I WANT TO BE HERE

Voracious

vo·ra·cious (vô-rā'shəs, və-) adj.

1. Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.
2. Having or marked by an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; greedy: a voracious reader.

I know that compared to women who have to get up each day and walk miles for water my life is a piece of cake. And in all seriousness, those women are never far from my thoughts because I know my life here in the United States is pretty darn peachy.

As peachy and great as my life is I still get a yen to indulge in some pretty decadent and indulgent behavior. Like I did this weekend for instance. I had a perfectly good rationalization too. Week before last I was busy getting sick and getting ready for Shmoo's 18th birthday party and that pretty much shot that week AND last weekend. I sure didn't get to read very much.

Yeah, I know you are probably thinking about those two books I posted about. In my defense I read those two books over a week. I think. Or, maybe even 10 days. That's slow reading for me. Besides I'm counting on all of you to be on my side here.

Anyway, this past week I was busy recovering, catching up with work and complaining on my blog. A busy and full week, no? *tongue firmly in cheek* Still not too much reading getting done. No book buying getting done for sure. Then the weekend rolled around again.

GG and I did our swimming, our grocery shopping, I made, as you know, quite a few book purchases, and we came home and did most of the rest of our weekend chores. We were busy little worker bees. So much so that I felt completely comfortable rewarding myself on Sunday with a little reading. Of course, there is no such thing is there? A little reading?

So here's my confession. I finished three books this weekend. I finished the Kresley Cole book Saturday night and then knocked out both the Anne Stuart FIRE AND ICE and the third O'Sullivan brother book by Kathleen O'Reilly NIGHTCAP on Sunday. Decadent AND voracious wasn't it?

I ask you though, how could I resist the temptation? First, I had all those lovely new books I'd just purchased. Then Beanie was working at the final matinee of GUYS AND DOLLS, which GG and I caught Saturday night btw, Shmoo was making the world a happy place by serving up Big Macs, and GG went out for his last long run in preparation of his half marathon on Mother's Day weekend. You know what that means right? A quiet and empty house.

What was I to do left home alone with all that lovely sunshine and silence? Shmoo's scrapbook? I did what any red-blooded book lover would do. I curled up in my bed with my books. There was actually a three hour period of no men, no phone, no tv, no music, no drums, NO noise. Just Emily snoozing in the sun and me reading. My bad? It was bliss. I hated to break for lunch.

Man, I was spoiled. Mother's Day is in two weeks, but I had the best day ever. After lunch and a chat with GG it was back to reading.

As a result I was patient and listened to Shmoo's woes at work when he got home. Beanie came home and had to tell me all about the final performance of Gs&Ds and the cast party. And GG, well he went to bed with a smile on his face. Yep, it was a very good day.

Shhhhhhh...don't tell my guys though. They think the turkey sausage and scrambled egg whites and dry english muffin they will be preparing for me in a couple of weeks is what is going to float my boat. I don't have the heart to tell them that "Silence is golden" had to be coined by a Mother who loved to read.

Why I'm Happy Today...

Books. That's why I'm happy. Books.

Thanks to the ever excellent Ames and Nath I found out that a couple of books I mentioned in my previous post were out in the stores early. Blogger buddies rock that way. Thanks guys.

Anyway, big surprise that my local Barnes and Noble only had the Kresley Cole book, DARK NEEDS AT NIGHTS EDGE. Believe me when I tell you I knew that Anne Stuart's book should have been out on the shelves. As Nath pointed in the comments Ms. Stuart's books are released by MIRA Books and you can usually find them early.

But, ooooooh nooooooo... not at my book store. I was really irritated. Really. Irritated. I'd gone to the AS website and read the truly excellent excerpt of FIRE AND ICE and I wanted that book. Now.

But then, dear friends, the wonderful fabulous lovely man I'm married to reminded me it was time to go to our favorite health food grocery store TRADER JOE'S. Why was I so happy and excited? TJ's is only a few miles from my favorite BORDERS store.

