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Wednesday, September 26, 2007:
Which Disney character are you?
I haven't done one of these in awhile, but I love Disney movies, and this one is kind of a shocker. I guess I was going for Belle, but I'm totally okay with Jasmine (I love the scent, too) because I absolutely adore tigers, and I do have a few close friends instead of many, many acquaintances. I'm definitely more independent and do my own thing. What about you? Take this quiz
The Disney Heroine Quiz
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You are Jasmine. Princess Jasmine is a girl who only a few special people can get close to. She has a pet tiger named Raja who will obey only her. Jasmine is smart, and fun, and beautiful, according to Aladdin. You have Jasmine's fiery spirit, and you probably have a few close friends as opposed to many acquaintances. You are admirable, for you stand up not only for yourself, but for your beliefs, friends, and whosoever is being picked on. You have a very strong character and you know exactly what you want.
Take this quiz!
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Labels: Disney, quizes
posted by Stacy~ at 9/26/2007 05:14:00 AM
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Friday, September 21, 2007:
a star in Heaven has a birthday
Today would have been Hannah's 6th birthday. If you remember, Hannah is RachD's beautiful girl, a source of love and delight and wonder, even to those who've never met her. Hannah passed away in July, but everyday before and since her light has shined, and when I think of her, I see a different world, a gigantic place where amazing things are happening all the time, and not just the same old place I rush through on a daily basis. Rach loves to talk about her kids, so I knew of Hannah and her sister Lily for a long time, getting a kick out of their child-like antics.  Rach has been amazing, and I know that it's been so, so hard for her. What mother wouldn't be devastated? But Rach has chosen to honor both her precious children by living life, and dealing with the pain and sharing herself with others. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult today much be for her and her husband Brien, but I know that Hannah is watching over her family, and that there are many, many people who are thinking of this incredible family, especially today. I am humbled at Rach's strength, and her loving spirit. I think she must be a very special person, and that those people in her life were drawn to her because of it. I feel so lucky to have someone like her in my life, and while I may not always say it, I visit her blog frequently and find peace and hope in the way she celebrates life.  This picture of Hannah makes me wonder: what was she thinking about just then? Did she she angels from where she was sitting, or little magical fairies that were completely enchanted by her? I imagine she saw many wonderful growing things, and that she was sending out her love to her family - Rach, Brien, and Lily - and those people who were never strangers to her. If you get a chance today, think about Hannah. Remember how wonderful it is to discover something new, something living, something God created and shared with the world. Notice the sound of the wind, or the scent of sunshine on your clothes. Watch the birds as they soar above, and the clouds as they float on by in their fluffy glory. Remember Hannah. Labels: birthday, Hannah, love
posted by Stacy~ at 9/21/2007 05:57:00 AM
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Thursday, September 20, 2007:
Work has been crazy and exhausting since we are relocating our offices this week and when I'm at home, I'm finally able to relax and enjoy some good books and that's been heaven, but in the meantime, I've lost my blogging drive. I have about 15 posts in the hopper, just needing to be tweaked before I let them out to play in blogland, and the desire to do so just hasn't been there for the last 2 weeks. Plus my weekends are pretty booked up for the next month or so, which is great, but I need some "Stacy ~ time" or I'm gonna be a total crab. I'm more of a loner and enjoy time to myself and right now I've depleted that bank and it needs to be refilled. Does anybody else get like that or is it just me? - Judy F, I will be sending your book I just haven't been to the bookstore (gasp!)
