It's the semi-finals at Lea's blog on the best kissing scene. Now I'm not going to tell anyone how to vote - there are some awesome movies to pick from
but
North and South is not in the lead at the moment
*gasp of horror*
Plus she has a mighty fine contest going on! You have to Check. It. Out.
And if that all isn't great, be sure to check out Sarah's blog. She just posted her thoughts on The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie - and she loves it too!!
Click on just about any romance blog these days and there is a Black Dagger Brotherhood post. These books have been compared to literary crack on more than one occasion. JR Ward's newest book, Lover Avenged, is out now and I feel a bit like I'm on a deserted island.
I read Dark Lover and I enjoyed it. I read Lover Eternal and I enjoyed it even more. I have Lover Awakened and Lover Revealed in the TBR pile but I'm not in any hurry to get to them. I really enjoyed Bella in Lover Eternal, but I didn't 'feel the love' for Zsadist and much to everyone's dismay when the read this, I didn't 'get' the Butch love at all and I didn't care for his love interest Marissa since she was a wuzz in Dark Lover. The ones after that didn't appeal to me at all because I'm not a fan of mulitple storylines - one of the reasons I quit Suzanne Brockman - and from what I've read, the BDB series abounds in them.
Oh I know I'm not really alone - there are others out there who haven't read this series or like me have tried them but just don't 'get' the hype of it all.
But still I'm left wondering why I don't appreciate this series the way so many do. Are there others out there who feel a bit lost when they don't relate to a series the way so many other do - say the JD Robb books? Now those I'm all on board with. Or how about the Pys-Changeling books by Nalini Singh? I'm also enjoying those and looking forward to the next on in the series. Do you ever scratch your head and wonder what you are missing?
*****~*~*~*~*~******
Ah thank you *g*- you have all made me feel ever so much better and not so alone. While many are still inhaling the BDB books, at least there are other series you may feel 'out of the loop' with. Whether it be the Sookie books, the Plum books, or the Bridgerton books (another series I didn't get) not all readers are going to get all books.
I've been keeping a secret. It's been killing me to do so, but I said I would. A week or so ago I was contacted by a representative at Source Books asking if I would be interested in a copy of A Certain Book.
HEH. HEH. HEH.
Does the sun set in the West? Does is snow in Northern Ontario in the winter? Is it hot around the equator? I replied within minutes of reading the email with a resounding YES!! I asked if I could do a post on it and she asked if I could wait until I received the book as they were just printing of copies that day.
I was just sitting in my lovely kitchen when the back door bell rang. As I just got out of the shower (it's my day off and I often move slow on those days) and wasn't dressed yet, I ignored it. Then I heard the door open and when and saw a Fed Ex truck drive off.
"Noooooooooooooo!" I screamed, thinking I knew what they might have been delivering and furious with myself for having missed it. Then I glanced down and there was a package at my feet. Let me tell you I ripped open that package as fast as my little hands would allow and nestled inside........
Back Cover Blurb:
HIS WIT AND INTOXICATING GOOD LOOKS HAVE SERVED HIM WELL... Jamie Sinclair, abandoned and despised at an early age, learned quickly to fend for himself. Now he looks forward to finishing one last mission for his king and finally collecting his reward...
RAISED TO RULE HER CLAN, SHE'LL STOP AT NOTHING TO PROTECT HER OWN Daughter of a Highland laird, heiress to a title, a fortune, and vast properties, Catherine Drummond rides fearlessly into battle against the English forces sent to quell the Scot's rebellion....
When Catherine falls into the hands of vicious mercenaries, Jamie impulively marries her on the spot to save her from a grim fate. But in a world where princes cannot be trusted and faith fuels intolerance, hatred, and war, no good deed goes unpunished....
A few posts ago I made a declaration that I wasn't going to by any more books until I read 5 from the TBR pile. Of course this was the middle of April when there weren't any that I immediately wanted so it was much easier to say that.
But now we are into May and there are four books that I really want - really, really bad. Books I'm panting after. There are more than that but these ones I just HAVE to HAVE.
Wait a minute you're thinking - doesn't she already have The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie??? Well - yes, I do - but mine is an ARC copy and there might have been a few small changes and the one I have doesn't have in instep cover and I really want an instep cover.
