Author Spotlight - Redux

I don't often repost previous posts I do, but things have changed in the electronic world since I did this one back in 2009. More and more of her Ms. Weir's books are available as ebooks now so readily available. I've been getting them myself as I'm finding it very comforting to have my very favourite books so close all the time in case of a sudden urge to reread. They are also on for quite a good price. As it was back in 2009, she is still an author I highly recommend and am glad to do this rare repost.

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I’ve had all kinds of interesting ideas since I first started this blog. Unfortunately I’ve never got around to many of them. But one of the better ideas I had was an Author Spotlight feature. It’s been percolating around in my brain for a while – just waiting for the right author to pop into it. And finally one has. So here we go – Ramblings on Romance, etc.’s first Author Feature!!

The author I want to feature in this – the inaugural post………..

Theresa Weir

She first came to mind when I did a recent reread of her book Cool Shade (review here). I was reminded again of how unusual her books are. I like authors who write outside the box of romance ‘rules’; authors who take chances and take readers to places they’ve never been. I can’t think of a better author who does then Theresa Weir. Many reading this have probably never read a romance written by her. Her last published romance was back in 1999 before she switched to writing suspense as Anne Frasier/

Now she doesn’t not only write outside the box; with some of her books I don’t think there even is a box! Her stories are different and her heroes and heroines have problems and issues I’ve never seen before. And I can’t say enough about how refreshing I find that. I’ve been on a reading glom of her books ever since I finished Bad Karma – I’ve read two and I’m currently reading a third one. I sent for her entire back list once I finished Bad Karma although I did have a few of them already. Her writing is so vivid and so real and she writes such believable characters, it’s almost impossible to not be drawn into the world of each of her books.

The first one I read after Cool Shade was One Fine Day:

SHE THOUGHT SHE COULD ESCAPE THE PAST...
After too many years of heartache, Molly Bennet had packed her bags and run away ... from her memories, her husband, and the woman she had become. But just as she found herself on the brink of a brand-new life, an unexpected tragedy called her home. Now the man who had always been so much stronger than Molly needs her in a way she'd never thought possible....

BUT YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM LOVE...,
No woman had ever appealed to Austin the way Molly did; from the day she left, all he knew was emptiness and the ache of losing her. He would have given anything to have her back—but not this way. He didn't want her pity. He couldn't expect her love. Yet as the walls of pride and fear come tumbling down, Austin and Molly will be given a second chance at happiness—if only they have the courage to take it.

This was the story of a marriage that had crumbled and fallen apart because neither Molly nor Austin were able to really ‘talk’ to each other. They both had barriers and walls up to keep the other out. Molly had finally left Austin the year before only to be drawn back when he suffers a stroke and needs, though not wants her help. This book deeply resonated in me as I too left my husband for a year to cliché as it sounds ‘find myself’. Molly returned a stronger person then when she left and Austin had become a much more vulnerable person due to his infirmity and they were finally able to really ‘see’ the other person. I was deeply moved by their story – to the point I found myself welling up in a number of places and that rarely happens.

I found the writing to be so realistic and moving, I felt that I really came to know these people.

Forever

This was the next one I read and I didn’t realize it at the time, but this book was written first and was about Sammy, Molly’s light hearted brother:

THEY SAID HE WAS A LOST CAUSE But from the moment Dr. Rachel Collins first saw her newest patient, she knew her colleagues were wrong. For beneath the pain and defiance in Sammy Thoreau's stormy black eyes she sensed a vulnerability that tore at her heart—and an amazing inner strength that made her all the more determined to help this bad-boy journalist learn to live again.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT LOVE COULD DO
She couldn't know that Sammy, wit

h his sexy smile and biting humor, would reverse their roles with a vengeance... exposing the secret pain she'd tried so hard to hide... igniting emotions no doctor should ever feel for a patient. All she knew was that she had to win this man's trust, to heal his hurts. Only then could they face the promise of their love, forever.

