I bought this book but I don’t know how long ago because it was hidden in my massive to be read mountain. I pulled it out because I was looking for some paranormal books to read the last couple of weeks…cause of the Halloween season.
Do you like the cover?
The cover was ok but not really what I would consider eye catching.
Did you enjoy the book?
I did enjoy the book. I thought the premise was a bit different from your typical vampire romances. Thierry is Sarah hero saving her from a horrific blind date where she unknowingly became a vampire, her date~sire was killed before her eyes and suddenly on the run from vampire slayers. Unfortunately Thierry tired of living has decided it’s time to commit suicide. Sarah talks him into helping her with her new way of life before he ends it all. And that’s where the fun really begins.
Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again?
Yes, the author was new to me and I will try another book by her. I’m going to wait until after I make a dent in my to be read pile. Not that I didn’t enjoy the book but I don’t have an overwhelming need to rush out and get the next one by this author.
The first book of yours I read was Coulters' Woman. That book so touch the romantic in me that I was hooked on your books and had to have them all. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with all your characters and to feel apart of each book of yours I read. But none of them touched me as much as Coulters' Woman for a couple of reasons. One being of all the ménages I’ve read they never touch me the same because Adam, Ethan and Ryan each had their own touching romantic relationship with Holly. It wasn’t just the four of them joining together that made the story but each individual man loving Holly in his own way. The second reason of course being the obvious it was my first and you never forget your first whether it’s your first romance in real life or your first romance with an author that touches you so deeply as Coulters’ Woman touched me.
Be With Me has become my favorite book even over Coulters’ Woman because it goes beyond any ménage book I have ever read. In the first glow of a ménage it’s so exciting and overwhelming you don’t really stop to think about the nuts and bolts of every day life. And since Reggie, Hutch, Cam and Sawyer were childhood friends it brings and even more complex relationship because of that long standing bond they each had with each other. On top of the fact that Hutch, Cam and Sawyer were foster brothers instead of biological brothers they each brought their own set of baggage. All of this leads to another facet of the story being how each of these very different, very strong men feel about knowing and seeing their brother(s) with their soul mate. They are all soul mates there is no mistaking that from the very beginning you feel they are all soul mates. As if that doesn’t make for a very different ménage story, you also have Reggie in the middle of these wonderfully different men each with his own temperament and baggage yet so loving and deeply in love with her. She has her own conflicts to work through one being how to handle her feelings for each man as well as her knowledge of their very different personalities.
Having a killer out to get Reggie on top of trying to work out a relationship with this wonderful group of soul mates makes for an exciting and nail biting read. Oh and let’s not forget the heart pounding, squirm in your seat lovemaking. Along with being totally different in personality and temperament each man has his own needs and ways of fulfilling Reggie’s needs. What woman wouldn’t want three men with three different styles and needs who want nothing more than to make her feel as loved and needed more than their next breath?
It wouldn’t be a Maya book without the Happy Ever After but the road there is more exciting and gut-wrenching than any ride I’ve had in a long time. My only disappointment with the book…it ended. I never wanted it to end because I loved Hutch, Cam, Sawyer and Reggie so much I wanted to move in next door and be a part of their lives because you know life in that household will always be exciting, rambunctious, and loving always loving even when Sawyer and Reggie but heads because they are so much alike or when Cam tries to get Reggie to cut out her junk food habit.
This book will definitely be in the re-read category for me. I books that I call comfort reads because they touch me so deeply and sometimes I just need a re-read of something so meaningful and touching. This will sit on top of that comfort read pile for times I just need a hot, exciting and loving read to lift my spirits and move my heart. Thank you for giving me many hours of wonderful reading now and in the future.
Or at least that’s what I told hubby…sorry dear hubby but she was the one that started it, really it’s like this…
Shannon mentioned on her blog about a book that was missing some pages. Well I can’t help it I had to look up the book because I didn’t recognize the book or the author (Night Echoes by Holly Lisle). Of course it was a book that wasn’t in any of the bookstore in town…you would think out of eight book stores (yes, I said 8) I would be able to find the book. Well since I couldn’t find it I really had to have it. Not only does the book take place in the Carolinas (we live in the Carolinas), it’s spooky and this is the season for spooky and it’s a suspense…I love spooky suspense romances…it was a must have.
