Amy's Corner of the World

Mesmerizing Stranger: Better Late Than Never TBR Review

2012-01-22T18:09:00.000-05:00

I got a little off-track with finishing up January's TBR Challenge book and meant to have this up on Friday, two days late. Instead, it's Sunday, a lazy one at that, and I'm just now getting around to it. If I wasn't a champion at procrastination, I don't know what I'd be.

Mesmerizing Stranger, Jennifer Greene
New Man in Town series, book 2

Harm Connolly wants to leave his bad history with women on terra firma. Two weeks of business on a cruise would help accomplish that. First complication: the sexiest woman he's ever met is on board the vessel. Second complicaiton: a dead body -- one of his associates.

Adventure chef Cate Campbell knows his type -- arrogant corporate hotshot, taking his guys out for some R & R. No problem. She'll have Harm eating out of her hand in seconds flat. No problem ...until a killer on the loose forces her to find safety and comfort in his arms. Will mayhem at sea throw any chance of romance overboard?

I'm not quite sure how I wound up picking this book, or even adding it to my TBR. I'm not usually a follower of the formerly titled Silhouette Romantic Suspense (couched now as Harlequin RS) line, but I'm sure the back blurb's description of the heroine (adventure chef) had something to do with it. I love anything to do with cooking, am a devout subscriber to Food Network and its magazine, and think Tyler Florence is a hottie, so there you go.

I don't have any huge plot dislikes when it comes to my reading, although I typically stay away from secret baby books. Not sure why, I've never read any that I hated, but I've also not read any that I lurved. I'm taking a quickie route with this review and, since I've included the back blurb that apparently piqued my interest, I won't even try a plot summary. The back cover describes the plot succinctly, but I try and provide some filler.

Mesmerizing Stranger is a neatly written romance, tied up with a pretty little bow. Almost too neatly. Maybe it was the length of the book, but I sometimes have a hard time buying into a HEA within just over 200 pages. Sometimes it just never seems enough time for the hero and heroine to work out all the kinks in a new relationship. I'm not sure that's the fault of the author, since I did like Harm and Cate - I just think it's one of my many quirks; I like to see fictional folks experience a little more angst and emotional uncertainty. Harm was almost too froggy to fall head over heels in love with Cate, and she's a bit gun-shy. Given that she and her sisters (the other two heroines with their own stories in the series, Secretive Stranger and Irresistible Stranger) had grown up in foster homes after their parent died in a fire, I can see why Cate carried her own Samsonite baggage.

The suspense in Mesmerizing Stranger is a bit lukewarm, but enough to have carried me through the end of the book. There's a very small cast of secondary characters who could all fit the bill for the bad guy, mainly all employees in Harm's newly-inherited pharmaceutical/research company. The cruise described above is not a pleasure cruise, per se, but a desperate attempt for Harm to reconnect with his employees. Maybe they can put their heads together and figure out who has stolen and cashed in on the cure for pancreatic cancer Harm's uncle had been so close to before he'd died. And on a ship, there's not many places the guilty party can hide.

As a whole, if I were going to rate the book, I'd say it's somewhere within B- territory. What really kept me turning the pages was the sense of dark coziness on an Alaskan small vessel cruise and Cate's love for her work (I'm a culinary suck-up!). Those both stood out for me almost more than the story and romance. It's enough for me to look up the other two books in the series which I think in itself is an accomplishment for many authors. If one book whet your appetite for others written by her, then that's success in and of itself.

2011/2012, The Final Countdown

2012-01-02T15:46:00.000-05:00

The holidays are finally over -- hallelujah! A new year has begun -- hell to the yeah!

What would usually be my most favorite time of the year wound up being....well, rough. Oh, I spent some much needed, and very cherished, time with John's family and my newly-realized chosen family of close friends here in SC, but what I thought would be an easier holiday to go through alone, given that John nearly abhorred Christmas, was an emotional wreck for me. Everything made me cry. His birthday, December 19th, was the absolute worst day for me in a while. I began the day shopping for an adopted family we'd chosen at work who desperately needed help with Christmas gifts, and that part was good; I felt like I was doing something good. From there it went down hill with the amount of time I spent crying, the torrential headache that resulted from aforementioned crying, and the realization that while I see almost daily that he's still watching over me and remains in my life in a very strong way, John's not coming back.

Amy, meet the big pill you need to swallow. Big pill, Amy.

So when I went into work this past weekend, it was with baited breath and a mental countdown of the final hours of the Worst Year That Has Ever Happened To Me, when a new leaf could be turned. I didn't even pack my lunch to take to work. I had enough baggage already. And when 12:01 a.m. struck, I saluted 2011 very properly (given that I couldn't take a swig of some hard liquor): I flipped it off and finally got to tell '11 to kiss my ass. If I'd been savvy enough, I would've taken my very worn cassette tape of Europe's '80s epic hit, The Final Countdown, in with me and blasted it from whatever player I could find in the hospital. I'm sure there is a more apropos song that I could've come up with, but trust me, Europe's epic hit (hey, it was epic to me way back when) was racing through my head. I love mental soundtracks.

So, yeah, 2011...it's over. I've always tried to look to each new year on a positive note, but this one was different. It was like at least 8 pounds being lifted off of my shoulders. There's still about 92 left sitting there, but progress! Even while I was waiting for 2012 to arrive, it was glaringly obvious to me that '11 was the final year that I'd known my husband, the last one we spent together even if it was only for half of it. There's always two sides to every coin, and this one I'm going to have to continue fiddling with. Everyone's got issues, this is mine.

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On a brighter note, I've been reading. Alot. I've not thinned out the TBR in great strides, but I've made some dents that I just haven't talked about. I even read a handful of Christmas-themed historical romances and apologize to the library patron that was in line for delaying her hold on Victoria Alexander's His Mistress By Christmas. I turned it in a day late and that was after having it over the two-week lending time because I'd gotten ahold of it just two weeks before Christmas, and with the library being closed for the holiday weekend, I had a couple freebie days tacked on due to their closure (I love long, complex sentences too). Trust me, the library loves me some days.

Now that I've gotten all that off of my chest, I'm going back to the Gator Bowl and some couch-time before I hit Wal-Mart to get my requisite collard greens and black-eyed peas. Even if Ohio State has their collective asses handed to them by the damned Gators, it's gonna be a good day, Tater.

Micah's A Fashionista!

2011-11-08T11:55:00.000-05:00

I've taken to dressing my dog up and channeling her stylish maven. So far, she's eating it up and, honest-to-God, prissies and preens whenever I put a sweater or outfit on her. Many people have asked me how John would feel about that, and it's my utter and true belief that he'd hate it. But I'm sure he's getting a chuckle out of it from wherever he's watching over us from. Or rolling his eyes...

Doing the catwalk...

Ze bling. She likes...

Was trying to go for a profile here, but she turned her back on me.

Life Is Going On

2011-10-06T14:17:00.000-04:00

I'm not going to get all morose and glum today. That's the mantra I keep saying to myself just about every day - or at least some approximate variation of that statement. These days I'm focusing on forming a shortish list of things I want to do or that I'd like to try. Tennis lessons is topping that list lately. I had another session with the therapist yesterday and found out she's a supporter of the sport, as well as a player. She once again mentioned a name that's big here in town for adult begginner lessons, so that may be my objective this fall. Oh, I definitely won't be the next Sam Stosur or even Melanie Oudin, but I'd like to do more than get into the televised matches from the safety of my own couch. Hell, I don't know what I'm thinking -- 39 years old (not ancient, I know - but definitely not at an age where the WTA is going to discover its next star) and having thoughts of tennis lessons. Gah! It's like the perfect conglomeration of the Real Housewives Meets....well, Kathy Bates, except without the extra moulah to buy me the latest fashion in tennis gear.

But that's where my thoughts are these days.

I've also spent a bit of time catching up on some flicks I've borrowed from the library. Just last night I finally watched The King's Speech and was just amazed at the awesomeness of that movie. I've never been a huge Colin Firth fan, but I could easily become one. And I've always had love in my heart for Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter. I love studying and reading about the various British monarchies, so I'm surprised it took me this long to see the film. Definitely a must-see if you're an Anglophile. I also borrowed Elizabeth I, starring Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons. While I could've done without some of the gorier moments (yeah, the Tudors were sort of known for their apparent blood thirst, but it was a sign of the times, I guess), I thought it was a very well-done movie and Mirren plays a very convincing older Elizabeth I.

Let's see, what else can I add to complete the cycle of boredom of the post? Oh yeah, I'm reading more these days, which has been a very welcome enjoyment these days. While I'm not exactly plowing through stacks of books, I'm making a decent dent in my TBR and wishlists via the library. I do love the electronic library, Overdrive, so it's been a big ease on my wallet to get some of the newest hardbacks for my Nook from that service. Prey by Linda Howard and The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood are two that I just finished recently, and I'll have to put TIM at the top of that two book list as the better one. I know many Garwood fans are not so endeared with her suspense voice, but I don't mind it so much. The Ideal Man was probably one of her better ones, imo. I liked Prey, but wasn't over the moon about it. It's termed as a romantic suspense I guess, but I felt that there was a lot more of the "I hate you, but I want you" and "We're running for our lives, so let's have sex!" in there than necessary. Although, I've got to give Howard credit -- she can write a helluva bear-bent-on-carnage scene.

So there's a look into what I'm doing these days, and how I'm doing it. I've become a pretty popular person, I guess, and have had a mess of visitors, not least of which was my sister and her boyfriend. We had a great week and it was good to be able to spend an entire 6 days with her, with nothing to do but decide what store we were hitting first. I'm looking forward to future visits with her since we'd kinda gotten off track with all the upheaval in her life (a divorce).

Hell, I think my vacuum cleaner is calling me. It drives me crazy if I don't sweep once a week, or more, nowadays. I know John's 'up there' rolling his eyes...

Where Amy Veers A Little Off the Norm...

2011-09-02T21:59:00.000-04:00

I've been talking to a counselor for the past two weeks. There, I said it -- I'm seeking "professional help". I've always been a believer in 'talking it out' even though, until now, I've never done so myself. At first when I started this early last week, I was a bit skeptical. How in the hell would an unbiased person be able to give me the skills to get through this hellishness? I'm seeing the light, folks. While I'm no where near "cured" -- I mean, really, it's been only over a month since John's death -- I do feel like I'm doing something positive and not sitting around home, feeling sorry for myself and Micah, getting shitfaced to block out the pain, and overdosing on cookies and whatever comfort food is at hand. Before setting up these sessions, I talked to a couple of friends who have seen counselors for various reasons, and for the most part they seriously advocate the importance of it. The reasons I've heard are mainly that it gives you a "safe place" to talk about what's going on with you and to vent to a person who wasn't or isn't directly involved in whatever personal tragedy you're experiencing now. My hesitation was that I don't generally like talking about myself a whole lot ( 'it's all about me', holla!), and I abhor crying in front of strangers, let alone close friends and family. To me, crying is a weakness that I have a hard time showing -- so I tend to do it behind closed doors. Plus, I usually get a massive headache afterwards, my eyes get all swollen, red, and squinty, and my sinuses sound like I'm trying to breath through swamp muck. So far, I've burned through 1 1/2 boxes of Kleenex in her office and that's in just 2 sessions.

Today's session really had me talking in a vein that I didn't picture. Sure, these thoughts have been in my head and I've gnashed my teeth about them once or twice...but I never imagined sharing them with the counselor. First, if one more person asks how I'm doing -- I may wind up on the 6 o'clock news. Seriously. C'mon, people (not bloglandia people, but immediate people I deal with at work and at the store, etc)! My husband, the love of my life, just died. How the EFF do you think I'm feeling??? Peachy keen? Fan-effin'-tabulous? Seriously, it's a dumb question, but one that I know is heartfelt or, for lack of better words, is filler for those people who don't know what else to say.

The other thing that's getting my goat is -- the Bible thumpers. Now I am a Christian and I do believe and love God. But right now I'm pretty pissed off at him. I tend to couch it in a "I'm not speaking to Him right now" kinda comparison. Down here in the Bible Belt, there's the Blue Law, BBQ, country music, sweet tea, and church on any given day of the week. So yeah, God is a big thing down here, and people here feel it's their duty to express to me that John had a higher calling and there was some reason why God felt it necessary for him to go on and seek greener pastures, as it were, or that "he's in a much better place now". Well, I'm sorry -- I'm not good with that. I am not thrilled that John died at the young age of 46 years old, less than a year after we had gotten married, and we never got to go to England like we'd always dreamt about, or that I won't be able to grow old with him. All of that was taken from me. I won't go off any further about this in this post because I've been thinking about it this evening, and accept that my friends and co-workers mean well with all of this. Maybe it makes them feel like they're doing something by wanting to have prayer with me, or expound on God's plan for us all. But when I tell them that I'm pissed off at Him right now, they act as if I've slapped their child. How dare I?!

But in talking with another friend/co-worker and my mom tonight -- I found out that I'm actually normal; it's ok to get pissed off. How scary is that? As a kid, I used to be petrified of the idea of getting mad at God because, uh yeah, he could get mad right back at me and that might not be so pretty. And what's weird is that when I read that the anger stage of grief is one of the processes, I felt like it meant that I would be angry with John for up and dying on me. I never knew that the anger would extend to those who are doing nothing more than wanting to see me get better. People want to help, and sometimes this is the only way they can.

SO...having said all that. The point of this post, if I ever had one, was...damn, I'm glad I'm on medication right now.

One Is A Lonely Number

2011-08-11T14:03:00.000-04:00

This morning I logged onto the computer and clicked on the link for my blog. I looked at the date of my last post and wish I could say, "wow -- weeee, where has the time gone?", desperately wishing that the reason I haven't posted was because I was having a helluva summer. But honestly, the past two months have gone by in a dazed blur, an 'awake nightmare', if you will. The past two months, frankly this entire summer, have been hell...not 'helluva'.

I lost my husband, John, on July 24th, just shy of three weeks ago. I don't wish to say anything further about that other than it's obviously been the most painful time in my life thus far.

During John's month-long hospitalization, I went a little crazy with trying to stay positive and strong for him, trying to understand what the doctors were/weren't saying and having a hard time with my gnawing fear of losing him. Now that that has become a reality, I'm trying to get back into life and learn to get along. Right now it's not easy being "just Amy", instead of half of the dynamo-team, "Amy and John".

I've tried dipping my toes back into the reading waters and while it's difficult to concentrate at times, it's something that I can use to while away an hour or two. The shitty part is that I still use my "retail therapy" tactics to pep myself up by buying a couple of ebooks for my Nook. During the last couple of weeks while my mom was still here (she stayed with me for a month and a half, almost from the beginning of John's stay at the hospital), I've dabbled in housework, trying to stay busy, chores, and the load of legal crap that's involved with someone's death. My massive TBR collection has been moved around -- seriously, it took four of us to take 2/3 of it and put in the office -- and now I'm at a loss as to how to sort through and weed it. But it needs to be done. Now I don't have to worry about the bedroom floor collapsing downstairs onto my neighbors head from the massive weight.

I started this post feeling a bit, I don't know, lost. And trust me, the sadness and sense of "what do I do now?" can be crippling more often than not -- but now I have a game plan for at least today. Go through the damned books. It's not getting done on its own, and I think John is asserting his ghostly self by toppling a couple of stacks over as I've wandered about the house this morning.

TBR Challenge: The Reluctant Surrender

2011-06-15T19:34:00.001-04:00

I can now say that I've read a Harlequin Presents, but the jury's still out on whether or not this is a line for me to continue with. When I realized that the deadline for June's TBR Challenge was looming and it featured a contemporary theme, I momentarily panicked. Then I remembered that I'd finished reading The Reluctant Surrender by Penny Jordan just last week. It's actually one of the books in the stash that a friend of mine at work gave me while I was on leave over the Christmas holidays, but since it sat on my TBR then I'm counting. Again....my rules, I'll break 'em as I make 'em. Heh.

The Reluctant Surrender is tagged as "Part One of the Parenti Dynasty", and it looks to be the first in a two-book series. The second is Giselle's Choice, and I'm dithering about whether or not to hunt that one down. Judging by the couple of reviews I've read, it's obviously a continuation of The Reluctant Surrender, but don't read them if you don't like spoilers and haven't read the first book.

Saul Parenti comes across to many as a man who takes what he wants and turns it into gold. If that's their assessment of him, then so be it since it's true. He's a successful businessman with a comfortable wealth, a member of the royal family of Arezzio, and has the knack to turn even the shakiest deals into raging successes. His latest project will involve hiring an architectural company that will help in seeing his vision of a luxurious vacation destination become real. That's what Saul does: brings fantasy to life, in the form of holidays. He isn't prepared to work alongside the woman who had stolen his parking spot in the garage earlier that morning.

Giselle Freeman's day does not start off well when she nearly comes to blows with a domineering man who claims she's stolen his prime spot in the car park. Since she was already late for an important meeting to meet the firm's latest client, the delay only makes her that much later. And does nothing for her mood, to say the least. When she finds out that the ass she'd had words with earlier is actually her new boss, things can only get worse from there. Saul Parenti hires Giselle as his personal assistant during this project and expects her to report directly to him for every little thing.

Giselle's reputation as an ice queen at the office is about to be tested when her protective frost melts under Saul's fiery regard. The tension between them can be cut with a knife, and before long their relationship goes from professional and lands headfirst in the bedroom. Giselle figures it's safe to have an affair with Saul without messy emotional entanglements since she vows to never love anyone, and he vows to never have a family. Yeah, there's baggage galore here, folks. It'd be the perfect relationship if their attraction didn't turn into something deeper, nearing that L-l-love word.

For all intents and purposes, The Reluctant Surrender was an ok read but maybe I got too entangled in the soap opera-y feel that I think this line can dip into. Seething CEOs, bold businessmen, and hot Arabian princes populate the Presents book, and I know many people enjoy the heck out of them; I'd love to find one that packs a punch so am open to suggestions. But I just never could get too emotionally invested in Saul and Giselle. Whether it's the page count, or the characterization itself, The Reluctant Surrender just ended up being an 'eh' read for me.

So, I'm up for any suggestions from this line from anyone out there. Whose read a Presents book that just blew their socks off?

For Those Following Along At Home

2011-06-08T09:19:00.002-04:00

Lest anyone think that I've forgotten or fallen off of the dedication bandwagon, I do have a tally for how much I've walked in the past 8 days. Have I lost any weight? Well, I don't know since I don't weigh myself, but my shorts do feel a bit loser on me and I'm getting comments that it looks like I am. I guess we'll see what the doctor says in August, eh?

The tally in miles (yes, MILES) since last Tuesday morning is ............

*drum roll*

TEN MILES!

How awesome is that? And I'm slated to do four more in the next two nights I work since we finally configured out how long four entire laps of the hospital is: going one way, is 1/4 of a mile. So four entire laps = 2 miles. And we try to walk that every night we work.

And because I'm crazy and have it in my head that I can do this, I'm doing a 5k this Saturday morning at the gym. Uh, that would be walking, thankyouverymuch....NOT running. Ha, I say -- simply ha! -- if anyone thinks I'd run it.

Not too shabby, eh?

Let's Get Physical!

2011-06-01T17:36:00.001-04:00

I mentioned here in a post last month that I'm having blood pressure issues, which is sad to say but true. So I had a follow-up with my GP a couple weeks ago, where my pressure was taken once again (yikes!), and a general physical was done, complete with my husband by my side. It has been ordered and sanctioned, and all that sounds so official and ceremonious, that I need to go on a diet (and of course, hubby was a witness). Now, my doc is a good friend of mine and he and his wife and I have taken up a walking regimen at work, but seriously dude, couldn't you have said it a little bit nicer?? Like say, maybe, "Amy, you're gorgeous and I know that you're already blinding guys with your beauty, but, and I'm only offering this as a piece of advice from a guy who admires you from afar, but all that gorgeousness would only be enhanced by, say, shedding about 5 lbs." See, I would've been happy with that, but...no. Blunt, straight to the point, and brutally honest -- I need to lose weight (which is the way *I* say it, not that D word, thankyouverymuch).

So the walking has extended out to the gym where I just found out that three laps around the outside track equals about 1.8 miles (one of my other friends was with me this morning, and corrected my earlier math which I thought was stellar, but landed me about a mile shy of the correct answer). And since there's some construction at the gym, and they've closed off a portion of the main outdoor track and extended it beyond a ways to the local hiking "Beauty" trail, that distance is actually closer to being over 2 miles for 3 laps. I've been doing that ~~frequently~~ about 3 times a week -- the walking, not the math thank God -- for a few weeks now and I'm proud to say that the shorts I bought earlier last year in a smaller size are actually getting a bit too big on me now.

Why am I spewing this all over my blog? Well, because I need to be held accountable, and I want to brag; but I also want to devise a system beyond the buddy system that will encourage me to keep it up. I love my husband with my every breath (heaving and all), but he tells me I'm gorgeous no matter what (smart man). He also has a high sense of survival and would only tell me he thought I was fat from another state via text message or cell phone, or via carrier pigeon.

So I'm thinking of incorporating a journal of sorts here to track my walking or other form of exercise, so that when I miss a day or skip an entire week (more likely), then y'all can call me out and guilt me into doing better. It'll also make for some blog filler, which is lacking these days since my reading has taken a beating. I'm a pragmatic glutton, if nothing else...

Any thoughts? Any words of encouragement? Anyone else want to enjoy this tiny bit of self torture with me?

Here Comes the Sun -- Amy Finished a Book!

2011-05-31T16:38:00.000-04:00

I was going to start this post with, "I finally finished a book!" but then I realized that as an opening line it lacked originality since I've started many of my posts in the past with the same or similar. I guess in order to fix that, I'd need to read faster but since this is the first 'fun' book I've done in a while I'll take what I can get and call it a day.

But still....Psst, I finally finished a book!

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I've been ignoring my TBR lately and instead, when I do read, it's either a library book or a review book. Already Home, by Susan Mallery, was a lend from the library but one that I was interested in when I read that the heroine is a chef. She doesn't consider herself a head chef, or even the same caliber as Rachael Ray, but she is classically trained.

In Jenna Stevens case, her career as a sous chef is hopefully just temporarily on the back burner when she returns to her hometown of Georgetown, TX. Aaron, her ex-husband, had done everything in his power to undermine and belittle Jenna and her culinary creations, calling them garbage in front of customers and then bragging about them as his own later when it was evident that people liked them. While Aaron had done his best to convince people he was a genius chef and a people person, he'd been cheating on Jenna for God knows how long and basically stabbing her in the back. Now Jenna's back in Texas to regroup, heal, and rediscover her life and self, and to spend time with her parents. That rebirth results in Jenna's opening a cooking store, despite the fact that she has no business background or acumen, and only a whim of an idea.

Enter Violet, a woman who wants to make a new start for her own reasons and has everything to prove to no one but herself. Violet turns out to be the perfect business partner and a whiz with ideas and creativity. Once the two women decide how to make Grate Creations the best it can be -- with Jenna as the food guru/lesson leader, and Violet as the business whiz with numbers and ideas -- the store becomes more successful than Jenna had dared to hope. Jenna's then thrown for yet another loop when her birth parents enter the picture and declare their desire to become part of her life, despite the fact that it's been 32 years since they gave her up for adoption.

Jenna's hesitance to connect with Tom and Serenity, her biological parents, is quite understandable and I've got to say that she had more patience than I would have given the circumstances. I loved Jenna's adoptive parents, Beth and Marshall Stevens, and understand the adage 'can't we all just get along?', but still.... I tried placing myself in the situation inside my head, and just couldn't. Suspicion, distrust, and dislike were the only things I could come up with, but then I'm not Jenna.

That said -- I loved this book, and I love the author for putting me through my paces as a reader. If you can run the gamut of emotions and still keep reading, not wanting to stop until "The End", then, in my opinion, that's the hallmark of a great book and a talented writer. Already Home has it all -- a stirring story, characters who make you take notice, emotional outcomes, complete with a dollop of romance.

Now let's see if I can continue on in that thread and find another winner off of my TBR...

My Bookstore Missed Me!

2011-05-27T21:37:00.000-04:00

I stepped into a bookstore this evening with my wonderful husband, and for the first time in about two months -- I bought books! Real, paperback books! It seems that since I bought Veronica, I've been enamored with searching out all the varieties of ebooks out there -- reading few, but definitely buying more than a fair share. Whether it's the backlists of a favorite author, smaller publication houses, strictly ebookstores, and even my local library, they have so much to offer these days for the ereaders out there. I've also noticed that my library tends to get more exciting new releases in e-format faster than they do in actual books, so I'm a devout fan of their site.

My current read, Susan Mallery's latest book, Almost Home, has done a fair job of stoking the reading fires again. It's been a long time since I read a book by this author, and I'm quickly reminded what I've been missing -- warm characters, rich emotional moments throughout the book, and the sense of place in a town I'd love to visit, Georgetown, TX. Plus, its heroine, Jenna, is a professionally trained chef and since I'm a Food Network whore, I'll go for anything -- almost -- that features a foodie, a chef, or just food in general. I need to wrap this one up soon since I've let it linger in my cache too long and the borrow period on it is almost up. Good thing it's a great book, eh?