But Sammy had been in a terrible accident and wasn’t the same person he was before. After Molly rescued him from a terrible mental institution, this is his story and his slow road to recovery. Rachel also had her own sorrows to overcome. Again I was very emotionally involved in their tale.

The book I’m

reading now is Long Night Moon:

To the world, Sara Ivy had it all: a handsome husband, a manicured estate, the kind of ethereal beauty that drew all eyes to her. So when hard-bitten reporter Nash Audubon crashed a party to get an interview, all he expected was another run-in with a bored socialite. Instead, he got the surprise of his life. For Sara Ivy possessed an innocence that had no place in the sophisticated world of Chicago high society. Tempted to learn her deepest secrets, he followed her into the night...and in one dangerous moment discovered the real Sara—sexy, brave, and heartbreakingly defiant. She was ready to end the charade of her marriage to a brutal man, and Nash would move heaven and earth to cherish and protect her—even if it cost him his life....

Again I’m in awe at how Ms. Weir is managing to bring me into the story. I’m not very far into it yet, but although hard to read; the subject is spousal abuse, it’s even harder to put down. It’s breaking my heart, but in a very good way.

The previous books of hers that I’ve read:

The above mentioned Cool Shade where the hero suffers from Agoraphobia. And as a note of interest, this book was a RITA winner in 1999 for Best Romantic Suspense.

Bad Karma

where the heroine is a true physic and suffers from a severe eating disorder

SHE HAD NOT IDEA WHAT SHE WAS LOOKING FOR…UNTIL SHE FOUND IT.

She's the most exotic thing Egypt, Missouri, has ever seen—and Daniel Sinclair mistrusts her instantly. A small-town cop with big-city suspicions, Daniel figures that Cleo Tyler, a psychic hired to locate the town's missing master key, is a fraud. He'd be surprised to discover, though, that Cleo wouldn't disagree. While she longs to believe psychic abilities don't really exist, she can't seem to explain those odd glimpses she gets into other people's lives, nor can she control the terrible flashbacks from her own past. All she wants is to put on a good show, collect the money, and hit t he road—and the sooner the better, for behind Egypt's quaint facade is a chill Cleo can't shake. She's not sure where it's coming from, only that it frightens her terribly … almost as much as her confused feelings for a certain skeptical cop she'd like to keep at arm's length, yet draw closer at the same time.

Last Summer

HE SPENT HIS LIFETIME RUNNING FROM HIS PAST Right from the start Maggie Mayfield knew Johnnie Irish was trouble. The sexy Hollywood star had returned to his home town of Hope, Texas, to a hero's welcome. But for Maggie the notorious bad boy was nothing but bad news - until she discovered the tragic secret behind his reckless ways, until she found the hidden sweetness in his cynical smile... SHE RISKED HER FUTURE ON THE PROMISE OF HIS LOVE Johnnie knew he shouldn't have come back, knew he could never forgive this stark desert town for turning its back on a boy just struggling to survive. But all thoughts of revenge faded when he met widowed schoolteacher Maggie Mayfield. Passionate and caring, she seemed to sense the yearning behind his cocky swagger, the pain and loneliness he had tried so hard to escape. Against all reason Maggie believed in him. And now he had to find the strength to confront his demons - or lose the only woman he could ever love...

Renee did a review for this one a couple of years ago. I know I have it somewhere and I’m going to do a concentrated search for it soon.

Some Kind of Magic

its been a while since I last read this one, but I’m really looking forward to reading it again after I finish reading the ones I haven’t read yet

BE CAREFUL
Not much is duller than winter in sleepy Fallon, Ida ho. So on her thirtieth birthday, Claire Maxfield wished for the one thing--well, one of the things--missing in her life: some excitement. Besides that voodoo doll from her best friend, she has no idea what she's about to get.

WHAT YOU WISH FOR…
That very night a mysterious injured man named Dylan carjacks Claire at gunpoint, ordering her to hide him. But once inside her secluded cabin, something strange occurs. Claire's powerfully attractive captor somehow becomes the captive--and Claire winds up taking care of him!