- Sue A, I have your book & address, I just haven't been to the post office either
Haven't done much in the way of being nice either LOL. I'm working on it, really I am, but I feel like I just don't have enough energy to go around. Maybe I just need chocolate. I'm also looking forward to seeing a few movies out there - "Stardust" and "The Brave One". Anyone see anything lately that they'd recommend? Enjoy the rest of your week, thanx for stopping by, and may you always be reading a good book :) Labels: blogging
posted by Stacy~ at 9/20/2007 05:20:00 AM
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Monday, September 17, 2007:
Mary Kate had an interesting post at her blog about the shame gland and those who apparently seem to be missing one. I know we all have our lapses from time to time and suffer from moments of utter selfishness and "me-ness" (or is that just me?), but some people seem to make a habit out of being shameless, and take absolute pride in their work. After experiencing a drive-by shameless cut direct, it's very easy for me to feel annoyed and pissy and even a bit resentful, but I hate when I do that to myself. I don't like to be bitter all the time, so I'm going to just let it go. After awhile, it's just not worth the aggravation to let some things bother you, so again, I'm going to let it go. So this week, from Monday, September 17th through Friday, September 21st, I am going to put out a challenge to myself, and any of you are more than welcome to play along. I am going to see how many times I can do something nice for someone, just because. It can be anything such as holding the door open for someone, or letting someone cut ahead of me in line at the grocery store or in traffic (which I really, really hate doing LOL), or sending out a "missing you" or encouragement card, or even buying someone a cup of coffee. Who knows, maybe it'll be contagious. If not, so be it. I'm doing this so I don't wallow in my petty side (though sometimes I thoroughly enjoy the wallowing, I must admit). I'm going to do it because I really, truly want to. You may wonder "why aren't you already doing these things?" and some of the time I think I do, but it's so easy to get sucked into the land of the shameless that sometimes I really can't be bothered. But not this week. This week I'm going to try to be a better person, and we'll see if I succeed. Anyone else willing to join me? Labels: why not?
posted by Stacy~ at 9/17/2007 05:04:00 AM
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Sunday, September 16, 2007:
Bad Boys Ahoy! winner.....
Sorry, sorry, it's been another gorgeous weekend and I wanted to go out and play! So with no further ado, the winner of the signed copy of "Bad Boys Ahoy!" by Sylvia Day is... SUE A.! Congrats! Sue, please email me your snail mail addy and I'll try to get it out this week. Hope you all are enjoying the weekend :) Labels: winner
posted by Stacy~ at 9/16/2007 04:41:00 PM
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007:
While settle for one Bad Boy when you can have three ;)
l  This is the first book of Sylvia's that I ever read. (Check here for the back cover blurb). It's all about some sexy bad boys, one thing I can't resist, especially in books. So in order to be eligible for your chance at a signed copy of "Bad Boys Ahoy!" , I'm asking that you name your favorite bad boy from a book. What is it about him you just can't resist? I'll select a winner at noon CST on Saturday, September 15th, so good luck!
Labels: contests, Sylvia Day, winning
posted by Stacy~ at 9/12/2007 05:28:00 AM
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Sunday, September 09, 2007:
Chat of the Day...Sylvia Day
~I have been a fan of Sylvia Day ever since I read "Bad Boys Ahoy" last year, hearing how great it was from fellow readers, and though I'd never heard of her before, I decided to give it a try, especially since it was a Brava anthology. She reminded me of why I loved pirate romances so much, because I totally loved BBA. I continued to follow her work, delving mostly into her historicals. Over the last 18 months or so, I have been constantly amazed by the number of books she's had published, and her impressive release schedule looks pretty jam-packed for the next few years. I got to meet her last year in Atlanta at RWA, which was a thrill, and now she's been gracious enough to take the time away from her writing to answer a few interview questions. So without further ado, heeeere's Sylvia! ~ S ~ Sylvia, I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer some questions. Having read your bio, you are clearly a focused person who gives 200 percent to everything you do. Where do you get your drive from and what keeps you going?
Sylvia: I'm not sure where the drive comes from. Perhaps from my mom, who was an over-extended single mother of two rebellious daughters.
S ~ How would you describe your writing ritual? Do you follow a routine or just let inspiration strike where it may?
Sylvia: I sit at the keyboard every day. Some days I write all day, other days nothing comes out. So I have the routine of being at my desk daily, but I still wait for inspiration.
