Demon's Hunger Review

Forensic anthropologist Vivien Cairn fears she's losing her mind. Her libido has kicked into overdrive, and she's blacking out-leaving hours of her life unaccounted for and no memory of where she's been...or what she's done. But when a sexy stranger rescues her from a demon attack, Vivien realizes there's more than just her sanity at stake...A seductive killer is luring victims, and Sorcerer Dain Hawkins finds himself walking a dangerous line between ancient duty and sizzling desire when the brotherhood-and Vivien herself-begin to suspect that her mysterious symptoms may connect her to the crimes. Can Dain save Vivien from the evil that threatens to claim her? Or will they both succumb to...Demon's Hunger...

I have noticed many paranormal romances in the past few months have a demon storyline where the hero is a demon hunter of some sort, and the heroine is either part demon, and doesn’t know it, or she is on the run from these demons who want something from her. The ones I have read recently with this type of storyline was, The Darkest Touch by Jaci Burton and Cynthia Eden’s Midnight Sins. The third one is by Eve Silver called Demon’s Hunger (Compact of Sorcerers Book 2).

You know right from the title that there will be demons in this one, and they are definitely those nasty types who are evil, want to rule the world, etc… It is up to Dain Hawkins, a sorcerer, to help keep the portal between the demon realm and the Earth closed. The portal was closed in the book before this called Demon’s Kiss by one of Dain’s buddies, Ciarran, the hero of that book. Dain has in his possession, a demon’s foot that was severed when the portal closed. This foot is very dangerous because it is filled with dark magic. For some reason, creatures called hybrids are going into cemeteries and looking for charm bags that were buried with the dead. Hybrids were once humans and are controlled by demons. They reminded me of flesh eating zombies since they will eat human flesh. Dain has to figure out who wants these charm bags, and for what purpose.

The one person who can help him is forensic anthropologist, Vivien Cairn, who is on sabbatical from the university she teaches at. Not only is Vivien at odds with her mother, who has always been cold towards her, as well as recovering emotionally from a serial killer investigation, but Vivien keeps blacking out for hours at a time. She does things during these blackouts she can’t remember, and it is starting to scare her. When Dain shows up on her doorstep, she doesn’t remember talking with him on the phone. Vivien does know who Dain is because when they first meet she says, “You’re Dain Hawkins, wonder-guy, a magician when it comes to buying up foundering companies and turning them into moneymakers.” Dain has come to Vivian because he wants her to take a look at some bones he has. Dain also thinks Vivien is cute, especially with the neon green fuzzy slippers she is wearing.

Unfortunately by Dain bring the evil demon bones to Vivien, that places her in danger and soon after, hybrids target her and burn down her house. Both Dain and Vivien are able to get out unhurt. Vivien is also in for a shock when she finds out who Dain is, and that he won’t let her go because he needs her, as well as wanting her, even though he tries to deny his feeling for her. Vivien continues to have more blackouts, because there is something so very wrong with her, because she is not human, but a succubi. That is why Vivien is blacking out and has become very weak. If she doesn’t have sex with a man and feed off his energy, and soon, she will continue to deteriorate. Can you guess who volunteers for this job?

Eve Silver can sure write a suspenseful story and she does so here with Demon’s Hunger. The twist with Vivien and whether she is a killer demon keeps you guessing to the very end. And when Dain and Vivien has some hot succubi sex, those scenes where very hot and satisfying. I did enjoy Vivien over Dain, because even though she is going through some major upheavals, she didn’t venture into whiny TSTL (to stupid to live) territory. I was less than thrilled with Dain because he is one of these heroes who can’t get over the past and goes back and forth about his feelings for Vivien. “She’s mine! But I can’t touch her because I must deny myself for the horrible thing that I felt I did to my wife centuries ago.” Dain needs to take that stick out of his ass and have some good sex. When he finally gives into his urges for Vivien, he lightens up a bit and he becomes less annoying.

Demon Hunger is a fast paced read, with characters who can kick ass, make sweet love and survive to tell the tale. (Grand Central Publishing)

2 ½ stars out of 5 stars

Katiebabs (KB)

Recent Read

Veil of Midnight by Lara Adrian

Why this one: The author noticed it on my sidebar under the Eagerly Anticipating and contacted me to see if I'd be interested in reading an ARC.
Hell Yes!! I replied since I've loved all the previous books in this series.

Steam Level: Ahhhhhh yes. Hope you like it hot 'cause this one is

Author Website Blurb:

BOUND BY BLOOD, ADDICTED TO DANGER, THEY'LL ENTER THE DARKEST--AND MOST EROTIC--PLACE OF ALL . . .

A warrior trained in bullets and blades, Renata cannot be bested by any man--vampire or mortal. But her most powerful weapon is her extraordinary psychic ability--a gift both rare and deadly. Now a stranger threatens her hard-won independence, a golden-haired vampire who lures her into a realm of darkness . . . and pleasure beyond imagining.

