Internetless

In my last post I mentioned that I had to get a new modem and I was worried. Turns out I had reason to be!
See – my internet provider – the lovely Rogers – has an upgraded modem. I had no intention of upgrading as I was perfectly fine with the one I had. But on a message on my machine last Friday, not only did they say that a new modem was available, they also mentioned that the one I had would no longer work as of January 21. This was a recorded message that went on and on and on, repeating itself until the time ran out. I hate that.
I promptly went to all the Rogers Video Plus stores near me only to discover that none had any of the new modems left.
Damn! I should have paid attention sooner! One store said they would be getting more in on Monday, Jan. 21.
When I got home from work that night I discovered that they were right!! My internet connection was cut off. So I quickly unplugged it and returned it to the place that was promising more. They had them so that was a relief.
Now not everyone knows this, but as I mentioned to Kate, I’m a techno troglodyte. I can’t do the simplest things technology wise. You should see me with a cell phone. It’s sad, very sad. I do know how to get the DVD to run, but I posted about it a while ago, it was only after spending three hours pressing every button on 4 or 5 different remotes. As to working a VCR – fuggetaboutit!
So while I attempted to hook up the new modem, alas, it didn’t work.
I was thinking of asking Lisa if she could stop last night on her way home, but we had a snow storm.
The next best thing was to ask Ryan if he could come over tonight as he will be in the neighbourhood to help. Thankfully he’s getting to know his mother and her total ineptness so he’s coming to the rescue. But it won’t be until sometime after 7:00.
I’m posting this from work. The system we work with most is down (ack! I’m contagious) so I don’t feel entirely guilty.
But in the meantime, I’ve been missing blogging! Terribly! But I did get a chance last night to watch the adorably funny first episode of The Vicar of Dibly – The Handsome Stranger. One guess as to who the handsome stranger was. Heh heh.
And I have been reading too – so I guess it’s not all bad. But still, my world is off it’s axis at the moment and I’m not liking it!

In the meantime - Thanks Katie!

The Anticipation is Killing Me!!

Here are three releases I am so excited are coming out that I can no longer keep quiet and contain myself!!
( I would give away by first unborn child to have these right now, but that is a bit too much, don't you think?)

1. One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. Jeaniene has finally put the cover and an excerpt up on her website for her April release to the sequel to Halfway to the Grave. This is the one book I can't stop thinking about and want in my little hands!


2. Lover Enshrined by JR Ward. This book is a given since I have read and re-read ever single book in her BDB series. Plus, I was on her message boards for over 3 hours on Sunday night! Can we say fan girl? Comes out in June right in time for my birthday.


3. Shades of Dark by Linnea Sinclair This is the sequel to my favorite book by Linnea, Gabriel's Ghost. Plus the first 4 chapters are available to read if you join Linnea's Yahoo Group. This comes out in July. Plus she is a Jersey girl ;)



So, what other fantastic reads am I missing that I should put on my "Must Reads" for 2008?

Katiebabs

The Sweeter Side of Romance...

Sometimes I need to take a break from the more erotic type romances and read something on the sweeter side where multiple sexual positions and the idea of a ménage a trios is a very foreign idea. One such book is by the wonderful writer, McCullough and it is not The Thorn Birds but a book called Tim.
Many know about Tim because of the 1979 movie with Mel Gibson and Piper Laurie. I have been waiting for years to watch this and finally it has come out on Netflix. A few weeks ago I watched and was thrilled because the movie is exactly like the book. And Mel Gibson plays the role of Tim to perfection.
Tim is about a young mentally disabled young man in his early twenties. He lives in Australia with his parents and works as a laborer doing odd jobs. He is a sweet and simple guy who is not always treated very well by his fellow workers. But Tim enjoys his life and is much like a child in his thinking. He looks at the bright side of everything which also includes the good in the people he comes in contact with.
There is another character that is the total opposite of Tim and becomes his closest and dearest friend. Marty Horton is in her mid-forties and comes across as stiff and a bit of a snob. She has never been married, or dates that much. And I also believe she is a virgin even though it is never stated. When she first meets Tim, she notices that he is a very attractive fellow, but because he is slow she doesn’t give him a second glance. That is until she needs some landscaping and gardening done. She hires Tim and that’s where a very unique relationship starts between the two. Mary treats Tim with respect but still at a distance. But Tim, being the friendly and happy guy that he is, breaks through to Mary and she slowly lowers the walls she has placed around herself.
Their relationship is much like an older sister with her younger brother. Soon Mary is inviting Tim to her beach house and having him over for dinner and to watch television. Tim no longer feels as if he is an outcast because of Mary, unlike his parents and sister who seems so uneasy around him. Tim’s father doesn’t seem to find it odd that an older woman like Mary enjoys having Tim around. Part of it is probably guilt on his part and for Tim, he finally feels as if he belongs somewhere and with a wonderful person such as Mary.
But then Tim’s life starts to change and this will also affect his relationship with Mary forever. Tim’s mother dies and with that his father is bereft and close to death himself. He goes to Mary and asks her to take care of Tim. But Tim doesn’t just want to be Mary’s special friend anymore. He has become jealous because he thinks Mary likes his dad better than him. This is where Tim learns about love between a man and a woman.
There is one scene in the book where Tim yells at Mary because he thinks she likes his father more than him. Mary is very confused and scared because her feeling for Tim has changed to a more romantic nature. They share a kiss and with that Mary has a decision to make. Should she and Tim get married? If so, they will have to be husband and wife in everyway.
This tender relationship that transform into a more physical love between these two is very unconventional, but so beautifully written. It shows a writer with great skill, and Colleen McCullough pulls this off. By the last page I found my self a bit weepy because I was so happy for these two lonely people to find each other and I believed in their happiness after years of not finding their place in the world. This is one book that should be on your keeper shelf.
And I also recommend you watch the movie which shows how incredible an actor Mel Gibson truly is. Tim was only his second role, right after he stared in the cult classic, Mad Max. And even though this was made thirty years ago, it is just as poignant and moving now than it was back then.

Katiebabs

Just 'cause

I've nothing else to write about at the moment. My kitchen is non-existent. The house is a mess and I have to go to Home Depot shortly *shudder*.











I have to disconnect my modem shortly to exchange if for another one and I'm worried about doing that











I needed something to cheer me up.









And if there are some fence sitters - well.....












Hopefully these will help















So if I'm not online for the rest of the day I screwed up the modem thing.











Thanks to the Armitage Army for such glorious pictures.

Recent Reads

Driven by Eve Kenin (aka Eve Silver)

Why this one: I received an ARC of this one. I’d kind of forgot I had it and when this book first came out, I bought a copy based on the excellent reviews it was receiving. Luckily I was able to exchange it for another one when I found my ARC. It kind of languished on the TBR pile until I saw a review on Renee’s blog and we have very similar tastes in books (and why I'm insisting she watch North and South whereas I'm not bugging other people at least I don't think I am - well maybe a couple more, but only cause I know they will love it) and saw it was also listed on a number of interim poll results at AAR. Wanting to get as many 2007 books in before voting, I picked this one up.

