later.)

    Whoever came up with this plotline needs to be awarded a gold star. It was beautiful.

Favorite Lucabeth Scene

Lucas Asleep in the Library

    I decided instead of just picking one scene in particular for the whole season, I'd split this category into two. A favorite LucaBeth scene and then a favorite scene in general. Now honestly it was hard picking just one scene for these two, as I definitely have more than one favorite. Lol! There's the "almost kiss" in the rain scene, the steamy office scene, and of course that bridge scene where they FINALLY shared their first kiss in the finale. Honestly I was debating whether to put the bridge scene or the rain scene here, as they are certainly two of my all time favorites. But I decided to pick a less... obvious scene that I enjoyed. You know. To make things interesting.😁 And that scene would be when Elizabeth found Lucas asleep at the library.

    Maybe it's just me but there is something very attractive about seeing poor Lucas all disheveled and asleep over a book. :D I loved that. Yeah, honestly... that was my favorite part of this scene, and really why I like it so much. Lol! He was just so sad and pitiful, and who doesn't love seeing the leading man's hair all flopped over and not perfectly in place. :)

    But anyway... this scene also showed us just how in love Lucas is with Elizabeth as well as what a sweetheart and a gentleman he really is. There was so much tension between them in that scene. Honestly that was probably the worst disagreement they ever had. And yet... and yet through it all we not only saw just how much Lucas understands Elizabeth (His "food for the soul" comment) but he still was the perfect gentleman. He opened the door for her when he saw her laden down with all those books. AND to top it off he held her bag open for her so she could place the books inside. Talk about a sweet and romantic gesture. Even when they're at odds, they can't help the connection between them. Even when there's currently tension between them, Lucas is still showing Elizabeth that he loves her.

Favorite Scene 

"I love you, Dad."

    One of the most touching, most heart-pulling moments this season came when Henry was seeing his son off on his trip to go see Rachel. Not only was Henry's forgiveness of his son spying on him so very sweet, but... (Sighs contently) We saw one of the most emotional and loving sides of Henry Gowen.

    You already know what a huge fan I am of their storyline. I love the actor they got to play Christopher as he just worked so, so well for the role. I love the emotional drama and angst between them. But more than anything... I absolutely loved the progressive change I saw in both of them as they came to get to know each other.

    This scene was so emotional for me personally as I watched Christopher's glossy eyes after Henry told him it didn't matter why he came to Hope Valley. Henry was just glad his son was there. Christopher then pulls him in for a hug, and says... "I love you, Dad." Oh. My. Goodness. That just hits me right in the heart. Just the fact that he not only called Henry "Dad" but he also told him he loves him. Christopher changed so much thanks to finding not only his estranged father but also a sweet woman who he fell in love with. He went from probably hating Henry, to wanting to be like him, to calling him his father.

    And Henry emotionally responded with, "Me too." In his own way he told his son just how much he loves him. It was just so touching and sweet.

Favorite Gift

Faith's Doctor Bag

    Throughout this season some sweet and thoughtful gifts were exchanged between loved ones, and friends. We had Ned give Florence her engagement ring. We had Rosemary create a special space for Lee to woodwork. We even had Elizabeth and Lucas give each other their hearts! (Aww!) But there was one gift in particular that really just made my heart swoon. And that would be Carson's incredibly thoughtful gift to Faith of her very own doctor's bag.

    Now I know these two had a very... interesting season. Honestly, I have no earthly idea what happened to Team Infirmary. Their whole storyline was so messed up and I don't even know if they're a couple anymore or if Carson is even coming back. However the gift he gave Faith was so, so sweet and meaningful.

    It honestly was one of the best gifts I've seen someone give in the past three seasons. Not all of the gifts I've seen given on this show made me swoon like this one did. I really had no idea what was in that big box Carson handed to Faith, but when I saw it was a doctor's bag... with her name on it! I just had to "aww" in that moment. It was the perfect gift. They'd had trouble before working side by side as doctors instead of "doctor and nurse." Faith didn't feel that Carson respected her as a doctor and had already struggled at college being one of the only girls studying to become one. 

    So what did Carson do? He gave her a gift that showed her just how much he cared. It was sweet, it was thoughtful, it was romantic, (Okay then it was romantic. Now it's more of a painful reminder.) and hey it's even practical! All in all I found it to be a very sweet gift. (Even if the relationship took a MAJOR nosedive.)

Favorite Lines

    As always we got some great dialogue this season. There were lines that made me "Aww!" There were lines that hit me right in the heart. And there were lines that made me outright laugh. Honestly I have a couple favorite lines that really stuck out to me as sweet or hilarious. It didn't feel right to just pick one line from the entire season, and so I decided to break it up into three categories. Comedic, Heartfelt, and Romantic.

Comedic: "I'd go home and bathe first..."