I knew Borders would have the AS book shelved because they are just the ab-so-lute best when it comes to getting books out as soon as possible. Talk about an adrenalin rush...whew! As you know, I had all that pent up book buying energy from three weeks of almost no purchases. You can do the math. Money in pocket. Books to buy. Yes, it all exploded came together today at Borders.

Here's what I got:

FIRE AND ICE by Anne Stuart

LAST WOLF WATCHING by Rhyannon Byrd (3rd in a 'meh series, but I have to finish the series don't I?)

A LADY'S SECRET by Jo Beverley

NIGHTCAP by Kathleen O'Reilly (3rd of series I've been enjoying. I could have gotten the ebook earlier, but I have the other two in print and wanted this one to match them because I'm probably going to keep the series.)

TO TASTE TEMPTATION by Elizabeth Hoyt (May 1st release date. Score!)

FALLEN by Erin McCarthy

PLAYING WITH FIRE by Katie MacAlister (off shoot of Aisling Grey series. This is about the Silver dragons)

BADDEST BAD BOYS anthology with Shannon McKenna, EC Sheedy and Cate Noble

THE COURTESAN'S SECRET by Claudia Dain

So I definitely made up for the rest of the month today. And I'm happy, very, very, happy we had to go grocery shopping.

I got nothing...

Saying I got nothing is not completely true. Not that anyone asked me...but at any given moment I can take off on a topic like you wouldn't believe. Okay that's probably not fair to even mention to the people who read this blog. You guys already know I can go on and on about something or derail and go off topic pretty much at the drop of a hat. Although, believe it or not, I do try NOT to do that.

Anyway, even though there are several topics that I can rant, write, or rhapsodize over in any given moment of the day, just ask the SoCal Bloggers what happens when someone brings up LOVER UNBOUND for instance, I couldn't think of anything I wanted to talk about right now. I think I have three different posts started, but the words just aren't flowing. Good thing I don't have to write to pay the bills huh?

Bummer. That.

There are however (surprise!) a couple of things I have been thinking about. For instance, is it me or were the new releases in April pretty slim pickings? I think I've only purchased maybe five books this month? That's about a third of my usual purchases. I saw the new Iris Johansen hardcover in Barnes and Noble yesterday and couldn't whip up the energy to buy it. I've enjoyed the Eve Duncan series, but I don't know if I have enough interest left to buy the book in hardcover.

Although, I'm looking forward to Kresley Cole's new release on Tuesday, Dark Needs at Nights Edge (excerpt) and then on May 1st Anne Stuart and Elizabeth Hoyt have books coming out. Right? Please nobody tell me any of these have been delayed or changed. Okay?

I guess continuing to plow through ye olde tbr isn't the end of the world. I HAVE found some good books, really good books, buried in there. Oh and on Saturday I'm going swimming again after a two week "I'm too sick to swim" break. So I do have some stuff to look forward to. Maybe these bluish sort of feelings are just leftover from, you know, *whispers* being sick.

So I'm going to think happy thoughts and sing...

*cue music* "The sun'll come out...to-morrow. Bet yer bottom dollar that to-morrow...there'll be sun. To-morrow! To-morrow! I love ya To-morrow... you're on-lee a day a-waaaaay!

Talk about books...

This is actually a post I started a week ago before I was felled by whatever it was that felled me. Anyway, I wanted to tell you about a couple of good books I read.




Beau Crusoe by Carla Kelly. This is from my tbr and I guess I could have written a review and saved it for next month's TBR Day, but it just didn't seem like the right thing to do.

First of all there's still a whole month before the next TBR Day. Keishon's challenge really has me on a roll reading some older stuff. Also, I figure it's incentive to keep things going if I have to read another book from the tower of tubs that is my tbr. How's that for some right thinking, huh?

Secondly, and more importantly, I really enjoyed the book and I love sharing that sort of news. Why I waited to read this gem I don't know. I remember buying the book, my first Carla Kelley, because there was a lot of buzz about it when it came out.