S ~ You wrote several stories prior to break from Brava, including one for Black Lace - are any of them currently out in print? If not, are there any plans to release them in print?
Sylvia: "ASK FOR IT" was my first manuscript, but "BAD BOYS AHOY!" was my first sale. In between those two books I wrote others, all of which sold after "BBA" but released prior to it. They're all still in print. Some of my Bravas are being reprinted in mass market, but the trades aren't out of print.
S ~ As I mentioned, you write for Brava, one of my favorite lines because I believe it's of the highest quality around. Would you say you wrote a long time before finally getting "the call" and having your first Brava published?
Sylvia: No, not long. I started "ASK FOR IT" the last week of October '03 and sold BBA to Brava in early December '04. So in publishing years, it was fairly quick.
S ~ How many different languages do you speak? Any plans to incorporate them in some small way into your writing?
Sylvia: I studied Russian while I was in the Army and was fluent at that time. Now, it's been well over a decade and I've lost about 90% of what I learned. I'm half-Japanese, but I taught my mother how to speak English; she didn't teach me how to speak or read Japanese. So I'm presently only fluent in English.
 S ~ I know for awhile you were one of the Founders of Passionate Ink (a special chapter of RWA) - how do you manage to find the time? I used to be a lot more active in the writing community, but in 2007 I severely curtailed my extraneous commitments and now I try to stick to just my blog, my chat loop, and my writing. As for time... This question comes up a lot. The answer is really simple. Writing is my full-time job and I treat it that way. I don't fit my job around my life, I fit my life around my job, just the way every other 9-5 employee does. Gloria Steinem said it best -- "Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else."
 S ~ With your busy schedule, do you ever find time to read all the books you recommend at your blog? Who are among your all-time favorite authors, and why? Sylvia: I don't get to read all of the Out of the Blogosphere http://outoftheblogosphere.blogspot.com/ books I recommend, but I do read books that I don't post about on my blog -- ARCs sent to me for possible quotes and such.
My favorite authors are Lisa Kleypas, Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Shelby Reed... to name the top few. There are more, lots more. :)
(S ~ My guy ~Nathan~....can't wait for this book!!!) S ~ Some of your later historicals, released after Bad Boys Ahoy", such as "Ask For It" and "The Stranger I Married" are definitely edgier, darker erotic romances, as well as full length stories. Then you wrote "Mischief and the Marquess" in the recent Brava anthology "Perfect Kisses" - another novella - which is remniscent of BBA. Do you find it difficult to tell a darker romance in a novella? Or vice versa: to tell a less earthy, more sensuous and wildly romantic full-length story?
Sylvia: I wrote ASK FOR IT first. Then I wrote the first book in my Sapphire trilogy, which is a fantasy adventure (coming in mass market with Zebra). Then I wrote MISLED (which is a futuristic/vampire novella) and "Lucien's Gamble" from BBA. So, I've always written all over the map from the very beginning -- different genres, lighter/darker, shorter/longer. I deliberately try to make each book different from the others I've written. But aside from that, it's important that a novella feel "complete" and that's hard to do if you try to cram a full-length book's worth of conflict into the shorter length. The structure of a novella dictates that the conflict be easily resolved so that the focus remains on the developing romance. I think that's why they seem "lighter" than my novels.
S ~ What do you find more challenging: writing historicals, paranormals, or contemporaries? Which type of story do you prefer to read?
Sylvia: Honestly, all of my books are challenging for me to write. I labor over every one of them. As a reader, I prefer historicals.
S ~ You mention that your books contain "vanilla" sex - one man, one woman, and the equipment God blessed them with, which is bucking the current erotic trend of multiple partners and a wide array of sexual scenarios. Do you ever feel pressured to amp up the sex for the sake of sales, or are you given free rein to write your love scenes in a more traditional sense?
No, no pressure. One editor asked me to consider "crossing the line," but I didn't. That just not the way I work.