Nothing To See Here!

2011-05-18T16:56:00.001-04:00

Due to the fact that I've been an utter slug and have probably read 3 books in the past month, I don't have a TBR Challenge book review to offer up this month. I just haven't had that much interest in reading lately, instead I've been enjoying this gorgeous weather we're having and making plans for this summer. Oh, and hello! - Kenny Chesney concert tomorrow night, holla! Another thing I'm fascinated with these days is...get this, couponing. I can't seem to get enough of it... Yep, boring life!

That being said, the 3 books I've read since about this time last month are review books for RRT, if you don't count April's TBR Challenge. :-S I'm hoping Review Boss is happy that I've started cleaning up my review assignment calendar. Heh.

One day soon I'll get my head screwed on straight and dive back into my reading.

Until next time!

Take Charge!

2011-05-05T08:39:00.000-04:00

I had to swallow a couple large pills yesterday: the major one being that I'm not getting any younger. Now, I'm not knocking at retirement's doorway right now, but the fact that I'm approaching "an age" was drilled home yesterday at my annual girly parts doctor's appointment. The dreaded "M" word was mentioned -- mammogram. Subsequently, a form was handed to me, instructing me to make an appointment for my first ever boob squashing, fortunately only for a baseline. So, like any other time when I'm tired (I'd worked Tuesday night and my appt. was for 9:30a.m.), nervous, and feeling just a tad overwhelmed...I cried. Yep, right there in the office in front of three nurses and my husband, totally embarrassing myself. Oh, I didn't sob or even sniffle, I just got a bit teary-eyed and finally had to admit to myself -- I'm a cancer-phobe and I'm afraid of death and disease, although I deal with it every night at work.

This morning I'm feeling a bit better after a glass of wine before bed last night and a good night's sleep, but I'm still staring at that order from the doctor's office -- make the appointment. I will, but I don't have to like it. Of course, now I've got another doctor's appointment to keep in two weeks, this time with my internal medicine guy (who happens to be one of my favorite doctors to work with and whose wife is a good friend of mine), because, yep, you guessed it -- my blood pressure was high when they checked it yesterday. And now I can't even blame my lack of success in losing weight on a hypoactive thyroid since they tested mine yesterday with a finger-stick and it came back negative. *sigh* This...*this*...is why I stopped seeing my docs regularly: if I don't go, I can't be told I'm sick. Easy-peasy.... Yeah, try explaining that to the ob/gyn after not seeing him for 8 years. That only netted me a sub-total hysterectomy thanks to a gigantic fibroid tumor on my uterus back in December. Rationality only works if it's sensible, right?

Today I'm taking a "me day". My reading has fallen by the wayside and my TBR hasn't gone anywhere. It took me four weeks to read Lisa Jackson's latest hardback, Devious, and that's just unacceptable. Oh, I can't blame my lack in reading on one doctor's appointment yesterday (one that wasn't even a bad one since I was still given a clean bill of health), but I can do something about it and take an hour out of each day, however I do it, to immerse myself in something that I've loved to do since I was a teenager. I'm also going to tackle something I've had on my must-do list for a couple years now: start decluttering. It starts today with a trip to the library to donate at least seven hardback, large-print books I've kept here in the office for wayyy too long, and for no reason. Last night, in some random blog hopping, I came across a great blog that encourages and celebrates decluttering, and it really hit home. I've got way too much shit, and it's only up to me to do something about it.

And yeah, I will make that "M" appointment one day soon. But just give me a day or so to digest it....

April TBR Review: 2nd Chance

2011-04-20T17:17:00.000-04:00

I had honestly planned to have my review for April's TBR Challenge up and ready to go by the buttcrack of dawn today, but I fell asleep at the wheel. While I may not have read a book that fit this month's theme, contemporary or historical western, I did finish one this past weekend that's been sitting on my TBR for, like, evah...: 2nd Chance by James Patterson. This book actually qualifies for two challenges, my own personal challenge, Finish the Series, and Wendy's TBR '11 Challenge, so I'm multi-tasking, people!

To be warned is to be prepared: if you haven't read 1st To Die and want to, there might be a spoiler or three.

2nd Chance takes place a few months after San Francisco police lieutenant Lindsay Boxer closes the Honeymoon Murders case (1st To Die). Many things had happened on that case that eventually led to Lindsay's self-imposed leave of absence, the death of her newish boyfriend (also a cop), the diagnosis and cure of a blood disease, and the emotional upheaval that is inherent while on a case like the Honey Murders. In the end, she caught the bad guy, but it was a long-fought battle and about did her in. At the end of it, she'd scored herself the promotion of lieutenant and a group of girlfriends who all stylize themselves as the Women's Murder Club. Series, we have lift off...

2nd Chance starts off with Lindsay back on the job after some time away when a young black girl is gunned down at her church after choir practice. The shock and rage, both from the community and Lindsay herself, is deafening with community members and leaders knocking down the SFPD's doors for them to catch the killer. Interviewing eye-witnesses nets her a lead that the killer may have driven from the scene with a Chimera logo on his white van. Quick needle-in-a-haystack detective work leads her to another death across the city, and it's not long before Lt. Boxer is able to tenuously tie the two murders together. When another man is killed, this time a cop who Lindsay knew, Lindsay's math is not adding up to a pretty resolution: since all of the murders share two things in common, race and the chimera calling card. Could there be a racial serial killer on the loose in San Francisco?   The answer to that question is more than apparent when yet another murder takes place and takes the sails right out of the SFPD. This killer has an agenda, and his style is shock and awe...

In 2nd Chance we meet up with Lindsay's gal pals who were first introduced in the first book, 1st To Die: Cindy, the crime reporter; Claire, one of Lindsay's best friends and a medical examiner; and Jill, an up-and-coming asst. district attorney. The friends all gather together despite Lindsay's orders from brass to keep a tighthold on the case and not talk to anybody, but together the women start putting together the pieces of a very ugly puzzle. This killer is only starting and won't stop until someone either kills him first - not likely at this rate - or he delivers whatever message he feels that everyone needs to know.

I'll be honest, I brushed aside every book I was reading -- library and review books (don't tell Terrie!) -- to finish this one this past weekend. I've only read a few of Patterson's books, but they always wind up being page-turners for me and go very quickly. Maybe it's the way he engages the reader with his edgy suspense and raw characterization. Some have said that Lindsay Boxer is a female version of Patterson's more famous character, Alex Cross. Since I'm still on the waiting list for the first book in the Cross series from the library, I don't have anything to support or negate that comparison. I just like her and am amazed at how well James Patterson fleshed out a character that is so out of my realm in understanding, but yet I very easily see and hear her in my mind when I read these books.

It seems that the Women's Murder Club procedural series is still going strong with the tenth book, 10th Anniversary, coming out in May. It's a shame that a tv series version of the Women's Murder Club failed a couple years ago, because Angie Harmon did well in the role of Lindsay. With Brett Ratner as one of the producers, I thought it was bound for success...but, no. Maybe they should've left it alone and let people fondly remember the tv movie they did for 1st To Die, starring Tracy Pollan. It worked, but honestly, how often does a book-to-film gig work?

I digress... I'll leave it with, I adore this series, or what I've read of it so far, and now have added the rest of the books to my mission to Finish the Series.

Review: The Vampire Voss

2011-04-06T13:30:00.000-04:00

The Vampire Voss - Colleen Gleason

Mira/ April 2011

*****************

The Dracule are Lucifer's own, enticed into an immortal life, not knowing exactly the price they'll pay to live forever until it's too late. Society is full of rakes and reprobates, but the Dracule are the ones that should be feared...

Viscount Dewhurst, known to his enemies and friends alike as Voss Arden, doesn't find being a Dracule member a bad thing. I mean, if you count drinking blood and living forever as two things on your "must do" list, then you wouldn't either. But lately even he's become disenchanted with the intricacies of being a vampire: living forever (really, it's not all that fabulous), not being able to walk in the sun, and being the very monster that many fear. Over the centuries of his life, Voss has made it his personal hobby to find out the weaknesses of those in his circle. That has hardly made him a popular person, but he's fine with that. While he can count on one hand the number of men that he considers friends, people aren't exactly knocking down the doors begging him for invitations to house parties.

Until now, Voss has remained his own man -- er, vampire -- and not taken sides in the ongoing battle between the "good" vampires and the ones who will not cease until they take over the world... in particular Cezar Moldavi. Cesar is on a rampage after the vampire hunter, Chas Woodmore, kidnapped Cesar's sister, Narcise. He won't stop until he's caused as much damage, and that begins with Angelica Woodmore, Chas's sister. Moldavi believes in that age-old motto, "an eye for an eye"...

After meeting Angelica one night at a ball, Voss cannot get her off of his mind no matter how hard he tries. Is he that destitute for something fresh and exciting that a young, innocent miss can turn his head? Angelica isn't the typical British society debutante, however, though her blood calls to him like the sweetest aphrodisiac. Having the Sight, a talent that was passed to her from her grandmother, she is able to envision a person's death by simply touching an article of their possession. Visions like this could make a person very cynical, but Angelica still remains hopeful and optimistic, enjoying her life, all the while remembering her grandmother's stories of vampyrs and hunters. After Chas's disappearance, even as her sister Maia frets that the worst has happened, Angelica remains positive that no harm has come to her older brother -- for she'd already envisioned his death much earlier, and it wouldn't be for years to come. Knowing that, it's easy for Angelica to not worry, despite not knowing what kind of life her brother leads. If she'd known that he was a vampire hunter, or even that vampyrs do exist and are closer than she expects, then she might worry a bit more...

Voss and Angelica start out together with their own agendas. Angelica has something that Voss wants -- her abilities with the Sight could net him information that would make him very powerful indeed. Voss entices Angelica like no one has before. Oh, men have tried to woo and court her before, but none of them have been like Voss...dangerous, dark, and entirely too daring. As the pair meet several times at Societal routes and get-togethers, the attraction grows quickly. When it becomes apparent to him that Moldavi intends to use Angelica for his own personal revenge, Voss must learn to become a hero and protect her from the minions Moldavi made into vampires. It certainly won't do if she finds out that Voss is the very same type of creature as the monsters that tried to kidnap and hurt her one night at a ball.

Oh what a tangled web we weave...

The Vampire Voss starts off Colleen Gleason's Regency Draculia series with a bang. This was my first book by the talented Ms. Gleason, and now I can see why her fans clamor for more 'new and shiny!' to read from their favorite author. The Vampire Voss Gothic tone is the perfect feel for a series that features vampires created by Lucifer. For me it shows that even the hardest person can redeem themselves. Voss, the hero if you will, is not like any other I've read. In fact, it's hard to use Voss and hero in the same sentence because he's that much of a rake and cad in the first quarter of the book. Really, there's not much to like about him at all. But it becomes obvious that much of his rakish reputation hides a soul that wants to become something more, even if he doesn't realize it yet. Angelica brings out the better in him, and while she cringes when she realizes what Voss is...her heart yearns for him.

As mentioned earlier, The Vampire Voss is a first book in a new series, the Regency Draculia. And it's a good thing that the next two books come out in quick succession: The Vampire Dimitri hits shelves later this month, and The Vampire Narcise will be out in June. I can easily see me doing some back-reading of Ms. Gleason's other popular series, the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, this summer.

(While I'll be buying a copy of The Vampire Voss for my own collection, I did request and receive an e-ARC version from NetGalley.)

Howdy, Folks!

2011-04-05T22:48:00.001-04:00

So it seems the Corner has become a ghost town, eh? I mean, seriously, who begins a blog and posts in random spurts, some weeks only once and then goes almost three weeks without any word whatsoever? Well, *raising hand*, that would be me. Your reluctantly random blogger, moi. Ah well...

Tonight I'm taking a break from a crazed reading frenzy -- seriously, I finished one book earlier today and started another one right up (Review Boss will be so proud! TLC has Cake Boss, I have Review Boss) -- to troll some of my fave blogs and see what's happening out there in Blog o'verse. I've found one of the neatest blogs that directs its readers where to score inexpensive, oftentimes free, ebooks for your Kindle, Nook, or whatever device you have. Books on the Knob is where I scored two of my latest ebooks for Veronica (my aptly named Nook), one of which is a book that I've been contemplating paying full price for before the sequel comes out, Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning. It's actually free at Barnes and Noble's website, as well as other sites for those supported readers! Since I'm a Nook user -- cha ching! I'm guessing this is in anticipation of the next book in the series, Rock Hard, which was supposed to have come out this month.

(Novak, scoring a victory for my heart)

While I'd gotten into NCAA basketball for a shortlived while (basically that stopped once the $%^&^ing Kentucky Wildcats stopped my beloved Buckeyes' bid for the championship (bastards)), sports has pretty much dried up for me. Unless it's tennis, and then I'm all over these early tournaments. My latest fave eyecandy, Novak Djokovic, has been tearing up the courts and is this season's Hottest Player. As a redblooded aficionado of fine male physiques, can I get an Amen? I need a moment...

And I'm back! Sorry, I needed a second -- but when your eyes meet this hotness, it's hard to compose yourself. Or maybe it's just that way for me...

I'll be back later this week with hopefully a couple reviews, a March recap of what I read, and the titillating details of my endeavor to find The Perfect Book for April's TBR Challenge. Stay tuned, folks!

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares: Review Rewind

2011-03-17T07:00:00.000-04:00

A book that I read this year has really made a lasting impressions on me: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. It would very possibly be on my keeper shelves if I still did that kind of thing, and if I hadn't borrowed the book from the library.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares was by first foray into modern day YA fiction. This sub-genre seems to be all the rage these days, and I'm seeing more and more of my own friends reading these books. Can we blame Harry Potter on this growing trend? Or am I just late to the poker table and have a lot of catching up to do? Seriously, I now have a lengthy list of YA books on my TBB.

Lily takes her brother and his boyfriend up on a dare of sorts to start a journal and leave it on the shelves at the Strand, hoping that an interested party will "bite" and take part in an adventure that will take them across the city of New York during the Christmas holidays. Dash just happens to be the lucky guy to find Lily's journal as he's perusing the shelves of the beloved bookstore, and he cannot ignore the challenge. Plus he's bored and on his own this holiday season. Dash is a holiday bah-humbug to Lily's effervescent holiday cheer. She loves the season and is really needing to find new traditions this year since she's on her own with her brother for Christmas.

What follows is a surprisingly endearing journey as each leave clues for the other on their quest of dares, never knowing quite where they'll go next, or if they'll ever meet for real. For me, the eye-opener was the maturity of Dash and his fight to keep his personal views of what he thinks Lily will be like realistic -- is she his dream girl, or is he making too much of this, only to be let down in the end by his own fantasies?

For me, Dash was the best part of the book. I'd read in other reviews where he goes from hating Christmas to being a little more tolerant of it, and that's true. While he's certainly not a card-carrying member of Santas R Us by the end of the book, he's more softened around the edges while maintaining his 'coolness'. I wish there had been more guys like Dash in my teen years. Seriously.

Other things I loved about this book -- Lily's diehard intent to keep up with as many holiday traditions she and her family have created over the years. Dude, that is so me. I love love love lurve Christmas and sincerely subscribe to the entire 'most wonderful time of the year' hullabaloo. But this year, for Lily, Christmas is different and her life may change irrevocably because of it. But damnit, she's still going to go caroling and bake cookies, and infuse as much holiday cheer as she can.

One other thing I noticed was Dash's love of the English language. For reals -- his favorite book could very well be the Oxford English Dictionary.

With the exception of a few "F" bombs and some situations that would not be tolerated by my parents when I was their age, I could so see my paternal grandparents giving Dash & Lily's Book of Dares their blessing if it would encourage kids to read. I easily identified with the two teens and their adoration of the bookstore, because honestly, that was me in my younger days (still is).

I'm already eyeballing Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by the same authors. I blame my new interest in YA on Nath when she'd mentioned Dash & Lily's Book of Dares late last year on her blog. My book budget that's about to be blown into smithereens is entirely her fault. Ha...

March TBR Challenge Review: First Date by Karen Kendall

2011-03-16T06:00:00.003-04:00

Maybe it's the mood I'm in. Or it might be because this week I didn't feel like I could take on the dark, stormy, history-drenched romance novels that I tend to gravitate towards, so I chose light and fluffy. Or that's what I thought. What I wound up getting was something that pleasantly surprised me and made me think that I'm missing out a lot by not reading a whole lot of straight contemporary romance. What I'm talking about is First Dance by Karen Kendall, the 3rd book in the Bridesmaid Chronicles series.

Vivien Shelton, an Ivy League, ball-busting divorce attorney has earned the descriptor bitch with the number of cases she's won for her clients. What she won't let many people see is her soft heart that's easily won over by dogs (particularly Greyhounds, but she'll take any puppy kisses) and her best friends, and she'll actively take on a battered woman's case to see that she's housed in a safe environment. She's traveled to Texas to stop her best friend Julia's wedding (First Love by Julie Kenner, the 4th in the series) before it's too late and to hopefully talk some sense into her. If she can't stop the wedding, then Viv will get Julia to sign a prenup if it's the last thing she does. If all of that fails, she's still a bridesmaid and is prepared to hate the dress.

The only problem with that is Julia's relationship with her fiancé, Roman, is a bona fide true thing, the real deal (after all, it's the fourth book in the series, right?). Viv knows that she's running a risk of getting on Julia's bad side by bringing up a prenup, and if that isn't enough, her chances of running into Roman's best friend and attorney, J.B. Anglin, is a threat all on its own. That wouldn't be a problem if Viv hadn't slept with J.B. a few years ago while he was in Manhattan representing his own client against Viv's in a divorce that was more daytime soap opera than courtroom status quo. J.B.'s hot, sexy Texan twang did a lot more than just work her libido, so before he got underneath her skin and started becoming more than the scratch to her itch, Viv kicked him out. Of the hotel room. In his underwear.

Yeah, she was not at the top of her game that night. But here in Texas, Viv starts to melt all over again when she sees J.B. The heat is definitely clouding her judgment and before she knows it, she's doing her own Texas two-step with him. God may have blessed Texas, but He's given Viv and J.B. a challenge of their own that only they can work out for themselves.

Maybe it's the fact that the book is set in Texas, and for some reason that always brings out the warm fuzzies in me. Well, yeah, sure it's hot out there, but I've always loved the laid-back vibe I always get when I read a book that takes place there. It's definitely a Bucket List vacation for me one day. But Texas isn't the only star in First Dance. There's not a whole lot that I didn't love about the book. Vivien may sound like a stereotypical modern day heroine (ballsy lawyer by day...), but she really shines here. I know I've read the first two in the series (First Date by Kendall and First Kiss by Kylie Adams), but they've kind of faded in the background now. Viv almost takes the entire stage with her secret big heart and her many layers -- lawyer, dog rescue nut, philanthropist working for battered woman AND dogs, best friend, and a gold spoon baby who made her own way, not her Mummy's. Now she's finding out that she may have been missing that extra spark by denying herself love. J.B. is just the Texan to teach her what that's all about.

There's definitely a theme in the Bridesmaid Chronicles series, and it took me half the book to figure out why this title for this book. It's definitely a Moment when J.B. shares his First Dance with Viv, and it's one that not only makes this a hot one, but melts your heart a lil'.

There is a 4th book, First Love by Julie Kenner, is Julia's book and the final installment in the Bridesmaid Chronicles and I'm challenging myself to Finish the Series this spring. Can you imagine? I have it on the TBR...

First Dance = definitely a B+/A- read.

Spring Allergy Ramblings

2011-03-15T07:41:00.000-04:00

As I usually do when I don't have anything earth-shattering or enlightening to wax on about, I haven't done a damned thing to update the blog since last week. Yeah, I suck. That's not to say that I've not been skimming blog posts here and there, and trying to comment when I can. The news of Fatin's recent tragedy really struck home this past week, and all I can say is that it breaks my heart to see such a wonderful person have to suffer something like this. Thoughts and prayers for her and her beautiful family, indeed.

In my neck of the woods, the plague has hit. Allergies and/or a nasty spring cold have taken me hostage and I'm currently trying to fight it off with every OTC drug in my arsenal: Benadryl, Afrin, Hall's cough drops, Zyrtec, Sudafed daytime sinus medication, and Alka-Seltzer Cold and Sinus. Damnit, I haven't been sick in well over a year (if you don't count my surgery), so this sucks big hairy donkey balls.

Tomorrow is the date for March's TBR Challenge, so today I plan on finishing up my read and whipping out a review, as long as I don't fall into an Alka-Seltzer-induced coma. The book I chose is one I've had since it's release in 2005, and initially I thought I hadn't read this particular author's books before, but I was wrong. Oh well -- it's still been collecting dust in my TBR and has now finally been unearthed for my enjoyment. It's a contemporary, so if I can remember throughout the year, I may impose my own personal challenge to read more of this variety.

I finally finished a book on the Nook! So it was a short story -- who cares? My rules, so it counts towards the tally. I read Love Is Murder by Allison Brennan last night and while this quickie didn't indulge my inner sickie as much as her books usually do, I'm all ready to dive into the Lucy Kincaid series and gork out on suspense.

On the same subject -- I adore my Nook. I never thought I'd take to it as much as I have and have really enjoyed adding books to it, ones that I've only read reviews for and even reissues I'd never get my hands on unless I had an ereader. Last week I was able to buy/download KT Grant/Katiebabs' For the Love of Mollie, one I've heard many many good things about. Also this morning, BN.com had a freebie download by Lori Bright, Wild Desire, the sequel to Wild Heart.

See, this is why I haven't been getting any reading done -- I always find a way to spend more time online and skip around the blogs. Toodles!

February, A Rearview Mirror Glance

2011-03-05T06:19:00.001-05:00

The year 2011 started off well for me in the reading department. In January I read nine books and I thought that at that rate my reading numbers would only grow. In February, my reading mojo all but came to a halt for some reason even though I didn't return to work until the 11th. Yeah, I wasted ten glorious days where I was feeling much better, starting to get back into the swing of things, and I hardly read ten pages. Way to go, Amy...

I could blame the second half of the month's failure to amp up my numbers on the recent purchase of the Nook, but really, I'm only fooling myself. That, and the fact that I've had Veronica for just over a week. I'm too easily distracted some days! Earlier this week I had a glorious time picking up a few freebie NookBooks from Barnes and Noble, as well as two more purchases (honestly, they were steals!). Seriously, I could not ignore the early-purchase sale of $2.99 for Sins of the House of Borgia by Sarah Bower. It officially hit the shelves Tuesday, but I capitalized on that price the night before. Romantic Times Magazine featured a 4 1/2 star review for it in their March issue, and it sounds right up my alley. Plus, with the debut of the Showtime series, The Borgias, on April 3rd, I greatly look forward to getting my history thang on (and Jeremy Irons!). I am still in mourning for The Tudors and Jonathan Rhys Meyers in all his naked sexy butt glory. Hubba hubba, indeed.

Call Me Irresistible -- Susan Elizabeth Phillips/A

In February, probably my best read. Although it's considered part of her Wynette, Texas series, I easily read it without having read a few of the others. I think, of those, I've read Glitter Baby, First Lady and still have the rest in Mt. TBR, including an original copy of Fancy Pants which was actually reprinted in December '10). Call Me Irresistible is Ted Beaudine's story, and at first I had a smidge of a hard time liking him because he was so, literally, perfect. Reading Meg Koranda's (fans will recognize the Koranda name from Glitter Baby - her parents' story) observations and thoughts on the perfection of Ted had me giggling like a mental patient several times throughout the book. Seriously, I've got some catching up to do in reviews for the blog, and this one is on the list.

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares -- Rachel Cohn and David Liviathin/A-

I finally finished it up and have to say my favorite part of this YA book was the dialogue, both internal and external. If boys spoke like Dash back when I was a teen, I would've fallen in love every day. The ending is a bit abrupt, and I have to wonder if there's more in store for these two kids. But, you know, it worked. It left me writing my own future scenarios for Dash and Lily. I loved the set-up where they meet after Dash finds Lily's moleskin journal on the shelves of the Strand in NYC, and from there it's a game of Can You Top This? as they get to know each other through journal entries and outrageous hide-and-go-seek antics. Seriously, loved it and now I have to find the other books that Cohn and Liviathin collaborated on.

Goddess of Legend -- P.C. Cast/B-

I reviewed Goddess of Legend by P.C. Cast for Romance Reviews Today, and while it wasn't my favorite in the author's Goddess Summoning series, I liked it. My review should be posted over at RRT soon. I liked the mash-up of Celtic mythology with Arthurian legend and Isabel's trip back in time to Camelot. I didn't totally believe the romantic connection between Isabel and Arthur, but it didn't ruin the book for me.

Stealing Heaven -- Kimberly Cates/B+

And the last one that I can truly count for February's short list is Stealing Heaven by Kimberly Cates, which I read for the 2011 TBR Challenge. Review is here. This book was a perfect reaffirmation of why I fell in love with romance fiction years ago, and even though I took breaks here and there over the past 20 + years, I still kept coming back to it.