Our hero James Trevenen was stranded on an island for seven years after a storm shipwrecks the vessel he serves on. Desperately lonely, James studies crabs on the island and writes a treatise of sorts about them. James has come to London to receive a special medal and recognition for his scientific studies and observations.

James ends up staying at the family home of Susannah Park a widow with a young son. Susannah's father has been asked by a family friend to have James stay with them a couple of weeks before the ceremony so he won't have to stay alone in a hotel in London.

The meeting of this tender, intelligent, lonely man who has gone through this incredible experience and the isolated, lonely and devoted Susannah is a wonderful tale about regular people. While they suffer from the worries and moral strictures of the times, these aren't the titled and super wealthy.

I enjoyed the book very much for the subtle and skillful way Ms. Kelley reveals that there's much more to know about what happened to James on the island as there is to Susannah's reason for isolated servitude on her family's estate.

This is a good story told well with a lot of character and charm. Needless to say I'm going to start looking for Ms. Kelley's back list.





The second book I devoured read, which I won recently from the awesome chicks over at BOOK BINGE, is SEALed with a Kiss by Mary Margret Daughtridge. I have to admit I was ready to buy this book after reading Holly's review. As you might imagine winning a copy was pretty freaking cool.

This book also has exceptionally well drawn characters. Yes, it is a book with a Navy SEAL as the hero. I hope that won't stop you from reading it. However, Ms. Daughtridge takes pains throughout the book to draw a realistic picture of the life of a Navy SEAL and more importantly the life of the families of a Navy SEAL. Ms. Daughtridge points out the drawbacks amidst the glamorous misconceptions.

Jax Graham's ex-wife dies unexpectedly leaving Jax with the dilemma of how to care for his young son. Family therapist Pickett Sessums happens on father and son while they are vacationing at the beach.

This isn't a story about a manly alpha hero rescuing the damsel in distress. In fact it's pretty much the opposite. Pickett's experience as a family therapist is helping Jax reconnect with his son. Once again we have two regular people who have problems just like the rest of us. Upon meeting they strike sparks but also find solace, support and help from one another.

It was refreshing to have two characters satisfied with their lives before they meet each other. A pivotal plot point turns on how Jax and Pickett could manage to make a life together work without either one of them having to give up the life and career they love.

For those of you groaning about the kids in both of these books let me just say that in neither one of the books are the kids an annoyance or obstruction to the story. Both little boys are realistically written.

Shut up and take your medicine...

With my head a bit clearer I can see in retrospect that I really should have insisted on the antibiotics last week when I went to the doctor. I shrugged and said "okay" when she prescribed Nasonex.

Let me just say that after 24 hours of antibiotics I'm finally on the mend. I can swallow without it feeling like cut glass and my voice is making a slow return to the land of the living.

My advice to anyone who gets this fever and sore throat crap that's going around? It's not just a cold. Okay? I'm a little slow sometimes but now that I'm feeling better I can see that I was being stubborn on that issue a little bit. Get the antibiotics and feel better. Don't be dumb like I was. Or maybe it's better said I was clueless.

GG is much relieved and happy I'm staying home from work today to get some much welcome sleep. So did I miss anything? The last week is sort of a blur.

Do You Know this Woman?

This is Danica Patrick. Guess what she did? She won the Indy Japan 300 making her the FIRST woman to win an IndyCar event. You can read more about it here and here.


BTW, Danica knows how to represent. Sometimes she looks like this...






And when she's taking care of business she looks like this...




Congrats on the checkered flag Danica. I hope it's the FIRST of many.

Charmed, I'm Sure

Being Italian, Catholic and raised by very conservative parents, I'm not one to make public displays of tantrums or fuss. My extended family trades in quips and sarcasm. My mother was the Queen of Passive Aggressive world. Me? Well, as you know, I love the occasional whine and wimper.

Today? Well, today I'm in a full blown crabby melt down and considering making an exception and having myself a tantrum.