Level of Steam: Truly ice melting – and this is a good thing considering it takes place in the frozen north

Amazon Blurb: Raina Bowen knows she can handle herself just fine against anything the harsh Northern Waste throws at her. Until it throws her an enigmatic stranger called Wizard. First, she has to haul him out of a brawl he can't hope to win. And next, her libido is shooting into overdrive at the feel of his hard body pressed against hers on the back of her snowscooter. But there's something not quite right about this guy. Before she can strip bare Wizard's secrets, they're lured into a race for their lives, battling rival truckers, ice pirates...and a merciless maniac with a very personal vendetta.

My Thoughts: Wowzers. I was very impressed. This book is from Dorchesters Shomi line and to be honest, when I first heard about it, it didn’t really appeal to me. But again I say wowzers. This is the third book in a row that I’ve really enjoyed so far in 2008. I hope I keep up the pace.

It seemed kind of like a Mad Max movie only Max was a woman, it took place in the north instead of a dessert and there was a terrific love story to go along with it. The book takes place some time in the not-too-distant future after some kind of apocalyptic war. The northern hemisphere seems to be a frozen wasteland now and it it’s controlled by some Very Evil Dude named Bane. There is a truck race amongst independent truckers and a company owned by Bane. Raina Bowen is determined to win this race and for that she needs a special pass she has agreed to buy from Wizard, a mysterious stranger who is seemingly impervious to the cold or injury.

Raina was some kick-ass tough heroine who could stand up for herself and I loved her, loved her, loved her. It’s fascinating watching this loner slowly allow a group of rebels into her heart.

And Wizard - Mmm, mmm mmm, mmm, mmm!- what a terrific hero he makes! Earlier on this year I read Linnea Sinclair's Games of Command and loved her hero. Wizard is the same type of guy. Without saying too much, Wizard is a guy who is new to emotions - kind of like a hot and hunky Data from Star Trek. But at others he's not like Data At All. Thus the steam that heats this book up.

I haven't tried her books as Eve Silver but I'm on my way out shortly and a stop at Chapters is in order. I'll be buying her again!!

One reason I'm glad I haven't voted at AAR yet - I would have missed voting for this one!

Grade: 5 out of 5

When They Just Don't Get It!

When I was growing up I was much of a loner, all the way up until I graduated high school. As cliche as it sounds, books were my only friend. I don’t deny that I am a little out there, perhaps a bit eccentric. Some people just don’t get me. One being my father. He can’t understand why I read “those books”. This is the same man that will go on for hours about the Yankees and knows every single fact about this team since they began. I am seriously in awe of his memory.

But when I ask him who Nora Robert is, he gives me a blank stare and asks “Who? Is she one of the Yankees' players' wives?"

There were two different situations that happened to me my senior year of high school that changed my reading habits forever. I attended a private all girls’ catholic high school that had less than 200 students. I graduated with a class of 25. We wore uniforms, had nuns as teachers and I went to bible study classes. Even back then I was the first to read and finish any book put in front of me. I was the first student in my English class to finish Jane Eyre, Once in Future King and I even read Hamlet in one weekend even though I had to rent and watch the Laurence Olivier version to understand what I was reading. But I also had a habit at that time of reading historical romances. That was the only type of book I would read. I was the biggest fan of those books with the Fabio covers and the stereotypical half naked man and woman clutching each other near a stream or in a field. But something happened that totally embarrassed me. The principal called me into her office one day to “discuss” the issue about these books I was reading.

I had accidentally left one of my romances in the cafeteria. A teacher saw it and right off the bat assumed it was mine. Apparently, she and the principal glanced through the book and marked off the naughty parts. I was actually called out of one of my classes and sent into the principal’s office! The first time in my entire life! As I sat there, she asked me why would I read this filth and had me read those passages out loud. She was told that I was giving advice to my fellow classmates about sex! That if they read romances, they could have good sex with their boyfriends. I was shocked and appalled! If you heard what I learned about sex during lunch breaks from my classmates, well they could write their own erotica. Up to that point, I had never even dated, kissed or had sex with a boy. Yes, I was very sheltered.

For a short moment I was seriously thinking of given up reading romance. For a few weeks after my “talk” I wouldn’t bring in any of my “filth” to school. Now also around this time, I had started a friendship with a younger student. I believe she was a freshman at the time. She didn’t do that well in school and hated homework and reading. For some reason we started talking and she noticed the amount of books I was reading and was impressed. And even though they were romances, she was still very interested. She didn’t have her own library card, so with mine, I took out a bunch of books, again all romances, and gave them to her to read. And guess what happened? During my final year of high school she would read every book I gave her and we would talk about the characters, the plot and even the sex scenes with great joy. She began to understand why I loved to read and I was thrilled to have someone to talk to about these books and not feel ashamed.

On one hand you have someone who will put down something you love for no reason because they are biased. On the other, you have someone who is willing to open their mind to something they don’t know and change their perception.

I guess what I am saying is that there are a whole lot of us out there that have a great love for this genre and instead of harping at one another, we should all work together to show our love and admiration for something many other just don’t get, like my father and my high school principal.

It is fourteen years later since I was sent to the principal’s office for something I thought I had done wrong. It was also in the same regard I believe I may have changed a young woman’s life for the better. Now that I had been welcomed into a community like this (Thanks to Kristie(J)) I am not backing down and I will say loud and clear.

I READ ROMANCE NOVELS AND I AM PROUD OF IT!!!

Why all the snark when you can just share the love instead?


Katiebabs

And one more shares our Passion

Yippee doodle! (snort)

Another one has become A Crusader! Megan is now one of us! And see, Megan also has another blog - she's part of the team of Risky Regencies. So now as a Crusader she has to spread the word to the rest of them. And if they tell two people, and they tell two people, and they............


And When We Least Expect It!!!!

We find the love is still growing!! Author Keri Arthur has just watched North and South - and loves it! *she said looking over at her copy of Full Moon Rising and thinking - gotta read that one!*


And Further News!

Megan is indeed being a Most Excellent Crusader! She's blogging about it at Risky Regencies and she already has someone who's ordered it!
Not only that - but Rachel from AAR is giving it a second (or maybe more than that) watching. Dare we hope our enthusiasm has had something to do with it???? Now Rachel saw it and blogged about it long before most of us did. She first saw it way back in May of '06. So she in fact is one of the very first Crusaders!!!