February wasn't a total loss even though my numbers sucked. I actually read some quality books, just very slowly. I'm crossing my fingers March is better in terms of quantity. I've already got a short stack of winners going on right now, both in reviews for RRT and 'fun' books. And, I did forget to mention -- I won a hardback copy of River Marked by Patricia Briggs from Kmont in late February. I turned into a squeeing fangirl for Briggs last year after devouring the entire series, so this was a serious win-win for me. Heeeeee!

The First Step Is Admitting You Have A Problem

2011-02-26T01:05:00.000-05:00

My fascination with learning the Nook is veering into dangerous territory -- addiction. I've not entirely finished one book on my new toy, but I'm close. The problem is the valuable time I've spent in playing with it, seeing what it does, and trying different mediums to obtain ebooks from (yeah, I joined NetGalley...*sigh*). So even though I can finally whiz-bang through transferring my ebooks over to the Nook, I have not finished one blessed book since Sunday -- digital or paper. It's becoming a distraction,but one I want to master...

I was all happy happy last night when I started this post. And then today hit, and I thought I'd get cute and request a galley from NetGalley.

***SCREEEEECCCHHHH, kee-rash, blam-o!*** Or at least that's how I translate the soundtrack in my brain, a car slamming into a big brick wall. Seriously, I'm not a genius when it comes to computers, but I tend to pick things up pretty well when it comes to them. Hmm, then again, don't ask Wendy about my virgin blog days and trying to set my place up with all the pretties. Yeah, not so cute...

Today I spent nearly five hours here on the computer, trying to figure out why the one galley request I'd downloaded to my computer using the software necessary for these transactions would not read on Veronica, my Nook. Seriously, I had tech support from Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) and NetGalley, as well as various buddies of mine from the reviewing community, trying to help me. Hell, I even called the library because I was having the same problem with their digital library and kept getting the same "User Not Activated" message when I moved the damn book over to my Nook. I cried. I sweat. I ignored John. I think I even threw something -- of course only after I safely moved the Nook out of my wrath's way.

And then the ADE gods smiled on me and pointed me in the direction of the site's message boards for users. Forget the site's technical support and friendly advice -- they're bogus. I went to the people who actually use the software and scrolled through the long list of topics. "Authorizing Nook" popped up, and from there I finally figured out the problem.

So what do you get out of this post? Probably nothing. Hopefully you smiled. But, I beg you -- never go to tech support and hope that they can magically fix whatever problem ails you. In my case, I got lucky. But then again -- I went to the people who actually USE the equipment, not the nerds who support it, and got my answers, with a little bit of cheerleading from the girls at NetGalley. I applaud them, seriously.

Here's to a healthy relationship in the future, NetGalley!

Late Christmas Present

2011-02-20T18:46:00.003-05:00

I did it. I finally broke down and bought a Nook, which I'm considering as my late Christmas/early just-because gift. I've even got John interested in trying it out once he saw a few freebie Winston Churchill books. The version I bought is the simple Wi-Fi base model, but now I'm wondering if I should've gotten the Wi-Fi/3G since I have to have a Wi-Fi connection to download any purchases I make while home here on the computer.

While I won't pretend to be all that is smart and techno-savvy, I have successfully bought, downloaded and (get this!) transferred two Carina Press books over to Veronica (my Nook's name - it fits her personality). And while I was at B&N today to get them to help me register the blasted thing (yeah, I threw myself at them and cried Uncle. Again, I'm not the smartest geek out there.), the cute clerk showed me how to buy and download anything I wanted while in-store. So, yeah -- now I have the new Jill Shalvis, Animal Magnetism, and An Invitation to Sin, the new antho with Jo Beverly, as well as Fatal Affair by Marie Force and The Bartered Virgin by Chevon Gael from Carina. I even have a small list of freebie Nook books "purchased" so I can see if they'll download at work tomorrow night on the hospital's Wi-Fi. I finally get to see if all the hype about RJ Silver's The Princess and the Penis measures up (bahahaha! Yeah, I went there).

Stay tuned for further Adventures of Amy and Veronica...

TBR Challenge: Stealing Heaven

2011-02-16T05:00:00.007-05:00

A bit of back story...

I started reading romance back in the mid-90s or so. Historical romance was my drug of choice, especially after I read Julie Garwood's Castles. Dude, for me that book did no wrong. It was sweeping, highly romantic, dashing, and featured love scenes that just made me utterly melt (to this day, Princess Alesandra and Colin's day-after-the-wedding scene in his office is my most memorable). Back in the early days of my reading fix, I focused on the bigwigs -- Garwood, Jayne Anne Krentz, Nora Roberts, Heather Graham (oh oh oh, I loved her Civil War series to pieces!), and even dabbled in Kay Hooper and gave Linda Howard a try. Gah, I remember snatching up armfuls and armfuls of romance books at Walden's Bookstore (do they even exist anymore?). We won't even go into the type of buying I continue to do these days. I may be more picky, but there is so much more to choose from. For every day in the week, there is probably a brand spanking new author whose book is being released.

To be frankly honest, I still have unread books on my shelves from the initial days of my romance buying frenzy. This month's selection for the TBR Challenge, Stealing Heaven by Kimberly Cates, is just one of them. It features just the sort of trope and atmosphere that rocked my socks back in my first days of romance fandom -- angsty, dramatic, saga-like historical romance with a brooding hero who absolutely does not want a wife but winds up with one anyway. In this case, spinster Nora Linton answers a "want ad" of sorts when she starts sharing letters with an Irishman who seems as lonely as she. The fact that the letters she responded to were written by his 15-year-old daughter, Cassandra, is revealed after she arrives in Ireland to begin what she hopes will be a short engagement and subsequent marriage.

From the tone of his missives, she senses a commiserating loneliness and depth of understanding. But when she first meets Sir Aidan Kane, the aforementioned Irishman, it isn't hearts and stars, puppies and rainbow kisses she sees, but a living breathing irate man who feels as if he's been set up. He's pissed. And he's arrogant. Norah's hopes are dashed almost immediately. Despite the fact that Aidan will do anything for his daughter, he just cannot fathom marrying a woman desperate enough to travel to unknown lands to marry a man she's never met before. Uh, desperation?

To make a long story short, Norah and Aidan thrust and parry and finally succumb to an attraction that defies either of their beliefs despite Norah's less than belle-of-the-ball looks. While she considers herself plain, Aidan finally (hallelujah!) begins to see the beauty beneath her porcelain complexion. It only takes approximately two-thirds of the book for that to happen. He's been burned in the past from his first marriage to a ghee-ore-jous slut who may have posed as an innocent in society, but really was a whore at heart. The only thing good out of that marriage is his daughter, Cassandra. From page one we know that Aidan's lackluster image results not only from his drinking and gambling, but his reputation as a lady's man and the possible murderer of his wife as well.

If I remember correctly, Kimberly Cates had several Revolutionary War-set novels. While I may have a handful of qualms about Stealing Heaven today (yeah, the fact that the 15-year-old daughter gets away with just about everything, after all she's just lonely and needs a mama -- gah!), it still reads very well and kept me flipping the pages at a pretty decent speed. After all, it's angsty and, at times, tragic and is all that I embodied in romance back when I first started. Back then I loved the saga feel to my historical romances, and there's enough meat to Stealing Heaven that translates well even among today's offerings.

The proof is in the pudding and this type of book is what made me fall in love with the genre...

We Return You to Your Regularly Scheduled Program

2011-02-11T11:19:00.000-05:00

I've been a little bit quiet this week -- ok, a lot quiet. It's been a productive week (taxes: done, taking my new married name: paperwork turned in), just not in the way of reading. I won't say I'm in a slump, but it's taken me five days to try to finish P.C. Cast's Goddess of Legend. It's just that I usually find something else to do instead of parking my butt in a chair and reading. Earlier this week I cleaned out my office TBR (yes, my TBR encompasses multiple rooms) and actually thinned out about 25 books which I posted up on Paperbackswap. Of course, they're all much older books, less likely to move, so if they sit around too much longer I plan on donating them to the library. I was able to unearth two contenders for the TBR Challenge, this month being an "ugly duckling or a tortured hero" type of theme. I know it's not required that we stick to the theme, but it's one of my little goals this year.

I go back to work tonight -- probably why I've been so scatterbrained this week. I'm a bit nervous and excited at the same time to get back to the grind. I think John's ready for me to get out of the house (poor guy), but damnit, I just got to the point in this recuperation where I'm feeling much better and have been enjoying the extra time off. One thing I've promised myself is that I'm going to do my best in not dreading the whole work thing, wishing my days away. If I've learned one thing since all of this mess happened back in December, it's that you never know when you're time is up, so it's best to enjoy every step as much as you can. It could be your last.

And that's all I've got to say about that. Happy weekend!

Bored of Education?

2011-02-06T16:14:00.003-05:00

I'm currently dancing between two books, which I frequently do if I'm drowning in review books but still want to keep up with my "fun" books (library or TBR). This go-round it's P.C. Cast's December release, Goddess of Legend, and a YA book, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares. Now, I lurrrve me some P.C. Cast, both in her YA stuff and in her Goddess Summoning series. These are books that I refer to as "beefy". Let me explain...

Sometimes in my reading, there are books that I feel are sooo good that I could roll around in and just luxuriate. If I feel like I'm getting something out of the book beyond merely enjoyable reading, something that maybe I learn about myself or, better yet, just learn something -- anything -- from, than those books are "beefy". Frequently those types of books are historical and even non-fiction (oh how I looove me some non-fiction British history).

However, with P.C.'s books (yes, I feel like I can be on first name basis with this author) I almost always learn...something. Primarily in her mythological books, the Goddess Summoning series. I'll be honest, I had zilch in school about mythology and I seriously zoned out in any of the sciences (except for anatomy & physiology, which I rocked), which means that I missed a lot in astrology - a fact that John finds seriously lamentable since I can't locate any constellations beyond the Big Dipper and Orion and his belt. With the Goddess Summoning series, I always find myself hitting Wikipedia, looking up anything I can on gods and goddesses, and anything mythology-related. Do you know how MUCH is encompassed in that one subject? Oh. My. God.

When I've exhausted all I can stand on the internet in my quest, than I go to John and pick his brain (which, by the way, he loves because he's such a lovably arrogant geek). And then (yeah, you knew there had to be more) when my ears start to bleed, because seriously, once my wonderful husband starts, it's going to be a while before he stops answering my question, I'll go and hit the books. The number of non-fictional and reference books I've bought over the years about subjects that have interested me after I've read a romance is seriously terrifying. Since I started reading the Goddess Summoning series, I've amassed at least three huge mythology books. But my OCD tendencies is another topic for some other day...

I guess my point of this post is to see if I'm alone in this type of qualifying a good book: one that I love and would recommend to my friends because it was just that great, or one that I feel like I get something else out of, usually an education about a subject I'm interested in (history, mythology, cooking, you name it).

The funny thing is: I need to get this Cast review done at least before I return to work this Friday, right? And it took me nearly two hours to get through nearly 60 pages because I was too busy looking up Coventina, Viviane, or the Lady of the Lake -- depending on which legend you're talking about.

I like to be well-informed like that...

January Recap

2011-02-03T21:54:00.001-05:00

Well, I may not be blazing any trails in thinning out the TBR herd, but I can honestly say that the 9 books I read in January is a record high for me in a long time. Seriously. I can't remember the last time I read that many, and while I may not compare to many some bloggers in the Blogosphere (yeah, I'm talking to you, Katiebabs! I'm just jealous of your 20 reads for the month), I'm pretty proud of myself.

What did I read last month? I'm so glad you asked! (yes, talking to myself is therapeutic sometimes)

Not Another New Year's -- Christie Ridgway/B+

I was a little bit on the fence with this one between giving it a B+ and a B-. Now that I've let it marinate in my brain a while, it probably deserves the + because, hello!, it's Christie Ridgway and I seriously *heart* most of her books.

Secret Santa -- Mina Carter

A short story but, damnit, I'm counting it because it's my rules and I'll make 'em up as I go. Not much of a splash with this one, but I liked the fact that it's encouraged me to pay more attention to my ebook stash even if they are on the computer, short story or full length.

Under the Boss's Mistletoe -- Jessica Hart/A-

My official January TBR Challenge read and one that just really charmed me. Yeah, it's taken me about three weeks to come up with a way to describe why I liked it -- it charmed me. My college writing teacher would be proud of me, sheesh.

Santa, Baby -- Lisa Renee Jones/B-

I counted this as my twofer category binge, cataloging it in my holiday binge I was on at the end of '10 and in the first of the year as well as cheating and counting it as a second TBR Challenge read. Ok, maybe reading two books from Harlequin in a row might not quite qualify as a "binge", but again...my rules. I loved the hero here while the heroine wasn't quite my favorite. But a nice steamy read overall.

Royal's Bride -- Kat Martin/B+

I still need to write up a review for this one. I quite enjoyed this one and really need to dig out the two follow-up books in that series. Kat Martin just seems to do trilogies so well.

Blood of the Rose -- Kate Pearce/(still working out a rating for here)

Second book in the Tudor Vampire Chronicles, and my first official 2011 read! Oh, and it was a review book for RRT that I actually turned in on time. Go, me! I won't say anything more here on it since the review hasn't gone live yet, but may try to do some other kind of mini review with it later for this blog. (whoops, take back that back -- looks like boss lady updated the RRT site tonight)

Your Scandalous Ways -- Loretta Chase/A

Hands down, my favorite read of the year so far.

Secrets to the Grave -- Tami Hoag/A

My second favorite read of the year. And yeah, I should really write up a review.

Real Vampires Have More Fun -- Gerry Bartlett/A

Another review book for RRT and I haven't even finished up the review for it there so I won't say any more than that I love this series more and more with each book.

Since I don't often post monthly recaps because ~~my numbers fairly suck on a totals tally~~ I'm lazy, I'm not quite sure what format I want to stick with so I'm just throwing this out there if anyone wants to read it. Maybe if I get nit-picky tomorrow, I'll come back and set up links for what reviews I've done for January. Honestly right now I just want to find a cute picture to slap onto this post and go finish up reading SEP's Call Me Irresistible. It's a great start to my February reading, it's just that good.

Even My Mom Reads Harry Potter

2011-01-29T10:04:00.000-05:00

The Mr. and I are on the road to the beach today so we can just get out of the house and go have some nice quality time away this afternoon. Cross your fingers that Micah doesn't decide to throw a party while we're gone. Hopefully on the way, I can get some more of my current review book read, Real Vampires Have More To Love by Gerry Bartlett. I finished up Kate Pearce's Blood of the Rose earlier this week (review to be posted at RRT for the 2/1 update), realized that I have me a whole mess of vampires books to read from the Review Bosses. Maybe it's an omen...

Last night I finished reading Tami Hoag's December hardback, Secrets to the Grave, a book tied with an earlier release, Deeper Than the Grave. Both books take place in the '80s, long before cops had the benefit of DNA testing and automatic search results via computer like we see in modern day cop shows on tv. I'm seriously hoping for more books in the serious, because Dude, awesome writing all around. It seems that when you take the high tech away from the story and allow the suspense to rest on the characters doing old school detective work, there's more freedom for making them run the gamut. I loved that. Review to follow later.

On the way out of town, since it's on the way, we're stopping at the library to pick up a few holds they've got for me (because I'm sick like that -- more books!). Two of those holds are based on word that I've gotten around the Blogiverse -- Sylvia Day's The Stranger I Married, and Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. The Cohn/Levithan book is YA and will be my first beyond the PC/Kristin Cast House of Dark series, which I adore. I don't often read YA fiction, but the genre seems to be making its presence known with many of its variety on many faves lists everywhere. I was commenting to my mom about it yesterday, and she totally floored me when she told me she had joined the craze and actually read some of the Harry Potter series. Even *I* haven't gone there although many of our friends are big fans. Now, Mom's a well-read woman and cannot ignore a good book, but for her to have read Harry Potter?! I was amazed, although I shouldn't have been.

Maybe it's time for me to set a goal and give the blasted series a try...

Your Scandalous Ways: Two Paws Up!

2011-01-24T16:50:00.001-05:00

For me, today just seems like a perfect day to wallow in my rocking chair, covered with a blanket, beverage of choice close by, and a good book in hand. One of the perfect ways to while away loong winter days. Micah has taken to climbing up me to the back of the chair and sitting there, watching out the window, guard dog on duty. She supervised as I finished reading Loretta Chase's Your Scandalous Ways today.

Although Micah can't read (although the way she studies over my shoulder, I swear she's picking it up), we both agree that this Chase book was the best thing I've read in a looong time. I'm not sure how long it's been since I read one by this author, but I can promise it's been too long. If I didn't have a library book to read and return on time, I'd be going on a Chase binge.

From the blurb:

James Cordier is all blue blood and entirely dangerous. He's a master of disguise, a brilliant thief, a first-class lover -- all for King and Country -- and, by gad, he's so weary of it. His last mission is to "acquire" a packet of incriminating letters from one notorious woman. Then he can return to London and meet sweet-natured heiresses -- not adventuresses and fallen women.

Francesca Bonnard has weathered heartbreak, scorn, and scandal. She's independent, happy, and definitely fallen; and she's learned that "gentlemen" are more trouble than they're worth. She can also see that her wildly attractive new neighbor is bad news.

But as bad as James is, there are others far worse also searching for Francesca's letters. And suddenly nothing is simple -- especially the nearly incendiary chemistry between the two most jaded, sinful souls in Europe. And just as suddenly, risking everything may be worth the prize.

The setting, first off, kind of threw me -- it takes place in Venice, a city I've often dreamed of visiting. I have a lot of dreams... ;-) Most of them expensive. It's occurred to me that I have a lengthy bucket list of places I want to visit, and honestly that list keeps growing. I've found that, in my reading, I've been paying more and more attention to setting and locale and to see if the author can do more than just use the setting as where a book takes place. Since I've started taking more note, three books have come to mind of examples of how to add life into a book's setting: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas, Your Scandalous Ways by Chase, and another one that's asserting itself is Darkfever by KMM (I'm about a 1/3 through). I'm hoping that list grows this year, because I seem to enjoy a book all that much more if I can sink my teeth into finding out more about the locale. Not long after finishing those three particular books (ok, I'm not finished with DF, but I can still investigate Dublin -- Wikipedia's got all kinds of mad pics, dude!), I quickly hopped on the computer to do my own research into the cities each book took place in. Call it a new hobby.

(ANYway, back on track, Amy -- Micah needs to go out and you obviously need to hit the decaf...)

Your Scandalous Ways features a heroine both controversial and memorable, in my opinion. Francesca is a woman who knows what she wants, but it's taken her a while and quite a bit of pain to figure that out. A divorcee in England, she was shunned by her own friends in England thanks to her less-than-honorable husband's influence, she fled her home country and has now found her niche in Venice. She may be a harlot, but she's a proud one, and she owes nothing to any man now beyond what they pay her for. Fortunately, we as the reader, don't see any of how she conducts her business. But with Ms. Chase's awesome talent at creating situations, describing each detail in a scene down to the jewels on Francesca's throat, and spinning dialogue with an ease that just seems so natural and so musical, it's quite easy to see how La Bonnard has become the toast of the town. But I wax on...

I loved Francesca and James's chemistry and the apparent fun they have in vexing each other, both in word and action. James, of course, is a spy and cannot let Francesca get to know too much about him, but he can't help but feel an attraction to her like he's never felt before. His initial plan is to play hard to get, and by doing that she'll HAVE to come to him. This assignment is way too easy..or so he thought. Not long after introducing himself, James is in way over his head and finds himself searching her out, never satisfied with the small chunks of time he allows himself with her.

Mistaken or mysterious identities is a trope that I shouldn't like because it often involves the characters lying, which I abhor. But in Your Scandalous Ways, it works. Both James and Francesca refrain from becoming fully invested in each other, but it's not long before their hearts enter the ring and emotions are on the line.

Your Scandalous Ways is a book that I'll remember for a long time, and could quite easily become the rare keeper for me. Yeah, the setting enticed me, and the storyline worked for me, but what was really magic was Loretta Chase's painting a picture for me of her characters and waving a wand with the words she uses in describing the scenes and the seamless dialogue. Seriously -- bravo! And Micah agrees. :-D

A solid A read, all the way around.

Here We Go, Steelers, Here We Go!

2011-01-23T21:58:00.000-05:00

AFC Champions, Baby!

Next stop -- SUPERBOWL!!!!

TBR Review #2: Santa, Baby

2011-01-20T16:29:00.000-05:00

Once I'd finished reading Under the Boss's Mistletoe I figured, why not, I'm on a roll and I went for another category romance. What I ended up choosing was Lisa Renee Jones's Santa, Baby, a Blaze from December 2009. It's part of the Dressed to Thrill mini-series, and I don't honestly know if I have any of that series in the TBR or not. It might be worth a look-see.

In Santa, Baby, Caron Avery, a owner of a small bookstore that caters to what women want to read, is asked to pose as Marilyn Monroe in a hoity toity charity ball's fashion show, but is late for the gig after her store's toilet goes heel's up. (That's a conversation starter if I've ever heard of one -- "Hi, I'm Caron and I'm late because my shitter broke.") Anyway, already late and in a hurry to have her car parked so she can get backstage so the wardrobe and makeup folks can do their magic, Caron meets Baxter Remington, owner of the mega-popular (and expensive) Remington coffee shops across the country. Figuring he's definitely out of her league -- hello! he's gorgeous and mega rich -- Caron can't ignore a few steamy mini-fantasies that pop into her head while the valet takes his sweet time dealing with her car. She never once thought that she had a shot in hell at spending an evening alone with Baxter, let alone in his bed.

Baxter Remington likes what he sees when he comes up on a sexy brunette haggling with the valet parking guy to get her car at the front of the line. Despite the less than sleek sweatsuit and haphazard hairstyle piled on top of her eye, even without makeup, she perks more than his interest. When his mystery lady tells him to watch for Audrey Hepburn (Caron's assigned character for the charity) later on, Baxter can't help but hope for a better meet and greet session. Maybe he'll get more than her number...

After her tardiness leads to a costume change up, Caron must take the stage as none other than Marilyn Monroe. Being nothing like the blond bombshell, Caron allows herself enough to have some fun and enjoy the role. That includes when she meets up with Baxter after the fashion show. Neither one count on anything more than a one night stand, but it will be one to remember. But their one shared night turns into something more when they begin getting to know each other. Who ever thought that dressing up would be this fun?

Now, on the surface, Santa, Baby looks to be a holiday read, right? Honestly, the book could've taken place at any time during the year. But that wasn't my biggest problem with it. I just never connected with Caron all that much, didn't feel like I got to know her hardly. Her parents died when she was a kid and she was taken in by her grandmother, who fostered her love for books and reading. Being the owner of a bookstore is a big dream for Caron, and she's living her fantasy of selling the types of books that many women want to read -- sexy, romantic fiction and other types that cater more to the female reading gene. That was pretty much all I got out of Caron. For some reason she just appeared to be too one dimensional for me.

But Baxter on the other hand, not only does he ooze sex appeal to me, but I loved the way Lisa Renee Jones wrote him as more than a rich business mogul who can get any woman he wants. He doesn't know that he wants a more permanent partner in his life until he gets to know Caron better, and can see her in his future quite nicely. There is an angle to the book that features Baxter's business partner off-stage, an apparent major crook who seems fairly intent on painting Baxter as the bad guy. With all the bad press, it has not only caused Remington's stocks to take a dip, but also has the FBI interested in Baxter. So, honestly the last thing Bax probably needs is a romance right now but Caron becomes a balm, and something more than a romp in bed. Not that there's anything wrong with s-e-x. These two hit it off like fireworks on the 4th of July.

That's another thing that Ms. Jones did well in Santa, Baby -- keeping the chemistry, both sexual and emotional, fresh from one page to another. While Caron may not have been my favorite character ever and the bada-bing bada-boom (well, the first time) happens fairly early on, I never lost interest in seeing them work beyond just keeping their relationship as a sexual one and allowing it to turn into more.

On the whole, I enjoyed Santa, Baby, even with that minor quibble with Caron. Maybe if I'd felt more connection with her I would've given it higher than a B reading, but I still feel overall that Baxter and the rest of the book somewhat made up for it for me.

(Oh, and I have to say, because I'm such a cover whore -- I loved this cover. BUT the woman in it appears to be of Asian descent. I don't remember anywhere in the book mentioning Caron's nationality or her family's origin. Argh!)

TBR Challenge Review: Under the Boss's Mistletoe

2011-01-19T10:26:00.003-05:00

I should put it out there right away -- I had a mini-binge earlier in the month. I actually read two category romances in a row, and for me that constitutes a binge of sorts. I know I'm not knocking down any huge statistics columns or anything, but for me it's huge. The fact that I'm gradually edging towards a total count of 10 books read for the month so far is another huge thing for me. I might even do a monthly tally for January!

I have mixed reasons for dipping into my Harlequin stash this month. First, of course, is that it's the theme for the 2011 TBR Challenge, hosted this year by my coffee klatch buddy, Wendy. One of these days we have to work up a post deal and feature these women. Some of them are out and about in the Blogisphere too.

