Thoughts on C. Coulter

I've had Catherine Coulter's entire medieval Song series in the TBR for a very long time. The books in the series are: Warrior's Song (originally published as Chandra), Fire Song, Earth Song, Secret Song, Rosehaven and Penwyth Curse. This is an older series & is thus much closer to the 'bodice ripper' style more prevalent fifteen to twenty & more years ago. I tried to read Warrior's Song and it turned into a DNF, reasons listed HERE.

Yesterday I tried to read Fire Song. To my shock & dismay, FS weds a rape victim for book one to her rapist. The remainder of the book is spent with him accusing her of lies, betrayal & affairs alternating with passionate sex. She meanwhile seems to spend much of her time trying to 'earn' his love. Her inferiority complex & desperation is so deep it amazes me.

The plot twist that forces Kassia's marriage to her rapsit is too convenient. Kassia accepts his previous rape of her & forgives Graelam, without expressing any deeper emotions or having repurcussions. How unrealistic & ridiculous! Kassia even goes so far as to try & emulate the woman who witnessed & caused Kassia's rape (although Chandra regrets what is done). To try & get Graelam to love her, of course.

As to Graelam, emotions such as respect, consideration, trust & compassion as they might relate to women, do not exist. He treats his destrier with more consideration than he does his wife. Not only that, he believes characters with motivations to hurt him or hurt his wife or hurt his overlord before he will believe his wife.

What really galled me most, in the end, Kassia has fled to her father's fortress. Graelam shows up to bring her home. While giving him the ritual guest's bath, they make wild passionate love. She left him because she thought he had no feelings for her. One more look at his mighty 'sword' & Kassia suddenly believes Graelam loves her. All is now forgiven. He apologizes in two paragraphs, spread over the last fifteen pages of the book- not including the Epilogue.


Lovely. To say I find this infuriating & insufficient & a put down of Kassia is only a small part of how much I dislike this book. That a rape victim would fall in love with her attacker is hard enough to accept. That she does so with no further emotional or sexual problems is beyond the pale. The reader doesn't even get to see the 'hero' (I'd rather say he's the villain) grovel & beg & apologize & cringe & crawl.

WALLBANGER & DNF

2 Reviews

Beyond Temptation

Written by Mary Reed McCall and published by Avon in 2005 I have to say I absolutely hate the cover but I bought it anyway. Then it sat in my TBR. Sat & sat & sat. Until finally yesterday I was in Wally World with Husband & Son #2. There it was again.

I picked it up & looked at it & thought"HMM, don't I have this at home already? Isn't this the third time this week you've nearly bought this book because it sounds so delicious? Perhaps you should go home & read the copy you already have!"

The hero & heroine have scarred & hurtful past histories of misjudgements, heartache & struggles. Despite each having cause to judge the other harshly, they manage to set aside their preconceived notions of the other person. Richard and Meg manage to listen quietly & learn from each other. The local villagers are suffering and need help. Richard must cope with the personal & political consequences of his Templar past, not to mention the mess made of his estate. Meg must set aside her strongly held beliefs & prejudices about the Templars & about Richard in particular. Now she must face her future as bravely as she can, no matter her fears or her past.

Richard and Meg are a hero and heroine who deserve & need their HEA. It's as though they became personal friends of mine- friends I wanted to hug & help make things better for. I don't often want to be friends with characters in my books, but sometimes the world & people an author creates are so wonderful & so rounded I can't help but wish I had a time machine if only I could be assured I go back and meet them.

Lord Nick's Folly

A Signet Traditional Regency written by Emily Hendrickson and published in 2002. This is one episode in the lives of the daughters of a small village rector. Nympha Herbert has been summoned to the northern estate of her mother's elderly aunt Letitia. Lord Nicholas Stanhope must travel to Mansfield to investigate a mystery man found dead on his property.

Along the way Nympha has travel troubles & becomes the focus of attention of a local second son, Nicholas Stanhope, and a Mr. Jacob Milburn. Nympha has never liked Lord Nicholas, having instead a serious crush on Nicholas' older brother. Mr. Milburn seems to be a mushroom who floats along from one houseparty to the next, thus saving himself money.

Nicholas and Nympha learn along the way that there are more facets to the other person than they previously recognized. Nympha learns the difference between true regard & feigned interest. She learns that sometimes the bitches really do get what they deserve. Really. There are scenes between Nympha & a snobby, scheming, nearly on the shelf duke's daughter that had my blood boiling. Poor Nympha- how can a rector's daughter compete with the likes of her?!

Of course, Nympha and Nick get their HEA. This is romance after all. I have read one other of the Herbert family stories. Somehow I like this family. Lots of daughters & one son. No other overarching thread stringing you along from book to book. Just a family trying to muddle along and get their daughters married off, LOL.
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Pie- Rats Ahoy

I saw this on AG's blog.I don't know how people think these up, but here goes..

My pirate name is:

Captain Anne Vane

Even though there's no legal rank on a pirate ship, everyone recognizes you're the one in charge. You tend to blend into the background occaisionally, but that's okay, because it's much easier to sneak up on people and disembowel them that way. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Quizzes

Review: The Subtle Serpent

Of the Sister Fidelma mysteries I've read, this is the only one I partially figured out before the end. Partially, mind you. I'm really bad about figuring these things out. I only ever figured out two of all the Agatha Christies. Anyhow, these are set in ancient Ireland (seventh century).

Fidelma has been summoned to an abby on a peninsula where a headless female corpse has been found in one of the wells. Tied to an arm is a birch wand marked in Ogham (an ancient Irish language). Across the straight from the abby is the magistate's fortress. The magistrate is hosting a group of young noblemen from competing kingdoms. Why are competitive kingdoms' princelings in the same small holding at the same time? How does the magistrate afford to live in such luxury?

At the abby, the abbess has managed to surround herself exclusively with young women. How did that happen & why are older women unwelcome? Are the local rumors true? How did a twenty year old come to hold the second in command position? Why are the abbess & the steward so openly hostile to Fidelma? Why is favoritism tolerated? And above all, who is the dead woman?

On the other hand, who abandoned the Gaulish merchant vessel close by the entrance to the straight? Where are the crew and the cargo? Why was Fidelma's friend Eadulf on board & where is he now?

I like Fidelma & her world. After reading one of these I always wonder what the world would be like now if certain cultures had grown & flourished instead of diminishing. Greece, Egypt & Rome are other places whose cultures I wonder about. How much more advanced would mankind be if only...
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Mystery Review

Forecast- Gardening & Cleaning

With temps nearly eighty today, abundant sunshine & lotsa breezes I foresee very little reading happening this weekend. My little flower beds are calling me. Pruning, raking, edging, planning...

Spring cleaning the kitchen this weekend too. Scrubbing, washing, ironing, thrift store weeding of cabinets.

Too, Husband has been home sick yesterday & today. Nothing serious, but he has been unusually tired. Laryngitis, congestion. The usual. In years past he'd've worked through it, but this time he wanted to bunker down at home & rest. With the result that he fusses at me for rushing around too much- can't I just curl up & read beside him while he dozes? And eat the huge coffee roll he bought me? And why am I so anxious? Never mind my sudden onset of spring cleaning fever & how I hate to leave something half finished. Maybe if I sit here in front of the computer long enough, the urge to clean will pass?

Relationships
Spring Fever

0 to cancer in 60 seconds

I heard the answering machine pick up while I showered. I wrapped myself in my robe & pressed the button (hoping I'd won the lottery) & the message is, "Please call ___ Radiology as soon as possible this morning & ask for the 'A Team'."

Needless to say my heartbeat is suddenly waaaaaaaaayyyyy higher than normal. *O.M.G. What now? Please God I'm too young. If Jenster can do it so can I damn it!* ROTFL Notice how I go straight from normal & perfectly healthy to dying of cancer in two seconds flat.

I called the 'A Team' (do these people not remember the 80's?!). The very nice Carribean lady, her voice instantly transported me to a beach, complete with coconut oil & margaritas, tells me the film of my right side has technical problems. I need to go back again & be resquished ASAP. So I'm scheduled for Tuesday afternoon 1pm. Anne E, I'll be sure to ask for a pad this time, thanks for the tip.

My heartbeat is normal now. Barely.

AAR 2005 Poll Results

The AAR 2005 poll results are up. I've only read a few, which is a purposeful tactic on my part. I try very hard to avoid the hype associated with many titles & to accomplish this I often hold books for nine months or a year before I read them. I look at it as my attempt (poor though it is) to base each book on its own merits & not the buzz. On the other hand, it could be said I'm not independant enough to read them while they're new & still be unbiased. Whichever.

Of the titles and authors mentioned I only have: Anne Gracie, Karen Ranney, Lisa Valdez & Lydia Joyce. Never read any of the others, except Gabaldon who lost me two books ago & Brockmann who I dropped just before Sam & Alyssa's book. I rarely read contemporaries or categories or anthologies (unless they're paranormal or Anne Stuart novels), so none of those authors or titles mean anything to me.

The one thing I get out of this poll is that I really need to add Loretta Chase to the glom list. That & the fact that, if I judge my taste by the list, either I'm the odd woman out or I dance to my own drum or I don't know what I've missed. Some sort of cliche like that anyway.