S ~ Sylvia, you are a whiz at promotion, what with your blog, your various MySpace pages and other websites, chats, RT & RWA, book trailers, etc. How do you fit it all in? Have you seen the benefits for putting so much work into your promo?
Thank you. I'm not sure I'm a whiz. I use more of a "see what sticks" plan of attack. I have a publicist who handles my book signings, appearances, mailings, reviews... That takes a lot of the pressure off me. Also my publishers do promotions for me -- print ads, e-postcard mailings, etc. -- so it's really a joint effort to familiarize the reading public with my work. I've also been fortunate to have the support of romance buyers for the major chain bookstores. That's priceless and I'm tremendously grateful.
The benefits of promotion are hard to quantify. My books go into multiple print runs, but that could be word-of-mouth as much as promotion. Really, the goal for me is peace of mind. At the end of the day, I know I did everything I could to promote each book and that makes the effort worth it for me. If someone doesn't hear about my new release, it wasn't due to lack of trying on my part.
 S ~ Do you have a story of the heart? What makes each book special to you? SAPPHIRE'S WORTH (which will probably be renamed by Kensington) has been my book of the heart for many years. But I'm really, really excited about my MARKED urban fantasy series with Tor! (http://www.sjday.net)
Each book is special because I love the characters. There are lots of details that don't make it into the books, because my stories span a year or two, not a whole lifetime. However, in order to make the characters come alive, I have to know their life story from conception onward. When you know a person that well, it's impossible to not feel an attachment to them.
S ~ How do you keep yourself from getting burned out? Do you see yourself as always writing or do you think some other career will catch your fancy? Any goals you've set for yourself?
I keep it interesting by switching genres and styles. I'm a storyteller. The setting, time period... that's mutable depending on the story I want to tell. Also, I have to give my editors credit. Their enthusiasm for my work and their excitement feeds my own.
I'm sure I'll always write; I love it. But my ambition drives me, so I try to improve markedly with every book. That's my goal -- to be the best writer I can and to learn as much about the craft as I can, while still maintaining my individuality.
S ~ Guilty Pleasures: what are some of yours? Wine? Ice cream? Lost? CSI? Movies? Sleeping in late? (okay, you've got kids)
Chocolate, coffee, ice cream, big dumb blow 'em up action movies, sleeping in, wearing my jammies all day... I could go on and on. I have lots of pleasures, many of them are guilty ones. *g*
S ~ Favorite actor? Actress? Person you admire? What song is the most played on your iPod?
Leonardo DiCaprio. Vivien Leigh. My mom. I don't have an iPod. :)
 S ~ Any parting thoughts? Words of Wisdom? Follow your dreams, whatever they are. Everyone deserves to be happy. :)
S ~ Let me end by saying that readers truly appreciate an author who takes the time to not only respond to emails, letters, etc., but one who also updates their website on a regular basis, and you do both of these things. Thank you Sylvia. You deserve all the success you can handle. And thank you for taking the time to answer my questions :) Sylvia: Thank you for this interview! I appreciate it. ((hugs))
 You can find Sylvia at her website: And stay tuned for your chance to win a signed copy of "Bad Boys Ahoy"! Labels: author interviews, contests, Sylvia Day
posted by Stacy~ at 9/09/2007 07:25:00 PM
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Thursday, September 06, 2007:
My top 10 (er, 11) reasons why I love Nathan Kamp...