Getting back to topic, my other reason for the categories is that...well, they're easy to read. We're talking maybe a day for me to read one of these suckers, if I'm on a reading bender. So, for your reading pleasure, I offer TWO mini-reviews for my January installment of the TBR Challenge. See how lucky y'all are?

TBR Book #1: Under the Boss's Misteltoe by Jessica Hart. A November 2009 Harlequin Romance. Not sure about availability, but I do know when I keyworded at eHarlequin.com, I had no luck in finding it.

Cassie Grey had always harbored a fascination for Jake Trevelyan in high school, and the last time she'd seen him, he'd given her a kiss that would knock any teenager's socks off. Jake had always fostered his bad boy image and seemed to be happy with that role, so kissing Cassie should've gone a long way in emphasizing that, right? But that day, Jake knew he'd never regret the kiss, or forget Cassie.

Fast forward ten years: Cassie works for a wedding planning business (the blurb calls it "events planning"), trying to find her niche in the world since every other job she's ever had has turned into just that...a job. Not a career. When she finds out her next assignment is Jake Trevelyan, Cassie wonders if it's too late to pack her bags and leave the country. The last time she'd seen Jake, he'd kissed her, and damn it all if Cassie hadn't enjoyed every second of it. Cassie can't squash a little jealousy that she'll be planning a wedding for her former bad boy crush, but with their first meeting she finds out that the assignment is not his wedding. Jake asks for her help in turning his deceased mentor's mansion into a wedding venue, which may call for them spending several hours together -- alone -- in the mansion that had been their stomping grounds as kids.

Have I mentioned that Jake is rich as Croesus now? In the past ten years he's gone from bad boy to the Chief Executive of a thriving business, and he now appears as comfortable in high end business suits than he did in a leather jacket sitting on his motorcycle. Initially when I started out with Under the Boss's Mistletoe, I thought that Cassie would slow the book down for me. She seemed a bit immature, maybe too much so for Jake. But as the story progressed, it quickly became apparent that there was more than meets the eye with her. She has a heart of gold, is a klutz extraordinaire, but is one of the most genuine heroines that I've read in a while. Her honesty was quite appealing, and almost from her first meeting with Jake as an adult, she wears her heart on her sleeve. Honestly, it was evident to me that she still had the hots for him, but we wouldn't have a full-scale romance if the hero could pick up on it by page 20, right?

The thing that I loved about Under the Boss's Mistletoe (other than the cover -- it's gorgeous!) is that the theme is growth and maturity, and that both of these can happen while keeping true to yourself. Jake has come a long way in turning his life around. He'd done everything he could to not only leave his past behind and shed his scoundrel ways, and he's succeeded in doing just that. But you can take the man out of the leather (amen!), but sometimes you can't take the leather out of the man. Jake still has a kernel of bad boy in him, but he's afraid to let that come out. What he has a hard time doing is finding an even balance between successful business man and motorcycle riding man of steel, so he does the only thing he thinks is safe -- maintains a squeaky clean image. The kiss he'd given Cassie had been meant to teach her a lesson (don't play with fire), but he'd wound up getting burned himself. And as they spend more time together, making plans to turn the Hall into a wedding venue, he begins to see that maybe his life would be better with a bit more spontaneity, and definitely a lot more Cassie.

The steam level in this is pretty mild, but I loved the slower simmer that burns all the way through. It goes a long way to prove that I don't need to read of calisthenics and bedroom Pilates for me to enjoy a book (although they have a time and place as well). Will I be rereading this one one day? Hm, not sure since I'm not much of a rereader, but I can say that this book has stayed with me long after finishing it. I loved the British setting, and I loved the simplicity of the theme, high school crush all grown up. For that alone, I'm pretty comfortable with giving Under the Boss's Mistletoe an A- rating just because I keep going back and reading parts here and there, which I guess could constitute a mini re-read.

ETA: After reading this review, I've decided to divide up my two TBR reviews into two posts because, seriously, I don't want to make anyone's eyeballs bleed.

Where I've Been and What I'm Up To

2011-01-18T17:24:00.000-05:00

I have not contributed anything to the Blogiverse this past weekend at all, eh? Yeesh. I was doing good and had already trumped my December total tally of blog posts as of last Wednesday, and the month wasn't even half way over! But then -- EPIC FAIL in blogging, I fell asleep at the switch. Blame football Saturday and Sunday. Since I got my staples out last Thursday (go, me!), I've actually joined the Land of Living a bit more and gotten out there with a tiny bit more energy (and less pain).

On Friday, John and I started walking on the indoor track at the gym (might as well get back out there and not waste the investment I pay into for a gym membership each paycheck). I do a LOT of walking at work, and even though I don't have a permission slip to return to the job for at least another three weeks, I've got to build back up my strength and stamina. So yeah...walking.

The NFL playoffs pretty much kept me glued to the tv all day Saturday and Sunday. This wasn't just couch potato sports viewing. Oh no. I've never talked to a tv as much as I did on Saturday when the Steelers temporarily forgot what they get paid for and couldn't remember how to play football for the entire first half. Only by the grace of God and a few other deities (and hopefully an ass chewing from Coach Mike Tomlin at half time) did they save their collective tailends and win the game. Seriously, if they played the second half like they did the first, they may as well have handed that game to Baltimore. Oh, at times, I take my pro football seriously, especially when there's another Superball on the line for my beloved Black and Gold. But I digress...

Basically I'm rambling, trying to come up with a subject for this post, so bear with me (subject? We don't need no steenkin' subject...). I could make this reading related -- I finally finished ROYAL'S BRIDE this morning after letting it sit pretty much all weekend. Now I'm jonesing for another book, but haven't decided what mood I'm in -- historical vs paranormal vs romantic suspense vs contemporary vs hellifIknow. MsM has a nifty little post over at her place, asking her readers if they could choose, which paranormal/fantasy world and heroine would you live and be if you had a choice. I definitely have some catching up there to do.

Oh oh! I forgot. Over the weekend I started an ebook (hey, it was a freebie download) that I swore I'd probably never read and get this -- I'm liking it! With all the talk about Karen Marie Moning's upcoming Fever book release, it's got me curious. So I started DARK FEVER on Friday night. Since I have to read all of my ebooks on the computer right now, it's slow going for me since I can't stand to sit for that long and read an entire ebook in one sitting. But, still, I'm really enjoying it. Love the Dublin, Ireland setting.

Lately I've spent more time at a few non-bookish blogs, chiefly at one of my new favorites, The Frugal Girl. This girl makes saving money look so cool. I've actually taken a few of her pointers and applied them to mine and John's daily lives. One of the biggest things I'm having to curb is staying out of the freaking grocery store and maintaining a stricter budget. I'm a magnet for anything that looks different, delicious, a good buy, or screams "you want me, Amy!" at the grocery. If Gerber baby food was on sale, I'd probably buy it because I could save $4 on 10 jars...you dig? And, yeah, we don't have any kids. Also, I love to go grocery shopping if I'm bored. Oh, I have tons of food in the house that I could use, but shopping sounds like so much fun.

Another one of my new fave blogs is the Non-consumer Advocate. This blogger is a little more strict in her thinking in that she rarely buys anything new (except for key items) and while it's certainly a good way to think and learn to save dollars here and there, I'm not sure I can stay out of the bookstores for an entire year. I'm doing better, but I hardly have that much restraint.

And that's where I'm at these days. Exciting life I lead, no? Apparently I'm feeling a bit longwinded today. Sheesh.

A Royal Pisser

2011-01-12T17:14:00.001-05:00

So, yeah... There's no love in Staple-ville. *sigh* John and I trekked out today for my doctor's appointment and subsequent staple removal, only to be met with a sign on the office door that the Office Was Closed, Open Thursday and Friday. Umm? No phone call? No, 'hey, Ms. Amy? Your appointment for this morning is going to have to be rescheduled for later in the week because the entire office staff lives wayyy out in the boonies and therefore cannot be expected to be into work because We Can't Get Out Of Our Driveways'. Well, ain't that a real mood killer. These bastards (the staples, not the office staff - although they were temporarily on my shit list) are driving me crazy, itching, and I want them out NOW! But I'm nowhere near as inconvenienced as the two other patients who each drove over 45 minutes from outlying towns, braving the "Bad Weather", to make their appointments. Oh, have I mentioned THAT THE SNOW IS NEARLY MELTED AND OUR ROADS ARE CLEAR?? School is even back in session...

But I'm not bitter...

Anyway, the appointment is rescheduled for tomorrow and now I'm back to pacing the apartment, wringing my hands, trying to pick another book to read. Last night I finished up Lisa Renee Jones's SANTA, BABY, which means I read an entire book in one day. Go, me! If you count back from last Wednesay, January 5th, I've read FOUR FREAKIN' BOOKS (well, 3 books and a short story) and I'm totally rockin' this reading upswing. It's about time. Santa listened.

I'll have to write up a review for SANTA, BABY because I was pleasantly surprised by it. It didn't start off good for me because I felt zero connection with the heroine at first. And, if I'm honest, I feel like there could have been more oomph to her characterization. But the hero rocked my socks and really saved the book for me. I mean, seriously, hawt!

So if I do the math, I can delete one book from my ebook TBR and I've already added the three completed paperbacks to my Paperbackswap trade list, but I'm coming in heavy on the incoming list. Y'all, besides that trip to BAM last weekend for my birthday, the one in which I got 5 books, I also placed an eHarlequin order over the weekend, AND I just carried in two bags of categories that one of the girls at work gave me so I "have something to do while I'm recuperating". Bless her heart. She's a great friend, but she's never seen my Mt. TBR. But there's some reissued Betty Neels books (never read her before), as well as some December '10 Silhouette Desires and Harlequin Romances in there. Normally I would've put those back in the UBS trade sack, but I really got a taste for them after finishing Jessica Hart's UNDER THE BOSS'S MISTLETOE. Maybe I need to mix in some more CEOs and sheikhs into my reading to jazz things up.

Hmm, maybe a CEO or sheikh would've MADE the doctor come in today to remove my staples, instead of just blessing him out on the phone.

Monday Meanderings

2011-01-10T14:01:00.002-05:00

This year, I'd like to post weekly -- or even bi-weekly-- roundups of what I've read. But once I go back to work, I have a varied schedule in that if I'm off one weekend, then I work the next. The same goes for days thoughout the week. So I'm playing with ways that I can do this and hold myself accountable for what I've read in any given week's time. Have I confused y'all yet? If I were being brutally honest, I'd love to compare my books bought to books read ratio to see the actual numbers and how they're stacked this year.

The good news is, I finished three books last week! Well, if I'm being honest, it was two books and a short story, but damnit I'm counting it as three because that's the way I roll, yo. I'm trying to decide if I'll post a review of sorts for the Jessica Hart category romance this week or use it as my TBR Challenge review because it fits the January theme. Decisions decisions... I still haven't picked out what to read next, which is a laugh with all these books in my house, just staring me down.

One of the books, as mentioned earlier, was a short story ebook and a holiday one at that. For some reason, going into it, I thought it was supposed to be an erotic SS, but it turned out to be as hot as, say, a Harlequin Medical Romance. In fact, with a bit more fleshing out and more story, it could easily have passed for one -- SECRET SANTA by Mina Carter. As you'll see by the link, it was a freebie and a cute little hero-doctor-rescues-the-nurse kinda story.

I used to read ebooks a lot more and in recent years I've gotten away from that. The biggest reason being that I don't own a Kindle or Nook. Because I'm practically forced to sit down here at the computer to read ebooks, I tend to gravitate away from them. I do have a rather primitive Palm Pilot, but the only thing with that, when I remember to keep it charged, is that it seems to take forever for me to get through even a short ebook because the screen is so small. What I wouldn't give right now for a reader since I do have quite a handful of ebooks saved on my computer and on CD as well. But I've made myself a promise that if I achieve a particular goal this year, then my gift to myself will be a reader of some variety.

In other news, I have an appointment this week to get my staples taken out so I'm counting down the hours until Wednesday morning. Since this was my first surgery ever, I'm torn between ecstatic that they're coming out and nervous at the pain that I'm sure will commence with said procedure. Even though I snuck out to the bookstore with John on Saturday (hey, it was my birthday), I may call up another trip to reward myself for being a good patient. Forget that earlier comment about tracking incoming books versus outgoing -- retail therapy may be just what the doctor orders...

Starting the Year Off Right

2011-01-06T13:36:00.001-05:00

In all the hoopla with the wedding, holidays, hospitalization and such, I forgot to mention that John and I became the proud parents of a new dog, Micah. During the week of Thanksgiving, it hadn't been quite two months since Baron had passed and while we miss him (and still do!) desperately, John and I were lonely. That's when we got on the web and started researching some of the local rescue places and set up an appointment to meet Miss Diva. The rescue called her Abby, but we renamed her and she's taken to it quite well. She fits right in around here and, maybe I'm biased, but I think she likes me more than John. LOL She's a bossy little thing, and since I've been home from the hospital she's started guarding me while I'm sleeping.

Yesterday she was the perfect companion for an afternoon in the rocking chair while I finished my book, NOT ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S by Christie Ridgway. Y'all, I actually finished a book in a day and a half! This one can be counted as my first official 2011 read.

I hate Auld Lang Syne!

After all, this year brought Hannah Davis nothing but the memory of her wandering fiance marrying someone else behind her back. Now, sitting alone at a bar in Coronado, California, on December 31, she decides to do something radical...and lets a brooding good-looker taker her to bed. But when a hysterical woman bursts into their room much too early on New Year's Day, Hannah realizes this guy's more complicated than she thought...

Ex-Secret Service Agent Tanner Hart screwed up, big-time! Hoping to temporarily boot some of the ghsts from his life, he hooked up wit this sexy stranger for a hot one-night stand -- only to discover she's the woman he's agreed to protect...from me just like him!

But a new year is a time for fresh beginnings. Despite the danger, the hoopla, and the hangovers, if Hannha's brave enough to risk her heart again -- and Tanner's wise enough to realize he deserves it -- maybe this one will be different.

First off, it's always difficult for me to truly get into a straight contemporary romance because I abhor zany, unless I'm watching a sitcom (*sniff* Friends). To do contemp. the right way, I think the author has to mix up the perfect blend of humor with warmth, all while keeping it sexy and fresh. Christie Ridgway did just that in NOT ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S. Despite the silly pink bubblegum cover with glitter and a tiara, this book is fun, sexy, and one that was done just right...or at least for my tastes.

There's a couple characters who were featured in a previous book (MUST LOVE MISTLETOE), which I'd read several years ago. And while I couldn't quite recall specifics from that book, I remember thinking the cover was adorable and recalling that the heroine ran her family's year round Christmas store. Those two characters, Finn and Bailey, factor into NANY because of Tanner and Finn's shared vocation, ex-Secret Service.

What the blurb doesn't touch on is how hard Tanner is on himself throughout most of the book. The screw up mentioned is not of his fault, but being the responsible hero he is, he totally blames himself. But that doesn't detract from the guy's ability of knowing just what to do to keep Hannah entertained and out of harm's way. There is a mild adventure thread, and one I won't mention other than it lends itself to the secondary romance between Tanner's brother, Troy, and one of Tanner's past protection detail assignments, Desiree, the daughter of an Arab prince. I have to say though that I would've liked to see Troy with his own book. I could easily a whole book around him. But it's a minor gripe.

Hannah is one of those girls who has never stepped outside her comfort zone, and the fact that she's wanting to spend the night in the arms of a stranger should scare her. But what she doesn't know is that this 'stranger' is actually the man her uncle had set up to be her host while on vacation in Coronado. Hannah comes with her own bit of emotional baggage, although the way her engagement had ended would mess anyone up, there's more than meets the eye in the emotional department. We find out later on that for most of her life, Hannah has been trying to measure up to her sister's ghost, who had died in a traffic accident when Hannah was six years old. That kind of history would mess anyone up, especially when you see that all of this time, Hannah has blamed herself and tried to be the perfect daughter for her parents since. At first I was wanting to hate Hannah and her perfect goody two shoes self, but when I kept reading, it made me appreciate her that much more.

This year I'm going to try something new and think of grades or scores for the books I read. Many of the blogs I read have their own little ratings scales with thumbs up, or stars, hearts, hugs or kisses. I'm a plain kinda girl and will have to stick to the letter grades unless I can come up with something else in the future. That being said, I'm going to give NOT ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S a solid B/B+ score. It was a great start to what I hope will be a great reading year for me.

O-H-I-O!

2011-01-04T18:10:00.001-05:00

It's not a secret that I'm a HUGE Buckeyes fan, and tonight is a big night in my house. Ok, well, at least it is for me -- John could honestly care less.

Tonight....it's the SUGAR BOWL and the Bucks play Arkansas in a game that I hope will prove that the Big 10 CAN hold its own against the SEC. So, y'all know where I'll be tonight. Yep. Parked in front of the tv, with a non-alcoholic beverage of choice in hand (boo hiss, Percocet!), cheering my boys on.

(And this one's for a very dear friend who can't be here with me, or at least mad texting with me during the game....O-H-I-O! I miss ya, girl. I hope you've got front row seats up there.)

Falalalala!

2011-01-03T17:45:00.002-05:00

Every Christmas I always have these ~~lofty~~ ~~unrealistic~~ honest, heartfelt intentions of reading at least 4 or 5 holiday-themed romance novels. This year I didn't quite make that goal, but I was able to get in two, A COUNTESS BY CHRISTMAS by Annie Burrows and CHRISTMAS EVE AT FRIDAY HARBOR by Lisa Kleypas. Since the Kleypas was a library book and one that I read in the week or so after I got married, I've long given up on posting any kind of review for it. But I will say this -- it was good. Maybe not earth shattering or enough to get me to buy my own copy for keeper-dom, but I enjoyed it. For me, the thing that most stood out was the setting; it almost seemed like a character itself. I'm a huge fan of books set in the Pacific Northwest, and until this book I had never even heard of Friday Harbor. But, trust me, I did some research now and this tiny little island paradise is now firmly on my Places I Want To Visit list. There is just something about that area of the country that just calls to me -- the lifestyle, pace, or maybe it's the coffee; for me, maybe it's just the cozy waterfront setting that I just adore. Whenever I read a book set in the locale, I always want to go out and buy fifty fisherman sweaters, throw on a pair of Uggs, grab a cup o' joe, and zone out for a while. And I've never even set foot in the great state of Washington. Maybe John and I can retire there one day...

My other holiday romance this year was A COUNTESS BY CHRISTMAS, a December '10 Harlequin historical. Despite the fact that I just finished reading it this afternoon, I can't count it as a 2011 read since I'd started it long before Christmas. I even had it in the hospital with me, but Dilaudid has this crazy way of killing any intentions of getting anything done while you're laid up in a hospital bed. When I was finally off the good ~~shit~~ drugs, daytime tv sucked me in for a couple days, and it was just easier to gork out to Toddlers and Tiaras, and Hoarders: Buried Alive on TLC.

Anyway, a review!

A proposal under the mistletoe!

The Earl of Bridgemere is happy to encourage his reputation as a curmudgeonly recluse if it repels the grasping females who usually attend his lavish Christmas parties. Helen Forrest is like a breath of fresh air, uninterested in his wealth and not cowed by his temper. Bridgemere's seasonal duty suddenly becomes a pleasure as he sets about making Helen his countess -- by Christmas!

I'll let y'all in on a secret: I rarely read Harlequin historicals even though I buy them by the truckload around the holidays. What sold me on this one? Yeah, the cover. I love rich, glossy, sumptuous covers, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. This one is simplistic and featured two things that caught my eye, a beautiful red dress and a Christmas-y wreath. Yeah, I'm easy.

Did the story live up to the cover? To be honest, I was shocked at the depth of characterization. Helen is maidenly, modest, earnest, and loves her adopted aunt, Bella, who is a major character in A COUNTESS BY CHRISTMAS as well. After losing everything financially, Helen and her aunt are forced to travel to Bridgemere's estate to beg for help. It's there that Helen and Bella have to suck it up and grovel, which is difficult since her aunt had raised her to be an independent, freely-thinking woman who shouldn't have to rely on any man for anything. But the tables are turned when the women see that the earl isn't exactly the cold-hearted A*hole they'd believed for so many years.

The romance is sweet, just barely touching on anything sensual, but it was dealt with a deft pen. Normally I like a bit more heat, but the level here worked well for the pace and type of romance. The characters featured a wide range of folks, ranging from the evil/self-centered siblings and heir who claim Bridgemere wants only for himself and can't see beyond the tip of his own nose, to the children and townsfolk who paint a much different picture. Helen is torn in both directions, trying to figure out just what kind of person he is, but ultimately starts looking beyond the rumors and misconceptions to the man beneath the icy exterior. Could it be that the Earl of Bridgemere truly does have a heart?

In my house, Christmas is never over until my birthday on January 8th, but I think I may have to keep it around longer this year and read some more Christmas-y books. A COUNTESS BY CHRISTMAS really whet my appetite for the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Looking Forward to a Better Year

2010-12-31T17:36:00.002-05:00

I'm going to try that random stream of thought kinda post...so just bear with me...

So, that last post I did - the one with the Charlie Brown clip? - yeah, well, I didn't know that would be the day before I'd go to work the next night, end up nearly collapsing, and being rushed to emergency surgery. But more on that in a bit...

This being the last day of 2010, I've got to say that I had a pretty damned good year. I'm healthy, I'm alive (thanks to my co-workers at the local medical center I work for), I have a man whom I'm over the moon about, and hell, we even got married. And then the last half of December turned into a shitstorm and came completely crashing down around my feet.

All I have to say is this -- while we did pretty well this year, I'm looking for 2011 to be a new start for me, a better year for John, and one that I'm actually able to pause every day and just thank God that I'm alive. There is the other alternative, the one where I wouldn't be here, writing up a blog post while I'm waiting for chicken to cook in the oven, counting down the last hours of the year 2010. Yeah, I could be dead.

But I'm not trying to be morbid; I am still trying to sort things out in my head and come to terms with the fact that a helluva lot happened in the past week and a half. My surgery was emergent because I had neglected to take care of myself and hadn't been to the doctor in way too long. (Some sort of health professional I am...) But that nonsense is going to stop and from here on out, I'm going to be a straight by-the-book girl and make my doctors' appts and actually keep them. Of course, for the next month, I have to if I want to get these staples out of my gut, but you catch my meaning.

So, yeah, I'm making a resolution -- take better care of myself! Oh yeah, and read more books. *snort* I have plenty of time on my hands with my leave from work to do that now...

Hectic Tuesday

2010-12-21T08:04:00.000-05:00

I've got a large-ish handful of things to do today to get ready for Christmas, and since I work Wednesday and Thursday this week, it doesn't leave me a whole lot of time outside of today. SO, having said that, I leave you with one of my favorite clips from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

All I Want For Christmas...

2010-12-15T13:30:00.000-05:00

Dear Santa,

I'm not asking for anything materialistic this year for Christmas (although, if you wanted to throw a Kindle or Nook my way, I wouldn't complain), because...let's face it, if I want it, I'll buy it. That doesn't mean that I don't have a small, itty bitty wishlist. You see, I have this huge, freaktasticly large TBR that will not read itself, so all I want is MY *BLEEPING* READING MOJO BACK!

It's not a lot to ask for, is it? Alright, maybe I have an "oh shiny!" kind of complex and my attention span has been shorter than a two-year-old's lately, but c'mon, give me a break. I've read exactly FOUR books in the span of two months. Maybe. My current book, TO TASTE TEMPTATION by Elizabeth Hoyt, has taken me well over two weeks to read, and I still have about a quarter of it to finish. That's not to say that the book is bad or even 'eh', it's actually quite good, (and HOT!) but these days when I climb into bed, I'm almost totally asleep by the time my head hits the pillow. It used to be that I could spend at least three or four hours reading into the night, but those days have gone the way of the dodo bird.

Am I stressed? Not unless you count me fretting about the floor caving in on my poor neighbor due to the weight of my TBR (don't laugh, I actually do worry about that). Am I happy? Absolutely. There is no reason at all for my lack of attention span. I just miss reading, but have yet to spend more than 20 minutes in one sitting with a book.

So, while you're filing your flight plan for December 24th and checking out the Who's Who on the Naughty and Nice lists, please could you throw some reading magic my way and give me back my mojo?

Thank you so much!

Amy (the one on the Naughty But Nice list)

Where Amy Gets Choked Up

2010-11-18T15:20:00.001-05:00

Now that our wedding has taken place and John and I have begun to settle into married life -- which, honestly is not much different than our lives before, it's just better -- I've had time to reflect on this past week and how everything went down. It was all a bit overwhelming, really. When I woke up on Friday, November 12th, I got a bit prosaic and maudlin alternately with barely being able to remember my own name. Yeah, the level-headed, realistic Amy was temporarily replaced with Spazoid Amy. Jittery, nervous, worried, fretting that everything would go right -- and I know I must've repeated myself too many times to count. Scatter-brained much?

I may have mentioned that part of my family was able to travel down to NC to make sure that I'd actually carry through with it and successfully say "I do". Three of my best friends were in attendance, along with my mom and her friend. We even had Baron there - albeit in a picture frame, but it didn't feel right not to bring a memento with us, knowing he was there in spirit.

