Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Update on All Things Patti and Weekly Reader
I'm just sitting here eating salsa and chips, drinking water, and cruising the blogs. I was just over on pal Carrie Lofty's blog where she talks about not having posted for several days and people stalking her. About that time I had a brain flash and realized its been mega amounts of time since I posted anything on my blog! Gads - it must be catching! So I'm going to roll a whole bunch of randomness into one post. That way I can say I caught up, even if I boggled your mind in the process. hehe
What have I been doing?
New project is still going well. Added another 9,000 words since I last posted. Also I made my monthly blog appearance over on Happy Endings where I talked about writing books and workshops. Join me on April 15th - Ha! Tax Day - for my next post. Topic is still percolating in my brain.
Personal wise, spring has arrived in Texas. With that a bunch of spring cleaning and self-improvement projects have moved to the front burner.
Anne encouraged Becca and I to join her on a self-improvement quest; Change your Life Challenge by Brook Noel. We've been working through the book (and yes, I admit Anne and Becca are way ahead of me). The ideas have similarities to other things I've done, but these are grouped together in an interesting, supportive way. If you're feeling a need to get on a new track, I highly recommend this book.
With spring always comes the urge to shed these excess pounds that add up from emotional eating and winter laziness. I took that in hand and have been actually using my stationary bike to ride instead of throw clothes on and I've unearthed my exercise video collection. That means I get to be best friends with Denise Austin again for awhile. Sigh.
This next one falls into the Fun With Grandson category. I just figured out how to send my cell phone pictures to a scrapbook online so I can actually have access to these suckers. Check it out.
Somebody give me a credit card!
Somebody tell Mom she's crazy!
Somebody feed me!
Somebody put me to bed!
Somebody send me to Engineering School!
Miscellaneous Randomness:
Visit Ann Aguirre site and check out the next featured book in her Book Club (Undone by Rachel Caine). I'm up for reading a new book. How about you?
Visit Bonnie Grove - Fiction Matters Blog and read my friend Kelly McCrady's take on being both an editor and an author.
Celebrating here: Favorite Author Nalini Singh's novel Mine to Possess is a 2009 Rita Finalist in the Paranormal Category. Check it out at Romance Writers of America.
Weekly Reader
It's a short weekly reader this week because once again I revisited a few keepers off my shelf instead of reading much new.
Nalini Singh
(Still my favorite!)
(Rita Nominee - YaY!)
Jessica Anderson
My one new read:
Score: B+ Not much to add to that. Solid, entertaining read with a complex plot, lots of lush details, and nifty conflict. Lots at stake in these. Warning though - don't read unless you have time to just sit and do it. Annoying to have to put down at stop lights and drive. :-)
Finally, for once Lifetime got it right. Nora Roberts Northern Lights premiered last weekend and was the best of all the Nora movies I've seen so far. I swore off them last year after watching Blue Smoke and becoming annoyed with all the plot changes from the book. Granted, I had just read Blue Smoke when I watched that one and it's been quite some time since I read Northern Lights. It seemed to me, though, that they hit the basic highlights of this book and left all the quirkiness of Lunacy, Alaska intact. Eye candy helped!
Okay. Now that I see your eyes rolling back in your head from all the info, I'll say I'm done - Ta Ta For Now!
What have I been doing?
New project is still going well. Added another 9,000 words since I last posted. Also I made my monthly blog appearance over on Happy Endings where I talked about writing books and workshops. Join me on April 15th - Ha! Tax Day - for my next post. Topic is still percolating in my brain.
Personal wise, spring has arrived in Texas. With that a bunch of spring cleaning and self-improvement projects have moved to the front burner.
Anne encouraged Becca and I to join her on a self-improvement quest; Change your Life Challenge by Brook Noel. We've been working through the book (and yes, I admit Anne and Becca are way ahead of me). The ideas have similarities to other things I've done, but these are grouped together in an interesting, supportive way. If you're feeling a need to get on a new track, I highly recommend this book.
With spring always comes the urge to shed these excess pounds that add up from emotional eating and winter laziness. I took that in hand and have been actually using my stationary bike to ride instead of throw clothes on and I've unearthed my exercise video collection. That means I get to be best friends with Denise Austin again for awhile. Sigh.
This next one falls into the Fun With Grandson category. I just figured out how to send my cell phone pictures to a scrapbook online so I can actually have access to these suckers. Check it out.
Somebody give me a credit card!
Somebody tell Mom she's crazy!
Somebody feed me!
Somebody put me to bed!
Somebody send me to Engineering School!
Miscellaneous Randomness:
Visit Ann Aguirre site and check out the next featured book in her Book Club (Undone by Rachel Caine). I'm up for reading a new book. How about you?
Visit Bonnie Grove - Fiction Matters Blog and read my friend Kelly McCrady's take on being both an editor and an author.