Okay. It's been awhile since I've really put much thought or effort into one of my favorite obsessions, but recently I've discovered that my Nathan Kamp fixation is alive and well. Thanx to Michelle Buonfiglio, who asked if I was still crushin' on the guy (uh, yeah), I decided it was time to post an updated version of some of my favorite book covers. Can you believe it's been about 18 months since I last did that? Well, here are some updated highlights.... One of my favorite covers. I love his rugged features here - it's a very masculine portrait. Oh with "master" in the title, who could resist? Not this wench.... Strong, muscular, gorgeous. Anyone else feel the need to go swimming? The Calling - one of my favorite bands. And Nathan can call me anytime.... True, we don't see much of Nathan's face here, but I think what we can see is just fine ;) Now if only Santa would bring me this for Christmas.... Usually not a fan of the heroine in the picture, so we'll just ignore her and concentrate on what's truly divine.... That smile is too wicked to resist - I've love to know what he's up to.... Oh yes, there is definitely a passion for him.... Is his kiss wicked? I wouldn't mind knowing the answer to that.....
And here is my updated Amazon listmania list - well, there are currently 12(!) of them, some with only 20-25 covers, others up to 40, which adds up to....a hell of a lot of covers! Enjoy ;) Labels: cover models, Nathan Kamp, obsessions
posted by Stacy~ at 9/06/2007 06:11:00 AM
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Wednesday, September 05, 2007:
"Fairyville" by Emma Holly (2007) review
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (September 4, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0425217051
ISBN-13: 978-0425217054 Fairville, Arizona, located just north of Sedona, is no ordinary town. There's an energy here most people can't explain -- and playful desires that beg to be fulfilled. Wish you were here...in bed. That's the wish that plagues Zoe Clare, a medium who has no trouble communicating with the dead - or with real, live fairies, for that matter! The problem is, she can't seem to get her feelings across to her landlord-slash-manager, the mysterious Magnus Monroe. He's Fairyville's most eligible - and sexiest - bachelor, and Zoe's tired of watching him celebrate each full moon with just about every woman in town but her. In a place like Fairyville, his erotic antics are almost par for the course, but Zoe suspects the reason for them runs deeper. Even when Magnus gets her hotter than the desert sun, he holds back from the ultimate intimacy. As a result, the return of Zoe's high school flame leaves her more than a little vulnerable to her old boyfriend's charms. How Alex broke her heart is a scandal no one in Fairyville has forgotten. But even if Zoe isn't ready to forget, she's ready to forgive. The rules they're about to break will bring out the jealousy in Magnus - and the astounding truth. Like I mentioned recently in another review of Emma Holly's work, this is an author that is either hit or miss with me. This time, I have to admit, is a definite hit. It's scorching hot, sexy, and whimsical. All the elements came together in a story that totally worked for me and the dirty girl side who loves it when an author isn't shy about revealing some of the deepest, most forbidden fantasies and puts them on paper. I would first like to mention that despite my expectations after reading "All U Can Eat", Holly's last book, the characters are not as dark and tortured. Both Zoe and Magnus are rather sweet, happy, caring and passionate souls, very likable characters. I was a bit surprised by that, truly expecting them to be hiding horribly tragic pasts or ugly secrets, but instead their natural makeup compells them to be care-free, full of life, and open to possibility. I had great affection for these characters. Zoe Clare, despite her calling and understanding of life on a different plain, is unexpectedly unawakened, though by no means a virgin. She's hopelessly fallen for her boss, Magnus Monroe, a beyond gorgeous man who has incredibly vigorous appetites, yet only succumbs to them during the full moon, but sadly, never with Zoe. After one particular wild night in which Zoe inevitably hears about from a friend, her frustration gets the better of her and she can't control her attraction to Magnus any longer, and for a moment, she believes that Magnus feels the same way, but then he rejects her advances, pleading for her friendship instead. Feeling unwanted, mortified, she nevertheless agrees, because Zoe didn't have it in her to hate him, even if what he does with other women breaks her heart in two. Magnus hates what he's doing to Zoe, but being what he is, he has no choice. She is the one woman he could love forever, but Magnus has a secret, one he can't reveal to anyone for fear of being discovered. See, Magnus is not human, and his mother is a very powerful being in his world. She wants him back at her side, but Magnus has no desire to rule with her, instead preferring the unpredictable human world he's existed in for the last two years, and being near the one person who is most dear to him. If his mother ever knew about her, she'd hurt Zoe, and Magnus can't risk that every happening, so he keeps his secret to himself, having to love her from a distance, but content as long as he can be with her in some small way.