Rant of the day

I thought about posting a comment on this at SB’s but then realized I had more to say. For those following all the CE drama – this is only very loosely related so don’t leave yet. While reading the continuing posts on the plagiarism scandal at SB’s, it seems that one of the plagiarized authors, Paul Tolme, wrote an article for Newsweek. It’s quite a hoot of an article and for a laugh I recommend reading it.
But what annoyed me and prompted this rant of the day are some of the responses from fellow romance readers at the end of the article.
To them I say – Get a Sense of Humour and get over yourselves!
I think just about everyone knows that the romance genre isn’t as respected as we all think it should be. We understand that and we live with it, with the inside knowledge that we are right and everyone who hasn’t tried it and scorns it is wrong.
While on some levels it bothers me that romance doesn’t get the respect it so richly deserves, it’s more for the wonderful, Very Talented Authors that I’m peeved. For myself, I don’t care what people think of the genre, I love it and I’m going to read it anyway. This attitude has really been reinforced by being a part of the blogoshere these past couple of years and seeing the rich and diverse group of readers who make up the community. They are intelligent, well-educated, articulate and more than able to hold their own in defense of the industry.
That’s why I was so annoyed at some of the humourless responses to his very funny article. Reading it in Newsweek as opposed to in a book was funny! Very funny. I think we need the ability to laugh at ourselves and at some of the romance books out there. They are unintentionally hilarious. We know this. And sometimes even while we are reading what we consider crap, we’re enjoying it at the same time.
So rather than get all defensive over this poor unsuspecting non-romance reading guy who somehow found his words about a ferret in a heaving bosom type book with a barely dressed, bare chested cover model, laugh along with him. Let him know there is crap out there. And IMO- he came across some of the best of it. But there was also an opportunity to present ourselves in a good light, with a sense of humour and an ability to laugh at our own – deservedly so.

'til later

****update****

Apparently Sarah at SB's contacted him for an interview. He didn't have time, but he did write a short note.
This guy is funny!!

And yet another one has watched it

Jodie just recently watched North & South and though she didn't love it to pieces and pieces like most of us have; that's going to happen of course - it's only natural - still she gives it a pretty good grade :)


(although Holly gave us a bit of a scare for a moment there - silly bean)

***ETA***

And you just never know where you might find other Crusaders. I just found us another one!! Bonz watched it a while ago and loved it too!

Duo Review

The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne

Kristie's Thoughts:

First of all I’ll have to get past the WOW part of this book. Barely into the New Year and already I’ve read my first 5 out of 5 book.

I think I first became aware of this one because of Jayne and Jane’s reviews at Dear Author. I was intrigued enough to know that I was going to have to read this one myself.

The story starts out with a bang and never stops.

Annique is a young French spy who’s gotten caught in the clutches of a fellow, very evil French spy. He thinks she has information he wants and is willing to do anything to get it out of her. But Annique is a very resourceful young woman and manages to escape and also to help two other men being held prisoner. The other two are English spies and when they hear what it is that Annique is supposed to have, they kidnap her and journey back to England.

Grey is the commander of the English spy department and while at first he thinks Annique is the one responsible for the death of some of his men, he soon realizes what a compassionate young woman she really is.

It’s not often that one comes across a heroine as vivid and well-written as Annique. While a poorly written heroine can ruin a book for me, I still focus more on the hero. But in this case Annique lept off the pages. She’s inventive, she’s kindhearted, she’s oddly naive, she’s intelligent. She’s simply wonderful. I told Katie that I had to find enough superlatives to describe this book and I’m probably going to go overboard with them – but I can’t help it.

And Grey is an equal match for her. He realizes very quickly how good she is in her profession and he treats her with respect. Very early on he becomes quite protective of her while still recognizing her intelligence and what a contribution she can make. One scene in particular exemplifies this for me. The third member of their quartet, Adrian, has been shot. It’s Grey’s job to try and remove the bullet and he is quite reluctant, thinking he will kill Adrian. When Annique volunteers and tells him she has experience in this kind of thing, he doesn’t doubt her for a moment. He trusts her with the life of one of his men.

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and I don’t want to say too much for fear of giving it away to anyone who hasn’t read it yet but is planning to.

One of the things that a number of people have commented on is the wonderful dialogue she writes. Here is an interesting post on how she came up with it.

I’ve gone on record about my ‘I’m over it’ thing with hero spies. Well, now I’m going to have to eat my words – except I don’t have a kitchen. I loved this one and there’s not a shadow of a doubt I’ll be reading her next one!!

And oddly enough, is the fact that I even like the cover. I’ve heard complaints about it, but I like it, I really do.

Do Not Miss this book. All the buzz is right – it’s a good one.

Katie's Thoughts:

I feel that historical romances get such a bad “rap”. From cliché plots to major heaving bosoms and naked men chests on these covers, (well I really don’t mind the naked men part!) I wasn’t too sure what to think when I saw the cover for The Spymaster’s Lady. I groaned because quite honestly, that cover is bad! It screams of that old fashioned Fabio type romance where the hero forces the heroine to do his bidding. I also felt like he is trying to be Superman by ripping off his shirt and is ready to fly away at a moment’s notice.

But then I started hearing wonderful things about this book and that of first time author, Joanna Bourne. When was the last time the consensus about one book is so good that you can not pass it up? So, I quickly got myself a copy of The Spymaster’s Lady and was blown away. If you think the hero forces the heroine to do anything in this one, watch out because Annique is unlike any heroine I had read since Eve from the JD Robb In Death series or Anita Blake from Laurel K. Hamilton’s vampire slayer series. The thing these three characters have in common is their overall tenacious attitude and their will to survive. They will do anything to come out on top and won’t go down without a fight. They would seriously fight very dirty to win aka kick a guy where it hurts. A perfect example in this book is when Annique takes her sash from her nightgown and tries to strangle Robert with it.

From that point on I became all Ricki Lake and said “You go on girl with your bad self!”

Joanna Bourne has taken a typical spy story and made it so much more. Her words come off the pages and it is so rich, especially with the dialogue. Annique reminded me so much of Maddie from The Winter Garden by Adele Ashworth. And we know how much we all love Maddie. Annique is a French spy and when she speaks, she sounds so perfectly French to my ears. She is strong, intelligent and very sly. She will lie, cheat and play any part to perfection. But a strong woman needs a strong man and that is where our British “spy master” comes into the picture. Robert Grey is England’s ultimate spy. I adored Robert because he is such a good guy. He protects his friends and associates and when he meets Annique, he is thrown for a loop.

Their attraction for each other is instant because they have a battle of wills and the foreplay between them is the words they use. Every ling spoken out of their mouths is a journey that will lead them into the bedroom. And when they get there… well their minds and hearts merge and those scene are heavy in passion but so very much more.

The plot seems so simple and should be that typical historical spy drama that is found so readily in romances today. But Joanna Bourne has done something incredibly. She has taken a cliché story and made it shine.

It all really comes down to the character of Annique. She comes alive and is not just a one-dimensional character you will read about and soon forget. But there is one thing that Kristie(J) and I have a difference of opinion on that makes my grade a bit lower. Annique has a big secret you come to realize very soon. This secret perhaps makes the relationship between Robert and Annique even more incredible, but it grated on my nerves a bit, especially when Annique’s secret is fixed suddenly. Perhaps I am just nitpicking because this truly is a wonderfully written book, but that small thing took a little bit away from making this a true masterpiece of romantic literature.

Never the less I give The Spymaster’s Lady 4 out of 5 stars. I probably would have given it a 4.5 if not for that secret that Robert can see in Annique’s eyes.

