7 Authors Who Make Me Giggle or Snicker

I'm going to try something different.  I'm going to actually participate in a meme.  I've been a fan of LASR for a long time so this idea is pretty cool.

I thought about it and realized that humor is an important element for a few authors that are must reads for me.  At least once during the novel it has to make me snort and snicker and even facepalm at various points in the story. The book most definitely has to make me break out in smiles, grins and giggles to one degree or another.

1) If I'm in need of zany, madcap and startled guffaws, then Sandra Hill is a sure bet.  I adore her Vikings, both the ones that stay in the past and the time-traveling Vikings that make great navy SEALS,  as well as her sexy Cajun heros. From language issues to Tante LuLu, every one of those books in those series has something to make me giggle out loud, no matter where I am.

2) I've been a huge fan of Lynsay Sands and her Argeneau series for years. Her humor is not always knee slapping but it fills me with happiness, grins, giggles and chortles.  That kind of humor balances out some of the dark plot elements due to villians with bite issues.  Ms. Sands also writes historical and contemporary stories so I always have plenty to choose from.



The Switch was HILARIOUS! I even got my sister to fall in love with it too!

 3) I've also been a fan of Nina Bangs for a long time - probably since 2005 when I used to visit her blog faithfully. She's a paranormal author who created a most unusual cast of characters. Poor Hogarth is a great sidekick because he's so dry and caustic - a great straightman. Every novel has something to smile about.

. 
Sparkle Stardust is fun to meet.



4) Jill Shalvis - an author I was privileged to actually interview for my blog back in 2007 - has a sense of humor that never fails; her heroes and heroines always touch my emotions and most of them I would love to meet in real life.



5) Sarah Morgan - Oh my gosh, am I ever a fan of hers. Her novels have me walking around with a sappy, happy smile on my face. Her books are so romantic and gentle and the humor is so lifelike and touching that I can't pass by a title of hers and not buy and read it. She's a solid writer who is a master of her craft. I might be surprised with an outright giggle here and there but no matter what, I know a smile is always in store for me. How did I find Ms. Morgan initially? Harlequin romances. She started off as my favorite brain candy and ended up being one of my go-to authors no matter what platform she writes in.



6) What list can possibly be perfect unless it includes books by Katie MacAlister. She writes in many genres but my favorite is paranormal. Her books can be an absolute gigglefest. As far as knee-slappers, uncontrollable fits of hilarity and true snort-worthy scenes, Ms. MacAlister gives Ms. Hill a run for the money when it comes to "the most giggles found in one book". Not all of her books are home runs in the snort category, but Ms. MacAlister comes darned close. If you can find one about the Renfest, grab it. I went to our local faire years ago not long after I'd read the book and I met a 'wench' who LOVED Ms. MacAlister's books so much, I think we talked over 30 minutes just comparing the funniest notes between the books we'd both read. Two strangers laughing hysterically in the middle of a Renfest about BOOKS! How cool is that?



And finally

7) Jennifer Ashley - Her humor isn't hilarious in her novels but many have this happy vibe that pops out in unexpected ways. Her plots are emotionally meaty and have depth so when humor is exhibited between her characters it has this real feeling. It makes me smile or grin or just feel good. Sometimes feeling good is its own reward. I've read about the Mackenzie family (LOVE) and her paranormals (a bit on the dark side) but somewhere along the line, Ms. Ashley imbues her characters with a sometimes subtle humor that I can appreciate. She's well worth time spent in her worlds.



So, am I the only one who enjoys some serious humor in her romances??

New Year's Resolutions That Aren't

Good grief.
It's 2018 already and I didn't blog at ALL in a whole YEAR?  What happened to my resolutions??

Hmmm, well, the last one for 2017 was the hardest, as I thought it would be. However, I am still a lector at my church and I now co-teach Faith Formation classes (4th grade), otherwise known as CCD classes.

I didn't bake as much as I wanted to but I did bake more than 2016 so that's something.

I did have a garden this year afterall! I was so excited to get a great many zucchini, tomatoes and cucumbers.  However, I had to fight an unknown plant assailant. It might have been a baby bunny, a chipmunk or a vole. I had a fence, and sonic mole stakes but it wasn't enough.  I ended up using PVC pipes and pantyhose as part of my anti-critter arsenal.  Once I did that, my plants finally had a chance to grow and produce.

As far as exercise?  Totally laughable. The part of my body most exercised was my brain. I read a lot! Of course, since it's an addiction, that's easy to do.

 As far as 2018 resolutions, I don't think I should make any. I could make wishes ....lol

1) Bake more, eat less.
2) Exercise once a week (it doesn't sound like a lot but believe me, for me? It is. Sad that.)
3) Blog more than once this year. Today's post doesn't count.
4) Use nail polish more often
5) See my IRL friends more often
6) Go on a couple of nature walks while not forgetting my camera
7) Make French Onion soup.  In all my years, I've never tried and I really want to.
8) See more than 1 movie a year - maybe see 2!
9) Try growing Pattypan squash again - on purpose.  I bought one last year and had NO idea what it was and when I saw this odd looking thing, I had no idea what to do with it.  After YouTube searches there will be a serious hunt to get another plant or two - on purpose instead of accidental.
10) Find more easy Crock Pot recipes
11) Try a new exotic veggie - that means actually preparing and eating - not look at it and take pictures.
12) Organize my Keeper Shelf.