Well at that point I was almost like a two year old that’s been told we don’t have it…Ok almost but not quite cause before I could fall on the floor wallering around whining cause I couldn’t have the book right now I call the bookstore and they ordered a copy for me. They told me it would be in within a week…and best of all no shipping cost…*g*…see honey I was thinking about saving you money.
Ok, that explains why I picked up one book…but the other five books I picked up? Well I picked up Virgin River Christmas by Robin Carr because she’s not only an auto-buy author for me and this book just hit the shelves but its part of a series I love so much. This author writes books that pull you in and hits all your emotional buttons just right. I don’t like to bawl but with this author she hooks with her characters, they all feel like family (and not just the hero and heroine). You can’t help but laugh and shed a tear or two while reading one of her books. I put her books down feeling like I’ve just finished a story I never wanted to end cause they were so wonderful.
Of course I had to pick up Maya Banks Be With Me because again she’s an auto-buy author, this book just hit the shelves and I have been looking forward to this book too. She’s another author that will pull you into a story and not let you go. I have laughed out loud and shed a few tears over her books but the difference with her books…the love scenes…*sigh*…the woman knows how to make you wiggle in your seat while you read her books. She writes wonderful characters that have you pulling for all of them no matter what’s going on or what they have done (her heroes aren’t always perfect and sometimes you want to smack them cause they are just so male…but oh boy you still love them just the same…kinda like males in the real world…*G*…sorry hubby but it’s true ~ in a good way, really). Maya always has a happy ever after but getting there pulls on all your emotions, she’s a must read definitely.
Another auto-buy with a new release is Shelly Laurenston's The Mane Attraction. Like Carr and Banks, Laurenston writes books that grab with her wonderfully written characters and you feel like they are a part of the family…her characters more so than Carr’s cause if you knew my family, well lets just say they can be real animals too…hubby I know what you are thinking now but remember glasshouses and all that…anyway, from the first book I picked up by Shelly (Pack Challenge) I was hooked. She not only writes books with compelling characters but she can pull emotions out of you even when you are laughing so hard it’s difficult to read. She’s funny, gritty and wonderfully intriguing cause you just aren’t sure how she’s going to pull her stories off…but again you hate to put them down when you get to the happily ever after, you just never want them to end.
I know, I know that explains four of the six books…I’m getting to the rest I promise.
Uhmmm…
Well can I help it if I get author notices like I did with Scent of Darkness by Christine Dodd…*clearing throat*…well not really this book, but this is the first book in the series she was talking about. You can’t expect me to buy the book she was talking about without reading the first book(s) in the series, can you? So you see I had to have this book…after reading about it, I don’t know why I haven’t bought it before…*G*.
I bought Demon Angel by Meljean Brook cause I popped over to her sight because Larissa Ione mentioned Meljean's blog party. After check out her site and reading about her upcoming Demon book I had to check out the first book in the series and of course I checked out the excerpts. For the life of me I don’t know why I haven’t picked up Demon Angel before now. I mean I know a lot of people have talked about her books but for some reason I never picked one up. So you see why I had to get this one?
See honey I had a very good reason for picking up each one of these books. Now that you understand the reason for them, I’m sure you won’t mind that I have to go back to the bookstore tonight…Jaci Burton's The Darkest Touch hits the book shelves today and well it’s Jaci and I know you’ll want me to have it…*G*.
Sorry for the personal note to hubby but he was with me when I was shopping and just shook his head. No complaints thank goodness but still we would like our Significant Others to understand…at least when they are with us while we are purchasing…*G*
Thanks to Larrisa Ione I found this wonderful contest over at Meljean Brook's blog. I think it's a wonderful way to celebrate her upcoming release Demon Bound as well and practicing for the upcoming election on November 4th (which is also the release day for her new book Demon Bound). Pop over and check out all the fun, the voting and commenting daily for a chance to win one of the daily prizes.
Well this week is going to be chilly every day. The warmest day will be Thursday and that’s also the night before I drive across the state to pick up son for a quickie weekend home. I’ll want something easy and fairly light for Thursday night. Of course Friday will be pizza and wings delivery cause after 10 hours in the car I’m not going to be in the mood to cook much less clean up afterwards…*G*.
Tonight I’ll fix Spicy Shrimp Creole from The Southern Living Cookbook. It’s a great recipe cause it’s very tasty and really easy. We are avid True Blood fans (the new HBO series from the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris) so I usually fix something Cajun or Creole (or rather my version of Cajun or Creole)…the books/show takes place in Louisiana so you guessed it ~ theme night…*G*.
