Utils in Bat Country

Book Reviews

Thanks to my oh so long commute, I've been blowing through books. Some good, some horrifying.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith.  I loved this one. I do have a special soft spot for anything involving aviation but I thought this one was just delightful.

Tempted by Trouble by Liz Fielding. A nice little confection of a thing. A bit too sacchrine for my re-reading tastes but enjoyable enough the first time around.

One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown.  Ugh.  I go in fits and starts with this series. Every third one or so is just god awful to me but the intervening ones are entertaining enough to keep me checking in. Nothing like the good old you have to get married else you forfeit everything will clause. The presence of the other characters felt wedged in, the main characters were irritating and the opposite of sexy.

The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie. Two thumbs up. Am usually a fan of Crusie's writing and this one proved to be entertaining. Another I need a fake wife trope but done well.

The Last Cowboy by Lindsay McKenna.  WORST BOOK I'VE READ IN YEARS.  I'm certainly not a professional writer but oh good god, show not tell. Also, for the record, it is beyond ridiculous when a character has been gored by a bull and is getting the tourniquet put on and the focus is on the blood dripping down his "hairy, muscular leg." Blech.

Fairytale by Maggie Shayne.  Definite page turner.  Was writtern in the late 90s and reads a bit dated but the plot and the writing truck along very nicely.  I've got the follow up, waiting on the Kindle. 

The Marquis at Midnight by Kate Harper. I've been off the historical train lately but I enjoyed this one.

London Calling by Emma Carr.  I love a good contemporary and this one was most enjoyable.

The Way Back by Stephanie Doyle. Am a sucker for anything involving dogs.

Single in the City by Michele Gorman. Another enjoyable contemporary.

Firelight by Kristen Callihan. Such a good plot. Loved the twist on the trope.

Me, Myself and Paris by Ruth Yunker. Not my favorite book of travel essays, it didn't flow as easily as I would have liked. Was difficult, especially on the train, to stay pulled into the story.

A Little Night Magic by Lucy March. The heroine was a bit too sugary perfect do gooder but the rest was great.

Dangerous to Love by Sally Tyler Hayes. Am usually not a fan of romantic suspense but I liked this one quite a bit.

Anything good I should add to my queue?

 

Book Notes - Part 2

My upstairs TV continues to be possessed so, fine, Nick at Nite, who needs you.  I have my delightfully backlit ipad.

Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis - Am a sap for this type of book.  Will definitely be a re-reader when in a cranky mood.  Oddly though, feel not at all inclined to pick up the other two books in the series (those of the heroine's sisters).  Characters just didn't do it for me. My aunt read all three though and spoke highly of them.

Instant Temptation and Instant Attraction by Jill Shalvis - Yeah, once I find a new to me author I like I tend to glom on to the backlist.  In a three part series, I loved one and three but felt no need to read the second. No rhyme or reason was just meh on those particular characters.

Lakeshore Christmas by Susan Wiggs - Hated. hatehatehate.  Which saddens me as I love a good Christmas book and have been pleased by this author before.  Am pouting a bit over this one.

Red's Hot Cowboy by Carolyn Brown - This author is hit or miss for me as the set ups tend to be outlandish and the characters can veer towards caricatures but this one worked for me. Fun and easy.

Lord Demon's Delight by Gia Dawn - Oh good lord. This was a freebie download and I got it and told my aunt about it and then I forgot about it.  Well she read it and when we were comparing books she was telling me about some of the more ridiculous explicit scenes and...oops. My cheeks were a bit warm. Was fine, not bad, not worth full Kindle price.

Ember by Bettie Sharpe - This one has stuck with me even though I read it a few weeks ago.  The author says that it's not a fairy tale. And it's not. But it is.  It's definitely not a Disney fairy tale.  It really made me think about what we believe as true when it comes to fairy tales and stories.  Short and there was one scene at the beginning that I thought was so stupid I nearly didn't continue reading but I'm glad I did.  Fascinating for my own further brain musings.

 

Book Notes

Part the first...

Lonely Millionaire by Carol Grace: I downloaded this one for free via iBooks and was pleasantly surprised.  Even with the premise being a bit ridiculous, I felt for the characters. The heroine was a bit too woe is me at times and I'm a bit annoyed by one part of the ending. The hero does something that is traditionally done by the heroine and it didn't really sit right.  Whether I'm bothered more because it's a flaw in the book or because of my own realization that I don't really raise an eyebrow when the heroine does is remains to be seen.  It's somewhat sort (197 ipad pages) and probably took me around an hour and a half to read but I recommend it and will probably look at some of the author's other works.

