Nope, Not That

I know I don't have the great book blues.

Wait. That time change thing. Maybe that's what's got me off my rocker again.

Hey!

I'm so bored I feel like I overdosed on boredom. I have no inclination to do anything. TV? Boring. Internet? Boring. (I've already done the blog loop and now I got nothing) Reading? Just not into it.

So I'm feeling meh, blechy, yetch.

And bored.

Still, I thought I could mention a few things.

It's March break so my best bud who is a teacher is coming down on Thursday for a visit so no boredom on that day!

Friday 'the husbands' are out so Sue and I are going to get together and order in KFC for us and the Godchildren. I really thought I would see them more over the break but Bob is off sick so I am with him instead. He's better now but he will be taking tomorrow off as well. I'm one of those people who believes that when you are sick you should keep your ass at home. Period. I also don't think rushing back to work is a good solution either so I told Bob he was taking another day to get his bearings. Workaholics don't like to be told they can't go to work so I imagine someone will be crawling up the walls. I'm so going shopping tomorrow!

That's the other thing, shopping even bores me.

Sorry, we'll move on.

Bob's birthday is next week and I don't have a clue. Not one iota. So that's bugging me as well. I thought about a massive (20' long) outdoor canvas pergola but they seem to only sell nice ones in 10 x 10 or 13' by 13'. So I'm still in euchred land.

Okay, Amber just crawled up on my chest so I'll sign off before she decides my typing is annoying her and starts to bite.

Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

SPOILERS GALORE. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

I'm not sure where to start with this *cough* opinion.

So I'll start by saying I really, really, really wanted this book to blow my skirt up - so to speak.

Am I disappointed?

You bet.

Does this mean the book is crap?

Not really.

I've mentioned in a few places that I think I would rate this book a straight B and hopefully that pans out.

Cindy Blurb: Wait. I really don't think you can read this book without reading the rest in the series. Maybe it would have worked better if I had never read the other three books but I'm not sure.

Butch is basically the human pet of a bunch of vampire warriors of the Brotherhood. He fetches when called and isn't allowed out to play with the big boys. He stumbled into knowledge of the Brotherhood in the first book in this series and his choice was to stay with them or die. He chose to stay with them and really he didn't start to regret his decision until a year had passed and he realized his life was the same as before except he now has financial privileges. In the first book he met the King's ex-mate Marissa and bloody hell if she isn't the love of his life after one kiss. I have to say seeing him mope over his booze was not quite what I wanted to read.

Marissa meanwhile, is part of the glymera (basically high society of the vampires where lineage is all important - yeah.) but has been shunned for something like 300 years because soon after her pairing with the vampire King it became clear to everyone that he did not bond with her. Yep, she's the oldest living virgin.

Okay we need to speed this up.

Butch gets caught by lessers (evil dudes) and is tortured for information which he doesn't give up. He knows he's about to die but then the Omega (super big evil dude) realizes the Brotherhood will want him back so he puts a piece of himself in Butch.

V - Butch's bestest friend (and did V want more?) finds him, takes him to the vampire hospital where he realizes Butch is suicidal and calls Marissa to help him. Marissa races to Butch's side. She's later caught by her brother in a compromising position with Butch, gets thrown out of her home, goes to the Brother's mansion (where Butch lives) for sanctuary. Butch is worried he's going to turn into an evil guy, a whole bunch of lesser crap happens, finds out he's got some Brotherhood blood in him, gets turned into the new weapon against the evil, joins the Brotherhood and Marissa takes her head out of her ass and HEA.

Problems?

I have many.

I loved Butch as the world weary cop with a heart of gold. He was so broken and lonely and wonderfully dark. In the beginning of Lover Revealed he is all that and I was in my glory. Hell, Marissa has a panic attack in the beginning of the book and I'm all relating to her and thinking 'Booyah Baby this one's going to be a keeper!'

Pffffffft.

I should look the page number up but Butch and Marissa tell each other they love one another fairly early in the story. Some seriously heavy petting ensues, they promise to always be straight with each other and then WHAM - blindsided by stupidity and immaturity.

Saying, hey, let's always talk things out does not mean someone says something and the other leaves the room with out going 'WTF did that mean!?' Communications were down, their software was not compatible and it was a frustrating thing to be a part of.

These two people were perfect for never saying anything outright or letting the other person explain.

Here's what I know for sure.

Butch loves Marissa hands down.

Marissa is about 21 yrs old in human years.

Apparently vampires mature much, much, much slower. MUCH! I figure she needs to live another three hundred years before she is ready to actually be with Butch.

I'm just saying, I live quite a cloistered life and I'm only 36 but even I know whose opinions matter to me. Three hundred years should put a bit of gumption under your belt so I find it odd Marissa would just discover she has a backbone.

So, not a big fan of Marissa and Butch was pussy whipped.

Since this is getting long, let's see if I can do bullet points.

1. Butch was himself in the beginning and I would have preferred it if he had actually remained who he was but instead he discovers he's more than human and OMG that means he has purpose. Ugh. At this point I began to feel like he read like all the other Brothers.

2. The Brotherhood blows. Butch gets caught and is being tortured for a day and all the Brotherhood can think of is 'OMG what if he tells the lessers something'. Wow. I can only hope I have friends like you. Then they get him back and even V starts to question whether Butch is his enemy. WTF?

At one point the vampire king says 'go bring our boy home'.

Here Lassie, here boy, come on Lassie! Ugh.

3. V is an asshole. I mean really. First he's worried he's going to have to kill Butch (cause he's evil - NOT), then he knows if Butch tries to leave the Brotherhood he will kill Butch, then V does some sort of suicidal swan dive off a building but hey, vampires can do that whole teleportation thing and he ends up behind Butch who is screaming because he thinks his best friend just killed himself. Yep. Not a lot of sympathy for V going on over here.

All of the above blew holes in any type of homo-erotic stuff that *might* have been going on between Butch and V. I don't think Butch ever felt that way but V from previous books seemed to. Well, if this is the way V loves someone then whoever is about to become his mate better look out!

Let's end there before my head explodes.

So why a B? It didn't feel like a C book which usually leaves me with a 'meh' feeling. Obviously I have some pretty strong feelings.

Oh. And for those who are wondering, I skimmed the lesser parts and John's parts and I didn't miss them.

It gets worse.

I read the preview of V's book and I thought 'meh'.

I guess I can do a separate post sometime on how reader's expectations can bite an author in the ass.

Huh.

I finished Lover Revealed but I'm not going to blog about it right now - the epic novel I am writing will need much more time.

Let's just say I am done with series books! *shakes fist*

*sigh*

Short and sweet I would rate it a B but every time I think about what I'm going to say about Lover Revealed my brain shorts out and 15 rants start up. Too much pissed me off but it's more about me than about the book. I think. I'm staying away from other reviews right now but I really want to go read what others have said cause I'm wondering if I'm a freak. STOP!

Anyways, let's not get into it now.

I have to head to bed soon but I thought of all this stuff I was going to blog and about and poof, it's gone.

Poor you.

Here's one thing for ya.

(Okay, here's a link so you know where I *might* be coming from)

(Here's another where JMC says everything so much better than I ever could (okay, just read the link above and then the first comment by JMC))

Every genre ever written has books in it that suck donkey kong balls.