A combat-loving adrenaline junkie, Nikolai dispenses his own justice to enemies of the Breed--and his latest quarry is a ruthless assassin. One woman stands in his way: the seductive, cool-as-ice bodyguard, Renata. But Renata's powers are put to the test when a loved one, a child, is threatened and she's forced to turn to Niko for help. As the two join forces, as desire fans the flames of a deeper hunger, Renata's life is under seige by a man who offers the exquisite pleasure of a blood bond--and a passion that could save or doom them both forever. . . .

My Thoughts: I read my first vampire book way before most did. I think it was either Forever the Night published in 1993 by Linda Lael Miller or Twilight Phantasies by Maggie Shayne also published in 1993. I read them close together – in 1993 - so I’m not sure which one came first. While I enjoyed them well enough, I was never moved to read more in either series. I read Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice and enjoyed it, but never read any other of her Lestat books.

Then after a lull until they came back into vogue, I read a number of the current crop of vampire books. I read JR Wards Dark Lover and Lover Eternal and I quite liked both of them. But I was never compelled to read further, though I have the next two in the TBR pile. I tried a couple of Christine Feehan’s Dark series, but they squicked me out too much. I’ve read a couple of Susan Squires but don’t even really remember what they were about. I’ve tried a few other authors who have written vampire books but I don’t even remember them.

So what’s your point you’re wondering?

Well, I thought I’d escaped the ‘call’ of the vampire romance. I could read one or two and that was enough. I wasn’t in any danger of becoming a vampire junkie.

Or so I thought.

Then I read Lara Adrian’s first book, Kiss of Midnight and didn’t I get hooked after all. I loved it! And since her other three in the series were already on the shelves I quickly read them all. And darned if I didn’t have to say goodbye to my attitude of not getting hooked on Vampire Romance and become addicted to the Midnight Breed series. That will teach me :) little Ms. Smuggy Pants that I can be.

Which brings me to Veil of Midnight? This time it was a bit of time between reading but it took no time to get caught up again in the world of the the Order, a group of Vampires who at first were dedicated to riding the world of Rogue vampires – those who have surrendered to Blood Lust to now tracking down a far greater threat to vampires and humans alike.

This is Nicolas’ story. As the book opens, he is in Montreal, trying to find an old Gen One Vampire Sergie Yaku. Nico wants to warn him that an evil, powerful vampire is targeting all the Gen One vampires and Sergie is more that likely on that list.

Instead of finding him, Nico falls into a trap laid out for him by none other than the heroine Renata, Sergei’s human female bodyguard. Time and again Renata gets the drop on Nico until finally she needs his help to find her young ward, Mina and must rescue him from a horrible fate. Then they must work together, despite some distrust on both sides, especially Renata’s.

Unlike the other Midnight Breed books, this one takes place almost entirely in Montreal and there are just brief appearances of the previous heroes. The action mainly involves Nico and Renata and the evil stacked against them.

One of the things that appeals to me over That Other Series, is the strength of the heroines. For the most part they are almost an equal match for the alpha Breed heroes and wowzers is Renata almost more than a match for Nico. Considering she’s human, albeit a breed mate human, she can really kick some ass – including Nico’s. And I liked that – I really liked it! And her special talent can really lay him low – with no defences and she uses it on him, more than once. No TSTL heroine is our Renata. I love how near the end, when Nico is behaving like a typical, I am Man and You Woman Must Obey Me, she doesn’t hesitate to let him have it, physically, and then goes on to get the job done. And there is no doubt she can do it.

A loner all her life, Renata has been brutalized by the Montreal branch of vampires and is very hesitant to trust Nico, even though she is attracted to him from the beginning. And her strength and will to succeed is one of the things that attracts Nico to her.

If I seem to be going on about her quite a bit, it’s because she’s such a well written heroine and it’s so unusual to see a human heroine who’s an equal match for a vampire hero – at least in the ones I’ve read.

But I can’t neglect Nico either. He’s another great addition to this most excellent series. He’s compassionate, protective, and sexy and rather than feeling threatened by Renata, appreciates her.

And – there is just enough about the next book with Andreas Reichen to start the countdown for the release of Ashes of Midnight!

For those who’ve been reading and enjoying this series, Veil of Midnight is a most excellent new addition to the series. For those who haven’t but have been curious, I think this one can be read as a stand-alone since most of it takes place outside of the setting of the previous books.

This one is in the running for best paranormal of the year for this happy reader. And while I don't always notice such things, she has a pretty good trailer for this one too!

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

(and can I just say - sometimes I loathe blogger. I know the font is all out of whack - but no matter what I do, it just won't allow itself to be fixed. Damn blogger anyway)

Results Night

Phew!! He made it through!!




Now normally I've been posting the group routine. But to be honest, I REALLY didn't like it this week.

Down to six

Since there are only six dancers left, here are all of the couple routines
Allie and Izaak

First Dance - Hip Hop


Second Dance Jazz


Nico and Natalli

Disco


Quick Step


Lisa and Miles

Cha Cha

And here's my favourite of the night. I thought this one was beautiful and it had special meaning for me.


They also each did a solo so of course I have to post Nico's


And a nice bit of eye candy to finish things off!!


Nico is tres bon!! You may not be able to pick this up - but Sula and Katie - his white shirt is wet!! Ring any bells?

