tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-108972592024-03-15T01:19:07.654-04:00Ramblings on Romance Etcetera. EtceteraKristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.comBlogger2053125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-74849467325200812952021-10-10T12:37:00.001-04:002021-10-10T12:37:19.810-04:00Recent Read<p> </p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48890690-broken-miles" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img _mstalt="605631" alt="Broken Miles (Miles Family, #1)" border="0" height="209" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574129210l/48890690._SX98_.jpg" width="139" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b _msthash="243243" _msttexthash="726596">Broken Miles by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15487051.Claire_Kingsley">Claire Kingsley</a></b></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span _msthash="406133" _msttexthash="358735" style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4260147840">4 of 5 stars</a></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span><br /><span _msthash="406134" _msttexthash="3008290948" style="font-family: verdana;">
This is my second series by this author and I'm very impressed. In fact Claire Kingsley is in the lead for author find of the year.<br /><br />Roland Miles is a workaholic and sadly it cost him his marriage. The marriage is over and he and Zoe are divorced before this book starts so this is a second chance romance. Roland and Zoe were madly and passionately in love but in order to make a richer life for the two of them Roland lost sight of the real prize and that was Zoe. She left him and moved back to their home town and is now working for his families winery. He’s living in San Francisco and rarely gets home to see his parents , three brothers and one sister. His relationship with his wife is distant though cordial enough. But when he gets a call from one of his brothers telling him he has to come home, they are about to lose the winery, he doesn’t really have a choice but to come home and face the demons there.<br /><br />Of course there is Zoe his ex, but he also has a toxic relationship with his father. When he begins to look into the mess, he can tell that his father, who has been running the winery has really messed things up and keeps getting in Roland’s way as Roland tries to fix things. This means the couple of days Roland thought it would take, actually will take much longer than that so he settles in for a much longer visit than he anticipated. That means spending more time around his ex wife as she plays a vital role in the family business. They hold a lot of weddings and events at the winery and she is the event coordinator.<br /><br />And as they spend time together, old attractions start to come back. The attraction between them was never the issue. They both begin to do some soul searching as to what went wrong in their marriage, Roland in particular and they begin to wonder if there is anything left worth saving. And even more, Roland begins to reconnect with his family. He had always held himself somewhat apart from the rest of them, but now he begins to bond with them in ways he never allowed himself to before.<br /><br />I can keep saying the same thing about this authors books. I love them. I love the closeness of family, the goofiness of some of the siblings and the romance between the hero and heroine. Claire Kingsley has been such a wonderful find. This isn’t my favourite book but it has earned a solid 4 stars and a need to keep reading more of the Miles Family series.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div><br /></div></span></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48891165-forbidden-miles" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img _mstalt="732472" alt="Forbidden Miles (Miles Family, #2)" border="0" height="230" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574135825l/48891165._SX98_.jpg" width="153" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b _msthash="243244" _msttexthash="865618"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48891165-forbidden-miles">Forbidden Miles</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15487051.Claire_Kingsley">Claire Kingsley</a></b></span><div><span _msthash="406419" _msttexthash="761383272" style="font-family: verdana;"><span _istranslated="1" style="font-size: medium;"><br _istranslated="1" /> My rating: <a _istranslated="1" href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4264137533">5 of 5 stars</a><br _istranslated="1" /></span><br _istranslated="1" /> And continuing on with the second book in the Miles Family series by an author I’m loving to pieces, we come to the story of Chase and Brynn. Chase is the roommate and best friend of Cooper and together the two of them are a hoot. I’m chuckling and smiling every time they are on the page. Chase owns his own business fixing machines but a lot of the work comes from working at the winery Coopers family owns. <br _istranslated="1" /><br _istranslated="1" />Brynn is Coopers little sister and to say Cooper is overprotective is lighter than even putting it mildly. There’s a hilarious scene at the beginning of the book when Chase is talking to Cooper on his cell and inadvertently tells Cooper that he’s at a restaurant and sees Brynn making out with some guy in the back booth. Cooper doesn’t even stop to put on pants before he heads over to put a stop to this, oh yes he does. <br _istranslated="1" /><br _istranslated="1" />Brynn has always had a crush on her brothers best friend but it totally aware that Chase only sees her as Coopers little sister. <br _istranslated="1" /><br _istranslated="1" />Until one day he doesn’t. <br _istranslated="1" /><br /></span></div><div><span _msthash="406419" _msttexthash="280586228" style="font-family: verdana;">Nope, Chase has had his eyes opened and he’s sees her as a grown and beautiful woman. A woman he slowly gets to know and falls in love with. But with Cooper being Cooper, he knows things aren’t going to go well. And when Cooper does find out, Chase was right. It does not go well at all. <br _istranslated="1" /><br _istranslated="1" />I am so, so glad I found Claire Kingsley. I’m thinking I say this in every review I’ve done but it’s true. Her books just make me smile and every one has given me the warm and fuzzies and ever so glad I read romance. They are the sunny sunny sky on a gloomy day and anyone reading this simply has to give her books a try.</span></div><div><span _msthash="46543" _msttexthash="9828" style="font-family: verdana;">l</span></div><div><span _msthash="46543" _msttexthash="15509" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span _msthash="46540" _msttexthash="82108" style="font-family: verdana;"><br _istranslated="1" /> <br _istranslated="1" /></span></div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-58463006737740329882021-10-09T21:13:00.001-04:002021-10-09T21:13:21.917-04:00And....... I'm done<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mFx69gfsLL4/YWI9BJPD4GI/AAAAAAAAHRw/3iPEH4lbqgE0gZrTz787Ze1Z6fWwBPm5gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="564" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mFx69gfsLL4/YWI9BJPD4GI/AAAAAAAAHRw/3iPEH4lbqgE0gZrTz787Ze1Z6fWwBPm5gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="170" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Well, it’s
done. I’m officially retired and
although it’s only been a week, I’m lovinguse it. I made a bold and , brave step today. Alas, I had to return all the computer stuff
I had and while I had a laptop and desk top computer, they were both out of
date. So I got myself a new laptop
computer. I was dithering between a
laptop and a Microsoft Surface but went with the laptop as I already have an
Ipad, Samsung Tablet, Kindle Fire (because I wanted the book covers in colour)
and an Iphone so I didn’t really need another tablet type device.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">My
wonderful, smart, intelligent sister Lisa just finished setting it up and the
first thing I thought of – new computer, new blog post.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That’s
about all I have to say at the moment.
This is kind of a practice run. I’m
at Lisa’s now along with baby sister Nance who has come all the way from Massachusetts
to visit </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(and I’m so
happy) so I’m keeping this short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’ll
be back, probably more than before since I don’t have to worry about using my
company computer.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">' til later</span></span></p><p></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-38298135208180109142021-09-27T20:22:00.000-04:002021-09-27T20:22:02.938-04:00The Final Countdown<p> Real quick here.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hLWGE6H_N60/YVJfab-UuWI/AAAAAAAAHRQ/h9BcE1bKQ2ol_Jp8156m6lU-Cy_Dxk_2gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hLWGE6H_N60/YVJfab-UuWI/AAAAAAAAHRQ/h9BcE1bKQ2ol_Jp8156m6lU-Cy_Dxk_2gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="190" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oxBCabLtxok/YVJfhWsY1jI/AAAAAAAAHRU/hR9GoxpLwD0DwjDdlDCNFebSqjQFusB8ACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1165" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oxBCabLtxok/YVJfhWsY1jI/AAAAAAAAHRU/hR9GoxpLwD0DwjDdlDCNFebSqjQFusB8ACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="124" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r5PPMONOj84/YVJfs7x0yHI/AAAAAAAAHRc/QTxtWtkjHSkShDwNz7cO2mGhbedjMDumgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="300" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r5PPMONOj84/YVJfs7x0yHI/AAAAAAAAHRc/QTxtWtkjHSkShDwNz7cO2mGhbedjMDumgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="259" /></a></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;">One down and only 2 more shift to go.</span></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ii3W5f3mDSA/YVJf_dXcQXI/AAAAAAAAHRo/LZof3gDZWsEyJhNnJ6U0Wt9FTVq_b6xJwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="474" height="234" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ii3W5f3mDSA/YVJf_dXcQXI/AAAAAAAAHRo/LZof3gDZWsEyJhNnJ6U0Wt9FTVq_b6xJwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-7804413068624485222021-09-01T20:00:00.001-04:002021-09-01T20:00:54.658-04:00My Big News<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">Better grab a tea or coffee for this one. I'm in full rambling mode, And no pictures.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ud3Q4so6OwI/YTARcycYl_I/AAAAAAAAHRA/euX-uePWDhwWP-F0SjTnqsnqjbonkBvswCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="239" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ud3Q4so6OwI/YTARcycYl_I/AAAAAAAAHRA/euX-uePWDhwWP-F0SjTnqsnqjbonkBvswCLcBGAsYHQ/w359-h239/image.png" width="359" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">OK, I had to add one, just had too. But this one is it.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I
mentioned in a previous blog post that there were upcoming changes in the life
of this (mostly) romance blogger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
biggest one is *Happy, happy, happy dance* I am retiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep, I join the ranks of those who have done
their time as of Sept 30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not a
simple thing for me to come to that conclusion, I struggled mightily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve mentioned a number of times how much I
love my job and how well I get along with my coworkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never really said though what it is exactly
but now, with me leaving, I figure I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I work in home health care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
work as an administrative assistant for 2 care coordinators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They oversee caseloads for people who have
been discharged from the hospital, or their doctor has decided they need to see
a nurse for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of if they have had
knee or hip replacements, we will put in Occupational Therapy or Physical
Therapy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone is going into a
nursing home, it comes through us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
we aren’t the ones who provide the actual service, we are the ones who put it
in and oversee things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve been
here almost 16 years now and I’ve seen things change so much over the
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With an aging population, people
living longer etc we are needed more than ever and unfortunately the need hasn’t
kept up with the demand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I first
started, it was all administrative work and while I had some contact with
patients and providers (nurses, therapists etc.) it wasn’t much and I was rarely on the phone which was just fine and dandy with me. I really liked it that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">But things have changed a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I have a lot of contact with people on
the phone, in fact over 90% of my day is spent on the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has posed a problem as unfortunately, I
don’t deal well with phones – either making calls or answering phones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve adapted as best I can but as one who
suffers from depression, phones can be a real trigger for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And unfortunately health care – at least in
Ontario is broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we have front row
seats to it’s broken state.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I didn’t
think it would ever happen but there aren’t enough nurses anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years ago they could see an avalanche coming
and focused on having patients go to clinics for dressing changes or whatever
it is that they still needed, rather than having a nurse come to the
homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are increasingly insisting
on this as the shortage of nurses is reaching a crisis stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now we have reached that stage within the
past couple of months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nursing is no
longer available for a number of people now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are being “waitlisted” until a spot opens up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime they are being told to go to
ED.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, the Emergency department can’t
handle the amount of people they see and in some cases tell them just to go
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a vicious circle and it is
horrendous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the nature of many of
our calls are heartbreaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also a
number of them are from people refusing to go to clinics even though they are
able to get to one fairly easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their doctors are telling them a nurse will come to their home to see them – even though
we have told doctors not to say that as it’s simply not going to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">These calls
are triggering me more and more daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although I don’t work face to face with patients and I honestly don’t
know how nurses manage it, my depression is back and manifesting itself in ways
I didn’t even realize was depression until my fridge was full to overflowing
and when I started to clean it out, I had container after container of spoiled
and even unopened cartons of milk, yogurt, rice pudding – 4 cartons of unopened
rice pudding I had to throw out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would buy a pound of hamburg, planning on
making something. But by dinner time I just didn’t have the energy to cook and
days and days later, it was too late to make anything and I’d have to throw it
away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are
often 2 or 3 days a week now I can’t fall asleep at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my shoulders and back ache constantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two days
before my 67<sup>th</sup> birthday, I called my manager to discuss how I’m
feeling but she was busy that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
arranged a zoom meeting for two days from then which happened to be my birthday
and I spent those 2 days pondering on what I wanted to get out of the meeting
and on Wednesday morning while waiting for it to start, a soft gentle voice in my mind said “it’s
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve done the best you can and
now it’s time”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew the voice meant
time to retire so though unintended, I told my manager during our meeting I was
retiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t really planned to do
that but hey, when a gentle voice tells you something good, you go with it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So now that
I’m headed for retirement, the question is, do I have any plans?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Thank you for asking because yes I do as a
matter of fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my new found
