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Tuesday, June 30, 2009:
Spotlight: A - Ann Aguirre
Today I'm starting a new weekly feature here at the blog. I haven't quite figured it out yet, but I decided that I'm going to use the alphabet to spotlight something or someone at least once a week, and I've decided to kick it off with Ann Aguirre. I coud have expanded and gone with "authors", but figured that was too general, so I'm going with a specific author. Next week I might do B is for Brockmann, you never know. Or I might branch out and do something like A is for airplanes or B is for books, but I haven't figured it all out quite yet. I'll just go with the flow, and have fun talking about who and what I find interesting.
Photo credit by Andrea V.G. Aguirre
I can't remember just how I found about about Ann, but it was probably from Katiebabs - I find out a lot of things from her, some I'm probably better off not knowing *g* But that is certainly not the case here. I would lurk at Ann's blog and read the review for her books, and though I was intrigued, I admit to being rather intimidated by the type of stories she wrote. Would I like them if they didn't have strong, romantic overtones but still managed to be about an incredibly strong and courageous heroine? I didn't know then what I know now.
Then I was lucky enough to win a book that Ann raved about called "Duke of Shadows", by Meredith Duran. I absolutely loved it. And had just one more reason to think Ann was totally cool. The next step? Actually read one of Ann's books. I finally overcame my doubts and gave it a whirl. And I was mad at myself for putting it off for so long, because "Grim Space" was even more amazing that I anticipated. Even though GS is not a romance, per say, there are very strong romantic elements that hint at more to come in upcoming books, and right then and there, I was sold. I had no problem with an ongoing relationship because based on the premise of the series and all the danger and mistrust and bad stuff, it makes complete sense not to drive the story forward by engaging in scene after scene of googly-eyed infatuation and sexin' when there's some serious crap going down. Our girl Jax was no simpering fool, and I could totally appreciate that.
Next up on the coolness factor is when Ann came all the way from Mexico and arrived in the Chicagoland area on one of the freakiest weather days I've ever experienced. We'd been hit by a ton of snow in December, yet the day she arrived we were hit by some unseaonably warm weather, and all that snow melted. No biggie. The weird thing was it created this incredible thick and white fog for miles around, making visibility near impossible. Yet I wasn't going to let that screw up my chances of meeting her. And she was even more interesting in person. I got another great rec from her with Julia Spencer-Fleming, and although I haven't finished the first book, the series promises to be rather thought-provoking and memorable. My regret is not getting a picture of her, but if eating pizza and talking to a very cool author is the alternative, well then I'm not complaining...much. It was definitely a highlight of 2008.
If she hadn't already won me over, she also is writing a new series, starting with "Blue Diablo", and she's got something cooking under the pen name Ava Gray. The mind boggles how she's able to keep it all straight.
So these are just a few reasons why Ann ranks up there as definitely one to watch. If she's not on your radar, you might want to adjust that dial. Now's as good a time as any :)
Are you an Ann Aguirre fan? What is your favorite AA book? Labels: Ann Aguirre, spotlight
posted by Stacy~ at 6/30/2009 06:44:00 AM
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Monday, June 29, 2009:
"Mating Game" by Janice Maynard - review
 Nola Grainger needs a man...and fast. Her grandmother has left her everything in her will, with one small catch: Nola has to be married within a month. But if she's going to get married, she wants it to last. And for her, that means finding a man with as much passion as she has—who can take care of every desire, every day.
Nola finds three prime candidates: her high school sweetheart Billy, hard-dealing businessman Marc, and sexy handyman Tanner. Trying out three very different—and very desirable—men proves to be more fun than Nola imagined. But she never thought it might prove fatal.
Because someone in town is dead set against Nola sticking around. And with three new men in her bed, the danger might be closer than she thinks... Nola Grainger is living a great life in Chicago. She's built her photography business into something to be proud of, she has wonderful friends and an amazing lover. But when her grandmother dies, she might have to give it all up and go live in Resnick, the small town in Georgia where she grew up, in order to get her inheritance. Nola's not interested in any money, but Lochhaven, the lovely southern home she grew up in, would be all her's. There's just one small catch: Nola has to be married in order to claim her inheritance, and she's got 30 days to get it done, or otherwise the house along with everything that goes with it will go to someone else. Of course Nola is shocked by such an archaic demand to gain her inheritance, and even moreso when she discovers her grandmother's will is airtight. As much as she'd love to turn her back on the stipulation, she knows deep in her heart she would regret losing Lochhaven, so after much consideration, she decides that she is going to do everything she can to fulfill the terms of the will. She doesn't have much time, so she immediately sets about dealing with her life in Chicago, and tying up loose ends. This takes longer than she anticipated, so by the time she reaches Resnick, she's tired, stressed, and feeling the pressure like a lead weight in her stomach. Part of the stress that is affecting her is that Nola decides that the man she's going to marry is going to be for keeps, not just a solution to an immediate problem. She figures if she can find a man who can set her sheets on fire, that he will be most compatible, and they can work on the rest later. She already has at least one candidate in mind: her high school sweetheart, Billy. Finding out he's available gives her hope that they can re-kindle the romance they had so many years ago. But though he's a more likely choice, she decides not to limit her options, especially when her current lover Marc has expressed interest in taking their relationship to the next level, and then there's Tanner, her grandmothers's sexy handyman, who totally flips her switch. So with the clock ticking, Nola must decide which man she is going to potentially spend the rest of he life with, work on restoring Lochhaven to its former glory, and, oh yeah, try and figure out who's trying to kill her before they succeed... My thoughts: This book is a bit unique in that it's set up to be a traditional romance, yet the heroine has been spending time in the beds of three different men. Normally this type of behavior puts me off the book, but under the circumstances - using an old plot device in a contemporary way - I was able to put aside my personal feelings and work let the storyline play out. Why I think it worked for me was because of the situations in which two of the men played a part in her life. Marc was already her current lover, though at first she really didn't see him as potential husband material, and Billy was her first lover, back when they were in high school. So the idea of her being sexually intimate with three men didn't bother me as much as it might have if she just recently met these three men and decided they were the most likely candidates for a husband. Now the story was written in such a way that all three men were very viable choices for a husband. It was also written in a way that Nola had reason not to choose any of them for very valid reasons. So here's Nola, desperate to find a husband and not lose the legacy that meant so much to her, yet because of a variety of reasons, her decision was not going to be an easy one. She had to get to know these men intimately, both physically and emotionally, in order to know in her heart which man was the one for her. She was not looking for a temporary arrangement - she wanted a permanent, happy relationship that she could build on with her husband. As archaic as her grandmother's wishes were, once she came to realize what she could be forfeiting, Nola had every intention of honoring the terms of the will. As for the man she fell in love with, let's just say that I knew from the minute I "met" him who I wanted her to choose, and fortunately I was right. Each man had his own set of qualities and attributes that appealed to Nola in different ways, but there was only one man whom she felt was the one she is meant to be with. Once she knew in her heart, she didn't allow herself to continue to have sex with the other two, and this was because she'd consciously made a commitment; she had fallen in love, so even though she still cared deeply for the two other men she might have married, and was still attracted to both of them, she had made her choice and couldn't break her vow, even if it was just to herself. This story was refreshing in that it let the heroine explore her sexuality, her feelings, and didn't have Nola feeling guilty for getting physical with more than one man. It's a very contemporary attitude, and I'm sure each of us know at least one friend, or maybe even are that person, who has more than one lover at a time. Nola was also as upfront with her lovers as she could be, not sugarcoating the fact that she was being intimate with other men, and because no promise of fidelity and exclusivity had been made, I felt she was well within her right to have a little fun, as long as she was careful and took precautions, which was definitely made known that she was. While this story may not appeal to everyone's tastes, I think it's a brave move on Ms. Maynard's part to write about a modern woman who embraces her sexuality and at the same time, honors her small-town roots. Sexy and charming, I think many readers will still see Janice's familiar style and enjoy a bolder storyline with a likable heroine and the men who love her. Rating: **** out of ***** Labels: Janice Maynard
