The continuing saga of "The Door" and other stuff

The Door: I got home from work yesterday and was pretty tired and not paying much attention. I went to open the screen doorless back door when all of a sudden it opened on it's own. I jumped and then looked to see Ryan. I can only blame it on a Friday that I didn't notice his truck parked on the road in front of the house. He was there to work on the door some more and was just waiting for Brent to show up. There is good news and bad news.

The good news. I now have a screen door up. And it's not the butt ugly new door, but yet not really the old door. It's a hybrid door. The door itself is the old door, but all the hinges and the door extender are from the new door package. So thank heavens the door itself isn't all that bad. Unfortunately, because they used parts from both doors, I can't take the new door back - and it's sitting in my kitchen. Cost me quite a bit of money for hinges and an extender.

The bad news. My boys are relatively young - 28 and 26. They aren't used to all that much manly man fixing things yet. As Lisa pointed out - 'it's not part of their genes when they were born'. So that explains I think, why the door doesn't close all the way but instead only part way. They tried the little dearlings. And Ryan is planning on coming back and working on it some more. But as of right now. I have to yank pretty hard to get it to close all the way. Which leaves things wide open if a big heavy gust of wind comes up and someone has forgotten to yank it closed - which I believe is the thing that started the saga of the door.

Other Stuff: I tried going without medication for depression. (I'm back on it now and it's finally starting to kick in thank goodness) but one of the side effects of the depression was my mail opening phobia came back in all it's glory. This is NOT a good thing when we get close to tax season and everyone mailing tax stuff. The fight Ryan and I had last weekend was when I asked him if he was going to do my taxes and he yelled that I had to give the stuff to him first. Well - I hadn't opened a good majority of it and although I tried - I just couldn't do it. I gotta tell you - this kind of a phobia or thing is most embarrasing. People understand fear of snakes or spiders or heights or flying but what person in the normal sense is scared of mail?????? It' s to bizzare for words. So, Ryan doesn't know I'm scared of mail. I think Ron had an inkling, but at the time I didn't really realize I was terrified of mail. I would look at the huge pile that was building and feel sick inside knowing it had my tax stuff in it. But Lisa - dear sister that she is - came over today and opened it for me. So now I have all my tax stuff ready altogether to give to Ryan tomorrow so he has one day to get my taxes done. Good thing he's an accountant!
While Lisa was here I also picked out the book for her - the non-romance reader to read. I settled with Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard. I'm sure she'll include somewhere that it's " too romancy" for her tastes - but one never knows. She's going to pick out one of her non-romance books for me to read - that was the agreement.

I also said I would do a do-over of the two pictures that didn't turn out well. Hopefully these are better.











While being in a picture taking mood and being very proud of my books, I took a few more. I mentioned that I also have hidden pockets of TBR's upstairs too.

The one on the left is from a plastic three-door shelf I have in one of the bedrooms. The one on the right is the nightstand I have in my bedroom.











I also have quite a number of Harlequins that there is no room for in 'the library'. I artfully arranged them on a couple of chairs to take their pictures. You will note in the one picture some of my Georgette Heyer books too. I have tons more. These are only but a few.












And then there is - The Princes - Xina - because she insisted and didn't want to share her picture with a bunch of books.









And finally the last other stuff

Sanctuary's Finest have a new blog, The Book Binge. Let's see if this works or not


Whoa!!! How about that! It did work, it did!









'til later

Last big assignment

Well - my writing class has been over for a few weeks now. I really enjoyed it and hope the teacher decides to teach another one. We had our last big assignment a while ago and I meant to post my contribution but I couldn't find the copies that she and the rest of the class critiqued. The were really good changes and I wanted to make them. Luckily I found them last night and made the necessary corrections. This one was to be a children's story. It was the hardest one for me and ended up costing me $1.65 in overdue book fines, but without further adieu:

Strange Encounters

“Come on Mikey, try it again!” came the shout moments after a loud splash was heard coming from the pond. “You still haven’t thrown any farther than me! You know I’m still winning!”

I took up the challenge, picked up a rock, hefted it from hand to hand making sure it was the right size and then threw it with all my might.

“Yes!” I yelled, pumping my fist in the air. “I beat you. Take that and stick it.”