So there are my personal wishes, one a month for 2018.  If half of those 'wishes' come true, I'll feel moderately accomplished.

Now, off to explore the world of essential oils.  It's a great unknown but promises to be scentastic. ;)

2017 Resolutions

A new year = new promises to oneself.

This year I am going to keep those goals simple.

I want to bake more. At least twice a month instead of twice every 6 months.

I want to exercise more - not to lose some ridiculous amount of poundage, but to increase lung capacity.

I actually want to share more on my blog because it's the only place that seems to allow freedom of expression without being 'unfriended' for the silliest of things. You know, like having an opinion?

I want to have a garden this year. ( I refuse to consider that we'll have another drought)

Last but not least, I want to love my God more, remember to thank Him more often, and pray more often.

The saddest thing?  The last promise will be the most challenging to keep. It's also the one that means the most. Interesting dichotomy, don't you think?

Anyway, Happy 2017!!

Romancing the Demon

There's been an uptick of using Christian beliefs as a fantasy world.

Angels lose their wings because they've succumbed to the lust of a human woman. 

Demons being redeemed or seen as heroes and acting like any normal guy with regular needs, with a few interesting appendages complicating things.  

I understand that authors take poetic license; it's free speech after all. However, the stories of the Bible come from a world with the lines specifically drawn. 

Some of the best stories come from writers who think outside the box and challenge longheld or current beliefs. I give credit where credit is due. 

For those that are stronger in their faith, this manipulation of their basic tenets and understanding of their faith, and the romancing of evil, is a bit hard to swallow.  I highly doubt that a certain other religion would tolerate such a desecration of their beliefs. In fact, they kill people for less.  So, why do folks seem to think it's okay to treat the Christian faith with a cavalier manner?  Well, we certainly won't rise up and do harm - well, we shouldn't. There are extremes in any form of human decision. I suppose, if authors do any level of research, and they're ... undecided, perhaps a kernel of spiritual truth will find fertile ground and some day bear fruit.  Therefore, not pouncing and making a big deal out of it could be viewed as a passive form of preaching. If there's something worth exploring and  writing about, conceivably there's a possibility that conversion of souls can take place.  They're being exposed to the Lord.  If it makes someone curious about real Christian practices and beliefs, then something good can come of it.  The Lord's work is accomplished by using people, tools and options most cannot even guess at, and not all of them are through "perfect" means, because, absolute perfection does not exist on this earth. We're all sinners.

I have drawn my personal line in the sand when anyone writes Lucifer as a being with feelings, with normal human lust and emotions and connections. First, he was an angel and angels were never, ever human.  He's the total absence of God, he's the darkest dark, and the instigator of the worst parts of the human condition; the destructor and violator of souls.  Not only is he not human but he's not redeemable nor something to trifle with. He's Sauron's worst nightmare,  Freddy Krueger is a novice in comparison, and the  human mind simply cannot fathom the depths of wrongness that is Lucifer. So to romanticize him, make him act, talk or yearn for things as a human male would is, frankly, abhorrent to me. 

If they want to use the premise of angels and demons, take them out of this world, make them aliens, a different dimension and/or write it under the sci-fi/fantasy genre and disassociate it from the Christianity that is practiced here on earth. Use Greek or Roman mythology, like Hades or Pluto, instead of something that is alive and real.

I practice a lot of 'willing suspension of disbelief' when I read, but when it comes to my religion, I'm unwilling to compromise and suspend my beliefs for the sake of enjoyment.  The beauty, strength, grace, forgiveness and love of my God is not something I'll ever be willing to suspend, even for a book written by a favorite author. 

For me, romancing demons and the devil is not an option. 

More Favorite Things

This is a post that accidently was left in draft mode since JULY 2011 !!!  I just found it and figured it's still relevant ... :)
________________________________________________________________________

Why is it, do you think, that we love spies? And intrigue? And masterful men?

Growing up, I had my girlish heart go pitter patter over these:  These links are to intros.

I Spy  What a cool idea when you think of it.  Can you see some of today's tennis players as secret agents? And to think, Bill Cosby used to be an action hero. Cool.
(Nov 2016 - guess things are not so cool for him now. My, how time changes things!!)

The Man from U.N.C.L.E - Now Mr. Vaugn touts a law office. LOL (as of Nov 2016 - Mr. Vaugn recently passed away.  He sure had a long run though.)

The AVENGERS - I always wanted to be Mrs. Peel. (Nov 2016 - still do)

The SAINT - before he was Bond, James Bond

The Wild Wild West - but be aware..when he kisses his would-be assasin?  In the original, he clobbers the vixen and knocks her on her butt.  As far as I'm concerned, they should have kept it.  Not sure why, but he seemed, more manly, more of a rough and tough agent who gets the job done. As it is, she SWOONS?  Nawww... deck her - it shows equality between one agent and another.  ::snort::

VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA - of course they solved crimes - of the "I want to take over the world' kind.

FBI - I used to watch this with my grandparents.  Ephram was such a hottie back then! (NOV 2016 - wish the FBI was as respected now as it was then.)