interests is watching YouTube videos on makeup tutorials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wear makeup when I got out, but not that
much and it takes me about 5 minutes, 7 ½ minutes at most to apply it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But these videos almost make it an art
form.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also been watching videos on
how to do different hair styles – again a seemingly out of nowhere
interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brad Mondo is The Best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a hoot he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">What does this have to do with anything you are thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’m getting there 😉.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even more, I’ve been watching BookTubers,
romance BookTubers to be specific, and I’ve really been enjoying them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like I’ve found the next generation of
romance readers and it wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it
dawned on me that I would like to try that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But in the past there is no way, no how that I would put myself on
camera for all to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So not going to
happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now that I know how to make
my nose look thinner and I’m working on hiding the double chin – that one is
coming a bit slower, and because I know the name of the haircut I’ve been
trying to describe to my hairdresser for ages, is the shag and that’s what I told her I
wanted and she gave me one and it’s looking good, I think I’m ready to start my
own YouTube channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like it’s a
more updated way of connecting other than blogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having been a reader for over 30 years now, I
think I have a lot to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example
many of them are just getting into Lisa Kleypas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, I’ve been reading her books since 1994
at least when I first fell in love with Derek Craven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them even mention the running debate
between Derek from Dreaming of You and Sebastian of Devil in Winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was stunned when I saw that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Sybil and I that got that debate
going!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the ones I follow are
going to be doing a group chat over YouTube sometime soon about Loretta Chase’s
Lord of Scoundrels!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are my
Books !!! It’s so exciting to see them almost rediscover some of the modern day
classics of romance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">At the
moment this is way above me but then blogging was when I first started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took me a number of tries to get this blog
actually up and running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m coming up
with all kinds of things I could make a video about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now that I’ll have the time, there’s no
reason I can’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even have a name
for my soon to be channel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you
ready?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait for it…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ramblings
on Romance, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Clever eh?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So fingers
crossed, very soon I will be doing both blogging and vlogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m so excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will keep anyone who still visits here and
is interested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s only part of
my post retirement plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have more!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">'til later</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-64629813848363645532021-08-25T14:13:00.000-04:002021-08-25T14:13:03.388-04:00Recent Reads and both 5 stars<p> </p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57838231-travis" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Travis (Pelion Lake, #1)" border="0" height="219" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1626369187l/57838231._SX98_.jpg" width="137" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57838231-travis">Travis</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6994378.Mia_Sheridan">Mia Sheridan</a></b></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4188300578">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is the second book in a series, the first being Archer’s Voice. Archer’s Voice is one of those special books that IS the reason we love romance. I reread it at least twice a year, sometimes more than that. The antagonist in Archer’s Voice is Travis, Archer’s cousin and rival for the fair Bree, our heroine. Of course Archer wins her hand, he is such an amazing, sweet, vulnerable, wounded, heck of a hero and so very well deserving of the HEA. Travis on the other hand, we aren’t crazy about him after what he does to our beloved Archer. So I’m sure those of us who adore Archer’s Voice are wondering how is she going to do it. How is Mia, the author of such a treasure as Archer, going to get us on board with Travis.<br /><br />Quick answer – she does and she does so wonderfully. First off, Travis loves his nephews and nieces so that’s already points to him. Bree has forgiven him and so has Archer, so if they have, how can we, the reader, still hold on to our grudge. Then he walks in on his girlfriend in flagrante delicto with another fellow. Of course our sympathies are engaged with that uh, oh moment. Travis is very remorseful for what he has done to Archer in the past and we readers believe him. Plus there is a point made that I don’t think any of thought of before. I don’t want to say what it is, letting you ponder it yourself and go hmmmm, that’s true. So now most of us are probably ready to give Travis another chance now.<br />He meets Haven, our heroine, though she has eyes focused in a different direction. She and her younger brother work at the local prestigious golf club and while Travis lost everything – you have to read Archer’s Voice to find out why – he still frequents the club. He and Haven get along well and become friends. And the more she gets to know Travis, the more her feelings begin to change and grow deeper. And even though he’s well on his way, the better a person Travis becomes.<br /><br />I’ve read enough books by Mia Sheridan to know she would be able to pull this book off and she does it so wonderfully well. Now, for absolute sure, the next time I read Archer’s Voice, I will be following it up with Travis.</span><br />
<br /><br /><br /></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57605091-all-rhodes-lead-here" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="All Rhodes Lead Here" border="0" height="221" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617355542l/57605091._SX98_.jpg" width="137" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57605091-all-rhodes-lead-here">All Rhodes Lead Here</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5760202.Mariana_Zapata">Mariana Zapata</a></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4190402225">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I’ve kind of had mixed results with Mariana Zapata. I wasn’t all that keen on The Wall of Winnipeg and Me. I gave it 3 stars. From Lukov with Love was a DNF though I’m going to give it another try. It was a number of years ago I tried so maybe my tastes have changed. I read Lingus and gave it 4 stars. I liked it but found we just didn’t get enough insight into why Tristan chose the career he did. It wasn’t like he decided to become a fireman or construction worker. No, his chose profession was much different. But Ms. Zapata is so well loved by so many, I didn’t want to give up.<br /><br />Very, very smart move. Because next try was All Rhodes Roads Lead Here and for me, it’s a solid, well earned, and well deserved 5 star book. I love it. Aurora is our heroine. She lived a rather vagabond kind of life. They never stayed in one place for too long. When she was young it was just her and her adventurous mother. One day her mother had spent the day on one of her adventures and she never came home. She was never found and this devastated Aurora. But at the beginning of the book, she has come back to the small town where her mother disappeared and her goal is to recreate some of the same adventures.<br /><br />She has rented an apartment over a garage during her stay, but it turns out the rentee was not who she thought it was. Instead it is Amos, the son of Tobias Rhodes who rents the garage apartment which is next door to Tobias and Amos. And Tobias or Rhodes as he is more commonly called is L.I.V.I.D and only agrees to let Aurora stay until she can find somewhere else to lay her head. This is a combination grumpy/sunshine and slow burn book and I adored it. Auora is a wonderful heroine and I love her to pieces. She had been involved in a long term relationship with a famous country artist and helped write some of his music. But she is literally thrown away by the jerk and his mama when they figure they don’t need her anymore, thus her quest to recreate a lot of her mother’s adventures. Considering everything she has gone through, she’s delightfully optimistic and warm and a wonderful and caring person. She bonds very well with teenage Amos and they both share a love of music.<br /><br />Rhodes is a grump par excellence. He’s spent most of his life in the military but gave that up when he had the opportunity to be a full time father to Amos. And I’m not going to give anything away, but that’s a very unusual situation I’ve never seen before and it adds such a great layer to the book. He’s stern and tries his very best to ignore the funny and joyful Aurora but she manages to wear him down with her charm.<br /><br />I adore everything about this book and I found it very difficult to put it down and go on with everyday life while I was reading it. All I wanted to do was find out what was going to happen next. This book is everything I love in a romance and I’m beyond grateful I kept going with Mariana Zapata. I got in on KU but I think I’m going to buy my own copy as this is a true comfort read and I know I’m going to want to read it again.<br />
<br /></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">'til later</span></div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-80398077852724640282021-08-21T18:56:00.000-04:002021-08-21T18:56:03.266-04:00A Quick Update<p> <span style="font-family: verdana;">You may have noticed it's been a while since last I posted. Much of the reason for that is work related. While I've never said exactly where I work, it's in health care.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">While I don't have direct contact with patients, I work from home, that doesn't mean I and my coworkers aren't affected. There is a severe nurse shortage right now, and now is when we need them the most. Some patients just aren't understanding this and with many there is a sense of entitlement that can be difficult to deal with at times.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm exhausted mentally and emotionally at the end of every shift and while for the most part I do love what I do, it's not the same as it was. It's affecting my sleep and I'm often in quite a bit of stress induced pain. My creative juices have dried up considerably, thus the lack of posting. I've been reading up a storm though as that's one of the things that relaxes me and I hope to post some reviews if nothing else. They are slow coming too though - again Creative Juice Creek is running shallow.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">But I've been doing a lot of pondering on my life lately and coming up with MAJOR changes. So once I get a few things lined up, I'll be back to let everyone know. I'm very excited about the changes coming my way and so excited to share them. Very mysterious aren't I?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">'til later.</span></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-47388139915473349572021-07-26T17:17:00.001-04:002021-07-26T17:17:53.013-04:00Recent Reread.....And so it continues, the battle of the ages<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YvHQVz9POaE/YP8l1J4cWfI/AAAAAAAAHQw/J2E4FshOnioWPmV_XTUUzdl-fFDDxefvgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="301" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YvHQVz9POaE/YP8l1J4cWfI/AAAAAAAAHQw/J2E4FshOnioWPmV_XTUUzdl-fFDDxefvgCLcBGAsYHQ/w187-h301/image.png" width="187" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a
reread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t believed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t do<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>review when I first read it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sybil of <a href="http://goodbadandunread.com/">The Good, The Bad and the Unread</a> have been jousting about this
book for years now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve shown up in all
corners of Romancelandia arguing who is better, Sebastian, Lord St Vincent of
Devil in Winter (Sybil’s pick) or Derek Craven of Dreaming of You (my
pick).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wars have been waged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Battles have been fought! Sides have been
chosen and to be honest (though I’m not sure Sybil will) I think it’s pretty
much a tie (though she will claim Sebastian won – she’s like that)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recently did a reread of Dreaming of You so
I thought a reread of Devil in Winter was in order.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is the
3<sup>rd</sup> book in the Wallflower series and Sebastian has been a bit of a
devil in the previous books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, he’s
been a big devil to the point he kidnapped the lady love of one of his few best
friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s needed the money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But things turn upside down in this
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evie Jenner is one of the
Wallflowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s awkward, and speaks
with a stutter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she wants to be in
charge of her own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He family has
kept her from her father whom she loves dearly and who is dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now it just so happens that her father, Ivo
Jenner and owner of a gaming hall, was a rival of Derek Craven, another
gambling hall owner before his burned down in Dreaming of You.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there is a connection between these two
books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Evie goes
to see Sebastian one evening and knowing he needs money and she needs freedom,
strikes a bargain with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She suggests
they flee to Gretna Green and elope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sebastian is rather discombobulated at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not expect something like this from
the little mouse that is Evie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he
goes along with it and it’s delightful to see this extremely haughty, thinks
he’s all that, aristocrat, dealing with this slip of a girl. Completely without
realizing it’s happening, he melts for her and she of course realizes that he’s
not at all the villain that he’s portrayed as.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I think I
enjoyed this book even more this time around and I’m upping my grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sebastian is a great hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though of course, despite what Sybil might
say, he’s not quite up to Dereks standards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But close, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>very close, but not
quite there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lisa
Kleypas, in my opinion, always has been and always will be the top reigning
author of the historical romance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I own
and have read her entire backlist, from her very first book and an so looking
forward to her newest book coming out (squeal of delight) in the next few
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must clear my desk to settle in
and read it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And one
final note.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very odd but Evie and I
share the same last name.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-160419733400602142021-07-11T18:38:00.002-04:002021-07-11T18:38:46.941-04:00Hades Hangmen Series by Tillie Cole<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7TUFf3RjxBI/YOtf9epyz3I/AAAAAAAAHOY/oDWRgNvAyuoBsG3ViGMQbvyft0gQYGAtQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="177" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7TUFf3RjxBI/YOtf9epyz3I/AAAAAAAAHOY/oDWRgNvAyuoBsG3ViGMQbvyft0gQYGAtQCLcBGAsYHQ/w110-h177/image.png" width="110" /></a></div>In all my reading
years, which are many; many, many many, I’m going through something I’ve never