Is a Rake’s Sacrifice Truly a Noble Thing?

I finished reading a truly wonderful a historical romance a few weeks ago that showcases the typical hero rake, or rather, the one that decides to abstain from sex out of respect for the heroine, since she is the love of his life.

Part of me thinks this is so romantic. That’s quite a sacrifice on the hero’s part to give up on such an exercise that has brought him incredible pleasure and joy, so he essentially can be pure again when he is finally intimate with his true love. Another part of me wants to gag, because honestly, why is it such a hardship for the hero to give up sex? The heroine has no qualms about not giving into her lusts. And in this book, she was actually married to a man she loved and enjoyed having sex with.

Why is it so important for some authors who write historical romances, to keep going with the stereotype that the hero must be a lover to hundreds of women, and finds nothing wrong with it? Personally, I rather not know about the hero’s bed hopping. But for some reason, it is assumed, that we, the reader think it more romantic when the Wilt Chamberlain type hero suddenly cuts off all sexual interaction with other women just because the heroine seems so different from all the rest.

This has begun to annoy me more often in the historicals I have been reading. Is it just me? Should there be a change when it comes to these rakish heroes? Does the term “rake”, mean the amount of women the hero beds or just the appearance and lifestyle he must uphold?

Katiebabs (KB)

Another one bites the dust

Yes, we have us another Quester!! Stacy of Stacy's Place on Earth has a wonderful review of Broken Wing up!! Be sure to Check It Out!

Now back to reading since the damn has broke!

*****ETA******

And then we have Wendy's view of it. While not as flattering as Stacy's *g* she did do a good job in her review and yes - I'm still talking to her (heh heh heh) but I do disagree (most respectfully *g*) with her on one point in the comments ;-)

Once again we see that we are all different in our reading tastes and Vive la Différence!

An Author To Remember: Sandra Canfield

Sandra Canfield is known for being a buried treasure author who is dearly missed since her death in 2003. She mainly wrote category reads for Harlequin in the mid eighties and early nineties. There are two such reads by her that are my all time favorite romances and I have just found another wonderful romance by Sandra to add to my list ever since I found it at a used book sale I went to a few weeks ago. For those who are not aware of Sandra Canfield, and need some excellent book recommendations by her, these first two books are ones that I have re-read over and over, and still hit the spot after twenty years since when they were first published.

Cherish The Moment- Harlequin Superromance for May 1986 is about Tracy Kent who is recovering from a horrible rape from her husband’s co-worker. Because of the rape, her husband divorces her, and from that moment on she still lives in fear of what happened, and the fact that she may never be intimate with a man ever again. Senator Cole Damon comes into Tracy’s life and won’t let her hide from him. He wants Tracy in every way a man wants a woman, and when he finds out why Tracy shies away from him, he does everything he can to help her accept him. He courts her slowly and shows her that she can trust him. Their romance is a beautiful thing, especially when Tracy allows Cole into her body. Their love and passion for each other brought tears to my eyes the first time I read this classic book. The way Sandra handles the topic of rape is one of the best I have read in a romance, or a book in general.

Night Into Day- Harlequin Superromance for October 1987 is the one book most romance enthusiasts talk about. Patrick O’Casey is a big time professional quarterback who meets the woman of his dreams. She is Alex Farrell, but there is one major problem Patrick has to deal with and that is because Alex has a crippling type of arthritis where she has to use a cane to walk, and some days she is in so much pain, she can hardly get out of bed. The technicalities of intimacy between these two becomes a complicated thing, and the way Patrick handles this gorilla in the room is incredible. Alex is determined to overcome her disease, and wants Patrick by her side, but knows that he is getting quite a handful. Patrick sees how special Alex is both inside and out, and won’t let the issues Alex has, stop him from loving her. This is a most endearing book.

Tigers By Night- Harlequin Superromance for September 1990 is the one I just found at the book sale and another wonderful read. Police officer, Jake Cameron is filled with such immense guilty because, in the line of duty he killed, an innocent bystander. The victim’s wife went into the premature labor and her son is barely surviving. Jake cannot get over his grief, and volunteers at the hospital where he watches over this baby and hopes to come in contact with his mother, Robin. Robin has no clue who Jake is, but he catches her eye because of his volunteerism and the way he is with her son, Peter. Robin is fragile, emotionally, because she feels her own guilt over the loss of her husband, a husband who wasn’t ready for a baby. Jake feels so protective of Robin and because his own marriage fell apart, he hopes that Robin will forgive him for what he did and allow him into her life and Peter’s. Forgiveness and absolution play an important part in this story and is handled so well from the great storytelling technique’s of Sandra.

These are only three books from Sandra Canfield that have become my most cherished reads. I recommend you find at an used book store or an on-line website that has these out of print books.

Are there any authors who are no longer publishing that you miss?

Katiebabs (KB)

Recent Read

Flat Out Sexy By Erin McCarthy

Why This One: I dunno know really. I've seen some great reviews for it and it called to me?

Steam Level: This one can burn your tongue if you aren't careful!!

Amazon Blurb: Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man—just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she’s tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-youma’am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she’s willing to take to experience the power of true love.