Books
Romance Novels
authors

Greedy shopper

Latest bookstore treasures:

1.Goddess of the Rose by P.C. Cast

2. The Saint by Melanie Jackson

3. The Star Witch by Linda Winstead Jones

4. The Waterlord by Dawn Thompson

5. Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

#1 has been on the list for a while, but was (oddly) hard to find. #2 is an autobuy. On her site his eyes look weirdly photoshopped, 'blank' eyes, but on the cover they are pale blue. #3 was an impulse. I saw it out on the new release shelf. I don't often buy witch or wiccan theme romances, but somehow this one made it home. I think I had her confused with a well known YA & fantasy author with a similar name. #4 I'd been waiting for. Water being one of my favorite elements. And of course the second J.R. Ward book.

Fun times ahead this week!

books
Romance novels

Water Demons Unite

You shelter a Water

Demon
Very quiet and cunning, the water demon is one of

the cruelest and most destructive demons once

provoqued : he awaits in the shadows the

opportunate moment to strike and then, either

with the force of a raging sea or the

sharpness of a knife, he stabs the most

sensible part of the target. Although he will

not wake up if unecessary. Then he will show

a calm and gentle image of himself.


What demon sleeps inside you ?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks to Krisite(J) for the fun!

YA Romance- coming soon

Last summer I mentioned my sister's manuscript. She has maintained contact with this agent over the last few months. A few days ago she emailed me her manuscript & asked me to critique it, keeping the agent's suggestions in mind. Fortunately, my sister & I are able to be honest with each other.

The reason I mention this here is that, at this stage, there is a pretty awesome little romance happening here, people. It's aimed at young adults, and, yes, family loyalty and all that..but even so. I scrolled down to the end & sat there and said, "WOW! That was great!" A little on the bittersweet side, but quite the romance. In current form, it is a multicultural, biracial, coming of age story set in Tidewater Virginia. Very unusual in some aspects, yet topical & au courant.

So that is what I've been reading these last few days. A little polishing & a little luck & a lot of prayers & perhaps my adorable sister's book will be sitting on my shelves. I'm very excited & happy for her, she's worked very hard. I like it quite a bit & hope she gets it pubbed.

Thursday Thirteen #3

Thirteen favorite cds, in no particular order:

1. Heart of a Woman- Etta James

2. Classic Soul Ballads- Time Life

3. Joshua Tree- U2

4. Forty Licks- Rolling Stones

5. Christmas Mass- Tallis

6. Bossa Nova- Stan Getz

7. Voz- Cesaria Evora

8. Pure Ella- Ella Fitzgerald

9. The Magic of Satie- Jean Yves Thibaudet

10. Bach- David Russell

11.Joao voz e Violao- Joao Gilberto

12. Mendelssohn & Shostakovich- Hilary Hahn

13. Vince Guaraldi- Charlie Brown Christmas

Drop by Balls & Walnuts, he has a list up today as well. No food this week *big grin* The Wold According to Me also has a TT up here.

Thursday thirteen

This & That

Husband & I had a delicious lunch at La Madeleine. We each had the French dip. I thought the jus a bit salty, but Husband disagreed. The lunch portion is a bit large, IMO, especially as it includes a small side salad- but perhaps I'm quibbling. We brought the leftovers home for Son #1, who is seventeen & always hungry. The bakery, both for pastries & bread, is above average. My personal favorite is the Napoleon, although the windowpane cookies they bake this time of year are excellent as well. The coffees are unremarkable though.

As it happens, there is a bookstore beside La Madeleine. I bought the following:

1. Kiss of the Highwayman by Jenna Mindel

2.Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

3.Fatal Attraction by Alicia Fields

I've been surfing the new RT website (link on sidebar), which I find less cumbersome, but others have complained the print is too small & the pages too busy.

I had my first mammo today. I'll have to say I don't think I've ever been quite so squished in my life. Not to mention it's 'that time' & I'm extra sensitive. The tech left red crescent shaped creases on my chest, for heaven's sake. However, my maternal grandmother died of breast cancer so I won't argue a few minutes discomfort for some peace of mind.

Restaurants
Restaurant Review
Books

February Roundup

The following is a list of romances I read & finished during the month of February. Listed in the order I read them:

1.Charming the Highlander

2.The Mystery Kiss

3.Lord Nightengale's Debut

4-6.Kiss of the Highlander, Dark Highlander & To Tame A Highlander

7.Sex, Lies & Vampires

8. Touched By Time

9.Valentine's Change of Heart

10.Love Underground

I also read The Romanov Prophecy. I had one DNF A Patriot's Heart, review here. The January DNF was Warrior's Song by Catherine Coulter, found
here.

Year to Date Summary

20 Romances, 2 Thrillers, 2 DNF

Book review
Romance Review

Nattering

I'm in Olympics withdrawal. A bit odd, I guess, since I'm a devoted couch potato whose idea of exercise is walking out to the car! LOL Still, there's something to be said for skin tight outfits & beautiful Alpine scenery. The children are planning to save so we can attend the next winter games in Vancouver Canada.

What else is new? Our new life insurance policies came through. Big increases for all. So if I suddenly disappear, you've been warned. Surprisingly enough, my blood work came back excellent, despite the weight I need to lose. I was really surprised, actually.

Currently reading The Subtle Serpant by Peter Tremayne. Set in Ireland in the seventh century. Great stuff, as long as you like mysteries. Historically accurate &, IMO, hard to figure out. I'm a HUGE fangirl of Sister Fidelma, the sleuth. BTW, if you need a primer on correct pronounciation (as I do) it is on the website.

Olympics
Vancouver 2010
books

Review: Love Underground

I read this as part of AngieW's February Challenge.

Title, Author, Year Published, Publisher:

Love Underground, part of the Goddesses series written by Alicia Fields and published by Signet in 2005, this this an entry in the latest trend in romance publishing- exploration of Greek mythology. This retells the myth of Persephone and Hades.


Why did you get this book?:

I love Greek mythology & collect mythological & paranormal romances.

Do you like the cover?

Yes

Did you enjoy the book?

Yes, I did.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again??

Yes, this is a new to me author & yes, I plan to read more of her work.

Are you keeping it or passing it on?
Keeping

Anything else?

Set in a small Greek village between the fall of Minos and the rise of the Common Era, Demeter has been a loving and indulgent mother. Persephone is now a young woman, on the cusp of adult womanhood, still allowed to run free among the meadows and hills surrounding the village. Various events occur, bringing Persephone to the attention of Hades, who lives deep in the sea caves not far from the village.

The tale plays out pretty much as expected. The setting has been tweaked though, in an unexpected way. Greece itself & the agricultural, village based life are prominent. Dieties are often locals- regular villagers with common occupations, who just happen to have supernatural powers.

There are a few issues I feel I ought to mention. None of them bothered me, but they are worth mentioning. First, Persephone is an older teen (16-17). Old enough begin her adult responsibilities in that era, but young by modern standards. Second, it is sweet. Plenty of shenanigans, but no description. Third, it is slightly shorter than many romances at two hundred seventy one pages. Four, there are some serious issues adressed, albeit in a light tone. Duty to village and family. Death. Faith. Independance. Letting go and moving forward.

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Review: Valentine's Change of Heart

Written by Elisabeth Fairchild and published by Signet in 2003, this is one of a handful of historical romances I've read that treat alcoholism & its aftermath seriously. It isn't dark or heavy, but makes clear the far reaching implications of alcohol abuse and its aftermath.

Valentine Wharton, ex soldier, ex partier & newly sober has taken his nine year old daughter out of school for a trip to the shore in Wales. Accompanying them is one Elaine Deering, young Miss Felicity's favorite governess. Valentine's horrible, rakehell reputation precedes him, making Miss Deering reluctant to accompany them. Circumstances intercede and she accepts his offer of a permanent position.

Despite being a short form Regency, Ms. Fairchild thoroughly explores many of the painful ripples that spread outward for a long & far reaching time even after the alcoholic stops drinking. Ms. Deering is not portrayed as the merciful, perfect, faultless angel rescuing Valentine (thank God). She is flawed & frail just like the rest of us. Valentine struggles with sobriety, with becoming a father for the first time & against the wishes of his friends and family.

Definitely a keeper.

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DNF- The Dark Lord

I just can't finish it. I feel tortured. I saw the author's next book in the store the other day & passed on it, deciding I wanted to see if I liked this one. NOT. I really like Mrs. Giggles & was surprised to discover she & I agree completely about this one.

Picked a traditional Regency out of the TBR to 'cleanse my palate' so to speak.


Happy Weekend everyone!

Slogging through

Subtitled- why I don't read romantic suspense. I enjoy straight thrillers, especially spy/pursuit themes. I also enjoy spy historical romances. I really like paranormal romances. However, contemporary paranormal romantic suspense doesn't always cut it. It has to do with my own expectations as a reader & it's all in the pacing. I want it fast, fast, fast. No snide jokes please. *HAHAHA* I've come across a book that is really dragging me down & much of it has to do with pacing. TOO SLOW. Way too slow.