Recent Reads

Hot by Julia Harper

Why this one: I read and reviewed (I think) all of Elizabeth Hoyt’s books. I know I did two of them. But nevertheless, I found out in Dallas that she had a contemporary book coming out in the new year under the name of Julia Harper and as I love the Prince trilogy, I was really looking forward to seeing what she could do with a contemp

Level of Steam: Nice and hot

Amazon Blurb: For four years, play-by-the-rules bank teller Turner Hastings has brooded over her uncle's wrongful imprisonment. But when two bumbling crooks stumble into her branch (barely disguised in Yoda and Sponge Bob masks) and hold up the place, she sees a chance to do something she's never thought possible: get revenge. She takes advantage of the melee to pull a heist of her own, seizing info from a security box that will exonerate her uncle. Sent to investigate a bank robbery in small town Wisconsin, Special Agent John MacKinnon discovers the robbers were two not-quite-so-bright thugs and one woman. Now, Turner is on the run. With SA MacKinnon on her trail, she's breaking into the bank president Calvin's house, kidnapping his Great Dane, and for the first time in her life, setting out to break a few rules. But when Calvin hires a hit-man, MacKinnon will have to decide between his career--and saving Turner.

My thoughts: Not to worry – she does just fine! I really enjoyed this book. I had just finished The Spymaster’s Lady and was a bit worried about that ‘after good book’ blues. Very Happily this was just the perfect book to read after. It started off with a hoot and kept it up pretty much all the way. Turner was a Most Excellent Heroine. It was a riot to see her outsmart a Gman time and time again. There was a wonderful lightness to this book even while not so good things were happening.

Although it was a while before Turner and John actually meet, their telephone banter is quirky and hilarious. If I were ever wanted by the FBI, I hope someone like John MacKinnon would be on my trail.

And normally I don’t mention supporting characters, but the two bumbling would be bank robbers had me laughing out loud in a number of places.

And this is only the second book I’ve read where I loved the dog in this story – not being a dog person myself. But the big Great Dane was another welcome fun character.

And it was interesting too because the authors ‘voice’ is entirely different in her contemporary than in her historical. Unless one knew in advance they were the same person, one would never guess.

Big kudo’s to Julia Harper for writing something fun enough and enjoyable enough to distract me from my kitchen woes! I hope this isn’t the last we have heard from this authors incarnation.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

Touch of Texas by Tracy Garrett

Why this one: It’s a good price, it’s a western, it’s a new author all of which = autobuy in my books

Level of Steam: Kept me toasty warm in the cold winter

Zebra blurb: A blizzard blows Texas Ranger Jake McCain to Rachel Hudson’s cabin and trouble is right behind him. He’s badly wounded. Taking care of him is the right thing to do, but she knows the local gossips won’t see it that way. Suddenly, everything Rachel’s fought for is at stake—and the past she’d hoped to escape looms over her future. Still and all, when Jake turns his dark gaze on her, all she wants is his strong, seductive touch…

A Woman To Call His Own …

Jake McCain has never stayed in one place. A home and a family aren’t for the likes of a man accustomed to the rough life of the trail. But when he sees the trouble she’s in, he can’t leave her behind. Not when her innocent kisses burn straight into his soul, and the sight of her smile is the only bounty he cares to collect…

My Thoughts: Overall I was quite impressed with this one. There were a couple of things a bit off which I’ll get to in a minute, but it was offset by the fact that it was so nice to read a good Western.

The heroine of this book, Rachel Hudson was one I really liked. She was young and poor but she had a high set of morals that I really liked. She did what was the right thing to do and I admired that about her.

I liked Jake too although after a while I got a little tired of his excuses as to why he couldn’t stay and be happy with Rachel and her younger brother. It was explained a little late in the book – earlier would have been better, but he was a man of honour and he was very protective of this small little family who saved his life. I liked that. Other than that he made quite a fine loner of a hero. Another thing a thought a bit off was a certain story line that could have made all the difference for Rachel just seemed to be dropped for no apparent reason I could figure. I don’t want to say what it was a give it away, but it did have me scratching my head a bit. But overall I don’t have any problems recommending this book in a genre that we see far too few of for this little Western lover. Ms. Garrett has another book coming out and I will be looking for it and buying it.

Grade: 4 out of 5

*Note* I know I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. I think Zebra is really thinking outside the box and have a heluvan idea in having debut author’s books on sale at a special price. Unless the book sounds like it’s really something I wouldn’t like, I’ve been buying them all. $3.99 (or $5.99 CDN) for an author’s debut book and $4.99 or ($6.99 CDN) for the second one is a great way to build readership. I wish more publishers would think of doing this!!

And in other news - my world is a little bit brighter today. You see my computer is on it's last legs. I've mentioned before that the sound is gone. Well, I had an optical mouse but had to switch back to the old-fashioned kind recently because my ports keep blowing up. The *&))&)*^ mouse was pretty much toast recently and the frustration of it really curtailed my time on-line. But I was talking to the computer guys at work today about my situation and one of them gave me a USB to Port conducter - or something like that. So now I can use my optical mouse again. And I tell you what a difference it makes!!!!!

I need a new computer desperately but what with the new kitchen, I'm babying this one for as long as I can.

And not only that - I called Contractor Guy today and it turns out the floor I purchased is OK! That means I (Ryan) don't have to haul it back to the store and buy something twice as expensive which is what they said I should do. But he was talking to Floor Guy in Home Depot and Floor Guy said the flooring I purchased is good and would do fine in a kitchen.

Now I'm off to catch up on everything I've missed lately!

'til later

Anna Campbell is a North and South Crusader!

Did you know many of our favorite authors are also fans of North and South? Avon historical romance author, Anna Campbell is a die hard fan of North and South and the handsome and swoon worthy Richard Armitage. The woman apparently has good taste! ;)

I asked her if she had any opinions about this movie and the man we have all come to love. Anna so kindly responded to my inquiry and she had this to say:

“Ah, what can I say about the magic that is 'North and South' and the gorgeous Richard Armitage? Well, what can I say that hasn't already been said by his legion of rabid female fans? Not that I'm rabid!! No, no. Not me. I'm a purely sensible female fan! Yeah, right.

I was a latecomer to N&S. I was away overseas when it was first on in Australia
and silly me didn't bother to video it. We get a lot of BBC adaptations and I
didn't know the book so nothing warned me this was going to be something extra
special. Then people started talking about how wonderful the serial was and
particularly how wonderful the hero was. Being a technophobe, I didn't at that
stage own a DVD so I didn't actually find out for myself what I'd missed until
the ABC, bless them, replayed N&S very late on Saturday nights last year.

Oh, Mamma!

Is that show a feast for romantics or what? And isn't John Thornton the
quintessential hero? He knows what he feels for Margaret almost from the moment
he meets her and nothing sways him. His love even leads him to betray his
principles and he's a man of incredibly strong principle (I love a man of honor
as a hero, sigh!). Yes, he's a bit of a rough diamond but the emphasis is on
'diamond' here. It's even refreshing to have a working man as hero rather than a
languid aristocrat like Mr. Darcy, much as I'm fond of Darcy too!