The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart: I loved the cover of the book and thought the subject matter quirky and fun.  It looks at the lives of the Tower guards when a menagerie is (re)opened at the Tower of London.  Is oh so British in humor, which I enjoyed but there's a strong current of sadness throughout the whole book which I wasn't expecting.  The story is set up almost in vignettes and jumps back and forth to different characters plots which felt disjointed. And there's a bit secret that's alluded to throughout the whole book and then the reveal fell completely flat for me. Overall, great characters and I loved the animal depictions.

Perfect Timing by Jill Mansell: Had an old school chick lit feel to it (was published in late 2009) that was fun to go back through.  Sucker is long though.  Characters are flawed and while it's bothersome when characters are too perfect, I struggled at times to care about this particular set.  There were a few instances when I just rolled my eyes and skimmed pages. Somewhat forgettable.  I have samples of some of her other works on the Kindle but I'll likely hold off for awhile.

Make Me Believe: Unbelievable by Crystal Jordan: A frothy bit of a thing that was fun. One of the latter stories in an anthology.  Even though some of the primary characters from those other stories appear in this one, I don't care enough to go back and get their stories. Am a fan of anything that has paranormal fairy godpeople getting people together.

Twice Upon a Roadtrip by Shannon Stacey: I love this author.

The Secret Circle Trilogy by L.J Smith: I read these years ago when they first came out and was idly watching the CW show of the same name when some of the characters started to sound familiar.  Once I realized it was based off the books I read, I went back for a re-read.  So typically late 90s but I have a nostalgic fondness for them (and they are way better than the show).

 

Book FYI

Oh, Internet. Do I have a story for you. Am waiting until I get resolution (email me back company!) but yes, it is ridiculous and so long as I either get back in or my $200 back, will be hilarious. Till then, book recommendations!

I came across some interesting sounding freebies whilst perusing Amazon:

Fire Lord's Lover - Kathryne Kennedy
Kiss at Your Own Risk - Stephanie Rowe
Lord Demon's Delight - Gia Dawn

Ten Ruby Trick - Julia Knight (note: not free and technically not a romance but sounded interesting

I've purchased books by Kennedy and Rowe before so I'm pretty optimistic about them and hey, free's free so am hoping the Dawn is good enough to get me to purchase her other books.

Emotional Ephemera

I was in Whole Foods yesterday picking up some things for D's bday dinner and started looking at the Father's Day cards and ended up not being able to choose between three.

The only funny one is in the middle and could actually be a still life of my father except his tie never makes it to the couch.   The other two are more sentimental. The superhero frog one still has a bit of a comedic slant but the inside text is something akin to 'I always felt like I could fly with you best dad ever' or something.  And the one on the far right is full on smaltz. 

Now, I am not a verbally emotional person.  (Unless it's anger - then I'm great!)  One of my many odd duck-isms is saying the L word.  I just do not like saying it to people.  I say it to D and to my friend N and that's pretty much it.  Not my parents, not my brother, not my friends.  Just makes me twitchy.  Clearly, I do, I just...can't say it.

And yet. There I am yesterday in the grocery store, TEARING UP over the cards.  Uhhhh.

------------------

D's birthday was nice and low key.  I made him steak and asparagus and since he didn't want cake I got a assortment of chocolate fun.

See that one bite taken out of the peanut butter brownie bar?  Yeah, this morning, scale up a pound and a half.  *angrily stuffs another bite in mouth*  I haven't been able to do a mission update since things keep toying with me.  I woke up Monday after eating hot dogs and chips and was down to 1(placeholder)8.  Yay!  All set to update post and the next day was 1(noooo)0.  Day after that 1(better)9, day after that 1(are you kidding me)1.5.  

Perhaps I'll just put Mister Peanut Butter Bar on the scale and we'll see who has the last laugh hmmmm.

