Angie's February Challenge - in by the skin of my teeth

Title: Lord of Desire

Author: Paula Quinn

Year published: 2005

Why did you get this book? I really don't remember. I think I read some rec's for it, it's a medieval and a new author

Do you like the cover? not especially. That type is getting old now

Did you enjoy the book? Yes and no - to be answered under anything else

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Yes she is new *grin* and I already have her next book

Are you keeping it or passing it on? Keeping it for now - it's the first in a series

Anything else? Well, I'm an artistic reader and artistically I mostly enjoyed this book. It was a tad more purple than I'm used too. I giggled when the hero commented to the heroine that he wanted to drench himself in her perfume. For the most part I either ignore or I'm not bothered by technical errors. But this one had some doosies that even I noticed. For example - these people never ate!!! I was 3/4 of the way through and suddenly realized that he (Brand - the hero) kept taking her (Brynna - the heroine) up for some boinking before they got around to the meal they were about to have. As far as I can remember, she had a little bit of cooked rabbit in the forest and I'm not sure he ate anything at all. Another thing that I noticed were the days disappeared. In one part, Brynna was injured so Brand put her to bed and then went somewhere else so he wouldn't be tempted to go for more boinking. The next thing he falls asleep, they wake up, go down for breakfast, but don't make it to eat - gotta boink - they fall asleep after the lovin' and it's suddenly the next day. I scratched my head and thought - wait a minute - this doesn't make sense. Where the heck did the rest of the day go???? I looked back but then couldn't be bothered. It would have involved taking notes and I just didn't want to take notes. Another thing that kind of irked me was the whole story took place over about a 5 day span (I think - because days went missing there) and I just had a hard time buying that they fell so deeply in love over that short a time.
Good news. I think she has potential. Tone down a bit of the purple, take the story over a longer time frame, fix up missing days and last but not least - let them eat!!! and I think she can be pretty good. As I said, I have her next one and I'm looking to see if some of the issues I had are straightened out. And maybe I won't notice any technical errors.

'til later

Want to read a hoot of a story?

Yes, I'm being a link slut. This is to avoid doing the math and science quizz that every one seems to be doing and most are passing. Me - I'm afraid to even try it.

Anyway - for a hoot of a story, check out Giselle's blog.

Renee asks an interesting question.

Aren't you glad we don't the covers they do in France? See Gabrielle's blog for proof.

CindyS really did some research and came up with some great quotes!

And Happy Blogday to Wendy!

Now I'm off to write up my (one) new author book I read for AngieW's February challenge because I did it Angie! I did it. I'll have it ready soon. (forgot there were only 28 days this month)


'til later

Oh dear – I hate to be depressing, but things aren’t going at all well right now and writing helps.
Ron had 28 treatments of radiation and until the last day, there seemed to be few side effects. Ha! I thought. This isn’t going to be as bad as we were told it could be. Unfortunately I thought too soon. He is suffering them now. He’s experiencing devastating pain when he tries to eat something. Mealtime – which hasn’t been good since this first started, has become something I dread beyond belief. Seeing him in pain – and he’s not hiding it – is causing me almost unbearable heartbreak. On Sunday, I couldn’t take it and had to drive out and grieve to my sister. Now she’s in pain seeing my pain which is caused by Ron’s pain. And now I feel bad passing it on to others. But if I don’t express it somehow – I will explode. People standing around where I was before the explosion will look, scratch their head and say “Yup – she blowed up reeaalll good there”
One of the options they mentioned before the radiation is a feeding tube. I’m thinking we are going to have to go that route even though when I first heard it I cringed. Ron’s not a big guy. In recent years I’ve compared us to Jack Spratt and his wife – me being the wife. He can’t afford to loose any more weight but eating is causing him excruciating pain. And me eating? Fugetaboutit. Anything I eat tastes like sawdust.
I called Social Services today to see about getting in to talk to someone – that good counsellor thing. I just feel like I can’t talk about it much to my sisters ‘cause it hurts them. One thing I decided. When we get past this – whatever may happen – I am going to find out how I can help other people in similar situations. That’s one thing keeping me going.
Work is both a blessing and a curse. If I didn’t have work to go to and stayed home with Ron all day – well I just can’t imagine. On the other hand, my concentration powers are lower that a snake’s belly in a wagon rut right about now. We are talking zombie girl here.
One of the things that absolutely helps the most though is the cyber romance community. Visiting and reading message boards and even more the romance blogging community is what’s helping to keep me sane. That and an extremely strange and some might even say warped sense of humour I inherited from my parents.
Reading blogs, commenting on blogs, doing my own blog – it is all helping more than I can express.
So, if you’ve made it to the end of this entry – my thanks and deepest appreciation for being a member of the community.

