Sunday Salon: Last Minute

The clock is counting down to the beginning of a new day and the end of Sunday, and as a last-minute type of person, I'm posting my Sunday Salon ramblings for the late crowd.

Though today has been a busy day with last-minute holiday shopping and preparation, I still managed to finish The Warrior by Kinley MacGregor. I really wish I hadn't wasted my time. That sounds a bit harsh, I know, but for a writer as established as Sherrilyn Kenyon, I was expecting something a little better than this... atrocity!

The novel, set sometime in the reign of Henry V, fallows Lochlan MacAllister as he searches for his missing brother, Kieran. Lochlan runs into Catarina, a bastard of King Phillip of France, as she flees an arranged marriage. That's about all the sense this story makes. The author makes no effort in creating a relationship between the characters and instead leads them into cliché situations that left me rolling my eyes, speechless. Characters seam to be underdeveloped and under used and modern phrases and ideals prevented the story from attaining that authentic feel that make historicals, well, historicals. If that wasn't the worst of it, the ending was just to ridiculous. And the epilog?! Oh, seriously. If your going to cross genres, please do it decently! A hack job like this is what turns readers away from your work!

And to think, I still have to write a review for this one. Ug!

New Year's Resolutions - A look back at 2007

Ok, reading A Red Hot New Year has got me thinking about my new year's resolutions and what needs to be carried over from last you. So I dug through some old posts and found a list I had created to ring in 2007. The conclusion? Well, let's just see.

My New Years Resolutions for 2007

- Complete 1 manuscript (75,000 words or larger)
Nope, Never did complete that.
- Complete and Submit 3 professional short stories
Didn't really do that ether.
- Update web site more often
Oh, drat! Not another one I didn't meet!
- Update blog more often
Yes! Blog has been updated much more than last year. Check!
- Take more photographs
Since I didn't buy that camera I wanted, this one is also a nope.
- Find my own place
At roughly $800 for a one bed room, this one has been a bit harder to accomplish.
- Get 'The Gilded Pen' off the ground
I like to think that I'm almost there. A few more updates and she'll be moving smoothly.
- Read (completely, the whole way through, and enjoy) 50 novels
Hum, 50 novels, let me see... Read at least 35 books that I can remember. Of those I know I enjoyed 23 . So nope. Goal not met.
- Knit a bedspread (or afghan the size of a full size bed)
Oh, I can't believe this is one of my resolutions! I knit a scarf. That's it.
- Knit a pair of socks or slippers
See above.
- Knit something with beads
Scarf did not have beads on it, so nope.
- Send out more birthday gifts/cards
I truly am a horible person. If anything, this year I sent out less.
- Plant a garden
I planted basil, parsley, and some flowers. Not quite a garden but close enough. Check.
- Grow my own Tea
Nope.
- Exercise 30 mins/day, 5days/week
I did for quite a while, then it just got too darn hot! Goal not met.
- Lose 96 lbs
Darn, only lost about 18. Hey, that's better than nothing, right?
- Set more personal deadlines
Check. More Deadlines set. I didn't specify that I hat to meet them.
- Go to bed by 11pm, and wake up by 8am
Why, this one is quite laughable.
- Get out more
Hum, got out less...
- Make more money
Oh, I did this one! I know it's not as much as I would have liked, but it was more than before. Check!
- Be more tidy
Look, another laughable resolution.
- Pay off some bills
Off as in extinct? Nope, there all still here.
- Don't accumulate any more bills that will need to be payed off
Let me think... Well, I didn't get any more credit cards. Does that count?
- Work with my horse so I can ride her
Yah, right. Didn't happen, not going to happen. Let's just forget about it and move on.
- Go through boxes (yah, all those hiding in my closet and under the bed)
Check. Went through boxes. Not all of them, but I did 'go through boxes'...

Wow, there are very many goals completed are there? I guess I'll have to think really hard on next years. Maybe I'll leave out some of those silly ones. In bed by 11pm?! Who was I kidding?!

Midnight Ramblings and Sunday Salon

Seams like I've fallen behind on my plan of posting at least twice a week, but I guess I'm lucky to be posting once a week. I can't really say that I've been busy (I have, ho boy!) as I've been slacking a bit too much lately. There really is no excuse! I did finish Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber and Onc Bite Stand by Nina Bangs. Still don't know what to think about that last one. Boy, is that review going to be a pain!

Found this on Deb's blog and had to pass it on. Why? Well, for one, it's something that is incredibly easy to do, everyone can do it, it will help save the environment, and is it really all that hard? Okay, okay. I'm also passing it along because one of the prizes is a ChicoBag. I practically grew up in Chico and have to spread some home-town love (no, I don't have a Chico State hoodie, but I do have a ChicoBag!) New American Dream: BYOB.

Oh, and it's Sunday again! Time for Sunday Salon. Too bad I spent all day Saturday reading. I'm a bit pooped on the reading scale. Hum, perhaps it should be changed to Saturday Salon... Yes, people, I want you ALL to change your schedule for me! Muahahahahaha! Ouch! Okay, I'll stop! Please put the bats away!

I've decided to read A Red Hot New Year by Cynthia Eden, Diana Mercury, Virginia Reede, and Denise Rossetti. Ok, so this isn't really something I'd normally read in a 'public' setting, but not only is it past due on a review but it's a new year's piece and there is no sense reading and reviewing it after the holiday. So I'm taking the plunge and reading this collection of erotic short stories for Sunday Salon. Please, no comments from the peanut gallery. I may be a bit kinky, but I'm not that kinky.