    (Holds hand over a laugh...) Oh, Nathan... Oh, sweet little Nathan. Lol! Now there were a bunch of lines that made me laugh this season, but this one just really stuck out. :D

    This is back when Nathan still had that fire lit under his rump. He was just chock full of confidence, and continued to ask Elizabeth out again and again. That Mountie wouldn't take no for an answer. Even after getting knocked off his horse, kicked in the stomach, and left to walk for who knows how long on foot, he is still not deterred. And so he walks up to Elizabeth, dirty and a little disheveled and asks the lady out. Elizabeth looks at him with concern, knowing he's been in some kind of trouble, and what is Nathan's response?

    "I'd go home and bathe first."

    😂😂😂 It was the "bathe" part that got me. Nathan, sweetheart... you don't have to tell her that you're going to take a bath. Lol! Just a bit too much info there, honey. He could have said, "I'd go home and get cleaned up first," or "I'd go home and change first," but no. He said he would go home and "bathe."

    And it just makes me laugh. :D

Heartfelt: "He called me Dad"

    Okay... Excuse me while I go cry. Oh, sweet Henry! 

    Now I know I've been gushing about him and his son throughout this whole post. I guess... This one just really pulled on my heart in ways other storylines failed to.

    I loved how Henry told Carson the story of what happened when he had his episode in his office. I could picture it all playing out, even the way Christopher would have called him "Dad" had we actually seen it.

    Henry has had probably the roughest life out of any of the WCTH characters. Which is why hearing his own son call him Dad in a moment of fear was so much more meaningful. He learned that his son cares for him, and it meant the world to him. And for me it was just such a heart-melting moment.

Romantic: "Because I have developed an interest in all things Ned."

 

    Okay, I may get a lot of flack for this, but... I just don't remember a whole lot of romantic lines that really made me gush or swoon. I mean yes, there were absolutely a bunch of romantic lines, but there just weren't many that really stuck out to me personally. I believe Season 7 may have done better with the romantic lines, while this season had some great romantic moments. I don't know... Maybe I just don't remember well enough. (Me thinks a Season 8 re-watch is in order...)

    However... I think every Heartie will agree that one of the best romantic lines this season was Florence's sweet and adoring declaration to Ned. It was just so hilariously bold and honest, while being sweet, romantic, and sincere. Florence and Ned are so precious and perfect together, and again a gold star is in order for whoever came up with that line.

 

    And that brings me to the end of the list! Season 8 was really exactly how it was described... A roller coaster. It had it's ups and downs. Highs and lows. But throughout it all we got some beautiful, touching, romantic, and hilarious stuff. I'm so excited to find out what's next for these characters! Actually, I'm really just excited that we're getting another season! Will we get a Christmas Special? Will we get another 12 episode season? What's going to happen next? I'm excited to see what the writers have in store for us!

 

 

 My First Book Review

 

    Awhile back I reached out to my all time favorite author, Misty M. Beller and offered to review one of her books on my blog. I was delighted she responded and allowed me to read and review her newest book, Faith in the Mountain Valley.

    Misty is an incredible author. She is a master of words, and allows her readers to experience life along side her characters in the rugged and perilous wilderness. She writes Historical Christian Romance set in the 1800s. Always her stories are a mixture of adventure, danger, and swoon-worthy romance. She also instills a wonderful message of faith into her stories, showing her characters trusting in God to get them through life's challenges.

    Her latest book takes place in Future Idaho Territory, in 1831 and is about two childhood lovers, Jean-Jacques Baptiste (Better known as French) and Colette Mignon, who were separated as teenagers. French has spent years looking for his one true love, and has finally found her... masquerading as a man among a tribe of Indian men. Working to keep her secrets hidden Colette has resorted to working as a trapper along side her Blackfoot Indian companions. Of course the last thing she expected was for her long lost love to find her.

    The story is filled with mystery, secrets, romance, and danger. French's love for Colette is so beautiful as he determinedly stays by the woman he loves side, despite all obstacles. And Colette's story is filled with intrigue and mystery, as well as her wonderful faith and trust in her Heavenly Father to lead and protect her.

    One of the things I absolutely love about Misty is her ability to write amazing romantic stories and this one is filled with romance from beginning to end.

 

    If you'd like a copy yourself, click the link here to check it out! It's now available on Kindle and in paperback. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P2JJ6BF/ref=x_gr_w_bb_glide_sin?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb_glide_sin-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B08P2JJ6BF&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2  

 

    Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to comment your favorites from Season 8 below or on my Twitter page! I love to hear from you! Have a wonderful day and God Bless! 

    P.S. My shop got a little sprucing up too! I'll probably do more eventually, but it's a start. Feel free to take a look! https://shop.spreadshirt.com/heart-and-family-mercantile