quite experienced before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started a
new to me series, The Hades Hangmen series by Tillie Cole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went into with thoughts of how it might
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a series about a motorcycle
club and in the first book It Ain’t Me Babe, the president, Styx, has a severe
stutter and is unable to speak to anyone except his best friend and VP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He communicates with ASL and his VP
translates for the rest of the club until they all learn it themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fascinating premise don’t you think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it might be something light
hearted.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But I couldn’t have
been more wrong if I tried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are
the darkest books I’ve ever read and I thought I’d read dark books before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These books are truly brutal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This motorcycle club are bad to the
bone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have no hesitation in
murdering people if they thing warranted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They party a lot, surrounded by “party girls” and are very, very
promiscuous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The language is graphic and
the sexual abuse of women if front and foremost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I can not stop reading them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The premise of the story is when Styx was a
boy, the son of the president and heir apparent, under strange circumstances,
meets a young girl, Mae, who is obviously under stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s only a brief meeting but it lasts with
both of them for the rest of their lives and they seek each other out.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6R89zR0ww9g/YOtgI0_DrlI/AAAAAAAAHOc/3briNZCLWc0VOa7Vg25bTZJGVwwqiD_RwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="176" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6R89zR0ww9g/YOtgI0_DrlI/AAAAAAAAHOc/3briNZCLWc0VOa7Vg25bTZJGVwwqiD_RwCLcBGAsYHQ/w110-h176/image.png" width="110" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It’s now years later,
Styx is leader and president of Hades Hangmen and long past any boyish innocence
and Mae, along with her two sisters is a sexual slave of a pedophilic cult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is attempting to escape after she
witnesses the death of her older sister at the hands of the monsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her two younger sisters are completely brainwashed
and believe the horrific tales they are told and refuse to leave with Mae.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What follows is a
series of books that are the most compelling books I’ve read in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are SO outside my box but they consume
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the books are interwoven with
the same characters throughout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
the different books highlight different characters, it’s more one long
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know that is common in Fantasy
books but I don’t really read a lot of those – Lord of the Rings excluded.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The heroes are
brutal, they’re graphic, they experience no sense of guilt and to put it mildly
they are crude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I read on they
have some amazing qualities too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are fiercely loyal to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although they kill, they don’t kill the innocent, only monsters who are
most often worse than them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
they deal in illegal weapons, they stay away from the worst things gangs are
known for, human trafficking, drugs, and other nasty criminal activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But above all and why I keep reading, no
sooner finishing one book then picking up the next one, is their absolute and
total devotion to their women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
would do anything for them, even as the song says:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--DeWmlmZ3ug/YOtgbP0-3pI/AAAAAAAAHOo/OvaE1D-NlPchkohJfXDVqAkkrAEuQ_J9gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" height="185" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--DeWmlmZ3ug/YOtgbP0-3pI/AAAAAAAAHOo/OvaE1D-NlPchkohJfXDVqAkkrAEuQ_J9gCLcBGAsYHQ/w116-h185/image.png" width="116" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Look into my eyes<br />
You will see<br />
What you mean to me<br />
Search your heart<br />
Search your soul<br />
And when you find me there<br />
You'll search no more<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for<br />
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for<br />
You know it's true<br />
Everything I do<br />
I do it for you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Look into your heart<br />
You will find<br />
There's nothin' there to hide<br />
Take me as I am<br />
Take my life<br />
I would give it all<br />
I would sacrifice<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for<br />
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more<br />
You know it's true<br />
Everything I do<br />
I do it for you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">There's no love<br />
Like your love<br />
And no other<br />
Could give more love<br />
There's nowhere<br />
Unless you're there<br />
All the time<br />
All the way, yeah<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Look into your heart, baby<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Oh, you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for<br />
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more<br />
Yeah, I would fight for you<br />
I'd lie for you<br />
Walk the wire for you<br />
Yeah, I'd die for you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">You know it's true<br />
Everything I do<br />
Oh<br />
I do it for you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Everything I do, darling<br />
And we'll see it through<br />
Oh, we'll see it through<br />
Oh yeah<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Yeah<br />
Search your heart<br />
Search your soul<br />
You can't tell me it ain't worth dying for<br />
Oh yeah<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'll be there, yeah<br />
I'd walk the wire for you<br />
I will die for you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Oh yeah<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I would die for you<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #202124; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">I'm going all the way, all they way,
yeah</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://wendythesuperlibrarian.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">*Lyrics dedicated to Wendy and she knows why.*</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2auIUbOOUWY/YOtgm-UhROI/AAAAAAAAHOs/_54XF-LzmBQ7ml4IK1I7aZtL_EzafWK1ACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" height="195" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2auIUbOOUWY/YOtgm-UhROI/AAAAAAAAHOs/_54XF-LzmBQ7ml4IK1I7aZtL_EzafWK1ACLcBGAsYHQ/w123-h195/image.png" width="123" /></a></div>Their women, for most
of the books are those women who have escaped or been rescued from the cult by
the men of the Hades Hangmen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have
been violated and abused and virtually been used as sex slaves from a very
young age and been programmed into believing it is their fault and they deserve
what they get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These young women have
been isolated so much they don’t know anything about the real world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They come to the men broken in the cruelest
of ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And these rough and bad motorcycle
club members heal them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are gentle
and caring and worshipful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the women
themselves, while broken in some ways are so incredibly kind and brave and
grateful, they bring out a side in the men I don’t think they know they have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why I’m having such a hard time
letting go of these books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The depth and
width and breath of this love is powerful and beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some books that affected me so
deeply I can remember almost every detail about them years and years
later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some books I can’t let go of and I’ve
read it and as soon as I read the last page, start the same book all over again
and then again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My book system just won’t
let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’ve never had that happen
with a whole series before, not like this.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U7DwWiugcH4/YOtg9Xk5ZVI/AAAAAAAAHO4/nMv1oU2c5s8hlpaYWuf9MSGu535c_sYbQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="296" height="204" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U7DwWiugcH4/YOtg9Xk5ZVI/AAAAAAAAHO4/nMv1oU2c5s8hlpaYWuf9MSGu535c_sYbQCLcBGAsYHQ/w128-h204/image.png" width="128" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cy3V0tp985s/YOth90JmwgI/AAAAAAAAHPU/L2aJZWGZFVY-t1ErV64aYZBR_SraNl5FACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="288" height="127" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cy3V0tp985s/YOth90JmwgI/AAAAAAAAHPU/L2aJZWGZFVY-t1ErV64aYZBR_SraNl5FACLcBGAsYHQ/w77-h127/image.png" width="77" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">I’m on book 6 now
though before finishing it, I had to go back to read the third book as it’s
affected me the most.</span></div><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In a way it’s
frustrating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many other
books I keep buying and wanting to read but these seem to be the only books I’m
able to read for the time being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
tried others but it’s not worked so I think I’ll just have to follow this
reading river until it comes to an end.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2idqtL-K1Ns/YOthSpQGz5I/AAAAAAAAHPA/z7rb4qx09JgD8H31CaG2WiEZ68g_v6vKwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="164" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2idqtL-K1Ns/YOthSpQGz5I/AAAAAAAAHPA/z7rb4qx09JgD8H31CaG2WiEZ68g_v6vKwCLcBGAsYHQ/w103-h164/image.png" width="103" /></a></div>These are all of them.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zuyKIpq4RG0/YOthgH39UqI/AAAAAAAAHPE/Tk5uDUdB8acBA28P4IND2oTijnAf2HhvQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="306" height="190" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zuyKIpq4RG0/YOthgH39UqI/AAAAAAAAHPE/Tk5uDUdB8acBA28P4IND2oTijnAf2HhvQCLcBGAsYHQ/w123-h190/image.png" width="123" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So far</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.....................</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H0O9faT5i1s/YOtjrYZ5SWI/AAAAAAAAHPc/rQwy5eVq8jk7AupAEPNBWWvqh7TuAwVnwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="143" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-H0O9faT5i1s/YOtjrYZ5SWI/AAAAAAAAHPc/rQwy5eVq8jk7AupAEPNBWWvqh7TuAwVnwCLcBGAsYHQ/w90-h143/image.png" width="90" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-84903500696032558302021-06-19T17:50:00.000-04:002021-06-19T17:50:06.501-04:00Recent Reread<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> First read - April 9, 2105</span></p><p><br /></p><table border="0" cellspacing="1" class="myActivity" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="readable reviewText" style="line-height: 21px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-22AcqEzYx2I/YM5lJxkuCcI/AAAAAAAAHL4/4lxi5DIU6egDz-KVp30_yRwa8a99vUhoQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="318" height="273" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-22AcqEzYx2I/YM5lJxkuCcI/AAAAAAAAHL4/4lxi5DIU6egDz-KVp30_yRwa8a99vUhoQCLcBGAsYHQ/w197-h273/image.png" width="197" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Radiance by Grace Draven<br /></span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br />I'm so glad I love to reread</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">I just recently picked up the third book of this series. It’s been quite some time since I read a book in this series so I wanted a refresher and figured it was time for a reread of Radiance. When I read the review below again, I realized I couldn’t do a better job.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">This is still just as beautiful as it was six years ago.<br /></span><br /><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b><div style="text-align: center;"><span><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*</span></b></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">This is a wonderful story of two rather throw away people who were put together for political reasons. Brishen is a warrior and prince, the second son or the spare of the race of Kai. They aren’t quite human and they look very different. Their skin is grey and their eyes are very different than human eyes. They live at night and sleep during the day. Ildiko is the impoverished niece of the king of the Gauri, a human race. It was determined that the two of them marry to shore up a political alliance – marry sight unseen. They run into each other before the wedding and in a very sweet and funny scene, the each agree they find the other one repulsive. It’s not meant to be insulting, more of a matter of fact admission. But what is rather cute is Brishen is very attractive to fellow Kai and Ildiko is very attractive other humans.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">But this meeting and honest assessment of each other is the basis of a growing deep friendship. Brishen becomes very protective of Ildiko, defending her against his vile family and protecting her from those who would attack her because of the political intrigue resulting from their marriage. Ildiko, on her part, does everything she can to immerse herself into Kai culture and become a helpmeet to her new husband. There is an ever growing respect for each other and I loved the dynamics between the two. This is a true story of friends first and then developing romantic because the friendship does turn deeper and they both see the inner beauty in the other and they slowly fall in love.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">I loved this book – simply loved it. I liked that the conflict came from outside, not from the hero/heroine. They are united throughout the story. It made very much for an ‘us against the world’ kind of feeling. Though there is a great secondary character, Brishen’s cousin and a warrior in her own right. She is devoted to Brishen and slowly sees that Ildiko is a true mate for him, even though she does come from a different race entirely. Both Brishen and Ildiko are wonderfully written. Brishen is a warrior, but he is also very sharp when it comes to the machinations around him. He’s attentive, protective, and gentle and all that is good to Ildiko and eventually he’s even jealous when he realizes how attractive she is to others. And Ildiko is tender, understanding, compassionate towards Brishen and fierce when it comes to protecting him.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;">They are in fact perfect for each other. While the story did end, and happily so, there is a final little bit that leaves it open for another book and in fact this is called Book 1 in the Wraith Kings. I shall be happily waiting for the next one. In the meantime, I have Master of Crows and Entreat Me by this author to help in the wait. And then of course, I’ll have to reread this one again when the next in this series comes out.</span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-46733945050377737972021-06-09T20:58:00.002-04:002021-06-09T20:58:26.792-04:00People who change our lives<p> </p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #ebeee7; color: #1e1ee1; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.29px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 1.5em 0.5em 0.5em;">Sunday, May 09, 2021</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #ebeee7; color: #000099;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 0, 153); margin: 0.5em 0.5em 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><a name="111541942989511212"></a></span><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #cc6600; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 25.48px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><a href="https://kristiej.blogspot.com/2005/05/people-who-change-our-lives.html" style="color: #cc6600; display: block; text-decoration-line: none;">People who change our lives</a></h3><div class="post-header" style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-111541942989511212" itemprop="description articleBody"><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I live in London Ontario. I don't like to give too much personal information on line but there is a reason I'm sharing this. In case anyone hasn't heard, there was a horrific act of hate that happened earlier this week in this city. A young man (though I almost hate to call him that) deliberately drove up on sidewalk and ran into a family out walking. Four out of five of the members of this family were killed.