Sometime during REM sleep my voice left the building. Yes, that's correct. Fever? Gone. Fever blister? Gone. Plugged ears? Gone. Sore throat? Worse. Cough? Worse than ever...ever...ever....

Yes, that's right my throat is actually worse. One of my brother's who was at the BBQ yesterday called this morning. When I croaked a "hello" his reply was, "Rosie? Geez! What did you do to your voice since I left last night?"

Wish. I. Knew.

Reporting to you from "I'm in a POUT Central",

Crabby, whining, feel sorry for poor GG, the blogger formerly known as Rosie.

T G I F and What's Shmoo Got to do with it?

I've never been so happy to see a week end. Got lots to do today to get ready for Shmoo's 18th birthday BBQ and party. It's tomorrow and I've got close to nothing done. In case I've never mentioned it before (you wish) being sick sucks. Praise be we are only having around 3o-35 people not the almost 200 Lori over at Let's Gab is having for her son's Bar Mitzvah. Ho-lee! After reading about Lori's guest list I felt pretty good about my informal little shindig.

Apparently getting a new iPod and iHome from his parents and a set of boxing gloves from his brother (scary that) weren't all Shmoo decided he wanted for his birthday. His birthday was Wednesday this week. To celebrate on the day, he asked me to go with him to the Apple store. We did not leave empty handed. Shmoo bought himself, with his own hard earned dollars from working at McDonalds, a black Macbook.

It's a whole new world people. Shmoo on his own laptop roaming free out in cyberspace. As the immortal Betty Davis said, "Fasten your seat belts...it's gonna be a bumpy ride."

Trends

I'm talking about trends in this month's post at Access Romance. So, c'mon throw me a bone and go check it out.

TBR Day: HUNTERS SALVATION by Shiloh Walker

HUNTER'S SALVATION by Shiloh Walker. Copyright July 2007. Read an excerpt here. Second installment of Keishon's TBR Day Challenge.

Update on the whole tbr project: I have continued to read several older print books but some of them I'm acquiring on recommends so I can't really say they are from my tbr pile mountain. I do feel good about doing two thorough sorts this past month and I had the good fortune to come across this months selection.

I've been reading Shiloh Walker's work I believe since her first e-pub book at Ellora's Cave. One of the things I most appreciate about her work is that she's an eclectic writer. She's written contemporaries as well as the paranormal Hunter series and covered a wide range of subjects. I'm particularly looking forward to reading THROUGH THE VEIL her June 3, 2008 release from Berkley Sensation.

I've read all the Hunter books but was still surprised when I checked Ms. Walker's website to see that Salvation was book 11 in the series. While characters from other books appear in this book. It's completely stand alone and you wouldn't have any trouble reading or understanding the Hunter world if this is the first book of the series you read.

This book is the story about Vax and Jessica. Vax is a former Hunter who is a powerful witch and an empath who follows a "call" from his ranch in Montana to Indianapolis. Jessica Warner is a reporter in Indianapolis who happens to have telekinetic abilities.

Jessica is following a story about the mysterious disappearance and murders of several young women when her own sister is abducted and killed. Since Jess's sister is a very strong empath and when her broken body is found Jess picks up the horrors of her torture and death. Jess is even more determined, almost suicidal, to find the men responsible for her sister's death.

Even though Vax is retired from the Hunters, no longer having the stomach for the work, he cannot dismiss the call to find the evil lurking in Indianapolis. This particular city is not under the guardianship of any Hunter master so Vax feels honor bound to check out what's going on. Almost immediately upon his arrival he meets Jess at a night club which is one of the few links some of the missing women share. The police haven't been able to tie the club to any of the murders, but both Jess and Vax are there because they know there's more going on than meets the eye.

This isn't a typical seeking vengeance sort of book. In fact I tip my hat to Ms. Walker for having her characters, for the most part, act in a reasonable and rational manner. One of my pet peeves is when characters do something really stupid and foolish. Something that no rational minded person would consider doing. Vax comes close to this near the end of the book, but I think a reasonable explanation for his actions are given however misguided they are. I chalked it up to being a pig headed male.