It was late summer, only weeks before the three of us had to go back to school and we were enjoying the evening down by the local pond. The three of us were tight you know. Brian Saunders, who we called Brain because he was the smart one of us, was a little guy, small and skinny with a cowlick sticking up from the back of his head that wouldn’t stay down no matter what he tried. Boy, we loved to tease him about it. I don’t think it mattered that much to him though. He was a quiet one and a bit of a dork. He was the kind of kid who knew the reasons why your tongue would stick to a metal pole in winter. He’d tried it himself once when we dared him and then looked up why he couldn’t get it unstuck. That’s the kind of thing he would do. He didn’t have any brothers or sisters and his parents were scientists or something. If he wasn’t hanging out with us, his nose was buried in a book. Other kids were always picking on poor Brain but Spike and I were always ready to stick up for him. We got into lots of fights defending poor Brain. In fact, that’s how we met.

Brain, as usual, was being picked on and I didn’t like the way things were looking. Spike headed over at the same time, fists ready, to defend someone smaller than him. Sam Peters, we called Spike, which was kind of weird because Brain was the one with the spike, was a different kind altogether. He was the adventurous one of the group; he was the one who could throw rocks what seemed like a mile.

There was something off though, about Spike’s family life. He had a bunch of younger brothers and sisters, I’m not sure how many, but there were a bunch. His mother was kind of washed out looking and his dad was a big, mean guy and we didn’t like going to Spike’s place. We never talked about it, but Spike would often show up with bruises and once he had quite a shiner that he never told us how he got.

And then there was me, Mike Debrowski. I was known as the level headed one of the group, but that Spike, he sure could get me into trouble at times. I was the youngest in my family with two older, bratty sisters who loved nothing better than to try and get me to play dolls with them. Can you believe that? But the three of us guys had hung out together since we were in grade one and now that we were twelve and headed towards Grade eight, we were the big guys now.

Spike threw a few more rocks after that and though he came close, he still didn’t beat my throw that night. I was pumped because it was the first time I’d ever beaten him.

Twilight was setting in and we knew we’d have to go home soon. I was hoping my mom would let Brain and Spike stay overnight in the tent we had in the backyard again. There wouldn’t be many more of those nights now that school was only a few weeks away. We had spent many a night sleeping out there, talking sports, arguing who our favourite baseball teams were and how they would do in the World Series and dissing girls even though none of us were ready to admit that we had started thinking of them in a slightly different way than we did the summer before. The air was crisp; the evenings weren’t as hot as they had been a few weeks ago. The sound of crickets and cicadas filled the air as we left the pond, dutifully pounding and jumping on each other as we headed back to my place.

We’d been so busy laughing and making fart jokes we didn’t know that we had come upon the old cemetery that stood between the pond and my place. We lived in a small town where everyone knew everyone else and the old cemetery was a landmark on the outskirts of town. It was a scary place during the day, but at night it seemed to take on a life of its own and most times we hurried by quickly.

But this night, there was a streak of the devil in Spike because just as we were coming up to it, he stopped us and looked over.

“Hey, I have a great idea, he said slowly with a strange glint in his eyes. “How about we hang out here late tonight and see what happens?”

Brain and I looked at each other wondering what was up with Spike.

“Uh, I don’t think so Spike,” I said. “I don’t even like this place during the day.”

“Oh, come on Mikey,” he replied. “Don’t tell me you’re scared. Bach, bach, bach,” he taunted, imitating a chicken. “I dare you. In fact I double dare you.”

At this point Brain surprisingly spoke up. “Come on Mikey, it might be fun.”

“Uh, sure it will,” I said but it was impossible to ignore a double dare so I knew since it was two against one, we would be headed there that night.

Later on, after my mom said it was OK that Spike, Brain and I could sleep in the tent, we talked strategy. Spike thought it would be neat if we headed over to the cemetery at midnight. There was a full moon and he said it would be perfect. I grabbed one of those old fashioned alarm clocks that doesn’t take batteries and set if for quarter to midnight – just in case we fell asleep. Of course we didn’t. We were pumped at what we were planning and even I started to get a bit excited at the thought of adventure.

We spent the night talking over ghost stories and other scary stuff; pretty stupid really, but we were primed when the alarm clock went off, letting us know it was time. Shushing each other as we climbed out of the tent, trying not to make a sound, we headed over to the old cemetery.