</span></span><div><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">What could cause this level of hate? Because the family were Muslim. That's it. No other reason. I can't speak for all but I think many Canadians may be under the impression that this kind of thing doesn't happen here in Canada, that we are somehow immune. But we aren't. Racism, hatred for anyone different exists all over the world.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I originally posted this on May 26, 2005. At the time I did, I hoped that we would grow as a people and see and appreciate our similarities with people of other faiths and nations and colours. But that didn't happen. Instead, it's only grown. I don't understand it. But I will always appreciate what I learned back sixteen years ago and I continue to appreciate what working with Magda taught me. I like to think I'm still growing as a person.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #330033;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I wanted to repost this as it is as true today as it was back then and I just wish more people could see it.</span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div><span style="color: #330033; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #330033; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;">May 26, 2005</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #330033; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #330033; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;">I want to say something about somebody who changed my life. I started a new job six weeks ago. I had been off work for the previous for five months and the job I held before that was difficult for me. So when I started at the new job, I was in a bit of a mess, emotionally wise. I hadn't used my brain for five months and it definitely showed. My confidence in myself wasn't the greatest. I was lonely, scared and overwhelmed, emotions I don't like feeling this late in life. The day after I started, someone else started in the work station next to me. She was there on a six week placement. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #330033; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #330033; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;">When I was introduced to her, I had a sinking feeling inside. She was a traditional Muslim woman who had moved to our country from the mid-east three years ago and didn't speak English very well. She wore traditional Muslim clothes with the head covering; sorry I don't know what it's called. I thought I would have nothing in common with my nearest coworker. I have worked with Muslim women in the past, but they have spent most of their lives in Canada and were quite used to our customs and ways. Because we were both new and most of the other people in the office eat there lunch at their desks, I began eating lunch with her. And slowly but surely she began changing my perceptions. As we began to talk more and get to know each other better, I realized that we weren't nearly as different as I thought we were. We didn't talk about religion. We didn't talk about the ugliness going on in certain parts of the world. Instead we talked about our own daily lives as wives, mothers, sisters. I learned that she loved her husband just as I love mine. She loved her kids and was proud of them just like me. She has a child that is more of a challenge shall we say and so do I. We both lost both our parents when they were relatively young and we both understood what that was like. Both us had husbands who tried to teach us how to drive a standard; once. That was enough :). I learned that although she didn't speak English very well, she actually had quite a bit more education than I did. She was older than I was when she got married and had children when she was older. Her boys love to play sports just like mine do and she told me how excited her son was when he made the high school soccer team. She told me how he didn't tell her when he hurt himself at his first game and I told her how my son broke his wrist playing baseball. As we talked and got to know each other, I realized that our similarities increased and our differences decreased and I came to like her very much. She had a wonderful sense of humour and she made me laugh and I made her laugh at some of the absurdities our every day lives. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #330033; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><span style="color: #330033; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;">Today was her last day and I don't know if I will see her again. Our lifestyles are very dissimilar. But she taught me something very important. She taught me not to judge people on appearances or preconceived impressions. She taught me that different cultures can and do have common ground. I know that she will never read this but still I want to say thank you Magda. You helped me to grow as a person.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-35610339090545234062021-06-01T18:31:00.000-04:002021-06-01T18:31:11.294-04:00Ponderings<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NHlL_uJNRQQ/YLayYtTSUyI/AAAAAAAAHLc/TWDWvBYZusE4FrOH5zgDRG8NL8d1VS0VACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="430" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NHlL_uJNRQQ/YLayYtTSUyI/AAAAAAAAHLc/TWDWvBYZusE4FrOH5zgDRG8NL8d1VS0VACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />I am a
collector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I find something I enjoy
I go full out on almost obsessiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For a while I was very big into crocheting – afghans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That seemed to be the only things I wanted to
crotchet and I must have made at least 15 of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the wool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Oh my goodness did I go all out for wool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could have made 50 of them with the amount of wool.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eafSq9Q-NOY/YLazGepDdbI/AAAAAAAAHLk/lwVLgpaIGAk_yg4IA4lo1BcSR7E9-jNqgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="1600" height="134" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eafSq9Q-NOY/YLazGepDdbI/AAAAAAAAHLk/lwVLgpaIGAk_yg4IA4lo1BcSR7E9-jNqgCLcBGAsYHQ/w186-h134/image.png" width="186" /></a><img alt="" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="680" height="234" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f3fNK9heK30/YLawkU4iX9I/AAAAAAAAHLM/AiJy0UON7eoYasfEhPJQm76U3DY5PcvFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w169-h234/image.png" width="169" /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f3fNK9heK30/YLawkU4iX9I/AAAAAAAAHLM/AiJy0UON7eoYasfEhPJQm76U3DY5PcvFQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f3fNK9heK30/YLawkU4iX9I/AAAAAAAAHLM/AiJy0UON7eoYasfEhPJQm76U3DY5PcvFQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then I started beading. So I bought beads and more beads and more beads and so on. I keep meaning to really start, I have enough now to open a jewelry store – except I haven’t mad that many necklaces, bracelets, earings and so on. But if I ever do get around to it.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nrPMj7cWjl4/YLatSDCCShI/AAAAAAAAHLE/w3zdk17DD5URzwB2Y7F2ZYXioFJVYkRqQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="259" height="144" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nrPMj7cWjl4/YLatSDCCShI/AAAAAAAAHLE/w3zdk17DD5URzwB2Y7F2ZYXioFJVYkRqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w192-h144/image.png" width="192" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q019VHif8Us/YLa1AGBIBxI/AAAAAAAAHLs/rflsdDY08cIwE2vsqBEI1YTuyjqyJJGmACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="626" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q019VHif8Us/YLa1AGBIBxI/AAAAAAAAHLs/rflsdDY08cIwE2vsqBEI1YTuyjqyJJGmACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="230" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />And finally
we come to books, the biggest and brightest of my hobbies and I made a
momentous decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure how
many I have but it’s in the thousands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Between print books and ebooks I will admit it is insane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I decided yesterday that I will stop
buying books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a scary thought and
there are exceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will allow
myself five authors and still buy their books:<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Lisa
Kleypas<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pamela
Clare<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mia
Sheridan<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Carian Cole<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Scarlet
Cole<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">That’s
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are the only authors who will
remain on my autobuy list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to
purchase a new book by any other author, I will have to read 5 books I already
own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I will let myself buy a new
book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ve been
doing a lot of thinking and these are the rules for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can still get books through Kindle
Unlimited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have 10 of them now, the
most you are allowed at one time so I will be reading them until I have them
done before getting any new ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of
course I will be seeing book I just have to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will put those ones on an Amazon wish list
and when I finish reading the number of books needed to get a new book, I’ll
have that list.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The only
other exception is the FREE books offered through Book Bub and only if I can't live with out it. Other than those rules that's it! No new books for me.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We will see how long this lasts. I'm thinking a week at tops before I talk myself into breaking my rules and getting a new book</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-STd0gkWGdTU/YLaxz7IpTBI/AAAAAAAAHLU/gGtOLH_DlXYVHOKB-lEaCkQD9BEk46PJACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="279" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-STd0gkWGdTU/YLaxz7IpTBI/AAAAAAAAHLU/gGtOLH_DlXYVHOKB-lEaCkQD9BEk46PJACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="223" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />'til later</span><p></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-48559653662108702802021-05-24T18:33:00.000-04:002021-05-24T18:33:07.419-04:00Recent Reread of an old favourite<p> </p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8563824-the-many-sins-of-lord-cameron" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Many Sins of Lord Cameron (MacKenzies & McBrides, #3)" border="0" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1300209650l/8563824._SX98_.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8563824-the-many-sins-of-lord-cameron">The Many Sins of Lord Cameron</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/28569.Jennifer_Ashley">Jennifer Ashley</a></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/198171475">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Although I've read The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie, I think this is only the second time I've read this boo. I'm every so glad I read it again. I think maybe it took so long as I hadn't picked it up as an ebook until the other day and since I don't read print books much at all anymore, I kind of forgot about this one. I m ever so glad I decided to read it again. I'd forgotten how much I love it. <br /> <br />Still deserves the 5 stars I gave it last time!!<br /><br />*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~<br /><br /><br />I'll be honest here and say when I read the first two books of this series, Cam didn't make that big an impression on me. And my main thought was that I would have to read his story before I got to Harts' the one I wanted most after reading all about Ian and the rest of his MacKenzie brothers. So going into this one I wasn't expecting a whole lot.<br /><br />I don't know if that's the reason or what it might be, but this one turned out to be, as Tony the Tiger says, GREEEEAAAATTT!! I LOVED it - almost, but not quite as much as Ian and Beth's book.<br /><br />It starts out with a bang when Ainsley is scoping out Cam's bedroom for some missing letter stolen from the queen when in walks Cam and the thieving woman who is using the letters to blackmail the queen. She has hidden them with Cam, though he doesn't know it and as one of the queens lady's, Ainsley is trying to find them and give them back. Cam of course, discovers Ainsley's hiding place and is wickedly delighted. You see, they had a similar kind of meeting six years previous when Ainsley was trying to find something in Cam's room. They had an immediate attraction to each other though Ainsley refused to act on it as she was married and while not in love with her much older husband, respected and cared for him a great deal. But neither has forgotten the other over the year and now that Ainsley is a widow, Cam is determined to 'get in her skirts' this time 'round.<br /><br />For not being a character who made me sit up and take notice in the previous books, with his own story it was an entirely different matter when reading it. Cam is a man who was betrayed beyond belief by his first wife. Not only did she take many, many lovers over the time they were married, but she also tried to kill both Cam and their son Daniel and indeed ended up taking her own life. She was clearly mad but that didn't keep her from leaving deep, deep scars on Mac, both physical and emotional. He uses his gift with horses and meaningless sex to try and escape his demons. But when he's with Ainsley, he feels a deep sense of peace though it takes him a while to recognize it as love he is feeling. I just loved this poor tortured man to pieces and pieces. He loves his son deeply, and Daniel is a wonderful secondary character by the way who will be getting his own story, but doesn't really understand how to be a father. His own father was a monster and all the MacKenzie heroes have a lot to overcome with their horrific childhoods.<br /><br />Once he gets Ainsley into his orbit again, he is so gone for her. I've said on many occasions I love a hero who is so gone for the heroine.<br /><br />And Ainsley is exactly the kind of heroine I enjoy. She's sharp and she's funny and she's intelligent. No false miss is she. After a bit of hesitation and then consulting with friends, when Cam wants to take their relationship much further, she goes for it, with no second thoughts. She has very fond thoughts of her first husband and admired him even though he was much, much older than her.<br /><br />I love that the author didn't go down the cliched route and make her first husband evil. Even the character that was blackmailing the queen didn't turn out to be evil, evil. She just wanted the money to desperately escape an unhappy marriage. The most evil person in the book was Cam's first wife Elizabeth and her evilness was needed to turn Cam into the kind of person he was.<br /><br />I finished this book in a very short amount of time as I couldn't bare to put it down. I, um, ah, may have taken longer breaks and lunches than I'm allowed as work since I really didn't want to stop reading this Very Enjoyable Book. I still like the first one better, but just by a shade. But this one also is getting very high marks!
<br /></span><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1280805-kristiej">View all my reviews</a>
</div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-25073436621146421422021-05-19T06:00:00.001-04:002021-05-19T06:00:00.227-04:00<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IpiwJFMOb5w/YKQfX0mRjyI/AAAAAAAAHK0/Ku3OTZBeYdMmVw42A8n5fNWfUPPNohd2ACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="298" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IpiwJFMOb5w/YKQfX0mRjyI/AAAAAAAAHK0/Ku3OTZBeYdMmVw42A8n5fNWfUPPNohd2ACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="151" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Entreat Me
by Grace Draven</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I saw
what the theme was in May for <a href="https://wendythesuperlibrarian.blogspot.com/2021/05/reminder-tbrchallenge-day-is-may-19.html">Super Librarians</a> (Wendy) TBR Challenge, I wasn’t
sure if I had anything that would fit the bill.
The month’s theme is Fairy Tale/Folk Tales. I think you get those tropes more in Fantasy and
I don’t read Fantasy very much at all so I wasn’t sure I had a book that would
fit the bill. I do! I hit the jackpot with this one. I’ve had Entreat Me by Grace Draven in the
pile since 2015; just sitting there, unread.
I picked it up after reading Radiance ad Eidolon and loving them. Then I tried getting into Master of Crows a
couple of times, unsuccessfully and forgot I had this book.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a
retelling of Beauty and the Beast.