That's right, romance isn't the only genre you will find duds. Course, publishing more books in a month than other any other genre makes it seem like maybe there are more crappy books but I'm betting percentage wise it's all the same.

That's why people write reviews in other genres too. *whispers* Cause the other genres have books that only get one star, dagger, dragon, time machine too.

Yeah, that's right.

Somewhere in the world someone is throwing a Robert Jordan, Tony Hellerman, Dan Brown book across their bedroom and slamming it into the wall.

And then they go looking for matches.

Don't kid yourself.

There are sucky books every where so don't give me any shit about how male writers write better, smarter heroines than female writers. Sure they do. But only in books. Let's not hold Lara Croft Boob Raider against them. Or any action movie made in the past 20 years where the heroine is a screaming nightmare of stupidity. No. That's different.

So if you are reading a bunch of male authors who you feel are really getting their female character right then good for you (I'm betting they are a woman using a male pseudonym but whatever) ride the wave baby because I'm betting you had to read just as many horrible heroines written by men to find those heavenly books.

If you didn't, please rub a penny and send it on over to my house so I can get your kind of luck. I'll buy some lottery tickets so I can buy more of my 'brain candy'.

And on that note, if one more person says romance is just 'brain candy' I'm going to tell them to FUCK OFF!!

Unless it's my mother.

Then I'll just refill her wine glass countless times, wait till she's lying on the floor in a drunken stupor and then tell her to fuck off.

In a whisper.

Cause unlike most heroines in romance (according to some people), I ain't stupid.

Other Books

Frankly, I think we're all bored of hearing about how I can't find time to read a certain book I now have two copies of.

I said I don't want to talk about it!

So we'll talk about the other package of books that landed on my doorstep.

Yes.

More books to not find time to read.

My life is a blooming wonderland people!

Ahem.

Books.

I read and loved Slave to Sensation so I am very much looking forward to reading the second in the series. At least, I think it's a series and the reader reviews have been very good indeed. I believe Rosario did one (yep) and maybe Dear Author (wow, two for two!)

Ever since reading Stupid and Contagious I have been looking over Chick lit titles and noticed this one at the local pharmacy. I liked the cover and then I noticed the author was Stephanie Rowe who should be the same author who wrote Date Me Baby One More Time. (I'm checking the copyright name and they are the same - duh, just looked on her website.) That sold me.


I have walked by Blood Lines many times and the cover always gets me so finally my cheapness fell away and I bought this book. I'm pretty sure this one has been having a positive outcome for readers but I've been known to be wrong. Oh! And I flipped to the backblurb, saw 'Touch-sensitive' and I was in. Yes, I'm that easy.

The Rules of Seduction by Madeline Hunter. Okay, to be fair, I needed to fill up my online basket so I could get free shipping so I broke my rule about 'not having read an author whose books are in my TBR pile'. In other words, I now own four books by this author and I have yet to read an entire book by her. I did recently start one of her books but I wasn't in the mood for a meaty historical - I liked everything about it, it was just my mood. Hence, my breaking of a rule.

Sexy/Dangerous has been all over the net but I believe I bought this one after Renee blogged about it (I think because I can't find the post now - bad brain). I'm thinking it showed up in the AAR Reader Poll at some point also so that was another selling point. Oh, all right, it was Renee's rec that did it because I do prefer to know the address I would have to send my flying monkeys to - just in case things go bad ;)


And finally, I bought this little gem.

My philosophy has always been you can never have too many romance books. Turns out I feel the exact same about design books which is definitely harder on the wallet.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to get ready for bed because I'm trying to be a normal person.

Dammit.

Course, it's 1:30am so I'm not that normal.

Shut up.

Makes me feel better.

SHIT!!

Sue's painting.

Sue has called.

Discovered my drug benefits did not get to the company and have to get duplicates done up.

Have to leave the house.

Have to go to Sue's.

Sobbing won't help.

Shit.

Tomorrow!

I have done my duty as a friend and went painting today. We got a lot done but, boy oh boy we are euchred on Thursday! She is painting all the trim and doors the same colour and painting trim is a bitch. At least we're not painting over peach like I had to at my old house. FOUR COATS OF PAINT! Pain in the ass. Seeing as how we are painting the upstairs there are 5 doors and the trim around it. Ugh.

But that's something I can worry about on Thursday.

Tomorrow is Butch's day!!!

Yeah, I'm a little excited.

Just a little.

I would start it right now but I know myself too well. I would end up staying up all night reading and I can't start that right now. I need some day light time and I have my sleep on a great schedule!

So as Bob and I like to think about life - just one more sleep!!

Yep.

My second copy of Lover Revealed arrived today.

I haven't opened the book yet because I know I'll be out of commission for two days and my best friend Sue has asked me to help her with painting. I was there today and will be there again tomorrow but then I think she will have to wait until either Thursday or Friday because she will be babysitting kids.

At least I hope.

Cause I really want to get lost in a book already!

Other than that, I am sleeping like a normal person except I'm exhausted around 4pm, lay down for a nap and wake up an hour later feeling like I want to puke. Not exactly the way I wanted my day time life to be like!

Tonight the wind chill will get to -32 degrees C. I was just getting used to not having to button my coat all the way up. I have been trying to get warm for the last 2 1/2 hours but I still have a chill.

So I now I have two copies of the book I have been waiting for (very eagerly) and I'm afraid to open it because I don't have time to get sucked into a book.

End whine.

Yep, I'm THIS Crazy!

Having never claimed the cloak of sanity I thought I would share with you the days events.

Okay, really, just a few minutes of my day.

I pre-ordered J.R. Ward's Lover Revealed because sometimes Chapters sends out books weeks before their release dates.

Hey, I took a chance.

So I have been checking my 'shipping status' pretty much hourly. Get this, all the books that the online store said would be shipped in 24 hrs are coming from British Columbia (other side of Canada) and as of tonight, they have not left.

Meanwhile, I get another e-mail saying that they have shipped Lover Revealed!! I look it's tracking number up and it's coming from Mississauga (40 minutes from where I live) so I know this book is going to show up before the others.

Now, there have been times when books have landed on my front stoop on a Saturday and today I was itching to see if I would find a brown cardboard box with my copy of Lover Revealed in it.

I've been up since 7am and got out for a bit with my best friend Sue - shopped for 3 hrs (an hour of which was spent in the most hideous of places, The Home Depot - by the time I got her out of there I was ready to unleash C-Rex!)

So, I've been sitting on the couch since about 3:30pm and it's now 7pm and my eyes burn from want of sleep. That said, I have been fighting it so that I can sleep like a regular person tonight. *snort* Wonder what that's like?

Okay.

I should mention that I have checked the Chapters website for Lover Revealed because it will list the stores nearest you and how many books they have in stock. Kristie was the one who let me in on that nifty little feature and it has saved me oodles of gas money and time while at the same time having the ability to dash my hopes within seconds.

So, I'vd been checking stock pretty much twice a day for the last few days.

Zero.

Okay, maybe they're not in the system so I called the store that normally gets new releases first and was disheartened to hear that no, they have no Lover Revealed books.