There is an HEA for Vax and Jess and I'm glad it isn't a contrived or a wholly expected one. My only question is why this was in my tbr? This was an easy, quick enjoyable read.

I got a fever...I'm hot...

Hot, cold. Hot, cold. Shivers. Sweats. I thought my achy-ness was just my usual joint aches from my RA. Uh, not so much. No wonder my inspiration took a hike. Any sane sense would. Which explains a lot, doesn't it?

Inspiration

Got some? Inspriation? Got any spare in the basement, attic or closet? Would you please send it my way since I have to write my TBR Day post and a post for Reader's Gab this week? The well is empty I tell you...EMPTY!

Do you find it hard to believe I have nothing to talk write about?

Believe it.

Oh, before I forget. For those inquiring minds who wanted to know about Shmoo's date, he has dated two new girls. Do you begin to understand why his dating is much on my mind these days?

One, we'll call her Girlfriend-C has been around for awhile. He's known her forever, which when you are almost 18 means since 5th grade. Shmoo insists they are "just friends", but I gotta tell ya...he's on the phone with her and meeting her for strawberry tea at Starbucks every time I turn around.

Then there's "the new girl" that he went out with the last two Saturday nights. He's met her parents and we are supposed to meet her this weekend. We'll call her Girlfriend-J. He seems to really like her and be interested.

The irony or brain stumper? Even with all the calling and texting with these two girls the boy is still taking the old GF #1 to prom. He's taking her to his and she's taking him to hers. Apparently back when they were an item they promised each other. What. Ever.

I think the boy is nuts but far be it from his Mother to give any advice. He just rolls his eyes. Of course, he says he and GF #1 are now "just really good friends". Guess who's eye rolling now. Oi!

This Wednesday, April 16th, Shmoo is going to be 18. I can hardly believe it.

GRIMSPACE by Ann Aguirre

Something completely different for me. I'm going to get right to the point. Yeah, don't faint, it might not happen again for a long time.
















I really, really liked GRIMSPACE by Ann Aguirre. Sirantha Jax is a wonderfully flawed and intense character. I loved being in her head. The only way I know how to describe the rhythm and flow of this book is to tell you that I felt like I was absorbing the book by whole pages at a time instead of reading it. Does that make any sense? I have to say, it was a wonderful feeling. Grimspace is written in first person in such a way that the reader feels sort of like a voyeur or a part of the character's stream of consciousness. It's a very intimate feeling and puts the reader in the moment with Jax.

Jax has a J-gene or "jumper" gene that allows her to help space travel by "jumping" the space cruisers (think warp speed) to a specific charted destination through a nirvana-like no man's land called Grimspace. That said, there are a couple of important things to know about Jax. One is that jumpers get very attached to their pilots because there is a built-in intimacy during the jump between the two parties. Secondly, jumpers don't have a long life expectancy because their body breaks down from the stress it goes through doing the jumps. And, finally, Jax has just survived a crash from her last jump where the most important person in her life, her pilot Kai, was killed.

It's hard not to be engaged by Jax self awareness and honesty. She knows she's a difficult person to live and deal with. Her wry sense of humor is so refreshing and human that I couldn't help admiring her and being amused by her intelligence and wit. Ms. Aguirre did a great job of creating a woman who can, at least internally, admit her need and love for her pilot, Kai, at the same time be strong enough to want to survive her loss and live life again. Jax has to choose, more than once, about how far and how hard she wants to work to live a life with meaning.

Not all of Jax choices are her own. Some of them are thrust upon her like when she meets our male protag, Marsh. Marsh comes to Jax where she's being held after the crash to suggest there's something more she might want to do with her life. Without many options or time to make decisions Jax goes with Marsh and the adventure of this book begins.