posted by Stacy~ at 6/29/2009 07:05:00 AM
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Friday, June 26, 2009:
Michael Jackson: a moment in time remembered
1958-2009 This was the Michael Jackson I remember, the one I adored as a pre-adolescent girl. In fact I think just about all the girls in my class loved Michael with that obsessive love only a young girl could. It was how we bonded. No matter who you were, if you were a fan of Michael Jackson, you were cool. I even entered a dancing contest when I was 12 for a part as Michael in a "Thriller" dance we were doing. I lost,but a lot of people thought I should have won LOL. That's how much of a fan I was. Billie Jean is my favorite MJ song - what's yours? Labels: Michael Jackson
posted by Stacy~ at 6/26/2009 07:06:00 AM
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Thursday, June 25, 2009:
"Angels' Blood" by Nalini Singh - (2009) quickie review
 USA Today bestselling author Nalini Singh introduces a world of beauty and bloodlust, where angels hold sway over vampires…
Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux knows she's the best—but she doesn't know if she's good enough for this job. Hired by the dangerously beautiful Archangel Raphael, a being so lethal that no mortal wants his attention, only one thing is clear—failure is not an option...even if the task is impossible.
Because this time, it's not a wayward vamp she has to track. It's an archangel gone bad.
The job will put Elena in the midst of a killing spree like no other…and pull her to the razor's edge of passion. Even if the hunt doesn't destroy her, succumbing to Raphael's seductive touch just may. For when archangels play, mortals break…
As I mentioned earlier, I have this new obsession with all things Nalini Singh, and when I was on my Oakland trip, I walked down to Jack London Square to the Barnes and Noble and picked up this one, which I've heard nothing but good things about. Of course that doesn't always prompt me to buy a book, so that meant I had to find out for myself if, after reading "Slave to Sensation", the magic held. Not surprisingly, it did. Elena is not only good at her job as hunter, she's considered the best, which is why she's summoned by archangel Raphael when another archangel goes on a murderous rampage. Being immortal does not protect them from madness, and Uram has crossed a line he can never come back from. Because of Elena's unique abilities, she is the best choice to track such a dangerous being. Failure will surely mean her death. In fact, pretty much any outcome will guarantee she won't come out of this alive. But it's too late to back out; she's already come under Raphael's radar. Dealing with the arrogant and deadly Raphael is liking balancing on a very narrow ledge in the middle of a storm. Elena knows that just the smallest slight could be reason enough for him to kill her; Raphael is not human and cares very little for human life, and he only needs her for as long as it will take to locate Uram. Elena knows this and does her best not to antagonize the archangel, but sometimes she just can't help herself. She's not about to become one of his adoring followers, no matter how incredibly beautiful he is. Raphael has lived too long to have much care or concern for human life, but this mortal hunter intrigues him. Both fearless and afraid, Elena challenges him, occasionally stands up to him, yet also has a strong sense of self-preservation, and she almost never does what he expects her to do. He finds himself strongly drawn to her, but never will he let a human rule him. He is immortal, and she nothing but a blip on a timeline. But oh what a fascinating distraction this blip turns out to be.... Together they try to stop a rogue archangel who is bent on washing the world in blood. But nothing could prepare them for just exactly what will happen when this rogue, inflicted with madness, manages to elude them, going on a killing rampage that could destroy them. And that's when they discover just how unstoppable he turns out to be..... My thoughts: I will admit that with the influx of bad-ass heroines who are tough, stubborn and tend to subscribe to the loner existence, I was wonderfully surprised by Elena. Yes, she's all of those things, but yet she's not closed off from people, and her existence as a hunter is just a part of who she is, not a reason to push people away. She has friends, even a best friend, and she has a home that she considers her haven, a place to go and just "be". Elena also has family issues, but she doesn't let them cripple her to the point of being unable to function emotionally. She's made her own kind of family with other hunters, yet still looks out for her sister Beth. Elena is rather well-adjusted, all things considered, and I rather liked that about her. She accepted herself as a born hunter, and did what was required as naturally as breathing. It was not just her calling, but who she was at her core. I found Raphael to be a really different kind of a hero, because you never know if or when he might just decide to turn on Elena and eliminate her at his own discretion. He's immortal, so having lived for as long as he has, his ability to care is not high on his priority list. He's seen too much over the centuries, and for the most part, this has de-sensitized him to the pain and suffering of others, especially humans. As far as he's concerned, there must be order within the Cadre of Ten, the society of ruling archangels, and his most pressing concern is stopping one of their own from destroying the world. He will do what it takes, and use whoever it takes, to stop it from happening. At first, Elena is nothing more than a means to an end for him, albeit a rather tempting package, and once her usefulness has passed, she most likely will die by his own hand. So this doesn't stop him from wanting to play with his hunter, especially since his lovers tend to be warrior women, and Elena is a warrior to her soul. And these two together are rather amazing. I think because Elena was a more compassionate fighter, she was the perfect foil for someone like Raphael. He was able to see how she cared for others, how an innocent who suffered got to her, and it made him a little more human, even to the point of wanting to protect her. Their chemistry is sizzling and seductive, and inevitably they were going to end up in bed together. When it finally does happen, it's intense and spectacular, and let's just say angel dust never sounded so magically delicious. What a treat. But this story wasn't just about them, it was about an interesting and complex world of angels, vampires and humans, and how they all lived and the rules that bound them together. We discover how vampires are Made, and how the archangels rule. The bits and pieces of insight the reader is given leaves me clamoring for more. And the story is rich with secondary characters who intrigued me almost as much as Elena and Raphael, and I am insatiably curious about their lives and their fate. I'm really looking forward to discovering even more about them in follow-up books to this series, which is so completely different but no less fascinating than Nalini's Psy-Changeling books. So my feeling is that if you're in the mood for something a little different in your paranormal, with a touch of the familiar, you probably want to give "Angels' Blood" a try. I know I'm extremely glad I did. This is good stuff. Rating: ****1/2 out of *****
Labels: Nalini Singh
posted by Stacy~ at 6/25/2009 07:46:00 AM
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009:
Bookcover alert: Instant Temptation by Jill Shalvis
I totally stole this from Jill's website because I want more of her devoted fans to suffer besides me LOL. Misery loves company, and we have quite a loooong wait til it's in stores. This is an April 2010 release, the 3rd book in her Wilder series. This appears to be Harley's and TJ's story. If you want a sneak peek, Jill has a rough draft of an excerpt up at her blog, so go check it out.