We’d barely got into it when we heard it, a loud strange noise, a long loud mournful cry. Brain jumped in the air and landed on Spike.

“Shit, Brain. Get off my foot!” Spike spoke in a loud whisper.

“Didn’t you hear it Spike?” Brain answered. “I think it was a ghost.” He added in a low and frightened voice.

“You moron,” Spike replied. “It wasn’t a ghost. It was an owl. Look at all the trees in here. There’s probably lots of them.”

“Oh, right. I knew that.” Brain answered sounding relieved.

Spike and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes and thought “what a dork”. Brain was still cool, even though he was scared of an owl.

We had thought to bring flashlights even though the moon was bright. We wandered around the cemetery, heading towards the older graves that had the old head stones. They sure did look different at night. They were creepy with all those old trees. Although none of us would admit it, we were getting a bit freaked out being in there at night.

I was in the lead and as I was walking along I thought I heard something and I knew it wasn’t an owl. It sounded like chains rattling followed by a low wailing sound. Spike and Brain were arguing behind me, probably about Brain and his fear of owls. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a movement.

“Shhhhh,” I turned around to them.

“What is it Mikey?” Spike asked.

“I heard and saw something,” I whispered back. “Something different.”

“Probably an owl again,” Spike answered and made a hoot, hoot sound.

“Shut up Spike! There’s something out there I’m telling you.”

Brain started looking a little scared again.

“What do you think it is Mikey?” he asked as he peered into the trees, into the shadows that the moon didn’t reach. “Do you think it might be ghosts or something? Because there isn’t any such thing you know,” not about to let Spike know he still really did believe in them.

Just then we all heard it. It was a rattling sound followed by a long, low wail this time. It sounded real scary, especially in a cemetery, at midnight, with a full moon.

“Shit!” Spike exclaimed. “What was that?”

The hairs on my arms stood up.

“I don’t know, I said, “but I’m out of here.”

Then we heard it again, a rustling sound, followed by that eerie moan. Only this time it was closer, a lot closer. The three of us looked at each other and hightailed it out of there. Spike was in the lead with Brain next and me trailing behind. I managed to trip over something and I landed real hard. When I tried to get up I think I must have twisted my ankle or something. Spike and Brain had disappeared, afraid that whatever that thing was, it was after them. I thought I was a goner when I heard a different sound this time. It was giggling. And that giggling sounded exactly like my sisters. Then I realized they must have known somehow what we had planned. Little did they know what this meant once I caught up to Spike and Brain.

Like I said they didn’t know it yet, but war had been declared that summer night.

There was one more short one after this one that I'll post soon.

'til later

Updated TBR pile

Well - it's been a while since I showed pictures of the library. After reading JMC's recent post, I thought it was time again since it's grown immensely since last time. I just took this one and then thought I should clean it up a bit.
(hint - if you click on the pictures you get a real good close up)

Before Straightening











And this is
After Straightening












(hmmmm - I think I'm going to have to a do-over of these two - must have been shaking pretty bad there)


And more pictures of TBR's. This is why I need to get that other
book shelf built











A long shot view











And this is my upstairs bookcase. I don't know if I've ever shown these before











And yes - in the left picture those are pictures of Brent (left) and Ryan (right) in the left picture - the two with lousy door tastes. They aren't very good pictures though - they are much more handsome than the pictures - and they are old pictures too

In case the ever so talented Nora Roberts ever sees this - these is my In Death collection












'til later

You may think I'm crazy - but boy doors and girl doors ARE different

BUTT UGLY BOY DOORS



















(mine is white *sigh*)




PRETTY, FANCY, GIRL DOORS





















I would have gotten the one on the left in white

'til later

The saga of the door - and a treat

You may have noticed my lack of regular blogging lately. I'm not in the category of not blogging that some are (did that make sense?) but I normally do more than I have lately.

The door falling off threw me for quite a loop. Odd thing, but it was the culmination of a bunch of stuff. Ron had habit of repeating things to me in case I forgot (which to give him credit, I usually did). One of them was to make sure the back door was shut tight. I think he must have said that to me about 4 or 5 times a week - so it was the cuckoo thing all over again.