So here's where we are at. I am just about done the 4th book in my own personal challenge. The only thing is that 2 are actually rereads - not from the TBR pile. I think I can get a fifth one in before these are 'officially' released.
For two of these - Hard and Fast and Daring Time - they are 24 % less expensive ordering them online then buying them in the store. But in order to get free shipping - which is quite a bit if you pay for it - I have to spend a certain amount. By purchasing all these books, I save myself quite a bit of money - but it would mean reading a total of 20 books.That's a whole lot of books to read now that it's May
As for To Beguile a Beast - I love Elizabeth Hoyt and I've been (im)patiently waiting for this one for a while and it helps make up the free shipping total.
So question one - do rereads count towards the total?
Second question, do I get them all in one shot to save the money but break my own challenge - or am I just doing a most excellent job of justifying?
All thoughts and opinions welcome - keeping in mind I really, really, really want all four of these books.
It didn't. Knock Me Off My Feet. Not this time around I'm afraid. I don't know whether to disqualify myself or not for April's challenge but this ended up being a DNF the second time around.
This was the second Susan Donovan book I read and while it didn't quite measure up to my favourite - Take A Chance on Me (and now I have that ABBA song running around my head again), I did quite like this one at the time. And I don't think it's quite so much that I didn't like KMOMF as I've had a severe case of the crankies lately and when one has a case of those - it's best to move onto a comfort book.
Blurb: In Donovan's spicy debut, Autumn Adams honors her mother's deathbed wish when she takes over her role as famed Homey Helen, domestic diva of Chicago's WBBS-TV station. Coaching her mother's fans on the finer points of homemaking is the last thing Autumn wants; she'd much rather be kicking a soccer ball around a field or running a marathon. Fortunately, she has Marjorie Stoddard, her mom's faithful secretary, to pick up the slack. But Marjorie isn't much help when a twisted fan starts sending death threats in the form of grisly household hints, one of which advises her on the proper way to freeze human remains. Autumn receives protection in the form of handsome Detective Stacey Quinn, who thinks Autumn just might be the perfect woman for him. Winning Autumn's affection isn't as easy as he anticipates, however. Marjorie's bad track record with men-"It's like after seven or eight weeks some green slimy and hairy thing with eleven eyeballs suddenly jumps out of the top of my head and the men start running for the nearest exit"-may keep her from pursuing the one man who won't run away.
I can't put my finger on why this didn't work this time round - baring the case of the crankies, but at the risk of sounding like Randy Jackson, I just didn't 'feel' either the hero or the heroine. I wasn't laughing or smiling at what was supposed to be funny and both h/h seemed to blow hot and cold. One minute they were lip locked, the next they weren't speaking, all without a reasonable explanation as to what happened. Audie was described as a total klutz - doing pratfalls all over the place, but then graceful on the soccer field. One minute she was laughing, and then the next close to tears, again without a really understandable explanation as to why. I finally gave up when after ignoring her for a week - without really explaining why, Quinn sends her a box of handkerchiefs (because - you know - she cries a lot). It was at this point that I realized that I just wasn't into the book. Because of the crank's and the fact that it was a DNF, I'm not going to grade it this time - but the first time round, I gave it a 4.5.
Hopefully next month I will meet with better success.
I saw the commercial in the video below a few years ago on TV and thought it was simply the funniest commercial I ever saw. I know the one time time Ron was almost concerned for me I was laughing so hard and couldn't stop. Then it just up and disappeared and I couldn't remember what it was for or anything.
But a friend sent me the link and may I proudly present.....
My All Time Favourite Commercial
I can't really explain why I love this one to pieces - maybe being a 'cat' person or maybe because it's done so well or maybe because it's just so dang stupid - but it cracks me up every single time.
I don't often (in fact this is a first) repost older posts - but now that this book is out and is on the shelves, here is this post revisited.
This one is one of those special books and even after reading it twice, it's still calling to me.
I HIGHLY recommend you give this one a read - HIGHLY, HIGHLY HIGHLY
The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley
Why this one:I received an ARC, I’ve read her previous historicals and really enjoyed them and someone on a message board had also read an ARC and really enjoyed it.
Steam Level:Oh – this one boils very nicely, yes indeedy very nicely!