77 Sunset Strip :  - Ok, it was a bit before my time, but I loved the idea of it.

PETER GUNN - I'm not the only one who thought the theme music was cool,- heck, so did the Blues Brothers. lol

THE MOD SQUAD  - This is one of my favorite theme songs; it was so energetic - and I like the idea of young people really making a difference.  I just want to RUN whenever I hear this music. And why does Clarence Williams remind of of Mr. Fishburn?

SWAT  - how could I forget this?  Robert Urich!  I miss him. What a fun show.

MAVERICK - James Garner - I girl-crushed on him long before the Rockford Files...

RAWHIDE - Before Spaghetti Westerns there was this T.V. series for Mr. Eastwood. Fond memories.

I hope these links stay working on YouTube because I like to listen to them and I have a one stop place to find them. Every one of these T.V. shows affected me as I grew up.  What do kids have these days that doesn't talk down to them, (other than Siri)  or make them seem dumber than they are? What they do have disrespects adults or celebrates dysfunctional families. These listed shows may seem dated, but in them they acted like adults, had characters you could look up to, role models, and even as a kid, I enjoyed every single one.

When News Fails

I'm not perfect. Few people are. But there are some places where there should be a higher standard and that is in news reporting.

I am not a fan of one of my local news sources unless you count the gleeful pouncing on all editing goofs.

Look at this link for however long it stays available:
http://wwlp.com/2016/06/11/snake-falls-off-dashboard-onto-drivers-feet/

I question many things but the most basic question is, How will watching your feet prevent a snake from getting into your car? That has to be one of the most stupid, idiotic and nonsensical statements ever.  I'm wondering if it was out of context?  Surely people aren't that simple.  The reporter could have left that part out but instead had to use that dubious quote to end the 'report'.

I wonder,  how can a snake move about a hot engine unscathed when said car was traveling at high speeds, generating enough heat off of the engine to fry an egg?

And, she waits to pull over in a parking lot?  " Knowing the snake had crawled back up into her engine, Swisher had no other option but to pull off of I-49 and into the nearest shopping center, "

What, the side of the road wasn't close enough?
And, if it was ON the dashboard, isn't that   within view of a person's FACE?    I mean, I see a CUP on a dashboard, could not a person see a SNAKE?


So, I think the whole report is shoddy and a waste of time for a reader.  Because I was so miffed, I decided to blog about it.

I suppose, in a way, it gave me something to say because today may turn out be a slow news day anyway.

Ye Olde Tarzan

First, I am remiss - I never realized that the posts I  had 'Scheduled' to post, reverted to Draft and were never posted!  This one was from 2014!!!   Thing is, since then I found out that Mr. Ely actually has a Facebook presence!!!  Imagine that!

https://www.facebook.com/Ron-Ely-Fan-Page-101031133271927/

But back in 2014 I had no clue, so I wrote the following. Enjoy!

*******

Folks, lately I've been in a constant state of amazement.

Way back in 2006, I wrote a blog post about one of my early infatuations with a star; Ron Ely, who played Tarzan.

Believe it or not, I think Ron has been rediscovered in a HUGE way.

Why do I say that?

Because my old post is getting comments-even two years later!

Wonderful fans as far away as France have visited me to share their appreciation of his talent and to gently :-) correct any mistakes I've made re: Ron Facts.

Perhaps they are stopping by just because it's another opportunity to connect with others of equal enthusiasm?

Only they know.

Me? I'm tickled pink.

After checking my site stats, today was the first time the 2006 POST outranked my visits for my current posting.

Has anyone ever had that happen?

So, in anticipation of continuing the trend, I'd like to include two links that my blog buddy, Judy, found for me while we were chatting one evening.

This is a YouTube interview that reveals some wonderful info that fans should find interesting. It's labeled, Tarzan, Jesus, and Davy Crockett?

I have dial-up so it took over an hour to load, but it was worth it.

The other is a SHORT ARTICLE about his son.

Look at the picture; doesn't that Ely charm show through?

From the sounds and rumblings I've been hearing, maybe, just maybe, Ron Ely may grace our television sets in the near future.

I'm sure, like many fans around the world, the 'near future' isn't soon enough.

On a sadder note, one of my visiting Ely fans informed me about some sad news. Manuel Padilla, Jr., who played Jai, passed away recently. He'll be forever young in my mind's eye. He was only 51 too. Way too young.

There is a link to verify this info: OBIT The info for Manuel is almost all the way towards the bottom- Jan. 29th.

I never knew he was in American Graffiti! Did you?

Oh Wow! Did you know that James Earl Jones played in one of the Tarzan episodes?

I just saw that little tidbit when I was checking out one of the links I slipped into my post here. Very cool!

The item that cracked me up was seeing Ethel Merman listed as being in an episode. That actress had a very unique voice.

I really wish the executives that make DVD decisions would really wake up and realize there is a WANT and an INTEREST for purchasing and viewing the 1966 - 1968 years of this incarnation of Tarzan.

I, for one, would buy it. Who can we write to so we can get the ball rolling?


The real ball, of course, started with Johnny Weissmuller, way back when. Original Tarzan

I'll leave off with my preferred music of the Tarzan theme - there is another version but nothing as jungle sounding and catchy as this, once the talking is done. :)

It's Only June

Are you as tired of the political scene as I am?

It's pathetic out there.