Anyway - the boys came over to visit on Sunday. Brent got there first and he could tell I was kinda depressed. Then Ryan came over and - well - we ended up having a bit of a tiff. I sat in the kitchen crying (trying to do it quietly - do you know how hard that is when you want to sob at the top of your lungs - it's tough!~) So the boys took pity on me and went out to get a door. Only trouble - the door they came back with - that I was expected to reimburse them for - is butt ugly!! I kind of had other doors picked out. Nice doors. Fancy doors. Girly doors if there is such a thing. But the door they came back with was such a guy door. Not a single curly swirl on it. It's just plain white with a screen at the top and boring old aluminum at the bottom.

And of course Brent had to leave before they got it on. Ryan tried valiantly to put it up. I offered to help but he is such a guy and said he didn't need help. Well - he got the frame up and then went to put the new door on. And the new door is too short. Now at this point I could have pointed out that he perhaps should have measured first. Or if they had taken me with them (silently sobbing) I could have picked one out for myself. But I was a good mama. I didn't say anything like that except thanks and wrote out a cheque.

So now he has decided to put the old (broken) door back on with new door hinges. But he needed someone strong(ger than me) to hold the door on. So until he gets hold of some friends or Brent, the second (new and ugly guy) door is sitting beside the (old broken) door in the kitchen.

In other news - although I've been having a bit of a rough patch - there has been good stuff. My picture supplying friend and I went to a Jann Arden concert Saturday night. I don't know how well known she is in the U.S. but she's a very good singer. And she's also very very funny! I thought I'd treat you all to a couple of her videos *g*.



First up - "Insensitive"



"I Would Die For You"
OK, OK - I know it's not her video - it's from Smallville - but it is a very nice song and she has a beautiful voice!

'til later

'Tis JMC's turn at Reader's Gab this week. Her topic is one I think many of us agonize and struggle over *g*.

'til later

A little of this, a little of that

A little of this
Well - it seems I might have sabatoged myself. I concentrated and tried so hard to learn the new job, one of the people showing me decided that I was done with training!!!
"Not even!" I wanted to shout. There are so many different things to do with each and every single piece of paper. If I have someone sitting next to me I'm not to bad, but having to do it on my own - Yikes! I'm still pretty brain dead when I get home, but it's a little better. But I noticed yesterday when I started, it seemed I had forgotten everything I learned the week before. I picked it up again quickly enough - but still - I'm not ready!

A little of that
I ordered some books from Harlequin not long ago. When I got home yesterday they were sitting at the back door. Unfortunately the mailman (or mail lady - I'm not really sure which) opened the back door and didn't shut it tight. The wind must have grabbed the screen door 'cause when I opened it to go in, box in hand, the door fell off it's hinges. It's a heavy thing and I couldn't carry it downstairs by myself. It's now sitting or rather laying on the kitchen floor. I have no idea what to do next. I called Ryan to see if he could help with it but he's tied up until the weekend. The hinges are all twisted so I'm thinking I'm going to have to buy a new door. But I don't know if the will install it or not. I have no idea on how to put on a door!!! And how much do doors cost anyway? I guess I'll be finding out.
I suppose the good news is that I got a free book out of the deal. Does Harlequin always ship an extra book when you order on line?

'til later

'Tis my turn once again at the Reader's Gab at Access Romance.

'til later

Recent Reads

Surprisingly, even despite being almost brain dead for an hour after I got home from work this week, I did manage to get some reading in. First up

Visions of Heat by Nalini Singh

Type: Paranormal

Hotness Level: Hot

Amazon blurb: Used to cold silence, Faith NightStar is suddenly being tormented by dark visions of blood and murder. A bad sign for anyone, but worse for Faith, an F-Psy with the highly sought after ability to predict the future. Then the visions show her something even more dangerous-aching need...exquisite pleasure. But so powerful is her sight, so fragile the state of her mind, that the very emotions she yearns to embrace could be the end of her. Changeling Vaughn D'Angelo can take either man or jaguar form, but it is his animal side that is overwhelmingly drawn to Faith. The jaguar's instinct is to claim this woman it finds so utterly fascinating and the man has no argument. But while Vaughn craves sensation and hungers to pleasure Faith in every way, desire is a danger that could snap the last threads of her sanity. And there are Psy who need Faith's sight for their own purposes. They must keep her silenced-and keep her from Vaughn...