I'm not your usual fantasy or science fiction reader. Recently I've enjoyed LORD OF THE FADING LAND by C.L. Wilson which has elements of fantasy and magic. I remember making a comment in a discussion with other readers (when Nath and Ames were visiting) that I don't like magic or fairies or ghosts in my books. Nath, who has a memory and a mind like a steel trap, remembered my liking C.L. Wilson's books which have wizards and magic in them. All true.

So I guess it would be honest to say that while I'd be a reluctant reader of fantasy, science fiction or futuristics, I do read them. Although I have to confess right here and now that I'm fickle. Perhaps if I were a bit more analytical or brighter I might be able to figure out the common denominator in the books I've liked. But to be honest, I couldn't tell you any single thing for sure.

I can tell you that I bought this book because of online buzz and that I'm always willing to try something different. Like most avid readers I'm always curious to see what treasure is behind the next book cover. I'm so glad I took a chance and opened this book and started reading. Once I did I couldn't put it down.

Fortunately, the further adventures of Jax will be here soon. The next book in the series, Wanderlust is due out August 26, 2008. You can read an excerpt here.

One word meme

I don't remember who tagged me. It's been that sort of week. But I found this in my edits and was in the mood so here's my one word meme:

You're feeling: cranky
To your left: scrapbooking table
On your mind: Shmoo's date
Last meal included: an apple
You sometimes find it hard to: stand firm with your children
The weather: warm, sunny, twilight
Something you have a collection of: boxes (no not the cardboard kind little jewelry, porcelain kind)
A smell that cheers you up: the crook of GG's neck
A smell that can ruin your mood: stinky sweaty boy room
How long since you last shaved: two days
The current state of your hair: do you really want to talk about my hair?
The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): printer
Your skill with chopsticks: decent
Which section you head for first in a bookstore: romance
Something you're craving: tacos
Your general thoughts on the presidential race: doom
How many times have you been hospitalized this year: zip-o
Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: bedroom
You've always secretly thought you'd be a good: lawyer
Something that freaks you out a little: just a little freaked? roadkill
Something you've eaten too much of lately: chicken
You have never: cheated
You never want to: stop exercising again

SWAK & Mary Margret Daughtridge

Okay, alright I'll own up that I wasn't the best little blogger this week, but I checked my google reader last night and I didn't see all those posts at BOOK BINGE otherwise I wouldn't have missed linking to the Mary Margret Daughtridge post about SEALS and her new book SEALed with a Kiss. *sigh*

I commented earlier tonight on Nath's blog that Holly sold me on the book with her review. Being a military brat myself I have to admit I'm always curious and interested to read a romance where the military make an appearance. When there's a romance with military subject matter in it AND it gets good buzz and reviews there's no way I'll pass that up.

Go read the post. You can read Holly's review here.

NOTHING BUT RED

Several people have already mentioned this book on their blog and websites. But I figured what the heck, if one more person buys the book and money gets donated to Equality Now then it's all good. What is written below I've taken from the Nothing but Red wordpress site.



Visit www.lulu.com/nothingbutred to purchase your copy! The full colour eBook is $5.95, and the black and white trade paperback is $15.95. All profits (about $4 per book) will go to Equality Now.

If you would like to read the foreword to the book, click here.

“Because it’s no longer enough to be a decent person. It’s no longer enough to shake our heads and make concerned grimaces at the news. True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself. I’ve always had a bent towards apocalyptic fiction, and I’m beginning to understand why. I look and I see the earth in flames. Her face was nothing but red.”

- Joss Whedon, May 20 2007

This just in...

I'm not dead in a ditch.

When we were out of touch with our Mom for more than a couple of days we'd always get a call which began like this.

Me: Hello?

Mom: Oh good you aren't dead in a ditch some where. I was wondering.

Me: I called on Sunday.

Mom: You didn't tell me you were going any where.

Me: I didn't go any where. Just work.

Mom: You didn't call your mother.

Me: Mom, it's only Wednesday.

Mom: I used to...

Me: I know. You called your Mother *insert sing song voice* EVERY day.

Mom: Well... *voice full of expectation and innuendo*

Me: *sigh* I'm sorry. I got busy.