The other problem with this book, & yes, I am talking about a specific book, is that I have other issues. The hero & heroine have a Big Misunderstanding dating back- are you ready? to high school. They were deeply scarred by an event in high school. OK, let me say up front I hated much of high school. By the time I was on my own, though, the trauma was let go & I moved on. I realize that some people can't let go of past high school drama, but please, give me a break.

Other problems- the hero is an asshat. Why? He attempts to manipulate the heroine based on his perceived wealth & because she was a jerk in high school. Give me a ffing break please. They seem to be pushing thirty for Christ's sake. Get over the HS drama already. Not to mention the heroine's sister moves in & they all have issues together. Then there's the fact that the heroine has serious image issues.

Wrap it all up in a pretty package. Too slow, dislike the hero, hate Big Misunderstanding plots, characterization problems. There are too many secondary plotlines distracting from what ought to be primary- the romance. I'm gonna give it one last college try today. Maybe. Life is short & the TBR is huge.

What book is this? The Dark Lord by Patricia Simpson published by Tor in 2003.

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Romance Review

Thursday 13 #2~ Travel Daydreams

Technorati (click link above) does a Thursday Thirteen meme, any subject. Since Husband & I have been discussing vacation plans for the summer and fall I think I'll list thirteen places I want to visit. In no particular order:

1. Montreal, Quebec- Fete des Neiges

2.Monument Valley, Utah

3. Nova Scotia & Newfoundland, Canada or HERE

4. Ireland

5. United Kingdom

6. New Zealand

7. Australia

8. Venice (before it sinks!)

9. German Christmas markets

10. Vienna- To learn to waltz

11. China

12. India

13. South Pacific Islands

Balls & Walnuts has a mouthwatering TT wandering down nostalgia lane.

Thursday Thirteen

Review: Touched by Time

One of the last gasps in an apparently disappearing subgenre- a traditional Regency, albeit one with a paranormal twist. Written by Leane Shawler and published by Zebra in 2005. I may have to look up Ms. Shawler's backlist, I really enjoyed this one.

Jane Leighton, normally a London jewelry store owner, has arrived at a B&B in present day Bath hoping to escape a tangled love affair gone drastically awry. Ramsay Chadwick, wealthy businessman & magistrate in 1812, is engaged to a beautiful young woman- who happens to be desperately infatuated with Ramsay's best friend.

Jane is given the B&B master suite as her room. That night she sees an apparition of Ramsay in her room- likewise Ramsay sees Jane as a ghost in his room. This happens several nights successsively until Ramsay touches her & suddenly Jane is live in the flesh in 1812. Jane manages to keep her cool better than Ramsay does when abruptly confronted with such a shock.

As the nights pass, Jane makes repeated trips back to Ramsay's time causing consternation & gossip among the Bath social elite. Will Ramsay resolve his engagement to a woman who doesn't actually love him? Will Jane be able to help him before his wedding day? Will Jane's ex lover let her go? How can Jane & Ramsay spend their lives together if they can only be together at night?

I enjoyed this little Regency romp with a ghostly gothic twist. It managed to meet all of the usual requirements of traditional Regencies yet add a twist that kept me happily involved.
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Review: The Romanov Prophecy

The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry was originally published by Ballantine in hardcover in 2004, now out in paperback. I read this in several sittings spread over about ten days due to illness & the Olympics. An international espionage thriller, most of the action takes place in Europe although a gorilla at the San Francisco Zoo does make a cameo appearance.

Miles Lord, our hero, is an oddity in Russia- a black man. Miles has impressive political credentials. He is a member of the Tsarist Commission. You see, the Russian people have decided that the Tsars cannot be worse than their current leadership or that of the immediate past. Supposedly the Commission is to find the closest male genetic descendant of the Romanov family so he can be interviewed & installed on the throne. Unfortunately, the Commission has been infiltrated by a group of military, mafia & Western businesses. Their plan is to put a figurehead on the throne & subsequently control him.

Miles' job is to dig up relevant facts supporting the puppet's claim to the throne. Miles, however, is being duped and is too stupid to figure it all out until the very, very last second possible. Meanwhile, he slowly falls for Akilina Petrovna, a circus performer who manages to hide him from the mafia in her train car, after which she helps him in his search.

This is quite a page turner. Tightly plotted & chock full of Russian history, folklore & culture it is obvious Berry has done his homework thoroughly. I had a big problem believing a well educated, well traveled lawyer like Miles could be such an idiot for so long. Perhaps not to see the entire plot, but at least to be more suspicious, earlier. He doesn't even have the excuse that Akilina is distracting him. He's just not the brightest lawyer to see Moscow apparently.

Still, most of it wraps up well. All of the main characters are rounded, even the villains are given history & reasons why they have made certain choices. I found it amusing that Miles is black & Akilina is a pale blond with blue eyes. Not only that, Berry (the author) is white & Miles is black. Does a white author accurately portray a black man? A good yarn & well worth my time.
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Book Review

I spent today wandering around the craft store with Son #1 mulling choices for a Mardi Gras mask for French class. We decided on primary colored medium sized feathers & small feathers in black, white & red. Also paint& tacky putty to help the feathers adhere to the mask. What else? A large sheet of pumpkin colored card stock to mount his poem on (a poem about himself a la Walt Whitman) for literature class.

Also we are listening to Slim Shady on the XBox while Son #2 sets it up for his science fair project. The project is using a driving game with a steering wheel & pedals while chatting on a cell phone to record your driving abilities. We also plan to have the drivers change radio stations or CDs, for which we have set up Daughter's radio beside the steering wheel. We're all very interested to see how it goes & what differences there are, if any, between adult drivers & video game adept kids.

Husband is making Sunday dinner. Onions, potatoes & country ribs. He's very inventive. I never mind washing up if he's cooked.

Something fun to watch via BBC Sport. Too, too funny. Takes 10 minutes to watch & if you've boys or Husbands near or if you've an odd sense of humor, watch.

Back to the Olympics after my newest driver's ed exam. Which I'm sure I"ll fail, BTW.

Mardi Gras
Cell Phones
Science Fair Projects

Olympics Junkie

Why do I always want to start by saying "SO"?! It's a very odd verbal tic I guess. Anyhow (another tic), I enjoy some of the weird sports- like curling for example. The men's Sweden vs. USA match was excellent. All of those blond Swedes were totally YUMMY! Jeez, maybe I oughta delete that. Husband reads this & had a fit when I said in a review that I like green eyed men.

I also like snowboardcross. The U.S. girl who got a silver for showboating (& subsequently falling) before she crossed the finish line deserves to be taken down a peg. Pride goeth before a fall. Celebrating before you win is crass. Our uniforms are too bland BTW. No pizazz.

The flip side of the coin being the U.S. skier who was in a big crash a few days ago & persists in competing despite severe pain? A masochist. I'm tired of the U.S. commentators saying what a brave competitor she is, how mentally tough she is, etc. Stupid is more like it.

Husband played college football in a major nationally competitive (not Olympic level sports, but more than your average person) & regrets how often he played while injured 'to prove he was a good team player'. Now he has chronic pain issues. She's young, she needs to go to Kmart & buy a clue. Pain is a signal that perhaps you ought to stop & reevaluate.

What else? The Swiss men's hockey team beat the Canadians! WOW!!! Sorry to our northern neighbors, but it was a fantastic game. The Swiss goalie took something like twenty two shots in the third period & completely shut out the Candians for the first time since 1988. Stats thanks to NBC commentators.

Saving the best for last- one of the Swiss fans wore a cow outfit topped with horns & a red wig & frantically waved a cowbell in each hand. Very, very cool. And yet, somehow I find the Hogette Redskins fans too out there. Then again- I hate football.

Best commercial- the one that shows the mens' ski team summer training on the road sans shirts. BIG SIGH

Olympics
Curling
Snowboardcross
Swiss hockey
Olympic Commercials

Worthless Blog

AG had a link to a blog that gives your site a dollar value via Technorati. Mine is totally valueless! Absolutely zero. Glad to know all of these entries are a worthwhile way to spend my time. *Insert sarcastic smirk here*

I think it's funny, honestly. I blog to share my love of book hoarding, reading, book shopping, writing..you get the picture. The idea of assigning a dollar value to my thoughts feels like trying to put a value on my book collection or reading diary. These things are priceless to me! I guess valuation is good if you're an author or a businessman trying to build customers or similar reasons. For me, though, blogging saves my sanity.

I managed to completely embarrass my Daughter the other day. I was parked in the kiss & ride area waiting for her when 'Gold-digger' by Kanye West came on. Now as a rule I am too uptight to listen to & enjoy a lot of hip hop- except Outkast & Blackeyed Peas, but I really like this song. So anyway, daughter melted into a hissing embarrassed puddle when I refused to let her turn it down. "MOM! YOU'RE EMBARASSING ME!!" O.M.G. I laughed so hard I nearly wet my pants. Then Eminem came on & after that Blackeyed Peas. Her life is officially over.