Why this one: I read her first book and while I had a few issues, I certainly liked it enough to try her again

My Thoughts: *sigh* I wondered if a time would come when I wasn't that set on a book and it arrived with this one. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as most people seemed to. I had the same issues once again with the gobbledy gook phy net stuff as I did with the first one. In addition, there were things about this one that just annoyed me. For example, Vaughn always seemed to be carrying Faith. "He carried her to the bed". "He carried her from the car." "He carried her to the couch." Enough carrying already. But the one carrying that really had me scratching my head was when he was in leopard form and he carried her for miles on his back. He wasn't a horse for pete's sake! I was trying to picture this in my mind. I'm not sure about the exact size of leopards, but I don't think they are that tall. Wouldn't her feet have been hitting the ground? Or if she was laying on him, wouldn't she be trailing off the end of him?
Another thing that annoyed me was how lovey dovey touchy feely that were in the company of others after they mated. She's sitting on his lap, he's kissing her, rubbing his hand on her. Struck me as that annoyingly juvenile thing very young people in luuurrrvvveeee do to each other. Blech!
I just didn't feel this one the same as Slave to Sensation. I know I'm in the minority on this, but it just didn't work all that well for me. I'll try her next one and see how it goes before I give up.

Grade: 3.5 out of 5


Next up

One Real Cowboy byJanette Kenny

Type: Western

Hotness Level: Warm

Amazon blurb: Cord Tanner has a very simple plan: get paid to be Beatrix Northroupe's husband for a month so the prim, but very sexy, Englishwoman can gain rightful ownership to her family's stud farm. Money in hand, he's going to get as far away from Revolt, Kansas, as a fast horse can take him.

But Cord soon finds that he admires his Trixie's reckless courage--not to mention she's one great kisser. Maybe he's crazy to hope for a real future with her instead of heading for the hills, but now that someone's staking a dangerous claim to her farm, Cord's decided to stick around as long as the lady needs protecting. That wedding ring he put on her finger means her reputation is safe--and he's determined to win her heart. Cord Tanner may not be the most refined man on the frontier, but he sure is the lovingest.

Why this one: It's a new author. It's a Western. It was on for a good price. A trifecta!

My Thoughts: Well, I'm giving the author some leeway because she's new. And the book did have potential. But overall, it wasn't that great. It was good enough that I finished reading it, but there were some things that I thought needed tightening up. The villian for one thing was way over the top. The author even had him drooling. He was completely and totally repulsive, yet noone figured out he was the bad guy. It made them all seem kind of clueless. Also Beatrix, the heroine was one of those hot and cold kind of heroines. She didn't want to feel anything for the hero. But she did. But she didn't want to. I don't really care for dithering heroines. Cord was the best part of the book.
But, it wasn't a bad book. And it's very nice to see a Western. If you aren't a Western reader and thinking of giving them a try, I would say this probably isn't one of the better ones to start with, but if you do like Westerns and the price is right, it's not a bad read. I'll give her another chance too.

Grade: 3 out of 5



And finally

Arousing Suspicions by Marianne Stillings

Type: Romanctic Suspense

Hotness Level: Warm to Hot

Amazon blurb: Detective Nate Darling has put up with a lot of weird things since he's moved back to San Francisco—healing crystals, free range tofu, the SF Giants. But he's drawing the line at psychic dream interpretations.

Tabitha March claims she can see other people's dreams. In fact, she insists she "saw" a murder, and even provides Nate with explicit details of the crime. There's no doubt the curvaceous blue-eyed blonde knows something, but how is she involved? Is she the murderer? Because there's just no way that Tabitha can really "see" the killer's dream.

Then another body is discovered, just the way Tabitha described it would be. Now evidence suggests she may be the next victim. And Nate has to reconsider his beliefs or risk losing the woman he has fallen in love with . . . forever.