IT MIGHT COME TRUE
Just how did it happen, she wonders. Maybe that voodoo doll, now sporting one of Dylan's hairs, had something to do with it. Or maybe it was a different kind of magic, a spell that is mystifying, unbreakable, and absolutely irresistible.

Amazon Lily

This is probably her most well know book.

HE GUIDED HER THROUGH STEAMING AMAZON FORESTS...TO THE PARADISE OF LOVE!
On a mission to aid the native Indians, lovel y Corey McKinney met up

with Asher Adams, the rugged and strikingly handsome pilot who would take her deep into the jungle...and to unknown dangers and desires. He was a man hardened by the wilderness and by life, drawn to protect the delicate Midwestern beauty, destined to love her with all his soul. But as proud Corey proved her daring, guts and strength, she fought her wild attraction to this powerful, sensuous man…and adventurer whose rough manner hid a gentle heart and a heroic mission...Far from civilization, his passion carried her to unknown lands of rapture, to adventures of ecstasy that left her thirsting for more. Then, in love and courage, she would risk her life for his...But only when fate threaten ed to part them forever would they face the greatest challenge of all...

And now I have a few more to read

American Dreamer

Loving Jenny

Iguana Bay

The Forever Man

Pictures of Emily

I hope anyone who has read and enjoyed any of her books will pop in and share which ones they have read and their thoughts on the book. I know she is a favourite with many of us ‘older romance readers’.

And now there is a whole new generation of romance readers who have probably never heard of her or never tried her.

If you are looking for an author who writes books where the characters come alive on the pages you must try her.

If you are looking for books where the hero and heroine are truly ‘broken’ and healed by the strength of love, you must try her.

If you are looking for books with stories way ‘outside the box’ of most romance you must try her.

If you are looking for books where each and every one is unique and heartbreaking you must try her.

I know I am so glad I have more of her books that I haven’t read yet – but even if I didn’t, I would have them to reread and reread again.

There are other favourable reviews of her books too. I'm not the only one who loves her. AAR gave Some Kind of Magic a B+. They gave Bad Karma a DIK grade. And they also rewarded Cool Shade with the same. If you check out the Amazon reviews (even though I don't always give much credence to them) all of her books have received high praise.

TBR Challenge for January - The Series Book

I haven’t done one of these for a couple of years. I find as soon as I sign up, I have no desire to read a book from that particular pool of books. But I thought I’d give Wendy, our SuperLibrarian’s challenge a try. See, when it comes to a theme I know she has a book in that I might have read and loved, I might make a suggestion. Plus she’s been my ‘roomie’ at RWA a number of times so I’m doing it for my ‘roomie’.

Much to my great surprise and astonishment, most of the books I read these days are eBooks. I don’t have as great a TBR electronic pile, but I do have some. This month’s challenge, a series book, has been sitting on my IPad for over a month and may have sat there longer if not for this challenge

All They Need by Sarah Mayberry

Blurb: After all Melanie Porter has been through recently, it's time to put her dreams first. And she starts by opening a vacation retreat outside of Melbourne. As she considers her next step, the unexpected happens. One of her guests -- a friend -- the very attractive Flynn Randall makes it clear he's in pursuit.

Mel is definitely tempted. Who wouldn't be?

But Flynn comes with strings that could derail her plans. First, he's part of the world she eagerly left behind. Second, he's ready for a commitment, while she's still embracing life on her own.

A resolution seems impossible until Flynn proves that she's still in the driver's seat!

My Thoughts: Ever since I discovered the Harlequin SuperRomance line not all that long ago really, Sarah Mayberry is an author I snatch up as soon as I see her newest release. Some are good and some are incredibly wonderfully good. This book for me, falls somewhere in between.