So what do you think: do these rugged men do anything for you? Being as directionally and coordinated-challenged as I am, I wouldn't mind having one of these guys around to keep an eye on me ;) Labels: bookcovers, Jill Shalvis
posted by Stacy~ at 6/24/2009 06:41:00 AM
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009:
I believe that I'm a wee bit obsessive-compulsive, so when I end up loving something, I tend to go overboard. Here are just a few of the things I'm totally glomming these days....
I read "Slave To Sensation" maybe a year ago, and while I liked it, I wasn't enthralled...at least not at the time. But I recently re-read it, and then grabbed a copy of "Angels' Blood", and now I'm all about Nalini. Sure I'm late to the party, but whatever. I have about 4 or 5 stories, including the anthologies, to go gaga over, and I am beside myself with excitement. I think I just needed to get into a paranormal state of mind, and now that I am, I don't want to leave anytime soon. And who knew angels could be so hot????
I told myself that with the blogging and Yahoo groups and all the other things I get sucked into online that I wasn't going to let Twitter control me. And it hasn't, not completely. But I find myself getting pulled in, sort of like that little voice in your head that says it's okay to have one more piece of chocolate, and then it becomes another until it's melted all over your face. But I digress. Twitter is the word. I only have about 1550 updates compared to others who have over 15,000, but still, I am hooked. And the really bad thing is, I can access it from work, so I've been very bad. But it's kinda fun. Do any of you Twitter, or have you managed to escape it's seductive siren's song?
 I admit, when I first started watching this, I rolled my eyes at how the formula went: doctors thought they knew the illness, but they're wrong. They think they know again. Again, they are wrong. Finally when the patient is just about to die or suffer some horrible fate, they figure it out. It's funny how the doctors have no guilt over breaking into someone's house to find the answers. Huh. But it grew on me like mold. I'm hooked. Dr. House is a curmudgeon who says whatever the hell he wants, but he's not the mean, spiteful jerk I thought he was going to be. He's rather likable. I think I might even have a weird little crush on his character. So of course I want to know more about him, and the other characters, though I'm a little irritated right now about how quickly they're willing to turn on House, but I guess if he was my boss, I might feel the same way. I've only watched the first 4 discs, there are 2 more to go in season 1, and I cannot wait to get them. And I want to glom the rest of the seasons, but I'm going to try and pace myself. Of course that will probably be a complete lie and I'll add the next several seasons to my Q to watch next. Now I know Hugh Laurie is English, but he sounds so very different than House. Take a listen... What are some of your current obsessions? Labels: obsessions
posted by Stacy~ at 6/23/2009 06:44:00 AM
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Sunday, June 21, 2009:
Someone's gettin' "Tails of Love"
Sorry I'm so late. I flew home from Oakland this weekend and instead of getting home Friday nite, I ended up at the Denver airport all night and leaving on a 6am flight, getting into Chicago around 9am. Since I didn't sleep at the airport, my body clock was all messed up and I made up for my lack of sleep in spades. It was weather-related, so whatcha gonna do, right? My main concern was my bag, which ended up getting to Chicago before I did - whew. Now all is right with the world again. But anyway, you want to find out who the winner is, right? In order to give everyone a fair shot, I click the "randomize" button 3 times with my eyes closed, and the winner is.... MONROE DAWSON!
Monroe, please email me your snail mail addy at trelainastarblazer @ yahoo dot com and I will make every attempt to mail this book out this week. Participators: 1. Leontine 2. Patty L. 3. Crystal GB 4. Maureen 5. Maija P. 6. housemouse88 7. tetewa 8. Kara 9. I Heart Book Gossip 10. Cheryl 11. Sandy 12. Liza 13. Karin 14. Estella 15. Kris 16. Monroe Dawson 17. KarenW 18. anonymous 19. Eva S. 20. jcp 21. Nath 22. Emmanuelle 23. Tracy 24. Minna 25. Caffey Thanx for playing! Labels: contest, winner
posted by Stacy~ at 6/21/2009 06:23:00 PM
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009:
Contest: signed copy of "Tails of Love" anthology
Ten all-new stories that celebrate our animal friends, by bestselling and award-winning authors.
From Seeing Eye dogs to the cat who cuddles in your lap, animals are there for us in more ways than we can count. Helping us get through the day with a wag of the tail and a tilt of the head, they let us know that someone is on our side no matter what. They also have an amazing ability to break down barriers between people; bringing families and loved ones closer, and giving strangers an excuse to strike up a conversation. In "Tails of Love," each writer draws from her own unique perspective on our loyal friendsaexploring the many mysterious ways they bring love into our lives.
Hi all. During the Lori Foster, Dianne Castell event, I managed to get an extra copy signed by all the wonderful authors of this anthology, and I'm going to have a drawing for one lucky winner. It will be incredibly easy: just tell me your favorite animal. It could be a dog, cat, horse, tiger (like mine), squirrel, whatever. So all you need to do is include what type of animal you love, maybe your own pet. Maybe it's one that has been there to give you unconditional love when you've had a bad day. We could all use that from time to time.
I will chose a winner on Sunday, June 21st, noon CST, and the winner can provide me their email address at that time. The contest is open to anyone, regardless of where you live, as long as you can receive mail.
As a reminder, please do not include your email address in your response as it is the winner's responsibility to contact me, and you must answer the question in order to qualify. A winner will be chosen by Random.org. Good luck! Labels: books, contest
posted by Stacy~ at 6/17/2009 05:25:00 AM
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009:
Book alert: Julie James book blurb
FATE HAS THROWN TWO SWORN ENEMIES…
Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde had to choose the one next to 1308, where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends in bloodshed. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this high-profile homicide. The same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for a botched crackdown three years ago—and nearly ruining his career…
…INTO EACH OTHER’S ARMS
Work with Cameron Lynde? Are they kidding? Maybe, Jack thinks, this is some kind of welcome-back prank after his stint away from Chicago. But it’s no joke: the pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes—and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension…
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Okay I totally swiped this off her website, but it just sounded too good not to share. Doesn't this sound awesome? Stop on by Julie's blog and let her know how much you want this book! You never know, maybe we'll get it sooner? There's always hope :) Labels: books, Julie James
posted by Stacy~ at 6/16/2009 05:23:00 AM
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Monday, June 15, 2009:
"Hot In Here" by Sophie Renwick - quickie review
 She wasn't his dish-until someone turned up the heat....