Author Website Blurb:
Because this isn’t due out until May, this is all I could find on the authors web site:
The year is 1881. Meet the Mackenzie family--rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. A lady couldn't be seen with them without ruin. Rumors surround them--of tragic violence, of their mistresses, of their dark appetites, of scandals that set England and Scotland abuzz.
The youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. He's also hard and handsome and has a penchant for Ming pottery and beautiful women.
Beth Ackerley, widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided that she wants no more drama in her life. She was raised in drama--an alcoholic father who drove them into the workhouse, a frail mother she had to nurse until her death, a fussy old lady she became constant companion to. No, she wants to take her money and find peace, to travel, to learn art, to sit back and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband.
And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her.
Back Cover Blurb:
It was whispered all through London Society that he was a murderer, that he’d spent his youth in an asylum and was not to be trusted – especially with a lady.Any woman caught in his presence was immediately ruined.Y
Yet Beth found herself inexorably drawn to the Scottish lord whose hint of a brogue wrapped around her like silk and whose touch could draw her into a world of ecstasy.
Despite his decadence and intimidating intelligence, she could see he needed help.Her help.Because suddenly the only thing that made sense to her was
The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie.
I think that is a bit misleading at the beginning.It wasn’t whispered all through London Society – mainly just the ex-fiance and the police inspector.But other then that it’s a pretty good description.
My Thoughts: Ian MacKenzie is one of the most unique heroes I think I’ve ever read.He suffers from what we know is a form of Autism.He had spent many years of his childhood in an insane asylum and as we know – they weren’t very nice places to be.But he was finally rescued by his oldest brother Hart, the very powerful Duke of Kilmorgan.
We first meet Ian when he is purchasing an ancient bowl from an unscrupulous fortune hunter.The dastardly dude goes on to boast about his conquests and his plans to continue despite getting married.
Ian is……..what can I say about him that would do him justice?The word Unique works.He is totally and utterly without guile and says what he thinks – exactly what he thinks.He doesn’t know how to hide his thoughts. And he doesn't understand humour - no matter how Beth tries to make him smile. Beth is quite nonplussed by him, yet very attracted at the same time.And though he is very physically attracted to her, he tells Beth that he will never love her, not that he doesn’t want to love her, he is just incapable of it.
I think the closest I can think of in terms of the kind of hero he makes is Simple Jess by Pamela Morisi.But Ian isn’t simple – not by any means.Instead he borders on brilliant to genius in many areas.He is alternately touchingly naïve and incredibly, sexily experienced.Because he is out of touch with emotions, he uses his senses a lot and in some very inventive ways.
And the heroine Beth; she is an equally incredible heroine.Although she doesn’t understand Ian exactly, she accepts him as he is for all of his oddness.And she is wonderfully protective of him – to the point of going toe to toe with his powerful brother the duke, when she thinks Hart is just using him for his brilliant math skills and recall abilities.I just loved her to pieces.Although quite wealthy, she came by her wealth in a different kind of way.She started her life in the slums of London and slowly moved her way up in life.So unlike many historical heroines, she is quite savvy and as she is also a widow, she has experienced the pleasures of intimacy.When Ian and Beth are together, the chemistry is combustible.These are two vividly drawn characters.In addition to our main characters, there are also Ian’s brothers.Indulgent, protective, confused, all ways they relate to their younger, ‘different’ brother, they are equally vivid characters and all the way through the book I kept hoping they would get their own stories and I don’t normally think like that.And I’m very happy to say they are, though it looks like I’ll have to wait for a while until I get to their stories. I was even most impressed with Curry, Ian’s valet and general care-taker and errand runner.
As if a to die for hero and heroine and great secondary characters weren’t enough, there is an interesting mystery to boot.There is an Inspector Javert type character who is investigating the murder of a young woman in a brothel a few years previously and has been following the MacKenzie clan, knowing they were somehow involved.When another young woman related to the original murder is found dead, he is bound and determined that it is young Ian who did the killing and will do just about anything to try and prove it including trying to undermine the budding romance between Ian and Beth.
Heck - I even love the title of this book. It too is different and unique.
This review is much longer then the usual ones I write but there is so much going on; so much to look forward to, that even this lengthy review doesn’t begin to cover this fascinating and wonderful story.