For some strange reason, a half hour ago I decided to recheck the site and see if any stores had stock.

HOLY INVENTORY!!

Bob, being the precious man that he is drove me over to the store (they showed 48 in stock) (because I'm in no shape to drive) so I could go and get the book a whole day before it lands on our doorstep.

Yep. I'm that much of a nut.

Bob asked what I was going to do with the copy that would show up Monday morning - why, return it of course!

I'm not sure what it is about me and my auto-buy authors. I must have their books as soon as humanly possible but even I will admit that I have been watching the website much more than I ever have.

I'm going to chalk it up to 'needing something, anything to look forward to!' Hey, spring isn't nearly as close as it should be!

So there you have it. I am a touch on the insane side.

Luckily I have a husband who doesn't mind and a bunch of blog buddies who might just understand.

You understand, right?

Right?

*sigh*

Okay, no more pre-ordering for me.

Uh, wait.

No more pre-ordering after Ice Blue (Anne Stuart) cause I already pre-ordered it.

I'm so going to end up with two copies of that one too.

Oh, and I'm so friggin tired that I know I'm not going to read the book tonight. I weighed that while trying to decide if I had the energy to leave the house. My fear? That I would wake up at 1am because - well, I think I covered the things that will wake me up and yes, Cody was a pain in the arse last night and I ended up getting up with him for a couple hours - and then I would be mad at myself for not going and getting a copy of the book.

So now I'm covered. I can read it whenever I get to it.

Now, if you'll excuse me, Bob's calling me to pick the colour of the straight jacket he is ordering.

And We're Off!

I always say I'm going to be quick like a bunny and end up writing an essay but I thought I would do a mini-update.

1. I realize now that I'm just waiting for J.R. Ward's Lover Revealed to get to my door already. Reading anything else seems to be a waste of time. All the same, I am trying to read The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day which I think is probably a great book but I can't seem to sit and read for more than 5 minutes. I'm hoping the Ward book will cure this.

2. I am just starting to come out of my hibernation. I realize now that I have been an extreme shut in but I think it's starting to wear off. I actually felt like I wanted to go shopping for the first time in months. It only lasted a few seconds but it's nice to remember what it feels like.

3. I also seem to be getting ready to do something to the house. I'm not sure what exactly but I have a feeling paint will be involved.

4. I slept 16 hrs yesterday and woke up a midnight. It's now 4:30pm and I figure I'll be hitting the bed in the next little bit. So I'll be a day walker for the next couple of days which is nice because I was forgetting what the sun looked like. Cool.

5. I'm stressed about Cody - I started to type out what's going on but I'll leave that for another time.

6. I can't wait for Bob to be done with the renovations at the other house so I can have my husband back. Did I mention how my days just all meld together right now. Seeing as how I'm going to be heading to bed fairly early, I won't see him tonight (although we'll get to sleep beside each other - I told him not to make any noise when he comes to bed or I would wake up swinging! For some reason if Bob accidentally wakes me while coming to bed (I've never heard someone make so much noise going to bed - calling for the cats and Cody and then has to talk to them and then God forbid he forgot to shut something off - up he gets and lots of re-shuffling of the cats etc.) it's the end of my sleep cycle. So I told him that if he messes up my sleep tonight I'll be going to the job site tomorrow and making his life miserable! Course, only I know that I'm not setting foot on the job site.

7. I bought this go-go-gadget shower scrubber. So I super extend the pole and don't see a locking mechanism but whatever, I have really got to scrub the shower from top to bottom. On one of the down sweeps I fell into the shower because the damn pole collapsed! How do companies get away with making this kind of crap!! Oh! And how many of you have to actually get in the shower with the bleach cleaner and clean while having a shower? I have yet to figure out how to clean a shower without having to get in which would be fine until you run out of hot water. And this shower is all ceramic tile so there are grout lines everywhere. I think I may just have to clean the bloody thing everyday!!

Okay, we should end there before you all fall asleep.

Apparently I'm going to need more than this lack luster entry to put me to sleep.

Comparing AAR Results to My Ballot

Another year, another ballot! Next year I'm going to be even more organized thanks to Rosario's handy dandy excel spreadsheet (and by handy dandy I mean, 'holy shit, I didn't know a spread sheet could do that!)

The good news is that although a few category wins may be my fault, I'm pretty much off the hook for the rest. Yeah! Someone else to blame!

Okay, for those who couldn't give a fuck, scroll down to the bottom for some fun. I love Robin Williams and this one has me in stitches every time!

I also discovered after reading the results column here, that I am definitely more in the paranormal camp than I thought. Here I was thinking I was a well rounded romance reader until I really looked at the categories and which books won. Ooops. Guess that's probably not much of a shock to other people.

Read the rest at your own risk. There might be some whining involved but I'll try to keep the drama to a minimum.

Best 2006 Romance Novels

Best Romance Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward
Honorable Mention Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Shit. Right off the bat, it was me. Yeah, that's right, I heart Lover Awakened!

Bring it!!

See how I reign in the drama?

I saw a few people mention that LA couldn't possibly be the best romance of the year. For easy math, let's say there were 7000 ballots and every one had a pick for best romance of the year. Of those half voted for LA as best romance of the year. That would make me and 3499 other people completely wrong.

My people would like to say to your people:

Pfffffffft.

Favorite Funny Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase
Honorable Mention Drop Dead Gorgeous, Linda Howard

Date Me Baby One More Time by Stephanie Rowe was my vote. I have not yet read DDG and even though I read Lord Perfect, I didn't see the funny.

Now, you and your 3499 people can send me your own message. See how this works?

Hey, all I did was a raspberry, no need to throw things!


Most-Hanky Read Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward
Honorable Mention Simply Love, Mary Balogh

I believe I left this blank. LA did get me teary eyed and such but I'm starting to become a stickler about what a hanky read should contain. Mostly, lots of tear stained pages. *snort* If a book gets me crying too soon what do you think the odds are I'll finish it. Ah, well, I like to leave some areas on my ballot blank so that it's not all about me.

Like usual.

Most Luscious Love Story The Raven Prince, Elizabeth Hoyt
Honorable Mention Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas

I think I left this one blank also because I'm pretty sure I would have had to put LA in this one. Sorry any scene where a man learns to become one with his unit is pretty much solid freakin' gold for me.

Yeah, I'm feeling like I crossed the TMI line also so let's move on.

Best Erotic Romance All U Can Eat, Emma Holly

After the revealing answer above isn't it weird that I really don't read much in the erotic romance categories. I've said it before, the ones I have tried I don't find all that sexy. That said, I'm so going to read this one one of these days, it's just sitting in the TBR pile until I'm ready.

Best Cabin/Road Romance Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole was my vote. I have to be honest and tell you that it wasn't until I read the first set of interim results that I realized that this book completely fit this category.

What I know is that LP just didn't work for me and it's my own baggage and nothing else. We have kids (although not those cutesy kind but still annoying), a parent and guardian trying to track them down after they have run away, manage to fall in love AND have sex while trying to find them. Sorry, my suspension of disbelief was strained. All the same, I know that Loretta Chase and I have an odd relationship. When I love her books I LOVE them and when they don't work for me they really don't work for me.