Tomorrow I hope to get the house cleaned up so I’ll be kinda busy all day so it’s another night I’ll want to do something pretty simply (both prepping and clean up) so I think I’ll go for Mexican Chicken and Rice…sauté chicken then throw in some rice, chilies, tomato, green onions, garlic and chicken broth…and with it I'll serve steamed broccoli (love those broccoli steam bags in the frozen food section).
Tuesday is supposed to be the coldest day this week so I’m thinking soup for supper. Home Style Vegetable Beef sounds like it will hit the spot…it has carrots, cauliflower, corn, green beans, potatoes and eye of the round roast…along with some crusty bread and a small salad and we have dinner without much fuss.
Wednesday will be chilly and also laundry day so I’ll be in the kitchen most of the day anyway so let’s prep time isn’t a problem. I’m going to fix a comfort food we love so much…Black-eyed Pea Stew from Cooking Light…we really love this stew cause it has all our favorite comfort foods in one bowl.
Thursday like I said will be a bit warmer plus that’s the night before I pick up my baby from college. Impossible Chicken and Broccoli Pie and a small salad will fit the bill perfectly. Hubby will have left-overs for lunch the next day and we’ll both have lunch for Saturday too. My son doesn’t care for broccoli and don’t even try feeding him a savory pie, not going to happen…*rolling eyes*.
And that leaves Friday night. Pizza and Wings are called for cause we usually don’t know what time we’ll be coming in and by then I’ll be totally numb…*G*. The rest of the weekend will be up for grabs with my son home. Sunday hubby will be driving him back so I’ll fix something that will hold until hubby gets back.
That’s my week ahead…what’s on your plate for this week?
What a perfect day for reading and with Halloween right around the corner I’ve pulled out some of my spookier books…or at least books that fall in the paranormal genre. Since I have an extensive to-be-read mountain, I have lots of paranormal books that would fulfill my needs. After skimming through the books and picking the books that caught my eye first, here are my selections of possibilities (in no particular order) to read in the next week…
Witch in the House by Jenna McKnight Dragon Heat by Allyson James Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair Mysteria by MaryJanice Davidson ~ Susan Grant ~ PC Cast ~ Gena Showalter The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires by Katie MacAlister The Witch is Dead by Shirley Damsgaard 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom Blood Brothers 7 by Nora Roberts One Bite with a Stranger by Christine Warren Arousing Suspicions by Marianne Stillings Bitten & Smitten by Michelle Rowen Bustin’ by Minda Webber
As you can see most of these books are on the lighter side of paranormal. I have a few darker books but I’m kinda in the mood for a chuckle with my spooky…but you never know I may read one or two of these books and then pick another group of darker scarier reads…*g*. I’ll let you know through the next week what I’m reading…and let me know what your reading too.
I’ll go finish reading The Rogue Hunter by Lyndsay Sands. She’s an auto-buy for me ever since I read Tall, Dark and Hungry…just before I went to my first Romantic Times convention…I’ll tell you all about my love for her stories in a later blog. Now off to fix some hot chocolate and snuggle up with the rest of Sam and Mortimer’s story.
Have a great weekend…hope to see you around here Monday.
*rip open envelope to find answer* What are the three things you don’t talk about with strangers?
Ok for those of you too young remember the host of the Tonight Show before Jay Leno, I’ve totally lost you…sorry...I’ll move on to the topic now…
In our extended family we don’t talk about politics or religion cause hubby and I don’t agree with one half which causes too much friction and with the other half it turns a picking and prodding match (dad and I have the same temperament but not the same political views…and we do love any chance to pick on the other). But they know not to even ask about my reading cause they know what I read and my opinion of their opinion on my reading choices. But I never discussion any of these topics with people I just met cause I know these can be trigger topics for some people.
Well I usually keep my mouth shut until yesterday. I met someone at the bookstore with a Kindle. She showed me all the neat things about the Kindle which of course lead to a conversation about books. **I still love my eBookwise better** I didn’t say much about the specific books I read cause I know how most people react to romance readers. Remember I had seen her Kindle so I knew she read biographies as well as some other non-fictions books.