Celebrating here: Favorite Author Nalini Singh's novel Mine to Possess is a 2009 Rita Finalist in the Paranormal Category. Check it out at Romance Writers of America.
Weekly Reader
It's a short weekly reader this week because once again I revisited a few keepers off my shelf instead of reading much new.
Nalini Singh
(Still my favorite!)
(Rita Nominee - YaY!)
Jessica Anderson
My one new read:
Score: B+ Not much to add to that. Solid, entertaining read with a complex plot, lots of lush details, and nifty conflict. Lots at stake in these. Warning though - don't read unless you have time to just sit and do it. Annoying to have to put down at stop lights and drive. :-)
Finally, for once Lifetime got it right. Nora Roberts Northern Lights premiered last weekend and was the best of all the Nora movies I've seen so far. I swore off them last year after watching Blue Smoke and becoming annoyed with all the plot changes from the book. Granted, I had just read Blue Smoke when I watched that one and it's been quite some time since I read Northern Lights. It seemed to me, though, that they hit the basic highlights of this book and left all the quirkiness of Lunacy, Alaska intact. Eye candy helped!
Okay. Now that I see your eyes rolling back in your head from all the info, I'll say I'm done - Ta Ta For Now!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Weekly Reader - March 15, 2009
I finished off my Lora Leigh stack. I had the remaining Breed books on my list to reread plus her new one, Coyote's Mate. Again, my ratings are all A+ on these. I especially like The Breed Next Door - a strong heroine, and a man who is brought to his knees by fresh baked bread and coffee. Sweet!
Finished:
1. The Breed Next Door in the Hot Spell Anthology
2. Aiden's Charity
3. Mercury's War
4. Christmas Heat in Xmas Cat Anthology
Another A+ read; I highly recommend this one. Both the hero (Del-Ray) and heroine (Anya) make serious mistakes in their relationship, both have painful experiences to make them realize it. It's a book packed with emotion; it'll have you crying, screaming, laughing . . . but never once will you put it down and walk away.
I have several e-books to cover next week. Also, I visited Ann Aguirre's blog this week. She has four new books up for vote for her April book reading. One of my favorite author's is on her list with her new one - Nalini Singh's Angels Blood. You won't have to guess which one I voted for. :-)
Until next week, I wish you well in your reading and your life!
Finished:
1. The Breed Next Door in the Hot Spell Anthology
2. Aiden's Charity
3. Mercury's War
4. Christmas Heat in Xmas Cat Anthology
Another A+ read; I highly recommend this one. Both the hero (Del-Ray) and heroine (Anya) make serious mistakes in their relationship, both have painful experiences to make them realize it. It's a book packed with emotion; it'll have you crying, screaming, laughing . . . but never once will you put it down and walk away.
I have several e-books to cover next week. Also, I visited Ann Aguirre's blog this week. She has four new books up for vote for her April book reading. One of my favorite author's is on her list with her new one - Nalini Singh's Angels Blood. You won't have to guess which one I voted for. :-)
Until next week, I wish you well in your reading and your life!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Update on All Things Patti
First, have you checked out the reviews on THE SWEETHEART DANCE? They are amazing! Thanks to everyone who read, loved, and gushed! I've done my job and am so happy now.
New project now in the works for Harlequin. In the interest of not jinxing my current maniac writing bouts, I'm mum as to what it's about. BUT - my target submission is Harlequin American. It's title is The Rock Star's Sheriff. Yum!
More after it's finished.
I'll be on Happy Endings next Wednesday with a new post on writing. Please join me and leave a comment.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Visit my recipe blog next week for All Food Irish.
Nobody had a guess as to the year I graduated from High School? Tsk. Tsk. Y'all are slipping. 1975.
I'm signing off now - desk is buried. How does this happens? Me think mischievous chaos fairies come into my office and dump stuff on my desk. Yep, that explains it. I'll ship them to you for cheap. Any takers?
New project now in the works for Harlequin. In the interest of not jinxing my current maniac writing bouts, I'm mum as to what it's about. BUT - my target submission is Harlequin American. It's title is The Rock Star's Sheriff. Yum!
More after it's finished.
I'll be on Happy Endings next Wednesday with a new post on writing. Please join me and leave a comment.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Visit my recipe blog next week for All Food Irish.
Nobody had a guess as to the year I graduated from High School? Tsk. Tsk. Y'all are slipping. 1975.
I'm signing off now - desk is buried. How does this happens? Me think mischievous chaos fairies come into my office and dump stuff on my desk. Yep, that explains it. I'll ship them to you for cheap. Any takers?
Friday, March 6, 2009
A Blast From the Past
Last night, as I'm working away -- A Winter Romance with pictures is now posted on my website folks -- I decided I needed some music. I opened my Napster and up pops an invitation to put in the year I graduated from high school and they will give me the Top 100 Billboard songs from Spring of that year. Hmm, I thought, why not. (Killed about 40 minutes of time while I scrolled through the lists and oohed nostalgia like and listened to a few - that's why not!! :-D.)