Too bad for me.

Best New Author Elizabeth Hoyt

I think I left this one blank as the ones I would have put in actually have a background in categories. Nalini Singh for example.


Best Buried Treasure Jacob, Jacquelyn Frank
Honorable Mentions Beauty and the Spy, Julie Anne Long
The Raven Prince, Elizabeth Hoyt

I put down Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh because even though I know that some of us reading bloggers read it, I wasn't sure how many AAR readers would have heard of it. I just ordered Visions of Heat from my online store and if I'm really lucky the book will be here on Friday. STS was almost everything I look for in a paranormal and it was fresh and new for me as a reader.

I have Jacob in the TBR pile and I'm looking forward to reading it and seeing if it's any good.

Guiltiest Pleasure All U Can Eat, Emma Holly
Honorable Mention Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas

Okay, mini-rant. Guiltiest pleasure obviously means something else to other romance readers. My feeling is that if a fellow romance reader would look at me and say 'OMG you read ____!?', then that is a guilty pleasure. You know it's something most people can't stand but for some reason you can't help yourself from loving it.

MJDs Drop Dead Gorgeous was my vote. Yeah. Doesn't that make you want to mock me?

Exactly. That is a guilty please my friends.

Author Most Glommed J.R. Ward

Mine was Kresley Cole and even though I looked at this and thought, 'oh, shit, I am a paranormal junkie'. I also realized that she writes historicals and I bought them up too!

I know there was a question about what constitutes a glom and really it's quite simple for me. If I read a book and immediately go to the bookstore and buy the rest of the author's books without reading the backblurbs or caring if they are the same as the one that set off the glom (authors who write historicals and contemps etc) whether it's only 3 or 23 then that's a glom.

I figure if you only have 3 books to buy up then your both lucky and unlucky. One, you don't have to keep looking for that ever elusive highly expensive book BUT, you also don't have any more books to find - that's it that's all, you read those three and you're officially caught up.

Best Medieval The Silver Rose, Susan Carroll

Can I just say that covers obviously do make an impression because I have seen the Carroll books and have thought 'ugh, historical fiction' when in fact, I think these are historical romances. If there is anyone who has read Carroll here, can you just verify this for me because if they are romances (and by this I mean the book is mostly about a romance between two people) then I need to update my TBB list!

I read no medievals and thus no vote here from me.

Best European Historical Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Honorable Mention Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Boo-yah baby!! I loved Sebastian and DIW and I was saved from wishing for something different for his character because I did not read the book before this. I heard too much about how annoying the Autumn book was so I didn't bother. Thus, I loved the story for what it was for me.

Geez, this only puts me at two!

Best Amer Hist/Frontier tie A Reason To Live, Maureen McKade
The Rogue's Return, Jo Beverley (partially set in Canadian frontier)
Honorable Mention Summer Breeze, Catherine Anderson

I did not read a American historical from 2006 but I have ARTL in my TBR pile and I'm really intrigued by TRR by Beverley so I'm putting that on the TBB list.

Best Contemporary Drop Dead Gorgeous, Linda Howard
Honorable Mentions Angels Fall, Nora Roberts
Sex, Lies, and Online Dating, Rachel Gibson

I put down Cold As Ice by Anne Stuart. Yeah, yeah, colour you surprised but I loved it. I have not read the three that are listed here - I went to buy Angels Fall tonight and saw it's in HC - I can wait.

Best Series (Category) Family at Stake, Molly O'Keefe

I don't read series books.

Best Romantic Suspense Cold as Ice, Anne Stuart
Honorable Mention Angels Fall, Nora Roberts

Yeah Baby!! *butt dance* Cold as Ice, purrrrrrrrr.

Best Paranormal Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward

This makes 4.

Don't make me get my people!

Best Chick Lit/Wom Fict Hot Dish, Connie Brockway
Honorable Mention Summer at Willow Lake, Susan Wiggs

I left this one blank because I don't think I read chick-lit. That said, Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane was released in 2006 and I read it after filling out the ballot. I loved it!

Also, I will show my 'bitter slip' by letting you know that I no longer follow authors into their new genres. Nope. Not going.

Short Story Hot Toy (Santa, Baby), Jennifer Crusie
Honorable Mention The Warlord Wants Forever (Playing Easy To Get), Kresley Cole

Geez, if I had paid more attention I would have realized that I read the honorable mention this year and loved it but I didn't record it because I only read the one story. Out of spreadsheet, out of mind.

I put Dead Man's Chest from My Big Fat Paranormal Wedding Anthology by Rachel Caine - I went to glom the rest of her books and discovered they are YA - NO THANKS!

Best 2006 Characters

Most Tortured Hero Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward Zsadist

#5.

Strongest Heroine Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward
Honorable Mentions Memory in Death, J.D. Robb
Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase

Okay, my heroine could take all three of these woman. All of them! Genevieve from Cold As Ice by Anne Stuart. Ms. Stuart, if you happen across my wee little blog please, please, please give us more heroines like Genevieve. Thank you.

Best Hero Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas Sebastian (St. Vincent)

Huh, I think I voted for Sebastian in this category - I have scratched out things all over my hand written ballot. So that would be 6.

Best Heroine Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Honorable Mentions Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase
Drop Dead Gorgeous, Linda Howard

Again, I loved Genevieve from Cold As Ice - for those who think AS heroines are mostly spineless, you have to read this one because she gave Genny strength and I loved it.

Best Couple Lord Perfect, Loretta Chase
Honorable Mentions Devil in Winter, Lisa Kleypas
Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward

Oh look, I put DIW as best couple and it's in the HM category! I wasn't paying attention. For those who see that I voted for LA as best romance, I couldn't in good conscience put Bella and Zsadist down as best couple. LA was more about Zsadist than about Bella while I felt the H/H in DIW were equally shown.

Best Villain Lover Awakened, J.R. Ward (unnamed to avoid spoilers)

I did not have a best villain.

Worst of the Year for 2006

Most Annoying Lead Drop Dead Gorgeous, Linda Howard Blair Mallory

Uh, maybe but I haven't read it. I voted for Ian Mackay from A Thief in A Kilt by Sandy Blair - so many ochs, achs and other weird noises going on. Ugh.

Author You Gave Up On Christina Dodd
Dishonorable Mentions Nora Roberts
Julia Quinn

Wow, I just noticed that NR is up there! I voted for Linda Howard. Used to be I couldn't wait for her next book and I have many of her HC but after the last few I just can't see putting out the money anymore.


Most Disappointing Read On the Way To the Wedding, Julia Quinn

Didn't read it but I'm not one of those readers who has to read an entire series. I put Sandy Blair's A Thief in a Kilt here because her last book was a keeper and I was looking forward to a good read. So it was disappointing.

Worst Read On the Way To the Wedding, Julia Quinn

In the end I voted for A Thief in a Kilt here also because I did read the entire book and it was the lowest graded book for the year thus, it was my worst read of the year. That's how it works. Anyone out there buying Connie Mason books? No? That's why her books are not winning worst of the year - us seasoned romance readers know better.