When she asked if I attended book readings or other author gatherings I went against my better judgment. I told her I had attended book signings and author gatherings. When we talked a bit more about the local book gatherings I really blundered further by mentioning I had attended the Romantic Times annual conventions. After explaining what RT is and about their conventions (leaving out the gatherings at the bar and party themes). I explained that what I really enjoy most about RT is the fact you could walk into a room full of people and within minutes you are talking with someone (or many someones) about books and authors I love. Well I lost her right there. I could see she was trying to stay with the topic as much as possible but she just couldn’t comprehend a gathering of romance readers.
All the way home I was thinking about why we have to avoid certain conversations. Topics that push certain buttons or choices that have others looking at us differently are really growing. When I have to cut myself off when chatting with someone because I don’t want to push those buttons it makes me uncomfortable. I don’t want to say anything to offend anyone. But it seems the list of offending comments grow more every day and I’m constantly trying to self edit before opening my mouth around others. To add in the possibility that some comment I say may make me seem silly or uneducated totally paralyzes me sometimes.
I tend to get nervous at gathers such as my hubby’s annual Christmas party because I worry I’ll say something that will have them looking at me differently (and in turn look at hubby differently). Most of these people I only see once a year so the first impression is important. Then you have to worry that at the end of the evening something I’ve said will have them remembering me by the impression that comment gave them. It’s a good thing my husband is extremely good at what he does and has been there for many years. I can’t possible screw things up for him with a comment I make but it still leaves that queasy feeling when it’s that time of year again.
Now you are questioning yourself about what I could possible have to worry about? Well I’m a stay-at home mom with my only child in college…actually my title has changed since my baby has flown the coop…I’m a homemaker. I love to cook, enjoy grocery shopping and want to make sure hubby’s weekends are mini-vacations away from work. As if that doesn’t make eyes roll. I’m an avid romance reader, I read several blogs and chat on loops with others just like me…oh and lots of the romance books I read are paranormal and~or erotic…is your hair standing on end?
No I don’t like bon-bons but I make some wonderful cookies and muffins…but I don’t spend my days eating them cause I don’t have time…as unbelievable as it is I stay pretty busy.
Now if all this make this blog post sound depressing or sad. No it’s not because I have also been thinking about all the wonderful friends I’ve made around the world through my romance reading and RT attending and I wouldn’t have missed a minute of it. I’m very blessed with lots of romance reading friends and even more romance books to read. Thinking back on some of the gatherings I’ve attend online and in person make me smile (and some even make me laugh out loud ~ and blush).
I’m really sorry there are people out there that are really missing out on the romance genre. They would really be surprised at not only the fantastic reads but some of the most interesting people and events. Nope I don’t go around commenting to stranger about what I read but when I do find a fellow romance reader I thoroughly enjoy our time together. No matter whether we read the same authors or not we really enjoy talking about our favorites. Nine times out of ten we will walk away with a list of authors~books we really must get. So next time you are thinking how tough some topics are out there today, just remember…someone out there thinks just like you do…when you find them, enjoy your time together…it’s worth all the times you’ve had to bite your ton
Since Angie asked I'm posting the recipes for the Layered Chicken Tortilla Casserole and the Loaded Baked Potato Soup. The Chicken recipe I don't even remember where it came from but I do remember it was orignally a casserole. Now I fix it as a dip~heavy appetizer...or fun friday dinner. The potato soup is a combination of a couple of recipes...plus a bit of laziness on my part. I didn't peel the potatoes one time cause I just didn't feel like it and I thought what the heck we like the peel on our smashed potatoes. Hubby loved it and so that's the way I make it now even when I'm not lazy...*G*. Both of these recipes are really easy and very good so give them a try and adjust them to your liking (that's they way I cook all the time...*G*).
Layered Chicken Tortilla Casserole
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided 1 can diced green chilies (4 oz.) 1 small onion chopped 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon oregano 1 can cream of chicken soup 10 oz frozen corn, thawed and drained 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided 1 ½ cups salsa Tortilla chips
Preheat oven 350*
Cut chicken into small bite-size pieces. Heat half oil in non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and sauté until chicken is browned cooked through (about 8 minutes). Remove chicken and keep warm. Add remaining oil and sauté onion until browned (about 4 minutes). Add green chilies, chicken, cumin, oregano, soup and corn. Mix thoroughly. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of the cheese mixing thoroughly.
Put chicken mixture in individual shallow casserole dishes. Sprinkle tops with remaining cheese the spoon salsa evenly over the cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.
Serve with chips for dipping. I usually have guacamole and other appetizer~snack type foods with it.