The ceremony itself was simple and gorgeous, set amongst the autumn-turned trees (seriously, a riot of colors) on a beach in Lake Norman. At that time of the day - our wedding was at 4pm - the sun is just starting to drop in the western sky and on that day it was a bright golden glow reflected in the lake's surface. Yes, I wore shades for a short moment as I took my place among our friends, only ditching them in time to walk with my mom to stand beside John. One of the best things in the wedding was, as we waited for everyone to get into some semblance of order (hello, no church pews), Lynda, the officiant and a dear friend, sent the rings around the group of guests, asking that each one "bless" them or send out a good thought or prayer for our new life together. Not being a big church goer, I'd wanted the rings blessed somehow -- this was perfect.

John and I wrote our own vows for this. Having only experienced the more traditional weddings, we wanted to do something that was more geared to the way we live. So, having said that -- we blended in some highly romantic lines with a humorous one or two. Or at least *we* thought they were funny and people laughed a bit - mixed in with a lot of crying, not counting myself (sobbing) and John (seriously teary-eyed).

Do I feel any different? Honestly -- yes. I feel more complete, if that makes any sense. John and I got along fabulously well before the wedding, and it was our fear of failure (both being divorcees) that kept us from taking this step for too long. But things change and people get older and hopefully wiser. I'm proud to be a Mrs. now. I'm honored to be John's wife. And before I get too sappy and choked up, I wouldn't trade my life for all the money in the world.

Mission: Wedding

2010-11-16T17:25:00.000-05:00

....total success! I'm now a happily married old hag. And yes, the boots were duly noted and highly commented on. More pics to follow.

Bad-Ass Boot-Wearin' Bride

2010-11-09T08:02:00.000-05:00

Ok, so why do I have a retro biker chick for today's random post? Hell if I know. I just dug the boots she's wearing in the pic, and from there I can riff on the boots I bought yesterday for my wedding outfit. Yes, this chica is wearing kick-ass knee-high boots when she says "I do". My mother's fairly fainting just thinking about it, and my friends are seriously wondering about my sanity. But dude -- I LOVE them, and they fit my less-than-skinny calves! Of course, since I'm nearly OCD about having all of my bases covered (seriously, I pack for EVERY eventuality), I went ahead and bought a pair of ballet flats just in case. It was teh hilarious in the store yesterday when I was able to find a pair of boots that fit - I almost kissed the store clerk. Seriously, I love store employees who know how to get you to step outside your comfort zone, but offer assistance so that you don't fly totally outside the realm of respectability.

Today and tomorrow will be devoted to picking up the remaining supplies I need for the reception (serving bowls/platters and utensils, extra plates, coffee cups, etc) and to start packing, making sure we have everything we need. Note to self: do not forget the rings and marriage license. Yeah, that'd be something I do.

I actually have three books waiting for me at the library because...well, I'm stupid that way. When in the hell am I going to have time to read in the next week? But I couldn't pass up the chance to read Lisa Kleypas's and Erica Spindler's newest hardbacks. Have I mentioned that I have a problem passing up books?

Things are quiet across Blogiverse, and I certainly haven't been blazing any trails in spontaneity and electric witticism with my less-than-numerous posts lately. Maybe once Wedding Week is over I can wow and awe folks with my sparkling personality. *snort* As if...

Humpday Happenings

2010-11-03T09:27:00.000-04:00

So today is the second of three showers that are being given for me and John - actually, this evening's get-together isn't a shower, per se, but one at a local favorite restaurant where we can all have some fizzy drinks. Funnily enough, the shindigs are all being put on by people I work with, and one of them reads this blog (*waving at Jeff*). Honestly, it's kinda overwhelmed me how much people have gone out of their way to celebrate our wedding. While I don't have any family down here, I can claim that the people I work with have become surrogate family to me.

Last night I took call for my boss at work, so I spent most of the day sleeping which led to me being awake most of the night. I kept my nose in a book a good portion of the night, but I had the election coverage on in the background for "white noise". Hmm, maybe the combination of the Scarpetta novel and all the hatred and viciousness in the media surrounding this election is what led to my nightmares when I finally did drift off to sleep around 3a.m. It's amazing what people say about the results and supposed hidden agendas for all of these D.C. gurus. Granted, I don't trust most politicians, but don't dare call me ignorant or stupid just because I can understand the reasoning behind the Tea Bag Party, or don't always hate the current guy in the Oval Office. Now I remember why I don't discuss politics with friends -- people can get nasty, and unfortunately it sometimes results in the demise of friendships over something as silly as an election result. OMG, stop the hatred -- enough already!

Since dinner and drinks with our friends isn't until 5:30 this evening, and the restaurant is conveniently located in a mall that just happens to share brick space with Books-A-Million -- guess what John mentioned?! Ha! Bookstore trip! I'm a grown woman of not-quite 40 years old, and I actually squeed like a little girl when he mentioned it. Try to restrain yourself, Amy...

*snort* Not.

It's gonna be a good day, Amy.

Trick or Treat

2010-10-31T17:19:00.000-04:00

Whether you celebrate Samhain or Halloween, here's to hoping your goody bags be filled to overflowing!

Friday Friday Friday

2010-10-29T17:34:00.001-04:00

Now I'll be singing this song all weekend. It's sooo dance-worthy! I think this is going to be mine and John's new song... hehe

Yada Yada Yada...

2010-10-26T16:00:00.000-04:00

Oh my God. Pre-wedding nervous breakdown has commenced. Now, I am not terrified or spazzing out about marrying John -- in fact, I wholeheartedly embrace it and seriously look forward to becoming that man's wife; yeah, it's kinda cool that honestly being in love despite any ups and the downs really does exist, and even when I get so pissed off at him that I can't speak, I still love him my whole heart. But I am freaking out about the entire day goes off without a hitch. Thank God my mommy will be there. LOL

Other than that, not much else going on in these parts. I went old school in my reading and am hurriedly trying to finish up CRUEL AND UNUSUAL by Patricia Cornwell. A change of pace - sort of. I'm not burned out on the series yet and really need to dig through it so I will be current. Friends both in the romance community and at work have both warned me that Cornwell sort of jumped the shark in the Scarpetta series, but I'm remaining hopeful. What I really need to find are the other two books in her Andy Brazil series -- SOUTHERN CROSS and ISLE OF DOGS -- and the Win Garano series. I read the first one in the Andy Brazil series, HORNET'S NEST ages ago, in fact I did so in one sitting during a very slow day at a former job. I liked it that much, and really dug the setting, Charlotte, NC, since it's sort of one of my stomping grounds.

Oh! I also finished up a goody the other night that I need to write up a review for asap -- WICKED DELIGHTS OF A BRIDAL BED by Tracy Anne Warren. It's been a while since I read a strictly historical romance book, and it was like a breath of fresh air. This was the fourth book in her Byrons of Braebourne series, and I don't really feel like I jumped into the middle of a series. It stood alone pretty well, but I'd like to read the first three. I'm sure they're on my TBR....*sigh*

Another recommendation is THE COUNTESS AND THE KING by Susan Holloway Scott, which I reviewed for RRT and gave it a Perfect 10. Yeah, it's that good. I LOVE historical fiction, especially when it sticks pretty close to the real deal, and Restoration England is quickly becoming a new fascination for me. This one takes place during the later years of Charles II's reign and on into the beginning year or two of his brother, James II.

I got my new copy of RT Magazine today, and I'm officially in cover lust. I'm also officially on a budget, but when has that ever stopped me? There are tons of gorgeous historical romances coming out in December that I want to add to my TBR. So a lot of wistful sighing and magazine petting has commenced. Amy likes, Amy wants... Yeah, we'll be broke before the year's out. Heh.

Not Much To See Here

2010-10-12T10:33:00.000-04:00

While I had an eye-opening weekend at work (it's amazing what people say behind your back, eh?), it was actually a fairly productive one. I've been stuck in a rut, job style-wise, and I'm trying to change things up which sometimes can be like moving a mountain. Gah, people hate change! All I can say is that I'm thankful for my two days off, and John and I are running away to the circus today. Ok, well, the county fair. So today, I've got elephant ears and funnel cakes dancing in my mind. Cholesterol City, here I come!

This weekend our plans include running up to NC to get our marriage license. This should be interesting -- it's a race weekend in Charlotte, and the locals can get a bit crazy if it involves NASCAR and exhaust fumes. Oh, and beer. Beer is a natural ingredient when it comes to racing. Then on Sunday or Monday we're off to yet another fair, but this time the state fair. Should be interesting since we've never been.

I've gotten really good at talking about nothing of consequence, it seems. I need a topic, and since I'm slowly dragging my way through Linda Howard's newest release, VEIL OF NIGHT, I'm fresh out. I had to put aside the Jen Crusie book so I could get this one knocked out, but I'd hit a wall with MAYBE THIS TIME. I'm not sure why, if you don't factor in all the things I've had going on lately. I wound up renewing it at the library so I have another two weeks on it. While I was finding the dialogue and character interaction fun, I have a hard time with zany romance and, although this doesn't bleed inanities, I don't do well with goofball-type behavior. And there's a few of those episodes spread throughout. But we'll see. My reading tastes have changed throughout the years, and I cringe to think of all the contemporary romances I have on the TBR, many of them highly recommended by several friends. It seems a shame that those might be some of the first ones I toss out when I get back into a Clean Sweep Mode.

R.I.P. My Sweet Baron

2010-10-07T12:32:00.000-04:00

It's taken six days to get to a point where I can talk about the decision that John and I had to make last week, probably the hardest one we've had to in our ten-plus years together. For a while now, I'd been preparing for the day when I had to say goodbye to Baron, and that day came on Friday, Oct. 1. You think you're ready for something like that, and despite knowing that you're doing it for the best reasons, the pain it brings is unreal. He was the best friend a girl could ever ask for, and I miss him enough to feel it physically. It's amazing how a pet can become that much a part of your life. Baron did, and words don't justify how much I miss him.

But John and I are able to start talking about him a little and remember the good times, and trust me, there were TONS of those. They far outweigh any and everything.

So while I don't have much to say these days, I'm still around and kicking - slowly getting back into the swing of life. My God, I have a wedding in just over a month and those days are flying by. I ordered my wedding dress (not a traditional one, just a cute little silver number), and it's on its way to me now. While my mom thinks that it's too dark, I like it and found a shawl that a good friend gave me a few years ago to pair with it. Next on my list is a pair of kick-ass boots to go with the ensemble, and I'm going to be one rockin' bride (ha, screw heels).

My reading is spotty, but it's helped get me through some of the tougher moments and forced me to concentrate on something else besides that empty spot on the couch where Baron used to sleep. Once or twice I could swear I've heard the jingle from his collar, so I think he's still around, keeping tabs on me and Hairless (uh, that would be John).

Damnit, I thought I was done crying...

Deeper Than the Dead

2010-09-28T18:33:00.000-04:00

Well, since we last talked, I've been on a veritable reading frenzy. It's almost like I can't get enough of it, and I'll lay on the bed and read for hours, until my eyes are blurry and I need to reach for the Visine. I've had some things on my mind (my poor old dog, AND a wedding and its plans), so I'm appreciating the escape, even if it's blood and guts and gore. I think I need to delve into a historical romance, or even a contemporary, to cleanse my palate. Good thing I brought home my library hold, MAYBE THIS TIME by Jennifer Crusie.

The other evening, I wouldn't leave my bedroom until I finished DEEPER THAN THE DEAD by Tami Hoag. When I first started going through problems several years ago, and I realized that my marriage was over, I'd spend hours just laying on the living room floor in front of the open patio door, reading. Tami Hoag was a constant favorite for me back then, and I've gotten away from her latest stuff. I remember tearing apart NIGHT SINS and GUILTY AS SIN during a week when we were having some awesome nighttime thunder storms. Hey, in the Carolinas, it's not unheard of. Great mood setting for creepy, dark reading. Too bad I didn't feel the television movie of NIGHT SINS did the book any justice, but I still watched it.

Taken from the product description at Amazon:

California, 1984. Three children, running in the woods behind their school, stumble upon a partially buried female body, eyes and mouth glued shut. Close behind the children is their teacher, Anne Navarre, shocked by this discovery and heartbroken as she witnesses the end of their innocence. What she doesn't yet realize is that this will mark the end of innocence for an entire community, as the ties that bind families and friends are tested by secrets uncovered in the wake of a serial killer's escalating activity.

Detective Tony Mendez, fresh from a law enforcement course at FBI headquarters, is charged with interpreting those now revealed secrets. He's using a new technique-profiling-to develop a theory of the case, a strategy that pushes him ever deeper into the lives of the three children, and closer to the young teacher whose interest in recent events becomes as intense as his own.

As new victims are found and the media scrutiny of the investigation bears down on them, both Mendez and Navarre are unsure if those who suffer most are the victims themselves-or the family and friends of the killer, blissfully unaware that someone very close to them is a brutal, calculating psychopath.

DEEPER THAN THE DEAD left me with that same impression I had all those years ago -- Tami Hoag is a damned fine writer. DTTD takes place in the mid-80s, and at first I was skeptical. I was a young kid back in those days, and I remember thinking that everything we had then was so up-to-date and technologically savvy - we were cool, dude! Today I look at the hairstyles and shudder. I cringe when I remember that, yes, I was a fan of leg warmers over jeans in those days. And don't get me started on the moon boots. Egads...

What I liked best about this book is Ms. Hoag's several red herrings throughout the pages. Yeah sure, there's a serial killer running around -- but sshh! don't mention those words, because the country was still reeling from the media frenzy that was Ted Bundy, and we don't need a panic -- but core to the story is Anne Navarre's unwavering concern for her students and how they're dealing with the fact that they found a dead body. This small town strives hard to appear as a quaint, postcard-perfect little town, but there are several secrets that many folks will do anything to keep it that way, and Anne and Tony, along with the help of Tony's FBI buddy, Vince Leone, start ticking them off, one by one.

In the books I read now, I take for granted the modern technology that characters use, computerized national databases, cellphones that send and receive photos, task forces and elite teams that specialize in every imaginable type of crime. Back in 1984, they didn't have all of that, and cops had to use the brains God gave 'em, and do a lot of pavement pounding to solve cases. They still do, don't get me wrong, but with shows like CSI, Law & Order, and Criminal Minds nowadays, it's hard to imagine how cops ever caught the bad guys back in those days. Hoag's latest book takes that thought, expands on it, and proves that you don't need all of the fancy gadgetry to catch the perp. I guess she had fun reveling in the good ol' days, because she's set to have another book come out in December, SECRETS TO THE GRAVE, which features the same time period and allows us to revisit the characters from DEEPER THAN THE DEAD. I, for one, can't wait for it...

Medic!

2010-09-26T17:47:00.000-04:00

So, I finished a book today (DEEPER THAN THE DEAD by Tami Hoag). Absolutely terrifying book which means I loved it, but more on that later. Since I don't have the book that the library's holding for me in my hands yet, I decided to tackle the TBR and unearth some beauty from there to read next. Sounds simple, no? Yeahrightwhatever.

So far, I've picked up and tossed to the side two books that I simply can't start now because I'd be reading them out of order in a series (P.D. Martin and Patricia Cornwell). I've got about 8 books laying on my bed, waiting for me to make a final decision on what to read next. I started excavating my TBR mountain, hoping to come across the two books I'd like to start, if only I could find them (and now I'm sneezing like hell). As a self-diagnosed mild-to-moderate OCD'er (you'd never know that by looking at the state of my house), I've decided that I'm about to enter....

.........TBR anxiety hell. Ack! What do I do? Historical, suspense, paranormal... Gah, the choices are nauseatingly endless...

Maybe I should just do jello shots.

First Full Day of Autumn

2010-09-23T13:48:00.000-04:00

Today is the official first full day of my favorite season -- fall. If it wasn't still a heatwave outside and the air conditioning wasn't still running almost 24/7, I would probably be able to revel in the glory that is everything autumn -- crisp weather, windy nights, crackly leaves, and it turning pitch black at 6pm. As it is, I broke a sweat just taking the dog outside for a quick potty trip, and that was at noon.

But this is what I get for living an hour inland from the beach, in sunny, muggy SC...

But I digress.

Already, I'm starting to see advertisements and "coming soon" notices for seasonal romances. Seriously? Why do publishers start putting out holiday books in October?? Christmas is a big theme in romance fiction, sure, and it goes without saying that there's no use in doing many Halloween-themed books with all of the paranormal stuff on the shelves year round. I'd love to see more Thanksgiving-related romances, since that's probably my favorite holiday. Maybe there are some in the category lines from Harlequin and Silhouette that I'm missing? Or has Debbie Macomber done one or two? I love to read wintry books too, since we don't get a huge wintry onslaught down here. To me, it's just cozy reading of sweaters and turtlenecks, hot tea and log cabins with cracking fireplaces.

So, I'll ask: What's on your reading radar this fall and upcoming winter?

TBR Challenge Review: Some Girls Bite

2010-09-15T06:00:00.001-04:00

So, it seems my reading mojo returned this past week. Yesterday I posted my review for PRAY FOR SILENCE by Linda Castillo, and today (yes, two days in a row!) I'm back with another review for my latest discovery: Chloe Neill's SOME GIRLS BITE. I love finding new authors, and it's sad that I let this book sit around for so long before reading it, so I guess it's perfect for the TBR challenge.

Nobody had asked graduate student Merit if she wanted to become a vampire, so it goes without saying that she's a bit piqued at having to adjust to the life of a bloodsucker. Well, bloodsucker is really an un-PC term for what she's become, but it still applies. Apparently the Cadogan House leader, Ethan Sullivan, had taken matters into his own hands when he found Merit the victim of an attack by another vampire. If Ethan hadn't finished the change, Merit would've died. Or so he says. Now Merit is trying to acclimate to the nightlife (that whole sun aversion thing is true). While it's not true that she must only imbibe blood to survive, having to acquaint her palate to the occasional hemoglobin cocktail is a requirement. Otherwise, life goes on as it once did. Oh, except that she cannot finish her degree at the University of Chicago; she must learn the fine art of fighting; and she must bow in allegiance to Ethan Sullivan and the Cadogan House of vampires. No biggie, right? As her new liege, he is her lord and master, and I'm sorry, Merit is not the obliging, genuflecting kinda girl. So, she's having a time of it...

With her already strained relationship with her snobby, "new money" parents, things get more uncomfortable with dear ol' Dad when he orders her to not bring anymore shame down on the family. Isn't it enough that she'd been the victim of a brutal attack and had almost died? Dad has to go and stab one more knife in her back by being an ass. But there's always her grandfather, former cop Chuck, who had been more of a father than her own. Regardless of her new life, her Grandpa will always be there for her, fangs or no.

As Merit struggles to learn her new path in life, she finds that she's actually good at the whole vamp thing - which really astounds Ethan and his cronies. No Initiate (baby vamp) has ever shown such promise so quickly. Seriously, who would've thought that Merit was BadAss, with a capital B? Maybe she has finally found her true calling... or, it found her.

Just when I thought that I'd never get back into the vampire lovefest, Chloe Neill pulled me right back in. So it's her fault that I had to add more books to my TBR (FRIDAY NIGHT BITES and TWICE BITTEN). I love the author's brand of vampire which lends a more humanistic view of them. Merit can still eat real food, but only needs to supplement her diet with the occasional pint of O negative. And while she still needs to catch her rest during daylight hours, it's actually misleading when they say the undead are dead once again with the sun. She's still vulnerable, but she sleeps. It's a good thing that her roommate Mallory is a serious paranormal junkie and gleefully helps with the debunking of many myths.

SOME GIRLS BITE is an excellent addition to the paranormal/urban fantasy fling. I can't wait to see how Merit baffles Ethan in FRIDAY NIGHT BITES.

PRAY FOR SILENCE

2010-09-14T09:42:00.000-04:00

Can you believe I finished a book in under four days? I'd requested Linda Castillo's PRAY FOR SILENCE from the library, and basically started it almost the moment I'd gotten it home.

Painters Mill, Ohio

Police Chief Kate Burkholder must maintain a professional stance when a family of seven is found heinously murdered on their farm. The details of the slaughter are hard enough to stomach, but the fact that the family was Amish will test Kate's resolve as she begins to wade through the less-than-numerous clues of the crime. Kate grew up Amish, but left the life after a personal tragedy challenged her belief system and faith. Knowing that the Amish community can be some of the friendliest people one's ever met, she also knows that they are among some of the most judgmental people on the planet. The road to solving the murders is going to be a long and arduous one. And as the minutes tick away, so do the chances of her closing the case.

State Agent John Tomasetti is called by Kate to assist, and he's left trying to figure out if Kate wants him there for his professional help, or a personal one. Since they'd closed a case together several months earlier, Kate and John have carried on a relationship that defies a label. Sure, they enjoy sex together, but each know that they are not "couple material". Tomasetti still suffers the nightmares and anxiety attacks brought on by the murder of his own wife and daughters, so Kate knows it's a gamble by bringing him in to help on a case that rings too close to home for him.

Ever since reading SWORN TO SILENCE, I've been hooked and chomping at the bit for PRAY FOR SILENCE. The Kate Burkholder series is definitely shaping up to be one of my favorites. We met all the key players in the first book, but to recap, Kate is formerly Amish and walks a thin line in Painters Mill. The townspeople know her history, or what she allows to remain public, so it's always an interesting mix to maintain the trust of the English (non-Amish) that she'll do her job in an unbiased way and keep the peace. The Amish simply don't trust the English, generally speaking, but they trust an excommunicate even less. Remaining impartial on this case is going to be a tough job, but she's got to do it not only as chief of police, but to see that justice is served for this poor family. On the face of it, the Plank family had no enemies. So how did they wind up the victims of a bloody melee?

Tomasetti has maintained his distance for two months now, but with Kate's call, he's plunged headfirst back into the quagmire of their...relationship. While he'd been making strides to get his personal and professional life back on track, he knows that he's not firing at 100% yet. Despite every reason he shouldn't be attracted the police chief, she's a force to be reckoned with. It becomes obvious to John that this case is more than just that to Kate, so it goes without saying that he'll help in whatever way he can. But he's not prepared to see the more human side of her as the days without catching the murderer start chipping away at her tough exterior, and he's finally allowed a glimpse of just what she'd suffered that forced her to leave the Amish life.

PRAY FOR SILENCE is a perfect example of the way I like my suspense books -- dark, edgy, nail-biting, with enough tension to snap the book spine in half. Linda Castillo, already a fave of mine during her Harlequin days, has worked hard to build the foundation of a series that hopefully will last for several more books. As a former Buckeye, Amish country is familiar to me since my hometown was a hop, skip and a jump away from Sugar Creek, OH. So I have fond memories of visiting the Amish countries. I'm glad I just never had to deal with what poor Kate has gone through. Linda Castillo is spot-on with details, and the characterization is top-notch. That should leave little room for the plot and pace of such a book, right? Wrong -- it's all their in spades, and it goes without saying that PRAY FOR SILENCE is a page-turner destined for the bestseller lists.

Doing the Math

2010-09-08T11:47:00.000-04:00

As I've been surfing around the blogosphere, and admittedly, along with my reading, blogging has taken a nosedive into pitifully low numbers, I've noticed that several are posting their monthly recaps for August reads. I could, sadly, post all of my books I read over the summer into one post and it'd still be shorter than most. It's my own fault that I allow myself to become distracted, and I am too easily a "ooh, shiny!" kind of person.

While my numbers are not of the shock and awe variety, I can happily say that I finally caved and read the entire Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs during the summer months. This was my Big Find this year, and I'm fairly chomping at the bit for the next book in the series, which comes out in 2011. Actually, Amazon has it listed for January 25, 2011, so consider it my late birthday present to myself when I'm outside BAM's doors the morning of, impatiently waiting to get in.

This summer was such a black hole in the reading department for me, that I had to look over my own posts and book cover pics at my Photobucket account to see what else I was actually able to finish. Bad, eh? My abysmally short list includes:

SWORN TO SILENCE, Linda Castillo
BETRAYED, P.C. and Kristin Cast
IN THE THRILL OF THE NIGHT, Candice Hern
THE SEARCH, Nora Roberts
SHADOW BOUND, Erin Kellison
STROKE OF GENIUS, Emily Bryan
MY LADY'S PLEASURE, Olivia Quincy
SMASH CUT, Sandra Brown
PURSUIT, Karen Robards
THE FINISHING TOUCHES, Hester Browne (oh, new book by Browne in 2011!)
A VINTAGE AFFAIR, Isabel Wolff
KISS OF THE ROSE, Kate Pearce

I'm hoping to wrap up two more books this week to put a finishing tally on my summer reading for hopefully 19 books total. Currently, I'm carrying on with the vampire lovefest with SOME GIRLS BITE by Chloe Neill. I didn't think I'd take to this book as well as I did the Briggs series, but you know, it's working for me. I like the author's voice and I like her style of vampire, one in which the creatures can actually eat and drink other things as well as the necessary blood component.