Purple-est Prose Prince of Ice, Emma Holly
Dishonorable Mention Mistral's Kiss, Laurell K. Hamilton

I left this one blank also but now I'm afraid to read Prince of Ice. It's hard for me to take an erotic romance seriously if there are too many euphemisms for anatomy. Although I did like Passion so maybe I shouldn't be such a judgey wudgey bear.

So there you have it. My yearly wrap up.

I know, I don't know how you could have gone one without knowing my thoughts on the situation.

And now, the man who made 'FUCK NO!' one of my favourite phrases I give you Mr. Robin Williams on golf.

Youtube hates me so you have to follow this link - so not work or kid friendly!

Robin Williams and Golf

VISIONS OF HEAT meme

I'm telling you, Nalini Singh has a great idea when it comes to marketing on the internet. Simply offer us readers some book money and a preview of the next book and we're like putty in an author's hands.

Slave to Sensation was a great book and since I know I'm going to be buying this one also I'm more than willing to pimp the book.

1. Which psychic power would you most like to possess?

I have no interest in knowing other people's thoughts and seeing dead people would be a sure way to make sure I end up in a straight jacket! So I would like to see some future stuff so I could buy the right stock, get rich and have hubby retire. You know, it's the little stuff that makes all the difference.

Oh, you know how vampires can teleport - I would love that but only if Bob could have it too so we could go all over the place. It would be no fun by myself.

2. If you could see the future, what would you like to see?

Ooops, I forgot to read the meme before answering so yeah, other than lottery numbers I would only really like to see things that I could change. I wouldn't want to see that someone is going to die and have no way of changing it. I would also want it to be straight forward - no flying cows that really mean 'mad cow' disease.

3. Imagine you woke up one day and could shapeshift - what would you shift into?

Geez, what wouldn't I like to shift into? Okay, not a snake or spider or ant or mouse or ... Yeah, nothing where a human would just kill ya. I have always had a thing for wolves but I would also like to be a cheetah just to be able to run full out and see what it feels like. OH!! I would love to be an eagle and fly - that would be super cool seeing as how I don't plan on getting on a plane in this lifetime.

4. What kind of a paranormal creature would you invite over for dinner if there were no limits on who you could ask?

Probably were-animals because they have that great sensuality with each other. It would be cozy and informal and I could just have the food shipped in. Heck, with the way they eat they could probably cook for me!

5. Which future innovation do you wish would hurry up and get here already? i.e. flying cars, a transporter, computers with artificial intelligence, an auto chef?

I'm telling you, teleporting can't come fast enough. I would love to go all over the world but I won't fly - somehow it would be so much easier if I only had to dread a few seconds in time instead of an entire plane flight.

Second would be an auto chef if it would deliver a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings and taste like when I make it. Yeah. Mmmmm, food.

Dang, now I'm hungry.

Hope you will want to play with this meme also - just follow the links below to find out how you too can be eligible for a 50 dollar Amazon GC and a preview of her next book.

This meme was begun by Nalini Singh to get the word out about her next book, Visions of Heat (releasing March 6). Want to play, too, and enter to win a $50 Amazon voucher plus an ARC? Click here for details.

My Little Bubble

Many things have been happening but not to me so much. I've mostly been a couch potato and computer whore since early February. We have 3 birthdays during this month which should normally help break it up but, you know, meh.

Mucho progress on the reno house as Bob is there on the weekends - I'm hoping he will be done end of March but April is not out of the question. I think when Bob isn't with me on the weekends every day just melds into another so I am looking forward to the summer when Bob's weekends will be free again and the pool will be open and *fingers crossed* I will have my sidekick Cody following my every move.

Where's my faithful sidekick right now?

The traitor is upstairs sleeping in the bedroom because his bestest daddy ever is sound asleep.

Who walks the dog?

ME.

Who feeds the dog?

ME.

Who takes him to 'spa day' and any other appointment?

ME.

Did I mention I'm the one taking him for walks? I think he may be a bit pissed at me because I didn't bring him up with me today when I went to bed. Cody only lasts about 8 hours so after that he wakes up and gets antsy which of course wakes me up and well, I don't like to be forced awake. So I left him in the den (no hardship since he sleeps better on the couch then on my bedroom floor - at least I'm betting) and woke up to hear him tearing paper to shreds. Yeah. Not my happiest sound. Luckily, the only books I have in the room are too high for him to get to but he managed to dig up last weeks flyers.

Aside: see how I drape the couch in blankets? I know what it's like to get dog fur off of the couch. Still, I let him get up there and get all snugly and who's he with? Exactly!

When he starts to chew things I know he needs to get the hell out of the house so I took him for a nice walk. Course, half way through Bob came home and wimped out of walking with us because he was too cold. After that Cody kept looking behind him hoping his bestest friend would be walking up behind us.

I am not jealous!

I'm not.

Anyways!

I'm already starting to get myself worked up about tax time and it's not due until the end of April. I just know how I file things so I'm thinking it's best I find everything I need now. I don't know about you guys but I am famous for putting an item somewhere where I think 'I'll know exactly where it is'.

You know what?

I never know where it is!!!

This makes me so mad at myself that I start the negative talk about how stupid I am and how I'm useless and stuff. Not happy thoughts so my plan is to try and get the taxes started at the end of this month.

The other reason why I'm obsessing is because I know there will be another *new* thing I will have to figure out for the tax man. Never fails. It will mean going back over the last four years (it will work out to be a good thing for us) and well, the last four years are in 'that place where I know exactly where it is.'

I can't imagine the move helped in keeping it all where it once was.

Wherever the hell that is.

Did I file it under T for taxes? Or under H for holy shit we're paying out the whazooo? Course then there is F for Fuckers who have all our money. I mean, it's a needle in a haystack over here!

Damn.

This is where I'll fess up to the fact that my file drawers are not in alphabetical order.

Okay, I'm going to sign off before I start the negative self talk.

Avoidance is crucial to mental health.

*gets into some yoga position that Gumby thinks is cruel and unusual punishment* Ohmmmm.

I am SO not jealous!

Isn't It Romantic by Ronda Thompson

First, I have recalled the flying monkeys I sent out to poop on Renee and Kristie for recommending this book. I'm going to write this one without re-checking their reviews so maybe there was some warning of what was coming and I missed it. Of course, maybe it's my fault for never reading the backblurbs - I just checked and I guess I would have had a clue before the opening scene of the book but, whatever, let's get to it.

Cindy Blurb: Basically you have two sworn enemies (a romance writer and a reviewer/columnist) being forced to date each other and create a he said /she said 5 part mini-series for a newspaper. The dates were hilarious - thus the reason I whistled for the flying monkeys to abort their mission.

This story was one hell of a roller coaster ride and by that I mean it in the 'I'm so going to puke' kinda ride. The opening scene had pretty much every element that pushes all my 'oh crap' buttons.

1. A precocious eleven year old.

2. A romance novelist as the heroine (Lord have mercy on my soul)

3. A huge misunderstanding in the opening that had me cringing with embarrassment because even though I had never met the eleven year old girl in the book, even I knew that her comments would have someone thinking the worst.

At this point I was wondering what Renee and Kristie were drinking when they read this and where the hell I could get some! This might surprise you but I had faith that the book had to get better, cause like I said, R & K (who have read and loved many of the same books as I have!).