Louvaen is our Beauty and Ballard is our Beast. Now in this story, Cinnia, sister to Louvaen
is the real beauty and Louvaen is the mother lion, doing everything she can to
protect her sister. Their father is
ineffectual at everything and has put them all in debt to the evil villain who
is willing to overlook the debt if he can have the hand of Cinnia. This will be only over Lou’s dead body. Cinnia is smitten with the handsome and
dashing Gavin and the two of them run off to his mysterious castle. Lou is hot on their heels, bound and
determined to save Cinnia’s honour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ballard is
the father of Gavin and he is under an evil spell. He routinely goes through times where he
turns into a beast. Gavin does too but
not to the same extent. Ballard’s wife
and Gavin’s mother put on an evil spell as she lay dying after giving birth to
Gavin. She hated Ballard with a burning
seething passion and wants to make his life hell. None of the castle inhabitants have really
aged since she put the spell on them, which includes a few servants and one
caster of spells, and they’ve been living in the run down and isolated castle
for over 200 years now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is
instant chemistry between Ballard and Lou.
Even when not in monster form, Ballard still bears the aftereffects and
is hideously scarred. He can’t see how
Lou would find him the least bit attractive.
However, Lou sees beneath his scars to the truly fine person that he is. He makes for a wonderful hero. This felt a lot like a medieval and I love
the atmosphere that Ms. Draven creates. I love the relationship between Ballard
and Lou. She is a very prickly type
heroine and so overprotective of her sister.
Ballard gets more of a kick out her for it. Ballard is also an amazing father. We learn right at the beginning that his wife
was not a faithful one and Gavin’s father is Ballard’s enemy but not even for
one moment does Ballard not love him and consider Gavin as his. We learn later what a sacrifice Ballard has
made to help his son, to the point of being willing to give up his own life. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love the
secondary romance between Gavin and Cinnia.
Also the bickering between Lou and Ambrose, Ballard’s magician and good
friend. Lou has inherited a bit of magic
from her mother and hates it. She and
Ambrose do quite a bit of bickering and I admit I love some of the names they
came up with for each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Moreover,
the villain sure is good and villainy. Though
we don’t see her, there are a few flash back scenes with Isabeau, Ballard’s
wife is truly evil. It is bad enough to
put a curse on your hated husband, but to put one on your newborn son is beyond
the pale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Except for
Lou being a tad overprotective, this book is perfect. I can really see me reading it again. I was very impressed with this book. While I was reading this book, I picked up a
couple more of her books. The third book
in the Wraith King series is out and somehow missed that and I picked up
another one of her books at the same time.
One other thing I have to mention is the absolutely beautiful covers she
has for all her books. I love all of
them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Therefore,
this month’s TBR Challenge was a complete success. I love the book. I’d forgotten I had it so finding it was a
real treasure and I loved enough to get back on the Grace Draven train. Win, win
This book gets 4.5 stars and comes oh so close to 5. I very happily recommend this book.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-69256451804545368792021-04-30T17:24:00.039-04:002021-04-30T20:07:07.713-04:00Recent 5 star ReReads<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25396316-love-in-the-light" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Love in the Light (Hearts in Darkness, #2)" border="0" height="278" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450368397l/25396316._SX98_.jpg" width="171" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25396316-love-in-the-light">Love in the Light</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4805272.Laura_Kaye">Laura Kaye</a></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1560526040">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Having just finished a reread of the first book, of course I had to reread this one again. I said I knew I would reread it, I just didn't know it would take this long to get back to. And yep, loved it just as much this time around<br /><br />~*~*~*~*~<br /><br />I just reread the first book in this series, Hearts in Darkness before reading this one. I needed to revisit with Caden and Makenna. I thought this book was SO wonderfully written. In the vast majority of books, we get the HEA and then it fades to black. But in Love in The Light, it continues on and we get to see that things don’t always end so perfectly. The description of this book is pretty spot on so no need to go over it too much. Caden and Makenna are still deeply in love and are rarely apart since they met in the darkness in Love in the Dark. But it’s not a happily.<br /><br />You see, Caden is really struggling to comprehend things are going so well. He has a very tragic story, my heart just broke for him, and he can’t believe that Makenna could really care about him. He has very little self-worth and he is inadvertently sabotaging the relationship with his doubts. Makenna is still crazy about him and she knows she always will. She is slightly aware of his insecurities but not all of them. She doesn’t know how deep it runs. He has told her about his past but not how much he was damaged by it. Things come to a head when they go to visit her family at Thanksgiving and one of her brothers has brought an ex-boyfriend of hers, an ex-boyfriend who wants Makenna back and Caden hears this declaration and it feeds right in to his own lack of confidence. And if that weren’t enough he overhears a conversation between the ex and the brother who happen to be best friends agreeing that Makenna is too good for this scarred, tattooed, face piercing guy and Caden can’t handle it anymore. Even though her father and other two brothers really seem to like him and see how happy Makenna is with him, it’s not enough.<br /><br />He ends the relationship and then falls apart. Makenna is devastated but holds hope they will get back together. She KNOWS they are meant to be together and Caden is just struggling with his devils at the moment. But then thing happen and she just can’t wait any longer.<br /><br />I LOVED THIS BOOK. Caden suffers from acute anxiety and severe depression. As this is something I struggle with myself, I could really relate to him. Everyone around him may be telling himself what a great guy he is, but he can’t buy it. His inner voice is constantly telling him he’s not good enough, she’d be better with someone else, he doesn’t deserve to experience love – all those kinds of things. He knows he’s spiraling downward but he can’t stop the free fall. That’s exactly what depression does, how it lies to us. I know from experience and I just wanted to hold Caden through it. No matter how much we tell ourselves to ‘get over it’ it’s not that simple.<br /><br />And Makenna. Oh what a great character she is. She is patient and compassionate and wildly in love with Caden. She “sees” who he is. She is honest. She tells him about the conversation she had with the ex, even though she doesn’t know Caden overheard the conversation. I know this is going to be a book that stays with me for a long time and one I will read over and over again.
</span><br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1280805-kristiej">View all my reviews</a>
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11911165-the-tender-texan" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Tender Texan" border="0" height="236" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1334600490l/11911165._SX98_.jpg" width="156" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11911165-the-tender-texan">The Tender Texan</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20273.Jodi_Thomas">Jodi Thomas</a></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><b>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3974801054">5 of 5 stars</a><br /></b><br />
Being a looonnnggg time romance reader, there have been books I’ve read that have stayed with me over the years and I remember them as if I just read them yesterday. Then there are books where I don’t remember the details, but I clearly remember the love I felt for the book. Such is the case with The Tender Texan. This is one I’ve been wanting to get as an ebook for a number of years now. My thousands of books are all packed up in over 35 boxes in one of the rooms and very inaccessible. Plus I so much prefer ebooks. I’m having to use somewhat larger fonts now. The cost of The Tender Texan has always been too high to justify getting it. I have a number of books like this that I check every few months and low and behold – the price came down!! So of course I picked it up lickity split<br /><br />Anna Meyers is part of a group of settlers all the way from Germany planning on settling in Texas with the promise of free land. While on the journey, her husband died and because of this, she doesn’t get the land they were promised. She needs a husband. She bravely walks into a camp of cowboys and ask if any of them are willing to marry her for $100. Of course she’s laughed at until one steps forward. Lets just say that Anna struck gold when Chance Wyatt volunteers. He needs the money for personal reasons and agrees to marry Anna and take care of her and help her build her home and get things going. At the end of one year he will leave and she will have her land.<br /><br />Chance is simply the very best kind of hero. He’s slightly younger than Anna but that doesn’t matter. He is fully competent in everything he does and he is smitten with Anna right from the very beginning. Over the course of the story he does everything he says he would do and so much more besides. There was one stipulation that Anna put on the marriage and that is no kind of physical touching whatsoever and as Chance falls deeper and deeper for Anna, he finds that harder and harder. And although the reader might get a little annoyed with her – I mean this guy is pure gold – she has her reasons. She was brutally attacked by her husband a couple of times and left pregnant after the second time. What’s worse is he was carrying on with her nightmare of a mother and she has no sense of self worth. She’s learned to be cold because she had to in order to survive. But she is gradually attracted to Chance in return and manages to send the poor guy some mixed messages. <br /><br />There is a whole lot more in this book that I have mentioned and it all works together to make this such a wonderful book and yet another reason I love Westerns. I’ve read many a book by Jodi Thomas and this is my favourite one – still.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1280805-kristiej">View all my reviews</a></span>
</div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-60240181963319084512021-04-26T09:18:00.005-04:002021-04-30T17:25:40.798-04:00Recent Read<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17948528-hearts-in-darkness" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Hearts in Darkness (Hearts in Darkness, #1)" border="0" height="232" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1369114722l/17948528._SX98_.jpg" width="143" /></a><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17948528-hearts-in-darkness">Hearts in Darkness</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4805272.Laura_Kaye">Laura Kaye</a></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1556362523">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I saw this book mentioned on a few Romance Vlogs I've discovered over this past year and was reminded of how much I adore this book and how much I want to reread it. So I did. This time around I changed it from a 4.5 to a well deserved 5 stars<br /><br />*^*^*^*^*<br /><br />I first read this novella a number of years ago and it was my first introduction to Laura Kaye. Next up on my list to read was the follow up to this one, love in the Light so I wanted to revisit Caden and McKenna first.<br /><br />They meet when the elevator they are riding in stops midway and they lose all power. Caden got a glimpse of Mckenna but she didn't see him before power went out.<br /><br />Because of a tragic accident many years before, Caden suffers from claustrophobia. McKenna helps him through it and during this time they talk for hours and over the course of time sparks begin to grow.<br /><br />It's a simple premise but one I enjoyed very much. Caden is seemingly a rough, tough kind of guy with piercings, tattoos and a shaved head. But because Mckenn can't see the outside of him, she gets to know the inner Caden who is a whole lot different. This is a quick and very enjoyable read.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">'til later<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1280805-kristiej">View all my reviews</a>
</span><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p></div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-23251795963230400642021-04-19T19:03:00.002-04:002021-04-19T19:03:13.217-04:00Recent Read<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56894372-don-t-kiss-the-bride" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Don't Kiss the Bride" border="0" height="223" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612072360l/56894372._SX98_.jpg" width="139" /></a><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56894372-don-t-kiss-the-bride">Don't Kiss the Bride</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8523875.Carian_Cole">Carian Cole</a></span></b><div><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3949010722">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I love Carian’s books to the point of almost obsession. The only one I haven’t read is No Tomorrow but all the others I’ve read at least once a year, sometimes more. So it was an absolute given I would read her latest book, Don’t Kiss the Bride. I think I can safely say she’s written another book I’ll be reading multiple times. This is an age gap romance and I often feel a bit of trepidation reading one with that trope, unless the heroine is older than the hero and yep, I know that’s kind of a double standard but I can live with it *grin*<br /><br />Skylar is our heroine and pretty much from the beginning our hearts break for her. She has a wretched home life; she deals with something I’ve not read about before and she is bullied at school. She is unique and of course if someone doesn’t conform, they can really pay a price. She also has a number of physiological issues, brought on by her upbringing. <br />There is a house undergoing renovations near the school and Jude (Lucky) Lucketti is the boss in charge of the reno’s. He notices Skylar, not in a creepy way at all, but because she stands out in a crowd. He observes from a distance how she is being treated and it bothers him. One day he’s working in the rain and he sees her fall. He goes to help her out and that’s how they begin talking to each other. He’s in his early 30’s and he’s completely aware of their age difference but they become friends after a fashion. She slowly begins to open up about her problems and because he is a good and caring guy he wants to help her. The plan he comes up with is rather unorthodox but he suggests they enter into a marriage of convenience. One of reasons is she has lots of health issues and no money to pay for things. If they are married, he could put her on his plan.<br /><br />She’s quite reluctant at first. She doesn’t want to cramp his style since her current living situation is untenable which means she will be moving in with him, but Lucky is such an incredible hero, that isn’t even a concern.<br />They start out as strictly friends but slowly an attraction grows between them and things get trickier. Neither want to start anything as it’s only a marriage of convenience until Sklylar is older but the attraction can’t be denied.<br /><br />This book is SO swoonworthy. Skylar is mature beyond her years and because they started out as friends first and both are aware of the age difference, they think things through before acting on anything.<br />I only read this book a couple of weeks ago but writing up this review has me wanting to read this book again, something that happens with all her books. This book gets an unqualified 5+ stars. All her books do.</div><div><br /></div><div>**Note**</div><div><br /></div><div>I enjoyed this book so much that even though I only read it a short while ago, it called me to read it again. I'm not surprised as her books are always calling my name</div><div><br /></div><div>'til later<br />
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1280805-kristiej">View all my reviews</a>
<p> </p></div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-54757415837437343812021-04-12T20:04:00.005-04:002021-04-12T20:04:39.292-04:00My Ramblings on Audio Books<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--dyNLzSU7Xg/YHTfrueoSXI/AAAAAAAAHKY/gr8omm3m_iwOw6D6zSHwuSwyo5qAAyj4wCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="243" height="237" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--dyNLzSU7Xg/YHTfrueoSXI/AAAAAAAAHKY/gr8omm3m_iwOw6D6zSHwuSwyo5qAAyj4wCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’ve been rather absent lately, not because of any
particular reason except nothing much has been happening that I’ve felt worth
blogging about. I go no where and I see
no one – well except for Easter. I
stayed overnight visiting my sister but that’s about it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m desperately in need of vacation but since I work
in health care and here in Ontario the covid numbers are going up and up and
there is another province wide shut down so they’ve kind of said no to
vacations or LOA – all hands on deck, that kind of thing. Thank goodness we can rant to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One of the things I’ve been doing to distress when not
working other than reading is watching YouTube – A/ Lot. And one of the things I’m finding fun to
watch is romance video bloggers. There
are a number I follow. I find it
interesting though as number of the books they recommend are audio books. When they explain them I kind of scratch my
head a bit as they call them books read and I kind of think of them as books
listened to, not so much read but then that’s me just hair splitting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’ve thought I need to get on board the audio book
train. I was relatively late on the eBook
train thinking I would never want to read books that way. However, once I hopped on board, I read about
98% ebooks now and I didn’t think that would ever happen. But I’ve no idea where to even start!! I see where I can sign up on Amazon with
Audiobook but I’d just as soon not rely on Amazon. I already feel bad about getting so many
kindle books through them. I have been
listening to more and more samples though and that brings up another issue I
might have with audio books and that is I find myself very critical of the way
they are read. Either I don’t like the
reader’s voice or they don’t pronounce something the way I would or I’m constantly
critiquing the emphasis. I can see
myself arguing with them – “that’s not the way it should read”. So even though I say I should try it, I’m
still not sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then I think I should get in the habit as I’m extremely
– and I mean really, really, really squeamish when it comes to eye stuff. Even watching someone put drops in their eyes
squicks me out. There is not a chance in
hell I would ever be able to wear contacts.