----------------------

Been pretty frustrated with TS lately. She's getting possession aggressive and will not only nip at my fingers if I reach down to take a stick to throw it but went into full on attack mode when I was trying to wrestle yet another pair of undies out of her mouth.  I don't know if she's picking it up from other dogs in the complex that she plays with since they're bigger than her and more aggressive and she takes it out on us to not be lowest of the pack or if it's her personality or what but it absolutely has to stop.  Problem is, she DOES NOT CARE about any discipline.  Walking away, taking away toys, flipping her on her side, saying no, yelping, going on more walks, putting her in her crate she just returns from whatever activity and starts chewing on my arm again.  I don't think she's vicious, I mean this is how she sleeps most of the time

 

but..

There's only so much I can do.  I can't be home during the day every day with her. I don't have time to take her on walks for hours (she gets a solid 45 min when I get home and then another 20min awhile after dinner).  I don't have other dogs her size to play with.

And - since she's still pulling on the leash at times when walking, my shoulder is completely messed up.  Not pain so much as discomfort when I make certain movements.

So there's a whole added level of concern and stress associated with her on top of everything.

--------------

I'm a fan of the word ephemera (and romance novels. and the name Sebastian) so when I stumbled upon a novel that combined all three, I downloaded a sample in about two seconds.  And I cannot read the book.  The sample concludes with a scene that so terrified me that I can't bring myself to read further.  I have nightmares about it.  Which likely signals good writing but when I keep having to put on the soundtrack to Enchanted just to be able to close my eyes again...

---------------

So all sorts of feeeeelings around here lately. Generally when I'm feeling emotional and assigning identities to chocolate I take a look at the calendar and go ahh yes, I see now, normalness shall resume in a couple of days.  Except this time, no.  Should be on a hormonal even keel.  Go away feelings! 

Stopping Time Review

**Includes spoilers about the book, past events in the series**

Stopping Time (ST) is part of the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr that was released as a free story (though I purchased each installment for $.99 on the Kindle before Amazon changed it to $.00). The series begins with Wicked Lovely then Ink Exchange, Fragile Eternity, Stopping Time, and Radiant Shadows was released a couple weeks ago.  Technically a YA series, I've gobbled up every single word and aside from a couple of eye rolls at the characters haven't had any issues with the genre.

ST takes place after the events of Ink Exchange and focuses on Leslie, Irial, and Niall though Gabriel is involved in the events as well. 

Plot - At the end of Ink Exchange, Leslie determines that she can't be a part of the Dark Court because of what it does to her as a person and decides to not be a part of that world so as to have a 'normal' life. Because she loves Irial and Niall (and they are largely unwilling to let her be completely on her own) she still maintains contact with them - silent meetings at coffee shops with Irial and phone conversations with Niall - and deals with having a guard of sorts.  Her sleazebag brother resurfaces and is removed from the picture thanks to Niall (though he has Irial be the one to take the blame/credit) and it concludes with he and Leslie having a night together.

My thoughts - You'd think from my blah tone about the plot that I didn't like ST but I did. The writing is nearly flawless and any book that can move me to tears each time I read it gets a gold star.  The problem for me is reconcilling one of my most favorite characters ever with one who is...not.  I ADORE Irial. If there were 20 books about him, I'd read them on a continuous loop.  He's definitely not a typical hero character, flaws abound, but getting to see inside his head and how he feels about Niall and Leslie make me melt.  Leslie on the other hand... I just do not like her.  If she's going to decide to leave the world of the Court then do it and move on.  I was so bothered when reading ST to see how she kept in contact with both Irial and Niall but still refused to be in their world.  Sorry cupcake, but by continuing your weekly meetings and nightly phone calls you ARE in their world.  And, I think it's also ridiculous of them to let themselves be strung along. Thousands of years old, dealing with wars and intrigue and their relationship with each other and they are both so completely taken with her and just let her dictate to them.  Bah.  I'm all about the power of love but c'mon guys.  As I cannot fling the Kindle at the wall when I'm frustrated (one of the few downsides to the electronic reader) there were several times when I would yell 'oh just shut UP already' at her and then the cat would look up all but I didn't make noise? 

Leslie aside, the interaction between Irial and Niall was perfect.  The prose is gorgeous and Ms. Marr does a fabulous job of getting the reader to feel the emotions along with the characters.  The relationship between Irial and Niall is such a fascinating spiderweb.  To watch them navigate through their feelings for each other and for Leslie and balance that with past hurts and grievances and deal with their responsibilities to the Court is captivating. 