I found Melanie to be a very unusual heroine. She’s taller than normal, and bigger than life though her ex-husband has tried his very best to drum that out of her. It was a very emotionally abusive relationship and understandably Melanie is very wary of getting into another one with Flynn so shortly after getting out of it. She has taken her money and opened a B&B. While she’s met Flynn a few times in the past and he has certainly noticed and been attracted to her, Melanie doesn’t know him that well. At the beginning of the book, Flynn stays at her B&B with his girlfriend at the time. But he realizes he admires and is developing deep feelings for Melanie so breaks with his girlfriend in a real emotional scene.

As I said, Melanie is very gun shy about getting involved with Flynn, and then when they do begin a relationship, she is most reluctant to let it progress further. But Flynn is the definition of patience and understanding and doesn’t pressure her at all.

And Flynn – what a hero. He’s almost too good to be true. He is dealing with his fathers advancing Alzheimer’s, a wonderfully written, realistic side line story, and gives up his own business to take on his fathers company. His feelings and admiration for Melanie keep growing and although he finds it difficult not to push her, he manages not to. Instead he allows her to make her own choices in her own time, not even sure she will take the relationship the distance he wants it to go. I really appreciated that about him.

This is not my very favourite Sarah Mayberry book, but it is up there in top percentile of them. I’m glad this challenge pushed me to read this book sooner than I might otherwise have gotten around to reading.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

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As Wendy said on Twitter last night, this TBR challenge was planned before the black out of the WWW by many sites in protest of the proposed SOPA/PIPA bill that's in Congress now. I don't claim to understand a lot about it and as it's a bill proposed in the US, there's not a lot I can do anyway. But I stand in support of those who are.

I'm as much against piracy as anyone. I ache for authors whose works have been pirated and put up on sites for people to steal. It's an outrage to me that all the talent and effort and love they have put into their writing is being reduced to nothing so someone somewhere can get something for free.
I cringe whenever anyone tells me about movies they've watched on line before they are officially 'out' on video (or DVD or BlueRay any more). I have gotten into serious arguments with my oldest son over the fact it's not the George Clooney's and Meryl Streeps who are being ripped off - it's the small guys you never hear about that contribute to the making of a movie.

But from what I can understand, SOPA/PIPA is NOT the way to try and combat this. Instead it takes even more away from our freedom. So though I am posting this today, my heart is also with those who have gone black.

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And while I'm at it - an update on the cats. Zina - the attack cat - has gone back to being her normal timid self. The Little Shit aka Cally the Tortoise Shell Cat is doing her business outside so that's not an issue - and if she doesn't well, I really do need to get them each their own litter boxes.

A rather unnerving experience

So! I had something happen today that has me very torn. I have to preface by saying I love cats. I've almost always had a cat and I think they are the coolest animals. They don't really give a damn about anything as long as they get what they want, whether it be food, being pet, or the right to lie on the newspaper, in just the section they're servants are trying to read. And I admire that.

I have two of them now and I love them both dearly, but, and here's where I'm torn to pieces, I think I'm going to have to get rid of both of them. And by getting rid of, I mean that final journey.

The Little Shit, I call The Little Shit for a reason. She doesn't like to use a litter box. She likes to go anywhere but a litter box and I just can't seem to break her of the habit. And although I love her so much, I can't really justify keeping a cat that shits anywhere her little heart pleases.

And today they other cat, Zina the Princess Nota Warrior Cat attacked me - and I mean a vicious and terrifying attack. Terrifying to the point where I locked myself in a room to keep away from her attack. I have never seen a cat do this kind of thing before in all the cats I've had over the years. This wasn't just a cute, puffy fur ball kind of attack. Nope it was a wild animal in full postal mode.

Zina is timid! She is the DEFINITION of the word Scaredy Cat. But not today. I'm not sure, but probably I mentioned I had a rather major flood in my basement a while ago. The root cause was a broken washing machine and I finally got a new one and two guys were delivering it today and banging around in the basement. At the same time, I had a technician show up at the house as I've been having major IPad/laptop computer issues. So I had 3 complete strangers in the house for some time and I don't know if it was that or something else that caused her to turn into Possessed Cat, but I was truly frightened of her.