The fatalist in me figures that since I’m so passionate about reading, I’ll
probably go blind. That’s a huge plus to
ebooks is being able to adjust the size of the fonts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Anyway – that’s just me rambling on about the latest
thing in reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Til later<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-12669662889263500652021-03-20T19:41:00.000-04:002021-03-20T19:41:09.882-04:00Recent Read<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qPHDG0wLgOo/YFaHXW83p0I/AAAAAAAAHKA/FdLdWSOacI0LbMHhzTgpEIUGqLVsxSXbgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qPHDG0wLgOo/YFaHXW83p0I/AAAAAAAAHKA/FdLdWSOacI0LbMHhzTgpEIUGqLVsxSXbgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once We
Were Starlight by Mia Sheridan</span><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">While I was
reading this book, I tweeted asking if anyone else has read a book that is
painful to read. And I meant in a good
way. It’s a book that is so well written
that it’s as if you are there, a part of the story, like a silent
observer. Such is the case with this
book. It’s not an easy read in many ways
but oh so well worth reading<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The first
part of the book takes place in a mid-east country in some kind of small city
and the main characters are Karys and Zakai, two young people who have lived in
this place since they were very young.
From the very beginning there was a very strong bond between them and as
they got older, this strong bond turned physical. Only this place wasn’t paradise, it was a place
people came from all over the world to watch deviant sexual acts and once the
owner was aware of what was going on between Karys and Zakai, they became part
of the “entertainment” as brother and sister having sex with each other. Thankfully, the book isn’t very descriptive
in this area.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Karys is
very naïve and doesn’t really understand what’s really going on and in order to
protect her, Zakai makes almost a game of it.
All the other ‘prisoners’ also try and shield her so she doesn’t see how
depraved it all is and sees everyone as almost family. Eventually Karys and Zakai are rescued and
Karys is sent to live with an uncle she has never met. Zakai was a beggar and an orphan and has
nowhere to go but he is also sent to New York.
Karys finds things very difficult as she has always had Kai with her and
now her uncle tries to discourage their special bond.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Then for
reasons Karys doesn’t understand, Zakai smashes the bond and they are
estranged. They are still in each
other’s orbit in a way. Zakai goes on to
become a very successful model and she sees him on billboards and print
adds. Karys has become a successful
author of YA fantasy books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The story
opens and then ends with a confrontation between the two and the story in
between is their history.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is
just a very brief synopsis of this heartbreaking romance and I know I don’t
have the words to adequately describe how very impactful it is. Karys and Zakai are beautiful together and
the love between them is intense and passionate. It’s the kind of book that haunts you and
stays with you even when you aren’t reading and long after you’ve finished My heart broke for both of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is told
entirely from Karys’ point of view except for the final chapter which is from
Zakai. I know in the past the author
has written duets from each POV and I’m really hoping this is the plan for this
book too. We can infer quite a bit what
Zakai is going through but I’d love to see it directly through his eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is
such a beautiful, haunting, painful, amazing book and I’m at risk of overdosing
on superlatives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Mia
Sheridan can write such powerful and emotional books and in this book she is at
her finest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Grade:</b> A+</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oMrEasa_ghM/YFaGw8arcEI/AAAAAAAAHJ0/we02ISkGOy48nXjGLDA38rhcbO7qWpx2wCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" height="98" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oMrEasa_ghM/YFaGw8arcEI/AAAAAAAAHJ0/we02ISkGOy48nXjGLDA38rhcbO7qWpx2wCLcBGAsYHQ/w195-h98/image.png" width="195" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />One last thing just in case you aren't sure and wondering, this is a romance and the number one criteria for a romance is the HEA</span><p></p><p><br /></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-38911903642756941572021-03-17T13:21:00.002-04:002021-03-17T17:24:59.953-04:002021 TBR Challenge for March<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> Wicked Dangerous by Julie Kriss</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ds8YJaNR2yg/YFI5s17fyyI/AAAAAAAAHJg/V7Gzgm7StrwY3L1XSzg0xsuLMsVwPXFLQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ds8YJaNR2yg/YFI5s17fyyI/AAAAAAAAHJg/V7Gzgm7StrwY3L1XSzg0xsuLMsVwPXFLQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="160" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is my
choice for this month’s #TBR Challenge, Books by a Favourite Author. And Julie Kriss certainly qualifies for
this. I have and have read all of her
backlist. This is the fourth and final
book of her Filthy Rich series about 4 lifelong friends who banded together and
made it rich. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is
Alex story. It’s been hinted at
throughout the series that he was the only married one but it ended in divorce
and this is a second chance romance. Kat
is his ex and though the marriage is over, Alex has never really been able to
let her go completely and keeps tabs on her and how she’s doing through a
private detective. Sadly, Kat’s life
hasn’t been that great. She travels
around like a tumbleweed working as a bar tender. After observing from a distance, Alex charges
back in her life when one night after work Kat is accosted and there is an
attempt to kidnap her and she ends up in the hospital. Blake rushes to her rescue and they conclude
that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and she saw something she
shouldn’t have. And that means she isn’t
safe. Almost against her will because
these are both very stubborn people, Alex whisks her out of the hospital and
takes her to his home to keep her safe until they figure out who it is trying
to kidnap her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">They were
very young when they met and eloped and this is also a wrong side of the tracks
story. Alex lived almost hand to mouth
with his friends and Kat came from wealth.
However the attraction between them was so strong they couldn’t stay
away from each other. Because they were
young and stubborn, their marriage was almost doomed to fail. When a third party interfered, rather than
talk things out, they both went off the handle and called things off and though
they have both moved on, well except for Alex who kept watch from afar, they
have never really gotten over each other and though they fight it, Kat in
particular, the feelings and attraction is still there. Will they get a second chance with each
other? That is the story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I’ll admit,
this book wasn’t in the TBR pile for very long.
Julie Kriss is an autobuy author and I probably would have read this
book even sooner but I was committed to my Black author reads for the month of
February. This is a rather short book as
are most of her books but it’s still very good.
You can feel the draw between them and I love that Alex has pined for
Kat for years even though he would never call it pining. We get just enough of the previous
characters. Julie Kriss is an author who
is undervalued in my opinion. She’s
written some very good books and a number of them have been 5 stars for me and
I’m glad to highlight her for this months challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p>
<br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Grade B+</span></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-64476706657328568872021-03-15T18:01:00.003-04:002021-03-15T18:01:30.512-04:00An author I found while in lock down<p> </p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30200464-ball-peen-hammer" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Ball Peen Hammer (The Morgan Brothers, #3)" border="0" height="209" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1469462830l/30200464._SX98_.jpg" width="139" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30200464-ball-peen-hammer">Ball Peen Hammer</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9699494.Lauren_Rowe">Lauren Rowe</a></span><br /><br /><br />
5++<br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">This book is a riot and I think I was either smiling or laughing through most of it. I’ve never read a hero quite like Keane Morgan before. He struck me as being over the top at the beginning of the book and to be honest I wasn’t sure how far I was going to make it. However, once I got used to him, I couldn’t read this book fast enough and I just adored him.<br />Keane is a stripper by trade and according to him, he’s the best in the world. His stage name is Ball Peen Hammer. I think I’m a bit naïve as I’m not sure what exactly what that means in the world outside of actual hammers. Stripping isn’t his first choice of career and while it takes a while, we do see what his first choice was and it’s sad he didn’t get to succeed. He’s determined to be the best at his second choice though.<br />He’s also the world’s greatest lover – according to him – and every woman wants him. He claims he knows everything there is to know about women and he has no problems at all confirming this to everyone he meets. He’s just a hoot and I just love him to pieces.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />There is one woman though who doesn’t seem to fall at his feet and that is of course our heroine Maddy. She is on a road trip to California to attend college and her older sister doesn’t want her traveling alone so she arranges for Keane to be her travel buddy for the trip. Keane had been planning on heading to L.A to do some auditions and visit his younger brother, an aspiring singer. Keane almost doesn’t make it though as he doesn’t listen to his voice mail or read his text messages. That whole screw up is so cute and so funny. They finally do get things sorted out and start their road trip. And every single bit of the journey is a delight. Keane is completely unfiltered and says whatever he thinks, most of all about sex and what a sex god he is. Maddy describes Keane as Daffy Duck trapped inside Prince Charming’s body. Throughout their trip they are both determined not to fall for each other but they do become fast friends. And of course, because they aren’t supposed to be anything other than pals, they do begin to fall for each other but neither really clues in on their changing feelings. Keane in particular is hilarious as he is in total denial about what’s happening. They are both bummed when the 3-day trip is over, they gotten so close.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />In addition to the relationship between Keane and Maddy, there is an equally well done, touching, and hilarious relationship between Keane and his roommate Zander. Never have I read such a close bond between friends and I bow to the author for writing this relationship.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />It’s a bit frustrating, as no matter how I write this review, I can’t seem to do the book justice. There’s a whole lot I haven’t written about. I think it would take at least three pages to share everything that makes this book a book that blows me away. It took until close to the end of the year, but this is my favourite book of 2020 and as I’ve read more books than ever, the fact Ball Peen Hammer is my number one book of the year just says how much I loved it. This is a new too me author and as this is the second in a series you can bet your bottom dollar I’m going to be reading the whole set of them and her other books as well. In a year full of darkness, this book shone such a bright light.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0-6o7LdpPW8/YE_ZEz9gfdI/AAAAAAAAHJY/IluBs3fZBgAPPWNcTrY1k_JjLWxKAETCwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="205" height="201" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0-6o7LdpPW8/YE_ZEz9gfdI/AAAAAAAAHJY/IluBs3fZBgAPPWNcTrY1k_JjLWxKAETCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w169-h201/image.png" width="169" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></span>
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1280805-kristiej">View all my reviews</a>
</div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-36851043305299053292021-03-09T18:19:00.000-05:002021-03-09T18:19:01.751-05:00Recent Read<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hKcQB281soQ/YEgBDSXC-jI/AAAAAAAAHI4/jP80Go4tc4s251Po0BaS8VaLQ-rLZLVWACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="295" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hKcQB281soQ/YEgBDSXC-jI/AAAAAAAAHI4/jP80Go4tc4s251Po0BaS8VaLQ-rLZLVWACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="149" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US">This is the
second book in this series and Olivia Dyer is the heroine. She is the youngest one of the Dyer family
and like her older brother and sister works at the family distillery. She is in charge of the events and advertising
and she is slowly trying to come back from a breakdown she had when things went
very wrong at the distillery and she took the entire thing on her
shoulders. She’s recovering but she’s
still a work in progress. She’s working
a wedding at the distillery when near disaster strikes with the kitchen staff
and she is rescued by a very unlikely person.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Anders Berg
is the very sexy pro hockey playing hero.