Library treasures

Found on the library trade shelves yesterday:

1. Loving the Highlander by Janet Chapman

2. Fire Me Up by Katie MacAlister

Purchased for Husband last night: The Third Secret by Steve Berry

Bought at Wally World on a whim Irresistable Forces edited by Catherine Asaro. This has short stories by Jo Beverley, MJP, Lois McMaster Bujold, C. Asaro, Jennifer Roberson & Deb Stover. I've read at least one work by all of the authors except two. I rarely buy anthologies so I'm breaking my own rule. I hope it'll be worth it.

Review: Sex, Lies & Vampires

Written by Katie MacAlister. A unique combination of love and laughter, paranormal & chick lit Ms. MacAlister has caught & held my attention better than paranormals in a similar vein (ie: Lynsay Sands & Rosemary Laurey). This title, which I think is third of four books, is set in central Europe & London. Professor Nell Harris, medieval historian, is caught snooping in a castle by Adrian Tomas. Interesting & irrelevant aside- my copy has Adrian's name misspelled on the back cover.

Adrian is known as the Betrayer by his people because he has been enslaved by a demon & is thus compelled to do whatever the demon wants, including turning over his own people to the demon. Nell is a repressed, semiamnesiac Charmer; a person who can draw wards & undo them, as well as perform various spells. Once Adrian realizes what Nell can do, he wants her to undo the demon's curse on him, plus help him free his ensorcelled nephew.

Nell really appealed to me because she totally believes in Adrian & his goodness. When the chips were down, there she was- in his corner. Adrian is the first hero I remember who is emotionally vulnerable (although he doesn't see it that way, LOL). Nell does the emotional heavy lifting in this relationship, which fortunately is lightened with a hefty dose of humor. I love a couple who are supportive & able to laugh at themselves. Rare qualities indeed.

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romance novel review
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3 by K.M. Moning & 1 DNF

Over the weekend I read three of my stashed Karen Marie Moning Highlander titles. Out of order ..and didn't realize I was hopping between series either. Not only that, I also discovered I have two copies, different covers, of the same title and am short one book. Lovely!

Kiss of the Highlander
Second in the series. Features a time traveling physicist named Gwendolyn Cassidy and her enchanted Druid sorcerer Drustan MacKeltar. The MacKeltar family has been charged with keeping the Fae and humanity separated for many millenia. Now Drustan has fallen afoul of a crazed old woman and some gypsies. Gwen finds him, purely by accident & manages to travel back to 16th century Scotland & forward again without going completely crazy.

Dark Highlander

Third book. Features Drustan's twin Daegus,Drustan's evil spirit possessed brother, currently hiding in Manhattan from his twin and the cult out to kill him. Enter one Chloe Zanders, archivist & ancient civilizations historian, snooping in his apartment. Naturally, Daegus catches her hiding under his bed, amid condom wrappers and discarded women's thongs. Somehow Daegus both manages to appeal to her adventurous side and convince her to accompany him to Scotland to rid himself of his evil spirits.

To Tame A Highland Warrior

I had a few historical issues with this one, but none serious enough to prevent me from reading. My biggest problem is that I found the heroine a shrill grudge holder who wasn't above playing games with her man in order to achieve what she wanted. Not awoman I could easily like. The hero, Gavrael MacIllioch, is one of the fabled Berserkers, tormented & emotionally isolated since childhood. The 'heroine' is one Jillian St. Clair whose family fostered Grimm (Gavrael's nickname). Having turned down all of her suitors, her father has resrted to playing a trick on her in an attempt to get her to choose a husband. In the end Jillian & Gavrael make peace with one another & get their HEA.I just wish I liked her.

Skimmed through an older Stobie Piel title, A Patriot's Heart. Set in Revolutionary era America, an English officer meets & falls in love with a confused young woman whose family history is convoluted & has left her deeply scarred. This is an atypical colonial era romance, where the villians & the good guys are all shades of grey. It did not catch me deeply enough to read it all, however, and will be traded at the UBS.

Romance Review
Books
book review

Review: Lord Nightengale's Debut

Written by Judith Lansdowne & published by Zebra in 2000, this the first of a four book quartet starring a matchmaking parrot named Lord Nightengale. Nicholas Earl of Wickenshire is in residence at a ramshackle, run down manor attempting to restore it when he discovers his eccentric aunt bequeathed him over three hundred thousand pounds. IF he can teach Lord Nightengale to sing a song by June first.

Serendipity (Sera) Bedford & her sister Divine (God save us from the cutesy names, please) are about to be thrown out on their ear by the distant relative inheriting their father's title (their mother having been derelict in her duty to provide a male heir). Luckily, Nicholas' cousin Eugenia comes to the rescue in the nick of time and gets Sera the job of teaching Lord Nightengale to sing.

Enter a mysterious plot involving the butler & Eugenia, a nefarious plot between a male cousin & the new heir to Sera's father's title, the necessity of teaching the bird to sing, new puppies & kittens. Well, there you have it. A slightly gothic country house party, well adjusted hero & heroine, adorable animals & children. Overall, a nicely done light afternoon's reading.

New Treasures:

1. Briar Rose by Jane Yolen- Part of the Fairy Tale series, published in 1992. The Holocost meets the traditional German fairytale Briar Rose.

2. Haunted by Kelly Armstrong, 2005 Bantam

3. Moon Called by Particia Briggs, 2006 Ace

book review
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romance novel review

Review: The Mystery Kiss

Written by Judith Lansdowne, TMK is a traditional Regency, spiced with gothic overtones. Fleur Avondale, Lady Marston, is newly a widow in London to present her stepdaughter Althea to society. Problem being Fleur is what good Ton would call a 'mushroom'- that is she is a shipbuilder's daugher! Oh the horror of it all! She shall pollute them all with her inferiority & ...well, you get the picture.

Atticus Howard, the widower Earl of Hartshire, and his young heir Will are on their way into London when they come across young Althea helping Fleur while Fleur is busy puking her guts up on the side of the road. Hartshire rescues her, gives her a remedy & departs for London. Leaving mystified Avondale ladies behind him.

The storyline develops from there and involves wife abuse, plots to overthrow the British government, young love, and any number of other excitements, such as spies, butlers who aren't what they seem & abigails who really need to be taught to walk properly.

Anyhow, Atticus has a severe inferiority complex due to his height (6'5") and large ears. Fleur slowly transforms from the protective wall she built around herself as a shield from her now dead husband. Atticus helps her immensely with this. It is of course a cliche that the 'mushroom' becomes an Original with the help of the hero, but in this case Lansdowne makes a believable case for the transformation of a downtrodden woman unfurling at last upon the death of her tormentor.

Atticus and Fleur make a believable couple hoping for another chance at love and acceptance and growth. Will & his pet dormouse are an adorable sidelight. Keeper.

Review: Charming the Highlander

I really fell in love with the hero in this book. Grey MacKeage was transported forward in time eight hundred years & now lives on a mountain in Maine, trying to open a ski resort. He and Grace Sutter and her infant nephew are involved in a plane crash. Enduring that harrowing adventure together create a bond between them that only strenghtens. Grace must grieve for her sister, care for her newborn nephew; deal with her ambitious, yet amoral boss & unravel a mystery that defies all of her mathematician's logic and fall love with Grey.

Grey must outgrow an ancient feud, learn the ways of modern women, cope with the physics of icefall & elude sorcerers & hired gunmen. Meanwhile Grey gives Grace the room to come to terms with her sister's death & returning custody of her nephew to his father. He isn't pushy or emtionally demanding, but he makes it clear Grace is his & he loves her.

YUM! You gotta love a man like that. Written by Janet Chapman this is the first book in a series. I regret that I ignored it, sitting there wedged into my TBR shelves. Now though I can go out & hunt for the remainder! Hooray! Book shopping! Anyhow, this is a keeper for the moment, but I'm undecided if it'll endure all year.

romance novel
romance review
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review

Romance & Manga

I went to the UBS yesterday afternoon looking for a Juliana Garnett title, as recommended by Romancereadingmom. I didn't find the one she read (The Laird), but I did find The Knight & I already have The Scotsman in the TBR. I also bought another copy of Anne Stuart's Black Ice. The original copy I had disappeared out of the TBR & I can't find it.

As I mentioned a few days ago I really want to dig in & read some manga. Daughter reads the series that are TV tie ins & she really enjoys them. I thought I'd try it too- show the Daughter you can teach an old dog new tricks, LOL. The UBS has barely a half a shelf, but I did find one I wanted. Only one or two of the books had a description of the story. Some begin on what would be, in most Western countries, the back cover. Others were set up like regular books (Front to back). Anyhow, the one I bought is actually book two in a pair. Written by Hiroaki Samura the series is called "Blade of the Immortal" and the book is On Silent Wings II.

The back cover says:

"In her quest across feudal Japan to avenge the murder of her parents, Rin has seen too much death and agony. When she befriends a young boy, she is horrified to discover that his father is one of her parents' killers. Weary of blood, Rin now wishes only an apology from the killer, a mask maker whose only desire is to keep his evil past from his son and who will take up the sword again to protect his secret. Protecting Rin, however, is the immortal samurai, Manji, but if he kills the mask maker, will Rin's young friend be drawn into the same cycle of vengeance that has scarred her own life?"