This and That

First This

I just finished Devil in Winter and all I can say is Wowzers!!! I think this is her best book since the infamous Dreaming of You that I might have *um* encouraged a few people to read. Since not everyone has found this book yet, and isn't it odd that two of those have copies of the book I'm most eagerly awaiting, I won't say too much. But oh I loved this book. In fact, I think I'll read it again starting tomorrow. For those of you who haven't read this one yet but read the first two and thought Evie might not be a match for Sebastien - do not worry. She is more than a match for him. And anyone who wasn't sure about him after he kidnapped Lillian - not to worry. He makes a delightful hero. In fact - I don't say this lightly - he is right up there with Derek Craven as a hero extraodinaire!! It was almost a perfect book. The only thing that kind of through me off was when they kept referring to Cam as "the boy". Wasn't he supposed to be 22? And he sure weren't no boy in the scene with Daisy!!!
It was very weird though. Before Evie proposed and married Sebastien, we shared the same last name.

Grade - 5 out of 5

And now for That
I spent some more of my poker winnings. I broke down and bought




The first season DVD of Lost. Now I will have the episode of The Kiss all for my very own to watch and watch and watch


'til later

They just couldn't resist

Those wild and wacky cover clowns at Avon strike again.

I didn't notice this dreadful, horrible, awful inside cover until I picked the book up to read it.

Shirtless men in capes in the dead of winter - stupid, stupid, stupid.
Rich women with bare feet in the dead of winter - stupid, stupid, stupid.
And could heroes hair get any greasier?

I know Sybil thinks I pick on Avon too much *grin* - but seriously - can you blame me?


'til later

The FIRST of my poker winnings

Devil in Winter - Lisa Kleypas
Don't hate me Cindy. I feel like I'm raining on your parade - but I couldn't NOT get it could I?????? I mean, as Sybil points out, she does mention a certain someone.


Beloved Stranger - Patricia Potter
I used to love her historicals but then she switched to RS which I didn't like nearly as much. But it looks like she's writing historicals again. Now - if only she will go back to Westerns the world will be a brighter place.

The Devil's Knight - Lucy Blue
I know, I know, I don't "do" vampires. But I loved Lover Eternal! And I love her books under Jayel Wylie

The Warrior - Heather Grothaus
Since I love to try new authors - and it was only $5.99 (this is Canada remember - check the fine print) and it is a medival. Even though Bam did a wickedly funny snark on the cover I got it anyway.


'til later

Degrees of Frustration update

Well, I met with the social worker. She was very nice and sincerely apologetic that she hadn't returned my calls. It seems she was off work on Monday and Tuesday and when she returned on Wednesday, had 27 calls to return.

I didn't have to get angry - which was a relief as I really don't do anger well. Or, on the other hand I do it too well - I'm not sure which * see further down. And I didn't have to apologize for loosing my temper since I managed to direct it somewhere else.

She was very impressed with all the stuff Ron had organized. Even I was astonished when I looked at him as he pulled out all the statements he's gotten in the mail dating back to December - that arrive weekly. I'd told him earlier how heavy the bag was that I carry around - now I know why.

It turns out it's a very simple process to switch gears - simply sending in one form to the Employment Office, but we did need the attending doctor's signature. Since he has two that wasn't hard to get - and no, it wasn't Dr. Noshow who signed it.

The frustrating part - they had to delay the big chemo another week due to low white blood cell count.