Feeling alone, Zoe is in a vulnerable place, and because she has no idea about Magnus' secret, even though she resides in Fairyville where stuff like this happens quite often, she easily succumbs to the seductive charms of her old high school boyfriend Alex, in town with his sexy partner to solve a case that could only take place in Fairyville. Alex has changed a bit since she'd seen him last, but one thing that hasn't changed is their attraction for each other - it's as hot and rampant as ever! Will hooking up with Alex break her heart, or will it bring to her the love she's always wanted? Okay, I'm not going to lie; this book is definitely my definition of a guilty pleasure. Emma Holly can make even this traditional romantic find nothing wrong with multiple partners or any of those other shocking and raunchy things that might make me disgusted or not put up with from any other author. But going in, I knew that I wasn't going to get a monogamous love story with only the hero and heroine, so I can handle the truth. This story is just as deliciously wicked as "All U Can Eat", but with a lighter tone and a paranormal kick that I thoroughly enjoyed. One of the more endearing elements of the story is that Zoe has her own following of tiny fairies the size of a penny, and they are colorful little sprites of opinion and sass, and I adored their brave little hearts. Samuel and Florabel are too precious. They stole their way into my heart, just like Zoe's kitten, Corky, did. Lots to get hooked on in this book. And....okay I admit it, I eagerly looked forward to each hot, dirty and wicked sex scene because EH has a way of making them exciting and sexual and sizzling to the nth degree, no matter who is in them. I know that's not everyone's cup of tea, so be warned before picking this one up that there are scenes involving m/m and m/f/m action. But it totally works for me within the parameters of the story, so if you dig melt-your-Victoria's-Secrets type stories with a bit of a paranormal kick, I think you'll go for this one in a big way. Originally I wasn't going to get the book because I am starting to lose my taste for most paranormals (JR Ward and Singh's Psy/Changeling series excluded), having felt a little overwhelmed at how many there are out there, but with the promise of fairies and some naughty sex, how could I resist? Well, you already know I didn't ;) If I have any issue with the book, I wish that the love story between Zoe and Magnus would have been developed more fully and we got to see them falling in love instead of just being told they are. A lot of the time is spent with them apart, and while Zoe realizes she loves Magnus above all others, it didn't ring entirely true when I didn't really see or feel the connection. Still, I think Holly tells more open-minded romances, and that means a broader definition of what love means to different couples and exactly how it's expressed. Free your mind, and the rest will follow, I guess. Anyway, it won't stop me from re-reading the book. Looking forward to it actually. Labels: Emma Holly, HOT, paranormals
posted by Stacy~ at 9/05/2007 05:39:00 AM
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Tuesday, September 04, 2007:
"Inside Man" - movie (2006) - review
 Four people dressed in painters' outfits march into the busy lobby of Manhattan Trust, a cornerstone Wall Street Branch of a worldwide financial institution. Within seconds, the costumed robbers place the bank under a surgically planned siege, and the 50 patrons and staff become unwitting pawns in an airtight heist. NYPD hostage negotiators Detectives Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) and Bill Mitchell (Chiwetel Ejiofor) are dispatched to the scene with orders to establish contact with the heist's ringleader, Dalton Russell (Clive Owen), and ensure safe release of the hostages. Working alongside Emergency Services Unit (ESU) Captain John Darius (Willem Dafoe), all are hopeful that the situation can be peacefully diffused and that control of the bank and release of those inside can be secured in short order. But Russell proves an unexpectedly canny opponent--clever, calm and totally in command--a puppet master with a meticulous plan to disorient and confuse not only the hostages, but also the authorities. Outside, the crowd of New Yorkers grows as the situation becomes increasingly intense tense, with Frazier's superiors becoming more concerned about his ability to keep the standoff from spiraling out of control. The robbers appear to consistently be one step ahead of the police, outwitting Frazier and Mitchell at every turn. Frazier's suspicions that more is at work than anyone perceives are justified with the entry of Madeline White (Jodie Foster), a power player with shadowy objectives, who requests a private meeting with Russell. The chairman of the bank's board of directors, controlling entrepreneur Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), is