The romance builds and builds through hurt and misunderstanding and denial and
attraction. Until the best bit of all - that last kiss on the railway platform
when symbolically, she's going south and he's going north. I think it's the
tenderness of that scene that gets me every time. He holds her head as he kisses
her as if he has the whole world caught in his hands and he wants to treat it
right. What can I say? It's magic!”

And so the crusade marches on!

In other sad news, I had to return my copy of North and South to the library with only 50 more pages to read!! About 5 other people were waiting and I couldn't renew the book. And I am up to the point when Mrs. Thorton goes to Margaret because she thinks Margaret has been having late night nookie with strange men. Hopefully I will be able to get the book back and find out how it ends and if John and Margaret find love together!

For now I leave you with this:

Katiebabs

A Most Excellent 2 fer in The Crusade

It seems that the Crusade is going very strong among the ‘younger’ blogger set. I just discovered a new reader blog, The Book Smugglers – I love how they came up with their name – Ana, the Romance Reader of the two is also a Supporter of The Crusade. Be sure to check them out – and encourage Thea to watch North and South. Ana needs our help Crusaders.

And yet ANOTHER one joins our Crusade!!

I love this, I love this, I love this. I'm even doing battle with my wonky mouse to post!

Kris has joined the ever growing Crusaders. She watched it, she loved and and she must now go forth and spread the word.

And Ag is also now on our watch list ;)


****Update*****

Kaitlin has further thoughts on her Blogger blog!

Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh (A Winner!)

The third book for 2008 that has me so excited is Mine to Possess by Nalini Singh. I was a bit disappointed by her 2007 release, Caressed by Ice and wasn’t sure what to expect with her February release. Nalini has again proven why she is romance’s shining star and Mine to Possess comes in a close second to my favorite book, Slave to Sensation in this incredible sci-fi romance series. I am calling it- Mine to Possess will be on everyone’s top ten for 2008 and one the most anticipated books of the year.

If you haven’t had the chance to read any of Nalini’s Psy/ Changeling books, I recommend you start with Slave to Sensation and move on from there. Mine to Possess is best savored when you understand this world and the characters that live within it. Nalini has come up with another great couple in that of Clay, the shift-changing leopard and Talin, a human woman. Clay was once an angry young boy and lived with his human mother who wanted him to hide his leopard side. He lived in near poverty and would have become another statistic to the streets. But his one joy in life was a human girl, Talin, his “Tally”. This young boy and girl bonded and became soul mates, that is until Talin was taken from Clay because of a violent act he did to protect her. Clay was lead to believe that Talin was dead and instead of committing suicide because of the loss of his other half; he grew up and embraced his changeling side and that culture. Now, twenty years later he is stable and has love with a great adopted family and friends. But Clay is in for quite a shock because Talin has risen from the dead.

Talin was never dead and has kept herself hidden, especially from Clay. She has found him for a purpose and needs his help. She helps young human children, but a serial killer is murdering them. She expects Clay to get over her lies and help her. But Clay is one angry cat! He feels betrayed by what Talin has done, but since he still has a bond with her and knows that she is his mate, he will help her and not allow her to leave him again. He wants to claim her as his woman, and not even Tally will be able to stop him.

Nalini can sure write some alpha males! If you thought her other past heroes of Lucas, Vaughn or Judd were the ultimate alphas, watch out, because Clay puts them all to shame. His love and devotion for this human woman is all consuming and oh so good! Talin, on the other hand, is so scarred and very tortured. She has been abused and because of this she abuses herself even more. She feels she is not worthy of Clay and is afraid of him. Clay keeps his violent nature barely under wraps and because Talin has always been around violence, she is not sure if she can be around Clay. But the thing is, Clay completes her body and soul. The same goes for Clay. When these two come together in the more intimate sense, their love for each other is loud and clear. The passion between these two is more embedded deep within their souls and not just because of lust and attraction.

Another thing I love with these books is the importance of family and a society who care and protect their own. The changeling community cares about every member, be it old or young. It is very telling how Nalini shows that humans and the Psy culture (a culture who doesn’t believe in emotion) can be very cruel and violent, where as the changeling society only becomes violent when they are being threatened or the need to protect their land and what is theirs. The same goes for Clay and Talin. Clay protects Talin and Talin protects the small children she has come to care about and in her charge.

Not many authors can continue to surprise me with their books and storytelling skills, but Nalini Singh is one I have come to count on to “deliver the goods” and she has done it yet again with Mine to Possess.

Katiebabs

I couldn't help myself

Katiebabs

Plagiarism and the Ripple Effect

If you have been reading all the blogs and online sites such as Smart Bitches and Dear Author, you probably know by now the whole controversy with Cassie Edwards.

The idea that an author such as Ms. Edwards has "allegedly" plagiarized some of her novels sickens me. To be honest, I am not sure when the last time I even read one of her books, but these acts she is being accused is will send a ripple effect, or should through the literary world, regardless even if it is the romance genre

If this is true, FOR SHAME because her reputation is in shatters and those of her faithful readers and even myself who is a loyal reader and buyer in this genre.

I decided to do a little research on what is "plagiarism" and why it is such a dirty word.

From wikipedia:

"Plagiarism is the practice of claiming or implying original authorship of (or incorporating material from) someone else's written or creative work, in whole or in part, into one's own without adequate acknowledgement. Generally, although plagiarism is often loosely referred to as theft or stealing, it has not been set as a criminal matter in the courts. Likewise, plagiarism has no standing as a criminal offense in the common law. Instead, claims of plagiarism are a civil law matter, which an aggrieved person can resolve by launching a lawsuit. "

Example of plagiarism from well known authors:
A young Helen Keller was accused in 1892 of plagiarizing Margaret T. Canby's story The Frost Fairies in her short story The Frost King. She was brought before a tribunal of the Perkins Institute for the Blind, where she was acquitted by a single vote.

Janet Dailey was sued in 1997 by fellow novelist Nora Roberts, who accused Dailey of copying her work for over seven years. The practice came to light after a reader read Roberts' Sweet Revenge and Dailey's Notorious back-to-back; she noticed several similarities and posted the comparable passages on the internet. Calling the plagiarism "mind rape," Roberts sued Dailey. Dailey acknowledged the theft and blamed it on a psychological disorder. She admitted that both Aspen Gold and Notorious lifted heavily from Roberts's work. In a settlement, Dailey paid Roberts an undisclosed sum, which Roberts donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America. In 2001, Dailey returned to publishing with a four-book deal with Kensington Books. - THAT IS SOME PUNISHMENT SHE RECEIVED. SNORT.

And why am I discussing this topic today?

The romance novel review blog Smart Bitches, Trashy Books accused Cassie Edwards of widespread

plagiarism after finding multiple passages in her novels that appeared to be directly taken from reference works about Native American history and culture. Her publisher, Signet, stated that they believed the passages were used under fair use and would not be considered copyright infringement. Cassie Edwards is a best-selling American author of over 100 historical romance novels. She has been published by Dorchester Publishing, Signet Books, and Harlequin.