She seems to be calm now, six hours after I managed to escape with my life, but I'm still extremely nervous to have her wander around and I don't dare try and pick her up to put her in a room by herself.

And now I don't know what to do. I got her to keep Ron company when he was sick and she has been an animal lifeline to me in combating loneliness since then. She has turned on a dime like this a couple of times, but NEVER to the extent that I was terrified of her like I was today. I don't want to get rid of her, or the other one. It will break my heart to do so. But I'll never be able to trust her again after today. I'm kind of looking at her right now thinking "I don't know you anymore."

I know there are a lot of people who don't like cats whose advise would be to just get rid of them both, and I feel not unlike those really stupid women who stay with horrid men because they "loooovvvveee" them (all the while I'm thinking 'you idiot, just leave! Get rid of him')

But now I'm thinking the same thing.

UPDATE

Well, whatever emotional damage Zina did to Cally, the Tortise shell cat (I thought she was a Calico cat so it sounded good, but it turned out she's a Tortie and it just doesn't have the same ring to it) has been forgiven. They are once again washing each others ears. But while Zina was in her wild animal phase, she really attacked poor Cally too.

It will take longer for me to get over it though. I think she can feel my cool attitude. As my sisters joke at me, I did NOT give her a friendly hello and her overtures of restoring the cat/servant are being rebuffed at the moment by the servant member of the equation.

I debated taking this down as I posted in the aftermath of fear, both of the one cat and for the other, having to leave her alone with Zina. And while it will take time for me to take up the mantle of servant again, I will give her the benefit of the doubt and accept she had just one too many strange people invade her domain.

But I may ask the vet about some kitty cat Zoloft. She is a nervous nelly, high strung as it were.

A few long awaited wedding pics

The "official" wedding pictures of The Accountant Son # 2 whom we shall call Ryan and his wife, my daughter in law whom we shall call Kara still haven't come back from the photographer yet but I spent Christmas with Kara's family who adopted me and they have some Most Excellent Photographers in their family. Kara's mom and I spent some excellent hours going through the photos she has and she emailed me some. I don't often post family photos - specially of me - but in this case I'm such a darn proud mama, I'm making an exception..

(That went well I thought, enough for the day)

They had taken dancing lessons for months and this is them after they rehearsed their dance the day before


(Sands through the hourglass)

Kara is really into symbolism so this is their sand pouring ceremony. Kara's mom and I both carried a vase of different coloured sand in with us. During the ceremony, Kara and Ryan each poured them into a bigger vase to symbolize that once mingled together, it was impossible to separate.

(Before he is ringed and after. Now he is mine)

When I saw these pictures, I thought they were so beautiful even though you don't see their faces.


(A man and the two women in his life)

I hate having my picture taken with a passion, but am including this one - just cause you can see me dress I guess. Also, Kara and her mom arranged to have a couple of hairdressers and a makeup artist come to her house before the wedding so the two mothers and wedding party and bride could all get ready together. It was great fun and the first time I ever wore false eyelashes. They took a while to get used to though :-)

(The Queen's Speech)

I had to give a speech. Whey they asked beforehand if I thought I'd be able to do it, I said it depended on if it was me or Krisite giving the speech. Ryan said if I got up there and started referring to myself in the third person like that, well, he would make me sit down. I practiced and practiced and practiced. In the end it was me and I was indeed a nervous wreck. My oldest son - the one I shall call Brent is standing behind me as well as Kara's uncle who was the Master of Ceremonies

(My brand new daughter in law can be "saucy". I like that)

Kara also had an adorable little red bolero that matched her flowers perfectly that wore it after the wedding.