also uniquely interested in the moment-to-moment happenings inside the branch. But just what are the robbers after? Why has nothing worked to alleviate the standoff, which stretches on hour after hour? Frazier is convinced that invisible strings are being pulled and secret negotiations are taking place as the powder keg situation grows more unstable by the moment. Being a huge and long-time fan of Denzel Washington's, as well as of Jodie Foster and Clive Owen, "Inside Man" sounded like the perfect kinda movie to watch them all work together and see what they could do. Directed by Spike Lee, this film is an interesting one where not everything is what you'd obviously expect. Detective Frazier is in the hot seat for something he claims he didn't do, yet in the meantime, he's a fill-in negotiator for the "usual guy" who happens to be on vacation. Not one to pass up this golden opportunity, suave and swanky Frazier drags his partner along for the unpredictable ride, thinking he knows the drill, having studied the hostage handbook. But does he, really? The robbers, lead by Russell, keep managing to do the unexpected, making the detectives wonder just who is in charge and what it is they're after.
Adding to the confusion is overly solicitious chairman Case and the pacifying fixer White, who both seem to have their own agenda regarding the robbery and the final outcome, and Frazier is trying to figure out just who the players in this heist really are, and what is the ultimate prize. Case immediately raises eyebrows when he agrees to the outrageous and impossible demands immediately without blinking an eye - what exactly is his stake in all this? And White, who smoothly gets things done for those who have the right price, manages to secure herself a position front and center in the negotiations, leaving the detectives scratching their heads at being the only ones not knowing what is really going down. This film is a great popcorn movie, one that effortlessly gets you wondering what exactly it is that's going on, and who are the good guys anyway? Denzel is a smooth operator in his suit and hat, confident he knows what he's doing until things start going horribly wrong. Jodie Foster is almost unlikable as someone who makes problems go away, regardless of how unmentionable they are, yet her engaging smile and confidence had me admiring her moxie. She's no dummy, and easily holds her own with the big boys. Clive Owen, the coldly seductive gang leader, has his own agenda, one he's not willing to stray from, and hardly breaks a sweat, even when his cover is almost blown in an unpredictable struggle. Secrets are revealed, or are they? The ending may or may not what you'd expect, but it's not a film of revelations but rather more a clever ditty that sticks in your head for awhile before it vanishes into the land of good but forgotten movies. Enjoyable to spend a few hours getting lost in, though probably not one for the keeper shelf, no matter how much I enjoyed it. Can't help it; my Denzel is in it, so it's almost always a given that I'll like it. For this one, I have to say he didn't make me cry this time, which he usually does, but in a good way. No, this film is not that intense, or emotionally draining. But it's a fun film, with the colorful characters that give it a NYC flavor, and the message that a lot of times it's not just the lowlifes that give off a rotten smell, but also the top of the food chain. Huh. No surprise there. Labels: Clive Owen, Denzel, movies
posted by Stacy~ at 9/04/2007 12:07:00 AM
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Monday, September 03, 2007:
"Slave to Sensation" by Nalini Singh
Paperback: 345 pages
Publisher: Berkley (September 5, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0425212866
ISBN-13: 978-0425212868 Dive into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind—and none of the heart…
In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”— the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was….
Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…
I am rather quite late to the Psy-Changeling party, but better late than never, as the saying goes. I started this and immediately was drawn into the fascinating world Nalini had created, so much so that I was even dreaming about it that very first night. That being said, it did take me a week to read the book, as I tried to pay attention to the complex Psy world, and the more unpredictable changeling world. It is the year 2079, and Silence - the act of conditioning the Psy population to feel no emotion whatsoever - is considered a huge success to their race. They live for success, every decision based on creating the most effective and healthy and lucrative existence possible. Family is only the means by which to continue on the line. Loyalty belongs to the Council, who controls all, and sees all in the mind net that sustains their race.