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
1 ½ lbs baking potatoes 3 cups low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth 2 tbsps low fat bacon bits extra virgin olive oil spray (I have a mister I fill myself) small onion, chopped ½ tsp garlic powder ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper ½ tsp Tabasco sauce 1 cup fat-free ½ & ½ 3 tbsp all-purpose flour 1 bunch green onions, sliced and divided ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/3 cup light sour cream
Preheat oven to 400*.
Wash, dry and pierce all around each potato with a fork. Put potatoes in the oven for an hour or until potatoes are done.
When potatoes are done place on wire rack until cool enough to handle. Dice up the potatoes (I leave the skins on cause I like them you can peel). Set aside for now.
In medium saucepan over medium high heat mist your pan once or twice (take pan off heat so you don’t start a fire while you spray). Add onions and sauté until soften a bit. Add potatoes mashing a bit with the back of your spoon but leave them mostly chunky. Stir in the broth, bacon bits, garlic powder, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes or until the flavors have blended, stirring occasionally.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the ½ & ½ and the flour. Whisk into the potato mixture along with half the green onions. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 3 to 4 minutes or until mixture has thickened. Add half cup of cheese, stir until melted and blended.
To serve, ladle into bowls. Top each serving with a little sprinkle of cheese, a small dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of green onions.
Every Monday morning (or Sunday afternoon) I plan my weekly menu then head to the grocery store for the week. For most it’s not that exciting or that big of a deal. But it’s something I truly enjoy doing. Not only do I love to cook but I love reading cookbooks. As a matter of fact I have a large collection of cookbooks ranging from baking and holiday cookbooks to heart health and diabetes health cookbooks.
As if that’s not enough to keep our menus interesting, I also plan for occasions. Every Friday is Fun Friday and we usually have…you guessed it fun foods that usually consist of bar or party type foods. If there is a movie we are looking forward to watching then it would be something special to go along with the movie theme. The awards shows are another way to fancy up dinner, dessert and cocktails.
There’s race weekends (most weekends if you follow it like we do) but there are a few special races that call for special party foods…mostly night races but there are some special day races too. Most of the time it’s your typical race foods like barbeque and chili dogs but some take on a life of their own…or rather a location of their own…such as foods for that region or race sponsor… or the Daytona races especially the 500 which calls for an all weekend celebration.
Then there’s the other sport…you know football…that’s pretty much stadium food or if we (the Panthers) are playing a team like the Saints that would call for a Cajun or Creole speciality. Philidelphia eagles call for philly steak and cheese…you get the picture.
Holiday shopping is coming up…that means holiday fare in quick bite-size proportions and of course a hot toddy to warm you up and help those aching feet. Or even closer, election night…now that will call for grazing food all evening and a cocktail too.
And that brings us to the next portion of menu consideration, the weather and my schedule of activities for that week. I mean if I’m busy all day I surely don’t want or have time to come home and fix an extensive recipe. And cool weather calls for warm comfort foods where hot weather calls for salads and lighter fare.
Now you have all the proponents for making up my weekly menu.
What’s on tap for this week?
Today it’s chilly and I’m working on the laundry…even though throwing on a pot of soup sounds like the best idea, I’ve wanted to try a new recipe from my cookbook Reader’s Digest Vegetables for Vitality…Chicken Hash with Potatoes and Peppers.
It calls for a cup of cooked chicken. ** I grilled chicken Saturday to go in some left-over Waldorf salad and presto-chango chicken salad** So now it’s just a matter of baking the potatoes which will warm up the kitchen and chopping up the peppers and onions. I’ll let you know how this turns out.
Tuesday will be the warmest day of the week. I’m meeting someone uptown so that means something quick and easy.
General Tso Chicken with rice and stirfry broccoli. After starting the rice, I’ll stir-fry the broccoli then pull it out of the pan, keeping it warm while I stir-fry the chicken. When the chicken is done I throw in some Iron Chef General Tso marinade and basting sauce. Plate up the rice top it off with the chicken and put the the broccoli around the chicken and rice. How much easier can you get than that?
Wednesday is supposed to turn cool again so I’ll make a super easy soup recipe. Southwestern Chicken Tortilla soup…chicken, chopped onion, green chilies, taco seasoning, can of diced tomato, drained can of corn, drained and rinsed can of black beans, 2 cans of chicken broth, lime juice. Top with shredded cheese, green onions and tortilla chips. Another easy recipe that’s also pretty healthy too.