Celebrity chef and infamous ladies man Bryce Ryder can't believe the thoughts he's having about his old friend Jenna McCabe. She's always been the shy girl-next-door, but when some bad publicity threatens everything he's built, Jenna gets down to business-and shows a side of herself that is take-charge and totally irresistible. Soon things are heating up in and out of the kitchen-and all of Jenna's secret fantasies about Bryce start coming true. But will she be the one to tame his heart, or is the sexy chef just indulging another one of his cravings?
This was a story that I heard about from a favorite blogger, Barbara, and couldn't wait to read it, so when the opportunity presented itself, I snapped it up. The author was kind enough to send me an ebook for review, but I must have deleted it :( However someone I knew had an actual copy of the book, so I brought it with me to the Lori Foster event, which was good and bad. Good because I had it in my hot little hands, bad because I so badly wanted to leave the event and go back to my room and read it! But then I would have missed out on all the fun and seeing my friends, so I stayed strong.
Jenna has been in love with Bryce since she was 17. They became good friends back then, when he was the gorgeous guy who was always nice to her. But he doesn't really see her, not as a woman. It's years later, and Jenna and Bryce are best friends, but Bryce has a problem: he's a famous chef, but he's gotten a bit of a bad rap that could damage his reputation and cost him to lose his viewership of mostly working mothers. Jenna steps in for damage control, and instead of the meek, quiet woman he's used to, he sees an assertive, confident woman who knows her business, and this intrigues him. The more she butts heads with him, the more attracted he becomes.
Jenna is tired of only being Bryce's friend. Yes he really is a good guy underneath the gorgeous looks and sexy body, and he's gotten a little sidetracked by his popularity, but Jenna knows Bryce, knows that he is not the jerk the media is making him out to be. So she offers to help him fix his image. But Bryce doesn't necessarily want to go along with Jenna's ideas. He needs to turn things around, and he needs to do it fast. He can't wait weeks or even months for public opinion to once again swing in his favor. His attitude gets on her nerves, and instead of agreeing with him, she lets him know. Who knew it would have such a startling affect on him...
Bryce can't stand to see her walk away. Goaded by his brother who wants to ask Jenna out, Bryce becomes all territorial and possessive over his best friend. At first he's not sure where these lustful thoughts for Jenna are coming from, but as time goes on, he recalls moments in their history where he has noticed her as a woman, but always pushed those thoughts aside in the name of friendship. And Jenna is not his usual high-maintenance woman who will only eat salad and drink water. Bryce loves cooking for Jenna, watching her savor his edible creations. Her obvious enjoyment turns him on, and now he can't stop thinking about what else might turn her on. But will burning up the sheets together ruin their friendship, or end up being the best thing that's ever happened to him?
My thoughts:
One of my favorite themes is friends to lovers, though I'm more partial to the hero being in love with the heroine first. However that being said, this angle still works really well for me.
I always love a heroine who doesn't seem so overly concerned with her weight. Jenna is not one to obsess over being curvy, and I liked that about her. She loves to eat and it actually ends up being a turn-on for Bryce. She appears to be proud of her body and dresses to enhance her assets, but in a tasteful manner. And it's also obvious that other men do find her attractive. But Jenna's thing is that she still only sees Bryce. Sure she's had other lovers, but no man has ever been able to erase him from her heart. And once he does notice her, she has a problem believing all the suggestive comments and heated looks.
Once Bryce realizes he wants Jenna, he wastes no time in trying to get her. He prepares a birthday dessert she won't soon forget, and they end up having explosive sex (whew! fanning self), but in the morning, Jenna decides to play it cool and let Bryce think she's just having a great time instead of looking for anything serious. This confuses him because this is not the Jenna he knows. He loves her sexy side, but wants his friend too, the one that wouldn't treat sex with him so casually. Soon Bryce is remembering other times when he's noticed her as a woman but always pushed those thoughts away, not wanting to muddy their friendship. But now he can't help but recall that there have been instances when he's found her very attractive, but files it away as a glitch in the system. Maybe all those moments were trying to tell him something.
Bryce had let his celebrity go to his head a little. It isn't until some ugly gossip started going around that he realizes it, and how it's put some distance between him and Jenna. I liked how he gets back to basics, and tries to bring Jenna back to a time when life was simpler, what was important was friends and family, not fortune and fame. He let Jenna see how much she's meant to him over the years, and I think this was a big step on his part. His feelings for her were way beyond physical, and once he realizes this, he doesn't hesitate to show her how he feels.
Of course there must be some type of obstacle keeping them apart, so there was a little big of the plotting with the best of intentions going on, but nothing too unforgivable. I couldn't blame Jenna for being upset with Bryce, or even for not fully trusting him.
This was a very sexy, likable about two good friends who end up realizing that they could have so much more as lovers. I think readers will really enjoy it, especially since the focus is on the relationship, without the need to throw in a suspenseful subplot to keep things interesting. I don't think it was necessary to add that element to keep me reading. I was absorbed in Bryce's and Jenna's love story. Will I read another Sophie Renwick book? You betcha! In fact, I can't wait to find out more about those intriguing Ryder brothers ;)
Labels: Sophie Renwick
posted by Stacy~ at 6/15/2009 07:53:00 AM
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Saturday, June 13, 2009:
I'll be getting up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning to catch a plane to California. Oakland to be exact. Unlike last weekend, I'm leaving my laptop at home, so I don't know if I'll get much of a chance to play online. Of course I will try *g* See y'all soon! Labels: work
posted by Stacy~ at 6/13/2009 08:44:00 PM
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Friday, June 12, 2009:
What I'm watching: "House" Season 1
 From booksamillion.com: Part E.R. and part C.S.I., HOUSE is a medical mystery television show that's appealing due to its creative camerawork, interesting characters, and twisting plotlines. Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is a brilliant medical professional, but often alienates his patients and co-workers because of his abrasive manner and bitterness. In each episode House is faced with a person exhibiting a number of unusual symptoms, and along with his team of dedicated doctors and nurses, must discover what strange illness is afflicting the patient...before it's too late! The show moves at a rapid pace, spurred by its turning and suspenseful plotlines and the lively interaction between the characters, played by a strong supporting cast that includes Robert Sean Leonard, Omar Epps, and Sela Ward. HOUSE: SEASON ONE collects all 22 episodes of the program's first year.