Why this one: Well, I tried her first book and was bitterly disappointed. While it started off just great, very very funny, but then the author lost me when she added murder to the plot in what struck me as a very jarring note. Still, the first part of the book had me thinking that she had great potential. I skipped her next few and then decided to try her again with Arousing Suspicions

My Thoughts: Sometimes I do it right!! I adored this book and for me Ms. Stillings more than lived up to the potential she showed in her first book. I found myself staying up late last night reading this one and then picking it back up first thing on waking this morning.
Both Tabitha and Nate were charming characters. They're banter back and forth was delightful and one scene in particular - on their first date in a French restaurant, had me laughing out loud. One thing I really enjoyed in this one was Nate was ready to commit and confess his love before Tabbie. He was pretty gone for her and I always like that in a romance. Tabbie was more reluctant but it was well explained why she had her issues.
I started reading another book, but I know that this one is going to get a reread - and soon! This one gets a happy thumbs up from me.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

'til later

Obsessed by LibraryThing

A while ago, I started noticing on blogs, this thing at the side called LibraryThing. I loved the way it had rotating pictures and decided I wanted one of my own. I signed up, entered some books and promptly forgot the password and user name, not an unusual occurence for me I'm afraid. So I joined again and re-added all the books I had under the first name. It's a free service for (I think) the first 200 books. Well, it wasn't long before I had 200 books entered. I thought about joining and was really encouraged to by reading more about it on Sybil's blog.
It wasn't that much to join up and add an unlimited amount of books. So far I have 1,338 - with a lot more still to add.
I love my excel spreadsheet and with Rosario's help, it's a work of beauty - coloured graphs and everything. But LibraryThing is really another neat way to catalogue books if you don't know excel.
But the part that really has me obsessed now, is adding book cover pictures to the books I've catalogued that don't have them. You can change or add covers if you want to. I had a lot of problems doing this at first and sent an email to the owners asking for help and someone got back to me the next day and 'talked' me through adding book covers. I've spent many a night scanning covers and adding them. There are also some other neat features. You can check out what other readers have in their libraries. I've even picked up a couple of books that way.
I've noticed quite a few bloggers have it, but I think it would be good even for those without blogs as a neat way to track books.
And nope - not getting paid for this endorsement *g*. I just think it's nifty keen.

'til later

Coming out of it a bit

Well, I think I can talk in complete sentences now. It was a rough go there for a couple of days. I'd come home very zombie like, sit in front of the TV and stare at - not really watch - The Young and the Restless. I'd be thinking "I don't really want to watch this. I could be reading instead." But I just didn't want to have to try and comprehend another thing. And while I do love it, reading is also comprehending something.
I think the brain is kind of like a sponge. Mine is older than some and as a result, already has a lot of useless tidbits of information soaking it up. So anymore I don't bother trying to remember things I don't need to know at the moment. One of those things is peoples names. I'm terrible at it at the best of times. Although I've been where I am now since November, if I didn't have any interaction with some of the people, I didn't try and clog up my brain with their names. Well, now I'm interacting with a whole bunch of people I never did before so now I not only have to try and remember what to do in the new job, and man is there a lot, I also have to try and remember the names of people now too. I've been concentrating so hard and writing such copious notes, I'm just a wreck when I get home.
And not only that - I've been loosing very badly at Free Cell too! I think my winning percentage is about 35%!!!

In other news - while looking at me rather oddly on the weekend as I tore up pieces of paper with names written on them, I told Lisa she had to pick one.
She picked Ames! Ames who is trying to lessen her book pile *g*. So, if you send me an email with your addy, I can send you a most excellent book!

I also asked Lisa how she would like to write a review for me for the blog. She said she didn't like romance and I replied that would be part of the fun - a romance review from a non-romance lovers point of view. While not exactly agreeing - she gave me another odd look, she said that would mean I'd have to read one of her books - she's a mystery reader.
So now I'm trying to think of the perfect book for her to read. The only ones we have in common that we both like are the Stephanie Plum books. (I ask her who she likes better, Joe or Ranger - but she kind of rolls her eyes at me). Nance, our other sister, likes those ones too.
I'm kind of leaning towards To Die For by Linda Howard. But then again - there's always Dreaming of You. But I think that one might be further down the road - once I have her converted :)

'til later

Teaching old dogs

Started new job today.

Brain very very tired.

On information overload.

Will be back when can write complete sentences.

Go forth to Readers Gab to read Robins's most interesting post.


'til later

Recent Read

The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

Release Date: April, 2007

Type: Historical

Hotness Level: Hot

Chapters Outline:

Wealthy Lady Georgina Maitland doesn't want a husband, though she could use a good steward to run her estates. One look at Harry Pye, and Georgina knows she's not just dealing with a servant, but a man. Harry has known many aristocrats-including one particular nobleman who is his sworn enemy. But Harry has never met a beautiful lady so independent, uninhibited, and eager to be in his arms. Still, it's impossible to conduct a discreet liaison when poisoned sheep, murdered villagers, and an enraged magistrate have the county in an uproar.