Thursday it gets even cooler so another soup night. Loaded Baked Potato Soup…what’s nice about this you warm up the kitchen while baking the potatoes. I have a recipe that is a combination of two recipes. I’ll post it if anyone is actually reading by blog and interested…*G*. It’s as low fat and calorie as I can make it but I still use regular cheese in it. Hubby likes wings with this soup so we’ll have those too.
Friday is suppose to be rainy and even cooler. A lot of times we’ll order out pizza and wings but I’m thinking this will have to be a different kind of fun food Friday. I got a recipe years ago for Layered Chicken Tortilla Casserole. I’ve changed it here and there over the years and now it’s something that I fix in individual baking dishes and serve with chips. We eat it like a dip so it makes a wonderful fun Friday food.
It has a mixture of grilled chicken, drained can corn, cream of mushroom soup, cumin, oregano, green chilies and cheese…layer this in your dishes and top with salsa, bake and then melt some more cheese on top…super easy and a great make ahead recipe if you wanted to use it for a super bowl party.
Well that’s it for this week’s menu. I know you are wondering what happened to Saturday and Sunday. Well those days are usually left until Friday. We usually don’t know what our weekend plans are until then so how can you plan a menu if you don’t know what you are celebrating…*g*.
I went to the grocery store last night so I didn’t have to go today. I’ve got my week planned and more importantly my menu planned so I’m ready to start my week, what about you? Do you know what you are having for dinner?
Not too long ago I posted on the Writeminded Readers loop about my To Be Read (TBR) mountain. I had gone through the piles of books I have on my bookshelves upstairs. I put each book on a list in my computer just so I could see what I had. I was completely shocked at some of the books that had gotten shuffled to the back and bottom of the stacks. How does an avid reader end up with stacks and stacks of books?
I think part of it dates back to when I read series books. Every time I went to the store I would see which lines had new books. Since I only read series books I didn’t have enough books to read until the next release date. That’s when I learned about used bookstores. I know authors would only get royalties from books bought new but since I was buying back issues you could no longer buy new I didn’t feel too guilty. So I got to where I had enough books to hold me until the next trip to the bookstore.
One day I was at the bookstore and saw this really pretty book on display close to the front of the store. It had a pink cover and a pretty woman on the front. It was a historical and I’d never really enjoyed those much…even though I had picked up a couple of the regency series books. But how could I pass up at least looking at the back of the book. That’s all it took to get me hooked on Julie Garwood. Later when her books started coming out in hardcover, she was the first author I bought in hardcover.
From Garwood I moved on to other authors in single titles, historical and then contemporary. I thought I was really in the know when it came to romance and for a while I was. Then while chatting on a authors~readers loop someone mentioned Christine Feehan. When my friends found out I wasn’t familiar with the paranormal genre they couldn’t give me names of books fast enough. At first I was leery of vampires and wolves. Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee just didn’t come across as a sexy hero type…but I did like Frank Langella’s Dracula was sexy and the first time I pulled for the guy with the fangs. So I picked up the paranormal books they recommended. I started getting backed up with books ‘I have to read’ but it wasn’t too overwhelming…yet.
It wasn’t long until I was addicted to a genre I was amazed I loved. But little did I know there was more to come. Shortly after I started my paranormal jaunt I went to my very first Romantic Times (RT) convention. What I found there totally blew me away. Not only were the even more authors out there that ‘I had to read’ but there was a whole genre that ‘I absolutely had to read’.
**I won my first ereader at RT that helped in my down fall but those books weren’t purchased until I got home. And I didn’t even counted ebooks in my trb mountain cause they all fit in my ereaders or on computer.**
Along with all the books I bought from the authors I had previously read, I added several new to me authors and books including some in the new to me genre of romantica. These purchases added with the books they were giving away I ended up shipping my clothes home so my books would fit in my luggage. I came home with a mountain in the making.
For several years I attended RT conventions and the mountain continued to grow. After my first RT I joined a couple author and publisher loops. Of course that added to my mountain because I’d hear about a book and had to had it. I had plenty of books to read and didn’t need to shop for more but still the need for this book or that book kept me purchasing books. Not to mention auto-buy authors, how can I pass up those books?
So now that we know how the mountain made. The next question is, how do you get rid of it?
Ok I had to stop there and think. I mean the shudder that went through me at the thought of not having that mountain of books racked my body senseless. Or maybe the shear magnitude of not having a book or two waiting to be read overwhelmed my mind.