I must admit though I did get a chuckle later in the day when someone posted this:

I can certainly accept that some people are filled with rage or
anger or “negative feelings’ but really, are we supposed to “express them” by
dumping it onto OTHERS??
I have an old fashioned belief in bucking up,
turning lemons into lemonade, being polite.
What does politeness and
kindness have to do with anger and negative feelings??
If someone is filled
with angst and anger and negativity, a good counselor might help. Don’t dump it
onto the rest of us.
My humble opinion.I don’t have a lot of time for the
self indulgent let it all hang out communication methods that some seem to find
de rigeur for these times.
A little kindness please!

in reply to a post I did at RTB. My apologies *grin* for dumping on the rest of you. I'm off to find that good counselor.


'til later

A day of incedible frustration

I need to vent!

When Ron was first diagnosed one of the services that was offered was counseling, both emotional and financial. He wasn't and still isn't interested in the emotional, but the time has come for us to make use of the financial services. He stopped working near the end of November. First off he had four weeks vacation that he used and then he went on short-term disability. He is coming near the end of that now. He goes on Employment insurance for a while and then, if needed, long term disability.
At the begining, I spoke to someone in the Social Services department and they said they will help with the transitioning, sending in the forms so we don't have to go to the Employment office, that kind of thing. I started trying to get hold of them 3 weeks ago for help. We go to the clinic every Friday and I stopped in the office. The first time, there was no secretary - just a sign on the desk saying to wait in the atrium and someone would come out and when they were available. Well - that didn't work. I had to get back to Ron and then I had to get to work. The next Friday, there was no sign and no person. I said "hello?" and someone came out. She said she couldn't help me but told me to wait. When I explained that I couldn't - that I had to get to work as soon as Ron was done, she took my name and number and said someone would call. That was last Friday. No one had by mid-afternoon on Monday so I called them. Voice mail. I left my name, number and what I needed. Tuesday afternoon. No one had called. I called again. Voice mail. I left another message adding that my husband was starting to get very concerned and anxious and to please call me back. Wednesday. Still no one had called me back. By now Ron is really starting to get worked up and almost panicked. I called again. Today by mid-morning, after my regular morning call to Ron, he was very very upset that we hadn't heard anything.
F%#k this I thought and called the office rather than the social worker. I spoke to someone and explained the situation. I then said that he would be in for most of the day tomorrow and could I please get a time when I could come in and see the social worker. The woman on the phone then told me that she couldn't make appointments, that she would take my name, number and have the social worker call me. I could not believe it. I had TOLD her that the social worker hadn't been returning my calls. At this point I should have gotten very firm - but I'm saving it for tomorrow.
This is social services I'm dealing with! They are supposed to make things easier. I can not imagine in my job, not returning one call for four days. I left four f*****g messages! - Four!Instead I am more frustrated, angry and disgusted at them then even with Dr. Noshow - who still hasn't shown by the way.
I'm sure they are very busy. I understand this. But I do not understand not returning 4 calls and a hand delivered message in a weeks time. I started calling Monday and wasn't looking to talk - only to set up an appointment for Friday.
Meanwhile Ron is beside himself, starting to complain constantly because he feels so sick all the time, can't eat without it causing a great deal of pain and I don't know what to do.

Last Nights Lost

NOT

First off - it wouldn't be Last Night's Lost 'cause I'm early so it would be tonight's Lost

Second - it was (gee) a repeat (again). Although hopefully Tara got a chance to see it

Which is actually a good thing because then I would have been torn between watching Lost and Boy's Night on American Idol.

So instead my faves for the next American Idol

First off - the girls



Paris


Mandisa


Kellie


Katharine


Lisa


Now for the guys


Chris


Taylor


Gedeon


Bucky


Ace (and yes, yes, indeed he was just as good to listen to)

I know Keishon is rooting for Paris. And like me she has a soft spot for Taylor Hicks. Looks like it will be a good season!

'til later

*Edited*

OK - so obviously I watched AI last night instead of Lost. - but still in the Lost department, I found this article very interesting.

And now for something different

My picture supplying friend sent these and I double dog dare you not to say at least one aaaawwww

'Cause I loves ya

I'm doing this from work (and listening very carefully for footsteps)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

JAY

So far I'm 0 for 2

This is the second new-to-me author I tried this month that I couldn’t finish. I don’t know if this is cheating or not to list it. I don’t think AngieW specified whether or not we had to actually finish a book for the challenge or not. But I’m beginning to panic a little at not getting one in yet so I’m going to do this one just so that she can see that I am trying.