My Thoughts: I have to say a big thank you to Erin McCarthy. You see, I lost my reading mojo after reading Broken Wing and I was starting to get worried whether it would come back or not. I started a lot of books and finished a few and while I enjoyed them enough, I just didn’t ‘connect’ with them. I don’t know of any other way to explain it. And there was even an In Death book in there too!

But I picked up Flat Out Sexy in a desperate attempt to get my mo to jo. And yippy!! This book did it. It was a great read and I started and finished it in one day. It’s been quite some time since I’ve done that.

Flat Out Sexy was just Flat Out Adorable. The story starts with the heroine Tamara Briggs at a cocktail party trying to talk herself into then out of feelings for the guy she’s been seeing and brought to the cocktail party when she bumps – literally – into the hero Elec Monroe. Through a series of events, they end up in a cab together headed to a friends trailer, where she is planning on spending the night. Elec ends up spending the night too, but they do not so much sleeping.

But things take a down turn in the morning when Tamara finds out first Elec’s age, which is a few years younger than her own and second the fact that he’s a race car driver. You see Tamara is a widow with two children whose husband was killed in a race. She doesn’t want to be involved with another driver again.

Elec is so endearing in this book. He’s so totally gone for Tamara right from the beginning. I’ve mentioned before that I love books when the hero is gone for the heroine. Add to the fact that this is a younger guy/older woman book and I loved it even more. It’s adorable getting inside his head and seeing how smitten he is with her. Tamara has a number of issues against getting involved with Elec – issues I could really understand. She’s insecure about her body and Elec is wonderful about allaying those insecurities and though she has a few qualms about the age difference, she isn’t stuck on it. All in all, she’s a great heroine. And the secondary characters are also very well drawn, from Suzanne, her best friend to Evan and Eve, Elec’s siblings. There was one scene in particular, the dinner party scene for anyone who’s read the book, that had me laughing out loud in a number of places.

And for those wondering, this book is deliciously hawt. The loves scenes were very well written and while sometimes I just skip them, I didn't in this book ;-)

Although this is a race car themed book and I don’t know didly about the race car scene, it didn’t overwhelm the book and wasn’t a problem at all in the reading. In fact it looks like her next book is the same setting and after reading the excerpt, I’m really looking forward to it’s release so I can get back into this world.

So thanks again Ms. McCarthy. I really needed this book

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

Contest Alert!!!

One of the really great things about blogging is the friends you can make. And if you are really lucky, you get a chance to meet them in person.
Such is the case with Carrie Lofty. I 'met' her through our mutual love of Richard Armitage and all things North and South. It was Carrie who did a wonderful write up during The Crusade. And I've mentioned before that she is my mentor when it comes to SYTYCD!! This girl knows dance like you wouldn't believe!! And now besides RICHard, we both share a strong case of the hawts for a "Frenchie with a mohawk" :-) I love her blog 'cause she too, does posts on SYTYCD

And one of the best things about San Francisco was getting the chance to meet Carrie in person!!

Now while I know she's a lot more excited than me, still my excitement level is pretty high for her since her first book, What A Scoundrel Wants is coming out in December!!!! It's based on the story of Will Scarlet. Another thing we share is thinking Christian Slater was pretty fine in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves - and there wasn't nearly enough of him in the movie.

Well, it seems her good friend Ann Aguirre - author of the very well received Grimspace and Wanderlust, is having a contest on her blog.

Here are the details


The Rules:

Rules for entry for people with a blog:

Copy the code for that sexy contest widget from here. Post it somewhere on your blog. Note: it’s probably too big for most sidebars, so it’ll need to be a post. Then let us know in comments on this blog that you want a copy of the book, and that you’ve spread the word via viral kung fu. Make sure you leave a link back so we can check out your handiwork. For a bonus entry in a separate comment, tell us why you’re interested in reading Will Scarlet’s story. (I could give you a gazillion reasons, myself! But then, I’ve read it. This book is fierce. If you’re tired of the same old time periods, the same old heroes and heroines, you’ll want to be first in line to get a taste of this hot-sexy-fresh historical. It’s lightning for your brain!)

For those who don’t have blogs, here’s what you do to enter:

Tell at least one other person about the contest. That means spreading the word on your loops, groups, emails, or IM or whatever communique works best for you. Mind you, I’m not asking you to spam all of the above. Please don’t do that. One venue per person will be just fine. And then come back and let us know where you mentioned the contest. It would be great if you could also include a link to the sexy contest widget when you mention the contest. That’d be this link here. Just like the bloggers, for an extra entry, you can tell us why you lust for Will Scarlet. (Yes, it can be because Christian Slater said, “Fuck me, he cleared it,” all those years ago.)

In either case (blog or no blog), for a third and extra-special-sauce entry, why don’t y’all give me your best guesses at WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS?

So to clarify, if we get 100 entries (that’s entries, not people), I’ll sweeten the pot with 50 large for some lucky soul to spend on books. Additionally, whenever I get crazy with the Cheez Whiz like this, there are always random surprise giveaways, so you never know who might be the lucky poster. This will run until December 1. Are you guys ready to light it up?