Here's another show that's been recommended to me, and I just started watching the first 4 episodes this week. It's an interesting show, though I have to roll my eyes at how so far it's been very predictable: grumpy doctor is pretty much rude to everyone, making cleverly biting comments and perceptive comments that tend to roll off most people's backs, and manages to come up with the cure right at the last crucial moment.
Dr. House pops pain pills like candy, ducks responsibility like the plague, and continuously insults everyone from department head Dr. Cuddy (played by the lovely and always interesting Lisa Edelstein) to his specialists and most often the ill patients. It's a good show, and interesting (are these illnesses truly real, that's what I want to know), but I haven't become of enamored of it yet. It hasn't grabbed my attention like "Grey's Anatomy", but of course I'm just in the first stages of "getting to know" it.
Do you watch "House"? What's your favorite medical drama? Labels: television
posted by Stacy~ at 6/12/2009 06:30:00 AM
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009:
2009 Lori Foster/Dianne Castell get-together: the end
Well here it is, the last of my fun and memorable weekend. Because I actually did take pictures this year, I want to be sure to include them all. It's still Saturday.... 
I pretty much stalked Anne as she was buying books,waiting for the opportunity to meet her and her her sign my books. She writes for Sanhaim, and if case I haven't already said a gazillion times, they are my favorite ebook publisher.
This was a fun moment. Stella was very gracious to stop and chat - she has such a lovely British accent. I haven't read many books by her, which is a shame. It's kinda like not watching one of the top 100 films of all time: some things are a must. I hope she comes back next year.
I admit that I haven't read any of Sue-Ellen's stories, but she is in the "Tails of Love" anthology so I look forward to checking it out. What I liked about Sue-Ellen is how enthusiastic and friendly she is. She really seemed to love meeting people, signing books, and expressing her excitement to be there. It was contagious. I'm so glad I met her and now cannot wait to read one of her stories.
As you can see, Shiloh is a complete photo opportunity hog, constantly begging to have her picture taken. It's shameless, really. And a little embarrassing when she's running after me to "just take one more". And this is definitely her best side, don't you think? Really gives us a strong idea of Shiloh's unique personality *g*
I'm a huge fan of her Hunter series, and well she knows it. I've also been lucky enough to review several of her books, though this is one I hadn't read yet. There's a few actually, which makes me feel like a kid in a candystore. You can never have too much candy. I remember Roberta from the first event, and she was so passionate when speaking about books. I love that she's also an author, and I did read "Squeeze Play", which is a fun, snappy romance about a baseball player and the woman he loved. It was so much fun to meet her.
In the background to the left is Carolyn, the wonderful lady who made all the pretty beaded bookmarks, one of which is in a copy of "Tails of Love". She's amazing.
Look at these big smiles :) Patricia showed up a bit late due to a work situation, but thankfully she made it. She's just adorable, and her personality just lights up the room. She's also a Deadline Hellion, which is a group of bloggers I visit almost daily. It's always nice to see her. 
I don't know, Sarah looks a little afraid of me in this picture, like I need to back away slowly. And I did try so hard to behave.
I got "Sam's Creed", though I'm not a huge fan of western romance, but I like what she does with them. Sarah is usually on the welcoming committee for the event, and she always gives away amazing prizes. This year it was the Kindle 2. Didn't win that one either. But it was great to see Sarah, so I'm not going to complain. Too much.
~~~~~
After buying books, getting them signed, and not winning any baskets, I was ready to eat, and it was getting close to dinner. My table decided that instead of staying at the hotel we'd get outside and go find somewhere to chat. I was feeling a little drained from the crowd so that totally worked for me. So a group of us headed over to Max & Erma's. Totally missed the luau, so I didn't get to wear the pretty lei AmyC had gotten for me. But I'm keeping it as a reminder of how much fun I had this year. 2 biggest regrets (off the top of my head): not getting a chance to meet Emma Wildes and have her sign my book because she left early :( and not being quick enough to get a copy of Sarah Parr's debut novel before they sold out, but I did meet her and she was just lovely. I had to tell her that Katiebabs has been pimpin' her book and that I couldn't wait to read it, so I did get an autographed nameplate for the book.
Sunday:
Before heading home, I met up with the group for Janice Maynard's breakfast, and this was our last chance to talk and laugh and hug. It's always sad to see the event come to an end. I get really moody and emotional and tired. Poor Michelle had to put up with me for the ride home. Yeah, it's hard to say good-bye *g* And there's always next year, and I fully intend to be there. Only 360-something days to go.....
Did you attend this year? Do you plan to go next year? Please do! Labels: 2009, fun, reader/author get-together
posted by Stacy~ at 6/10/2009 11:48:00 AM
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2009 Lori Foster/Dianne get-together: the middle....
Saturday: In for another jam-packed day. Breakfast started at 8:30 so I made my way downstairs, especially anxious to catch up with old friends. This event is pretty much the only time I get a chance to see many of them, most of whom are people I've known for 6-7 years from Lori Foster's Yahoo group. That's why I almost wish this event were a little bit longer if for no other reason to have enough time to see everyone for more than a few minutes. But then it would probably lose that special-ness. Niny and Lisa
These ladies have such pretty accents that I could listen to them talk all day. Here's Niny with her unusual yet melodic southern Puerto Rican dialect and Lisa with her Georgia peach charm. It's a breath of fresh air for this midwesterner who cringes when the Minnesotan comes out from time to time. 
angel Laurie & hottie goddess Judy F
Part of the original get-together group, here are two of my favorite people on earth. Darlin' Laurie is the one who does all those incredible collections for the troops, but don't let those angel wings fool you. She's got a healthy bit of the devil in her, which is one of the reasons I love her so *g* (And speaking of devils, somehow I neglected to get even one picture of BadBarb. She was unusually quiet and well-behaved this year. Huh. You just never know what she's got going through that devious mind of hers).
Judy here is the reigning hottie goddess, who provides us with our daily fix of the hotties in various states of (un)dress. Let's just say nothing brings out a woman's, um, charitable tendencies like the need to give a little TLC to some of her most delectable men ;)
Chris, Kaleen & BarbS
More of the original team. Chris never fails to crack me up. I think she's a little crazy, but that's definitely an endearing quality in my book. Kaleen is one of LadyB's minions, er, volunteers during the raffle, but she's modest and left her tiara off so as not to intimidate the rest of us. And there's probably not too many people who know as much about books as Barb does. She's a walking romance encyclopedia. I think next year they should come up with a game to "stump" Barb. Now wouldn't that be fun? Marcie
Marcie here appears to be right at home wearing her tiara. LadyB must be so proud. I've known Marcie since the first event, when she showed up not knowing a soul but fit right in. That's the cool thing about these events - no one gets left behind. And Marcie's an aspiring writer, so I wish her all the best. (Marcie, does this mean you'll put me in the dedication??? LOL)
Here are two of my favorite new authors, and I was fortunate that they ended up sitting at my table. Of course they were practically dragged there, but well, whatever. These two ladies also joined me, Julie, Kati and LeeAnn for dinner that night - we just needed to get out of the hotel, and boy oh boy when the wine started flowing did we learn a lot of dirt. But as they say, what happens in Cincy stays in Cincy ;) And hey, you never know, some of it might end up in a book one day.....