According to the author blurb, Samura has won awards for this series both in Japan & the U.S. I am attracted to the quest storyline & the fact that none of characters appears to be an archetype. I am totally unfamiliar with Japanese cultural & literary archetypes though, so I might discover later that these are stock characters. Still, it looks & sounds promising.

Daughter read the first several pages & wants it when I'm finished so at least that part of it might work.

reading
manga
parenting

Follow Up: The Autobuy ?

This is a follow up to the Thursday February 2nd post on Book Lovers' Nook titled The Autobuy Question. AG raises many thought provoking questions which I decided to answer here so as not to hog her comments. I found AG via Kristie(J).

For me characterization outweighs nearly all. Slow pacing is no big deal. Loose plotting is ok as long as other factors keep me involved. Sexual tension is important although I do read 'sweet' romances & most of the time I don't miss the sex. Once in a while I've read a sweet romance & fell so in love with the hero I wished they would get it on. *blushes* It is enough that the couple ends up together & committed at the end.

As to series, I tend to be loyal until I feel either a) I can't relate to the heroines (Christine Feehan), b) they all blend in together (Bridgertons), c) one of them TOTALLY turns me off (Slightly) or d) I'm ready to move on. Hope springs eternal though. Some authors, especially ones whom I've heartily enjoyed, I'm very reluctant to give up on. I do not read anthologies, I find the quality too inconsistant & books are too expensive.

I have followed autobuys into other subgenres, ie: Elizabeth Lowell & Julie Garwood. I am a huge fangirl of Anne Stuart & I read her romantic suspense. She is the only romantic suspense author I read. I no longer read Garwood or Lowell mysteries, but that's mostly because I prefer international spy thrillers, which neither of them write.

An autobuy, for me, means I do not: read the blurb, read the first chapters, ask friends for reccs or read reviews. My romance autobuys are: Gaelen Foley, Anne Stuart, Adrienne Basso, Susan Squires, Lynn Kurland, P.C. Cast, Melanie Jackson, Shana Abe. A partial list of romance authors I follow, but who are not autobuys are: S. Laurens, J. Quinn, J. Beverley, M. Balogh, E. James, C. Dodd, C. Feehan, among others.

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book reviews
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Questions, questions & no answers

How can a society balance the need for free speech and freedom of the press with the desire of a faithful people that their holy one not be blasphemed? Can societies which deem hate speech illegal print cartoons that are offensive to others and claim what they do is allowable because of freedom of the press/free speech?

Does a group of faithful people have the right to demand that secular societies follow the dictates of their belief? Can one automatically assume that an entire government or society should be painted with the same brush because of the actions of a few? Why is it permissable for group A to satirize group B, yet when group C satirizes group A, this action is illegal & incites strong negative responses?

Can a society which does not have free speech or freedom of the press or democratic & free elections & which may have secret police fully comprehend these qualities in another culture which is totally different from theirs? Can societies that have free speech & press & elections & which (hopefully, most of the time) aren't spied upon in secret, honestly understand the viewpoint of societies who may believe governments everywhere control the press?

Is freedom of speech or freedom of the press only supportable when said speech or press is favorable? In other words, ought negative or provocative or hateful speech be supressed simply because one group or another deems it so? If that is the case, what is left to say?

Is the rift between cultures repairable? Will we ever be able to discuss our opposing views?

politics
free speech

Cartoons, satire & free speech

Too busy today to do much reading. I think I read perhaps ten pages in the time traveling knight meets single mom math/sattelite person. Whatever the title is. The Janet Chapman book. Tomorrow looks to be calmer I hope I can sit on my ever expanding bottom & read more.

The whole freedom of speech & freedom of the press vs. religious sanctity issues (re: the cartoons satirizing the prophet Mohammed) are getting pretty heated. I haven't had time to hunt for the cartoons (originally printed in September), but I hope to find them this weekend. I'm likely to blog about it in a few days. It has been in the back of my mind quite a bit. I am very conflicted about it all, though.

cartoons
books

Thursday Thirteen #1~ Fav. Movies

Technorati (click link above) does a weekly meme where participants make out a list of thirteen___________ fill in the blank about your favorite subject. I found this via Balls & Walnuts & I like his list & the others I found on Technorati. So, here's my

Thursday Thirteen

Favorite Movies in no particular order

1. Lion in Winter

2. Casablanca

3. LOTR series

4. Ragtime

5. Amelie

6. On Golden Pond

7. In America

8. Triplets of Belleville

9. War & Peace

10. March of the Penguins

11. Sleeping Beauty

12. Gigi

13. Pink Panther series

thursday thirteen

Desperately Seeking...manga titles

I need manga/anime recommendations & websites. Our daughter is a fangirl of this type of graphic novel & I'd like to be able to share some of her excitement (& possibly even have a conversation!). A common activity if you will. The problem is I've no idea where to begin. She reads the ones based on TV programs, but I'd like to branch away from those. My favorite UBS doesn't have any so I'll buy them new, if that makes a difference. Please point me in the right direction towards websites, authors, series names, things to be aware of, etc. TIA!

Two at a Time

I'm reading two books simultaneously. The first is Charming the Highlander by Janet Chapman. Yes, it was purchased new & has languished in my TBR ever since. The opening scene in chapter one is heartbreaking, but it captured me completely even in the short time I waited for Son #2 to saunter out of school.

The second title I'm reading is Tales from the Scale by Erin J. Shea. It is a compilation of essays written by seven women, some of whom blogged about their weight loss before being published. By turns funny & heartbreaking, it is inspirational. If you, like me, are struggling with excess weight & want to be reminded that it can be done, this book might be for you.

January Summary

For the January TBR Challenge at RTBC (on the Reader's Roundtable board) I read the following romances:

1. Bird in Hand

2. Fairy Godmother

3. Stealing Sophie

4. To Tempt A Rogue

5. Happily Ever After

6 & 7. Fantasy Lover & Night Pleasures

8. To Love A Dark Lord

9. Night Embrace

10. Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon- not reviewed, but is a keeper


I also read a thriller, Angels & Demons

2006 Children's Lit. Awards

Newbery

Winner

Criss Cross by Lynn Rae Perkins

Honors List

Whittington by Alan Armstrong

Hitler Youth by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson


Caldecott Award (best illustration)

Winner

The Hello Goodbye Window, author: Norton Juster, illustator: Chris Raschka

Honors List

Rosa, author: Nikki Giovanni, illustrator: Bryan Collier

Zen Shorts, author & illustator Jon Muth

Hot Air, author & illustrator Marjorie Priceman

Song of the Water Boatman, author: Joyce Sidman, illustrator: Beckie Prange


Printz Award (Y.A. Lit.)

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Honors List

Black Juice by Margo Lanagan

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

John Lennon by Elizabeth Partridge

A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson


Click on the links above for cover art & review information. I have purchased the Emmett Till book, the Rosa Parks book & Criss Cross for our collection. Happy shopping!

Cartoon Commentary

Hey, guess what? Pink Panther & original Tom & Jerry cartoons are still on Cartoon Network. I guess I live a sheltered life, but I found them by accident a couple of days ago. The DVR is set to tape them whenever they come on. T & J comes on up to five times a week, but I don't know about PP. We also DVR The Boondocks, but that one is edgy political & social satire/commentary as opposed to nostalgia. I've been collecting DVDs of 'old time cartoons' as the kids say. I just wish I could find DVDs of the shows Cartoon Network used to do. The ones based on directors & animators collected works, as opposed to by show. BTW, Bambi is coming out on DVD soon too.

1 Review & a DNF

DNF: Warrior's Song

Written by Catherine Coulter in 1984 as Chandra, Coulter rewrote it & Chandra became Warrior's Song, first in a six book series. I managed fifty eight pages and gave up. The first problem- at the age of eleven Candra nearly strangles her mother to death after years of physical abuse. Problem two- her father purposely trained her in arms exactly as he would have trained a son & never denied her anything. Problem three- at the age of eighteen her father plans an elaborate charade to get Chandra married off. Individually, I could likely cope with any one or possibly two of these although each presents its own difficulties. Woven together as one plot, it is simply one device too many.

Review: To Love A Dark Lord

One James Patrick, Earl of Killoran, manages to twice rescue Miss Emma Langolet, from a hanging death. She in return very reluctantly agrees to participate in a mysterious revenge plot hatched by Killoran against his worst enemy. Like many, if not most, of Anne Stuart's heroes, Killoran is a tormented soul. Preferring to push people away first, few bother try and look below his initial presentation. Emma, though, being rescued twice, is in an unusual position of seeing behind one or two of Killoran's many faces. Against her better judgement she falls for him. Killoran never quite overcomes his need to hide his deeper feelings, but he is fortunate in Emma as she comes to understand his foibles. Another Stuart gem. Keeper.

Looking out my windows

Staring out my livingroom window & what do I see? The setting sun gilds one side of the enormous oak tree. All of the tiny branches look clearly drawn on the slate grey clouds pushing the sunshine out of the way.