The Republicans started off with 16 contenders, a few of them more than worthy of being in the Oval Office.

Now, who are we left with? A woman who knows insider politics inside and out, who is proficient in dealing with the dark underbelly of politics, and a man who is proficient in dealing with the underbelly of the business world. Both are at the top of their game, both have done things that would raise eyebrows on regular folk, and both are not averse to personal attacks on the other.

None of those things qualify them to be president. Not one talks about HOW to do anything, or what they plan on doing with anything specific. She is no better than he. They are well matched on many levels and the fight is going to be dirty.

Thing is, it's been dirty and it's getting worse. It's only June! I'm tired of Warren calling Trump a liar when she calls herself an American Indian. She lives in a thin glass house and that's a pretty big stone she's trying to throw.

I'd have preferred a candidate with the class of Dr. Carson, the patriotism of Cruz, the enthusiasm of Rubio, and the proven track record of DOING something like Kasich (even though he's always directing planes with his hand gestures) and instead, we have ... Trump.

As for a female being president. It's not time for a female because she's female. It would be time for a candidate that is qualified to LEAD and DEFEND us, period. One day there will be a female that embodies those qualities but the Hilz isn't it. She's a player. She's good at it. She learned it hands on with Bill - but is she really going to be what is BEST for this country? What did she learn except to leave the Oval Office crying poor and broke. Remember that? If that's the benefit of Clinton - Round 1, when she wins, it will be Clinton - Round 2 - and the country will spiral into a third world status.

You notice I said when, right? Yeah - I think she'll be the next president by virtue of Mr. Trump spouting such divisive nonsense continually, like diarrhea of the mouth, that he'll turn people away even if they initially supported him. It's already happening. He's a loose cannon.

On the other hand, a loose cannon might make North Korea twitchy, Russia wary and China interested - why? Because they are into business and buying our debt - there might be a sale.

No matter which way November goes - it IS historical, groundbreaking and will be controversial for years to come.

But right now, it's only June. And I much prefer to look forward to SHARKNADO 4 in July!!!!!

Woot!!

I'm Still Alive

You wouldn't think so considering that I've not blogged in a dinosaur's age. I sometimes think I'm alive but not thriving.

Why?

I'm getting old!

No one mentions about gray hairs or how irreverent they are to their placement on one's body.

No one mentions how doctor appointments become much more prevalent in one's life to the point it becomes a 'social' thing.

This month alone, I've been told I have bladder cancer, so I'm going for testing. No one believes it yet but because someone said I had it, money will change hands from me to big pharma and insurance companies.

This month alone, I've been told that the 3 year bilateral numbness in my feet,for which I've been tested numerous times for diabetes and it has always come back negative, is actually a precursor to diabetes - an early warning system if you will. Today I was told that current research is bringing to light a pattern of my exact complaint which can occur 6-7 years BEFORE the onset of diabetes. According to my MD, the clock is ticking - I'm 3 years in.

My 3 jobs, all sedentary at a computer, have manifested into numerous visits to the chiropractor because I carry all the stress in my neck and shoulders. I'm stiff like a newly wrapped mummy.

Life used to be filled with dates, movies, amusement parks, picnics, excitement, frivolity, fashion worries and naughty jokes.

Now? I think most of the movies nowadays have no intellectual value, I can't go on twirly, jerky fast rides anymore - throws my back out, picnics have bugs that bite, excitement is finding a deal of a price on a weed eater or weed whacker, frivolity has been tamed because I'm now a 'serious parent', fashion is limited to Give Me Comfort! and naughty jokes don't seem to be as naughty but instead are vulgar and unimaginative - no truly creative word play with double entendres and clever twists. ( I miss George Carlin)

Getting old sucks.

But, at least I'm still here to GET old. Right?

So What If It Was Written in 2004?

That's what I ask - so what? I can't review this at my normal place because I believe it's out of print; the publisher isn't selling it any longer. I have no idea if the author has her rights back or not but I'm going to talk about it anyway.

The Sexiest Dead Man Alive by Jane Blackwood
Contemporary Romance
320 Pages
Heat was definitely spicy
Old publisher was Zebra Books, part of Kensington Publishing Corp. I guess you can still snag a copy at Amazon - the big giant.

The title led me to believe that I was getting a paranormal romance but it's not and I didn't. It's about a really famous hunky heart throb that is so traumatized by the paparazzi, that he's become a super recluse. He's so hidden that he's considered dead. A person can't get more out of the public's eye than being dead and gone, right?

There's a problem though. Extreme solitude comes with the pitfall of being lonely, and if that hermit's cooking skills run the gamut of toast, cereal and microwaved meals, things like that can make a person crazy. So what to do? Hire someone to cook for you, right? But, who is going to want to cook for someone they've never seen, nor will ever? That's the first hurdle Declan, the hero, has to face.

The heroine has her own issues. They're more unrealized dreams - she wants to own her own restaurant someday but has to have the funds to do it. She's worked like a dog but things just aren't moving forward fast enough and she's out of options. Until, she sees the want ad.

You know where this is going right? Yes, she accepts the offer. But, even only hearing Declan's voice, Rose has an immediate reaction to his voice in her ears and right away a reader figures out that the heroine is VERY receptive to the hero. Which is good because he's more than a little receptive of her. Even though she can't see him, he can see her and it's becoming an obsession.

