TSS - Paranormal or Mind Tricks?

The weather took a bit of a turn last night. A rather large change from the sweltering days we experienced early last week when the temperatures reached 110°F during the day and 83°F at night. It feels almost like autumn now, and I like it. Save for the wind, that is. Don't get me wrong, I love the wind. I just don't love it when it reaches 30mph and attempts (and succeeds) to knock down my fence. Yes, the wind blew down a section of old fence towards the front of the house. Not that I'm complaining, much. The top fence board was snapped from the last big wind and was never replaced while the flats where so old and rotten they no longer hold a nail. I really must remind the landlord to fix that before winter sets in...

Needless to say, the day was very nice and of a perfect temperature for reading. Which I did. I pulled out the new books I received from Harper Collins and picked two that looked interesting. TEMPTED BY NIGHT by Elizabeth Boyle was the first that caught my eye. This paranormal historical tells the tale of Lady Hermione Marlowe who is positively in love with Lord Rockhurst, though she hasn't the courage (or the stomach) to speak with him directly. Rockhurst on the other hand (our dashing-yet-misunderstood hero) is a demon hunter. Sounds like so many other tales, doesn't it? Not so! Our hero has the *ahem* luck to make quite a fool of himself while battling the forces of evil and our heroine, while not gagging over the sight of her beloved (yes, I said gagging) has the tendency to turn invisible once night falls. At times the story tells more like an adventure than a romance, and I like that! This book has depth! Yay!

The second book I pulled out is THE DEVIL WEARS TARTAN by Karen Ranney. This one is about Miss Davina McLaren who has fallen from grace and must marry to save her tarnished reputation. Marshall Ross, known as the Devil of Ambrose, has made his offer and Davina accepts her fate. But there is a reason Davina was chosen, and none of them are love. The Devil, you see, has a traumatic past that has left him raving mad at times--unaware of his own actions--and as the last Ross of his clan, has a desire to produce an heir before he dies.

So far I am very happy with both books. They both read very smoothly, are delightful and fun, with nicely created plots and characters. I find Hermione a bit flighty, but Rockhurt is perfect for her and the duo keep the story light and entertaining. Davina, on the other hand, seems a bit cynical and Marshall a bit accepting, but the pair fit with the stories more dark feel. As of right now, I recommend them both!

What I'm Reading - The Devil Wears Tartan

The Devil Wears Tartan by Karen Ranney
Published by Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-125242-6
Genre: Romance-Historical
Release: August 26 2008

A man in the shadows

Some say he is dangerous. Others say he is mad. None of them knows the truth about Marshall Ross, the Devil of Ambrose. He shuns proper society, sworn to let no one discover his terrible secret. Including the beautiful woman he has chosen to be his wife.

A fallen woman

Only desperation could bring Davina McLaren to the legendary Edinburgh castle to become the bride of a man she has never met. Plagued by scandal, left with no choices, she has made her bargain with the devil. And now she must share his bed.

A fire unlike any they've ever known

From the moment they meet, Davina and Marshall are rocked by an unexpected desire that leaves them only yearning for more. But the pleasures of the marriage bed cannot protect them from the sins of the past. With an enemy of Marshall's drawing ever closer and everything they now cherish most at stake, he and Davina must fight to protect the passion they cannot deny.

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What I'm Reading - Tempted by the Night

Tempted by the Night by Elizabeth Boyle
Published by Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-137322-0
Genre: Romance-Historical/Paranormal
Release: August 26 2008

A Secret Admirer . . .

They say he's a shameless rake who cares for nothing but pleasure, a rogue who spends his nights in London's lustiest locales, gambling and carousing until dawn. But Lady Hermione Marlowe refuses to believe that the handsome gentleman she's loved from afar for so long could be so wicked. If only she had a way to prove to the ton that Lord Rockhurst is as proper as the rest. If only she knew what he really did under cover of the night . . .

A Clandestine Encounter . . .