Our neighbor across the backyard huddles on her porch, chatting on her cellphone. Rush hour traffic races by on the street behind her, headed who knows where. It is warm for January, only heavy sweatshirts or light jackets needed to break the wind. My bulbs will never come up this spring with these temperatures.

The birds, though, are here. A little black & white woodpecker loves the nuts in the feeder. The cardinal pair drop by once in a while too. The sparrows left once I changed the food in the feeder to mainly nuts. The bonus is the porch stays cleaner, but it turns out I miss the sociable little guys. Perching on the railing around the front step. Fighting in my neighbor's bushes.

The baby squirrel from last spring is gone, but I presume the little thief will return again soon. I need to clean up all of the dead leaves in my flower beds. Neaten the edges. Pull up the grass.

Evening Clutter

So, you know, I have nothing to say tonight. At all. I'm tired & watching COPS reruns. The officers are rescuing baby racoons in some lady's chimney. Stupid wench. No mesh cover over the chimney. Common sense is on special over at Kmart. On sale. Go buy some. Honestly.

What else? Why do some people expect preferential treatment just because they'd be inconvenienced if they had to follow the rules? And why are these same people pricks when they don't get their way? This wasn't my battle, but I witnessed it first hand. Luckily I'm not working with the public anymore, 'cuz this guy would've been out on his ear in a second if he tried to deal with me that way. Some people are just assholes from birth.

Hmmmm...nothing else going on I guess. Laundry needs doing. Need to finish the mending I started back over the holidays (remember?). Scrubbing bathrooms. Cleaning out fishtanks. Recycles need to be taken to the center. Grocery shopping. Whatever. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe not.

Not currently reading anything. Finished the Sherrily Kenyon jag. Two special order
OP titles came in: A Sprinkle of Fairy Dust and Memories of the Heart. The Fairy Dust title is an anthology pubbed in 1996 with stories by: Elizabeth Bevarly, Elaine Crawford, Marylyle Rogers & Maggie B. Shayne. The Memories title is the most recent one written by Marylyle Rogers. It was published by St. Martin's in 1998. Set on the Welsh border & uses Taliesin (the bard) & Ceridwyn (the wise woman) as names. I couldn't resist.

I also bought P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern. Young woman is widowed young & with the help of a box of letters from her husband mailed upon his death, she must move on. At least, that's what the back cover implies. Sounded good to me. Like he cared enough to try and help her move on after he is gone. He sounds like I'd hope to be if, God forbid, I were to have a terminal illness. I'd try to help my husband move on & find happiness again.

Free Advertising

A quick KUDOS to CVS for their CVS Samaritan van that drives around the highways here & elsewhere helping people who breakdown and are in need of assistance. No, I haven't needed them (yet, knock on wood) but I have been stranded in the past & I think its a great thing.

I am now a huge fangirl of XM Radio. HUGE. If you have any type of regular distance driving, this is the one for you. Very few commercials. Always a great song somewhere. If you live in a traffic clogged area there are continuous traffic updates. Check the sattelite radio providers out. It's worth it's $$, I promise.

Catching Up

Still here everyone. There was a family crisis & Son #2 & I made an unexpected trip out of town at the last minute. All is well now, thank heaven!

Anyhow, as a result, I've no new ideas to offer or comments to make since I haven't had time to keep up with everyone & everything going on in Romancelandia or blogland.

Reading Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I definitely see Kristie(J)'s point about the heroes all being similar, but after thinking it over a little I remember Kenyon has set the series up so that the Dark Hunters are 'made' by the Gods when the Dark Hunters experience very strong negative emotions (grief, vengeance, anger, etc). I agree that this could all blend together after a while, but I personally like the heroine's challenge of trying to nurture a person who is emotionally stuck or who is initially cold. I do not read too many of this archtype in a row, though, because they wear on you.

I hope all has been well in your world over the last few days.

Review: Fantasy Lover & Night Pleasures

Written by Sherilyn Kenyon & published in 2002 by St. Martin's. Fantasy Lover is the prequel to Ms. Kenyon's Dark Hunter series, now totaling eleven. Sherrilyn Kenyon/Kinley MacGregor seems to be a love her/hate her type of author. I've yet to hear of anyone who was in the middle. Personally, I'm not a crazed fangirl, but I do like her work. I've many of her titles in Mt. TBR.

Kenyon set up a complex world wherein Greek mythology & vampires & were-animals & humans cooexist less than peacefully. Her heroes are tortured alphas without being too over the top & the heroines are modern women with typical strengths & weaknesses. It threw me off a bit, but these two stories are set in New Orleans. At first I had a hard time setting Katrina aside, but after a while I was ok.

Fantasy Lover has Grace Alexander, therapist & man hater after one scorching experience, as the heroine. Why is it that in Romancelandia the characters all swear the opposite sex are ALL, ______fill in the blank with your favorite negative adjective, after one single bad experience? While I admire Grace's unwillingness to hop in the sack with every hot guy who crosses her path, it was overshadowed by this cliche.

Julian of Macedon, former General, all around military genius & total hottie, pisses off one too many immortals & gets himself banished into a scroll (later a book) as a sex slave (for thiry days) for any woman who opens the scroll. Cursed forever, the only way to escape his punishment is to remain celebate during his thiry days with a woman who has Alexander in her name. Plus an assortment of other requirements.

The crux of the matter being, can they do it? Will the gods reneg on Julian's punishment? Will Grace's patient succeed in killing her? I liked it & it will occupy a space on my keeper shelves because of the mythology aspect.

Night Pleasures is the 'official start' of the Dark Hunters series. The heroine is Amanda, a lady completely in denial of her paranormal powers & acutely embarrassed by her weird family. Kyrian, the hero, is an ex princeling who gave up his immortal soul to exact vengeance on his faithless wife. He is now an immortal demon killing being who owes allegiance to a vengeful goddess.

Will Amanda embrace her nascent powers to save Kyrian in the end? Can Kyrian let go of his past so they can live in the present? Will the Goddess let him go? Undecided if this will be a keeper. It'll hang out for a while, but after that we'll see.

New Treasures

My newest treasures are:

1. Carlyle, Liz, The Devil to Pay- Woman disguised as a pickpocket gets caught

2.Hawkins. Karen, The Lady in Red-My Fair Lady plot in reverse (male is being 'remade')

3.Heath, Lorraine, As an Earl Desires- Head of prominent family must recover lost heirloom

4. Heyer, Georgette, Black Moth- Highwayman & my first Heyer (how have I missed her?!)

5. Hodge, Colby, Stargazer-Spacefaring ex convict

6. Kurland, Lynn, Dreams of Stardust- Time travel

7.Martin, Kat, The Handmaiden's Necklace- Hero falsely accuses heroine & must grovel forever, one of my favorite plotlines

8.Popp, Robin, Out of the Night- Contemp. Vampire

9. Potter, Patricia, Black Knave- Scottish Robin Hood type plot, but has dialect, so might be iffy to finish; we'll see.

10.Potter, Patricia, Diamond King- Scottish pirate goes to Brazil.

Best of all, I still have $30 on my trade credit!

TBR Confessional

Some of you know I have a four feet tall by four feet wide three shelf bookcase. This is the home of my TBR. It is double shelved (meaning two books deep) on all shelves plus two of the shelves have stacks of books laying sideways on top. I counted them last New Year's. It was maybe 275 titles. Since then I gave up counting the books because the ins & outs completely surpassed my math abilities & desire for numerical accountability. Besides, I was hiding some of them from Husand.

Today I completed my quarterly TBR purge and alphabetization. I pulled out a medium sized shopping bag of traditional Regencies (which are no longer being published on a monthly basis, BTW). I also pulled a paper grocery bag of mass market size paperbacks. Truth be told most of those had already been set aside, but still..

After the UBS totted all of them up my total came to $60. A mere drop in the bucket compared to what I spent last year, but every bit helps. Right? Right?! Ok, maybe not. I just need someone to soothe my guilty conscience.

Anyhow. I returned home and spent the an hour reconciling my collection of TBB post its, pages torn out of magazines, printed emails, etc. I now have a list of ten romance titles plus the RTBC Award nominees pages clipped, marked, stapled & in my purse. Previous purchases marked.

Friday nights are special for the Husband & the kids. Husband cooks dinner (tonight was sausage & bean soup & Italian bread), they camp in front of the tv & watch DVR'd tv shows and movies. Fridays I either hide in the bedroom or go book shopping. Guess what I'm doing tonight?

Review: Happily Ever After

Written by Marylyle Rogers and published in 1996 by St. Martin's, this is the second book in a family trilogy. I totally & completely fell in love with the first one, Once Upon A Time. This resulted in hunting down the next two books. It borders on being too flowery, which reminded me of older romances, and some of the dialogue is written in dialect (eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww). I loved the first one though, so I'm more willing to overlook flaws that would normally cause me to have second thoughts.

Lissan, half fairy half human daughter of the Fairy King & an human woman, falls through a fairy ring traveling back to 1115 from 1900 in Ireland. Rory, the local overlord, finds her and 'hosts' her in a magical cottage where she will be protected until he can figure out if she's an evil witch or a good witch. The push and pull of time, political problems, family obligations & powerful magic swirl around them as they slowly become 'friends with benefits' as my son would say.