Unfortunately – this one doesn’t come out until May.But I will revisit this post when it does as this book really deserves to get buzzed. My advice? Circle the date this one comes out in your book buying calendars
Why this one: I had an ARC and thought it about time I started reading some of them.This one is a June release and one to keep an eye out for.
Steam Level: This one takes a long time to boil – but once it does – hmmm – nice and hot.
Website Blurb:Macy Tucker was five years old when her beloved grandfather dropped dead in his spaghetti. At twelve, her father left his family in the dust. At twenty-five, her husband gave his secretary a pre-Christmas bonus in bed, and Macy gave him the boot. To put things lightly, men have been undependable.
That's why dating's off the menu. Macy is focused on law school, and putting herself through—which means being the delivery girl for Papa's Pizza. But cheesier than her job is her pie-eyed brother, who just recently escaped from prison to protect his new girlfriend. And hotter than Texas toast is the investigating detective. Proud, sexy…inflexible—he's a man who would kiss her just to shut her up. But Jake Baldwin's a protector as much as a dish. And when he gets his man—or his woman—Macy knows it's for life.
My Thoughts:Darn, Darn, Darn!!I love it when a review I do has others wanting to read the book I’ve loved, but I hate it when they pass on a book and I’m afeered they might think this after reading this.I hope they don’t because check out the grade at the end - it's a good one.I think the best way to do this is in a letter:
Dear Macy: I liked you, I really did.But at the same time you drove me bonkers!I understand your skittishness about men.Your grandfather died, your father ran off, your brother is a screw up and your ex-husband cheated on you.Goodness knows with that kind of history, I wouldn’t be trusting a guy either!So when you didn’t immediately fall for Jake Baldwin even though we, the readers, will think him lip-smackingly scrumptious right from the get go, I could understand you.But – hello – he did everything he could do to prove to you he was a stand-up guy.A cop who was approached by your brother Billy’s girlfriend who wanted to report a threat to both you and Billy who somehow managed to land himself in jail, Jake got pulled into the case almost against his will.But once he realized that you weren’t in any way involved in the prison break-out when Billy escaped and that there was a Very Bad Man after you, you should have at least trusted him as a cop, if not as a man.
And I did appreciate some of the things you put him through such as kneeing him – hard – in a place guys don’t like to get kneed – when he first snuck up on you.But he forgave you that – even admired you for it despite his pain.And then there was that classic scene when he was being a tad overprotective and tried to keep you from going to the pharmacy for those feminine necessities.Your telling him exactly, in a loud voice, what you needed was laugh out loud funny.And the nun thing – very well done!Kept him guessing it did.
But girl – I had issues with you.When a physco killer who has beheaded someone and slashed someone else is after you; when he has broken into your house and has already made two attempts on your life, when he has threatened to rape you, you trust The Cop.Not trusting the man with your heart is one thing, but not trusting the cop is another.When you lie to said cop, when the killer knows where you live and where you work, you do NOT refuse to leave your home because you are stubborn and you do not go back to your part time job delivering pizza while you go to school, you are making a big mista-ake.We readers have a name for a heroine like you.We call them To Stupid To Live and we do not like them.You walked the fine line a number of times and crossed over a couple of them.This is not a good thing.Your author maybe should not have done this to you.I know you did many of the things you did to try and save your brother, but you showed no sense on some of them.Instead you should have trusted The Cop, Jake.
Your author is a good one.The story was interesting and I found it hard to put down – always a plus when reading a book!I really enjoyed most of it and I can I say I loved Jake to pieces and pieces. Who wouldn’t love a guy who pretends he’s your love interest when cheating ex shows up, who paints the nasty graffiti off your walls, who feeds your nasty cat, who makes you tomato soup and gets caught buck naked by his mama? I’d love a Jake of my own please.And when he screwed up big time near the end as heroes often do, his groveling was Prime!I loved it.I loved his nickname for you even though your author mentioned a time too many about the pizza smell in your car, but then that could be because I’m not a big fan of pizza.I have a few other books by your author that I haven’t read and now I will go searching for them.I’m always happy to find a new author and I’m happy I found yours.