Psy and the the changelings live separately, but continue to do business together, albeit warily. It is during such a business transaction that Psy Sascha Duncan meets Lucas Hunter, a DarkRiver leopard, and is immediately drawn to the magnetic man, despite her fear of feeling anything at all. But Sascha has a job to do, and that's what she is going to do, despite the disturbing distraction Lucas happens to be. See, Sascha knows she is a flawed Psy, that it is only a matter of time before she is found out by the Council. Her own mother is a powerful member and wouldn't hesitate to get rid of any weakness. Sascha fears rehabilitation worse than death, and will fight to remain intact as long as she possibly can.
Meanwhile, Lucas is puzzled by his awareness of the beautiful Psy. How can he - part man, part leopard - be fascinated by a woman who feels nothing, when to him, touch and Pack mean everything? Yet he can't deny that he is drawn to her, and the more he gets to know her, the more he sees that she is unlike any Psy he's ever known. But like Sascha, Lucas also has a job to do: avenge the death of a pack member who was brutally murdered by an unstable member of the Psy race. Lucas believes that by sticking close to Sascha, he will learn secrets of their closely guarded world, and catch the scent of a killer. He owes his pack that much, and cannot rest until vengeance is theirs.
As I mentioned, I was immediately pulled into this world, though I admit the whole idea of "conditioning" to feel no emotion felt...icky...to me, like some bizarre brain-washing experiment. But the more I read, the more I wanted to know about everything. Sascha may have been good at acting cold and emotionless, but it's pretty obvious that she has feelings, and she's afraid of what that means. Lucas is like a heady balm to her soul, but she fears the connection they have with each other. I liked how brave she was, even though she was terrified, and I admired how she faced up to her fear and was more than willing to do the right thing, even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness.
And Lucas was a hero to die for. He was strong, wild, undeniably alpha, loyal to his Pack and those he loved. Once he recognized Sascha as his mate, there was no one and nothing that would keep him from her; she was his, just as he was hers. His scars were many, deep, but he carried them with honor, and vowed to protect those he called his own. I loved how he teased Sascha, how she wasn't afraid of him, how he delighted in her responses to him. Changelings are a sensual race, and that in itself made it easy to connect with him and with the various members of his pack - they loved to touch with affection, to play, to tussle. Sascha was a bit flustered by this, but soon came to crave the simple touches of friendship the pack shared with each other. I will say that I really liked all of the affectionate touching between Sascha and Lucas that took the place of what could have turned into an on-going sex marathon; it made their connection so much stronger, much more intimate, and when they finally do make love, it's much sexier and made more sense to their story.
So yes, I loved this book (yeah, yeah, yeah MK, LOL) and I already have #2 and #3 (yes!) waiting to be read. I commend Nalini Singh for creating such an engaging premise and for her fascinating, ever-changing worlds where much can happen - you just never know what that might be. I like that though the year is 2079, it's not so different from today's world. There are so many directions this series can go, and I look forward to reading every single one of them. So if you love paranormals and haven't read this series yet, buy the book! Labels: Nalini Singh, paranormals, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 9/03/2007 06:29:00 AM
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Sunday, September 02, 2007:
Somebody's gettin' a free book...
Today was waaaay too nice for me to be indoors at noon, plus I totally forgot about my contest (it's been so long since I've had one). Anyway, I have now, through the usual random drawing, selected a winner.... Judy F!
Judy, I have your address, so just leave the name of your preferred book and I will ship it to you as soon as I get my lazy butt to the post office. Sound good? Congrats, girlie :) Labels: contests, winner
posted by Stacy~ at 9/02/2007 07:32:00 PM
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