This week on Top Ten Tuesday, we are talking about characters. Technically the topic is about those characters that a) you alone dislike or b) you alone love. But I kinda did that already (last year), so I decided to talk instead about those secondary or minor characters that I love almost as much, if not more in some cases, as I do the main character. That’s sorta similar to the theme for this week… Right?
I think, based on my title graphic for this week, that it should be fairly obvious who my first pick will be. 😉
But, just in case …
(Image Credit: Hogwarts Alumni)
Why I Love This Character: Neville is one of those characters in the Harry Potter series that is just purely good; he is incorruptible. And along with that – he isn’t afraid to do what’s right because it’s right. Even if he has to make his friends mad at him in the process. He is true of heart and is the classic example of how – sometimes – nice guys save the day. You see it even more in the books than the movies, though the movies are great for THE FEELS during the Battle for Hogwarts. Lest you think that Neville is a wimp… may I remind you that Neville DOES have a fuse, a temper. He just directs it at the right people and the right causes. Next to Hermione, Neville is my favorite character in the Harry Potter series. By far.
Why I Love These Characters: Anna and Felty are … to sum up … a hoot. I realize that technically they aren’t secondary characters as this series by Jennifer Beckstrand is sorta named for them. They ARE The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill, after all. But, there are other main characters who are the focus of each book, so I decided that meant I could safely inclue Anna and Felty in my list today 🙂 These “young at heart octogenarians” are adorable and sweet and HILARIOUS! And I’m pretty sure that, if only the couple below were Amish, they would look something like this:
Why I Love This Character: Frankie first steals the show in Shelley Shepard Gray’s A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn. He definitely gave Serena a run for her money – quite literally at one point! Given my penchant for adorable pups with big personalities (I’m looking at you, Zuzu-mine), I of course loved Frankie as soon as we “met”. His love for food – even when it didn’t love him – brought much opportunity for laughter, and I still smile when something reminds me of one of his scenes. 🙂
[bctt tweet=”Which @shelleysgray character made this week’s #TopTenTuesday list?”]
Why I Love This Character: Lily Cate is the adorable and precocious little girl in Laura Frantz’s The Mistress of Tall Acre. She (and her father) totally won my heart! Oh, I just adore her! A little bit sweet, a little bit sassy, a whole lot of cute. The way she champions Sophie won me immediately, and her slow warm to her father melted me in every possible way. Near the end when she and Sophie share a secret, oh my goodness – the adorableness!
Why I Love These Characters: Well, first, I have to clarify that the couple on the cover is NOT in fact Eddie and Gladys. Eddie and Gladys are actually two elderly ladies from Susan Mallery’s FOOLS GOLD series, and boy are they a handful! Which basically means that I shake my head and laugh at their antics pretty much any time they’re in a scene. And when they’re not causing havoc on public access television or among the town’s single men, they do have some pretty wise things to say on occasion. The picture below is also not of Eddie & Gladys… but it just needed to be shared.
(Image credit: Pinterest)
Why I Love This Character: Elizabeth is basically the town’s grandmother, and she is consistently my favorite character of any book in the series. She just always has the best lines, the greatest retorts, and the sweetest hugs. Plus, she reminds me so very much of my own beloved grandmother – spunky, feisty, independent… but someone who had an incredibly tender heart toward Jesus and others.
Why I Love This Character: Charley is an enigmatic but philanthropic character in Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor. He has a fish taco food truck and dispenses uncanny insight with his wares. I think Charley is more than he seems, even more than Irene Hannon let on, and I would so love to follow him around for a day or so and see if I’m right.