Why this one: I just adored The Raven Prince, the story, her writing, and was eager to read her next one.

My thoughts: While this one didn't capture me quite as much as TRP, it was still a very good and enjoyable book. When I saw the premise of The Leopard Prince at the end of TRP, I thought the idea of a class struggle very intriguing, a bit different from your run of the mill historical. Purists (of which I'm certainly not one) might find this a bit hard to buy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Georgina was a real treat. She didn't much care what society thought. She wanted Harry and she went for him. She is by turns innocent, charming, determined and sweet. Harry is - well - earthy. He truly is of a different class. No nice speeches from him. He made a wonderfully refreshing change from all the dukes and earls etc.
There is a bit of a mystery in this one - who is killing all the sheep. We know it's not Harry although he stand accused, but the real culprit I found a bit of a surprise. It wasn't who I thought it would be.
I also really enjoyed the second cast of characters. Ms. Hoyt has a way of making them quite vivid even though they don't play leading roles. She did this remarably well in The Raven Prince too.
Although maybe classified as second in a series, there is very little connection to The Raven Prince. The hero in that one only makes a very brief appearance at the end. So this one works quite well as a stand-alone.
And as for the title; this is a fairy tale Georgina tells Harry in bits throughout the book. And some of the telling is in very interesting stages!
I rated The Raven Prince a 5, but this one comes remarkably close

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

'til later

You may have noticed

sub-title

Humptey Dumptey

I haven't been blogging as often lately. I did something I really shouldn't have done.
I started taking medication for depression very shortly after Ron died. It really helped a lot. But a while ago, I thought that I was better and decided to gradually stop taking them. I went off them completely just over a week ago.
Unfortunately, it was the medication that was making me feel better. I've always suffered from reoccurring depression, not bad enough to take anything on an ongoing basis, but enough to make me want to withdraw for a while until it went away. I have taken medication off and on over the years for it but when things in my life got better, I would stop. But things became so much worse last August.
I thought I had reached the point where I didn't have to take it again, but it hasn't been the case this time. The depression has come back again with a vengance and I've really been struggling inside for a while now. Outwardly I don't show it. People who know me, unless I tell them, don't have a clue. But depression is a horrible thing. It's like I'm split in so many pieces. One part of me wants to curl up and do nothing - just wants to join Ron. The other part of me is kicking me to keep going, to not let anyone see how weak the other parts of me are. Then there is another part of me, that doesn't want to take medication for depression, that says I'm strong and it's a weakness that isn't to be allowed. At times like this, it's more than just Krisite and me. There is a whole passel of us running around inside one body.
Taking the medication for depression brings us all into one whole person, but right now I'm feeling pretty fractured. I can be walking down the hall at work and a sudden thought hits me and I'm almost frozen in place. I don't want to move. But of course I can't do that. I have to keep moving.
And while I love the work I'm doing and the staff I work with, it's almost contributing to the problem. I work with people going into nursing homes at present, and some of their stories are so heartbreaking. And because many of them are older, they die sometimes.
As of Monday, I'll be moving to a different department. Did I say that I was hired on full-time permanent? I was. Normally that would be something to celebrate, but because of where I'm at inside, I haven't really felt the excitement I normally would be feeling.
So I went to the doctor on Thursday to get a prescription for antidepressants again. I'm going to have to work on the mindset, that it really is OK to take them. That just because I do, it doesn't make me a weak person. I may have to take them long-term and if I do, there isn't anything wrong with that. It's not a weakness. I should be grateful that there is something I can do and or take to help put me back together again into one normally functioning person. I really don't need all the kings horses and all the kings men, and this little egg can be put back together again.
Anyway - that explains kind of where I've been.

'til later

Another sympton of the addiction

I needed cheering up today so on the way home I stopped at a UBS. I didn't find any of the books I was particularly looking for but of course I didn't leave empty handed. I had credit don't you know. But one book I did see and just had to get - The Rainbow Season by Lisa Gregory. So? you might be thinking. Well, truth is, I already own this one - and. love. it. to. pieces. But this copy - ah - this copy must have been owned by a little old granny who only read it once. The book is almost mint condition! It was published way back in 1989, but this one is in fine shape and appeals to my inner 'has to be in good condition' geekiness.
Anybody else do this, buy duplicate copies because the new one is in better shape?