Title: Sweet Water
Author: Anna Jeffrey
Year published: 2005
Why did you get this book? I saw that it got very good reviews in a couple of places and since I like trying new authors – I thought I’d give it a shot
Do you like the cover? Yes – It’s a wonderful cover
Did you enjoy the book? – Um – since it’s a DNF – that would be no
Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again? Yes – new author and no not interested in trying anything else by her.
Are you keeping it or passing it on? Passing it on
Anything else? I don’t want anyone thinking this is a bad book. It isn’t. It just didn’t work for me. The heroine was a wonderfully compassionate person and the secondary characters were very interesting. The story premise was an intriguing one but I think it was the hero that did the book in. He just didn’t do a thing for me. Uber rich, gorgeous guy – what’s not to love? But I didn’t. First off the author did a big no-no for me and described him as looking like Mel Gibson. I really don’t like when an author uses a celebrity – any celebrity, even if it’s one I’m hot for - to describe the looks of a hero. I think that’s a cop out. Plus I don’t think poor Mel has aged well and he’s turned a wee bit loony and I don’t want to picture him as the hero. Now if it had been the Meg Gibson from the movie The Bounty – well – it might not have been quite so bad.


I still would have considered it cheating – but cheating I could handle *grin*.



In addition, in one of the more shallow judgements of a hero, I couldn’t get past his name – Terry. Name association played too much a role here. I worked with a couple of Terry’s and they were both well past retirement age and had white hair and glasses. One was way too tall and the other was very short. Whenever I read the heroes’ name, it brought unwelcome mental images. Not that there was anything wrong with the Terry’s I worked with – I just didn’t want their faces associated with a romance book.
I did get quite a ways into this one once again before throwing in the reading towel. But I just got to the point where I realized I just wasn’t enjoying it and since my TBR pile is huge, really I was wasting my time in trying to finish it for the challenge. So anyone thinking of getting or reading this book – don’t go by me.



'til later

Reminder

Tomorrow is the last day to send in ballots for the Annual Readers Poll at All About Romance.

Me - I love entering this and I'm always looking forward to seeing who the winners are. I think it's more valid than some of the other contests held such as the ones at RWA. This one is where we readers get to have our say.


'til later

The day after the night before

Well, I got 3 hours sleep last night. Playing poker with a lot of women who have never played before can take a loooonnnnnggggg time. I got home at 2:00 am and was too psyched to go to bed right away - had to pick out what books to get with my $100 winnings don't you know. Then I was up at 7:00 which is 2 hours later than my usual wake-up time, so I'm headed for a nice long Saturday nap on a cold and wintery day.

So instead of blogging myself, check out Cindy's blog. She has a most excellent topic.

Night all

Over and out.


'til later

Holy Texas Hold 'em Batman!

Would you believe I won!!!!!

Never played poker in my life - but I was the nights big winner.

And I bet you all know what I'm spending my winnings on.


And it's funny how one letter can make a difference. I am tickled - not ticked - that they still include me in their girls night events.



'til later

Well, it's now officially been a year

Subtitled

Kristie Gets Mushy

It’s been a year to the day (minus a day 'cause it's still an hour away from midnight but I'm headed for bed and I have a big day tomorrow - gonna play poker after work with some friends) when I started this blog. I first started noticing blogs when I read Laurie Golds of AAR. I looked at her sidebar and recognized the names of some of the regular posters at AAR. Maili and Rosario are the two that come to mind the most. I checked theirs out and found more, Keishon , for example. Being out of work at the time and looking for ways to delay the job search, I decided “what the hell, why not?”. I’m still amazed that I actually got one up and running. I still have about three zygote blogs out there in cyberspace from failed attempts.
Since my overriding passion is romance books, I wanted to focus on different aspects of romance. Occasionally I figured I might blog about something entirely different – thus the etc part. I’ve always loved writing and even had thoughts of giving writing a romance book myself at one time – but I’ve since realized that’s not likely to happen. So having a blog has really satisfied that urge to write. But more important, I’ve discovered something else. Blogging has really enriched my life.