So, the courtship begins. It has it's ups and downs like all romances do but Declan's chip on his shoulder is a bit more than even Hercules would want to deal with. Guilt. Later on in the story, the guilt is turned on its ear and what a surprise that was. Talk about levels of angst!

Rose is funny, has a very twisted and off-beat sense of humor and is a wiz with food. She is actually the stronger of the couple as Declan's mental anguish and misconceptions and fear, fear with a capital F, has a tendency to take this stud and mire him down in his own emotional quagmire. He's really messed up. My good opinion of Declan was an up and down yo-yo affair but he's basically a decent guy. I personally liked Rose the best. She is in love with him, but she's a survivor too and that is one personality trait I'm glad the author endowed her with.

I really wanted to give this a solid 4 out of 5 rating but I can't. Mostly because of a glaring edit goof on pages 90 and 95 - the exact same three sentences were used twice. It stuck out like a sore thumb. And, because this is a older book, I even highlighted it to make sure I wasn't imagining it. No, it's really repeated. Even the great Kensington Publishing house isn't perfect.

However, to combat that negative, let me share one sentence that the author wrote in this novel:
"... and gazed up at the few stars bright enough to fight the moon for the sky."

That sentence felled me.
It's simply beautiful, eloquent and a masterful imagery that struck me with wonder. I LOVED that sentence. I highlighted that as well in the book.

Despite Declan's shortcomings, and a few strange side trips, plus a heart wrenching family situation, this is a very entertaining read. It has some strong storytelling elements worth checking out and a romance that had some extremely funny and unconventional moments.

The Sexiest Dead Man Alive may be an older book, and the author might not be writing anymore, but if you are able to find this at a library, a book sale or a used book store, it's a deal to pick up and read. I'm glad I took a chance on it because I actually enjoyed myself.

The Teachable Moment

One never knows when a teachable moment will appear.

Sometimes you can expect it because of the situation you are about to encounter - it's inherent in the environment.

Other times it takes you completely by surprise. Such was the case today.

I took my youngest to Best Buy to get a new router. Mine was starting to give up the ghost. We were leaving to head to another store in the mini-mall and we had to go down a short hallway that merges with the bigger, main one. In front of us was a petite person. We were maybe 15 feet away when she announces quite loudly, 'THERE YOU ARE! HOW ARE YOU??!!!!'

We turn to look behind us. There is no one there. We were the focus. Thing is, we had NO idea who this person was!

She is what I would term - mentally young/challenged or having a mental disability. With everything being PC these days, I'm not too sure how to label her. The one thing that is clear no matter the label - she was a person, she was being friendly, if exuberant, and she was extremely happy to see us.

My youngest looked at me like a panicked deer. What do we do?

What we did was to continue walking up to her. Her with her multi-colored knitted cap, bicycle helmet perched on top of it, her back pack all puffed out, in her puffy blue coat and her knitted gloves. She held out her hand to shake and I did. Same with my youngest - he followed my lead. She asked for my name. I gave it. She smiled. She turned to my son and asked the same. He gave his name and she said ,"WHOOPS!" and giggled. "I forgot about my earbuds!" She popped one out and she smiled widely and asked my son his name again, which he provided, again. She smiled another big grin and I wished her a Merry Christmas, since it's still the season, at which she smiled again. Then she announced in her delighted, upbeat way, 'I'm going to Gamestop! They have lots of wonderful games there!', and did a complete about face and jauntily walked away at a quick pace.

My son was quite perplexed by the whole thing. Freaked might be a more accurate word. I explained that she had special needs and she still was due respect and cordiality - even if it was not the normal interaction between strangers. People like her don't think too hard about the meanness in life - they're full of joy. I am never quite sure how they manage to be happier than most but they often come across that way.

My son thought about it for a bit and said "She has a rainbow mind". I liked that. I really did. I love my kids and when they come up with beautiful wisdom and insights, they teach me as much as I try to teach them. Truly a teachable moment.

Fiction versus Belief

I have a gripe.

I recently read a book in an anthology in which most of the authors are unknown to me.
That's fine. Most of my favorite authors were introduced to me by reading anthologies in the beginning of my rediscovery of romance books. Since then, I always make it a point to read a few anthologies a year to find new authors and new book series to take on.
However, this one I did not like.

Sacrificed in Shadow by S.M. Reine in the Magic After Dark anthology.

The editing was fine
The pace was fine.
The author's voice was fine.
Even the basic premise of the story was interesting and engaging.

What I could not stomach was the underlying theme and the manipulation of the tenants of the Christian faith.

Yes, I realize that authors have the right to take poetic license.
I also realize that this tale is a book of fiction.
I also understand that for those that are not of the faith, don't believe or believe it's one giant fairy tale, the stories and history of the Bible are rich in creative fodder.

But for readers like me, I had a very difficult time separating my beliefs from the fiction written into this book.

Authors seem to love Lilith. She's a very wicked woman, I guess. Her story isn't part of my particular vein of Christianity.
In this novel, the author mentions that only the Star of David affected the heroine. Okay, that's fine. I never could understand why vampires were only ever affected by Christian symbols of faith. That always seemed a bit lopsided to me.