I don't really know about Reede's short, Snow Blind. I'm not into more than 2 partners, swingers, 2+-soms, or ... well, you get the pictures. It just gives me the creeps. I don't really think this one will earn any brownie points from me. Well see how it goes in the morning.

Er... did you count all the links I slipped into this post? 11! Wow, talk about annoying!

Sunday Salon: Where Angels Go - 1

Book Title: Where Angels Go
Author: Debbie Macomber
Time spent reading: 2 hrs. 24 mins. (144 mins)
Pages read: 96/297
Back Blurb:

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are back! These three irresistible angels love their assignments on Earth. They especially love helping people who send prayer requests to heaven (even though the Archangel Gabriel, their boss, knows they're going to break his rules)!

This Christmas, Mercy is assigned to bring peace of mind to an elderly man... who discovers an unexpected answer to his prayer.

Goodness is sent to oversee the love life of a young woman afraid to risk commitment a second time.

And Shirley has the task of granting a little boy's fondest Christmas wish.

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy go wherever they're needed. These three charming angels often find themselves in trouble., but somehow things always work out for the best--especially at Christmas.

Comments: I'm not sure if it's just me or if this is the way Debbie Macomber normally writes, but I'm not finding this novel to be all that, well, enjoyable. Sure, it's sweet and the writing is very smooth, but the overall execution of the novel is lacking. The angels, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, are to immature for my liking. I keep seeing flashes of 12 year olds in grown-up bodies who seem to have no control of themselves. Perhaps Touched By An Angel {extra link} has tainted me to all other types, but when I read this novel I expect a bit more decorum and sensitivity from my angels.

The three subplots are different enough from each other to give the novel a bit of substance. I have a bit of a problem with Goodness' assignment. Beth, a young woman who suffers from an old marriage, finds a guy on an online MMO and decides she'd like to meet him. Now, come on! The worst she expects is that he's either 50 years old or married. Not that he's 16, or lives at home in his mother's basement, or that he's some vastly over-weight psycho killer. Nope, never even crossed her mind.

Over all the novel reads like some Saturday morning Christmas feel-good flick. Sure, there are many people who love those, but it's not really something I'd expect to read.

{Vist and Join THE SUNDAY SALON}

Sunday Salon: In Preporation - Dec 9

Going through my TBR pile can be pretty daunting. Finding a thin one for Sunday Salon, nearly impossible. Not this weekend! Two books fairly jumped down on me in their readiness to be read.

With it's pretty deep berry-pink spine and little rose, The Accidental Florist by Jill Churchill was the first novel to catch my eye. The cute little cat on the cover was the kicker. And, hey!, only 219 pages. Nice. So I sit my self down and wait until midnight to crack open the book. I read a few pages and stop. Uh-oh, this isn't good, it's boring! No, no. It has to be me. I just haven't gotten into the grove yet; the sentences will pick up. Page 19. Still dry, still choppy, still boring. Ok, this one's a pass.

Next book is Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber. Nice little Christmas story which reads much smother. And at 297 pages, a sure shot for Sunday Salon. I only hope it's not to churchy... We'll see.

Sunday Salon: All the Pretty Girls - 2

I always plan to do one of these right, but the day never turns out the way I'd like. As you can guess by the title it's Sunday again and I'm making a last ditch-effort in participating in this week's Sunday Salon.

I finally finished ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS by J.T. Ellison and all I have to say is: Wow. Quite honestly this has got to be one of the most involved stories I have ever read that I could actually stand to finish. Ellison has created a very intriguing plot with many twists and turns, and plenty of gore. The characters where not as 3-dimensional as I am used to and the ending a bit lacking, but the story was still very entertaining. I admit I even felt sorry for the serial killer. If ALL THE PRETTY GIRLS is any indication, J.T. Ellison has a great career ahead of her. For all those who like crime novels, this one's for you.

To finish off Sunday Salon and to start my Monday I've pulled down LAIRD OF THE MIST by Paula Quinn and THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen (teen) from my TBR shelf. Not sure which I'll read first, though. I'm actually in the mood for another crime novel (oh, shocking!)

Happy Saturday

Happy Saturday everybody. That is, if Saturday is a day you can be happy about. Up here, it's cold. Weather.com says it's 47 but feels like 40. Yah, that could be right (those of you in snow-blanketed areas be quiet! It's been in the high 90's low 100's all summer and I haven't adjusted yet!)

I'd also like to say a quick hello to all you Swap-Bot visitors. I hope you enjoy my blog (and if not, please don't throw fruit at it.)

My back is a bit sore form knitting all night. I love knitting and making homemade gifts, but I have to tell you: it can be a bitch. With only 20 days left of Christmas shopping and mailing (no, I don't shop the last days; I don't have a death wish) I really need to get this stuff done. How far am I? No comment.

It was cold last night. The coffee pot became so chilled it shattered when the percolator started. Nice. Woke up to coffee all over my counter and an electronic coffee pot full of coffee, but not in a good way. Had to pull out the old Salvation Army bound one and I'm still waiting for it to finish. Boy do I need my coffee!!

Was a bit board this morning, too. Trying to wake up without coffee or tea can be a pain (why didn't I just make tea? I wanted coffee, I had already started it. There's no giving in here!) So I visited some blogs, took a couple of quizzes (thanks Sarah), and, well, typed this post. I sure hope tomorrow is better.



No surprise here

I Scored a 80%!

A little surprised there


62%How Addicted to Blogging Are YouMeh.


70% GeekOn this one, I'm sure I could have been geekier.