And I'll tell you what. I'll have a draw for my old copy. Just leave a comment and you're in. I'll have my romance non-loving fan draw a name on the weekend. Mind you, it's a well-worn (and well-loved) copy.
I must admit, it's a rather ugly cover, but it sure is a mighty fine story inside!

(the book to the left is the good copy)




And to make up for not finding the books I really wanted at the UBS *drum roll* The Leopard Prince is now at Chapters!!! And I have one. It wasn't on the shelves when I went in - but they went and found me a copy at the back. And I didn't even have to do the Cindy thing.

oops - time for DWTS

'til later

Recent Read

Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair

Release date: February 2007

Type: Science Fiction

Hotness Level: Warm

Chapters summary: The universe isn’t what it used to be. With the new Alliance between the Triad and the United Coalition, Captain Tasha “Sass” Sebastian finds herself serving under her former nemesis, biocybe Admiral Branden Kel-Paten–and doing her best to hide a deadly past. But when an injured mercenary winds up in their ship’s sick bay–and in the hands of her best friend, Dr. Eden Fynn–Sass’s efforts may be wasted.

Wanted rebel Jace Serafino has information that could expose all of Sass’s secrets, tear the fragile Alliance apart–and end Sass’s career if Kel-Paten discovers them. But the biocybe has something to hide as well, something once thought impossible for his kind to possess: feelings . . . for Sass. Soon it’s clear that their prisoner could bring down everything they once believed was worth dying for–and everything they now have to live for.

Why this one: I've seen for a while now that Devon and Bev have been big fans of this author so I thought I would give it a try. I bought it with a group of other books, started it, got buys, put it down, read Rosario's most excellent review and decided to read it again.

My Thoughts: Well, Rosario said it so much better than I did, so I'll just add a few things. I fell completly and totally for the hero in this book. Branden Kel-Paten was just the kind I love to read about. Outwardly calm and imperious, he even programed in anger if he thought it called for when interagating someone. But on the inside he is wrecked for Tasha Sebastian the heroine. I love it when the hero is wrecked for the heroine. Just love it! In one heartbreaking scene she accidentally comes across personal logs he has been keeping on her for years and she finally sees the depth of his love for her. These logs are full of love and longing and hopelessness. He is such a dufus, this normally totally in control man/machine but when it comes to her, he is so unsure of himself. And she makes a wonderful heroine too. Smart, intelligent she's baffled at how to handle Branden's feelings for her. You see she is keeping a secret and fears that Brandon doesn't really know her and if he does find out who she really is, he will hate her.
The other love story between Jace and Eden is also well done but without the issues that Brandon and Tasha seem to have. Although they do have their own interesting ones - that's for sure.
One thing though. I'm not sure I would call this a romance book. It's a science fiction with a couple of wonderful romances thrown in. For the longest time I wasn't sure if there would be a love scene or not. But when I finally got to it, it was very tender and very touching and made me love Brandon even more with his insecurities.
And I had the same thoughts about Tasha and Brandons' backgrounds as Rosario did. I wondered where Brandon came from. I tend to skim books and missed the little tidbit that Rosario explains here:

And Kel-Paten, there's a reference to him having been a perfectly regular human until age 16 (or 17? can't remember exactly), when they turned him into a biocybe, and I somehow got the impression that it wasn't a wholly voluntary process. Just what happened there? Is it related to the other reference we get much later in the book about his being so-and-so's brother? There just seems to be so much story behind these two characters, and I wanted to know more!

What she says!!!! And I also got the feeling that the ending seemed a bit rushed. The book was a lenghty one (and I liked that) but I suppose she had to cut somewhere. I too hope that there is a sequel for this one in the works.
And unlike Rosario :) I liked the furzels. They were loads better than the fams in Robin Owens books - that's for sure.

But romance or not, this was wonderful and I'm sure glad Rosario's review kicked me into reading it. And I have two more of her books in my TBR pile *grin*. I would have given it a 5 but I did get kind of confused in a few places.


Grade: 4 1/2 out of 5

'til later