As for your brother Billy’s secondary romance – it was nicely done though he was no Jake and I wasn’t all that impressed with his love interest to be honest and I could tell he had the same set of genes as you did with some of his ideas on how to protect those he loved.
But ultimately, Macy, I’m sorry to say that you, yes you, brought down the grade of the book somewhat.Not to worry; there have been some books where a heroine like you would have made the story a DNF and this wasn’t the case here.But if your author has more stories up her sleeve – and I’m sure she does – I hope she doesn’t make the next heroines quite as stubborn bordering on stupid as she made you at times because on the whole you had great potential.You were excellent at the quick comebacks and any heroine who can do that is thumbs up for me.
So – for you, a 3, for Jake a 5 which averages out to a……..
So - the winner of Whispers of Heaven and The Last Knight by Candice Proctor, April's Author Spotlight - nope, I didn't forget
I know I said that I would do this on Thursday - gulp. But Thursday was a right-off and I thought I had written Friday. But I didn't do it Friday 'cause I forgot when I said Thursday, but thought I said Friday that I couldn't do it on Friday because I was having a group of friends over.
I know I've mentioned them before - Ann, Deb, Janet, Janice, Lori, Sue (and then me of course). We all went back to school together when for one reason or another we found ourselves at a crossroads in our lives - twelve years ago I think now - and we have kept in touch ever since. Four times a year we get together at someone's house and just have a potluck and catch up and talk about stuff - important stuff - like Survivor, So You Think You Can Dance versus Dancing with the Stars, politics, our jobs - you name it - we talk about it. It's always such a fun evening though a few of us commented last night that you can tell we are getting older. They used to last - sometimes until one or two in the morning - but I don't think any of us can party like we used to; last night ended around 11:00 pm I think. *sad sigh*
Last night it was my turn to host. For me the the funnest part was 3 of them and me all trooping down to 'the Library' - them with bags - to load up on books to read. Hopefully some may want to do a guest post on what they liked. Lori went for the Lara Adrian books, Sue went for some Susan Mallery and Deb went for whatever had a hunky guy on the cover.
So that's why I didn't get to this until now - I had to work today on top of that.
But - I have everyone's name listed - and again whoever is in spot # 8 in the random organizer site gets to try one of my favourite authors.
And the winner is....
Peggy P
Congratulations!! If you want to email me (email address in profile) with your address, I will get these sent out Monday - my next day off!! Hopefully you will enjoy her as much as CS Harris :-)
Why this one:I really enjoyed her debut book and this one also got great reviews so….
Blurb:When it comes to the laws of attraction, there are no rules The battle between the sexes is about to make these two lawyers hot under the collar. Opposites collide when two lawyers try to make partner at the same firm. Payton Kendall is a feminist to the bone. Cocky J.D. Jameson was born privileged. But when they are asked to join forces on a major case, they gain a new found awareness of each otheras personal assets. The partnership spot will be offered to only one of them, though. The competition heats up. Sparks fly. Let the games begin.
Steam Level: OK – this one isn’t going to burn your tongue – but that’s a good thing. Who wants a burned tongue all the time?
My Thoughts:First off – I’m still upset that this one isn’t on the shelves here.Because those spur of the moment buyers are missing out.I ordered this one online a while ago and I just checked and this one still isn’t available – in fact it doesn’t seem to be in any of the Chapters or from now on, more aptly named Most Hated Chain Store (MHCS) anywhere across the country!!Arrrgghhh I’d love to have the job of ordering romance books for MHCS.
I wasn’t very far into this book when I realized I was a hypocrite or a sexist or whatever term is more apt.While I loved Payton, I thought J.D. was a jerk.And if this had been reversed – J.D. a nice guy and Payton a character I didn’t like, I would have wanted to throw the book against the wall and probably not continued reading.I mean – how fair is that???That’s not right is it? Why am I like this?
But because it was the way it was, I kept reading.And I’m happy to say that J.D. gets much better as we get to know him and I really enjoyed this book.Payton Kendal and J.D. Jameson have both been working hard at the same law firm, aiming for partner, for eight years and can barely tolerate each other.Payton resents J.D. because he has an edge due to the ‘good old boys’ network and J.D. thinks Payton has an unfair advantage due to initiatives to eliminate the ‘glass ceiling’ that is still so evident in society.When they have to work together to try and lure a new client, they slowly start to get to know other sides of each other.But a monkey wrench is thrown in when it’s announced that only one of them can make partner and each is determined that they will be the one.