At the end, Niall and Leslie are talking and Irial is off on the fringe and is so happy that the people he loves are together and my heart just broke for him.  Because there's also a melancholy to him and the situation.  There's a bit where he mentions that as Leslie gets stronger, he gets a bit weaker.  Foreshadowing?  Hopefully not else my review of that book will be something akin to "No, not Irial! SOB." 

Overall, I give Stopping Time an A-.  It provides a great, if brief, look at the complex relationships between Irial, Niall and Leslie.  Highly recommend along with the other books in the series.

Friday Round Up

I made baked polenta with a mushroom ragu for dinner last night and I am less than thrilled.  Such high pseudo-gourmet hopes, such longing for Papa Romano's pizza. 

My nephew's 3rd birthday party is tomorrow and since it's on the way, we're going to head out early and stop at Anthropologie.  On my list: Balletomane Tank, Climbing Cowlneck, maybe the Rare Bloom Tee (opinions, please, I already have it in turquoise and LOVE it...is navy too close?), the Free Flow tank which has looked beyond adorable on Kim and Chloe and many other people much tinier than I am....  hmm.  And many other things I'm sure as whenever I walk into the store I tend to fling myself into the racks and roll around with the pretty pretty sweaters. 

Dear Anthropologie employees, please don't call security.

Dear bank account, I apologize.

It's World Nutella Day! My preferred Nutella consumption method - slathered on some deliciously salty pretzels.  Or in Rocher's.  Or baked into a dessert pastry. 

I was chatting with a colleague about our weekend plans and we both got through to Sunday and said eh, nothing really, I guess.  Hours later I remembered, oh, yeah, there's a...game of some sort?  With lots of commercials?  And I've already talked to some friends about getting together?  Way to care about the country, self.

After chatting with R last night, I really realllllly want to get another tattoo.  This is bad idea jeans as the one I want next will probably require a consultation and design and more thought on the artist's part than me walking in and being all weeee tattoo! Now! 

I am absolutely 100% waiting for the Dear John wiki page to be updated with the ending before I decide whether or not I'm going to see it.  I need a happy ending dagnabit! 

Yes, as a matter of fact, if the books I'm reading don't have a happy ending, I'll fling them at the wall.  Too much strife in life, I'd like to escape to the land of happy dancing gnomes in my books please.  Whatever, literature, with your strife and human condition-ness.

The flinging satisfaction has been greatly impeded since I've begun reading on the Kindle.

I am positively gleeful about the news that they're making a sequel to Enchanted.

Any enjoyable weekend plans out there in blog land?

I can talk about books, too! (though not in the banned sense)

Actually, these are all probably on some banned book list or another...

Regardless!

Since the weekend seems to be leaning towards the rainy, dreary end of the spectrum, I thought I'd do a book round up of some of my fall favorites.

Karen Marie Moning's Fever Series : Darkfever is first, next are Bloodfever, Faefever and Dreamfever.  #4 just came out a few weeks ago.  (And Darkfever is free right now on the Kindle!) I love her Highlanders books and read Darkfever when it first came out.  I gobbled it up and wept copious amounts of tears when I realized I'd have to wait a year before #2 was released.  Because I am nothing if not logical, I waited 2 years and read #2 a couple of weeks before #3 came out.  Then, I enjoyed #2 so much I wanted to save #3 for a special time and haven't read #3 or #4.  Am lame. 

The author (and I) classifies it more as fantasy/urban fantasy than romance but there is some deliciously yummy romance so huzzah!

CL Wilson's Tairen Soul series.  First three are available now (and finally on Kindle), fourth will be out 10/27.  Very wordy (but well written), an even 50/50 split between fantasy and romance.

Would NOT swap between the two series.  Heroine of KMM fever series is badass chicky who has some sort of guardian protector duty.  Heroine of CL Wilson series isn't UNcapable but she does have moments of 'oh my I'm a 15th century woman and therefore I can do nothing because am not a man, oh my darn.'  In my opinion, it isn't that annoying while reading the books other than an occasional eye roll but if you read book 1 of KMM then book 1 of CL Wilson, I think it'd be hard to separate the characters. 

History wise, it has been out forever but Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  Oh, Jamie Fraser, one of my most loved heroes ever.  Meticulous research, smart capable heroine (she's a WW2 nurse who goes back in time to 18th century Scotland) and the book has about 10 million copies in print so it's clearly not just me.