The Associate Press had even picked this up!

Now if this is true, what happens next? Nothing seemed to happen to Janet Dailey, so I really don't think anything will happen to Cassie Edwards.

Katiebabs

A cry for help

As anyone who views this blog in IE can see, the blog has gone wonky. Neither Katiebabs nor I know how to fix it.

I cry for help to anyone who might be able to getting it back to normal.

If you view it in Firefox - she be fine.

The Jane Austen Fest is coming!

I have to admit something. I am a true Jane Austen fan. I have seen the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice more times that I can count and everytime Sense and Sensibility or Emma comes on I can not be moved from watching the tv screen.

But I am ashamed to say I have never read an Austen novel. Not even Pride and Prejudice! How can I say that I am a die hard romance reader and not even pick up one of these novels by the woman, who in my opinion is one of the pioneers of romance?
I deserve a smack across the head. *SMACK*

I am jumping up and down because starting this Sunday, Masterpeice Theater on PBS will be showing an all new version of Persuasion, thus beginning the Complete Jane Austen marathon of all her books with four new remakes which includes the original Pride and Prejudice with that sexy man Colin Firth. (Lake dipping anyone?)

It is hard for me to say which is my favorite Austen novel that has been made for the screen. I adore P&P, but Persuasion comes in very close to being my favorite. It is all about love lost, letting that one person you love get away because in part of greed and the approval of your family and friends. But then he comes back and the yearning between you two can not be denied! I have watched the 1995 movie version with that wonderful actor, Ciarán Hinds who plays Captain Federick, the man that Anne, leaves. Talk about some heated looks between the two!

It will be interesting to see the newest one that airs this Sunday. I am all for those- secret, look into my soul" looks the hero and heroine share with each other. To me, that is very sexy indeed. *G*

Katiebabs

And it just keeps on growing!

We have yet Another fan!!

Sarah rented it, watched it, loved it and now wants her own copy.

I love this!!

And in other news - I learned how to change a fuse today.

To Cheer Kristie Up!

Here is a nice happy video with our man Richard and one of his wonderful bedtime stories! I wish I was that stuffed cat or that green chair he is sitting on.



Katiebabs

PS... make me that dinosaur he holds instead!

Further Perils of Kristie and the Kitchen

I just blew a fuse. I mean this literally. I was drying my hair and plugged in the electric kettle in the same box and blew a fuse.
The light in the basement near the fuse box is broken - Brent did it. So I can't see to change a fuse. I don't know if I have any fuses to change one. I've never changed a fuse. I don't have anywhere to plug in the hair dryer with it's short cord. Now I'm scared to plug in the electric kettle in case I blow another fuse. Because I can't see to change them and I don't know if I have any and I don't know how to tell which one needs changing.
I want to dry my hair. I want to put on make up - which I used to do in the kitchen but I don't have a kitchen at the moment. I want my cup of tea!!!!!!!!!
I'm about to blow a fuse - figuratively.

If you're easily offended, close your eyes for this next little bit. I don't do this often

FUCK, FUCK, FUCK!!!

I just blew my figurative fuse

I just discovered the lights to the basement where the laundry room is are on the same system. I can't see in the basement where my clothes to wear today are.
And it's only day 2

The Perils of Kristie and the Kitchen

I came home to the kitchen in quite a messy state. I expected that though. It seems I made a few booboos though. They gave me a list of stuff (more stuff) to get and off I went to Home Depot. At this point I should say that store scares me! So even walking in I was intimidated. My assignment was to get flooring, lights for the ceiling - possible ceiling fan lights, LED puck lights (?????) a light for over the sink, a new sink and possible faucet and an over the stove microwave/range hood. Luckily Contractor Guy's wife wrote it all down for me. Oh, and they will need Electrical Guy to do some rewiring - total just went up when I heard that news! They didn't have LED puck lights so I failed that task. I forgot all about the over the sink light so I failed that one too. I did get a kitchen sink though and a new faucet. I also got the over the stove microwave/range hood. And I got a couple of ceiling fan lights. But I forgot lightbulbs (the one obviously didn't go over my head) And flooring - I also got flooring.
When I got home, they had knocked out all the bulk heads - and there is lots of dust all over the floor, removed the final cupboards and sink. The fridge, stove and dishwasher were all still there though which puzzled me a bit. Kitchen guy called later on in the evening with the bad news. I bought the wrong kind of flooring. It's all wrong. *sigh* I will have to take it back. And the flooring they recommend is twice as expensive but Kitchen guy is going to do some pricing. So it turns out I failed that one too.
And Electrical guy (who I haven't met) is going to get the puck lights. Turns out halogen will work because while they give off more heat than LED lights, LED lights don't have dimmer switches and the heat the halogen lights give off won't be that much.
Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about? Because I really don't have a clue. All I know is the picture above the flooring was a kitchen and white cupboards - which is what I'm getting and it looked good so I just assumed it would be all right. Now how do I tell Brent who lugged them all out of the car that they have to go back in - all 15 boxes - even though they said I only needed 13.
And the reason they didn't move the appliances? Well, it seems that I should have taken the food of it out, so the fridge was way to heavy to move. You know that just never occurred to me to do that, take the food out I mean. And as sister Lisa can testify, I have a lot of Stuff in my fridge. Stuff I'll never use. Like the huge bottle of Cranberry juice. Or the eight pounds of chicken breast I have in the freezer because it was on sale. Although most of the seven tubs of margerine are empty. And I really don't need to keep the three 2 litre bottles of pop I don't drink but I have for company in the fridge. And I suppose the 12 bottles of beer that I have for my own consumption - and guests too - could have been taken out.
Further adventures of the Perils of Kristie and the Kitchen to come.

Man Love Monday

IT IS MAN LOVE MONDAY YA ALL!! Two of my favorite bloggers- Lisabea and Sula are heading up this wonderful day of lusty men pictures, recommended man love reads and why some men look so good in their Calvin Kleins ;)

I have truly become a "fellow fellow lover". (Love that phrase Lisa!)

Go check their blogs outs!

Big Day Today

The kitchen demolition starts. When I get home tonight - no kitchen

And it's my day today at Reader's Gab. Warning - I get mushy.

Now I have to run!

Another Two Crusaders!

And possibly more.

Jennie has her thoughts posted. And I'm hoping we also get Twin's thoughts too. They each got each other a copy for Christmas and an extra one went to their Mom.

And right after I posted this I saw we have another one!! Ames (who also has a new blog along with a few other friends - Rowena, Grace, Izzie)

And Guess What? They both loved it!

And now we have Nicole curious!

The Crusade Marches On!!

****And just a reminder****

I've noticed a lot of bloggers who have seen this are now wanting to read the book. I have 3 copies sitting on my new book shelves just waiting to send out to the lucky winners. All you have to do to win one is watch North and South and either blog about it or report your thoughts here at North and South Headquarters, if you don't have have a blog and you're entered to win. Draw is January 31.
And there is a second contest too - we don't do half measures *g*. There's a copy of the North and South DVD for anyone who wants to attempt to write an epilogue. Details further down.