I really enjoyed this book.Payton was tough when she had to be – which was most of the time – but in a very appealing way.Although it took her a while, she was willing to rethink her bias towards J.D. and after the reader gets to know him better, he really was adorable in a stuffed shirt kind of way.There were many LOL moments and I always enjoy that in a book.When they get to talking about how their animosity began, I really loved why J.D. was hurt – such a dufus guy kind of thinking.
I quite happily recommend this one and if you are living in Canada and order online, make sure to add this one to your list.If you don’t, then pick up those signs and picket MHCS until we start getting the same chances to buy good books as our neighbour to the south!
Grade: 4.5 out of 5
For those who are interested, she has a great television interview posted on her blog. She makes a great spokesperson for the genre.
And in other news - obviously I wasn't able to stay away long. The situation at work continues to be difficult and I've been advised by the union to 'sit on it' for a few days. Once it's been resolved I will be less cryptic.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
There is some really bad stuff going on with me at work. It's beat me up pretty bad so if I'm not around for a while - that's why.
I'm thinking you have the type of books I love pegged pretty good now *g*. I think you've picked up that all my favourites have wounded in some way kind of way, hero. And *g* to set the record straight, it's not disgust, it's amused disbelief that you have all these great books sitting around so long without being read. But since I'm getting in the same predicament these days myself with a TBR pile that is, for the first time ever, starting to frighten me, I'm sure there is someone out there thinking Kristie, Kristie, Kristie!
And of all the ones I've strong-armed you into reading, I think Ride The Fire is the one you have given the highest grade to. For that I am very pleased. Ms. Clare does indeed have a wonderful way of weaving history into her books and making it interesting.
And I am also wondering if you have seen the movie Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day Lewis. To me, although different, they have a remarkable similar kind of 'feel' to them - considering one is a movie and the other a book.
And you are so right - "This is not a sunshine happy puppy dog rainbow kind of book" :-) And that's one of the reasons it's so highly placed on my favourite list. If given my druthers, I 'druther have a dark story then a light and fluffy one. That first chapter is HARD to read!!
And I'm not sure about the turgid thought thing. After my son came for a visit this evening (and to help me open my mail) we had a very mind boggling (for me anyway) conversation about male turgidity. I wasn't sure he was trying to put one over on his old mother or being more open then he has been since he was seven - but I know now that young men think of turgidity. A LOT. (Of course he totally freaked - which I found very amusing- when the conversation switched to my sex life - or lack of one. I think he quite honestly thought older people 'got over it'. I told him to wait until he was in his fifties and then revisit that thought again)
And again you are right - what makes a book a 'keeper' is an illusive and mysterious thing and one I can't explain either - except I know when I've read one.
In conclusion, knowing you are either a) a harsher judge, or b) I'm an easier sell - not sure which - a B+ is heck of a darn good grade and I'm glad you recommend this one!
We shall see in July which one I can nag you about next. I have a couple in mind (heh heh heh) because what would it be if I didn't Wendy, Wendy, Wendy you with a least one book. And I am also thinking that you could possibly have an opportunity to do it back to me this time.
Yours truly, Kristie J
PS: The only complaint I have to make is now I'm going to have that darn Disney Davey Crockett song running through my head for the rest of the evening. Hopefully it will be gone by morning.
So – I have books coming out the wing wang; books I’m dying to get to, books I need to read. I have werewolf books. I have dragon books. Oh man do I have historical books. I have romantic suspense, I have contemporary, I have western and I have medieval. There are books I want to reread – I’m in a book challenge! And I missed the TBR challenge.