 More of my favorite people. Janice is such a dear, and she also has a pretty southern accent from Tennessee. Her and LuAnn write some of my favorite sexy, small-town stories. I didn't get to chat with either one for long, but it was nice to take a picture with them. It's hard to believe they are both grandmothers! They both look so amazing. I'm tres' jealous. And Joni...well, she's another story entirely. She had this new little trick this year: pinch or tickle the person she's next to right when the click of the camera is about to go off. I can just imagine what contorted facial expressions ended up on film. See, that's why I put sweet, innocent LuAnn between us. She's a character, that Joni.
Christy, Tee, Carol, Cheryl
Now these dear ladies play a very important role for every event - they take care of registration as well as all those raffle tickets people clamor to buy. Christy and her mom Cheryl (who will never live down those pictures with the swinging feather nipple clamps) are a real hoot, and they keep everything running so efficiently while having a good ole time. Carol was also a huge help this year, as the event was bigger than ever and they needed the extra help. And Tee, well, that woman's a saint, as she always drives BadBarb to this event. That's 5-6 hours in a vehicle with pure evil (shudder). Bless you, Tee!
This year Tee outdid herself with a gorgeous red crocheted afghan that EVERYONE wanted for their very own, but Angela James was the very lucky winner of that prize, damn her. I didn't win one single basket, btw. Sad, but true. Some people won 3 or 4 baskets. I need to learn their secret. Is it as simple as bribing LadyB????? 
Laurie, Dianne Castell, Chris You probably can't tell just by looking, but Laurie and Chris are actually holding Dianne in place so she doesn't flit off to parts unknown before I finish taking the picture. The woman is a whirling dervish. Just when you think you've tracked her down she's spun out of your reach yet again. She has more energy than any 10 people I know. She, along with Lori, are the two people responsible for making this event happen every year, along with all the volunteers who do it out of love. They still manage to make it as special as that first year. Thank you, Lori & Dianne! 
Ann Christopher
Ann is one of those people you really want to hate but you just can't because she's so nice. She's also beautiful, smart and talented, with the kinda first line in her story from the "Tails of Love" anthology that have convinced me I need to read her story first. In fact I really can't wait to read it. A hero who's been in love with the heroine for years? I'm so there.
I was super lucky to win her basket last year, and I thought I might be lucky again, but sadly, no :( She always brings such cool raffle prizes, too, like the cool silver bracelet I won - just gorgeous. And the woman is a class act. So jealous...
~~~~~~~~ Well friends, the fun isn't quite over yet. I still have several pictures to post, along with a contest for a copy of the aforementioned "Tails of Love", signed by ALL the authors. So see ya again soon..... (to be continued....)Labels: 2009, fun, reader/author get-together
posted by Stacy~ at 6/10/2009 05:25:00 AM
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Tuesday, June 09, 2009:
2009 Lori Foster/Dianne Castell get-together: the beginning
The super-generous Lori Foster
Can you believe another get-together has come and gone? As always, I'm in a strange mood by the end of these events: I'm so happy I went, but also sad it's over. It was fun to catch up with old friends and meet new ones, to once again chat up favorite authors and see what they are up to. And of course to get more books. That never gets old.
Heck, it only took 4 years of this event to finally figure out that maybe I should arrive in Cincy on Thursday instead of waiting til Friday, and so that's what I did this time. With Michelle Buonfiglio as my chauffeur *g*, we made the 5+ hour drive with relative ease, only stopping once to eat, and another to get gas. Michelle's a bit more of a laid-back driver than I am, much more courteous than I ever will be, but since I was in the co-pilot chair, who was I to complain? I got to listen to several hours of Octane on satellite radio, and it's a beautiful thing. Traffic was actually pretty light. We got to the hotel, then I pretty much crashed. Having only slept maybe 3 hours the night before, I was feeling the pain. Curled up with Sophie Renwick's "Hot In Here" and sunk into oblivion... Day One: It's finally Friday, and I'm ready to start the day and get together with some book lovers. Slept great. This Marriott really is awesome. Wasn't sure what was on the agenda and Michelle was busy, so I grabbed my book and headed down to breakfast. Ending up moving over to Erin McCarthy's table and we ended up eating and gabbing for awhile. That's the cool thing about this event - you can actually end up at an author's table and get the chance to just sit and talk. It's like Christmas in June. But that doesn't mean I wasn't a major beeyotch, because I totally was when I emailed Kati to tell her about it. Yeah, that's the kind of friend I am.  The awesome Erin McCarthy & me Erin and I talked about her lovely books of course, and I wanted to know about getting more of her "Fast Track" series ("Flat-Out Sexy", "Hard and Fast" ) and was thrilled to hear that yes, Suzanne & Ryder will be getting their own story, though not soon enough for me. Erin has ideas for several more stories in the series, and if you're like me and want each and every one, let your voice be heard. After breakfast I headed up to the room to read a bit, and then Kati was calling cuz her and LeeAnn made it in but their room wasn't ready, so we hung out then it was off to lunch, Red Robin style. Yes, about an hour later and already I'm eating again. Another nice thing about this event is all the opportunities to eat. And then Julie showed up, my dear guest blogger of the "series in order" and "infomercials" posts, and it was like old times. 
LeeAnn, me, Kati, Julie After heading back to the hotel, people finally started showing up. Almost immediately we caught up with Toni Blake/Lacey Alexander and Lindsey. The plan was to have the Toni Blake Yahoo Group meet in the lobby between 3-4pm when people started checking in. It was a great place to hang out and watch everyone show up. Several squee moments to be had.... 
Toni/LaceyI did get a chance to sit down and chat with Lindsey,who happens to be Toni's assistant. What a fun job that must be! To work for an author whose books you love to read. But then again, how much work would you really be getting done if you spent all of your time reading? That's gotta take discipline, which I don't have much of. Lindsey also works for Sanhaim, whom I love and currently consider to be my favorite ebook publisher. 