Lord Rockhurst knows what they say about him, and he doesn't care. Let them think his nights are filled with craven debauchery. Only he knows his true purpose, his dangerous goal. But when a mysterious woman falls into his arms—and thereby saves his life—Rockhurst will struggle to save his secret. Who is this creature with such tempting curves and an enticing touch? Rockhurst can only wonder how he can trust her . . . for he knows he cannot resist her.

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Oh, Goodies!

I went to town yesterday which is always a very interesting experience. First: let me tell you that it's not a town but a small city. At least thats what everyone is saying and since there are so many more people there than in my town, I'd have to agree with them. Second: it was 108 here in Northern California. 108F and us with a 16 year-old van with no air conditioning and only 2 roll-downable windows! Needless to say the ride was not all that pleasant but could have been worse. But it was fun. The day that is, not the ride. Since we where only there to pick up some baby mice (their mama was squished!) we didn't have any houses lined up and didn't have the urge to look for any, so we spent the day in the mall and shopping (though, believe it or not, we bought very little. And now that I think of it, I didn't go into one bookstore. I must be loosing my touch).

I did come home to goodies though! A small package from Random House and a large one from Harper Collins. Who needs to go to the bookstore when you're a reviewer. Ok, I guess I do. There are some interesting books coming out this next month (another Bladesman book, titles by Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Boyle, and Diane Mott Davidson), and I even have extras I can use as goodies. 4 or them, actually. Yay!

I guess I better work on the site some more so I can set up some contests. Yah, I could set them up now, but the blog for The Gilded Pen isn't working either. *sigh* You gata love technology... right?

Speed Reading, Skim Reading, and Reading in General

I'm afraid I missed yet another Sunday Salon this week. Sure I 'read' and yes I was online, but I didn't post anything or visit anybody else's blogs, so I missed it. Nothing to do now but put up mental post-it notes to remind me to participate next weekend (I don't use real post-it notes because 1. the Post-It company test on animals and 2. I feel they are just a big waste of paper).

Any-who, I've been going through a box of 'favorites' in the hopes that I can release a few into the wild and thus make some more room on my shelves. Yes, for more books. Makes sense, doesn't it? Release the old, bring in the new? Yes, well... As I was saying, I was going through my 'favorites' and had to refresh my memory on a few. When I do this I skim read (skim read = reading dialog, select scenes and skipping most of the book) because it's just faster. I can enjoy the book, see if I still like it or the author's voice, and go through many in a very short time. This got me to thinking. Is this really the right way to read? As an aspiring author it makes me think: "Will I be spending the next 6 months poring over words and staring at my monitor so some reader can just skim through it?" Hum. Should I really even care that some one is skim reading my book (it is being read, and bought!, after all)? Is this some sort of cheat-reading, much like speed reading? I consider speed reading as cheat-reading because the mind doesn't have time to digest emotions fast enough and I would assume the reader can't enjoy the book's full potential. Really, though, I wouldn't know as I can't speed read.

I guess it all comes down to: Does it matter? Reading is becoming such a lost-art, especially among young people, does it even matter how they read? Speed, skim, chop, backwards. If somebody is reading, should one really care how?

Oh, and if you haven't figured it out yet, I DID redesign the blog and I think I'm going to be sticking with it for a while. I found my old layout that went with my old website, but I don't want to try fixing the coding right now. Not while I'm working on The Gilded Pen... Ug.

What I'm Reading - The Matchmaker of Périgord

The Matchmaker of Périgord by Julia Stuart
Published by Harper
ISBN: 978-0-06-143507-2
Genre: Fiction/Chick Lit
Release: August 2008

Barber Guillaume Ladoucette has always enjoyed great success in his tiny village in southwestern France, catering to the tonsorial needs of Amour-sur-Belle's thirty-three inhabitants. But times have changed. His customers have grown older—and balder. Suddenly there is no longer a call for Guillaume's particular services, and he is forced to make a drastic career change. Since love and companionship are necessary commodities at any age, he becomes Amour-sur-Belle's official matchmaker and intends to unite hearts as ably as he once cut hair. But alas, Guillaume is not nearly as accomplished an agent of amour, as the disastrous results of his initial attempts amply prove, especially when it comes to arranging his own romantic future.