(Taking a moment's rest before the festivities begin)

Here she and Ryan are sitting on this old fashioned love seat. They had everyone sit in it and have their picture taken with a Polaroid camera. They are going to include the pictures in the thank you cards

(Getting their groove on)

As I said, Ryan and Kara took months of dancing lessons preparing for their first dance. I was thinking "Way to Go Kara!!" for talking Ryan into them. The did the fox trot and did it beautifully. I and everyone else was most impressed. But Kara was worried about ruining her wedding gown so she had a short, back up gown. Here they are during their first dance, a Michael Buble remix of an old Nat King Cole song L.O.V.E.

(This has to be the mother of all cupcakes!)

Kara had a number of unusual ideas for their wedding and Ryan, being a laid back kind of dude who realized his bride (and my wonderful daughter in law) had some great ideas, let her have her way in many of them. So instead of the typical wedding cake, Kara being a love of cupcakes, had a cupcake wedding tower. This is the two of them after the wedding cutting into the top cupcake.

My Reading Year in Review

With my handy dandy, love it to pieces, work of art spread sheet, there are all kinds of things I can track. I don’t know how many are into numbers and things but for any interested but I find it fascinating so here goes.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here’s a visual of the number of books I’ve read this year compared to the previous 7 years ago when I first started tracking the number read. As you can see, this is my best year ever with 135 read!

(if you click on it, it's magnified)

Another interesting graph is a comparison of the genre read this year and comparing it to previous years. Again as you can see, by far the highest number of books read were contemporaries, followed by Westerns, then RS, then Historicals and so on. Although it looks like Contemporaries has always been the most read, there has been a real turnaround in the number of Historical European set romance over the years.

Now here are a few more interesting (to me) tidbits about my 2011 reading year. I’ve seen other readers say they don’t read on anything except their ereaders. I didn’t think I would ever be that reader, but statistics don’t seem to bear that out! Of the total of 135 books that I read in 2011, 110 of them were ebooks. I knew I’d read a lot but I was actually shocked at how many of them.

I reread 16 books. I think that’s down a bit; I usually reread more than that. I guess that doesn’t hold much hope that I’ll get around to rereading many of the over 2,000 books I have (once again) boxed up.

I got a lot tougher grading this year. I only gave 5’s to 5 first read books this year

Mayberry, Sarah The Last Goodbye

James, Julie A Lot Like Love

Wolff, Veronica Devil's Own

Ashley, Jennifer The Many Sins Of Lord Cameron

O'Connell, Ellen Dancing On Coals

I’ve listed all the books I’ve read below, but in case one doesn’t feel like going through them month by month, the two authors I glommed the most were Felicity Heaton who wrote a number of quite well done Sci-Fi novellas and Ingrid Weaver. I discovered Ms. Weaver when I read Delaney’s Shadow and was delighted to see she had quite a backlist of Harlequins I scooped up and read. I still have a few more of hers to read.

There were 2 books I read twice this year and interestingly enough, both by the same author

Dancing on Coals and Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold – both written by Ellen O’Connell

And if you aren’t bored yet, here’s the promised list of books read in each month.