Fall is staring us dead in the eye, and with the cooler temps, I'm hoping the crisp temps will kick start my reading gung-ho. Oh, I still have a book with me most times, and I do try to read a page or five when I get the chance, but I'm so easily distracted nowadays with a wedding in TWO MONTHS (yikes, I need to put finishing touches on that) and just puttering around the house on my days off, simply enjoying not being at work. I've set some personal goals I'd like to meet in the reading, some of which include trying to get back into the western thing and of course there's always the ever present desire to thin out the TBR. So, we'll see...

"Dust Is Just A Country Accent" - Author Unknown

2010-09-04T10:40:00.000-04:00

This weekend I actually coerced John into helping me clean house -- isn't he fortunate? Due to work commitments, my past several weekends off have been busy and our apartment has borne the brunt of my less-than-spectacular housekeeping skills. Stir in the Cold From Hell this past week, and it looks like Hurricane Earl did indeed come inland, right through this place. Today it's clean clean clean, clean like a mofo, and hopefully I'll be doing some weeding of the TBR before it clones itself.

Of course, I'd be remiss in not mentioning that COLLEGE FOOTBALL returned this week, and Amy is, indeed, a happy girl. Ohio State and South Carolina have already played this week, and won, so today I'll be divvying up my time between housework, the US Open, WVU football, and grocery shopping. Ugh, and I just remembered, I have a fridge to clean out as well.

My reading has been spotty lately, but I still try to get through the occasional book. I was fortunate enough to be assigned the new Kate Pearce book for review, KISS OF THE ROSE, which is the inaugural book in her Vampire Tudor Chronicles. This was my first book by her, and I'm interested in reading the second book. That's something else on my weekend radar, writing up two reviews for RRT; the other one is a Sydney Somers ebook from Samhain, which is already late. I wouldn't know how to act if I wasn't behind on my reviews.

We're Going to Party Like It's 1990!

2010-08-22T23:56:00.000-04:00

Today when I came home after my ACLS testing (passed successfully, with flying colors, thankyouverymuch), I thought that I'd have so much energy since this huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. Yeah. I just woke up from a three hour nap, and I plan on going back and getting me some more. But I felt like writing a post. Go figure.

I've been hopping onto Facebook all weekend to catch details of my high school's 20th reunion (seriously, am I that old?!). Unfortunately, since I had this stinking class (my own fault, I'm the one that scheduled it but it was mandatory to get it done). Thank God for FB, that's all I've got to say. I've "friended" about 75% of my class through that website, and I've been enjoying going through the pictures that everyone's shared from the reunion. One thing for me to pause and reflect on: a couple of the guys I had crushes on throughout those emotional teenage high school years were *hawt* back in the good ol' days, right? Yeah, not so much anymore. John looked askance at me a couple times when I pointed out the objects of my teenage lust. Bwahahahahaha!

I did hear through the grapevine that instead of waiting another 10 years for a reunion, that they decided to do them every five years now. So, I've already got my slot reserved for one in 2015. Heck, I don't know why we haven't yet, but there are two classmates of mine that live just over an hour away at the beach that I have never caught up with. We could have our own reunion for the SC transplants!

I've been creeping through a Linda Howard book, BURN, which I think was a release from last year. I'm not sure it's been my frame of mind and preoccupation with studying, but I'm having a hard time getting through it. It's set on a luxury cruise ship, there's some kidnapping involved, and I'm trying to decide if it's the setting of the book, or the fact that the hero essentially kidnapped the heroine. It's a moot point since I'm almost finished with the book and will finish it, but this has been one of my lesser favorite Howard books. I adored the last two I read by her, ICE and DYING TO PLEASE, so maybe it's comparing this one to those two that's bringing it down.

In other news, I have been a good girl and have kept mainly up-to-date with my reviews for RRT. I think I have one more backlogged to get out and then an August book that I'll have to turn in at the beginning of September. But my boss should be proud of me...

And that's about all I have for my late night rambling with no rhyme or reason. I'm off to bed where I hope to not have dreams of heart arrhythmias, drugs to treat them with, and charging up the paddles to 200 joules and defibbing. It'll be my first time in a week.

What I've Been Reading

2010-08-20T19:15:00.000-04:00

At least this month I have a great reason for not reading hardly anything off of my TBR. This weekend I take a two-day ACLS course that my boss has made mandatory, and let me tell ya...the book is fascinating. *yawn* Actually, I lie. It's not been boring because I've been too busy stressing, cramming my poor brain full of information that I'll probably forget as soon as I walk out of it Sunday evening. Barring that, I may be in the hospital due to a heart attack.

You see, as I've mentioned before, I'm a respiratory therapist and have been for 17 years. I manage the airway, among other crucial duties, but airway/lungs - yep, that's my territory. I do not, in my day-to-day job, push drugs through an IV and maintain IV drips, or what have you. But to be successfully certified in ACLS, I have to memorize ALL of the drug pathways and algorithms that go along with the various life-threatening "code" situations that occur in a hospital. Yeah, I'm at my wit's end... Have I studied my ass off? Oh hell yes. I can even quote the algorithms for bradycardia, v-tach/v-fib, asystole/PEA, and stable tachycardia in my sleep. There, did I hurt your head? Now you know what I've gone through...heh.

I'll be so glad to return to normal come Sunday night, when I'll be free of this stress for two years. Of course, now that I've studied so hard, I've gotten comfortable enough to consider signing up for the ACLS instructor course, which would be huge. And insane. But huge.

And FYI, that's ventricular fibrillation -- treated with CPR, defib, epi, amiodarone, possibly lidocaine, and a lot more defib.

Did I geek all over anyone?

I'm Leaving, On a Jet Plane

2010-08-07T20:03:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow morning I fly out of our lil' Podunk airport, headed for the beautiful state of Arizona for a work-related conference. I think I mentioned the resort/spa that we'll be staying at, so I've got my swimsuit and sunscreen packed, as well as the requisite five books that I'm sure I'll never even open.

See y'all when I get back on Wednesday!

Play Ball!

2010-07-29T23:19:00.000-04:00

John and I are about to head out for date night at the baseball park, so I'll make this quick. It also gives me something to throw up here on ye ol' blog and to use my nifty baseball pinup art once again. I'm so easy...

Tonight's probably the last game of the regular season that I'll be able to attend, so I need to make an effort to snap some pictures of my guy, Ronnie Freeman, the Red Wolves All-Star catcher. If this kid doesn't go somewhere in professional ball, I'll be shocked. Even *I*, so not a baseball aficionado (but getting there), can recognize the talent this kid has, especially starting out the season (before the actual season) with a .317 batting average. Last I read, he had somewhere in the neighborhood of a .320 or so, and just this week has scored 3 home-runs. Oh, and he's cute too! Great fun to watch from our seats behind the home plate...

There's just something about guys' butts in sports... *sigh*

ETA -- Mission: Butt Pics was successful. I'll post later!

TBR Challenge Review: IRON KISSED

2010-07-21T17:25:00.001-04:00

I've been coming up on the negative side when it comes to blogging. I don't know if it's the summer heat melting my brain, or the fact that I'd rather be reading these days more so than writing up posts. But I'll persevere, and one day I hope to get a routine down and maybe a tantalizing post that invites people to want to jump for joy. Bahwahahaha! Yeahright....

But back to the reading thing -- I'm kicking ass and taking names with the Mercy Thompson series, and because I haven't honestly been pulling books from my own TBR, but getting this series from the library, I cheated and am using IRON KISSED as my TBR Challenge. Hey, while it may not be my own personal TBR, per se, it is everyone's TBR, right? It's my rationalization, let me use it...

Taken from the back blurb:

Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape -- but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.

Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...

Oh, let me count the ways why I love this series:

The utter charm and realness of Mercy and her merry gang of cohorts is eye-opening and refreshing.
Adam.
Samuel.
Rinse and repeat: Adam and Samuel.
Samuel.
The riveting suspense and taut spin of words not only keep me invested, but make me wish that this series will go on forever. And ever. Amen.
Did I mention...Adam and Samuel? Right...

Well since I've already mentioned Adam and Samuel, let's not forget the fae. I did not realize just how many varieties were out there, and in IRON KISSED we meet more of them. (Of course, in BONE CROSSED, there's even more!)

While paranormal and urban fantasy may be the hot topic this year in fiction, I'm new to the mix. I'm totally digging the unique spin Patricia Briggs puts on what could easy be rehashed, rinse and repeat kinda stuff, and makes it her own.

In IRON KISSED, it's become quite evident that Mercy's upbringing in a wolf pack unknowingly prepared her for the trouble and adventure she'd get herself into when she moved to the Tri-Cities. She's easily capable of making a Volkswagen hum to her mad tune while keeping an Alpha wolf in line, and managing to not become wolf kibble at the same time. She considers Zee a close friend, if you can call a fae friend, as well as her mechanic mentor, and when he winds up in jail, wrongfully accused of murder, Mercy's up and at it again, chucking caution and her own safety to the wind in pursuit of doing the right thing.

What's different in IRON KISSED from any of the other books in the series is that it made me cry. Readers/fans of the series may already know at exactly what point I had to bust out the Kleenex, but since I'm not a huge fan of spoilers, I won't say anything further. It's hard to forget that while Mercy is not exactly infallible and she does know and understand fear, she easily comes across as almost bullet-proof. But she's not. Her unique part human, part shape-shifter makeup allows her to see both sides of any coin.

As always, Mercy gets by with a little help from her friends, and IRON KISSED becomes another layer in this decadent series. In this, though, I felt there was a bit more openness, a lot more reality, and gritty became grittier. I'm super-excited that I've caught onto this author, and I'm definitely stoked that I've only got a book and a half left before I'm totally caught up.

And then begins the wait....*tapping fingers*. More....please?

Tuesday Ramblings

2010-07-13T18:52:00.000-04:00

I've gone on a reading jag lately it seems. I can't seem to get enough of the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs, and am currently reading IRON KISSED, the third in the series. While I've had to put it aside momentarily to finish up some review books, Mercy and her gang are never far from my mind. I can't remember the last time I got excited about a book series, so it's about time! I've already got the last two in the series on hold at the library and am just waiting to finish reading the whole series before I start the Alpha and Omega series, which I believe is set in the same general time period as Mercy Thompson. Usually I'm not a huge fan of first person point of view, but these books are just so sexy and earthy that I can easily put aside my reservations.

In other news, I recently got news that I'll be traveling to Arizona for work, and this is the first time I've ever been to the state. When I saw the resort we'll be staying at (me and a friend/co-worker will be traveling together; she's my concert-going pal, so this should be fun), I about died. Feast your eyes on this sucker... O.M.G. doesn't even begin to describe the posh amenities, and I'm busy trying to put together a travel wardrobe that won't embarrass me. Since my dress code at the hospital consists of scrubs and not business clothes, and since this IS a business conference I need to plump up my business casual clothes that are decent enough to wear to the meetings and get-togethers and won't cause me to pass out from heat stroke. It seems that while I'm used to the muggy heat of SC, I've never experienced the heat on the surface of the sun, which is how Arizona temps are described to me. Desert, Amy; Amy, desert. Mingle... I'm already planning what books to bring and stocking up on my sunblock since I plan on spending some intimate time with the pool and poolside bar. Oh, and it's a spa. So I already have dreams of a massage appointment... oh la la!

Plans for the wedding are commencing and right now I'm trying to come up with a menu that's fun, easy to transport, and will satisfy our guests - and my wallet. I'm thinking that since it's a luau/Hawaiian flowered shirt/beachside-themed wedding, that it might be fun to throw in some recipes that are island-inspired. I know there's a meatball recipe out there that features Hawaiian flavors, and I think I may try to come up with a fruit plate that would feature some different fruits -- kiwi, papaya, honeydew, mango, star fruit, etc. Also, one of the guys at work offered to whip up some crockpot bbq, so, score! Yeah, it's coming along nicely. Now if only I can find a dress...argh!

Can I Have Your Autograph?

2010-07-10T06:59:00.004-04:00

So...

John and I went to a baseball game last night (got rained out, boo hiss!), and the big deal was that a Pittsburgh Steeler (locally raised guy) was going to be there, signing autographs, and just basically hanging out. Great, right? Yeah, not so much. Since my pro-football pick is, and always will be, the Steelers (despite Ben's ass hat tendencies), I've been revved about this since the beginning of the season. Did I honestly know who he was, and had I even heard of him? Nope, but I don't follow players in pro like I might in college ball. And I'm definitely not a statistician like Wendy...heh. But he was a Pitt. Steeler, and I *heart* the Steelers.

That said, if the organization (no matter how small-town it is) has been advertising and bragging about a local sports hero being at this particular game, and the area has dedicated fans like crazy (seriously, you'd think we live in the heart of Steeler Nation down here), then said person should carry himself like the quasi-celebrity he is and remember the manners I'm sure his mama taught him; or am I just thinking crazy here? The dude could not be bothered to get off of his cellphone to have pictures taken, excused himself from the autograph table to go God knows where, and basically acted as if he was doing this smalltown baseball team a huge favor by gracing them with his presence. He just acted...indifferent. I should've realized what a small-time celebrity he was when even the kids with Steelers jerseys on weren't flocking around him.

Am I being bitchy here? Or am I just miffed that he did all of this in front of me when I'd finally sucked it in enough to go up to him and ask for a pic to be taken with me so I could show my mom? Well...yeah. But it just rankled that, no matter how politely he excused himself, he couldn't get off the damned phone long enough for the 5 seconds necessary to snap a photo. He actually asked, "you don't have anything for me to sign?". Dude...c'mon.

It got me thinking, during my one exposure to a mega booksigning last year at RWA, if any of the authors whom I consider my own personal celebrities had acted like that, I would've been crushed. I'm not saying that these people, whether they're sports celebrities, actors, authors, or whatever, have to bow down and act like we fans are the only reason they are where they're at, but does it hurt to show a little bit more interest in talking to your fans, taking a picture, or shaking a hand? Last year I was humbled at the honesty and heartfelt realness that a lot of the people (many of them were authors I've coveted for years) I'd traveled eight hours to see and have sign a book, or just be around.

Last night, a celebrity was literally right down the road from me, and he just couldn't be bothered...

Happy Birthday, America!

2010-07-04T07:46:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that the year is half gone now. Wasn't Christmas just last week?! Anyway -- here's wishing everyone a happy and safe 4th of July! May you gorge on hotdogs and baked beans, shoot off fireworks (legally, naturally) and light some sparklers...and remember me, working at the dungeon I call the hospital while I try to catch a bit of the fireworks from the 11th floor tonight. Heh...

Happy 4th!!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2010-06-29T23:05:00.000-04:00

It's baseball night here at my house and John and I will soon be getting ready to go to the Redwolves game. It may not be MBA or even the College World Series, but I've got to say....these guys are good. AND, just bragging...one of the players from last year, actually the son of a woman I work with, got drafted to the Atlanta Braves for next year, I believe. So, yeah, they've got talent. Plus, the catcher's cute. I plan on snapping a couple pics of him tonight to share since we sit just left or right of home plate and that's prime viewing territory. Dare I say it? Yeah, I'm enjoying some baseball.

OH! And I'll be rooting for the South Caro. Gamecocks in the second game of the CWS tonight. They're one win away from being the champions, baby!

In other news -- I actually read a book in less than a day's time! It's actually a great option for Keishon's TBR challenge next month, DYING TO PLEASE by Linda Howard (the theme for July is odd jobs or unusual settings), but I'll see if I can find another one that fits the bill. A lot of folks had mixed reactions to DTP, but I quite enjoyed it. Yeah, the heroine's a butler/bodyguard and that's different in itself, but I found myself flipping the pages and not getting a wink of sleep Sunday night for all the reading I did. Honestly, it felt good and now I feel like going on a Linda Howard bender.

ETA: We got rained out. Boo! But I am getting to catch a damned good UCLA vs USoCaro CWS game!

Tuesday Hodge Podge aka Ramblings

2010-06-22T13:25:00.001-04:00

So, I returned to work this past weekend after my 7 days off, and the hospital promptly tried to kill me. It used to be that summer was a bit quieter, a lot tamer, in the hospital. But it just seems that folks are getting sicker and staying that way for a long time. But that's neither here, nor there.

I spent Father's Day running my ass off at work and late that night got hit with some bad news. One of my cousins died of a heart attack while vacationing with his wife and kids down here in SC. While my cousin and I weren't extremely close, my heart breaks for my aunt. If this has taught me anything, it's that heart disease is a nasty killer and I have more than my fair share of familial history on both sides. Life is too short on the best of days, but my cousin was only 33.

Real mood killer, eh?

I didn't have much time for reading this weekend, but I am enjoying a non-fiction historical, THE LADY IN THE TOWER: The Fall of Anne Boleyn, by Alison Weir. I'm getting my geek on and trying to do some catching up on my Tudor reading. With the end of The Tudors on Showtime this past Sunday, I want to get my hands on anything Tudor-related, and I was fortunate enough to be on a short wait list for this book at the library. I just hope that I get it read in time for the due date. Of course I just had to go back today to return another book and got two more -- and I seriously need to be whittling down my TBR! Everybody's been talking about Illona Andrews, so I got MAGIC BITES since I want to give this Kate Daniels series a spin.

In other news -- Wimbledon is here! Ok, well it's in England (har!), but it's that time of the year again. I was able to catch the last half of the match that Novak Djokovic almost....almost....lost yesterday. It would've been a shame to see him go out in the first round. While I'm on the topic of sports, later on today the South Carolina Gamecocks play an elimination game against Arizona St. in game 7 of the College World Series. I was tickled pink last evening when Florida St. beat Florida. I simply cannot stand the Gators, even though John is a Gator who actually played catcher for the team back when he was a student there.

Hmm, I may become a baseball fan yet....

Project Pasta

2010-06-17T21:57:00.000-04:00

On my blog, I talk about a little bit of everything. I may make a cooking segment as a regular feature because I really do love to do it. But tonight -- I'm sending out a thousand high 5's to Holly for sharing her simple linguine carbonara recipe, which I fixed this evening, and JOHN LOVED IT. Do you know how hard it is to find a dish that he'll actually rave about and only offer a modicum of advice for?

So tonight -- I salute Holly, and thank her for making me feel like I actually can do easy Italian cooking.

2010 TBR Challenge Review: BETRAYED

2010-06-16T22:52:00.003-04:00

Man, apparently I love slipping in under the deadline for the 2010 TBR challenge. That's me - Danger Amy, cutting it close.

So -- go, me! I chose a book this month that actually fit the theme: YA fiction. This time around, I read BETRAYED by P.C. and Kristin Cast, and since I loved the first book in the series, MARKED, I had no problem reading this one in a day and a half. P.C. Cast just tends to do that to me, ensuring a great read, but I love this series that she has with her daughter.

Zoey Redbird, a fledgling vampyre and the new leader of the Dark Daughters at her school, House of Night, has barely had time to acclimate herself to her new role and the rapid acceptance the majority of students have shown her. Under the previous leadership of Aphrodite, the Dark Daughters were highly cliquish and thrived on living up to vampyres' inherent bad rep. With Zoey at the helm, things will change and rules will be made with her guidance and the leadership of a new council which consists of her closest friends.

But life at House of Night takes a nasty turn when local high school kids start disappearing, only to show up several days later...dead. All fingers point to the House of Night, or at least that's what the media is trying to do. Within her school, though, Zoey knows that these kids - all athletes she'd known in her previous life - were not murdered by the hand of a House of Night member, but something's not quite right. Her allegiance to those closest to her will be tested and she'll learn the true definition of friendship and loyalty, but the cost is steep and Zoey is barely gaining her feet in her rapidly spiraling life.

Despite the lengthy period of time since reading MARKED (which I reviewed for Romance Reviews Today), I had no problem jumping back into the House of Night series with both feet when I started BETRAYED on Tuesday morning. While I wouldn't say this is necessarily a stand-alone book (seriously, you're much better off enjoying MARKED first), it was rather easy catching up again with all the players at the House of Night and reacquainting myself with the people in Zoey's life and immediate circle. Poor kid -- a teenager, and she's already starting to pack some hefty baggage to carry around on her shoulders for the rest of her life. But for such a young character, she's easily identifiable and real, despite her special talents and gifts, those she's received from Nyx, the Goddess of the Night.

One thing I've always loved with every P.C. Cast book I've read is the Greek mythology that not only lends a unique spin on her stories, but also breaths life into her characters and gives them a reason and solidarity for what they do. Although BETRAYED is a paranormal YA book, you can definitely feel P.C.'s love of mythology. Call it a trademark, if you will.

So, I'm guessing it's a good thing that I've gone ahead and dug up CHOSEN, the third House of Night book and one that I'm basically salivating to start. I'm seriously going to be sad when I get to the end of the series (so far) and have to start tapping my toes in impatience for the Cast girls to write quicker.

In the Kitchen - Sunday Cooking

2010-06-13T18:04:00.000-04:00

Holly and I have been talking cooking, budgets, and menus over at her blog -- well, she's doing the blogging and I'm just commenting -- but you catch my drift. She has inspired me to try to stick to more of a weekly menu because it's wallet-friendly, and for her larger crew that just makes sense. For me and John, with my erratic work schedule, I can't plan out an entire week's menus, but I can for the scattering of my night's off.

This week, however, I'm on vacation and because I don't have a million dollar budget to blow on groceries (it's entirely too easy for me to spend hordes of cash at the market), I'm trying to stick to a quasi-menu. I also love to try out new recipes, and I already plan on giving linguine carbonara a whirl, which Holly provided a recipe for.

Today...well, today it's hot as hell here in the armpit of South Caro, so instead of grilling out, I'm modifying a recipe I saw in Woman's Day: grilled chicken with white barbeque sauce. Instead of grilling (I may wind up using my stove-top grill - who knows?), I'll be baking these puppies and basting during the final cooking process. It usually works well when I do regular bbq chicken wings and drumsticks in the oven, and if I do it right I get a nice crust with great color and tons of pan juices.

Because I'm so over-the-moon about this marinade recipe (I tasted it, trust me - it's GOOD!), I'm sharing it because...well, I'm cool like that.

Grilled Chicken with White BBQ Sauce (courtesy of Woman's Day magazine, July 2010 issue)

Serves 8

White BBQ Sauce

1 1/2 cups fat-free or light mayonnaise
1 tbsp grated lemon zest
1/4 cup EACH lemon juice and water
2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
2 tbsp whitewine Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp EACH coarse black pepper and yellow mustard
3 large cloves garlic, grated
2 tsp EACH sugar and prepared horseradish

5 lb chicken parts (wings, drumsticks, thighs and quartered breasts)

1. Whisk together ingredients in a medium bowl. Place chicken in a 2-gallon ziptop bag; add 1/2 cup sauce, seal bag and toss to coat. Marinate chicken in refrigerator up to 2 days. Refrigerate remaining sauce.

2. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Arrange hciken on baking sheet; bake 35 minutes, turning once.

3. Heat outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Grill chicken, turning and basting frequently wiht 1/2 cup of the reserved sauce, until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

4. Transfer to a platter; serve with remaining sauce.

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

2010-06-12T09:41:00.001-04:00

So, I might not have mentioned that it's been several months since I've taken any vacation time from work. I'm surprised that people at the hospital didn't clue in on the underlying seething, tormenting frustration, the burn-out, or maybe they haven't heard the less than tasteful things I've muttered under my breath while in their presence. Frankly, I'm surprised. To say that this vacation is sorely needed is an understatement. Honestly, as fast as I accrue paid time off, you think I'd use it more frequently. I've wanted to stockpile all of my vacation time with my wedding coming up and a hopeful trip to D.C. later this year, but my PTO clocks in at just under 360 hours and, really, I'm over the need to hoard it all. This week I'm borrowing Wendy's use of the word Staycation, because the next (now) six days are mine and mine alone.

I've started off my week of freedom the right way and am reading my second book, SWORN TO SILENCE by Linda Castillo. Earlier this week I finished MOON CALLED by Patricia Briggs, and that's basically why I'm here on Blogger at o'dark hundred in the morning. I've got to write this review up because it might curb my need to scream, giggle, squeal, and go all fan-girly on Ms. Briggs.

Normally I'd quote the back blurb, but I don't think it really does the book justice in this case.

MOON CALLED is the beginning of Briggs' Mercy Thompson series, and while I've balked for a looong time to try one of these books, I've honestly been doing myself an injustice. In MOON CALLED, we meet all - or at least most - of the major hitters in a series that features not only werewolves, but shifting coyotes, vampires, fae, and walkers, one of which Mercy is. Oh, she's a shifter, but in the beginning we see that the only magic she believes she holds is taking the shape of a coyote. As the book goes on, it becomes quite obvious that Mercy has much more in her magic arsenal of tricks and we only get the tip of the iceberg in the first book.

One day when Mercy is working in her garage, Mac, a teenager who she senses is a newly turned werewolf, hesitantly asks her for work. Seeing that he has a wealth of things to learn, Mercy tasks him with work for him to earn money enough to eat. What she doesn't know is that meeting Mac is only the beginning in what will eventually turn into a turf war between rogue weres, vampires, and others who will savagely guard the secrecy of the werewolves' existence against the human race. It becomes obvious that Mac is in danger when men - one human and one werewolf - come looking for him and make no secret of the fact that they'll do what it takes to cage him. It seems that they've been using him for experimentation with drugs and who knows what else.