Light in tone, this title continues the fairytale feel of the first. I was not able to find a website by Marylyle Rogers. St. Martin's does not list her on their website. The most recent book she published was in 1998. I am unsure what exactly her situation is, but I really fell hard for this series and I am glad they are nestled in among my keepers. I have read other titles of hers & they were good for what they are, but they didn't quite have that special something. Here is a list of Marylyle Rogers' titles.

Review: To Tempt A Rogue

Behind a horrid cover lurks a good book. Honest. Written by Adrienne Basso and published by Zebra in 2004, TTAR is set in Scotland in 1811. I've enjoyed other Adrienne Basso titles & this one pretty much pushes her onto the auto buy list.

Nathaniel Bennett, Baron Avery, has spirited his two nieces & nephew away to rural northernmost Scotland to escape the clutches of his greedy uncle. Needing a governess for them, his friend Duncan McTate hires Harriet Sainthill, sister of Viscount Dewhurst, to fill the position.

Harriet is the spinster older sister in an uncomfortable position in her brother's household. Jilted by her fiance upon his return from the war Harriet decides she needs some breathing room. The family appears to be loving & close, but she is ready for a change.

Nathaniel, meantime, promised his brother, shortly before Robert & his wife died, that he would raise Robert's children. Problem is, no supporting document could be found. Thus the children are at the mercy of the cold & distant Uncle. Hatching a plan with his friend Duncan, they spirit the children away while waiting for the case to wind its ponderous way through the courts.

My favorite scene hands down was when the virginal Harriet seduces Nathaniel. She tells him what she wants & what her terms are & she refuses to allow him to put her off. I liked the fact that they were able to talk to each other without mincing words or playing games.

I am interesd in looking for Duncan's story, if he has one. Basso's website is dated 2004 on the first page & other pages inside are screwed up, so I don't know what's up with her. Amazon says she had an anthology with Hannah Howell (Highland Vampire) last year. Also, Wedding Deception last summer. I plan to keep TTAR, at least for now.

Review: Stealing Sophie

Disclaimer: I am totally ignorant of Scottish history, other than a vague idea the kilt as we understand it wasn't seen until the seventeenth century. So, apologies to Maili in advance for being blisssfully unaware of any ignorance displayed in this story. One issue, given the poverty of this setting, would the tenant farmers pay tithes or taxes or whatever it was to both the English overlord & to their 'rightful' Scottish lord as well? Out of loyalty to the rightful Scottish heir as opposed to any legal requirement. I have serious doubts, but then again, not enough to actually research. This is Sarah Gabriel's debut title. Published in 2005 by Avon.

The first positive item, Stealing Sophie isn't written in some wretched made up brogue. HUGE positive in my opinion. Written out dialect (regardless of type or locale) is a major peeve. Minor curiosity, Connor (the hero) is an Irish name. Odd choice for a proud Scottish patriot hero.

Second positive item: the heroine on the cover actually matched the description of her in the text, including the color of her gown! I nearly died of apoplexy. The hero, naturally, has man titty galore plus a sword not actually used in the story, but, who am I to quibble when the art department obviously got Sophie right?

Third, their wedding night was the funniest & yet so true to life scene I've read in a very long time. Let us say simply that after a long & trying day running from the red coats (was that term actually used?) and Sophie's family plus a rushed wedding service Connor and Sophie have had a bit of whiskey. Therefore neither will own up to forgetting their wedding night. Did they do the deed or not? Sophie is pretty sure, but not completely. Connor, being a man & all, refuses to confess to a) having consumed too much whiskey and b)not remembering what happened & c) is amazed to realize that neither does Sophie.

The plot is as follows: Connor has promised Sophie's brother he will marry Katherine Sophia in order to prevent her arranged marriage to Sir Henry Campbell. Rob (Sophie's brother) then disappears and is feared imprisoned & gravely wounded. Honoring his promise, Connor kidnaps Sophie & marries her under duress after a long & exhausting run through the hills. They return to the ruins of one of Rob's castles & set about getting to know each other & their families' situation in respect to the English occupation & Campbell's powerful position as magistrate of the region. Who exactly is Sophie anyway? Why did Rob write out one sister's name & then ensure Connor kidnapped the other one? What role, if any, did Connor play in Rob's injury and capture? Can kidnapped brides truly find love even in trying circumstances?

So there you have it folks. An afternoon's worth of love, family loyalty, hot sex in the heather & dastardly villains. Throw in a fairy curse, a fiddle playing ghost & you're all set. Very heartwarming, but not a keeper. I intend to keep an eye out for other Sarah Gabriel titles.

Review: The Fairy Godmother

This is the first Luna title & was originally published in 2004 written by well known & widely admired fantasy writer Mercedes Lackey. I'd never read Ms. Lackey's work previously, but I now find myself wanting to hunt down her backlist. Hmm..perhaps the Baen Free Library will have some of her work. I'll have to look later. *Added later- BFL does have some of Ms. Lackey's work! YAY!

This tale begins as the standard Cinderella. Ella Cinder's actual name is Elena Klovis. Instead of becoming the belle of the ball & marrying her prince, Elena's evil stepmom & stepsisters run off to 'foreign countries' in search of gullible rich men to fleece. Leaving poor Elena to face their debtors with nothing but a nearly empty house. Elena, broke & in rags, decides to become a household servant at the equivalent of a modern day job fair. Only, none of the locals wants to hire her for fear of what Madame Klovis might do when/if she returns.

At the very last moment, Fairy Godmother Bella swoops in & rescues Elena on her flying donkey cart. Elena is to be Bella's new apprentice Godmother. Eventually, Elena learns as much as Bella can teach her & Bella retires. During the course of routine Godmothering Elena takes Prince Alexander of Kohlstania into her household as a Failed Quester in need of serious reform. Time passes, as Alexander is more resistant to reform than anticipated.

Both Alexander & Elena's attraction grows steadily once he earns her respect. An unusual aspect I particularly enjoyed was that they experienced mutual interactive dreams, even when they slept in separate buildings & hadn't verbally expressed their interest in each other.

This novel works better as a fantasy than it does as a romance, which I half expected given Lackey's background. Alexander & Elena don't meet until two hundred pages into the story (out of four hundred seventy nine). Had this been a straight romance that could have been a deal breaker. However, the world Ms. Lackey builds is fully developed & well integrated into the plot and so I didn't quibble. Another issue is that more attention is paid to Alexander's reformation than to the growing attraction between them, but, again, this can be put down to Ms. Lackey's fantasy/sci fi background and to plot needs.

Ms. Lackey's research into world fairytales and mythology is obvious as you read TFG. Other than the Cinderella main plot, I counted no less than seven veiled references to other fairytales woven into the story. I'm sure I missed a few. I grew to like Elena & then Alexander as the story grew. Each overcomes a troubled background (Lackey makes an excellent case that growing up as a Royal isn't all it's cracked up to be) and they grow together. Ms. Lackey has a new fan & The Fairy Godmother is nestled among my keepers- as soon as daughter has finished it.

Seasonal Poetry

I am completely uninspired today & so I present you with a few poems chosen from Everypoet.com

A Winter Night

My window-pane is starred with frost,
The world is bitter cold to-night,
The moon is cruel and the wind
Is like a two-edged sword to smite.

God pity all the homeless ones,
The beggars pacing to and fro.
God pity all the poor to-night
Who walk the lamp-lit streets of snow.

My room is like a bit of June,
Warm and close-curtained fold on fold,
But somewhere, like a homeless child,
My heart is crying in the cold

Sara Teasdale


SNOW-FLAKES

Out of the bosom of the Air,
Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare,
Over the harvest-fields forsaken,
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.

Even as our cloudy fancies take
Suddenly shape in some divine expression,
Even as the troubled heart doth make
In the white countenance confession,
The troubled sky reveals
The grief it feels.

This is the poem of the air,
Slowly in silent syllables recorded;
This is the secret of despair,
Long in its cloudy bosom hoarded,
Now whispered and revealed
To wood and field.

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Snow Song


Fairy snow, fairy snow,
Blowing, blowing everywhere,
Would that I
Too, could fly
Lightly, lightly through the air.

Like a wee, crystal star
I should drift, I should blow
Near, more near,
To my dear
Where he comes through the snow.

I should fly to my love
Like a flake in the storm,
I should die,
I should die,
On his lips that are warm.

by Sara Teasdale

So Very Old

Me I mean. Daughter just turned fourteen today & last week Son #1 turned seventeen. Nephew down the way turned the big five Saturday last. Son #2 & I made daughter's cake this afternoon. It turned out to be quite an unexpected culinary adventure.

The cake is based on a popular sweet cake our Latino neighbors serve for their kids' birthdays. Usually it is made as a three layer white cake with a custard/pudding type layer on the bottom & center cake layers. On the center layer are kiwi & strawberry slices. Frosted all over with standard white cake frosting & thickly patterned on the top with sliced almonds.

Now, first off, today the car is in the shop for new brakes. I thought I had all of the ingredients- do you remember the Alzheimer's post last week? Well, that's me.