There was one statement where the heroine observed something that didn't bother her because it was blessed by man, not by God. I took umbrage to that because it's one of the things that IS changed by God through man - it is still touched by the Divine. It's not a ritual or tradition made meaningless because it's 'done by man'. It's an actual happening. So, I have to accept that the author took poetic license and made it to fit her world-building, which is again, fine. But if it's to subtly slide in her personal belief, then I, through my personal blog, will express my counter-opinion to that perspective and state that it IS touched by God and therefore relevant against evil.

Putting artistic interpretation of religion aside, I also felt that Lincoln, who featured so strongly in the beginning, ended up being a throwaway character. His actions at the end didn't thrill me. Oh, I understood his dilemma, but for all his strengths, he was weak. I had higher hopes for him.

The character of James was a conundrum. Hero or anti-hero, did the author give me enough to like him or hate him? I am not a fan of characters that practice duplicity on seemingly omnipotent levels. But I get the feeling that he was an excellent foil for the heroine.

As for the main character, Elise? Well, she was okay. She's a woman with a lot of emotional and physical baggage and her having to deal with them while trying to save the world did present some unique challenges. Was I sympathetic to her character? Not much.

I realize that this post is pretty darned negative to the story and it's probably because it's colored by my feelings - I don't enjoy stories that mess with demons and God and mix them up because I find them jarring and I want to argue about their misrepresentation.

All that being said, I believe it's true that this story will actually appeal to many paranormal romance readers because they more than likely can let this kind of stuff roll off their backs and take it with a grain of salt. If the book entertains them, then it's all good. There are other things that go on, dialogue, descriptions and environment that were well written and made the book easy to read.

At least I did give it a try. I did read the entire book to give it a chance to wow me. It just came up against this mental line in the sand and it's not until I read a story like Sacrificed in Shadow that I'm reminded that I actually have one. I'm pretty lenient on a lot of things, I've even read some M/M and BDSM books, (NO, not 50 Shades), and I'm not a fan of zombies At.All. But if I had to choose to read a book that twists my belief system or zombies, I'll read the zombie book.

I'm still in process of reading the rest of the Magic After Dark anthology book, but this bothered me enough to vent and the only place I can do that is on my blog.

Mickee Madden Fans - Rejoice!

I just checked Amazon!  Mickee did it!  She finally did it!  The SIXTH and final Baird House Book is published as of December 2013!!!   Here are all the links that fans have been waiting for.

DREAMS EVERLASTIN' !!!!!

And if you are missing any in the series: 

ALL of Mickee's Books can be found here on Amazon:  LINK

Did you know that Mickee now has a Facebook Page?  She sure does!

https://www.facebook.com/mickee.madden?fref=ts

And since her son, S.L..contacted this humble blog to alert us that Dreams Everlastin' was coming out, I found out that he too is an author.  Not that I should be surprised, right? **VBG**

So, if you are interested in checking out her son's books: 

S.L. Madden: 

The Shadows Within (Unseen Things)

The Shadow Walker (Unseen Things) 

Together Alone (Only Human on the Block)

Bravado/Dramatique (Only Human on the Block)

And he has a Facebook too!  https://www.facebook.com/pages/SL-Madden/109930285778548

This is a WONDERFUL way to start 2014.  I'm a happy reader. 

Addendum as of 1/31/2014 - Mickee found the original post in 2005 and shared this for her fans:

Hello everyone!
Found this link in my emails and decided to check it out. You're all making me blush. :-)
My email address is mickeemadden@charter.net

So, there you have it. Straight from the author. Can't get better than that!!! **GRIN**

A Spider Tale

A week ago I came home from work.  Someone was waiting in the door.

A huge black fuzzy spider as big as a quarter.   I'm not fond of spiders.  At. All.

I realize that it was more scared of me  - not that I could tell for sure, based on my own speeding heart rate - but it was jumping and hopping all over the place to get away from me.  The problem was, it kept jumping and hopping into the door.  It needed to go in the opposite direction!

After much corralling with a very long stick, it made it to the side of the door and crawled up under the siding.  As long as it did not come IN my house with me, I was fine.   Crisis averted.

Cue a week later:

 I'm upstairs getting supper ready and my eldest says, "MOOOM, you might want to come see this." I mosey on over, "What?" He says with a gleeful glint in his eye, "What's the big black thing crawling towards your office?"

I go down a few steps and squint. EYES POP. IT'S A SPIDER!!!!!'

Yep, that huge quarter sized, eight legged, freaky spider made it INTO my house and was making a beeline straight into where I work. No. Way. Not just No, but HELL NO!

I run back into the kitchen to find a clear glass and a stiff card and I'm at that sucker. My youngest 'wants to see' and I practically snarl at him. "Do NOT get close to it, do NOT make it run into my office, STAY AWAY! 

I march over stealthily and Woosh, firmly slam that the glass over the huge arachnid and gently slide the very stiff, thick and hard to bite through card to trap it under the glass. Why glass? To make sure that sucker is IN there! I wanted to make sure I could see my nemesis at all times. No surprises, no sireebob. 

Then, I make the kids open the back doors and I march outside with eyes still firmly watching the enemy as it preens and cleans its fangs. I brought that sucker to a wooded area a good fifteen feet away and then let it Fly! I flung that spider into the brush in the hopes that it will find a NEW home that has nothing to do with MY home. 