Not have a book sitting there waiting for me when I finish what I’m reading now? That’s terrifying. And if it were only one book sitting there it would be just as bad. What if it were a book in the same genre? After the book I’m reading I may not want to read that genre again. Or maybe I want another book by the same author and I don’t have her backlist. If I just finished an emotional book sometimes I need a romantic comedy. Or worse what if I’m pms-ing and the only book I have is a Diana Palmer. I love her books but hubby has complained in the past that he suffers when I read her books while pms-ing…something about hubby paying for the hero’s shortcomings. I don’t understand it but I try to keep that in mind when I read one of her books.
So I guess it’s really not so bad that I have a tbr mountain. It may sound silly to those not addicted~obsessive about books but it’s a quirk I suffer from. It could be worse. I could suffer from a shoe addiction and need a larger closet to hold all my shoes…oh wait I minor in shoe addiction…*blush*
Once you’ve done it, you can do it again and again but it’s still not your first. You may feel strongly about the second, third or fifth time you’ve done it but it’s still not your first…unless it’s your child’s first time.
This election is very monumental for me. Not just because I think our country is on precipice of major decisions. We are in need of a leader to help pull this country together and move us forward. But that’s not what makes this a monumental election for me though important it’s not what makes me misty eyed thinking about going to the polls this November. This year my son will be voting his convictions this November.
I thought I was through with those parent hurdles for a while after dropping my son off at college this fall. But alas this hurdle is looming in a short while. I guess from now on those parent hurdles will show how much of an adult my baby is becoming. Even though he’s across the state my son will be coming home to vote.
Now you ask if I’ve helped shaped his views on who will win his vote. No, I’m sorry to say that I didn’t really do my job as a parent properly. I didn’t sit him down lecture him on importance of the next president. I didn’t give him a litmus test to use in determining his choice. And until a conversation a several weeks ago he didn’t even know my view on one of the hottest political buttons. I didn’t give him my politic view, I gave him my personal view as a woman and a mom…if he found himself in the same situation it’s her body, her decision.
Now that you are thinking what kind of parent I am, I’ll tell you. I’m a very proud parent. My son has followed the rallies, the debates, the news and Potus channel on XM radio…and yes, the Daily Show and Cobert Report. Over the last couple of years we’ve talked about what’s in the news and how the candidates handle themselves when questions or issues come up. He’s able to have an adult conversation about the candidates and why he feels the way he does about his choices.
No I’ve not molded my son’s political views or his choices. He has made his choice on his own. He has his own views and convictions. He hasn’t waffled on his choice or his view and he’s not afraid to voice his opinion. Whether I agree with him or not he is his own person. He took everything the media has thrown out there, filtered through the political rubbish and made his decision based on what is important to him. I’m proud my son has a mind of his own.
Life is full of decisions and choices. I know my son can filter out the crap and come to a decision that works for him. He has enough character to stick to his choices no matter what anyone says. He’s a staunch believer that if you have an opinion you better be able to back it up with facts and/or personal reasons. Feeling that way he won’t ever be accused of being a blind follower.
Yes, this election is a monumental occasion for me because my son will cast his vote for who he believes should be the next president of the United States.
By the way…we’ll both be voting for the same candidate…not because I’ve told him who to vote for it just happened that way.
I mean if you left your living room unattended for over 21 months you wouldn’t be able to walk in for the mutant jurassic size dust bunnies. You would have to open a window and wheel in the snow blower to tackle the dust that’s collected in all that time. So if you leave a blog alone for that long other than changing from just plan old blog spot to google blog spot does it also collect dust? Should I be renting a sandblaster to clean the place up or just call in a maid service to tidy the place up for company?
I don’t know why I’m worried about company. I have to entice people to stop by. Since I haven’t written more than an email response on one loop in so long I don’t even know where to start. Should I start with how much my life has changed in the last 21 months or post the recipe for Loaded Baked Potato Soup I made last night? Would a book review do it or the latest additions to my ‘To Be Read’ mountain? Maybe ya’ll would like to hear about my latest kitchen addition along with a review of how well they work…cookware Sue, get your mind out of the gutter…*G*.
As you can see this blog has a wide variety of possibilities…which is a better way of saying I’m kinda scatterbrained so no telling what I’ll post next. So stay tuned and maybe one of my wacky and~or rambling posts will interest you. And who knows you might even add to your To Buy or To Read or To Do lists.