In the course of MOON CALLED, Mercy calls on the help of the local Alpha were, Adam, and a few of her other friends, vamps, fae, and werewolves alike. Mac is not pack, but Adam agrees to take him on until the teen can gain control of his inner wolf and not kill anything in sight during the change (a problem common in new werewolves). When dead bodies start piling up and Adam is gravely injured and his daughter kidnapped, Mercy must do what she's always avoided and rely on help from sources she'd normally stay away from. Danger lurks, and it's only beginning...

What I loved about MOON CALLED is Mercy's tenacious hold on beliefs and routine that are inherently human. While she's a shapeshifting coyote, she's been raised by werewolves and humans alike, and has an interesting blend of the belief systems from both races. So, she goes to church, she has a cat, she likes to bake cookies, and she believes that humans can be good, but she also thrives on the change and freedom she feels when in the coyote form. The other thing I liked was that although she considers Adam and another werewolf from her past, Samuel, as...well, for lack of a better word, friends, she knows she cannot fully trust them in the animalistic sense. Oh, she knows they'd lay down their lives for her, but werewolves are not cuddly pets and they're very territorial, but she's attracted and afraid at the same time.

For years, I've felt a sense of ennui for anything paranormal in fiction. Sure, I've been entertained by Gerry Bartlett, who writes a comedic vampire series, and I cut my teeth on Linda Lael Miller's classic vamp series, but the glut of paranormal on the market is staggering. Patricia Briggs' MOON CALLED woke me up, made me pay attention, and two days later, I had burned right through it.

My only question is, why has it taken me so long to start a series that many have raved about all over Bloglandia? I've only got to get a shower and get dressed before I plan out rushing out this morning to pick up BLOOD BOUND, the next in the series. Folks, I have found a new author to glom. And that's a good thing.

Gosh, It's Hot

2010-06-07T15:27:00.001-04:00

No, the summer temps have not melted my brain, but they have certainly tried. It's "Welcome to the Jungle" kinda weather here in my part of the south, and I've been doing my best by staying inside with the a/c.

I'm reading! Oh, am I reading. I just started - and am nearly finished with - MOON CALLED by Patricia Briggs, a new-to-me author, and one series that I'll definitely be finishing. I've already checked at my library to see if any more of the Mercy Thompson series is there, and *happy dance* the entire thing is! When did this little map dot get current and go all F/UF on me??

So, there's two things off of my mental reading to-do list this year -- try a new author AND give urban fantasy a spin. Again, I'm not knocking down records with the amount of reading I'm doing in 2010 like I wanted to, but I'm certainly enjoying trying new things.

My other new addiction is....ready for it? GLEE!!

Oh yes, I'm a Gleek now. Lately, I've been trying to find any past episode performances I can on YouTube, so you can say that I'm slightly addled by it all. They've covered a wide variety of performances, from Lady Gaga to Madonna to Kiss and on to Journey. My favorite thus far? Well, here, I'll just share this video posted on YouTube, which I'm sharing, but not claiming. Some enterprising soul was able to dig up a clip of my new crush, Artie...

How I Waste My Time

2010-05-30T11:59:00.000-04:00

There are few things I love more than books, reading, and collecting cow figurines (ok, John falls into that sentence somewhere too), and cooking has become one of them. On my lengthy list of bookmarked blogs, I've started up a section for cooking blogs, where I can hang out with foodies who love to write about it. I have found my people! Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, is a woman after my own heart who loves to cook with every day ingredients and pays attention to the full flavor aspect of things. She also has a cowboy hubby (Marlboro Man) who is a simple guy at heart, and doesn't seem to like weird recipes, like sushi, shellfish, or anything that just doesn't look right. Hmm, I wonder how Marlboro Man and John are related. Tonight's dinner, Drippy Beef, is one of PW's recipes, and I'm looking forward to fixing it here very shortly.

So, I was going to write up this post like I do most of them -- with no clear cut topic other than my repeated mantras of "I buy too many books", and "I read as slow as a turtle". Instead, I'll let you all in on what I'm doing when I'm not reading. TV's usually involved, and for the past week it's been the French Open at Roland Garros is Paris. Can I get a hell yeah for my man Novak Djokovic?! I'm very weird in how I pick my faves at these tournaments. Since Andy Roddick is out of the running now (boo hiss!) and he's my #1 tennis squeeze, Novak runs a close second in my top ranking. After that, I'll usually pull for the underdog if Lleyton Hewitt, Tomas Berdych, "Big John" Isner, or Fernando Verdasco aren't playing. Beyond that, it's an open field with me rooting for any guy who can beat ol' Rodge Federer.

Swimming, while it hasn't been a mainstay for me lately, is another thing that I take fairly seriously. I may not be Janet Evans and definitely couldn't carry Michael Phelps' towel, but I do love to hit the pool when I get the chance. Lately due to a shoulder strain, I've had to curb my trips, but I do live for the smell of chlorine. Until it gives me a headache and then it's time to go home. Heh.

I do spend a lot of time surfing the blogs, but lately I have been doing more reading...of magazines. I'm such a ho for food rags. I subscribe to a fair number of magazines:

See? I'm easy, and if it's anything related to cooking, I'm usually a pushover. Lately I've been scouring articles for budget friendly recipes that I can try, paying close attention to new and different meals that I want ~~fob off on~~ John to try. Like I said earlier, he's a real ~~pain in the ass~~ picky eater. Usually if it involves meat and potatoes, I'm good to go. But lately I've been wanting him to try NEW and EXCITING stuff, and even though the Drippy Beef recipe calls for pepperoncinis to be thrown into the mix, I think he'll like this one.

I'm also a self-proclaimed history fan, focusing mainly on British/European history. Five years ago, I'd read anything that featured the Tudors (and yes, I still love the Showtime series), but nowadays I'm branching out, reading more on things like the Romanovs, Marie Antoinette, and even dabbling in some medieval history. While I'm in the bookstore, I may spend in inordinate amount of time in the fiction and romance fiction aisles, but I spend almost as much time in the non-fiction history aisles too. My non-fiction collection grows in leaps and bounds, and I'm an easy sell if it's a book focusing on many monarchs or dynastic families.

Of course, when I'm not boring even the paint on the walls, I'll do what I can to make John batshit crazy, because, honestly, that's a great hobby. Honestly, I never realized how much of a life I don't have, but that's ok. With all the crazy hours I spend at the hospital, I'm good when I'm at home doing nothing. I revel in that nothingness. I don't always want to go and DO stuff, or be around a lot of people. We're not big movie-goers and don't hang out in bars (be cheap, drink at home!).

So, there you have it...what Amy does when she's not reading or working. Just remind me that it's ok to have no life. Actually it's pretty cool because I seem to be a happy person even though we don't throw tons of money at cruises or go on expensive trips. In fact, I have vacation time coming up in about a week and a half, and guess what we'll be doing -- yep, nothing. Bliss...

Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

2010-05-28T16:06:00.000-04:00

Friday Friday Friday Friday FrIdAy FRIDAY!

It's about time the weekend got here, and I plan on doing a whole lot of relaxing, tennis watching, and hopefully some mondo reading. Of course I'll throw some sleep in there since I'm working off only 3 hours sleep since yesterday and after working last night, my ass is fairly dragging.

Wendy can already tell you - and has - that baseball season has officially started for the pros. But here in Smalltown, USA, small town baseball started this past Wednesday night with a season opener against some no-name team out of NC. I think I'm starting to appreciate the sport more and definitely enjoy seeing a live game versus one on tv. But I still am totally not getting where the whole "strategy" in baseball is. Of course, I will totally argue to death that there is strategy in tennis and people still don't believe me, so to each his own.

Tonight it's date night and we're headed out to the field once again to catch a game. John gets his stick fix, and I'll get a good ballpark hot dog, complete with spicy mustard and an ice cold beer. Yep, I'm always in for the food and could be considered a cheap date.

Oh, and hey -- I did get my retail fix on today, just a bit delayed from my earlier proposed trip this past Tuesday. Karen Rose's book, as well as the new Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas books jumped into my basket and I wasn't about to say no. Heh...

I'm Gonna Wash Yesterday Right Outta My Hair

2010-05-25T06:59:00.000-04:00

For me, yesterday was a quintessential example of why people hate Monday, and I'm not usually one of the fanclub members. So, officially I'm washing yesterday right out of my hair and will focus on today being a better day. As long as my washing machine doesn't decided to self-combust. I swear, is there anything louder than a machine that won't balance itself quietly? We live in an apartment/condo neighborhood, and my Whirlpool could possibly wake up the neighbors... down the street. It either better get ahold of itself, or the Piece O'Crap will find itself out on the curb, replaced with a pretty shiny, brand-spanking-new front-loader. In cranberry red. (/dream)

So that, coupled with additional stress about some family drama, my boss dumping more administrative bullshit work in my lap (right before I had started to fall asleep, mind you, which led to 5 or 6 hours of me pacing around here, not sleeping (not good for a nightshifter who worked the weekend.), and oh yeah, the fridge just spontaneously regurgitating water all over the floor....yesterday, was a real charmer, lemme tell ya.

I will read more this week. I will read more this week. I will read more this week. I will read more this week. I. Will. Read. More. This. Week. I have spent a considerable amount of time with Virginia Henley's March release, THE IRISH DUKE, this past week. Honestly, it's like finding old friends again. Back in the day, I'd scarf up anything Henley wrote, totally lurving any and all of her purple prose and secret smiles. Then I got away from her until the last few books, so I'm hella enjoying this one. It's a Regency-set novel, and I love all the fripperies and marriage-minded young misses she has sprinkled throughout. But again, I'm one of the dwindling numbers who isn't exactly burnt out on Regency romances.

Today is new release Tuesday, and I'm thinking of treating myself to some much-needed retail therapy, even though I need more books like I need....well, more books. Notice that I'm ignoring my inner good sense and may run over to Books-A-Million to pick up Julia Quinn's newest, as well as the Lisa Kleypas, Tessa Dare, and Jennifer Estep books that are seriously calling to me. I won't tell John if y'all won't tell him...

In the Thrill of the Night: TBR Challenge Review

2010-05-19T23:09:00.001-04:00

So, I've only got a couple hours left until the end of TBR Challenge Wednesday, and I'm barely keeping that deadline. As mentioned earlier last week, my reading has been kinda buggy lately and while I'm enjoying what I'm reading more often than not, it's been way too easy to put any book I'm reading down and not pick it up for a while. However, I found that Candice Hern's IN THE THRILL OF THE NIGHT changed my mind and I loved every minute of it. Oh, and it perfectly fit this month's challenge, friends-to-lovers:

Assured of both money and position, none of the five friends who form the Merry Widows need ever marry again. But they have no intention of forsaking physical pasion for the rest of their lives. So they make a daring pact -- each will consider taking a lover for the pure pleasure of it.

Marianne Nesbitt adored her late husband, David, but the racy reminiscences of the Merry Widonws make her wonder if she missed something special. Might she find it now through a love affair? Uncertain how to go about it, she asks Adam Cazenove, an old friend and notorious rake, to tutor her in the arts of seduction.

The brazen request turns Adam's world upside down. He never imagined his best friend's very proper and exceedingly attractive widow would seek out a lover. If not for his recent betrothal, he would jump at the chance to warm her bed. Since he cannot bear the thought of another man doing so, he foils her ever attempt at seduction. Until one night of unintended passion changes everything...

What is reiterated throughout the book is that Marianne will be happy for the rest of her life if she never marries again. Fortunately, her wealth and status in society have placed her in a position to not want for anything. But she does miss male companionship. For the past two years, she's always been secure in her friendship with Adam, whose house is right next door. So close, in fact, that it's an easy climb from his sitting room balcony to Marianne's. While he'd visited her and David in this manner years ago, his visits lately have fallen off and are now only sporadic. Funny enough, even while Marianne denies any need for a man, when the Merry Widow's began hatching the plan for all of them to take lovers, the first man in her mind was Adam.

IN THE THRILL OF THE NIGHT has one of my favorite tropes, that of the less-than-nice, possibly misunderstood mother-in-law. While Marianne's MIL may not be evil incarnate, she just can't quite understand why her daughter-in-law will not martyr her beloved David and wear widow's weeds for the rest of her natural life. While Marianne loved David, she's long suspected that the time they shared in bed wasn't as earth-shattering as it might have been, but still ...she'll always love her husband. It takes one of her dear friend's sharing the news that she's taken on a lover of her own for Marianne to really become uncomfortable with the idea that she's possibly giving up the physical benefits of relations with a man if she continues on her current path.

What progresses throughout the pages is an almost natural growth between Marianne and Adam from friends to, ultimately, lovers. Even though they never thought such a thing could happen between them, it feels almost right. Although Adam may deny it to assuage any guilt, he's always been attracted to Marianne; but her husband had been his best friend! His recent engagement is a hindrance to any relationship with Marianne, but even though he denies himself of her charms for a while, he cannot allow her to be with any other man...period. All of her possible candidates lack the character needed to become Marianne's lover, and if one qualified for it, Adam easily makes something up.

I, apparently, have some catching up to do. While I've bought several of Candice Hern's books and they patiently wait for me on the TBR, I've obviously been missing out on some great reading. It was a nice step for me to get back into some historical romance, which I've neglected lately.

This and That Saturday

2010-05-15T06:55:00.000-04:00

So. Some (or maybe not even a few) might have wondered what's been going on since I've been virtually nonexistent in these parts of the webernets for the past month or so. A whole lot of nothing, that's what. My desire to sit down and do some mad reading has pretty much gotten up and left, and I've almost nothing to say. While we've been making some headway in wedding preparations, John and I have also been dealing with an aged dog and trying to come to terms with the fact that this week could very well be his last dance. I've not talked much about Baron here, but I'll say this now -- that beast is my heart, and he'll always be the guy I refer to as the one who saw me through just about everything since college. He even put up with me and my demonic book buying and doesn't give me the evil glare too much when I deign to pick up a book. In fact, he usually benefits from it since I'm usually holding him in my lap or laying on the bed, rubbing his fur and scratching his ears while I'm reading. I dread the day when I'll have to say goodbye, whether it's today or next month. It's a day-by-day situation here, and it's been rough. For me, and for John as well, since he's become so attached to Baron in the 10 years we've been together.

**********************************************************************************

Anyhoo, enough about that, or I'll be buying a new keyboard today and swallowing ibuprofen like nobody's business because, 1 - I'm a messy crier, and 2 - crying gives me raging headaches.

I've kept sort of plugged into what's been going on around the Blogosphere lately, and really couldn't get too involved in it. Instead, I've been occasionally reading library books and continue to buy books without a reason other than the simple fact that I felt I needed them. Now I've got 5 bags of books I've bought this year, unpacked and making sad eyesores throughout the apartment. The urge to declutter and clean left right along with my reading mojo, it seems. Heh.

What I have enjoyed from the library was Lisa Jackson's latest hardcover, WITHOUT MERCY. I'm not going to feature any kind of review for it other than to say that the surprise ending really threw me for a loop, perfectly setting up a following book. I also finished up THE FINISHING TOUCHES by Hester Browne, a book totally unrelated to her Little Lady series. Now I've only got to read the 3rd book in that series, and I'm all caught up with my Hester Browne reading. My only question is -- when is another book from her slated?

Last week I also checked out an older Bombshell, THE PROFILER by Lori A. May, which I'm reading now and trying to get more interested in. I'm a sucker for many things about profilers.

The question I ask myself, though, is why am I reading all these books from the library when I have my own here at home? Oy...

OH! Almost forgot, I finished up THE PERFECT COUPLE, the first book in Brenda Novak's spin-off of The Last Stand series. Chilling and disturbing are two of the best words I can come up with for it. I'm curious to see what the last two books read like now. Ha, good thing I have them in the TBR. Shocking, no?

I Don't Like Spiders and Spam

2010-05-09T08:06:00.000-04:00

One of my biggest pet peeves is spam in email. Another is the latest fad of folks posting inane BS comments in squiggly marks on the comments section of this blog, thinking I'm stupid enough to click on the link. Please, just knock it off... I'm tired of "permanently deleting" these little "comments", and I use that term loosely.

Read!

2010-04-19T22:21:00.000-04:00

John showed me this commercial today and I thought it was one of the best ones I've seen in a LONG time. Brought to you by the Ad Council's YouTube channel, and the fine website at www.read.gov.

I'd Have Nothing to Say if I Didn't Complain

2010-04-17T16:37:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I wish I had my mom's gift of gab. She can hammer away at a subject until it's been poked, prodded, scourged, hashed and rehashed, and it cries uncle. Ergo our two hour phone call last night in which my longest sentence was..."is that right? Huh...". John will tell you I can talk a corpse back to life. So, why don't I have anything to talk about here??

My reading has been at a near standstill for about 3 weeks, which the review boss will hate. ALTHOUGH -- I am about to finish up a Sara Lindsey book, PROMISE ME TONIGHT. I'll have to hash out a review for it later this weekend, but my biggest problem with it was the heroine. She's a bit too manipulative in the beginning for me, but does mature at a rapid pace when she's forced to. It's a well-written book, but I find myself wanting to read her parents' story who, by all appearances, are still madly in love after a lengthy marriage and a handful of kids. However, I'm thinking this is a debut book for the author.

Only two nights ago, I finished up SMASH CUT by Sandra Brown, who usually never fails me for a good suspenseful read. One thing I'm at odds with is when a senseless act perpetrated by the villain is just haphazardly thrown in for "wow" factor. In this case, it was the killing of a dog. I may not be a card-carrying member of the SPCA, but I'm a dog owner/fan and this just really bothered me. I know that there are viler acts, unspeakable even, that have been mentioned or described in some of the books I've read, but I always see red when it involves animals. To me, it just jarred me right from the story and I couldn't get through it quickly enough just to see that the baddie gets his just desserts. For me, he didn't suffer enough...

John and I are in the beginning stages of addressing and setting up the invitations. Since they're going to be hand-lettered (John's got mega-talent at classy handwriting) and more involved than typical invites, we're starting early and should be getting them in the mail within a month. We're at less than 7 months and counting until The Big Day! Yesterday we nailed down a location for the ceremony and now it's only a bunch of crossing of fingers that it doesn't rain since it will be a late afternoon outdoor shindig.

So, what else have I missed across the Blog World? It seems quiet these days.

Benadryl, Rings, and The Tudors

2010-04-10T20:31:00.001-04:00

This. This is what's for dinner tonight. I'd planned on rockin' out my day off in the middle of a normal "work weekend" by reading, cooking, and just generally enjoying not being at the hospital on a Saturday night. But tonight -- I have a date with a drug-induced ~~coma~~ nap, courtesy of Mr. Benadryl. During hay fever season, it is my best friend.

So, while I wait for lethargic happiness and itchy-free sinuses, I thought I'd discuss a few things happening in my world this week. John and I ordered our wedding rings last weekend, and happy day, they arrived this past Thursday. We were originally going to have a good friend design bands with an oak leaf pattern, but due to unfortunate circumstances, we had to 'back burner' that idea. Instead, we ordered these beauties from R.E. Piland, a jewelry designer who is very popular (and highly recommended) in the Renaissance festival community. He specializes in Celtic jewelry, and our rings feature an Infinity knot design. I'm so over the moon about these babies that I want to wear the blasted thing Right Now. Now! But John won't let me.. :-( And since I do want to have them blessed before our Big Day in November, then I really shouldn't. But they're so PURTY.

This Sunday marks the return of The Tudors on Showtime and I'm both excited and sad about it. It's the fourth season and will be the last, and I hate to see it go. But, really, they will have covered all six wives in the span of four seasons and since it's a show that centers around Henry VIII, what else can you do with it? There was talk, briefly, of trying to prolong it by adding a fifth season and including his three kids who reigned, but it seems that idea was nixed.

I've longtime been a fan of British history, focusing strongly on the Tudor period, and while I know that there are numerous glaring untruths and historical inaccuracies in the series, my deviant little heart can't get enough of the show. The costumery (a friend calls it "garb porn") and settings are sumptuous and stunning, and let's face it, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is a ~~hot lil' sex toy~~ easy on the eyes. I certainly wouldn't kick him out of my bed. But the one thing that I've always stated about many historical romance books can also be said about The Tudors: while I wouldn't use it as starting ground for historical research, it could very well be enough to interest anyone who wants to go out and read more about that period in history. I wish I had been as interested in world history back when I was a kid as I am now. There is just so much out there that I felt I missed in school, and I'm trying to soak up as much as possible now as an adult.

And that is my rambling on this gorgeous Saturday evening. *sneeze*

Almost Had It...

2010-04-06T07:44:00.000-04:00

I am not a big follower of basketball, pro or college, but last night's 2010 NCAA Championship game between Duke and Butler was food for the books. The tiny lil' Butler b-ball boys from Indiana played like they actually felt they deserved to be there -- and they did, right down to the final few seconds of the game. Heart and soul, balls out, these guys showed an excellent fight for the much ballyhooed big bad boys of Duke...

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T20:39:00.000-04:00

I'm a bit late to the party, but wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope everyone had a lovely day today. I may not spout out my religious beliefs, but I do believe in miracles and Easter is a shining example.

It's also a lovely day to celebrate chocolate....

Final Four, Baby!

2010-04-03T23:05:00.000-04:00

S'all I'm sayin'....

I'm not a huge basketball fan, but am definitely tuned in now for the Duke/WVU semi-final NCAA game.

ETA: Yeah, Duke sucks big hairy balls. I hate them.

I Want

2010-03-31T13:00:00.002-04:00

Amazon lists this as a September release, and it's a given I'll be first in line on the day Kate Brady's new book hits the shelves. I absolutely loved ONE SCREAM AWAY, which I truly think makes me one sick person.

Linda Howard is nearly an auto-buy.

Yes! Finally Tess Gerritsen is back on the scene in July with another Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles book -- be still my lil' gore-lovin' heart! Photo directly links back to her website.

And the RITA Goes To...

2010-03-30T12:30:00.001-04:00

Everyone's talking about it, some are planning on which books to read before the awards ceremony, and if they're not betting on DABWAHA contestants, than they're betting on who will win RITAs this year at RWA. At the very least, a lot of fans and bloggers are discussing the nominees and whether they deserve to be on this list or not or ranting at the powers that be for not nominating other authors. Wendy is truly dedicated -- she provided links to each book at Amazon AND to the author's web page. Me, I'm not so patient or detail-oriented. But I still have a lot of love for many of these authors and congratulate them all on their nominations. Especially to two of my faves -- one is a new-to-me author, Kate Brady, and the other is a personal fave, Karen Rose. In Katiebabs' honor, I've got PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT already on deck to read asap.

In an effort to ~~cull the TBR~~ see just what made them a nominee, I'm hosting a self-imposed challenge of my own before RWA to read at least three or more of the books that have been nominated. This year, I think I've already read three, and I'd like to up that number. I'm not sure I can keep up with AnimeJune and her personal challenge of 15 books, but who knows. Maybe I can read 4 or 5 since there is some time between now and RWA.

Below, of course, is the list of nominations. I've highlighted in blue 4 books that I'm planning on reading (not including PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT). Ha - my own "homework reading"! How did I miss a Tudor-related romance this year?! (hello, Jeane Westin!) Of course, it's on the list since I consider myself a Tudor fanatic.