So what did I do yesterday? Did I read? Did I dive into the pile? No – much to my annoyance, I did not. Instead I had a John and Kate plus 8 marathon. I must have watched about three straight hours of John and Kate and their trip to Hawaii and their stop over in San Diego. I watched them and their adorable little ones pose for pictures for the cover of Good Housekeeping. And if that weren’t bad enough, when that was over for the day I watched Ru Paul and his reality show’s quest for a new drag queen. And then came the real horror. I watched the Celebrity Apprentice. I watched Joan Rivers have a meltdown because gambler Annie didn’t appreciate her daughter Melissa’s efforts. I watched Clint Black being – well Clint Black. Did I enjoy these shows? Not really. While John and Kate’s children are all too cute for words, I’m not really a child kind of person. Do I care who wins the drag queen contest? I can honestly say no. Although in this case I was probably more curious at how they transform themselves into gorgeous hot looking women. And do I care about Donald Trump? I shudder at the thought - really and truly shudder. And as if that weren’t bad enough, the day before I watched 2 episodes of CSI Miami with David Caruso. I don’t have the words to explain how much I can’t stand Horatio Kane – they don’t exist. The acting by everyone on this show is appalling. I do like the original and CSI New York – but Miami – oh how I loathe it. Yet I wasted 2 hours watching a show I can’t stand. Why did I do that???? I could probably have got at least 2 or 3 books read – books that are calling; books I want to read – that’s why I got them. But I think I realized something…..
I’m scared of my TBR pile. Yes – that mountain is too scary even for me anymore. But I will not let it defeat me!!! Nay, I will not! This is my declaration that I will NOT watch to see if Kane gets custody of the baby; I do not care if Mac and Billy get back together. Will Phillip Kouiakis die in bed? Will EJ tell Nicole that he arranged to have Brady beaten up within an inch of his life and the day he and Nicole got married? I will tell my self I do not care. I will resist the lure. I choose NOT to watch as Paris and her BBF’s descend on California.
Instead, when I get home from work I won’t let the pile scare me. I will pick up a book and start reading. I WON’T turn on the television until 8:00 and then will ONLY watch it when it comes to Cheryl and Gilles turn to dance – and that only because I have a coffee riding on it. I will read!
And not only that – but this is also an official declaration that (oh man this one hurts) I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER BOOK until I have read at least 5 from the TBR pile. Yes – I am stating – for the record – that for every new book I purchase, I must have 5 read that I already own.
And now we will see how long this lasts – not long I’m willing to bet - not without help. I need encouragement. I need others to stand with me and declare they will NOT watch America’s Next Top Model until they read at least 3 books.
Are there any others out there needing to cull that TBR pile; that need to chip away at that mountain – one book at a time? Am I the only one who has allowed themselves to become intimidated by their overabundance of books? Are there any readers who need a support group? I know I need one!
I was tagged by Annie to do the Hunkie Hero and it will probably come as no surprise to anyone who mine is.
My Favourite Hero:
Who else could it be but Derek Craven from Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas?
Why he stole my heart:
There are oh so many reasons!! He's not a titled hero yet he wields a lot of power. He thinks he's not good enough for the heroine yet he is totally smitten with her. He knows his way around the bedroom. Those are just a few reasons right off the top of my head.
Favourite Quote/Excerpt:
“Stay still!”Derek swallowed hard, his gaze traveling to the lush display of her breasts.“You and your…research.”He said the word as if it were obscene.His hand covered her breast, his palm rubbing over the nipple until it formed a tight bud.He tried tolet her go, but his body wouldn’t obey.Every nerve screamed rebelliously.He wanted more.He would have given everything he owned just to grind himself inside her.Breathing harshly through his teeth, he fought to contain his desire.
“I wanted to be someone other than myself,” Sara said in defiant misery.“The kind of woman that you would…dance with…and desire.And even now…I don’t regret what I’ve done.You may not feel any attraction for Sara Fielding, but al least you felt something for the woman I pretended to be, and that—“
“You don’t think I want you?” he asked hoarsely.
“I knew when you refused to kiss me this morning-“
“That’s what this is about?You wanted revenge because I didn’t…” Craven seemed to choke on the words.When he managed to speak again, his voice was tainted with a cockney twang.“It was enow for you that I’ve ached like a drawn dog ever since you came ‘ere-“
“Drawn dog?” she repeated in confusion.
“Pulled away before the rutting’s finished.”He clenched his hands on either side of her face, glaring at her.“I wanted you this morning, you little tease.I’ve wanted to do you over since the first time I… Be still!”
He snarled the last two words with a roughness that made her cringe.She stopped squirming at once.