First thing I realized - I didn't know that there was such an ecclectic mix of songs from that year, songs as diverse as their artists - from Glen Campbell to Bachman Turner Overdrive. I suppose anyone can say this from their graduating year, but during high school, the mix didn't seem so bizarre. Take a peek.
1. Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - BJ Thomas
2. My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
3. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
4. He Don't Love You - Tony Orlando and Dawn
5. The Best of My Love - The Eagles
6. Have you Ever Been Mellow - Olivia Newton John
7. Thank God I'm A Country Boy - John Denver
8. Black Water - Doobie Brothers
9. It's a Miracle - Barry Manilow
10. You are so Beautiful - Joe Cocker
11. Sister Golden Hair - America
12. Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
13. Killer Queen - Queen
14. Lady - Styx
15. Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain and Tenille
16. Take Me In Your Arms - Doobie Brothers
17. The Last Farewell - Roger Whittaker (for crying out loud!)
18. This Will Be - Natalie Cole
19. That's The Way I Like It - KC and the Sunshine Band
20. How Sweet It Is - James Taylor
I itched to get over here and post my excitement to my blog. I think I deserve a pat on the back for avoiding that temptation and getting back to work. Just as a side note, the list was sprinkled with John Lennon and Ringo Starr songs, but I hated the Beatles and didn't like any of them much better after they broke up - so I couldn't bring myself to include any of those. Sorry. Now that you've looked at the list, can you figure out the year I graduated from high school? (And NO CHEATING by checking Facebook!)
First thing I realized - I didn't know that there was such an ecclectic mix of songs from that year, songs as diverse as their artists - from Glen Campbell to Bachman Turner Overdrive. I suppose anyone can say this from their graduating year, but during high school, the mix didn't seem so bizarre. Take a peek.
1. Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - BJ Thomas
2. My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli
3. Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John
4. He Don't Love You - Tony Orlando and Dawn
5. The Best of My Love - The Eagles
6. Have you Ever Been Mellow - Olivia Newton John
7. Thank God I'm A Country Boy - John Denver
8. Black Water - Doobie Brothers
9. It's a Miracle - Barry Manilow
10. You are so Beautiful - Joe Cocker
11. Sister Golden Hair - America
12. Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils
13. Killer Queen - Queen
14. Lady - Styx
15. Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain and Tenille
16. Take Me In Your Arms - Doobie Brothers
17. The Last Farewell - Roger Whittaker (for crying out loud!)
18. This Will Be - Natalie Cole
19. That's The Way I Like It - KC and the Sunshine Band
20. How Sweet It Is - James Taylor
I itched to get over here and post my excitement to my blog. I think I deserve a pat on the back for avoiding that temptation and getting back to work. Just as a side note, the list was sprinkled with John Lennon and Ringo Starr songs, but I hated the Beatles and didn't like any of them much better after they broke up - so I couldn't bring myself to include any of those. Sorry. Now that you've looked at the list, can you figure out the year I graduated from high school? (And NO CHEATING by checking Facebook!)
Monday, March 2, 2009
Weekly Reader - February 22 and March 1, 2009
Joann Ross adds a A+ read to her High Risk series with this one. Shane and Kirby are a sexy couple, with an emotional, steamy relationship placed amidst a dynamite plot. First section is a tad choppy with all the back story sorted through it, but ride it out. You'll be glad you did.
No score on this one. I didn't finish it. I looked it up because it is the sequel to The Ranger and I wanted to see what happened to Fletcher. Characters are well drawn once again, but the plot drags.
I've been promising myself for some time that I would revisit Lora Leigh's Breed series and was finally in the mood to do so. I'm not going to review each one because y'all know how big a fan I am of this series . . . and they all get A+s in my book. I love the cover of Tanner's Scheme - my favorite of all of them. Remember these are NC-17 erotica with heart-wrenching emotion and nail biting plots. I invite you to visit Sanctuary and Haven and enjoy! If you need descriptions, visit LoraLeigh.com.
Read:
1. Tempting the Beast
2. The Man WIthin
3. Elizabeth's Wolf
4. Kiss of Heat
5. Soul Deep
6. Megan's Mark
7. Harmony's Way
8. Tanner's Scheme
9. Wolfe's Hope
10. Jacob's Faith
11. In A Wolf's Embrace - Beyond Dark Anthology
12. Dawn's Awakening
13. A Jaquar's Kiss - Shifter Anthology
Still to read:
The Breed Next Door - Hot Spell Anthology
Aiden's Charity
Mercury's War
Christmas Heat - Christmas Cat Anthology
Coyote's Mate
Next week is e-book week. I'm planning my Weekly Reader based on a pile of e-books I have on my laptop. If you have any ebooks you'd like to recommend that I seek out and read, be sure to leave me a comment!
Have a wonderful week!
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