No. of books read in Jan/11 – 7

Howard, Linda Now You See Her

Fraser, Susanna The Sergeant's Lady

Blake, Toni Whispering Falls

Bliss, Karina Here Comes The Groom

Gray, Ava Skin Heat

Janzen, Tara Cutting Loose

O'Connell, Ellen Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold

No of books read in Feb/11 – 8

Howard, Linda Midnight Rainbow

Shalvis, Jill Messing With Mac

Shalvis, Jill Animal Magnetism

Ware, Joss Night Betrayed

Sylvan, Dianne Queen of Shadows

Talley, Liz A Little Texas

Kelley, Inez Sweet As Sin

Robb, JD Treachery In Death

No of books read in March/11 – 11

Janzen, Tara Loose And Easy

Milan, Courtney Proof By Seduction

Shalvis, Jill Roughing It With Ryan

Eden, Cynthia Hotter After Midnight

Mayberry, Sarah The Last Goodbye

James, Julie A Lot Like Love

Force, Maria Everyone Loves A Hero

Admirand, C.H. Tyler: The Secret Life of Cowboys

Renzi, Rae River Time

O'Keefe, Molly His Wife For One Night

Lee, Jade Wicked Seduction

No of books read in April/11 – 9

Ashley, Jennifer Primal Bonds

Sorenson, Jill Stranded With Her Ex

Clare, Tiffany Surrender of a Lady

O'Connell, Ellen Sing My Name

James, Julie Something About You

Weir, Theresa Amazon Lily

Boyce, Kelly The Outlaw Bride

Ranney, Karen A Promise of Love

Wolff, Veronica Devil's Own

No of books read in May/11 – 12

Wolff, Veronica Devil's Highlander

Lang, Emma Ruthless Heart

Walker, Shiloh No Longer Mine

Burton, Jaci Dare to Love

Jacobs, Delle Loki's Daughters

Clare, Pamela Breaking Point

Colgan, Jennifer Flight of the Valkyries

Tenorio, Dee Midnight Sonata

Walker, Shiloh Always Yours

Tenorio, Dee Betting Hearts

Jacobs, Delle Fire Dance

Heaton Felicity Heart of A Prince

No of books read in June/11 – 15

Warner, Kaki Chasing The Sun

Rogers, Moira Freeze Line

Roberts, Lynne Creative License

Heaton Felicity Runaway Hearts

Barnett, Jill Wonderful

Kernan, Jenna Moon Shadow

Barrett, Jo McCormick's Prayer

Tenorio, Dee Midnight Temptation

Mazzuca, Debbie Lord of the Isles

Tenorio, Dee Midnight Legacy

Heaton Felicity Heart Of An Assassin

Heaton Felicity Sons of Lyra: Stranded

Heaton Felicity Sons of Lyra: Slave Princess

Heaton Felicity Daughters of Lyra: Heart of an Emperor

Heaton Felicity Daughters of Lyra: Heart of a Commander

No of books read in July/11 – 15

Burrowes, Grace The Heir

Brown, Carolyn One Lucky Cowboy

Warner, Kaki Heartbreak Creek

Milan, Courtney Unlocked

St. John, Cheryl Child of Her Heart

Black, Liza Curtis Salvation For Three

St. John, Cheryl Her Wyoming Man

MacLean, Julianne Taken By the Cowboy

Lane, Soraya Soldier on Her Doorstep

Grant, Susan The Last Warrior

Burton, Jaci The Perfect Play

MacLean, Julianne Prairie Bride

Lovelace, Merline Somewhere in Time

Shay, Kathryn After the Fire

St. Claire, Roxanne Edge of Sight

No of books read in August/11 – 10

Bliss, Karina Stand-in Wife

Hale, Deborah Whitefeather's Woman

Gideon, Nancy Bound By Moonlight

Agnew, Denise A Before the Dawn

Holland, Debra Wild Montana Sky

Ashley, Jennifer The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie

Ashley, Jennifer The Many Sins of Lord Cameron

Lane, Soraya The Army Ranger's Return

Mayberry, Sarah One Good Reason

Evans, Misty Soul Survivor

No of books read in September/11 – 15

Mayberry, Sarah All Over You

Agnew, Denise A For a Roman's Heart

Mayberry, Sarah Take On Me

Graves, Jane Black Ties And Lullabies

Kery, Beth Liam's Perfect Woman

Willingham, Michelle A Wish to Dream On

Shalvis, Jill The Sweetest Thing

Weaver, Ingrid Delaney's Shadow

Spencer, Lavyrle Morning Glory

Hardy, Kristin Always a Bridesmaid

Weaver, Ingrid Eye of the Beholder

Weaver, Ingrid What The Baby Knew

Robb, JD New York to Dallas

Andersen, Susan Playing Dirty

Weaver, Ingrid The Angel and the Outlaw

No of books read in October/11 – 12

Howard, Linda Prey

Weaver, Ingrid Loving The Lone Wolf

Graves, Jane Heartstrings And Diamond Rings

Wind, Ruth In The Midnight Rain

Weaver, Ingrid Engaging Sam

Dahl, Victoria Good Girls Don't

Samuel, Barbara Heart of A Knight

Samuel, Barbara Dancing Moon

Goodman, Jo Kissing Comfort