This is where I really start getting mushy

I’ve said before that none of my friends or family are nearly the romance book fan that I am. I wondered for a while what was wrong with me. Why did I seem so out of control? Then I discovered TRR and soon after that AAR. I realized there was a whole lot of readers just like me. After discovering this, whenever my sisters raised their eyebrows at me for some of the odder quirks such as having boxes of books I’ve never read while still buying more, or always buying purses that could hold at least 2 books - mom purses they call them - I could proudly say “I’m not alone, I have PEOPLE.”
Well, once I started blogging, things changed somewhat. While before some of the romance-centric bloggers were just names on the AAR bulletin boards whose posts I enjoyed, now they started becoming real as we interacted. I found more and more blogs out there to read and enjoy and wonder of wonders, they started reading mine too. There was a bit of a discussion about blogs recently at AAR with the gist being some posters just weren’t interested, but for me it’s been a wonderful way to connect deeper with fellow romance fanatics. I’ve discovered we come in all walks of life and from all over the world. From Canada to all across the US, across the ocean to England, to the south in Uruguay, to Haiti, France, even as far away as Australia and Singapore. What we all share is a deep and abiding love for romance books. Most of us are different as night and day, we come in such a large age and cultural range, yet in some ways it seems I have just as much in common with many bloggers than I do with close friends. So for those who have dropped by just to read – thanks. I hope you enjoyed the visit. For those who have stopped by and left comments again thanks for taking the time. I’ve read and enjoyed all of them.
And to those who helped me – a techno-newbie– with pictures and designing the look of the blog and any and all advice – thank you for your time and generosity.
Some I have come to know even better – through exchanging emails and chatting. Although I haven’t been able to chat lately, I really miss it and those I “talked” too. I would start mentioning names, but then I would be bound to forget to mention someone and feel bad. But I just have to mention Jay (who met Krisite once) and Nicole as my two best chat buddies. And Sybil – well you are so special too. Heck – everybody is! I always check all blogs at the side and more besides that when I find them - ones that I haven’t added - yet and each and every one of you are great.

Now when my sisters look at me for one of my strange habits I think “It’s not just people I have anymore – it’s I have FRIENDS.” And I’m looking forward to making more! It seems there has been a romance reader blog explosion lately – and I like it!

OK the mushy stuff is over now.

But before I post this

A big THANK YOU to all.

‘til later

Last Nights Lost

Spoilers

Lots o' questions

Well, another most excellent episode I thought although once again I was confused.

Sayid said he was The Torturer. I think he started his career as an "information gatherer" when he got the location of the pilot for the American soldiers. Then they let him go. I presume he went on to his new career for the Iraqui army after that, but how could he go back to the army after torturing his comanding officer? Wouldn't someone have found out he worked for the Americans?

What are they doing to some of the characters this year?

Jack - last season he allowed Sayid to get information out of Sawyer - one of their own - with out much compuction - and Sawyer didn't even have the medicine yet last night he was willing to risk the entire world to save someone from Sayids brand of "information gathering" who was probably guilty. I don't get that.

Sawyer - what are they doing to his character? Last season he was a bad boy but showed signs of good underneath but not this season. Last week he ran a con and stole the guns, last night he squished a frog.

John Locke - how does he manage to keep his white T-shirts so clean?

The guy they captured - I'm thinking he is definetly one of the others.

For a deserted island, there sure are a lot of different groups and people running around. We have the front part of the plane people and the tailies, although they've united now. We have The Others. We have Danielle. And we have the guy, whose name escapes me, who manned the hatch.


And in other Wednesday night television news:

I know who I'm going to be cheering for on American Idol. Is Ace a hottie or what? I don't know if he can sing or not, but he sure will look good in the trying. I was fanning myself right along with Paula last night. The other contestant sure was right - he is pretty.






Not a very good picture but it's all I could find on short notice

Bodice Ripper

From Wikipedia:
A bodice ripper is genre of romantic fiction, often historical fiction, in which the heroine often loses her virginity by force. They are typically full of unrestrained romantic passion. Usually the cover depicts a female whose bodice is being ripped by a muscular, often shirtless man. Often she first resists him, but is later overcome with passion.
They may be viewed as a form of escapist fiction, with the historical background providing a way of allowing the reader to indulge in a rape fantasy without guilt.


