3 Nephews, History 118, a 101.5 Fever & SEP

Mea culpea! I can't believe how erratic my interaction in the great blogosphere and Romancelandia has been since November. Every week I think I'll get back to my routine and somehow I never get there.

My three nephews age 8, 7, and 4 are here. We are in the middle of a six day visit. Their Mom (my sweet sister Mary) went to Alabama to surprise her husband. He was attending a class for the Air Force for the last seven weeks. My sister flew out to surprise him and make the drive back. Even though it's a long drive back at least they are getting some time together and the nevvies are here entertaining me mightily. However, since my guys are 16 and 20 I forgot how high maintenance little guys are. Sheesh, I'm making three meals a day! And the laundry...Oy Vey!

Number one son decided to take a six-week online class over winter quarter. Yes, indeedy...History 118. The kid had sometimes two papers a week to do and tons of reading. I only mention it because he was on my computer about 6 hours a day...which while I'm on a roll with my whining...really cuts into blog time.

My last entry about my cold, which was barely over when the nevvies arrived, was nothing compared to how sick my younger son got. He not only got the cold, but the flu and for three days was running a temp of 101.5. The only thing that worked keeping the temp down for good was alternating tylenol and advil every three hours. You would think it would get easier when they are sick when they get older...you still worry.

Consequently I'm clueless about what is going on. I haven't been to another blog site in about 10 days. I'm practically a newbie again. My nephews will be here until the 15th so I probably won't be catching up much until the end of the week. If you have a minute let me know what you've been up to.

I do want to end this on a high note by saying I read NATURAL BORN CHARMER by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Since I read CROSSROAD CAFE by Deborah Smith last year I hadn't read a book I've enjoyed as much. If you are a SEP fan you won't be disappointed...if you aren't, it's worth the HC price.

BTW, Scooper, tagged me for what?

Just Finished...

BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN by Julia Quinn and BIT THE JACKPOT by Erin McCarthy.

Both of these books were just enjoyable reads. I won't be stopping people in the aisles at my local B&N or Borders to tell them to read either one of them, but I enjoyed each of the books for being unapologetically what they are.

BRIGHTER THAN THE SUN is pretty much standard Regency fare, but Ms. Quinn does have some very clever and witty exchanges between the H/H. I very much enjoyed their relationship and its dynamic. This is a quick read and an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. Great for when you are in the mood for something light.

I have to admit that I wasn't all that thrilled with the first Vegas Vampires book HIGH STAKES by Ms. McCarthy. Vampires and Las Vegas seem like a match made in...umm...er...hell? What surprised me is that after enjoying Ms. McCarthy's contemporaries so very much the foray into the vamp world didn't do much for me. Imagine my surprise when I decided to purchase the second book. Not only was I expecting not to like it, but I picked it up when I was in a defiant and obnoxious mood. So up against all that I still got engaged in the story and enjoyed it. Don't expect to read this and think you will be reading about the dark side of vampires particularly when the vamp world is in the middle of a presidential election. Yeah, interesting hook, huh? Again, an enjoyable read. Definitely a dessert of books and not the main course.

Right now I'm waiting for February 6th even with the TBR I have I'm anxious to read SEP's new book which is due out then and also, I'm going to give Lora Leigh another chance. I've been a big fan of her Breed series, but her storylines are beginning to have a repetitive theme to me. What books are you looking forward to this spring?

WHY CAN'T I BE FUNNY?

To say I'm jealous of those gifted with "funny" is an understatement. I go trolling along out there in the blogosphere reading and laughing my way as I turn pea green with envy. Oh what I would give for that wacky, witty, wonderful way of looking at life!

I read the funniest blog at Argh Ink Jennifer Crusie's blog site this afternoon. Of course as I've already mentioned SEP is one of my favorite authors so this blog was particularly amusing for me to read.

I sent the link to my sister and whined how I wish I could be that funny! You know that naturally funny where you "think" funny. You can tell it's just how that person views life and copes. Anyway, the post just before the one on SEP Ms. Crusie speaks about a recent medical diagnosis she received.

While I could identify with both the ice cream and wanting to hit someone with a shovel, I don't think when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis I could have written about it with such humor. In fact when one knows it isn't fatal and that by making some adjustments one can live a relatively normal life you feel ridiculous complaining...except I wanted to complain and bitch about it alot.

Those near and dear to me know so...don't ya!

What I didn't do is write anything clever about it. I am thinking of buying a shovel though. I'm going to stand it in the corner of my bedroom. So the next time I feel sorry for myself I will remember...I can bash someone with a shovel or...eat ice cream.

MATCH ME IF YOU CAN - Part 2

I almost forgot! I finished MATCH ME IF YOU CAN by SusanElizabethPhillips last night. If you are a SEP fan you will love this book! I sure did. I consumed it in one sitting. It was worth the wait. Besides, I would rather an author took longer and wrote a better book than hurried and turned out garbage.

The humor and dialogue were crisp and witty. This is the kind of book that keeps me reading and searching for good books and good authors.

It was a very entertaining and enjoyable way to spend an evening.

MATCH ME IF YOU CAN

I'm a huge Susan Elizabeth Phillips fan. I've been reading her books for years and have really enjoyed their good fun and humor.

Tomorrow her latest will be out, MATCH ME IF YOU CAN. Of course the down side of really looking forward to a book is that you'll be flattened like a pancake with disappointment if the author is unable to deliver a book that meets the sometimes ridiculous expectations of her loyal readership...in this case...ME!

Hey, I don't see where it is any different than the people who dress up and wait in line for days (or weeks) for a Star Wars movie. Sheesh!

Ah....much better!

Yippee, skippy doo-dah day! I finally have this blog page looking close to what I want it to. Can't believe it is back to work tomorrow. The weekend, as usual, flew by.

Finished a couple of books. CHILL OF FEAR by Kay Hooper. I usually love her psychic/paranormal books, but this one was kind of flat for me. No intensity. Besides, considering what they were up against I should have been on the edge of my seat...I wasn't.

Also read the Susan Johnson and Jasmine Hayes anthology. It was only so-so as well. I even started reading the Susan Johnson story in the book store and kind of got hooked, although the book passed the time, it wasn't great.

I can hardly wait for MATCH ME IF YOU CAN by Susan Elizabeth Phillips comes out this week! Also Sarah McCarty should have a new release out before the month's end.

So many books, so little time!