General fiction - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.  Technically, it's a short story format, which usually makes me stabby but it truly doesn't read like that and the illustrations (not many, it isn't a graphic novel) actually come through nicely on the Kindle.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr.  Yes, it's YA and angsty but I just loved it.  Is also part of a series, 2 and 3 are out now. 

*****Here begins books that I think are just delightful and feel everyone should read because they are like Nutella on pretzels but those discerning folk who think reading The Kite Runner is a good time might have a slightly different opinion.*****

Currently, I've been reading Cindy Miles.  Fluffy, marshmallowy yumminess that turns me into Swoony McDreamypants.  All the books have 17th century Scottish highlander warrior folk who are ghosts stuck at their sprawling estates and encounter modern 21st century females and then because of all the 'twu luvvvv' they are magically able to be human at the end of the books.  Yes, yes, I KNOW.  Incredibly hokey but sometimes you really just want to flip off actual reality and these are just the ticket.

Must Love Mistletoe by Christie Ridgeway.  Seems like a normal, lighthearted romance but this book has wedged itself firmly in my brain and I've probably re-read it 15 times in the few years I've had it.  My go to pick me up.  Also, Finn Jacobson is essentially my dream man so, yeah. 

Katie Macalister's Dragons series beginning with You Slay Me.  Not available on Kindle yet, booooooo.  However!  Dragons and a talking Newfoundland. 

(Getting into the Halloween spirit)

Mindy Klasky's Girls Guide series.  All 3 are out, first is Girl's Guide to Witchcraft.  Classified as fiction, not romance (but of course there is some romance otherwise I am just an unhappy camper)

Enchanted, Inc by Shanna Swendson. Fun NYC set fantasy. 

Happy Reading!

the little things...

since my last couple of posts have been all woe is life, i thought it a good idea to get some perspective and list some of the many, many good things that make me smile

• needing to bring the dining room chairs out on the patio so everyone can sit together
• walks on the boardwalk after midnight
• aj/up caring enough to take my car to their mechanic while i'm on vacation so i can trust i'm getting good work done at a fair price
• dad willing to spend his whole weekend traveling so he can spend a day and a half with us 
• very special episodes of dawson's creek
• spf 70
• gallon sized zip lock bags

hands down, option b

Tomorrow, I embark on my journey to the shore.  Hooray!  *we'll forget for a minute that my car is being stupid*

Have I packed?  Of course not.  The way I see it, tonight can play out one of two ways.

Option A:

815 - Shower

830 - Lay out clothes while air drying hair

9 - put songs on ipod, program gps, charge all electronics

930 - load the car

10 - get together all toiletries that will be coming with me but that I will need in the morning

1015 - get a good nights sleep

Option B:

815 - write blog post while watching Gilmore Girls

850 - freak out about car, beg d to come ride with me to test car reliability

930 - contemplate what color to paint my toes

950 - reject first choice

10 - watch frasier while waiting for toes to dry

1010 - lay out clothes

1030 - shower

1045 - fix smudged toes

1050 - decide that none of the shirts i want to bring to the shore match my toes

1052 - change toenail polish

11 - watch another episode of frasier while waiting for toes to dry

1115 (additional time added to try and circumvent smudges) - mull complimentary shades of nail polish to pack in case of mid week mood change.

1130 - assign accessories to outfits

1150 - pack shoes

1154 - re-evaluate shoe to pants to size of suitcase ratio

1210 - put songs on ipod, program gps, charge electronics

1240 - gather toiletries

1245 - get distracted by face mask that doesn't make the packing cut

1250 - compare before and after pore size

1252 - decide to paint fingernails

1253 - try to find a color that compliments toes and tops and earrings

1258 - realize futility of project, sit down to watch house hunters

130 - load the car

145 - pro/con list of options since aunts bday presents still haven't arrived - wait and mail later or buy replacements?

2 - pout because ordered perfect presents two weeks ago and why aren't they herrre

205  - prioritize dvr list for the week

215 - try to de-tangle hair, come perilously close to doing cutting some at home bangs

216 - back away from the scissors

220 - go back to car for bed head detangler

230 - unpack kindle, read in bed - 92% of the way done with the book, must finish

645 - call toyota when they open, try and get car in because omg fix it

8 - hello, work

1130 - pick up car, part with too much $ and head east