Has a term ever done more damage or been more demeaning to an entire genre of writing than this one has?
In one fell swoop, it makes all romance books – or at least historical romance – sound like trash.
I googled it and here is some of what comes up:

men look at photos, women read bodice-rippers. Sexual interest is normal,
healthyand fun. sex crimes are horrible, but There is a huge difference between
...

Or this gem:

Can we agree to escort her to a comfortable upstairs room where she can
bebrought her meals and a new bodice ripper every few days?

Or how about:

... Read this if you are looking for something other than a mindless bodice
ripper.Although judging from the reviews here, most people aren't. ...

This one amuses me though:

I can see where some people might confuse me with Fabio, what with all
theweight-lifting and modeling for the covers of bodice-rippers I've been
doing

Every time I hear that phrase I cringe. It brings to mind some bleach blond big-chested bimbo trailer trash nymphet. That is NOT what the romance genre is about.
I’ve been reading romance books for years and years and when they began to grow in popularity in the 80’s there may have been a case. Read any Rosemary Rogers or Kathleen Woodiwiss and they fit into the mould of what that term illustrates. Dumb women being treated like dirt by supposed heroes. I read them, I hated them and I gave them up for a number of years because of the negativity and hidden messages I found in them. But when I came back to romance, the genre had changed entirely. There were still the occasional throwbacks, but for the most part the hero no longer said “I love you” by forcing the heroine into having sex and the heroines were more intelligent and a lot less naive and twittish and didn’t take nearly the shit from the heroes as they did when romance in it’s newer form first emerged.
So it bothers me to the nth degree that this phrase is still being used today. And it also bothers me to that same degree that many of the covers we still see reinforce that stereotype. That’s part of the reason why it seems I’m so harsh with Avon covers. In the back of my mind, I’m wondering whether their marketing department has a secret disdain for their readers. Men with naked chests – even in the winter scenes, and women with overflowing and obviously false boobs (breasts, bosoms – it was a hard thing deciding what word to use here – odd that!) still scream “bodice ripper” Still – to give Avon their due, from some of the covers Sybil has posted lately – they are improving – although we aren’t seeing the back covers. My choice – if I were to ever have a say-so would be to have the hero/heroine posed together and at least moderately covered up in a step-back cover. – But I digress.
We don’t have the same type of romance nowadays that we used to so why used the same terms as they did back then?

I mean after all, how many still use the term groovy?

And does this irritate other readers as much as me or is this just a Krisite thing?

‘til later

How many of these are there anyway?

For Ag who just read her first Judith McNaught - which happens to be my favourite book of hers . And for Where's My Hero who is thinking of giving McNaught a shot. I think there must be at least four different covers of this one. Any other different ones out there?

This one happens to be one of my more beat up books. They are usually in much better shape. But I bought it at a UBS.

And a thank you again to my son who bought me a scanner for Christmas :) so I can do this kind of thing now.





'til later

When is enough enough?

I know there are many different types of readers. Some readers insist on finishing every book they start whether they are enjoying it or not. I'm not one of those readers. I have so many books in my TBR pile and I also do a lot of rereading so time is too short and there are too many books to read to continue if I'm not enjoying a book. But every so often I will try reading beyond what should have been the cut-off mark. This just happened with Cherry on Top by Kathleen Long. I bought it a while ago when I saw Wendy really liked it and tried to read it for Angie W's January Challenge - contemporaries. But I wasn't really feeling it and January turned into February. I put it aside to read a few other books and then tried to read it again for February's Challenge - new to you authors. But I finally came to the conclussion yesterday, that enough was enough. It was such a struggle to read this book, I really didn't like the heroine, hated the dog and it was getting painful to continue.

So for those readers who are like me and often don't finish a book, when is enough enough? Do you ever try and keep going even though you know you're beating a dead horse? Do you feel bad when you can't finish a book? I usually don't but I did with this one.

And for those readers who do finish bad books - how on earth do you manage to do it?

'til later