Why I Love This Character: Big John is one of the Regulators, a band of friends who met at the notorious Andersonville prison during the Civil War and helped each other survive. He’s always in and out of everybody else’s story (pictured above) but the series ended with no love story for Big John. Which really was a shame because I think of him as a teddy bear (he would probably cringe at that description) with a gun. A great guy with a heart of gold and a sense of justice. Plus, he’s a Texas Ranger so he’s got the whole law enforcement thing going on. You can imagine how delighted I was (read: I totally fangirl squealed) when I discovered that HE FINALLY GETS HIS OWN STORY in Mary Connealy’s novella Runaway Bride (written as part of the With This Ring collection). The fact that he falls in love with a Carrie was really just icing on the cake 🙂
Why I Love This Character: Simply put, she steals every scene she’s in! And with Ty Porter in the book, that’s a tough accomplishment. This pint-sized teal-glasses-and-pink-cowboy-boots-wearing adorableness has some of the best lines, too. And her scenes with Ty are hysterical! From teaching him about princesses to encouraging him after he told her a bedtime story for the first time (“It was good for your first try.”), she is all kinds of cute and all kinds of irresistible. Becky Wade’s Meant to Be Mine is not to be missed for many reasons, not the least of which is Addie.
Why I Love These Characters: Yes, yes. I’m aware that I just named a book instead of characters. But that’s because there are several secondary/minor characters that I love in Margaret Brownley’s Undercover Bride. Maggie’s partner Rikker gave me most of my laughs – each new getup/disguise (and Maggie’s reaction to them) amused me more than the ones he’d previously used. Sharp-tongued hypochondriac Aunt Hetty and inventor-in-the-making Toby (who confidently had an answer for everything) also proved to be delightfully humorous.
Which characters did you talk about this week? Do we share any faves from my list? Let me know in the comments!
Neville Longbottom … good choice. And choosing a beagle almost isn’t fair. Everyone loves animals in stories!
Haha! Yes, but Frankie is unique 🙂
AAAAAH! Neville Longbotton gets nowhere NEAR the credit he deserves for being such an awesome character! I haven’t heard of the others, but they sound quite good
Have a lovely day.
Totally agree with you about Neville!
We put the same spin on the topic. 🙂 I put Fred & George Weasley, but Neville is an excellent choice as well! I love his story arc!
Love Fred & George too – they are so fun!
Oh, am I smiling! Love your take on Lily Cate! And it’s a joy to get a look at other books here that won you over. This peek into your reading head & heart is a gift, Carrie! You inspire me to write that Miss Lily Cate comes of age story:)
OH please do!!! I will be the first in line to buy Lily Cate’s story 🙂
Hey Carrie! I loved meeting Charley in Hope Harbor! We ALL need a Charley in our lives. Thanks for the fun post! 🙂
we so do!
Eddie and Gladys are hilarious! I love them! 🙂
Hey, BTW, love the new look! It’s really cool!
thank you! New URL too 🙂
I had such a hard time with today’s topic too. But I sure do LOVE Neville Longbottom.
he’s the best!
This is great, I had the same idea this week 🙂 I agree about Neville, he is an amazing character, though my TTT includes my other favourites from Harry Potter: Fred and George 🙂
My TTT: http://www.lindseyh.be/2016/03/08/top-ten-tuesday-ten-side-characters-i-love/
I adore those two as well! 🙂
I’ve only read Harry Potter from this list, but I totally agree with Neville’s inclusion on this list! He is just an amazing character, one that I wish had gotten a little more love and attention!
I love the new blog design! It’s super pretty 🙂
My TTT.
Thank you Allyson 🙂
Lily Cate and Big John!!!! 🙂 I was glad when John got his own story, too…. and I loved the sweet (if a little short) romance he was a part of.
Congratulations on the new site!!! It looks fabulous.
I love your take on this week’s theme. There are so many great minor characters out there that don’t get enough notice!
I went in a totally different direction this week too 🙂
My TTT: http://greenishbookshelf.com/2016/03/08/top-10-tuesday-literary-locations-i-love/
thanks, Jane!
I love Neville! He is such a great character, and I love the way he grew throughout the series. Fun list this week. I skipped TTT, just because I couldn’t think of anything for the topic. 🙂
It stumped me for a while too!