His brother plays for the local team and he is in town for his brother’s
wedding, being held at said distillery.
He sees Olivia and right away is attracted to her and ends up spending
much of the wedding helping in the kitchen.
She is as attracted to Anders as he is to her and they enjoy some
‘personal’ time together. But as he
plays in a different city and his whole focus in on hockey, it’s to remain a
one night stand.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Several
months later he happens to be traded to the local team his brother plays on and
he happens to run into Olivia. Their
attraction is just as strong but Ice (as he is called) is still focused on
moving ahead in his hockey career which means he’s only on a pit stop before he
moves to a more hockey focused city and Olivia is still in the healing stage
and very vulnerable and not sure she is ready for any kind of permanent relationship. But they do agree to a no string thing. And you know what happens when it’s supposed
to be no strings. All of a sudden there
are all kinds of them. Olivia opens up
to Ice and he gives her more support and encouragement than she’s ever had before. And while he doesn’t realize it, Ice is
falling equally hard for her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I love this
book. What can be sexier than a Swedish
hockey player who is still learning the English language and still thinks in
his native tongue. While his
professional life is all out of whack, he is so good for Olivia, the reader
can’t help but fall for him too.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">And I love
Olivia. The way Ms. Cole writes about
her struggles is so true. As on who
experiences from depression I know there was one scene with her and while reading
it, I was thinking YES!! This is exactly
how I’m feeling. The author gets it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The way
Scarlett Cole writes is amazing and I so recommend her to anyone who loves a
good romance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Grade: A</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-koPihvw8c18/YEgB9jxV47I/AAAAAAAAHJA/nV32HtIAhaEUtw5sepc0CD8r1GLi8sszQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="190" height="160" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-koPihvw8c18/YEgB9jxV47I/AAAAAAAAHJA/nV32HtIAhaEUtw5sepc0CD8r1GLi8sszQCLcBGAsYHQ/w114-h160/image.png" width="114" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-15783938588138022292021-03-07T21:12:00.000-05:002021-03-07T21:12:36.188-05:00Kind of a Recent Read- but not really<p> </p><p>During my absence I still wrote reveiws on GoodReads. I've signed up for their reading challenge for the past few years and this is a book I first read in October of 2021. I just finished the second book in this series so before I post a review of it, I thought I'd post the review of this first book. Plus this is a test to see if I could still copy and paste the review from GoodReads here. I know I could but as I've been away for a while and some things have changed, I wasn't sure I could figure out if I still could. Turns out I can so I did.</p><p>I'm ever so glad because now when my brain is stuck for something to post, until it unfreezes I can post a review. And since I read and reviewed 177 books in 2020 even though my goal was 140 books, which means I scored 126% I can afford a number of brain freezes and still post. Yeah.</p><p><br /></p>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55428596-love-in-numbers" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Love in Numbers (Love Distilled #1)" border="0" height="217" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600861757l/55428596._SX98_.jpg" width="134" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55428596-love-in-numbers">Love in Numbers</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13849930.Scarlett_Cole">Scarlett Cole</a><br /><br />
4.5 out of 5<br /><br />I’m a huge fan of this author. I’ve really enjoyed reading The Second Circle Tattoos series and I’m simply mad for the Preload series. I’ve read all of the books in this series at least twice, some (Jordan Reclaimed) at least 4 times. So when I saw her tweet that she would be releasing a new book the next day, well guess what the first thing I did was. And guess what I started reading the same day.<br /><br />Connor is the hero. He’s been working for his father’s liquor distribution company for a while now and as his father is due to retire soon, Connor is ready to take over and make a number of changes hoping to go for higher quality.<br />Emmerson is the heroine and she has what seems the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her beloved father recently passed away very unexpectedly and she becomes head of Dyers Distillery. While she has a younger brother and sister to help, she doesn’t want to burden them so feels she has to handle everything herself. She and Connor meet on a plane when they are both headed to the same awards ceremony and Connor is a jerk to her. He’s a jerk, but a very hot jerk and despite the off putting meeting, she does find him very fine. But as soon as he hears her name, Connor knows who she is. She’s the daughter of the man his father holds responsible for all the hard times he had when he got their company up and running. <br /><br />One of the things Connor thinks of is acquiring Dyers Distillery. But when they end up sitting together at the award ceremony, the both see that the first impression they had of each other is all wrong. The more Connor gets to know Emmerson, the more he admires her for her strength and loyalty to her family and the business. It isn’t long before they become very close and Connor sees what a real family company is.<br /><br />This book isn’t as angsty as the Preload series and has a totally different vibe to it. But I still was smitten with it and definitely keeps Scarlet Cole as one of my top favourite authors. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a book that gives you the warm and fuzzies.
<br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1280805-kristiej">View all my reviews</a>
Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-20896058123114768822021-03-03T10:00:00.001-05:002021-03-03T10:00:03.715-05:00So! You want to buy me a book and you want to know which one<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7wLH95NCx7Q/YDwYxoU0L_I/AAAAAAAAHIs/uHeKcRem76EewvTpQWUHyxPK2sTQkSW1wCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1024" height="188" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7wLH95NCx7Q/YDwYxoU0L_I/AAAAAAAAHIs/uHeKcRem76EewvTpQWUHyxPK2sTQkSW1wCLcBGAsYHQ/w160-h188/image.png" width="160" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This can be a tricky question you are asking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a picky eater and unfortunately a picky
reader too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first ones up are by a
small group of authors that I either pre-order if that is an option or I’m on
their mailing list and the second I see the book is out, I snap it right
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I do believe I have the entire
back lists of all these author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
include, in no particular order<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pamela Clare </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Carian Cole </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Scarlet Cole </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Lisa Kleypas</span></span></p></div><div class="WordSection2">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Julie Kriss, </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">LH Cosway </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Ellen O’Connell</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="WordSection3"><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There’s no sense in getting a book for me by any of
these authors as chance are I already own it or will have it on Day 1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Now that’s not all my autobuy authors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have rather a large group, but with this
next group of authors,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tend to check
the price and read the synopsis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chances
are about 95% I will still get the book, but it’s not as instantaneous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This list is much larger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again in no particular order</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Mia Sheridan </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Brenda Rothert </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Emma Scott </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Vi Keeland</span></span></p></div><div class="WordSection4">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Penelope Ward </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Jo Goodman </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Kristin Callihan </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">A. Meredith Walter</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Brittainy C Cherry </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Jane Harvey-Berrick </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Lisa B Kamps </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Elle Kennedy</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Aly Martinez </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Courtney Milan </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Sara Ney </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Winter Renshaw </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Samantha Towle</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So you might not want to get me a book from any of
these authors as I may or may not have a copy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since that’s the case, I’ll instead use tropes rather than specific
authors as I’m sure I could add a few more authors to the list above.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Royalty</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mtg7R60jI4c/YDwRorBS6OI/AAAAAAAAHIM/sTNphNkKs6QNpsUY32Z6KkcAu6Xz2rBGwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="715" height="97" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mtg7R60jI4c/YDwRorBS6OI/AAAAAAAAHIM/sTNphNkKs6QNpsUY32Z6KkcAu6Xz2rBGwCLcBGAsYHQ/w146-h97/image.png" width="146" /></a></i></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I don’t care for romance books that have royal
characters, either real or made up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
see them and pass right by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you
think of it though this is a rather odd eliminator as what are fairy tales at
heart but romance stories for young girls.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>****</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Vampire</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BkAzj2jmcIE/YDvp6tkzNWI/AAAAAAAAHHU/yyEGikJrI-AMNIW0HfCLUsKMsOjKfMeLgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="251" height="125" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BkAzj2jmcIE/YDvp6tkzNWI/AAAAAAAAHHU/yyEGikJrI-AMNIW0HfCLUsKMsOjKfMeLgCLcBGAsYHQ/w86-h125/image.png" width="86" /></span></a><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have read vampire romance but never been a real fan
of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I read the first two books of
the Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward for example and while I enjoyed them
well enough, the enjoyment didn’t reach the height it did for many romance
readers. I read a couple of Christine Feehan Dark series and it was the same
thing except they creeped me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So no,
don’t waste your money on Vampire books.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I don’t have the same issues with werewolves or other
shifter type heroes but keep in mind, I don’t really read a lot of them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>****</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Billionaires</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HVTEJ-0x2-w/YDwSMoe5ATI/AAAAAAAAHIU/z2zE7yyu-jAWYr9k_fz6mQLuQJQvyaB0QCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="141" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HVTEJ-0x2-w/YDwSMoe5ATI/AAAAAAAAHIU/z2zE7yyu-jAWYr9k_fz6mQLuQJQvyaB0QCLcBGAsYHQ/w94-h141/image.png" width="94" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I see these books and pass right by them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with other tropes, I may read them if a
favoured author has written any but that’s pretty much the only exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To go along with this I could also add any
high falutin’ white collar romances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Give me a good carpenter or auto mechanic and I’m on board, but a lawyer
or doctor – not so much.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style="font-family: verdana;">****</i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Aristocracy</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ohegJRIWFbo/YDwTlHWovfI/AAAAAAAAHIc/W7gAeYtHqkkHPtVdQBwmXoph413Dn5-mgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="604" height="94" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ohegJRIWFbo/YDwTlHWovfI/AAAAAAAAHIc/W7gAeYtHqkkHPtVdQBwmXoph413Dn5-mgCLcBGAsYHQ/w167-h94/image.png" width="167" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Simon, Duke of Hastings excluded of course)<br />Here I’m referring more to historicals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, I won’t ignore books by favoured
authors such as Lisa Kleypas but I’m so much more drawn to a non-titled hero such
as Derek Craven then I am to Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if the hero is a boxer or the owner of a
gambling establishment, then I think you are safe but a duke or a viscount or
earl, you shouldn’t risk it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
exceptions but it’s too confusing to explain them all.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">****</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Angel or demons</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nUK5-WfBsYk/YDwUebp7WrI/AAAAAAAAHIk/Hpn5yLHFJ7U7eeISUtpS-u78tuAKH825gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="236" height="132" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nUK5-WfBsYk/YDwUebp7WrI/AAAAAAAAHIk/Hpn5yLHFJ7U7eeISUtpS-u78tuAKH825gCLcBGAsYHQ/w101-h132/image.png" width="101" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Not interested so again a money waster. I know they are popular now and I did read one years ago, Angel for Hire by Justine Davis that I adored but that was a rarity.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">****</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">Motorcycle Gangs</span></i></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UnXfNmWzo3M/YDvoSVdSoiI/AAAAAAAAHHM/U-ZZEtZb_aI8imT3vt534Iaa0n9gETdOwCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="84" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UnXfNmWzo3M/YDvoSVdSoiI/AAAAAAAAHHM/U-ZZEtZb_aI8imT3vt534Iaa0n9gETdOwCLcBGAsYHQ/w112-h84/image.png" width="112" /></a>I</span> know these type are very popular with many a romance
reader but on the whole, not so much for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I see a freebie or one on sale, I tend to skip it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while Charlie Hunnam is indeed very fine
to look at, I never watched and never wanted to watch Sons of Anarchy.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">~~~~~~~</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On the other hand, here are some suggestions as to
books I <i>do</i> go for</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: verdana;">SciFi</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B2yml6VfUPo/YDvnzHHcgVI/AAAAAAAAHHE/wzEKbBPJJzsxKfwFCCly4vjP5LIEpmkjACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="550" height="99" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-B2yml6VfUPo/YDvnzHHcgVI/AAAAAAAAHHE/wzEKbBPJJzsxKfwFCCly4vjP5LIEpmkjACLcBGAsYHQ/w71-h99/image.png" width="71" /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I love a good SciFi romance so unless the hero has
scales or is lizard like, I’m willing to give it a try. And of course, just like everything else, there is an exception. I love Radiance by Grace Draven and I think he might be on the more lizard-like of the scale.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">****</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Westerns</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dGlEjdS1EJI/YDvq-13c2yI/AAAAAAAAHHc/n4TxDd6lIZ0jt20HCdAOmgvlmNRYfBu_ACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="960" height="107" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dGlEjdS1EJI/YDvq-13c2yI/AAAAAAAAHHc/n4TxDd6lIZ0jt20HCdAOmgvlmNRYfBu_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w190-h107/image.png" width="190" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Though I haven’t read as many lately, I do love this
genre so it’s another good choice should you wish to buy me a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reformed outlaws are the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who doesn’t love a bad boy whether in a