2010 RITA for Best First Book Finalists

One Scream Away by Kate Brady
He Calls Her Doc by Mary Brady
The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw
Angel Vindicated by Viola Estrella
The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton
Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick
The Last Will of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh

2010 RITA for Contemporary Series Romance Finalists

A Not-So-Perfect Past by Beth Andrews
From the Outside by Helen Brenna
The Snow-Kissed Bride by Linda Goodnight
Single Mom Seeks... by Teresa Hill
Revealed: a Prince and a Pregnancy by Kelly Hunter
The Christmas Love-Child by Jennie Lucas
One-Night Mistress...Convenient Wife by Anne McAllister
Duty, Desire, and the Desert King by Jane Porter
I Still Do by Christie Ridgway

2010 RITA for Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure Finalists

Mountain Investigation by Jessica Andersen
The Christmas Stranger by Beth Cornelison
The Soldier's Secret Daughter by Cindy Dees
In Care of Sam Beaudry by Kathleen Eagle
Silent Watch by Elle Kennedy
Cold Case Affair by Loreth Anne White
The Christmas Present by Tracy Wolff

2010 RITA for Contemporary Single Title Romance Finalists

Talk Me Down by Victoria Dahl
True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper
Too Good to Be True by Kristan Higgins
A Little Light Magic by Joy Nash
Dirty Sexy Knitting by Christie Ridgway
Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis
Fireside by Susan Wiggs

2010 RITA for Historical Romance Finalists

Wicked All Day by Liz Carlyle
With Seduction in Mind by Laura Lee Guhrke
To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt
Make Me Yours by Betina Krahn
Knight of Pleasure by Margaret Mallory
The Lone Texan by Jodi Thomas
Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas
Taming Her Irish Warrior by Michelle Willingham

2010 RITA for Inspirational Romance Finalists

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander
A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley
The Gladiator by Carla Capshaw
Entertaining Angels by Judy Duarte
An Eye for an Eye by Irene Hannon
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen
Breach of Trust by Diann Mills
The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo

2010 RITA for Novel with Strong Romantic Elements Finalists

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay
Scandal Sheet by Gemma Halliday
Red's Hot Honky Tonk Bar by Pamela Morsi
The Lost Recipe for Happiness by Barbara O'Neal
Silent on the Moor by Deanna Raybourn
The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax
The Virgin's Daughters: In the Court of Elizabeth I by Jeane Westin
Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs

2010 RITA for Paranormal Romance Finalists

What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown
Untouchable in Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole
Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole
My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel
The Fire King by Marjorie M. Liu
For the Earl's Pleasure by Anne Mallory
Darkness Unknown by Alexis Morgan
Covet by J.R. Ward
Mortal Sins by Eileen Wilks

2010 RITA for Regency Historical Romance Finalists

Surrender of a Siren by Tessa Dare
Scandal by Carolyn Jewel
Tempting Fate by Alissa Johnson
A View to a Kiss by Caroline Linden
Revealed by Kate Noble
What Happens in London by Julia Quinn
Lord Braybrook's Penniless Bride by Elizabeth Rolls

2010 RITA for Romance Novella Finalists

"A Little Night Magic" by Allyson James in Hot for the Holidays
“The Robber Bride” by Marjorie M. Liu in Huntress
“Annalise and the Scandalous Rake” by Deb Marlowe in The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor
"Charlotte and the Wicked Lord" by Amanda McCabe in The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor
“This Wicked Gift” by Courtney Milan in The Heart of Christmas
“On a Snowy Christmas” by Brenda Novak in The Night Before Christmas
“The Christmas Eve Promise” by Molly O'Keefe in The Night Before Christmas

2010 RITA for Romantic Suspense Finalists

One Scream Away by Kate Brady
Waking the Dead by Kylie Brant
A Dark Love by Margaret Carroll
Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin
Stolen Fury by Elisabeth Naughton
Dark Country by Bronwyn Parry
Promises in Death by J.D. Robb
Kill for Me by Karen Rose

2010 RITA for Young Adult Romance

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick

An Homage to the Library

2010-03-25T18:44:00.000-04:00

The photo at the left looks like one helluva classy place, no? Believe it or not, that's our new library right here in my neck of the woods. Gorgeous, isn't it? It's actually about 2 years old now and replaced a much smaller, older library that was pretty on the outside as well, but highly dated on the inside.

In the name of curbing my spending and trying to ~~kill the urge~~ improve my hoarding tendencies , John and I have taken to spending a lot more time at the library. My problem is...I still bring home 4 and 5 books every few weeks when I have tons and tons of stuff here at home to read right from my own TBR. However, I have gotten to read hardback copies of new books that I normally would've waited for paperback (The Time of My Life, Ice, and A Matter of Class).

This week, I brought home:

I've not had that much luck with Heather Graham's recent suspense books, although I adored her Civil War historical series from wayyyy back. Why am I trying another one? Because I can't quite give up on an author whom I personally admire, plus the book was there, just begging for me to try it.

Sandra Brown's really been raking up some hits with her veer into straight suspense, and I've been scoring some great reads by her when I can.

I'm making it my personal goal to read all of Hester Browne's books, and since I've loved two of her books from her Little Lady series (still have to read the last one), I thought I'd give THE FINISHING TOUCHES a look-see. Her books lean toward the quickly fading chick lit direction, but I love the dialogue and quirkiness in them.

Rounding out my haul, it's been quite a while since I've read a book by Karen Robards, and I've been meaning to pick up another one as soon as I could. PURSUIT just lucked into my hands this past Monday.

On this last trip I noticed the killer DVD, audio books and eBook sections they have as well. Yes, this cowpoke town in South Carolina has finally entered the 21st century and gone electronic! Dig me kicking up my heels... Now, I may not have the latest in technology to read ebooks on, but I still have an archaic Palm Pilot that I can use, so the possibilities are endless. I also happened to see they had a copy of Helen Mirren's riff as Bess I in Elizabeth I, which I think she scored awards for a few years ago (on top of her run in The Queen).

I'm trying to figure out how I'd gotten away from the library for so many years. Oh sure, I still want to buy and support my absolute must-haves, so Books-A-Million and Barnes & Noble haven't seen the last of me. If nothing else, I consider shoring up this flagging economy as my God-given role as an American citizen! But with the library, back when I was a constant customer in my home town and when I first moved out on my own as a young adult, I wasn't afraid to try new things, new genres, and spread my wings a bit. Zero risk! If I didn't like a book, what did it cost me -- nada! I remember as a teenager when I spent many afternoons after school at the local little library, I'd come home with no less than six or seven books; and I'd carry around a large portion of my haul at one time because you never knew when the mood would strike. Nose in a book was a perfect description for me, and I should've been awarded that title in high school. I was such a cool nerd...*snort* And I only say cool because I lifeguarded, coached and copmpeted on the swim team in the summer, so that made me cool (*laughing hysterically* yes, I actually thought that).

Anyway, I digress...

Thank God I've found the library again because I'm having the best time finding old favorites and new authors to try alike.

ETA: Just found out that the book I requested from the ILL at the library is on its way, and I blame that solely on Sarah and Keishon. They've been raving about Jo Nesbo and I'm anxious to try this author.

A MATTER OF CLASS: Review for YOTH 2010

2010-03-22T16:00:00.000-04:00

I finished one of the loveliest books I've read in a long time, or rather, the most refreshing historical romance in a while. Mary Balogh's historicals are pretty much a sure bet for me, A MATTER OF CLASS is another example why. It just so happens that I'll be able to count this one in with the Year of the Historical Challenge being hosted by KMont.

Reginald Mason lives a spendthrift life, his biggest worry being from where he'll order the latest fashion and where the next card game is. As the son of wealthy Bernard Mason, Reginald has never worried about lack of funds, the love of his parents, or that they'll forgive him just about anything. Reginald's rakish ways come to an earth-shattering halt when his father announces he's to marry Lady Annabelle Ashton, the daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, who also happens to be Bernard's enemy and one of their neighbors.

The Ashton family have always snubbed the Masons for their lack of noble blood, despite the fact that Bernard Mason is richer than Croesus and not in debt up to his ears like Havercroft is. Having made his money in the coal business, it is enough to earn him the disdain of his "betters", the Ashtons. Annabelle's father had always shunned the family, even in church, and he taught his family that any gesture of friendship or kindness would not be acceptable. It's a shame really, since she'd known Reginald since she was a young girl and had always thought Mrs. Mason looked to be a nice enough woman. Recently, Annabelle brought the censure of society down on her family when she'd run off with the coachman. The scandal could very well ruin her if she does not accept her father's ultimatum - marry Reginald Mason. A wedding between them will solve two of her papa's problems -- paying off his debts when Mason agrees to pay Annabelle's dowry, and it will eliminate the stain of her tarnished reputation.

A MATTER OF CLASS is both a romance that features Annabelle and Reginald's short courtship and anecdotes of their childhood days, divided by class, but forming a friendship regardless of their stations (or his lack of one). I loved those stories featuring the day they met and progressing on to the afternoon when Reginald taught Annabelle what a proper kiss was. We're never given a real timeline until much later when we realize that the wedding takes place about three years after Annabelle realized that she's head over heels in love with Reginald.

I haven't had the fortune of reading Ms. Balogh's traditional Regencies, but I imagine that A MATTER OF CLASS harkens to those books, resulting in her legion of fans today. I'm not sure how newer fans will feel about this one since it is so slim and doesn't allow enough time to get into further character development or secondary plots. What I read, though, is a refreshing book that left me with a smile and further proof for Balogh's status on my favorites list.

Saturday Video

2010-03-20T13:24:00.002-04:00

I've been a fan of So You Think You Can Dance for several seasons now, and one of the things I love about the show is the musical talent they highlight and sometimes even discover for the routines. One of my faves was OneRepublic who had a growing hit ("Apologize") on the radios at the time but didn't really get big until after performing on the show. I just saw their new video this morning on VH1 and fell in love with the style, as well as the song itself, naturally. Kinda steampunk in tone, don't y'all agree? The lead singer is kinda cute, plus I melt for guys who can rock the piano like he does.

And Then He Kissed Me...

2010-03-19T20:07:00.001-04:00

So, John took me out on a late lunch date to our favorite restaurant right down the road. It's been a gorgeous day, clear skies with not a cloud in sight, temps ranging in the 70s -- just perfect SC spring weather, right?

And then he proposed.

And once I picked myself up off the floor and stopped crying, I nearly screamed hell yes!

So, yeah -- it's been a good day, Tater...

Review: THE KING'S MISTRESS (TBR 2010 Challenge)

2010-03-17T16:35:00.001-04:00

I've really been fortunate with my choices for this year's TBR challenge. While this wasn't as old as the previous months, it was an author whose books I have plenty of yet haven't read any.

There were worse things than to be shackled in marriage to a handsome, powerful lord who desired her -- but Marguerite of Alencon was bred to be consort to a king and could not abide her fate. She had great power as Henry Plantagenet's mistress, and to be set aside and promised as a bride to noble Orrick of Silloth was an insult she could not bear...!

Orrick knew his reluctant bride was a creature of the court with many secrets. And yet, Marguerite of Alencon would make him a perfect partner -- accomplished and gracious, a true Lady of the Keep -- if only she could release her turbulent past and embrace a passionate future...in his arms!

First off, it's hard to imagine a king's mistress -- or any man's mistress -- as the heroine in a romance novel. In this instance, it worked though. When we find out that she's been raised by her family for this role and it's the only thing she knows she's good at, then it's quite easy to see why Marguerite is having a hard time being another man's wife. She's also an educated woman in a time when it just wasn't cool for things like that. But since her heart is tied to Henry, she had to do what must needs to keep his interest - including having his baby. Until the day he tells her that she'll marry, Marguerite was always firm in her belief that the king's heart was her own.

When she arrives at Orrick's dark castle, Marguerite is adamant in her belief that Henry is simply punishing her for angering him and that one day soon she'll be allowed to return to him and regain her place at his side and in his bed. But it's not to be. Orrick knows that on the outside it looks as if the king has granted him a boon, but what he's really done is cast off his leftovers and gotten rid of an unwanted mistress. As a man who is loyal in his service to his monarch, as well as his father before him, what else can he do but make due and spin this in a positive direction. Is it possible that he can convince Marguerite to remain with him as his wife... happily?

For a book that I didn't think would "work", THE KING'S MISTRESS does. I've been on a historical non-fiction tear lately, reading as much as I could on British history, so this fit my mood perfectly. It also reminded me that I need to pay a bit more attention to Terri Brisbin and make up for a lot of books of hers that I haven't read yet.

Reading, Reading, and Reviewing

2010-03-15T17:04:00.001-04:00

For my first foray into celebrity bio non-fiction, I honestly couldn't have picked a better one than THE TIME OF MY LIFe, by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi. Although John's got numerous bios laying around the house (ex. Ronald Reagan, Audrey Hepburn, Tom Brokaw), I never could become interested in the subject matter. Although Ronnie -- well, yeah, he was a cool cat. And Lord knows I've got enough non-fiction books myself on European history non-fiction. I don't think I need to repeat myself here and spew all of my reasons for wanting to read the Swayze book, so I'll just leave it at that.

What I loved about THE TIME OF MY LIFE was the conversational style it was written in, as if Patrick himself is sitting right there in your living room, telling you all these stories of his dancing days in Houston and New York City, the first time he laid eyes on Lisa, and even a few behind-the-scenes stories on the Dirty Dancing set.

Some things I didn't know before reading the book:

Patrick's mom, Patsy, worked with Lisa as choreographers for the movie Urban Cowboy. Subsequently, the Swayze clan became pretty good friends with John Travolta.
Lisa, at one time, moved out and got her own place when she couldn't deal with Patrick's way of handling depression -- booze. Supposedly, within the pages of THE TIME OF MY LIFE is the first time they made this public knowledge.
Patrick was a 3-pack/day habit smoker.
"She's Like the Wind", one of the hit songs from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, was actually written by Patrick many years earlier for Grandview, USA.
The infamous crashing of his Cessna in Arizona back in the 90s was actually the result of hypoxia, not booze, after he'd flown too low and valves on the plane stuck due to tar and cigarette smoke coating them. He and Lisa were bad about smoking in the cockpit in-flight.
Patrick lost his sister, Vicky, to suicide.

And I think I'll end it there because I don't think I can do justice for this book in a review here. It's enough to say that I enjoyed it and now I'm eager to try other bios of this nature -- possibly the Andre Agassi one?

Now I've moved on to one that's more of something I'm used to, NOTORIOUS ROYAL MARRIAGES by Leslie Carroll. It's a review book, and one I'm enjoying immensely although some of it is stuff I already knew before from past books I've read on the subject. I'm loco for any of these anthology-style books where each chapter features another couple or individual.

Oh yes, and I've also got a book I'm planning on finishing for Keishon's TBR challenge -- THE KING'S MISTRESS by Terri Brisbin. Although I have plenty of books by her in the TBR, this is my first time reading one. It's hard to picture a former mistress (considered a whore by many, in this case) of Henry Plantagenet in the role of heroine, but I can see some of the shine through the gritty exterior, and it's actually working. For now...

We Return You to Your Regularly Scheduled Program

2010-03-13T23:57:00.001-05:00

I'm baaaack...! I'm not quite sure why I took a station break for over two weeks, but it happened and that's all I have to say about that. Could it be that I just didn't have anything to say!? *gasp* John would argue that viewpoint, however...heh.

So I'm working a wonky schedule this month. I begged the powers that be at work who are in charge of making the schedule to please please please (with a lime fizzy and gin on top) stop having me work all three days during my weekend to work. Normally I'd be at the ~~hell hole~~ hospital Friday through Sunday, 14 - 14.5 hour shifts each time. While that may not sound like a lot, it does amount to an exhausted me come Monday morning. Usually complete with a migraine because it seems that's when they come on - when I'm tired, and don't sleep much. Anyhoo, they've thrown me a bone and I've gotten a break from 3-day stretches. And next weekend, I'm off for 4 days straight!

I've done some updating on my sidebar, and thanks to mine and John's decision to frequent our gorgeous library more often, I've been stepping outside my norm and reading stuff other than romance. I was able to finish up Hester Browne's LITTLE LADY, BIG APPLE, the second book in her Little Lady Agency series. While I didn't love it as much as the first, I never fail to get a kick out of Melissa Romney-Jones and her quest to help out her fellow man.

What I'm trying to finish up this weekend is a first for me - a celebrity biography, THE TIME OF MY LIFE by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi. I still get a bit teary-eyed since his death. Gah, Dirty Dancing was my end-all and be-all of teenage fantasy angst, and I was sure I was going to meet my own Johnny Castle one day and ride off into the sunset. Well, I got part of that fantasy right, but Swayze will always have a small piece of my heart. The book is conversational in tone, reads pretty fast, and although I'm pretty sure it's not going to be listed as a classic, it's still a great addition to the collection. That is, once it hits paperback since what I'm reading is a library copy.

Instead of trying to dilute this already longish post, I'll end there. Apparently I did have some things to talk about, eh?

LONGING: Review - February YOTH Challenge

2010-02-25T13:35:00.003-05:00

In a bid to thin out some of my TBR (*laughs hysterically* yeahright, like that will happen), I've resorted to reading some of the older titles that I've had for years. Yeah, we're talking books written back in the early 90s, and some even in the late 80s. I've reviewed two of them here on Ye Olde Blog. Now, since I am a child of the 80s and graduated high school back in '90, I never thought that I'd classify some of these books as old, or even older. But, hey...whatever, they're showing some age, and I've missed out on some winners with my hoarding tendencies. Some of Mary Balogh's older romances top that list.

For my February Year of the Historical challenge, hosted by Kmont, I chose LONGING by Mary Balogh. (and yeah, I'm still playing with how I want to type out book titles in the blog)

Sian Jones had been to Briain's finest schools, but manners and French lessons did not erase the stigma of being a lord's illegitimate daughter. Perhaps she would have been content among Welsh ironworkers, her mother's people, had not Alexander, Marquess of Craille, arrived to run the mine he inherited.

When the widowed Alexander came to live with his small daughter in turreted Glanrhyd Castle, the welsh poverty shocked him. But a greater jolt came from meeting Sian and the kiss he took before she could draw away. He asked her to be his daughter's governess. But neither pretended that was all he wanted. Even if Sian fought the desire between them, she could not stops the love that was drawing them together...or the passions that ignited beyond denial...

My first thoughts when I got through the beginning chapters of LONGING was that it was going to be a slow, dismal read, that maybe I should choose another historical romance for this month's read. I'm just being honest. But even back then, Mary Balogh had a knack for just making things work; it wasn't long before I was over half way through the book, eager to finish the book. The poor Welsh people under Alex's care may not have had wealth or possessions, but they truly had what was important -- family, strength, verve, and an innate talent for music. He comes to Wales as an obvious outsider, and it's not until he spends time with them that he realizes what he has been missing for years in England -- a sense of belonging. When he meets Sian - or actually, catches her spying on a Chartist meeting in the mountains -- he's at odds as to how to deal with her and is sure he'll never see her again. Erego the kiss...

And just like it usually happens in romance books, she turns up when he least expects it.

The title LONGING not only describes the Alex's physical pull for Sian, or the attraction she quickly denies for him. It's an apt description of what they have both done all of their lives -- longed to be part of something, community, family, love, whatever -- and never realized it until they spend time together. Sian has tried to carve a niche in the Welsh town of Cwmbran, always thinking she was an outsider due to her illegitimacy. It's not until it's almost too late when she realizes that most of her neighbors have always considered her as one of them.

LONGING is both raw and beautifully written, and once I was done with it I realized that I've done myself a serious disservice by not reading it sooner. Is it a keeper? Not sure since I'm not much into holding onto books when I'm finished these days. It's definitely a book that hallmarks the qualities in Balogh's writing that stand out today.

There is a smidge of violence in the book, although I'm sure it is nothing that will shock anyone's sensibilities these days. According to this version of Chartism (link provided above for just what that is), people would do a lot to force workers to join the Chartism movement -- even beatings and whippings. Scotch Cattle was one such group, and no, they're not the cute, furry bovines that I decorate my house with. I really truly wanted to believe that at first. And when I continued reading of the lengths they'd go to, my PC feminist hackles were all up. But it's a story, and one that depicts the desperation of coal workers in Europe back then for fair treatment, higher wages, and better provisions. Think 19th century Welsh Teamsters...yeah, Jimmy Hoffa would've been proud.

(I'm totally digging the links today...)

Sunday This and That

2010-02-21T14:29:00.002-05:00

Not a whole lot going on around RomLand this weekend, or at least none that I've noted. Well, I did hear of the whole shebang with some college hoosiwhatsit writing up an editorial about judging romance books by their covers, but I guess we just have to consider the source. Immaturity rears its ugly head, as well as lack of finesse and a better idea for this infant's college paper website. Seriously, was that all she could come up with?

I'm hoping to finish up The Queen's Dollmaker by Christine Trent today. It's a review book, so I won't be able to post a review here until the site is updated. It's suffice to say that I'm literally racing through this book now that I'm on the homestretch. I don't know why it took me so long to get through it, honestly. It's a riveting telling of a French woman who flees France for England and builds up a doll making business in her new country. Since it's set not long before and leading up to and during the French Revolution, of course there's much drama and real history in between. But the story's good! Plus, the book also features Marie Antoinette, who I have a small fascination with. (*mental note* Must check into some books at the library on her.)

On that same note, John and I have taken to going back to the library. A couple weeks ago, I reupped my card since I'd lost my original one and John got his own. We've only been there twice so far, but our last trip did net me The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner, Smoke Screen by Sandra Brown, and Hester Browne's Little Lady, Big Apple. I'd provide links, but I'm just...well, lazy today.

Oh! I almost forgot, one of my favorite Disney classics -- oh ok, it's probably my most favorite Disney movie -- Beauty and the Beast is being re-released to DVD and Blue Ray this fall. It's supposed to hit iMax theaters sometime next year in celebrating it's 20th anniversary since Disney's initial release of it. Since I've been trying to behave and stay away from eBay (cuz, really, I can do some damage there when shopping for Cows on Parade figurines), I'll definitely pick up my own copy as well as one for my sister since she's a Disney ~~hussy~~ fan.

Since football is over, I've had to relegate myself to watching the Olympics and classic tennis matches on the tennis channel. No one has been more excited than me to see the Winter Games darling, Apolo Anton Ohno, claim his seventh medal with last night's bronze. He's now beat Bonnie Blair's record as the American with the most medals during a Winter Olympics not on home turf. Not bad, eh? The summer games hero, Michael Phelps, was there last night to watch. I also made myself dizzy when I got so excited that Evan Lysacek won gold in men's figure skating, too. Tonight, it's USA vs Canada in men's hockey -- now that should be fun.

(how many months until football, again?)

(oh, and tennis is not just around the corner, but is here >;-D )

TBR Challenge Wednesday: Blue Moon (February)

2010-02-17T13:51:00.080-05:00

Can y'all believe it? I actually finished up a challenge read in plenty of time to post it this month! So, February's theme for the TBR Challenge was either a virgin hero, or a book that featured the hero in pursuit of the heroine. For some reason, I don't gravitate towards books with virginal heroes, so this was the perfect excuse for me to dig one up.

I chose Blue Moon by Jill Marie Landis, an author with a fairly sizable backlist and one that I haven't read a lot of. I think the only book I'd previously read by Landis was Glass Beach. These days, I think her books are more inspirational and she's had several set in Hawaii since I think she lives there now. But back in the '90s, she set her books in various frontier locations. Blue Moon takes place in Illinois.

An innocent girl of nineteen, Olivia Bond is on the run from an ugly and dangerous past. She finds herself alone, lost deep in the frightening world of an Illinois swamp. Then, out of the mist, comes a man to save her.

A reclusive loner, Noah LeCroix believes he has no need for the outside world, or for the things he gave up long ago. Home. Family. And true love. At first, Olivia is frightened by Noah's mysterious, silent nature. Then slowly, he begins to touch her heart and soul. But just as these two strangers begin to find true happiness, the dangerous secrets of Olivia's past threaten to rip them apart. Now Olivia and Noah must overcome the sadness of their pasts, if they can dare to dream of the love that comes only once in a lifetime...

From the author note, Blue Moon takes off not long after Just Once, in which Noah is best friend with the hero, Hunter Boone. Usually I prefer to read books in order, but if anyone knew the dust and dirty work I went through to find Blue Moon, you'd forgive me for not trying to dig up Just Once.

Yes, Blue Moon is an older book (if you count books written in the 90s as "old"), and for me it translated well. But for some, there are a few things that may tick readers off. Olivia is only 19 years old, for one, but it rings true for the time period, even if you can't imagine your 19-year-old sister braving new frontiers and setting up a homestead. The beginning sequences depict the back story of how Olivia winds up running for her life in the swamp and are harsh and raw, but not graphic. Her mysterious, dirty past is that she was essentially stolen from her family and sold into "servitude" to a rich gambler, Darcy Lankanal. Since he's owner of the most popular whorehouse in New Orleans, it doesn't take much to figure out what Olivia's role was. While she wasn't pushed into prostituting Darcy's regular customers, she still wound up being Lankanal's sole property and his preferred bedmate. It's not long before we find out that he'll do anything to get her back.

While I'm not a diehard fan of frontier romances with Indian heroes, I can't help but reflect on how much I enjoyed Blue Moon. As mentioned before, I'm not much on virginal heroes. But I did love me some Noah LeCroix. He's a quiet man, and my heart broke for him many times over. When he and Olivia reunite her with her family, they're met with the disastrous conditions in which her father and stepmother have been living in. Since her dad isn't a farmer by trade, his skills as a teacher and writer aren't much use on the frontier. He begs Noah for help in hunting to build up a supply of meat for the family to last the winter; in turn Olivia's dad, Payson, offers to teach Noah how to read. All Noah wants to do is be able to spend more time with Olivia before he's forced to go his own way.

What follows is a beautifully written love story that features a man who has never known the definition of love. He's at odds with how to deal with Olivia and his new found feelings for her, but he knows he'll give anything to prevent her from further nightmares. What Noah finds out surprises him though. While he may be new to the romance game, he's experienced love before but in different guises. First, for his mother who taught him the essentials of survival and the way of their people; and secondly, for his best friend, Hunter, who treats him like a brother.

So far this year I have read more older books from my TBR pile than I have in past years. It's amazing how many books I bought back when I first started this and still haven't read! Honestly, this has been some of the best reading I've done in ages.

Hi ho, Hi ho, It's Off To a Meeting I Go

2010-02-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

So, it's my day off. And true to my boss's annoying tendency to schedule a meeting on my day off, I have to go in to the hospital for an hour of sheer boredom. Honestly, other than 60 minutes of "I want us to be the best", and harping about the overtime, I can think of nothing that is ever accomplished. Winter time in hospitals, or at least the one I work at, is horrendously busy with flu and pneumonia season, and this year we've had an onslaught of H1N1 as well. So, needless to say, I value my "off" time.

Not so today...*sigh*