Oh Neville is a great choice! And picking a beagle is AWESOME! Harry Potter is the only book on your list I have read though!
🙂
I think Neville is a great character and it’s great to see him on your list.
Lynn 😀
Thanks!
I absolutely agree with you on Neville, he was so good! Much like Luna, even though a lot of bad things happened to him, he remained a good and kind person. Nice list!
thanks! 🙂
100% with you on Neville!
Neville is just the best. As the kid always picked last for teams in gym class, I had a soft spot for him the entire time
Oh me too! For that same reason 🙂
Meh, Neville drove me bonkers. Such a goody-two-shoes, and I couldn’t stand how he was positioned as Harry’s “messiah” foil. As if he could take on the Dark Lord!
I’ll take bad boys with some actual personality and edge any day. Draco Malfoy FTW! 🙂
LOL!
I don’t know most of these, but I did like Neville. Nice variation on the TTT.
thanks!
I totally agree with Neville. Thank for stopping by our blog.
I’ve only read one of these books, but I have to agree. Neville is pretty heroic. 🙂
Such a fun take on this week’s topic!! I totally agree about Neville! He’s such a great character!
Here are my Top Ten!
thanks, Tracy!
I almost did something about side characters as my topic! So I approve lol. I feel like side characters often steal the show for me and end up being my favorites. It’s kind of strange when you think about it lol. By the way, Neville is great, but my favorite is Lupin 😛
ahhhhh yes! Lupin!! I love him too 🙂
I love your take on this week’s topic. It totally counts! And it works perfectly. I have only read Harry Potter, but I agree. Neville is awesome! I was a little sad about how much was cut out of the movies for him, but they did add some of Dobby’s stuff in which helps. He is so pure and wonderful and a great back up for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Great post!
Thanks!
Neville!!! Great choice. Everyone always leaves him out I feel like. Lovely list Carrie! 🙂
Thanks!! 🙂
Neville is a great choice!
I love the young characters you picked, as well.:)
Thanks!
I think your taste in books are totally not mine but lovely post! <3 Great point about Neville. I think he had plenty of character development in the series but kinda wanted if there was more of it actually. <3 Thank you for leaving a comment in mine and making me see yours. <3
I already love your topic! I find secondary characters really important when reading. And I love Neville. I think it’s safe to say that he adds so much to the story, from the beginning on. He goes from a clumsy boy to a brave hero, which is a journey we can all appreciate. Great list!
Thanks, Jolien!
Yes. Poor neglected secondary characters! Thanks for sharing your favorites.
I think one of the things I loved so much about Harry Potter is how well developed all the secondary characters were! There are quite a few that I loved just as much as Ron, Harry and Hermione.
you are right! So many great secondary – even some tertiary – characters in the HP series!
I have only read the Harry Potter books from your list – I have to agree that Neville is a great character 🙂
thanks, Jessica!
Carrie, I can’t believe I just saw this. You are so kind! Anna and Felty are so much fun to write. I love creating new adventures in cooking and knitting for Anna. In my new Huckleberry Hill book, Return to Huckleberry Hill, out in 2017, Anna’s finally finds a grandson who genuinely likes her cooking. He’s obviously not a very picky eater. Thanks for always making me smile.
Jennifer, this is the best news I’ve heard all week!! 😀 Cannot wait to return to Anna & Felty and their clan 🙂
I ❤️ (Red puffy heart) love Anna and Felty. Their unique perspective on life and happiness brings a smile to my heart every time I read their stories. Fortunately for me, I’ve not read all the books you listed so now I can look forward to some new reading material! I highly encourage you to read Marta Perry, Dee Hammond and Teri Blackstock. Based on the characters and story lines you mentioned, I think you’ll find new delight in those authors.
I adore Terri Blackstock! I will check out these others 🙂
Of these characters, I’m only familiar with Neville, but I agree wholeheartedly – he’s one of the best from the series. 🙂
Check out my TTT.