Lindsey and me And I finally got to meet AmyC and her mom, both very sweet ladies. Amy's blog is one I visit just about everyday, even though I can't post on it for some reason when I'm at work. I was thrilled she was able to attend, and she was playing the role of angel, doing a fun thing for another of my favorite bloggers, Lea, who is always so upbeat and thoughtful. Amy put a lot of work into it, and you could tell she was pretty excited about putting it all together for Lea. See why I love these girls??? 
me and AmyC As has been done every year, there is a huge raffle with all kinds of prizes. This year the money collected for the raffle was going to One Way Farm, a place for abused children to stay and heal. The raffle was done in 3 shifts. I have to give a huge shout-out to LadyB for pulling it all together - it's a ton of work and well, people don't always follow instructions *g* But with a little help she managed to check in over 110 baskets, just unbelievable. Raffle tickets were going 2 for $1, and thanx to hottie goddess JudyF, I had labels to put on the tickets this year. And what an absolute wonderful feeling to hear that the raffle drawings collected over $6600! 
Leanna Renee Hieber, Library Deb, and LadyB I brought 2 baskets for the raffle, and they are always so much fun to put together: chocolate, books, and Bath & Body Works, which are some of my favorite things. But I always get nervous that no one's going to put any tickets in them, but I got 2 great winners: long-time friend and event attendee Barb Smith won my Beth Kery/Julie James basket, and Julie James won my Jennifer Ashley/Jennifer Haymore basket. Yay! People I knew and liked LOL. It was just nice that people put tickets to win my baskets. 
Jennifer Ashley/Jennifer Haymore basket 
Beth Kery/Julie James basket It was a long but very fun day, so after the first raffle drawing, most of us headed to our rooms, tired but really looking forward to Saturday :) I spent the time reading and reading a few emails, but being the extreme introvert that I am, I needed some "me" time so it was nice to just relax and mellow out a little. But there was more fun to be had.
(to be continued......) Labels: 2009, fun, reader/author get-together
posted by Stacy~ at 6/09/2009 07:05:00 AM
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Monday, June 08, 2009:
"Catch & Release" (2007) - review
From BooksAMillion.com: Screenwriter Susannah Grant makes her directorial debut in this tale of love, loss, and finding new love. Gray Wheeler's (Jennifer Garner) wedding day is not going as planned. Instead of walking down the aisle in her wedding gown, she is at the funeral of her fiancé, Grady, following his accidental death on a trip meant to be his bachelor party. To make ends meet, Gray puts her things in storage and moves in with Grady's roommates, levelheaded and attentive Dennis (Sam Jaeger) and quirky yet lovable Sam (Kevin Smith). With childhood friend Fritz (Timothy Olyphant) in from L.A. and crashing on the couch, it's a full house. Inhabiting Grady's old room, Gray soon learns that her fiancé had been keeping some big secrets from her and may not have been the man she thought he was. Perhaps more importantly, she discovers some surprising things about herself, and her ability to heal and love again. Each of the characters in this film has to find a way to survive the devastating loss of a man who held them all together. Garner effectively conveys Gray's heartbreak and confusion without going over the top. As Fritz, Olyphant pulls off the role of the mystery man who is always charming but often misunderstood. Jaeger is earnest and heartfelt as Grady's roommate and business partner. But Smith is the scene-stealer here, with deadpan delivery and great timing as a Celestial Seasonings employee spouting philosophical quotes from the herbal tea company's packaging. Juliette Lewis appears as a sexy, slightly flaky, Californian massage therapist who is also a skeleton in Grady's closet. I'd heard about this movie when it first came out, but for some reason it didn't appeal to me, so I pretty much forgot about it. But then Lea posted a sexy kissing scene from the movie during her "kissing contest", and I knew then that I just HAD to see it. Basically, the movie is pretty much as the above paragraphs describe: Jennifer Garner portrays Gray, who, instead of marrying her fiance' Grady, is instead at his funeral on the day that was supposed to be their wedding day because he died in a tragic accident. As time goes by, she begins to learn things about Grady that she never knew, wondering just what kind of man she had been prepared to marry. Unable to afford the rent on the nice apartment her and Grady leased together, Gray moves in with Grady's friends Sam, Dennis and the temporary roommate Fritz, who has his own place in L.A. Turns out at least two of the guys have feelings for her: one is in love with her and has been for years, and the other is in lust, but maybe more? As to be expected, Gray turns to the one in lust, lonely for human contact but not looking for anything permanent after her recent loss. All the roommates reach a point where losing Grady forces them to break away from their safe shells and take a chance on something, whether it's confessing one's feelings or becoming responsible, and not using each other as an excuse not to grow up. My thoughts (and possible spoilers): This movie was a lot better than I was expecting, let me just say that right now. Based on the description, I thought it was going to be incredibly depressing and end with one of those chick lit endings that irritate me so much, where the heroine is left to move on and hopefully find happiness again one day. Hey, I'm a romance reader. I want my happy ending, dammit. And fortunately for me, I did get one. Unlike Kati, who hated the ending because she felt Gray picked the wrong guy, I felt less strongly that she chose the wrong one. Mostly. It was not a black and white decision for me because even though Gray went for the bad boy, he wasn't so bad after all. It's just that the other guy was such a good guy, and he truly loved her. This was another case of the supposedly more "exciting" guy to end up with the girl, but instead of letting him stay a jerk, he became rather decent, making it hard to hate him, and you could tell he cared for her, too. But the other guy! He's the kind of guy you wish you'd meet in RL: considerate, unselfish, good-looking, and not necessarily too good to be true, either. I'm sure he was set in his ways and not quite as exciting as the bad boy, but he was the keeper kind. It pretty much reinforces the notion that women don't want a nice guy. That's what disappointed me. I didn't hate that Gray chose the bad boy, but it sure would have been refreshing if she chose the nice guy instead. Plus, he stayed a good guy throughout the film, and still got his heart broken. Yet it wouldn't have made sense if he found someone else by the end of the film; then his character wouldn't have rang true. It's an endearing film, and it was nice to see Kevin Smith in a speaking role for a change. I haven't seen all of his movies, but the ones I have are the ones where he's Silent Bob. I enjoyed his Sammy, and he does have a teddy bear appeal to him. Not hawt, but certainly likable. In fact I found all the characters to be this way, except for Grady, but then, well, he was dead, so that took care of that. Cute movie and I'm glad I watched it. Just what I was in the mood for. I might even buy it. Doesn't seem like there are too many good romantic movies out there these days. Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** What recent romantic movie would you recommend? Labels: movies
posted by Stacy~ at 6/08/2009 08:16:00 AM
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Saturday, June 06, 2009:
Book Watch alert: "Mating Game" by Janice Maynard
Mating Game
A July 2009 release
Nola Grainger needs a man...and fast. Her grandmother has left her everything in her will, with one small catch: Nola has to be married within a month. But if she's going to get married, she wants it to last. And for her, that means finding a man with as much passion as she has—who can take care of every desire, every day.
Nola finds three prime candidates: her high school sweetheart Billy, hard-dealing businessman Marc, and sexy handyman Tanner. Trying out three very different—and very desirable—men proves to be more fun than Nola imagined. But she never thought it might prove fatal.