contemporary or historical book eh?<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">****</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Medievals</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jGjzovVcFxU/YDvr7zR-HSI/AAAAAAAAHHk/L1TTn-HBQpIqbZ59ytHryy-_MVYwyaG-gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="500" height="152" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jGjzovVcFxU/YDvr7zR-HSI/AAAAAAAAHHk/L1TTn-HBQpIqbZ59ytHryy-_MVYwyaG-gCLcBGAsYHQ/w112-h152/image.png" width="112" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />Back in the day there were a lot of medieval being
written (and read by me) but there don’t seem to be as many these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully they will make a resurgence<o:p></o:p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">****</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Sports romance</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xVLLC4k2zr0/YDvtSdA5AFI/AAAAAAAAHHs/msABvg3maWcWIJ6EvUJvghx3-Kzb77qagCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="720" height="82" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xVLLC4k2zr0/YDvtSdA5AFI/AAAAAAAAHHs/msABvg3maWcWIJ6EvUJvghx3-Kzb77qagCLcBGAsYHQ/w80-h82/image.png" width="80" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />I’m a big sports fan so I love this trope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only sport I’m not interested in really
is basketball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t follow that
sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though as will every type of
book, there is an exception. I loved Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan.<o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Bowlers though are one you can stay away from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think professional bowlers are
inherently sexy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be on the safe side
and being Canadian, hockey players are the best bet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Blue collar romance</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7E_0_U5sqdo/YDvt2qDb_uI/AAAAAAAAHH0/zuA8-yHazvEcB0O7WR3L87tos1Lmqo0OACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="373" height="128" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7E_0_U5sqdo/YDvt2qDb_uI/AAAAAAAAHH0/zuA8-yHazvEcB0O7WR3L87tos1Lmqo0OACLcBGAsYHQ/w89-h128/image.png" width="89" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br />As mentioned up above, I’m a huge fan of blue collar
type heroes</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">****</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Unjustly imprisoned</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h3T65ZyJOtY/YDwPC4-NdrI/AAAAAAAAHH8/8kqxyXa_XUw08SF-o88uKYOkYpM0aIROACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="390" height="96" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h3T65ZyJOtY/YDwPC4-NdrI/AAAAAAAAHH8/8kqxyXa_XUw08SF-o88uKYOkYpM0aIROACLcBGAsYHQ/w134-h96/image.png" width="134" /></a></i></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I really and I like really like this trope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be interesting to get inside my
brain to try and figure out the reason why</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">****</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Rock Stars</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qB3DYGOL-Cg/YDwQbrHN0lI/AAAAAAAAHIE/cA42oJ_ezpU2CBhyV82mD5gonXYWmroRQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="98" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qB3DYGOL-Cg/YDwQbrHN0lI/AAAAAAAAHIE/cA42oJ_ezpU2CBhyV82mD5gonXYWmroRQCLcBGAsYHQ/w98-h98/image.png" width="98" /></a></span></div><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This is another trope I can’t seem to get enough of
reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three of my auto buy authors
have written books about rock stars and I’ve read all of them multiple times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you are pretty save on getting me one of
these.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So there you have it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think it’s a good wide choice of what and what not to get me in the
way of romance books.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="font-family: verdana; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: center;">******DISCLAIMER******</div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Just in case you aren't 100% sure and wondering what is up with this blogger, this is 100% not serious - well, it is in the types of books I prefer - but I neither want, hope, expect, anticipate etc anyone getting me any books. It's a total leg pull.</span></div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-37012604506834292021-03-02T08:00:00.001-05:002021-03-02T08:00:04.775-05:00My Very First Blog Post<p> Just for the heck of it I went back to my very first ever blog post. Believe it or note it was back on Feb 17, 2005. Wow!! That was a long, long time ago. And the topic of my very first post is just as relevant today as it was back then even though just about everything else in my life has changed. Here's what I had to say back then.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><h2 class="date-header" style="background-color: #ebeee7; color: #1e1ee1; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.29px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 1.5em 0.5em 0.5em;">Thursday, February 17, 2005</h2><div class="date-posts" style="background-color: #ebeee7; color: #000099; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 18.2px;"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(0, 0, 153); margin: 0.5em 0.5em 1.5em; padding-bottom: 1.5em;"><a name="110868706189776584"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #cc6600; font-size: 25.48px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://kristiej.blogspot.com/2005/02/why-romance.html" style="color: #cc6600; display: block; text-decoration-line: none;">Why Romance??</a></h3><div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-110868706189776584" itemprop="description articleBody"><span style="color: #330000; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;">Since this blog is about my romance reading habits, the first question one would ask is why romance? Why not mystery? Why not horror?</span><br /><span style="color: #330000; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;">The main reason would be fear of the unkown. I've been an avid reader all my life. From those very first days of 'See Dick Run' - yes I'm that old - I have been hooked on reading. My first series of books I checked out of our local bookmobile were Freddy the Pig books. To this day I seem to be the only one who has read that wonderful series about Freddy the talking pig detective and all his various friends; the cat, the mice, the cow and the horse.</span><br /><span style="color: #330000; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;">I've read all types of books in my life. I went through a Stephen King phase. I went through a true crime phase. I went through a biography and autobiographical phase. I even went through a sports book phase. I read Don Cherry's book. But now my choice of reading material is strictly romance. Many years ago, long before I settled on romance, I read a book called The Balloonist. Many of the details are sketchy; we are talking quite a few years ago, but the gist of the story is a young woman and small crew took a long flight in a hot air balloon over the Atlantic. Things did not go well. They ran into many difficulties and their journey was doomed. I wish I could remember exactly how it ended. It would strengthen my case, but suffice it to say, they didn't survive the journey. It was a totally unexpected ending. I even turned the book over, opened it again and checked to make sure I didn't miss some pages where they miraculously escaped. But there wasn't, and they didn't.</span><br /><span style="color: #330000; font-family: arial; font-size: 15.47px;">With that end and similar type endings in other books, I realized over time that when I closed the cover on a book, I wanted to feel better than when I first opened the book. I wanted to KNOW that there would be a happy ending. Romance books fill that need. And with all the different genres in romance today, I can still have different choices.</span></div></div></div></div>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10897259.post-89474208242893122292021-02-28T10:00:00.010-05:002021-02-28T10:00:00.394-05:00Black History Month Reads<p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Part 2</i></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And continuing on.....</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eUfZvPfrIFA/YDrptzFpSUI/AAAAAAAAHGc/yVnRg6oT06AKXNQdggn--DnZIYsdxN3AACLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="181" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eUfZvPfrIFA/YDrptzFpSUI/AAAAAAAAHGc/yVnRg6oT06AKXNQdggn--DnZIYsdxN3AACLcBGAsYHQ/w120-h181/image.png" width="120" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tell Me Something Good by Jamie Wesley</span></span><p></p><p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I really got a kick out of this cute opposite attracts
book.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">They both work at the same radio
station.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Tate Grayson is the sports guy
and riffs on all things sports during his time slot and Noelle Butler is a tied
up and buttoned down Physiologist who give advice on love and they couldn’t be
more opposite and each get on each others nerves.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">When he calls her during her show and then
she calls him during his, their bosses think it would be a great idea for them
to work together as they seem to have some kind of on air chemistry.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Of course these two start to rub against each
other in a good way soon.</span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">This book just
worked for me and for sure I’m going to try some of this authors other books</span></p><p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><b>Grade: B+</b></span></p><p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xc2SK3Dzj4Q/YDrqMuusbOI/AAAAAAAAHGk/4BK4b9L7poQlw3JZ-6-c6yJuhCi3U2gzgCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="201" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xc2SK3Dzj4Q/YDrqMuusbOI/AAAAAAAAHGk/4BK4b9L7poQlw3JZ-6-c6yJuhCi3U2gzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w134-h201/image.png" width="134" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole</span><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’ll be honest, I was crossing my fingers I would like
this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I happened to be at a
conference a couple of years ago that the author also attended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat in on a couple of panels she was at and
I was so impressed by her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started
another one by her and couldn’t get into it at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when I started reading this book I
figured out why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started reading the 3<sup>rd</sup>
book in the series and that’s why I found things so confusing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But starting at book1 made all the
difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This book takes place during the Civil War and Elle
Burns is a former slave whose family was given their freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is now working as a spy helping the
north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has an eidetic memory and is
working undercover as a slave in the home of a southern politician and trying
to learn anything she can to help the north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her contact is Malcom McCall, a white undercover agent who, while not
even close to the same kind of experiences as slaves, did have his family land
stolen and family destroyed in Scotland.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Elle is such an amazing heroine, she ranks right up
there in my top five heroines of all time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is, well, it, as far as heroines go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She’s brave, strong, courageous, intelligent, resourceful – just
everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Malcom isn’t too shabby
either and what I love about him is he knows what a rare and precious person
she is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m trying to keep these reviews
fairly short and it’s so difficult to do that with this book it’s that
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I now have all of the Loyal
League series as well as another one of her books and I’m so looking forward to
reading them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book is romance at
its finest and then some.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Grade: A+</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hT0HCuN3gec/YDrq_2Y4-nI/AAAAAAAAHGs/HNgSnQyKst8Q7WSfhMrUxeeN5Tc-f4E_gCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="225" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hT0HCuN3gec/YDrq_2Y4-nI/AAAAAAAAHGs/HNgSnQyKst8Q7WSfhMrUxeeN5Tc-f4E_gCLcBGAsYHQ/w141-h225/image.png" width="141" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I picked this one out as I’d read so many new to me
authors, I was ready to read an author I’d read before by this time and since I
love this author’s works, this is the one I chose. I’ve read it before but when I started it
again, I didn’t remember much of it at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Elizabeth and Tristan have both suffered the death of
their loved one and in Tristan’s case it was even worse. Elizabeth left town to try and deal with her
loss. But she’s back now and her neighbor Tristan is despised by most of the
town as he’s rude, unkempt and just plain mean.
But the townspeople don’t know what he has suffered. At first he treats Elizabeth the same way but
they slowly begin to open up to each other about their losses. At first they pretend the other is the lost
love, but then they begin to care more and more for the person each other is
and in doing so slowly begin to heal.
Ms. Brittainy writes beautiful emotional books and this is yet another
one that shouldn’t be missed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Grade: A</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ktVrcwgjFBo/YDrsALskY1I/AAAAAAAAHG4/_O9Jsj2A7LQKp5sv9FUtqjYxMZlsw1XZQCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="300" height="216" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ktVrcwgjFBo/YDrsALskY1I/AAAAAAAAHG4/_O9Jsj2A7LQKp5sv9FUtqjYxMZlsw1XZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w137-h216/image.png" width="137" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins</span></span><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My only issue with Ms. Jenkins books is the
prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I saw this one was on
preorder for a very good price I scooped it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After I read and completely loved Forbidden, I wanted to read another of
her books so this is the one I chose.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spring Lee is the heroine of this Western romance and
she’s a very unusual heroine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She owns a
small ranch and works with horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
perfectly fine living on her own and has no plans on marrying or having
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s very independent, she’s
had to learn to be due her father’s neglect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She meets Garrett McCray, the hero, when he is thrown from his horse
during a winter storm and she takes him to her place to take care of him until
he has recovered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has come to
interview her brother, Colton, the local doctor and hero of a previous book –
and yes, I now have that one to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spring is unlike any woman he has met before and he begins to fall for
the free spirit she is, so much so he is willing to rearrange his life to spend
it with her – if she will have him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">As with the previous Beverly Jenkins book I read, this
book is more heroine centric.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I did
fall for Garrett, but Spring is the standout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is unforgettable and to be truly admired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has gone through some terrible things and
come out stronger and more sure of herself because of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m ever so glad that I picked up a number of
Ms. Jenkins books after reading Forbidden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have some books of hers now I’m really looking forward to reading.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Grade: A</b></span></p><br /><p></p>Kristie (J)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15743921647882733738noreply@blogger.com2