For every reader who adored Chocolat, Julia Stuart's The Matchmaker of Périgord is a delectable, utterly enchanting, and sinfully satisfying delight.

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Anne Celebrates 100 Years

Please be advised that it is 2:30 in the morning. While I may not have the best grammar on a good day, it is simply folly to expect this post to be legible.

Some guy is shooting out in the orchards and it's quite unnerving, so I'm sitting up browsing the New York Time's book reviews until he stops or I pass out. In doing so, I just stumbled across a review for Irene Gammel's LOOKING FOR ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: The Story of L. M. Montgomery and her Literary Classic {buy from Amazon}. As you can probably tell from the title it's basically a biography of Montgomery during her early years.{the review can be viewed here}

In reading the review I learned that Montgomery had based her ideal of Anne the main character in the series, on an early portrait of Evelyn Nesbit; a 1900's model and actress who was believed to be the catalyst for the death of Stanford White. Being somewhat of a quizzical sort, I googled her (yes, googled. I use it, it's not just a term). Wikipidia was the first site I found that had a rather nice collection of information. Ther story, in and of it's self, is a very tragic tale.

But more than that I learned that June was the 100'th anniversary of the publication of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES. I have only really read 2 of the series, though I've had them all at one point. I was a huge fan of the Disney series AVONLEA, and have seen (and liked!) the movies, but I felt a little awed ringing that out. Despite receiving a negative review by The New York Times during it's original release, the book has done better than well. Published in the same format as the original--including cover, illustrations, and typographical errors-- by Putnam Books, the new 100'th anniversary edition give you a further glance into the world that Montgomery knew and it looks to be a very intriguing collectors item.{buy from Amazon}

Just had to share. Now, back to your reading. The shooting has stopped so I'm off to bed!

Yup, It's Still Summer

My little sister went to her high school orientation today. School, you see, starts in 4 lonely little days. That means, in all inevitability, that summer is almost over! Bah. You wouldn't think it considering the current temp up here amongst the pine trees and mountains is 112°F. Sure it's California, but it's NORTHERN California (and I do not consider Sacramento or San Francisco areas as northern. They are more like mid California). There are pine trees and ski ranges up here, doesn't that mean we get cooler summers? Hum, guess not.

Things that need doing:
- Write and mail query letter for Bitten
- Complete proposal for Bitten (synopsis and 3 chapters)
- Complete and fix wordpress upgrade for The Gilded Pen
- Write 20 Reviews

Words written: 159
Motor-less Miles Traveled: 9.7

What I'm Reading - Before I Wake

Before I Wake by Kathryn Smith

Published by Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-134027-7
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release: August 2008

You may call it a dream job . . .

And in some ways, you'd be right. I actually get paid to study people's dreams. It comes much easier than my employers at the Sleep Center suspect; after all, I, Dawn, am the daughter of the king of the dream world, and I can roam the dreams of others, battling the nightmares that plague them.

I call it a nightmare . . .

Honestly, I could use a good night's sleep. But ever since I met Noah Clarke, I'm even more torn between the two worlds: smart, sexy, and able to control his own dreams, Noah could be my perfect man—except he's being stalked in his sleep by an unearthly evil, hell-bent on destroying him . . . and the entire world.

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A Little Pampering

I'm giving myself a mini-pedicure and manicure. Why? Does any woman need a why to get a pedicure or manicure?

My brother bought himself a new puppy for his/his girlfriend's birthday. On top of the fact that I'm incredibly jealous of my 19 year-old brother and his new little playmate, I feel horrible about it! I mean, come on! how pathetic can a person be? I--26 year old woman with two cats, a bird, and (kinda) a horse--feel jealous over a 19 year-old-just-out-of-high-school boy. Over a dog. A dog that, in all honestly even though it's a puppy isn't the cutest thing I've ever seen (or even close too, really).