I walked with pride back into the house, mission accomplished. My eldest did NOT look happy. 

"What's wrong?" I ask. 

"Mom, you're a bummer. I was waiting for you to go all panicky, you know, screaming, and freak out and do girly panic stuff and you just .... I don't know...just handled it. You're no fun!" And he proceeds to walk off in a huff. 

Huh. Go me. 

Mickee Madden Fans - A History of Contact

Hello!

It's been eight years since I originally posted a blog entry about Mickee Madden.  I'm pleased that from time to time, people have found my blog to leave comments.  There have been fans, and once, Mickee herself graced my blog with an update.  To say I was thrilled is an understatement.

Today, her son left a comment on the original blog and I'm once again thrilled.  I knew she was in the process of getting her rights back, and that they'd appear on Smashwords, which they did, and are.  So to know she's still plugging along and writing the final chapter of the Everlastin' series is great news.  I've been very patient because I believe the books being re-issued are well worth waiting for.  Just in case you were wondering, and to assist visitors who may not want to search all over the place for all links 'Mickee', I've included them here:

1)  Mickee Madden Found!!!

2) What's Up With Mickee??

3)  Good News That Made Me Faint!!

The latest contact was left as a comment in the first link, and it states:

I stumbled upon this blog, and thought I'd add in some information (assuming the interest is still there). Work on the final book in the series, Dreams Everlastin', is still in process. In fact, Mickee had hoped to have it released at the end of this month. Due to issues beyond her control, she had to push it back a bit, but last I heard, she's hoping to have it released by the end of October.

She'll be e-publishing on Smashwords and Amazon (at least), and she's currently looking into producing the books in print, now that she owns the rights. Speaking of which, she's been talking about putting out special editions of the entire series, with added scenes. We should have a website up before long with more details.

Hope this information helps.

S.L. Madden (her son)

Saturday, September 21, 2013 5:12:00 

I know that MY interest has not waned. I do know that I don't have all of her books, 1-5.  I discovered the Everlastin' series at my local library.  I bought what I could, where I could but to get them ALL would be terrific because I can't find them anymore.  

So if you are a long time fan, don't give up.  If you are just dropping by, I hope I've made you a teeny bit curious. 

It's been a long road for her and I wish her great success in her quest to give fans the final HEA of the Everlastin' series.   I look forward to it.  

Nothing to See Here or There or Anywhere!

Nope.
Not a thing.
But I promised myself I'd try to post at least once a month.
Remember the days when I was here every day?
And I had lots of fun and clever things to say?
Well, in my own mind anyway.

What am I looking forward to?

Andrea Speed has a new book coming out on my birthday. October 5th.
Christine Feehan has a new book coming out on Katrina's birthday on October 2nd.
Then I find out Nina Bangs has a new one coming out around the same time!
It's like Christmas in October!
And I STILL get presents!

Ok, yeah,  so I have to buy them. Still - it's grand.

Um, what else is there.

Still working.  Still working on my dust bunny collection.  The show Hoarders hasn't come to my
house yet, so I must still be in the range of  'normal'.

How nice, TracFone Wireless sent me a birthday card.  Well wishes and a reminder to buy More minutes so I can get 30 minutes free. Oh how generous.  Spend my birthday money, IF I get money, on them.  Um...no, stand in line.  Feehan, Bangs and Speed are in front of the line.

Oh-oh- I smell my corn bread burning.

Gotta run!!!

What's up with Mickee?

I recently received a comment on an old post.  An ancient post. It was about the author Mickee Madden.

I want to heartily thank Elizabeth for alerting me to the awesome news.

I knew that Ms. Madden was looking to get her rights back so she could publish the books again. I wrote about that HERE.    They were out of print and as time went on, impossible to find.  So the possibility of being able to read them all again was exciting. However, more waiting was required.

Hence todays's post.  All thanks to Elizabeth.  The first five books of the Everlastin' series is available on Smashwords. 

What is causing equal excitement for me is the fact that there is a picture of Mickee.  Now I can put a face to the well-loved name!

If anyone has done any initial research on trying to find the sixth and last book in the Baird House series, they not only eventually ended up at my blog here, but they probably found things that claimed some very bizarre guesses about her.  I know I did.  

I've been fortunate to have been in recent contact with her.  So, fans new and old alike, don't despair.  The final book will be written.

I've been her cheerleader since 2005.  And I have good reason to keep on being so.

Speaking of cheerleading... MICKEE!!!!

How's 2012 So Far?

It's been interesting for me. 

Remember when I mentioned that I was working that insurance adjuster job?

The beginning of June, I got laid off.  

We had SUCH a mild winter, despite that horrid beginning with that freak snow storm in October. 

Spring was uneventful as well. 

So, no claims, no way to support my employment. 

I went bye-bye. 

Thing is - I wasn't unemployed for long. 

Our state's unemployment requirements are clear. Even if you are not collecting yet, you have to have already started looking for work and you have to prove you've sent out three resumes or contacts a week. 

I knew that. 

I immediately started looking and lo! I found a shipping clerk position.  It even paid more than the last job I had. 

It was on Craigslist, of all things. 

Monday, I sent my resume and cover letter. 

Tuesday, in the morning, I received an email acknowledging they got it. 