Swallowing hard, he forced himself to continue.“Don’t move, or I won’t be able to stop myself.Listen to me.I’m going to let go of you…and you’re going to leave.For good.Don’t come back to the club.”
I just love this scene – it embodies everything I love about Derek; his rough beginnings, his attraction for Sara, his sacrifice at sending her away because he doesn’t think he’s good enough
Who would play Jamie in a movie:
Again - this one is a given - Richard Armitage. The minute he made his first appearance in North and South he was just a natural for the part.
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And more
You may have noticed this phenomenon. And I don't think I'm the only one that suffers from it - fortunately. I seem to buy more books than I read.I hope someday that balances out better but until it does - books that will soon arrive in the mail
The Wolf’s Heart by Jenna Leigh
Reporter Elaine Westerbrook will do anything to get the information she needs, including reigniting a fire with the deliciously mysterious Marcus Bei. Its lonely at the top of the corporate world. But that’s the price hell pay to keep his pack safe from his father and others like him. But Marcus cant find the strength to push away the very thing his other half has been waiting for so long his mate. Together, they search for the truth and find out if they have a future in spite of a past threatening to tear them apart.
I first saw this one at Barbara’s blog and being shallow, I loved the cover.Then I read the storyline and it sounded very interesting.Unlike many others, I love a good ‘destined mates’ storyline and I quite enjoy werewolf stories so I was sold.It sat lonely in my cart until I added more.
The Countess Takes a Lover by Bonnie Dee
Who is learning more, the novice? Or the master? Countess Meredith du Chevalier, a widow with a reputation for being sexually adventurous, is intrigued when she is approached by a gentleman who wishes her to "make a man" of his son. Sensing a passionate man beneath Christopher Whitby'’s reserved exterior, Meredith takes on the challenge, inviting the botanist to her country home to revitalize her abandoned greenhouse. Chris finds people to be a chaotic, animalistic species, and has chosen to devote his life to the study of plants. One kiss from the vivacious countess, however, and his inner animal is aroused. But lust is only a fraction of what he feels for the vulnerable woman hiding behind a brittle fade. He resolves to coax her to grow until her petals unfurl in a glorious bloom. To her surprise, Meredith finds Chris brings much more to life than just fallow soil. But just as their love begins to thrive, he learns about the secret arrangement. Meredith must risk her heart for the most dangerous lesson of all-love.
Although I haven’t read many Bonnie Dee books, the one I did, Bone Deep, blew me away and I kept my eye out for when this one came out in print form.It also has been in my cart for a while…waiting
An Indecent Proposition by Emma Wildes
When the duke of Rothay and the earl of Manderville make a foolish and scandalously public wager over which of them is the more skillful lover, the firmly respectable and notoriously unavailable Lady Caroline Wynn makes the even more shocking offer to serve as judge. The trio all harbor complex secrets of their own, and as they discreetly begin the judging process far away from the keen eyes of society gossips, more than the lady's reputation and the gentlemen's pride are at risk from their growing passions.
It’s the talk of the town. London’s two most notorious rakes have placed a very public wager on which of them is the greatest lover. But what woman of beauty, intelligence, and discernment would consent to judge such a contest? Lady Carolyn Wynn is the last woman anyone would expect to step forward. But if the men keep her identity a secret, she’ll decide who has the most finesse between the sheets.
To everyone’s surprise, however, what begins as an immoral proposition turns into a shocking lesson in everlasting love…
I had seen this one but it was Stacy’s review that convinced me I needed to get it.So being totally self-indulgent when it comes to books, I ordered it.
Fire at Midnight by Lisa Marie Wilkinson
Rachael Penrose is confined to Bedlam insane asylum in London after discovering that her uncle Victor plans to kill her brother in order to inherit the family fortune. Victor, with a gang of criminals, uses French privateer Sebastien Falconer as the scapegoat for his crimes. When Victor spreads the lie that Rachael informed on Falconer’s smuggling activities, Falconer vows revenge on the girl. Gripping suspense and romance play out in front of numerous historical details, including a violent storm that devastated England in 1703 and swept the Eddystone Lighthouse into the sea.
This cover just calls to me.And the storyline sounds right up my alley.I can hardly wait to get my hands on this one.I’m thinking Tuesday just might be the day!!