Then why don’t you c’mon and tell me WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS!

So be sure to enter over at Ann Aguirre's blog!!!

The Romance Novel per Uncyclopedia

The sequel to "Stop Doing That!" (from Uncyclopedia)

We all have heard of Wikipedia, but have you heard of Uncyclopedia? I never had till soon to be publisher author for Signet Eclipse, Sara Lindsey brought the website to my attention.

She sent me the link for their definition of what a Romance novel is:

The Romance novel is the highest form of literary masterworks that fiction has ever known. It at once probes the dewy moistness of plot, while it throbs with purpose, knowing no bounds in which its authors will stop to please sate their gentle reader, all for the affordable price of just $3.95 at better drug and discount stores near you.

Apparantly, they know their facts, very well *G*

Katiebabs (KB)

Some Friday pic's - A gypsy routine - mmmmmm

(Click in pics for better view)Allie - from a dainty ballerina to this. She's great

Ahhh - all that passion *shiver*

See why he's been getting some of my votes? And damn can he dance too!!

I just have to keep posting these *g*

Lisa is now my girl!!

Miles - a dancer who has really grown as a dancer

Vincent and Lisa - They are great together

But now Vincent is gone - our great loss

There's nothing like a guy and his cape

I only wish that were my hand

Arassay - see - she's totally gorgeous

And now she's gone!!

Nico and Arassay once again. What a great couple they are!



And here they all are together - before the bomb dropped

Well, I WAS having a good day.

Anyone who lives on the West Coast and is a fan of So You Think You Can Dance Canada - come back later.

For all those others, I'm about to rant - big time!!

I'm a fan of the show. In fact I'm more than a fan - I'm obsessed with it. When I find something that moves me I tend to go overboard and SYTYCD first moved me with the US version last season. I LOVED it and watched it a few times a week - the original show and then repeats later on I watched it on Much Music. I haunted the blogs that showed clips from YouTube and then I haunted YouTube looking for more - for previous seasons that I missed. So when it was announced that Canada was having it's own version, I was over the moon excited. I've been watching avidly since it started - except for one night of auditions and the first night of the top twenty - but I picked it up a couple of days later on Much Music so I was only a couple of days off.

From the beginning there were a few dancers that captivated me - you have probably guessed that by now since now I've been putting their video's up :).

Nico - not only is he Very Good Looking but he's also an incredibly talented dancer.

Arassay - she recently moved to Canada from Cuba and she lights up the stage when she dances. She's infectious and beautiful and for the first 10 of the top 20 she and Nico were paired together and they blew me away with their routines and their dancing and their chemistry.

Vincent - another incredibly gifted dancer - each routine he did was a wonder and he's a joy to watch.

Those have been my top three from the beginning. As with all these kinds of shows, the cream began to rise to the top as the less qualified dancers were eliminated. But as the numbers dwindled, some of the cream were also eliminated, leaving one dancer in particular in the competition. Don't get me wrong - he's a good dancer - just not up to the calibre of some of the other ones. I think he will go far but I was getting more and more frustrated watching as some better dancers were eliminated and he remained. You see he has a couple of things going for him that frustrate me in these kinds of shows - he's young and cute and appeals to the younger set and he has his home town voting for him to the exclusion of all else.

As for the women, I had a harder time separating them. But there is one dancer who I think relies a bit too much on her sex kittenishness a bit too much. Mind you - she's a very good dancer, but she has made mistakes and never seems to get called on them.
Well tonight there was an injustice done. And for someone who gets way too involved and takes things way too deep for what's good for me :-) I'm still real shook up at what happened with the voting.
Arassay was eliminated. That was just so wrong in my opinion - just wrong, wrong, wrong. She is the best damn female dancer on the show. And to see her gone hurts! It just hurts.
And as if that weren't bad enough, Vincent was the guy who's going home. From the very beginning he and Nico have been neck in neck in incredible talent and I think everyone was predicting that he would go to the final two guys and Arassay one of the final two girls. And now that's not going to happen.
But what really saddens me is the death of what I think is the integrity of many of those who voted. When people vote for a less talented dancer because he is 'cute' or he's from their 'hometown' and ignore one with more talent - it's just not right. It's not! I've seen it happen on other shows - whether it be American Idol, or whatever. I always have this hope that things will turn out fair and I'm shocked when they don't. And to be honest (and somehow almost annoyingly smug) I didn't think it would happen on this show. But it did. And it just reinforces to me again - and I hate when this happens - that life isn't fair. My oldest son and I have some interesting discussions because he's still a bit naive in some ways - despite his increasing age - and he keeps expecting life to be fair and is waiting for it to happen. But I try and explain to him that it's not - it never will be - yet at the same time inside somehow hopping it will. You see, he takes most after me with his right is right and wrong is wrong kind of attitude.
I am so very sad to see them go!!


BUT

And this is why it was a good day up until the results show

I will be seeing them again!!

Cause

(picture me doin' the thing with your hands and move the hips and in a sing song kind of voice)

I got some tickets!! I got some tickets!! I got some tickets!!