Mom: I just wanted to make sure you weren't dead in a ditch somewhere. So tell me...how are my grandchildren.

And so it went. You just learned to call every couple of days to "check in" so Mom wouldn't think you were dead in a ditch some where. Now that's some awesome Mom power. Isn't it?

So, just checking in. I'm not dead in a ditch.

Stroke, Stroke Breath...

I'm talking swimming people. Swimming. Today a milestone. Literally. I swam a little more than a mile today. 72 lengths of a 25 yard pool. If you're wondering, 68 lengths is the magic number so I swam the mile with a little to spare.

I have to say it feels pretty darn great. For a treat just because I love you. Here's some video of what it's like when GG and I swim. Swear!!





After all it just a story about a guy, a gal and a bathing suit...

Just As You Are

I love this scene. Who wouldn't? *sigh*

This...That and the Three Day Weekend.

Yes, I have a three-day weekend. Which when I think about it is sort of crazy since I had to work until almost 7 p.m. last night so I could be off today. It's Shmoo's last day of Spring Break and even GG took a day off. The original plan was for a trip to the Magic Kingdom. You many have noticed we like hanging out there. However we decided to do some shopping and have a lazy day instead. I'm all over that one. It's nice to slow things down a bit.

Shmoo turns 18 in a couple of weeks. Once again he can't make up his mind what he wants to do for his birthday. He suckered me in once before like this, but I'm not falling for it this time. To this day he tries to lay on a guilt trip about his 16th birthday which fell on Easter. We invited some extended family (that could make it) and went to brunch at a nice restaurant. It was sort of anti-climatic and dull, but that's what the kid wanted. He denies it now of course. He laments and wails about how much his 16th birthday sucked. Oy!

Now he's starting to vacillate about his 18th birthday, but I'm having none of it. We're going to have a big BBQ here with family and a bunch of his friends. The boy is going to celebrate his birthday come hell or high water. It's become a game we play each week when he comes up with a different idea on how to spend his birthday and I tell him we are having a family birthday and BBQ each time. God forbid the kid ever let my life get dull. My only real dilemma is what to buy him. He has everything. Cell phone, iPod, TV, portable DVD player. What else is there? I refuse to buy him a video game system. He says he doesn't want clothes this time and wants to be surprised. *head desk* No pressure there.

I finished OUTLAW'S BRIDE by Maureen McKade for the TBR Day read. It was a very competent book, but didn't pack any of the emotional punch I'm used to seeing in a McKade book. So, maybe I'll pick something else. I think it's a hoot that in the space of one month I've read OUTLAW'S BRIDE by McKade and OUTLAW BRIDE by Jenna Kernan. No wonder I get authors, plots and characters confused. Sheesh!

I'm beginning to panic because I haven't started Shmoo's scrapbook. This is the sort of insanity I persisted in when Beanie graduated and ended up doing the whole darn thing in 72 hours. Ack! I'm also doing another special project for Shmoo which I have started, thank goodness. I'm thinking for college graduations I'm going to do something boring like take them out to eat somewhere. Does anyone else get caught up in trying to make sure you do the same things and make special events in your kids lives memorable? I did actually ask Shmoo if he cared about having a scrapbook and was sort of surprised when he looked startled, and said, "Well, yeah. Don't you want to do one for me?" Which if you are well versed in Mom guilt pretty much sealed the deal on the scrapbook.

Well this was a big yawner, wasn't it? These are the days of my life folks. It can't all be scintillating books and trips to RWA. *eye roll* Now you know why my grandfather called me Sarah Bernhardt.

I'm off to convince GG he wants to take me to breakfast. Now I just have to figure out how to make him believe it was his idea in the first place.

March Reading List

It's not that I'm quitting on the mini-reviews with my list, I'm just short on time this month. I'm working on a grant for work. It's something I've never done before, grant writing, so I'm preoccupied with it. Besides, I talked quite a bit about the books this month. So, I'm going to steal Nath's format and give grades on each book instead. This grading thing is sort of momentous here at NOBODY ASKED ME because I've never done it before. *ahem* Drum roll maestro, please...