Because someone in town is dead set against Nola sticking around. And with three new men in her bed, the danger might be closer than she thinks... How do you feel about the heroine having multiple lovers? Labels: Janice Maynard
posted by Stacy~ at 6/06/2009 06:45:00 AM
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Friday, June 05, 2009:
Book re-issue watch: "Sinful"
Harlequin reissue ISBN-10: 0425226689 ISBN-13: 978-0425226681
Four sizzling hot authors show how a simple piece of lingerie can be the key to unlocking a woman’s deepest desires…
Four stories of silken fantasy including Lori Foster’s Tangled Images, in which a female photographer comes undone during a men’s underwear spread.
Maggie Shayne’s Leather and Lace finds a prim young beauty leading a double life as a lingerie model.
In Suzanne Forster’s Unbuttoning Emmalina, modesty is overrun by desire.
And in Kimberley Randell’s Sinderella, a tomboy discovers how a red teddy can turn her life around.
I've not heard of this one, for some reason, so now it's on my radar. Sounds pretty good.
Do you ever buy re-issues with the new packaging?
Labels: Lori Foster, re-issue
posted by Stacy~ at 6/05/2009 06:43:00 AM
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Thursday, June 04, 2009:
5th Annual from Lori Foster, Dianne Castell, Linda Keller
Friday, June 5 — Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6th, 2:00 to 4:00Book signing, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Inside the Marriott6189 Mulhauser RoadWest Chester, OH 45069-4842
I'm off to Lori Foster's event, and I thought I'd have the time (okay, make the time is more like it) to finish up some posts to publish while I'm away, but well, I didn't. I did decided to bring my laptop, but I'm not making any promises that I'll be posting this weekend. It's all good intentions on my part, and we know how that goes.
So have a great weekend everyone, and if I don't post here or swing by your blog, I'll be back Sunday or Monday. Take care :) Labels: fun, reader/author get-together
posted by Stacy~ at 6/04/2009 06:25:00 AM
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Tuesday, June 02, 2009:
"North Country" - quickie movie review
This melodrama for the modern age is based on the true story of the first successful sexual harassment case in America. Niki Caro's (WHALE RIDER) inspirational tale traces one woman's determined struggle for independence and equality in a male-dominated environment--a struggle that set a precedent for improved working conditions for women across the country. Charlize Theron plays Josey Aimes, a young mother of two who has just left her abusive husband and returned home to live with her parents (Sissy Spacek and Richard Jenkins). Reconnecting with her old friend Glory (Frances McDormand), she learns of a well-paid job at the mines that would allow her a modicum of independence for the first time in her life. But Josey soon finds out about the drawbacks to the job, as the men mount a war of escalating cruelty against the women, who are expected to "take it like a man." Dildos in lunch boxes, obscene graffiti, and a harrowing episode in a Porta-Potty are just some of the indignities the women have to suffer in silence. Finally, Josey is pushed too far and decides to fight back, but she finds herself hard-pressed to find allies willing to sacrifice their bread and butter. Vilified by her former friends, increasingly abused by male colleagues, and estranged from her son and also from Glory, Josey nonetheless decides to sue the company. She is aided by exiled New York lawyer and former local sports star Bill White (Woody Harrelson). As in all successful melodrama, good and evil are clearly marked, with the powerful corporation and the male workers the unmitigated bad guys. However, this makes Josey's courage and strength, as well as the scope of what she accomplished, stand out in even starker contrast. At the beginning of the film, Josie leaves her abusive husband and moved back with her parents in northern Minnesota. She starts out washing hair at a beauty salon but wants to get out of from under her parents and find her own place for her and her 2 kids. When her friend Glory talks about the money to be made in the mines, at first she's hesitant, but then decides she wants her independence badly enough to at least try. Right from the start, when she takes a physical exam, the sexist comments start. Part of the problem is that Josie has a reputation, and she's a pretty woman, so that doesn't help when she gets the job in the mines. The men are resentful and feel that these women are essentially coming in and taking these jobs away from hard-working men, when these women are just as in need of a good job to support their own families. Josie's own parents tend to feel the same, and Josie's father works in the same mine as she does, but he believes she should go back to her husband like a good little woman and her mother pretty much agrees. But Josie is stubborn, and likes that she can now afford her own house and is able to take her kids out to a nice restaurant. And while the comments and gestures are disgusting, she still doesn't leave. But then some of the men who are against women working in the mines start getting even more aggressive, pushing and pushing and even humiliating the women. Josie decides to take it up with the owner, and takes the day off work to meet with him. Only the results are not what she expects, and she realizes that it really is a boys' club. Eventually what happens in the mines convinces Josie to sue the company. Everyone from her family to her co-workers to the attorney she approaches to take the case tries to talk her out of it. But Josie's made up her mind. She is not going to put up with the harassment, the disgusting behavior, any longer. She was going to fight. My thoughts: This movie was hard to watch in some respects, because of where I grew up. Yes, that's where I spent the first 19 years of my life, and my parents still live in the area, so I can honestly say that the mentality was/is alive and well there. The most moving part of the film, at least for me, is when her father, who's pretty much ignored her and sneered at her for even working in the mines, gets up at a union meeting and talks about what it's like to have this kind of thing happening to his own daughter. For him, he understood on a personal level what these women had to put up with, what his daughter had been subject to, and he calls the other miners on it, these men who were supposed to be his friends. I believe I heard that scene was filmed with the audience filled with real-life miners, not just actors. So emotions were running high. This film left a lot to be desired as far as reaching out to the heart of viewers. It felt distant, like something was missing. True, people on the Iron Range can be stoic people, but there should have been something more there. It was like more attention was placed on scenery instead of the characters. Every few minutes the camera would jump to a shot of the harsh winter, or the bleak gray and grime of the mines. Other than a few shots, I didn't recognize the town as being where I grew up, and I think that was intentional. Rating: ***1/2 out of ***** Labels: movies
posted by Stacy~ at 6/02/2009 06:43:00 AM
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Literary Blogger Award :)
The Literary Blogger Award What an honor to be a recipient of this grand award, which acknowledges bloggers who energize and inspire reading by going the extra mile! These amazing bloggers make reading fun, and enhance the delight of reading! A huge thanx to Cecile, who nominated me for this award. What a sweetheart you are :)1) Put the logo on your blog/post.
2) Nominate up to 9 blogs.
3) Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4) Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog.
5) Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.
And the award goes to....
There are so many awesome bloggers out there, and it wasn't easy to narrow it down, but I chose those inspire me in their own unique way. And while I wanted to nominate every blog I visit, because let's face it, I visit them because I love them so much, well, that would have been way more than 9.
Thanx to bloggers everywhere for creating wonderful places to visit, to make me laugh, think, squee and share my love of reading. You are all a part of my day and make it a brighter, and often times funnier, place. You all rock :) Labels: awards, blogs, friends
posted by Stacy~ at 6/02/2009 05:16:00 AM
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