They went on for a one day pre-sale today starting at 12:00 and at 12:00 sharp! I started trying to order them online. Me and a posse from work all wanted to go and since I'm the most obsessed about the show - although there are a couple that are almost as bad as me - it fell to me to get them. Well damn! that took some doing. Apparently there were quite a few other people who must have had the same thought because I couldn't get in!! I kept timing out and as I was doing this at work (on my break) I was getting more and more nervous at getting caught (even though I was on my break) I had to maximize the screen - and we have big monitors let me tell you! I had two others helping me. I almost got through once but I forgot my password and by the time I had them send it to me again, I started getting timed out again!! One of the posse asked if I was excited and I said not until I get that confirmation post!!
Finally - an hour later I managed to get them! They aren't the best seats; not the ones we were aiming for, and I'm going to have to jump over some boards when I rush the stage as Nico is dancing to get to him, but still, they aren't bad. And

(picture me doin' the thing with your hands and move the hips and in a sing song kind of voice)

I got some tickets!! I got some tickets!! I got some tickets!!

The other good thing that happened today occurred when I got home! The books I ordered from Chapters were sitting in my door. I was really starting to get worried!! I got the shipping confirmation last Thursday and it's never taken this long for them to get here. I was going to give it another day and then contact Chapters to ask them what they were going to do about it. But thank goodness I don't have to do that!

So, I'll finish with a few more videos - since Nance likes them :-)

The group dance from tonight




Vincent's Solo


Arassay's Solo


I will miss you too like crazy. It's wrong and unfair - but I will see you again in February!!!

The Final Eight

Since we are down to eight dancers on SYTYCD Canada, I'll post seven of them. (Seven because I don't know if the first one is on YouTube yet/

I don't have Miles and Allie in their first dance but this is their second - African Jazz



This is Izzak and Arassay's first dance - The Lindy Hopp


And their second dance - The Tango



This was Vincent and Natalli's first dance - Krump


And their second dance - Contemporary




And I'm going out of order with this couple - I think you will see why
Nico and Lisa's second dance - Hip Hop


And OMG!!!! This next dance!! Jazz Funk This one comes with a warning
HAWT DANCE AHEAD--WoWZerS

I just couldn't resist!

Videos to come.....

November's TBR Challenge

The Sea Wife by Holly Cook
Published: 2003

Amazon Blurb: When Myles Dampier saved her from drowning, Sabina Grey imagined him to be a selkie; a legendary seducer from the deep who meant doom to foolish maidens. He was no myth, however, but a flesh and blood Englishman - one who resembled a hardened pirate but acted as tender nursemaid, one she fell in love with and married on the high seas.

Yet once in London, Myles became a virtual stranger. He'd returned from exile in Australia to avenge himself on those who had stolen his youth. And he would use any means - even his new wife - to do so. But the man who had saved Sabina's life would not destroy her spirit and her heart with his obsession for vengeance. This time, she vowed, she would rescue him. She would show him that punishing the sins of the past, wasn't worth sacrificing the love in his future.

I'm a bit conflicted on this month's TBR challenge.
I started earlier this time - didn't leave it to the last minute like I have in the past. I started reading the book and I have to say, I really enjoyed it for a while and was going on like gang busters. But then something happened. The hero was an ass! Although we didn't know it for a while, he was pretty cold and calculating. He was unforgivably cruel to the heroine. I quite liked Sabrina. She lost everything in life. Earlier her father had passed away and she was on her way back to England when the ship she sailing on sunk during a storm. She lost all her possessions, the couple she was traveling with didn't make along with most of the people on the ship. Just as she was a death's door, she was rescued by Myles Dampier the hero(?)
I admit he was an intriguing character at first, mysterious and rather aloof. The time on the ship that rescued them was pretty good. But then we got to see the motivation behind what Myles was and why he was the way he was. Years earlier he'd been unfairly sent to Australia as a prisoner when his 'crime' was eloping with the woman he loved. Now he's become a self-made man and has returned to wreck vengeance on the people he thinks wronged him. And marrying Sabrina was just part of his plot. He withheld things from her and was needlessly cruel. I ended up skimming this one until the end when Myles confesses the error of his ways and professes his undying love. He makes the sacrifice of being willing to let her go, if that's what she really wanted. Of course she chose not to, but I think she would have been better off served leaving.
Now for why I found this book conflicting. The storyline was interesting. The writing was pretty good. But it was told entirely from Sabrina's POV - as far as I could tell. I got halfway through before the skimming started and still by that time we hadn't been in Myles' head at all. If the author had switched, and we got to see some of Myles' inner turmoil and why he felt he needed to continually hurt Sabrina, the book would have been so much better I think.
As far as I can tell, this is her only book and it was written in 2003. I would like to see more of this author and see if she could write a more sympathetic hero. She has a lot of potential, but it just wasn't realized for me in this book.

Final grade: 3 out of 5

Etc. time

So – I made a big decision yesterday – and I’m at peace about it. A few weeks ago I applied for another position for the company I work for. I’m not going to name the company, but basically it’s an organization that arranges home care for people who have been released from the hospital yet still need nursing care. Or they may need some personal support work or a number of other services. We are like the hub of the wheel and the men and women who visit the homes are the spokes. I work in the intake department so we are often on the front lines. We are open 8 to 8, 7 days a week so this means I have to work my share of weekends and late evenings. My official title is team assistant and I work with nurses and other similar professionals in an administrative type position.