The year in reading

Everyone else is doing there 2007 reading roundup so I thought I’d add mine to the bunch. While my reading of books was down this year – I blame it on blogging *g*, my buying of books this year, my buying of books was up. Somehow we are going to have to reverse that trend – either buy less books (probably not) or read more (that’s what I’m aiming for)
First of all the statistics. I’m not much of a statistical kind of person so these are just bare bones.
Books published in 2007 that I bought – 185
Books published before 2007 that I bought – I have no way to track this
Books published in 2007 that I read – 41
Books read in previous years that I read – 28
Books that were DNF’s -3
Books that were rereads – 9 (hmm – considering my library that number should be up)

Now for the more interesting facts –

My ratings!

5 out of 5 books
Ward, J.R. - Lover Eternal
McKade, Maureen - Reason To Live
Robb, JD - Innocent in Death
Stillings, Marianne - Arousing Suspicions
McCall, Mary Reed - The Templar's Seduction
Goodman, Jo - If His Kiss Is Wicked
Hoyt, Elizabeth - The Serpent Prince

4.5 out of 5 books
St. John, Cheryl - The Doctor's Wife
Thompson, Ronda - The Untamed One
Groe, Diana - Erinsong
Crusie, Jennifer - Anyone But You
Thompson, Ronda - Isn't It Romantic?
Sinclair, Linnea - Games Of Command
Hoyt, Elizabeth - The Leopard Prince
Sinclair, Linnea - Gabriel's Ghost
Cullars, Sharon - The Object Of Love
Shalvis, Jill - Shadow Hawk
St. John, Cheryl - The Preachers Daughter
Rice, Lisa Marie - Midnight Run
Graves, Jane - Hot Wheels And High Heels
Roberts, Nora -High Noon
Rice, Lisa Marie - Dangerous Lover
Gibson, Rachel - Tangled Up In You
McKade, Maureen - A Reason To Believe
Stillings, Marianne - Satisfaction

4 out of 5 books
Gerard, Cindy - Under The Wire
Mallery, Susan - Sizzling
St. John, Cheryl - The Lawman's Bride
Joyce, Lydia - Voices Of The Night
McCray, Cheyenne - Chosen Prey
Leone, Laura - Guilty Secrets
Rice, Lisa Marie - Midnight Man
Morgan, Alexis - In Darkness Reborn
Carr, Robyn - Virgin River
Kleypas, Lisa - Mine Till Midnight
Melton, Marliss - Forget Me Not
Graves, Samantha - Sight Unseen
Evanovitch, Janet - Twelve Sharp
Singh, Nalini - Caressed By Ice
Melton, Marliss - Into The Dark
Brown, Laurie - Hundreds of Years To Reform a Rake
Robb, JD - Creation In Death
Campbell, Anna - Untouched

3.5 out of 5 books
Tarr, Hope - Vanquished
Singh, Nalini - Visions Of Heat
Leone, Laura - One Sultry Summer
Carr, Robyn - Shelter Mountain
Holby, Cindy - Rising Wind
Broday, Linda - Knight On The Texas Plain
Sinclair, Linnea - The Down Home Zombie Blues
Vanak, Bonnie - The Empath
Morgan, Alexis - Redeemed In Darkness

3 out of 5 books
Leigh, Lora - Megan's Mark
Kenny, Janette - One Real Cowboy
Howard, Linda - Cover Of Night

2 out of 5 books
Carr, Robyn - Whispering Rock
Leigh, Lora - Forbidden Pleasure

DNF’s
Palmer, Pamela - The Dark Gate
Dimon, Helenkay - Your Mouth Drives Me Crazy
Denison, Janelle - Born To Be Wilde

New or new to me authors to watch from 2007
Nalini Singh
Linnea Sinclair
Lisa Marie Rice
Laurie Brown
Diana Groe
Anna Campbell
Marlis Melton
Cheyenne McCray


***NOTE***

I seem to have 'broken' something on the right side in my zeal to add stuff. Any help in trying to fix it would be appreciated ever so much. Neither Katie or I have a clue what to do - being HMTL rookies.
'til later

Savor Me Slowly and Man Love Monday!

There are not many authors who time and time again can deliver the “goods”. But there is one author who sticks out in my mind that keeps doing that. She is Gena Showalter and Savor Me Slowly is the second book out of three I have read so far for 2008 that will blow your mind. The first was Demon Night by Meljean Brook that I wrote about back in November. The third I review is yet to come. But after reading Savor Me Slowly, I have come to the realization that Gena can write about any genre and get it right. One of my favorite reads for 2007 was Catch a Mate and I anxiously wait for the next book Gena will publish. She is a true star in the romance genre and a must read for all. I have glommed every single one of her books and will continue to do so until she retires, which is a loooooooooooong way off!

Savor Me Slowly is the third book in her on-going Alien Huntress Series. So if you like sci-fi romance, which is heavy on the romance, with an incredible heroine and the man who shows her how special she is, I urge you to get this book. Once you start you will not be able to stop. The onecharacter that makes this story worthwhile is Mishka Le’Ace, a half human, half machine. Think of the Terminator, but one that has emotions and feelings and wants to belong somewhere. Mishka has no one to love! Usually it is the hero who is torture, but here Mishka is the one. It has been while since I read about a heroine who has had such a rotten life. She is owned by a very powerful man who makes her kill just because he says so. She also has to have sex with some of her targets. If she refuses, our evil villain can terminate with a touch of a button. She has no free will. Mishka is basically nothing but a means to an end.

Her mission this time is to save Jaxon Tremain. I like his name a lot! It rolls off the tongue so nicely. Jaxon has been captured by some rogue aliens and tortured for some information he has that could help them. Jaxon is the typical stubborn hero. He suffers but won’t betray his friends, work or his country. Mishka comes to him undercover as his newest torturer. But she helps him escape. And this is where the story gets even better.

Jaxon and Mishka are loving together in close quarters for the first part of the book because he needs to recover. During this time Mishka starts to feel all tingly inside for Jaxon. She has never had these feelings for a man before. Jaxon, even under his drugged induced state and constant pain still gets a hard-on for his Mishka. But there are major issues of trust between them. Jaxon is not sure if she is the enemy and if she has orders, will she assassinate him. But putting that all inside, Jaxon breaks through Mishka’s defense and have a lot of hot sex. Even in danger they make sure they get it on. And Gena can write really hot and scorching sex scenes.

There is action, suspense and an evil plot, mainly which involve poor Mishaka. But Jaxon is in her life now and will be her knight in shining armor. Their relationship is one wild ride and the journey there is intense and keeps you on the edge of the seat.

2008 will be the year for Gena since she has 3 other books coming out starting in May. Why not start with Savor Me Slowly to get a taste of the excellent writing skills of Ms. Showalter? Once you start with one of her books, you will want to go back and read every single book of hers you can get your hands on!!

There is also a special event happening all day Monday over at Lisabea’s blog. Monday will be “Man Love Monday!” She will be discussing about books with men who love men, hot man sex and sexy men pictures. I also know Sula will be taking part and I will stop by to say hi and look at some men. So stop by if you have the chance and of course bring any sexy pictures you have. *G*

Break Me Off a Piece of That!!