So I'm doing my nails (all 10 of them) listening to Eisley and reading BEFORE I WAKE by Kathryn Smith while they dry. Right now I just need to decide what color to pait them: black or midnight.

Is It Really Sunday Again?!

I just looked at the clock. 1:40. Yup, it's Sunday. Again. Yes, yes, I know I don't sound all that enthused and, to be truthful, I'm not. No, I'm not happy that yet another week has passed. Not happy that I am still reading the same book I was reading earlier this week (as a reviewer I need to throw back at least two a week). I'm not happy that I have not completed the work I needed to get done. So, no. I'm not happy. Of course it may also be that it is1:40 in the morning and I'm tired. I really should just go to bed.

But before I do that I wanted to tell you what I'm reading. This weekend I'm finishing up Julia Quinn's MR. CAVENDISH, I PRESUME. I'm not as thrilled with this one as I was with THE LOST DUKE OF WYNDHAM. Yes, it's a good story that reads nicely but I am reading a story that I've basically already read. There isn't much of anything new. Yes, these are different characters with different circumstances, but the whole basis is the same and rather anti-climatic. Quinn would have had a better set of novels if she had taken a cue from Debra Dier and simply had elements of the novels overlap as Dier did in DEVIL'S HONOR and SAINT'S TEMPTATION (two of my all-time favorite novels which really should be re-printed). I am currently on page 260 of 370. With luck, I'll finish this and still have room to start something else.

See also: What I'm Reading - Mr. Cavendish, I Presume

What I'm Reading - Mr. Cavendish, I Presume

Mr. Cavendish, I Presume by Julia Quinn
Published by Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-087611-5
Genre: Historical Romance
Release: September 30th, 2008

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting . . . for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all . . .

It's true. He doesn't. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her . . . eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas's world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he's not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love . . . with his own fiancée!

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A Bit of an Update

I've been a bit busy the past week or so. The Gilded Pen is coming nicely, as well as the layout for G.P. Manga! I'm happy; it's been taking forever! That leaves me in the position of finding all my reviews. Yuck. How can my computer and my website crash so close to each other? What I don't have saved to my notebook or posted to Shelfari has to be re-written. That's about 31-40 books...

Other than that, I finished The Redheaded Princess. Not bad for a historical but felt a bit lacking, at least for me. It was easy to read, though, and was rather well researched so would make a great read for anybody under 18 who would like to learn about the young Queen Elizabeth I.

Oh, and I've decided to walk to San Francisco. No, not REALLY (that would take me forever! It's a 4 hour drive!!). I taking a page from C.E Murphy's book Right now she's walking to Isengard. I'm not quite that creative, so I'm walking to San Francisco (the back way since it's rather stupid to walk along the highway/freeway). That makes it a total of 289 miles. Lets see... 289 miles is about 38437 calories which is 11 lbs... Wow, sounds like a lot of work for a little weight.

Miles to San Francisco: 289

What I'm Reading - American Widow

American Widow by Alissa Torres
Published by Villard / Random House
ISBN: 978-0-345-50069-4
Genre: Autobiography/Memoir - Graphic Novel
Release: September 2nd, 2008

On September 10, 2001, Eddie Torres started his dream job at Cantor Fitzgerald in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The next morning, he said goodbye to his 7½-months-pregnant wife, Alissa, and headed out the door.

In an instant, Alissa’s world was thrown into chaos. Forced to deal with unimaginable challenges, Alissa suddenly found herself cast into the role of “9/11 widow,” tossed into a storm of bureaucracy, politics, patriotism, mourning, consolation, and, soon enough, motherhood.

Beautifully and thoughtfully illustrated, American Widow is the affecting account of one woman’s journey through shock, pain, birth, and rebirth in the aftermath of a great tragedy. It is also the story of a young couple’s love affair: how a Colombian immigrant and a strong-minded New Yorker met, fell in love, and struggled to fulfill their dreams. Above all, American Widow is a tribute to the resilience of the human heart and the very personal story of how one woman endured a very public tragedy.

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