It did get better even though the heroine (whose name is Katrine which of course got my brain stuck on the work latrine and well, I had to mentally change her name to Kat every time I came across her name - every once in a while I would read it as is and think 'latrine'. I know, I'm hopeless) took just a little too long to loosen up. I'll also mention that she is a writer of hawt romances and yet, she was only ever married for six months and basically they hadn't got to all the good stuff before she became a widow at 19. This would be what, the fifth hot button for me?

The hero, Trey, was far from perfect also in that he thought nothing of telling Kat how horrible she was as a mother (when her and Trey weren't even friends) and then getting her daughter one hell of a big dog without asking Kat. Uh, hey, pets aren't disposable commodities - okay, pet peeve but really, how many of you have shown up at someones home and brought them a new pet? Especially knowing that one of the people would have said, hell no!!?

As to Kat's backing up of the romance genre? No thanks. I think I'll speak for myself if that's the way Kat really feels. Oh! And get this (and maybe it's the authors way of sticking it to reviews) Kat sued the newspaper that Trey worked for when he gave a bad review of one of her books. The newspaper settled. I was left thinking 'what a drama queen!' AND THEN!! There is a scene where Trey goes to the bookstore with a cabby that needs to buy the latest Kat book and ends up being yelled at by some of Kat's fans - WHO HAVE ROLLERS IN THEIR HAIR!!!!

Okay, this is looking like the book was really bad but in reality it just had an unpolished feel about it. I wonder if this was Thompson's first book?

I'll say this, when Trey and Kat get to the dating part their chemistry is hard to look away from. Trey is doing everything he can to ruin the dates and yet, Kat manages to get the last laugh. Hell I was laughing after the first date and seeing as how funny is hard to do, I can appreciate it.

I guess I would say that Thompson's strength showed when the H/H were together (even though they fought fairly dirty) BUT, I found that Trey became a little too much like a 'cliched romance hero' in the way he expressed himself. I don't mind words of love if they feel right for the character but hearing the words coming from Trey just had me wondering who the guy is that just showed up at the end of the book.

In all honesty, maybe it was the authors intention to write this with her tongue firmly in cheek and well, sometimes that kind of stuff goes right over my head.

So here's where I'm going with the grade. C+ I was going to go with a straight C because the book was half good, half bad but I did manage to enjoy the date scenes and it made me laugh.

Okay, now Renee and Kristie can take off the gloves on any books I have recommended that made them wish they could hunt me down with a dull spoon.

Good news?

New author to me - check.

Another book read - check.

Walls have no new dents - check.

I Got Mail!

Well, that's not exactly true. I had to go to the post office to pick it up because the UPS guy on this side of town won't leave the package on the doorstep.

Knowing it had to by my online order from Chapters you know I had to go out!

Before I share, you know you are bored when you walk around a box store and you're STILL bored. Bored I tell you! When shopping doesn't make me happy I know I've hit rock bottom.

And I miss Bob.

OMG!!

Now you don't know this but years ago The Olive Garden restaurant used to have franchises up here in Canada. I don't like Italian food as a rule and salads and soups even less but I tell you, the food from this place was like manna from Heaven for me.

Colour me seriously pissed when overnight The Olive Garden packed up and left Canada (I have heard a rumour there is still one in Calgary but that's about 5 days from where I live).

Just before they left I discovered another beautiful vice called something like baked meat ravioli. Bob and I would go down to the restaurant and order Pasta e Fagioli soup, get the best salad I've ever tasted and an order of these ravioli appetizers. That's it. No main course necessary. (pssst, if anyone knows the recipes for these that actually taste like TOG then please e-mail me with them - no really, I serious!)

It's probably been 9 years since The Olive Garden slinked away (bastards) and it's been probably 6 years since I was last had some of their food courtesy of an over the border run.

Six years and I still remember all that was wonderful about the food.

Tonight Bob calls at 7:30pm and says 'guess where I am?'

I'm figuring he's in Times Square.

'The Olive Garden'

I was floored. It never occurred to me that TOG would not only still exist but that my hubby would go there without me!

I learned one thing about myself tonight. I rarely if ever get jealous because tonight I can honestly say I was sorely envious of my hubby's luck of sitting and eating food that I can only dream about. Weird sensation this jealousy thing is.

I had a salami sandwich for dinner. Thanks for asking.

Stupid panic attacks.

Moving on!

Isn't it Romantic by Ronda Thompson.

Kristie (J) and Renee have both blogged about this book and mentioned how funny some of the dating scenes are. Since finishing Stupid and Contagious I have been craving a good ol' fun book. I think this weekend may be a reading weekend because I am getting bored of some of the online word games I've been playing.

Yep, that's me, addictive personality who suddenly finds themselves ready to move on. See, I think Bob should take me to a casino, I'm sure I would get bored and move on - uh, no.

I believe it was Jay who mentioned how much she liked The Stranger I Married by Sylvia Day and since she has been blowing the recommendations out of the park, I figured this would be a good book to try! Funny how I buy books now without reading the blurbs anymore. I have no clue what this book is about.


Nalini Singh wrote one of my favourite books of last year called Slave to Sensation. I know that Harlequin books are different in theme and content but I'm pretty pumped about reading more by this author.

Talk about not reading the back blurbs of books. This is where that can bite you in the arse bad! I bought this book because I enjoyed The Real Deal by Lucy Monroe - sure I had some problems but I thought it was sexy and rated it fairly well. I think that book was either 2 or 3 years ago now and I haven't read anything by her since. So I decided to load one into the online cart.

It's a friggin' historical.

Bah.

Lately I only buy historicals of authors that come highly recommended.

I'm a dumbass but that's not news.

Oh crap. I didn't even do this on purpose. Last but not least the latest MaryJanice Davidson.

I was desperate!

I know, I'm pathetic.

In my defense though if I can actually read the book it will count as a book read for the year.

I'll take it any way I can get it people!

The Gist

Here's the daylight picture. I got the drive blown out and just about froze my thighs off. It took hours for them to stop hurting - that's the last time I mock those who wear long johns!

Minus 30 degrees Celsius again tonight and boy did I feel it.

Bob was on a train to New York City all day today - train left at 9am and arrived at Penn Station at 1am. Poor guy. I'm a wee bit jealous of him being in NY but I know Bob too well to have done that travel (not to mention I would have been way too anxious to be locked up in a tub for the day). Bob doesn't really like to be away from home so even though he says he would stay there with me for a few days I know he would be giving me the puppy dog eyes after the first day. Then it would feed into my anxiety and it would all go to hell. Also, I'm not much for going outside in the cold so better him than me.

After blowing out the drive I came in and got Cody ready to go out. I knew he had to get out because every time I opened the back door for him to go out he would just look at me. Hey, I don't blame him, he'd be up to his ears!

I put on his new boots for his paws and just had to take a picture. He was really funny about them for the first bit but after about five minutes he just went nuts and started running almost to the end of the 25' lead. He did get to the end at one point and I wasn't fast enough so his back legs flew past his head. Poor guy. I was laughing too hard though because he was acting like a puppy and I love when I see him like that. The picture was taken after we got back in from the quick walk - the temperature dropped like crazy between getting the drive done and us going for a walk.