Croft, Nina Tiger of Talmare

Styles, Michelle The Perfect Concubine

Jacobs, Delle Siren

No of books read in November/11 – 8

Canham, Marsha Swept Away

O'Connell, Ellen Dancing On Coals

Gideon, Nancy Midnight Enchantment

McCall, Mary Reed Secret Vows

O'Connell, Ellen Rachel's Eyes

Devon, Summer Futurelove

O'Connell, Ellen Dancing On Coals

O'Connell, Ellen Eyes Of Silver, Eyes Of Gold

No of books read in December/11 – 13

Harper, Dani Changeling Moon

Gideon, Nancy Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Plumley, Lisa The Bride Raffle

Michaels, Kasey The Taming of the Rake

Fredrick, MJ Star Power

Agnew, Denise A Love From the Ashes

James, Judith The King's Courtesan

James, Judith Broken Wing

Calhoun, Anne Liberating Lacey

Katz, Ali Damon's Price

Ashley, Jennifer Bodyguard

Canham, Marsha Under the Desert Moon

Rice, Lisa Marie Fatal Heat

I am amused by odd things sometimes

Sometimes I think we live in a bizarro world; a bizarro city in particular. I was on my way to work this morning, listening to the radio when there were two stories that rather tickled my funny bone.

The first one: as with many a city throughout Canada and the US, we had a Occupy (fill in the blank) group occupying our main park. Now while I certainly appreciate their passion, I think their focus is pretty nebulous. They planned to stay there until…..until what they were never quite sure. I think, at least according to local news reports, our city was the first to turf them peaceably. They did in the middle of the night and nary a soul was injured. The excuse the city used for removing them was the group was breaking a civil by-law by camping in the city park where overnight camping is not allowed. Needless to say, the group did not take their evacuation well.

They were protesting don’t you know. Well, now they have a "plan". They put out a newspaper – I’d love to read it since as I said they or any of the other “Occupy” groups don’t seem to have any real achievable goals – so it would be interesting to read their ‘manifesto’.

But what really tickled me is they plan to take their paper and protest against the by-law enforcer for breaking a by-law himself. The crime; nailing a copy of the by-law the protesters broke into a tree in park they were illegally demonstrating in. Again, they are calling this guy to task for nailing a piece of paper into a tree.

The second one: Apparently there is a school in our area that expelled a young student, well, they didn’t expel him exactly, he could still attend class but he had to sit in a room all by himself and do his schoolwork but not interact with his fellow students. What did he do wrong you wonder? Well, it was his dress or more specifically a bracelet (or whatever guys call it) a “boobie” bracelet to be exact.

It seems this is a fundraiser for awareness of breast cancer aimed more for the younger set. But I gather the school thought it crossed the line of decency. I guess wearing a bracelet for cancer with the word Boobie on it is too stressful for high school students to bear.

I’m not sure what I found funnier/ironic, the fact that 14, 15, 16 etc year olds should be protected against ‘that’ word, or listening to the news jockeys’ telling the story.

Thought for the day

I have a lot of apps on my IPad now. I love many of the apps. One of my favourites is IMDb where one of the many features is upcoming movies for quite a few months in advance. I love watching movie trailers and this one really caught my eye!



Does it look like a romance book based movie or what?? The thing is, it's based on a book by Nicholas Sparks and I don't consider him a romance writer. A writer of romantic stories yes, but I'm still, many years later, still trying to get over the ending of Message in a Bottle. And I haven't seen the movie (even though both stars are from the city I call home) or read the book, The Notebook since I'm not sure, but I think they die in it too.

So although this one, The Lucky One looks very good, I dunno if I'll go see it or not. I'll have to hear how it ends first. If it's a typical Nicholas Sparks ending - not a chance!