So here we are, in the middle of baking, and I realize half of what I need was eaten by certain people who didn't ask if said items were needed for a recipe. No car & less than half of what I actually need to make this damned recipe. Thus we have boysenberry preserves melted & poured over the top in lieu of fresh fruit & cream cheese frosting in place of custard.

I only had enough flour for two layers so I poured the batter into a ten inch Wilton pan. I love this pan. My absolute favorite pan, hands down. It is big enough to comfortably feed us plus an extra slice or two for breakfast.

The cake turned out well in the end. The cake was a big hit despite Husband's suspicions about boysenberry preserves. Daughter didn't know about the fiasco & thus loved the cake.

Review: Angels & Demons

This doesn't count towards the RTBC TBR Challenge since I liberated it from my mom's stash. This is the first Robert Langdon book, set before DaVinci Code.

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, along with marine biophysicist Vittoria Verta, is racing to the Vatican in an attempt to prevent the murders of four Cardinals in line for succession to the papacy and to stop the entire Vatican complex from blowing up due to an antimatter bomb. Difficulties arise from their need to interpret mysterious, ancient, deliberately obscured clues before the Cardinals are killed. Then they must locate & disarm or remove the bomb.

All of this is upfront information provided immediately. There is a mysterious, disliked scientist in charge of a prestigious corporation. A charismatic young priest temporarily in charge of the Vatican until the new Pope is elected. A military man in charge of security who is mired in doing things 'the way we've always done them'. A young journalist recently hired into the BBC who needs to make his mark. Plus an Islamic assassin hired by an unseen boss.

Brown has written a spellbinding page turner that attempts to address science versus religion & faith while simulaneously keeping the reader hurriedly flipping pages racing toward the denoument just like Robert & Vittoria. I will not address his comments on this issue here except to say that I glossed over them because I was more concerned about the murders & the bomb. In the end, I was left wondering about the intersection of insanity & faith as well as human beings' reliance on 'proof' as an ingredient of faith.

I purposely held off reading this series because of the huge hype surrounding DaVinci Code. I do regret waiting and I'm anxious to read DaVinci Code but even so I'm a miserly bookaholic and will either read the library copy or look in the UBS for D.C. This is already a keeper for Husband, so I will simply add it to his shelf. From Brown's website, it appears the movie version of DaVinci Code will be released May 19th this year. Amazon.com says the third book in the series, The Solomon Key, is not yet available for preorder.

Parody Commercial

Via RandomReality.blogware.com comes this hilarious parody commercial. Click link above- be forewarned, finish chewing and/or swallowing first.

Bookstore splurge

So I just spent my entire month's book budget in one fell swoop tonight. It was in a good cause- avoiding the football game the men in my house were so determined to watch (Redskins vs. Buccaneers). I mentioned the other day how much I despise football?

I bought:

1.The Amber Room by Steve Berry- thriller based in Europe, Russia & the US

2.Queen's Ransom by Fiona Buckley- Elizabethan mystery; third in a series; female sleuth

3.The Hand of Justice by Susanna Gregory- 1350's Oxford, England; 10th Matthew Bartholomew mystery

4. A Grand Deception by Elizabeth Mansfield- Traditional Regency romance

5. Powers That Be by Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Scarborough- Reissue of sci/fi book revolving around a sentient planet whose native flora, fauna & peoples must save them all from a greedy corporate giant.

6.The Midnight Work by Kassandra Sims- Paranormal/alternate reality vampire (& other creatures) romance; debut author; TOR published

7. White Murder by David Wishart- The tenth Marcus Corvinus mystery set in ancient Rome; this one revolves around a murdered star chariot-racing driver.

8. A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson- Winner of the Golden Dagger Award for Crime Fiction; set in Portugal in the late 1990's & involves an old, suppressed Nazi plot & a murdered teenage girl in Lisbon.

Review: A Bird in Hand; A. Lane

As previously noted I am participating in the TBR Challenge & so I dug this out of my bookcase. Originally published by Signet in 1999 this is a traditional Regency written by Allison Lane.

Randolph Catherwood, Earl of Symington, heir to the Duke of Whitfield, is en route to authenticate a manuscript purported to be an original Chaucer. While enduring a horrendous thunderstorm he sees a Lady and her horse fall into a raging stream after the bank collapses. Lady Elizabeth Walton, mired in Cumberland by poverty & a cruel father is the local healer. She was returning home after treating her aunt for 'flu. After spending the night together in an empty cottage, Elizabeth lies about her identity & flees home refusing Symington's offer of marriage.

A complicated house party storyline follows. Included are the cruel & manipulative father, the meek & scheming mother, the greedy & shallow younger sister, hidden identities & a library full of rare manuscripts. The plot is a tried & true one, but the hero's claustrophobia makes him unique. Imagine that- a flawed hero!

Anyhow, the heroine is an independant, intelligent woman of twenty four & the hero is thirty one. They manage to have actual conversations &, despite the plot machanisms, get to know each other in a mature & realistic way. Each has their flaws, but those are nicely tied in. In fact the characters are surprisingly accepting, no rose colored glasses here.

An enchanting & quick read. Highly recommended, especially if you like romances leavened with flawed yet appealing protagonists.

MAILI is back today! Run over there & say hi & tell her never to leave again.

Don't call me "Little Lady," pal

Some good news for a change! The golden snail we bought for the goldfish tank has not been eaten (yet) and is merrily slurping away on the slime ringing the top edge of the tank. We're still afraid the fish will eat him, so we've decided to wait a few days before naming him (or her). He's bigger than the other one was- perhaps that's the difference.

More good news- the tire was replaced in a timely fashion by the oh so helpful & polite (HA!) Pep Boys staff, leaving us with only the brakes to repair~ on the other car, naturally. While wandering around Pep Boys I did see some very cute Cheshire cat floor mats, just down the aisle from the flower embossed steering wheel covers. They'd probably get more female customers if they'd train the staff not to act as if every woman who walks in is wasting their precious time. I brought Husband with me this time- they were much more helpful to him. I'm so surprised. I thought for sure someone would call me 'little lady.'

Wally World was shockingly empty of patrons when I stopped by to pick up Son #2's inhaler. They already have Valentine's Day candy & home decor out. Honest. You could've knocked me over with a feather. The after Christmas sales are barely over for heaven's sake.


Daughter's IB application has been filled out & is ready to be mailed tomorrow. Son #2 has presented me with a small list of ingredients necessary for a chemistry experiment next week. Pennies, ammonia, bleach, red cabbage juice, etc. Sounds fun doesn't it? Son #1 is trying to climb out of a hole he's dug himself into grade wise. He's forever hauling himself out of one hole, saunters along ok for a while then falls into another hole. He drives me batty.

For the January Romantic Times TBR Challenge on the Reader's Roundtable message board I'm currently reading A Bird in Hand by Allison Lane. Her website is a pain to figure out unless you're already familiar with her work. Many of the descriptions, blurbs & book info don't include title information. You have everything else- awards, H/H, plot, etc. No title. I hope she isn't paying them much to host her. They didn't do her much good.

TBR Challenge Resumes

Over at Romantictimes.com the To Be Read pile challenge has resumed. Go to the website, locate the Reader's Roundtable message board, scroll down to the December thirtieth entry by Anne E., marked TBR Pile Challenge & pledge hopw many titles from your TBR pile you promise to read this month. At the end of the month Anne E will remind everyone of their promised book count & we will 'fess up as to how well or how badly we've done. I've promised eight.

Home Sweet Home

Home again. Our visit went pretty well, although #2 son's asthma & allergies really flared up while the gang stayed at my in law's house. It has been a very, very long time since he stayed there & my fears were confirmed. He didn't have an asthma attack, thank God, but I doubt they'll be permitted to stay at the in law's overnight again.

My parents are well, all things considered, as is my sis & her newly expanded family. My brother & his GF have returned to the sunflower state taking with him my newly incubating future niece or nephew.

I am surrounded by smoke infested laundry, floors that need scrubbing & carpets that need a thorough vaccuuming. My darling Husband's back aches from the too soft mattress at mom & dad's. Calgon take me away! I know, I know~ I just returned.

And now for the good news-

Maili says she'll be back by the end of the week

HOORAY!!!

Happy New Year

Just a quick note to say hey to anyone out surfing today. Had a sip or two of champagne at 11:55 pm & toddled off to bed. Poor Dick on Rockin' New Year's Eve sounded pretty rough, though. I'm sure it was a huge motivation to work really hard in rehabilitation though.

Husband is outside with my Dad playing with chainsaws & stacking wood etc. The usual man stuff. Children are at my in laws, cooking from what I hear. Birthday cake for #1 son who will be seventeen (O.M.G.- where have the years gone?) tomorrow. Blackeyed peas & something or other because that's the traditional Southern New Year's dish. Fried chicken, macaroni salad & potato salad.

This was not a good day to restart my vegetarian eating plan. I think I'll bring over some veggies & dip or salad ingredients or something. Otherwise I'll...I can't say starve because I'm plump enough to survive quite a long fast, but..I'll have to have self control or something equally adult. Perhaps I'll make a huge pot of coffee.