So now I'm just playing word games on the computer. I'm addicted but I have that gene anyways. Still haven't picked up a book and the mail person made no effort to get to my door today. Not that my books would have shown up but I'm also waiting for our health benefits cheque which is no small amount of money.

On a completely different topic I have been craving something for a few days and can't place it. I'm pretty sure it's chocolate based but so far nothing is working. Not that I've been buying lots of chocolate because I'm trying to stay away from the stuff but still, I can't figure it out!

OH! Did you watch LOST last night?

Day-AM!

The show ended and I literally said 'fucking awesome'. You know, there are not too many shows where I don't figure out where the hour is leading but WOW! I was floored by the ending. I love when a show can do that.

And, I love Desmond.

Hell, who don't I love on that show?

Snow!!!

Now, maybe you don't know that I really, really, really dislike winter but it's not that I hate snow. I hate the shorter days. So, I'm tickled by our first official snow storm.

Anyone wanna come for a BBQ?

Yep, that's our backyard table and chairs - those two things on the right are Bob's Pepsi and Coke coolers. AND it's still snowing.

I had to take the pictures in the dark because Bob is taking the camera with him tomorrow for three days.

Since the storm is supposed to last well into tomorrow I made stew - so I'm set for the next few days.

Even so, I'm not afraid to drive in the snow at all so I'm one of those people who doesn't think twice about running out to the store. In fact, Bob and I celebrated Valentine's Day today because he leaves by train to New York City on business (lucky guy - course I would want to go for more than one day). Since I'm a procrastinator, I had to go out and get a few gift cards and chocolate for Bob, some groceries and uh, the bookstore. Snow schmow.

I bought some books online last night because I'm desperate for something light and frothy and my TBR pile looks like it's all about the drama. Ooops. Still, my desperation took me to the big bookstore today and I bought NOTHING! It hurt to walk out the door without buying anything but I was just lost in the aisles. Not a good feeling.

I'll save the list of books I bought for when they arrive.

What's that?

Yeah, I lied and shouldn't be posting but c'mon, I had to post my fun snow pics!! They make me happy!

Dang! I almost forgot! I managed to get our gigantic snow blower out and started and got the drive way cleared out! I did it for Bob as kind of a Valentine's gift and I figured, hey, what would be sexier for a man than seeing his driveway all cleared out without him having to move.

Yeah, I got his number.

Bob, however, does love his toys and kind of hovered as he got home when I was only half done the driveway. I insisted he go in and relax but he stayed out and shoveled out the walkway. I went and did a neighbours driveway ( I didn't know they had a blower) thinking I could be helpful. By the time I was done, I stank of gasoline and exhaust (Bob wasn't even near the machine and he stank of it also) and my thighs were so cold you could have pushed a straight pin into them and I wouldn't have felt it!

I figure getting out in the fresh (and I mean fresh) air is the kind of stuff my body needs and it definitely kept my energy high for the day and now I'm exhausted so I'll be heading to be soon and yeah, it's 4 am.

Whatever.

The next three days are going to be all about me!

Okay, that's normal but since I'm going to be alone, it's REALLY going to be all about ME!!!

Could I BE Anymore Boring

Yes, yes I can.

Cody has been dropped at the spa - he so didn't want to go in. It's amazing to see how much he's changed since Rocky passed in the summer. Talk about separation anxiety. I know that it's good for him and for us and he's always excited when we go to pick him up.

Today is Godson Josh's birthday and he's going to be 6! *sniff* I love him so much I could just squeeze his little cheeks and snug his ear and

*ahem*

Tell me he's not a keeper!

We're going for pizza which is a new food group for me since I have discovered Domino's pizza.

Pizza and I have had a long relationship of me hating it's existence and it always showing up to make sure my tummy tanked in all it's wondrous glory. My family are pizz-aholics and Pizza Hut is the pizza of champions. It has always caused me problems but the last time I had ONE piece my stomach decided to pay me back for over a month.

I decided last (one before this one) Christmas (my family brings in pizza on Christmas Eve (tradition) and since it's the only thing available I usually eat it) that I just couldn't eat Pizza Hut anymore.

One night my hubby wants pizza and I figure I would call someplace new and see if they delivered. Now, I shouldn't have even tried it but like normal the pantry was bare and I needed something so I re-heated a piece from Bob's leftovers.

Nothing.

Huh.

The next time he ordered I thought I would try a slice and again nothing.

Now, poor Bob has to fight me to get his toppings on the pizza! I do love me some pineapple let me tell you - Bob believes pineapple is one of the deadly sins - meh.

HOLY CRAP - Why am I talking about pizza!?

This is what I mean, I've got nothing, nada, zip.

February blows and I have yet to find a book to read.

I promise not to blog again until I have a book at least part way read.

My gift to you.

Don't say I never give you anything!

Sacked

Second verse, same as the first.

I'm so friggin' tired but I think it was my tummy going nuclear on me tonight that tuckered me out. It may also be that I have been getting out of the house and making myself get some fresh air.

On that note, some new things.

Cody has been out for a couple of walks (which means I've been out walking). *yeah!!!*

My house smells like Cody's butt. *boo!!!!*

I haven't really watched all that much TV or been on the computer that much. *yeah?*

I tried Madeline Hunter's By Design and discovered I wasn't in the mood for a deep drama. *uh - WTF?*

I have no clue which book I should read next *boo!! wait - yeah that's right, booooo!!!*

I have managed to clean the house up a little. *woohoo*

Discovered it's Cody that smells like butt so he needs a spa day. *uh, wha..*

Yep. I live the life of Riley I do.

Bagged - The Dark Highlander

Not sure how much sense this post will make - I've been up since 3:30am and it's now 8pm.

Bob had to go to Montreal so I've been staying awake to get his calls. I like to know when he gets to the hotel and we'll talk on the phone while he is on the train. (Remember, he no longer flies - he learned from me that I will never fly and he decided he could live life the same way. I don't fly because of good old fear - Bob used to take planes but I think he thought it was a mandatory part of life - not so my friend - I told him this on our first date - I got all my crap on the table so he would know what he was getting into) Anyways, I'm going to crash in the next little bit but thought I would give you a brief update.

Brief.

Yeah, right.

I bought booties for Cody's paws yesterday because he's been climbing the walls and it's way too cold for him to be out without protection on his wee paws. Sure enough today he is not himself (has been sleeping like a baby all day and limping a bit) so we didn't venture out. I'm a little worried that now that he has slept all day he is going to keep me up all night. Oy!

I decided to try a new to me author from my TBR pile and discovered a dud.

I picked up The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning.

Are you ready for this?

I stopped at page 36 because I thought my head was going to explode - not from rage, just from sheer 'you have got to be kidding me' shit.

1. The hero is from the past and has a Scottish brogue with all the 'Och and lass' words swirling around him. Blergh.

2. The book opens from a woman's point of view who is not the heroine but the current bed partner of the hero. You know that he is all man and lust inducing but you know, scary. Yep, this scary man calls her 'lassie'. Double Blergh.