1. PREDATORY GAME by Christine Feehan B

2. SWEET SURRENDER by Maya Banks B

3. KILLER SECRETS by Lora Leigh C

4. TAMING THE TEXAN by Charlene Sands C-

5. THE HOLDING by Claudia Dain B+

6. WINTER WOMAN by Jenna Kernan A

7. TURNER'S WOMAN by Jenna Kernan B+

8. SHAKEN AND STIRRED by Kathleen O'Reilly B

9. ANIMAL LUST by Lacy Danes DNF

10. BROTHERS IN ARMS 4 - AT LOVES COMMAND by Samantha Kane B+

11. DARE TO DOMINATE by Claire Thompson B

12. TWO MASTERS FOR ALEX by Claire Thompson C

13. CHARMING THE MASTERS by Katherine Kingston DNF

14. SEX STRAIGHT UP by Kathleen O'Reilly B+

15. MIDNIGHT RISING by Lara Adrian B

16. BABY, I'M YOURS by Karen Templeton B+

17. BLUE EYED DEVIL by Lisa Kleypas B

18. PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS by Sherry Thomas B

19. BROTHERS IN ARMS 2 - LOVE UNDER SEIGE by Samantha Kane C

Look at all those B grades! I had one of the best books I've read in a while this past month. OTOH I also had two DNFs. I can't remember the last time that happened. Although I have to say I'm much less likely to struggle through a book these days. With so many books waiting to be read (many of which are stored in tubs in my office) who wants to torture themselves through a blech-y read? Not me, that's for sure.

If you want more details I blogged a little bit about my reads here and here last month. The only full review is of WINTER WOMAN by Jenna Kernan which is linked in the list. Otherwise, ask away in the comments if you want to know about a particular book.

Linda Howard

So I should be posting my March reading list. I will. But, I'm going to do it tomorrow. Why you ask? Because those fab babes over at Book Binge are highlighting the incomparable Linda Howard and put up some poll questions. I decided to answer their poll right here at home so I can think a little bit about them and blather on if I get a yen to.


1. What is your favorite book by Linda Howard? This one is very, very hard. I know it's dated but I remember how much SARAH'S CHILD knocked me for a loop way back when I first read it. So that's a fave for impact. But my favorite to re-read is either MACKENZIE'S MOUNTAIN or SHADES OF TWILIGHT. Those two stick with me the most, but on any other day I might say or add 3 or 4 others.

2. Who is your favorite hero by Linda Howard? Webb Tallant (SHADES OF TWILIGHT)

3. Who is your favorite heroine by Linda Howard? Mary Potter (MACKENZIE'S MOUNTAIN)

4. What secondary character's story do you want Linda Howard to write? I've always wanted a full length story about that psychic lady who lived in a swamp that got together with the Sheriff of a small town (can't remember names right now) that she wrote about in an anthology.

5. What's your least favorite book by Linda Howard? AGAINST THE RULES

6. Who's your least favorite Linda Howard hero? Rhy Baines in AN INDEPENDENT WIFE

7. Which heroine by Linda Howard did you want to throttle? Sallie Baines in an old SSE AN INDEPENDENT WIFE

8. Did you like the incest in Shades of Twilight? Wha'?!! No, were we supposed to?

9. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the sexiest, how would you rate Ben Lewis? (Hey, I had to do it) A 7.5. While he appreciates Jillian's intelligence. He's a high octane and high maintenance guy and for that reason I can't give him a higher grade.

10. If you could get Linda Howard to write YOUR story, how would you want your hero to be written? I love men and women who have a purpose. So I would like a story where these two intelligent, reasonable people both have a goal but they are at cross purposes. How would they or could they compromise when they are driven and goal oriented. Neither one of them would understand how to back down. Having them both come from struggle and a difficult background would be interesting too. No easy roads.