Now for those who may not know this, only a few weeks after Ron died, I found myself out of work. I was not in a good place. But I finally managed to pull myself together and get out looking for work. I was sent to this place, though I didn’t realized until my first day the role they played in my own life. As soon as I did, and this may sound strange to those who don’t believe in this kind of thing, I knew it was Ron still taking care of me.

I love what I do – simply love it. Although it’s more in administration than actual hands on of people, at the end of every day I come home feeling like I’ve helped make a difference in the role I play. I’ve adjusted to the odd hours during the week and even seen the good on each different shift I work. I don’t mind working every third weekend. And I can’t say enough good things about the people I work with. I see them working hard at times in seemingly insurmountable odds trying to work things out and my respect for what they do grows every day.

But the position I applied for is in a different area of the company. It’s in the corporate end of things. It’s a higher category job; I would be making quite a bit more money and I would be using many more of the administration type skills I’ve gained over the years than I do now. I had to take tests last week and went for an interview where I think I did pretty good. So I think the chances of being offered this other job are pretty good.

But still I was torn on what to do if I was offered the position since I love where I am now. The drawbacks aren’t really drawbacks for me. I wanted to have an answer in advance in case I was offered the position and had to make a very quick decision.

And it came to me today – in a peaceful, yet definite way. I’m going to choose to stay where I am. There is a fairly high turnover in the department because it’s not the usual ‘9 to 5’ job so I think they need as much consistency as they can get. It’s more ‘hands on’ then the one I applied for and I think that is one of the reasons why I’m there. Because having gone through what so many of the people we serve are going through myself, I have the understanding and empathy of what they are feeling when they call.

And at this point in my life, I don’t have the ambition to climb any higher. A few years I did and I would have snapped up this job in a New York minute if offered. But things have changed in my life. Priorities are different. And while more money is not a bad thing, Ron left me fairly comfortable financially wise. I can afford to travel to Dallas, to San Francisco, to Washington DC and still rent a cottage with friends. I have a car that’s in good condition and the house is paid off. So making more money isn’t as important as the feeling I have at the end of the day.

Things can get pretty hairy some days. And I ache and hurt at some of the situations I see. But after sitting quiet and listening to my heart, I know I’m where I’m supposed to be.

And the peace I have at making this decision feels very good – even if some people may not understand the choice.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I wrote the above early last week partly to help me through my thoughts. Yesterday I was called into the Human Resource Managers office and she told me I was the lucky candidate and I was offered the position. There were at least six other people that also applied for the job.

I turned it down.

As I left her office, I thought to myself 'self, you just did something a lot of people would consider real stupid.'

What made it even more...... interesting....... is after I wrote the above, I was called into my managers office and reprimanded for something I screwed up on. That hurt - bothered me for days! But in the end it didn't change my decision. While it was hard listening to her tell me she was very disappointed in me, I think I was even more disappointed in myself. I was oh so tempted to change my mind if offered the job, but in the end I knew I couldn't.

And that's a glimpse into what's been going on in my world.

Pick The Sexiest Man Alive!

Diana Holquist, author of Sexiest Man Alive, and Julie James, author of Just the Sexiest Man Alive, are celebrating the November 21st announcement of People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive 2008 with a contest and a poll. Guess this year's Sexiest Man Alive and get a chance to win free, signed books.

Check out their website blogs:
Diana Holquist and Julie James for information on how to enter.

Which man would you pick as your sexiest man pick? Since I have my own harem of men, I just have too many to go through to pick just one!

Perhaps this one?

*It always comes down to Richard in the end!*

Update: Say hello to People's 2008 Sexiest Man of the Year!

Katiebabs (KB)

It's still alive and doing well!

Yep - the quest is moving on and getting bigger. I need to update my sidebar, which always involves working with HMTL *shudder* but here's a few updates.

Taja of Books and Games read it! And while she wasn't knocked upside the head the way I and a couple of others were, she liked it and is recommending it.

Now that I know Wendy and The Man are OK and except for some smoke damage, I can report that when she had to evacuate, guess what one of the books she took was?

Rowena just got her copy! And so did Marg!

Leslie W read it and it just wasn't for her. That's going to happen of course. But....she had a contest and Brie was the lucky winner. (I love her background by the way)

Aztec Lady was the lucky winner at Romance Novel TV so I expect her to report in in the not too distant future.

Check out Karen's sidebar and see what one of the books she's reading is :-)

Sula's looking for the hottest Books to Read - and guess what I told her? And best of all - I wasn't the first - heh heh heh.

Ack!!! I almost forgot one!!

Janet of Dear Author also read this books and liked it!


AND IN OTHER NEWS........

The books I ordered were shipped on Wednesday. They still haven't come yet :-(

I was telling of my work mates who watches SYTYCD that they are coming to London - she didn't know - and we are making plans :-)

UPDATE

SQQQUUUEEEAAAALLLLL

Yes, it's almost embarrassing a person of my age and stature squealing but

ADVANCE TICKETS FOR SYTYCD CANADA ARE GOING ON SALE TOMORROW!!!!

Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

The past few historical romances I have read have been published from Avon. Two out of the three I really enjoyed, while one was a DNF.

Why not start out with the DNF? I have enjoyed Anne Mallory’s books in the past, and her latest release, The Bride Price, has an interesting set up with an amoral hero who is the illegitimate son of a Duke. Sebastian is so delusional and as anti-hero as you can get. He enjoys seducing the innocents and being as reckless as he can, which is the perfect way to give his father the middle finger. Sebastian joins the other bastard sons of the aristocrats, who don’t have a chance of being accepted in polite society or having a name for themselves, in a competition where the winner will be able to marry a gentlewoman, known as the bosom of the ton. If Sebastian can win, he will have a title, a massive fortune and a piece of land that was his mother’s that his father owns and holds over his head. Sebastian accepts because there is nothing more important that belonging even though he acts as if he doesn’t care.

Caroline Martin is a widow who married the wrong man, so much so, she must be ever so respectful so she is not the topic of rumors. She is a friend and confidant to Sarah, the bosom of the ton. She is so disgusted by what Sarah’s father, the Earl of Cheevers is doing. But Caroline can not be too vocal because she relies on the Earl for her livelihood. Caroline is also quite the artist and Sebastian comes upon her as she is drawing a cottage that is on the property Sebastian wants so badly. Out of the blue, one thing leads to another and before Caroline can find out his name, Sebastian as given her the best orgasm of her life on the garden bench. From that moment on Sebastian will find a way to seduce Caroline and even places a bet that he can do so.

I do love an amoral hero, but Sebastian was more of a whiny brat if anything. Caroline feels she must take the moral high road because of the way she eloped with her deceased husband, and because of that she must gain her respectability back. She acts like she can’t stand Sebastian because of who he is and the way he treats people, but when it comes to sex, she opens her arms to him and let’s Sebastian do all types of naughty unrespectable things to her. The chemistry between these two were so lacking and I wanted to tell Sebastian to grow up and get over his issues he has with his daddy.

Half-way through I wanted to close this book, which I did, and The Bride Price was given the unfortunate label of being a DNF book.

All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks may have a very unappealing title along with a cover that looks like the Batman signal in the sky, but this was an enjoyable read. Her vampire men are beyond sexy and the majority of her heroes are highlanders in kilts! This latest tale is about Ian MacPhie. Ian was changed into a vampire when he was barely a teenager, and because of it, he always looks like a young boy. Dating for him was impossible and since he has taken a drug called Stay-Awake for twelve days, Ian has aged to look finally look like a grown man. Now he wants to find a woman to spend his immortal life with. He is looking for female vampire companionship, and soon he is forced to put a single ad placed in a paper. And because of that, he soons has more than enough women problems. There is a rumor going around that Ian is a virgin, and soon all these vamp women want to be his first. Ian does have sexual experience, but has never had the long lasting relationship he has always longed for. He doesn’t want to date any human women, but unfortunately he can’t help but fall for Toni, a new security guard who watches over Ian and his other fellow vampires during the day. At first these two bicker back and forth, but then their feelings change to love.

Kerrelyn’s books make me laugh because her characters are adorable and the situations they find themselves in are hilarious. Plus, her sex scenes are very steamy. There is one such scene where Ian and Toni are intimate and Ian wants to kiss and suck on her, but not on her neck or for her blood, but another place altogether. So very scandalous and hot I say!

All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire gets 3 ½ stars out of 5 stars

To Sin With a Stranger by Kathryn Caskie does not come out till December. This is the first book in her Seven Deadly Sins series that is something to look forward to. Kathryn has come up with a great idea about seven siblings from Scotland, known as the Seven Deadly Sins. The Sinclairs have been banished from their father as punishment for all their unruly behavior. They must make their way, on their own, without any help from him. They all have an allowance and must figure out a way to keep food on the table and a shelter over their heads. This first book is about the heir and eldest sibling, Sinclair, who is cursed with greed. Sinclair is a pretty alright fellow and feels he is responsible for everything that has befallen his younger brothers and sisters. He will try his best to make sure they are all taken care of, even if he has to start wagering and becoming a boxer and fighter to make ends meet.

Sinclair makes the acquaintance of Miss Isobel Carrington who is a do-gooder. She wants to help the poor unfortunate widows and children of soldiers who go off to war and don’t return. When Sinclair and Isobel meet, it is not under the best of circumstances. Soon Sinclair knows a way to make his fortune and that is to make a wager that he can get Isobel to marry him. Soon all of London is in on the bet and even Isobel will use this wager to help in her cause. Both Sinclair and Isobel join forces with each get what they want. Not only do they become friends, but as in most romances of this ilk, they become lovers.

To Sin With a Stranger is a bit of an unconventional story. The Sinclair siblings all care for one another other and are there to help each other out. I can’t wait to read the future novels of the Sinclair clan.

3 ½ stars out of 5 stars.

Katiebabs (KB)