Another one who has seen it

And she also has joined The Crusade!

MaryKate has now joined in our Crusade. She has watched the wonder that is North and South and loves it like the rest of us!!

***ETA***

Rather than cleaning up the remnants of the tornado that hit my kitchen - which has to be done by Monday when the wrecking crew arrives - I added all kinds of links to the sidebar - of - guess what? I think I have everyone as of 11:00, Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008 - but let me know if I left you out. My mind was on the kitchen and all I have to do.

The Romance of Seal and of course more North & South!

As I was home yesterday, I was watching an ice skating special with the music of Seal. Seal acutally sang live as famous ice skaters from the Olympics did their thing to his music on ice.
I now do believe I have a crush on Seal! I have always been a fan of his music and to this day the song, "Kiss From a Rose" is one of my favorite songs of all time. And if you think of it, Seal would be the perfect hero in a romance novel. He may not necessarily look the part, but he does have a sexy accent, can sing beautifully and one of the charities he works with is finding a cure for Autism. And how can you not like a man who would start dating a woman who was already pregnant with another man's child and call that child your own? So what if his wife happens to be model extraordinaire Heidi Klum? Plus Seal had his wedding ring right on his left hand for all to see! Also Seal wear white very very well!
The video that started it all!


I am also finding myself more attractive to men in novels and of course in everyday life by how they live their lives rather by the six pack they may have. Reading about the perfect man gets a bit dull. I like my heroes "less the perfect" and the same goes for my heroines. From watching North & South, I find it so beautiful that Margaret and John have major faults, but even though they are imperfect, they slowly start to realize that each of their faults make them beautiful in each other's eyes. Margaret thinks John is low class and a bully when she first meets him. John thinks Margaret is pleasing to look at but has airs. I am actually reading North & South at this moment and when these two characters first meet, their reaction to each other is of distaste. They don't meet each other in the mill as seen in the movie, but rather John comes to the Hales' new home to see Mr. Hale. And of course John's meeting with Margaret does not go too well. But, John is a man afterall and when he first sees Margaret his is attracted to her, but she comes across as a snob. Margaret makes an assumption about John from his looks and assumes he is lacking in intelligence and has no manners.
Since I know how their journey towards love will end, it is interesting to read Gaskell's novel and compare it to the movie version. Every so often I will post my views on the book and when I am done give my overall impressions. And I honestly can tell you that the novel is just as good as the movie, so I recommend you pick up the book.

In other news Robin Hood has ended for the second season and with a bang. Our man Richard, who plays the dasterdy and evil Guy has truly gome past the point of no return. Let's just say he finally got the chance to screw Marian (dope) in ways you would never have imgained. I haven't seen the episode yet but I leave you with a montage video from You Tube that will make you gasp and wonder what the future holds for Guy. But this is SPOILER territory so don't look if you don't want to know!!
Was it Just a Dream??

Etc. time - Stuff

You may hear more grumblings from me in the next month or so. You see – the kitchen renovations are just about to begin. This coming Monday is The Day I Go Kitchenless – also know as The Day I Start Begging Friends to Invite Me To Dinner.
But in order to prepare for TDIGK, I’ve had to *shudder* clean the kitchen. It’s been during this time I’ve realized I need professional help. You see – I am a pack rat – a clutter collector of the highest order. Ron kept much of this disorder of mine in check – he’d get on my case to throw a lot of Stuff out. As well as helping keep me on the straight and narrow as far as clutter collecting, he probably 75% of the housework. I’ve managed to keep up not too bad on the housework – mainly by Stuffing Stuff in closets and cupboards.
Hell hit my house when I had to face what I’ve done the past year and a half. And I'm in almost full-out panic mode!
So far it’s taken over eight garbage bags to empty the kitchen – as well as 4 boxes full of Stuff. And I still have a ways to go!
I managed to empty the cupboards and a friend of Lisa’s came to take them away. I put a lot of the Stuff from the cupboards on the kitchen table and chairs. The boys came and took the kitchen table and chairs the next morning – early the next morning. The three of us just put all the Stuff someplace else. So as of right now I have the stove, fridge, one counter and the sink. Oh and the dishwasher which is full of clean dishes – but no cupboards to put them it. Now it seems I’ve lost the Stuff. And some of it is rather important Stuff. For example – it took me 20 minutes to locate my purse this morning. I seem to have lost my thyroid medicine. There was a movie I was going to return to Rogers for credit for a coworker (long story) but I still had to return the money to coworker even though the movie has gone missing – the one I was going to return.
And I still have Stuff in the corner cabinet – lots of Stuff to empty and figure out what to do with the corner cabinet as I have no plans for it in the new kitchen.
I look around the house these days and almost freak. The kitchen is in shambles – and worse is to come. The living room is in shambles – many of the boxes from the kitchen are in there as well as the Stuff I had on the previous book cases and television stand that I haven’t put back up because I still have 3 more shelving units to put together which won’t fit in the living room because I didn’t measure.
The two back bedrooms are a mess because I just Stuff Stuff in them but now I’m going to have to clean them up because the appliances will be in one bedroom until the kitchen is done and the boxes of dishes and food I’m keeping but can’t use for a month will be in the other one. The bedroom I’m sleeping in is a mess because I have Stuff in there too that should go in the living room that doesn’t have all the shelves in it because I didn’t think to measure. One of the bedrooms has the boxed shelves in it that are supposed to go in the living room that aren’t there because I didn’t measure and I need the space for the appliances because I will have no kitchen for a month or more.
My basement is a mess because I moved the old bookcases downstairs and have them half filled with spill over books but only one because I still have to move the other one to where I want it to go but I have boxes of books in the way and too many end tables. The old television unit is also down there, but not where it will go because I have too much furniture because like Stuff, I don't get rid of it and the television stand will have to be moved by the boys because it's large and heavy but there is no point in moving it until I move the other Stuff I have.
*deep breath*
And – I don’t want to go home these days because of Stuff.
I have been taking pics though and once I have the kitchen done and the bookcase/shelving unit done – I will post before – during – and after. At the moment though I’m too embarrassed to post my pics of Stuff

Quick Update

In case we didn't make clear - after having seen the series, we might be forgiven, North and South is based on a book written by Elizabeth Gaskell written in 1855, first as a serial.
We mentioned earlier on that there is a contest for anyone who watches North and South and posts about it - a couple really - we will be revisiting them again in the future - but - for those who are interested, at JMC's blog, Robin posted a link for a free download of the book North and South for an e-book version.

Marg: who got this for Christmas has weighed in with her thoughts - and the need for DVD help *wink*
alas, I'm not the one to ask for any kind of techincal help. I have no sound and now a wonky mouse with my computer
And since the last update there have been more who have fallen under it's spell.
DanceChica - who closed her blog but is still with us!!
MaryKate is halfway there. Just wait until she get's to the final scene! (and I'm hoping this is the right link to your blog)