3. The heroine finally shows up and she is obsessed in a very bad way with all ancient artifacts. There is some back story about her Scottish grandfather and such.

Oh, oh, I forgot to mention that the hero catches a glimpse of her getting out of a cab and thinks 'She was the kind a man kept'. Yak.

4. And here is where I decided this book was definitely not about to get better. This obsessed heroine gets distracted by all the flashy artifacts in the hero's house while he is not home. She basically ransacks the place (not really) in her eagerness to look at all his loot and goes into the man's bedroom and climbs under his bed (where he has hidden stolen books - don't ask). At this point the author has made her character so unappealing to me because at that moment all I can think is that she deserves anything that is coming her way. I can't think of anyone who would act in such a manner and yet, the author has decided I would believe this woman has not a wit of sense or for that matter has any clue about personal boundaries. Yetch. Sure enough the hero finds her and drags her out and has to tie her to the massive bed to keep her from telling on him.

I dropped the book when the next scene opened with the hero thinking 'She was the kind a man kept'.

I don't think there is enough money in the world to tempt me into finishing this book.

Feel free to make offers though.

Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane

When I closed the cover on this book I was just happy and I still am happy. This is quite possibly the only time I have ever considered giving a book an A grade that wasn't a romance book and had no sex between the H/H.

I think I'm growing up.

*wipes tear from eye*

Upon further reflection and let's face it, my need to perfect my grading system in at least my own mind, I decided on a B+.

Cindy Blurb: Heaven is a, uhm ... well she's the heroine and Brady is the hero of the story.

Huh.

Okay, basically - uh.

I guess I'm making it pretty clear I have no clue how to review a chick-lit book.

Heaven starts the story as a high powered PR executive for a small firm and for some reason gets the boot (I mean, I know the reason, maybe jealousy or maybe we're seeing it from Heaven's side of things but whatever). Heaven gets a job as a waitress at a pretty trendy restaurant and we get the inside dish on what restaurants are really like (since I was once a waitress, I get most of it). I also think that Heaven doesn't have many boundaries because when she starts getting her neighbours mail, she thinks nothing of opening it and telling him her opinions.

The neighbour is Brady but we meet him on a plane wondering over his past relationships and why he is still trying to be cool when he is over 30. He is forced to move when the woman he has been living with for the past two years refuses to believe he is breaking up with her and won't leave his rent-frozen (can't remember the term) apartment. He meets Heaven and is basically appalled by her noisiness and general mayhem.

This book is told from the POV of Heaven and Brady and they swap chapters. So the chapter heading will read Heaven and it's her thoughts etc. We don't get earth shatteringly deep thoughts out of either of these characters. They are not looking to solve world hunger or stop war, they are just normal and sometimes normal is down right hilarious cause who hasn't been there and done that.

Is it a story about finding one's self? I guess, maybe, damned if I know. I think it's more of a story about meeting the person you fall in love with and that makes me happy. I laughed out loud at parts and no, it's not slapstick funny like Evanovich so no worries there.

Why not a perfect grade? Believability.

There is a scene where Heaven is clueless to the point of stupidity and all I could think was 'stop, you can't be this dense.' Basically she's working at the restaurant and smells something extremely bad and she thinks the toilets in the bathroom have backed up. She apologizes to the table seated near the bathroom and everyone kind of looks away. She goes into the bathroom and finds the odor is not as bad in there - so she decides that someone at the table has stepped in something and tells them this. Nobody at the table reacts - I would think at this point you would shut your yap and let it go but no, she starts sniffing around the table until she gets to a woman and is bending to inspect her shoe when the woman bursts into tears. She has a colostomy bag - Heaven is mortified that she just embarrassed the woman but really, would anyone take something that far?

The other part that I stumbled over was a section about Starbucks and how people get to make choices. While reading it all I could think of is You've Got Mail and how the hero in that movie had the exact same thoughts. It definitely took me out of the story because I was no longer in the head of Brady but in the head of the movie guy.

Oh, and the ending was too pat. I mean there is a HEA and then there is an over the top HEA. I'm just saying, the guy gets the girl, good enough. The rest is gravy but then Crane threw whip cream and a cherry on top. But then, there are people in the world with over the top lives. Bastards.

Ahem.

If you already love Chick-lit then I would recommend this book to you but remember, I'm not well versed in this genre. If you are in a slump and need something a little different then this might be just the thing.

That's what this experiment was for me. I just didn't know which of the 200 romance books in my TBR pile to pick up next so I decided I needed to read something completely different.

I'm glad I did.

I Love My SAD Light!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I enjoyed sitting under my SAD light tonight. It's amazing how different I feel already.

I also opened a window up last night for about 15 minutes because Cody puked and I thought he could use some fresh air. It was super cold but it was nice and Cody curled up in a ball and fell asleep in the middle of the breeze.

So, simulated sunlight and some fresh air have worked wonders!

Also, and this is huge, I started a new book today and went in with no expectations because it's not a romance book. I figured I needed something completely different to shake things up.

Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane - it was recommended by Jay and all I can say is that Jay is dead on about this book. I'm loving it!! Now I wish that Jay still had her old blog so I could make a list of all her favourite books. That's two for two.

Remember, I'm a slow reader and I'm only at the half way mark so it might not be until Monday before I can get a review up.

I'm just really enjoying myself!

Me and My World

Just thought I would pop in and say nothing is new.

February 1st and I'm already in a 'pip-pip-cheerio' kind of mood.

That was sarcasm but I'm officially a shut in and can't remember how to clearly convey my thoughts to others. So far, mind melding with Cody is about all I can manage. Poor bastard.

On that note, it will get to minus 25 round these here parts so no walking the dog. I don't know what's worse - crawling up the walls on my own or having my Cody bear join me in an 'ants in his pants' frenzy. Poor guy doesn't get the whole, no walking cause your paws will fall off kind of weather.

Bob, meanwhile, is politely averting his gaze whenever Cody and I start the crazy ways. Sure, he has to go out to work - boo-frickin'-hoo!!

Then, then I tell you he is going to go and work at that 'other' house all weekend and leave me here all alone!

Okay, my sleep is definitely on the nocturnal side so it's not like I'll know he's not here BUT I *will* know! Oh, all right, it's more like there are no stores open when I am up and I can't get out of the house.

Now I know how our cats feel!

I should also own up to the fact that I cancelled on the dinner Saturday night with my best friend. I already know that my stomach is going to have a melt down. How you ask? It comes along with the other wonderful thing mother nature sends my way. Isn't being a woman grand? My friend was bummed but she bounced back - I think she just wants me to come and see her and since I haven't been up during the day for the last few weeks it's been a while. I need to make sure I get over to see her next week for sure. I think I may go over early on Saturday to take her her birthday card and present.

Let's recap. Acting like a shut-in, bored out of my mind (oops forgot to mention that), SAD is in full effect (our house is from the 50s and the outlets don't have three holes so I can't plug my SAD light in - I'm going out to see if I can find an adaptor this weekend!! Bob keeps saying he'll change out the plug but I'm seeing exactly where on the list I am and I'm telling ya, it's dead last! Yes, I'm being a drama queen - comes with February), TV blows chunks and I've seen almost everything that has been released on DVD.

Take it Queen!!