In the afternoon, there was another waiting, saying that there was something about my resume that had them interested and could I come in for an interview. 

Thursday I had my interview.

Friday they called my place of work, the little 8 hour one, and I answered the phone.  How ironic. 

The chat with my boss was brief. 

Monday, I was called, did I want the job. 

Tuesday, I started.  

And a month after that? My old boss from the insurance place died from complications from surgery. 

It was a shock!

It was bizarre to attend his wake and see my old co-workers.  There were hugs and tears all around. He was a good man and will be missed. 

Now, I've been at the shipping job for 2 months and it's flown. It's a small company and very innovative.

I work with tech geeks who wear shorts and flip flops.  I think I'm the oldest person there. Yikes!

I work with a transplanted Louisiana man who shared his bacon flavored grits with me. WAY too salty. EW

My computer got the black screen of death and the LA guy fixes computers.  At his leisure. Long leisure. It's been three weeks and it's still not fixed.  Thank goodness I bought a new one, all spiffy with Windows 7. Woot!

LA man says, I can fix it quick, I just need to remember to bring it home with me.  To that end, he put his keys inside the carrying pouch with my laptop.  Can't leave the office without keys, right? 

Um.  Well. 

He takes the bus. 

No need for car keys. 

I got an email today.  

Guess what? Remember where I put my keys so I'd remember to bring your laptop home? 

I forgot. 

Had to climb through a window to get into my house. 

I'll bring it home tonight. 

I couldn't help it.  It was a rainy, windy, miserable night last night, and here's this poor guy having to find a way into his home because he left his keys were he couldn't POSSIBLY forget them. 

I laughed when I read his email. And I giggled some more. 

I'm still chuckling. 

Guys make life interesting, don't they? 

Why Isn't Nature Good Enough?

Why does man have to come up with the most complicated, chemically manipulated processes to alter our food for profit?

That's what it comes down to. The ability to maintain shelf life far longer than nature intended means more money for the makers.

Why am I on this tangent?

I was so excited when I bought Ortega flour tortillas. In a big fat yellow rectangle it shouts, "0g Trans Fat! Cholesterol Free!"

Joy. Right?

Not so fast. While eating supper last night I turned it over to look at the ingredients. Yes, I'm a reader while I eat and will read anything just to read.

Lo! What should my horrified gaze land upon but the ingredients of Interesterified Soybean Oil AND Hydrogenated Soybean Oil - with Monoglycerides no less!!

WTH?

Fully Hydrogenated? Are they nuts? And actually have the audacity to add Interesterified fats on TOP of them? 

I'll  tell  you what. Until both of those health dangers are removed, I am never going to by another Ortega product again. As currently made, they are not safe for my family, especially my husband who suffered a heart attack.  Never mind the 300mg of salt for one taco.  Who eats only one taco for supper?


Interesterified Oils are starting to appear in more and more products - buyer beware.  I'm not going there. It's a chemical  from a chemical process.  It's too new and research is bouncing all over.  I won't be a guinea pig for corporations if I can help it.  I don't need nasty health surprises ten or fifteen years down the road when they finally figure out what all this manipulation of enzymes actually does to the human body.

Age is manipulating me all on its own.

Bye To a Series

I picked up a book in a series that I used to like.

I say 'used to' because lately, the tone of it has gotten darker and darker. The bad guys are getting so twisted, vile and vicious, and the tortures are getting to be so over the top, it's depressing and disturbing. Even the romance or goal of an HEA isn't worth the trouble or the stress. The enjoyment factor is severely muted.

Add to that the smut language - used to be there wasn't overly much or of a kind and level that was tolerable because of the characters' personalities and backgrounds, now it sounds ...trashy and .... sort of porn-ish. I mean really, "quim"? I used to read that when I sneaked looks at porno magazines when I was younger. If I was reading erotic romance, then I'd have no bone of contention but this is mainstream. This isn't even in the "hot" level of writing so why's a word like that even necessary? And I sure as heck don't find it sensual or pleasing to the ear. I really wanted to make the "hero" eat a bar of soap after that one.

Instead of feeling excited for the hero or heroine, I rolled my eyes in exasperation. I didn't find it romantic in the least but disrespectful - what happened?

As for the heightened and ever increasing sense of violence, why did the author go that route? I understand conflict-stories NEED conflict - but to go into such graphic detail when it comes to torturing the main characters ::shakes head:: - crap likes that goes on in real life. Women are abused, maimed, scarred and sold into sexual slavery, for real. Why would I find that entertaining? Why would I want a romance, of all things, to have such long and drawn out paragraphs of deviant and psychotic actions? If I was reading horror, I'd expect it. If I was reading about a biography of a Holocaust survivor, I'd expect things to shock me, make me cringe and make me want to hide, and to cry. But not a fantasy fiction that is supposed to celebrate life, love and the trials that one goes through to get to their happily ever after.

There is conflict, yes, but then there is pushing the envelope so hard that I have to stop and draw the line in the sand. I respect myself too much to endure such drivel. I read to escape the harshness that can happen in my own life. Why would I want to live someone else's hell? Since when is hell fun? Even Dante knew better.

So, I read the first 2 chapters, and the last five - and that gave me all I needed without being dragged through more torture while reading... the torture. The beginning helped me understand how the protagonists ended up being separated. I understood the curse. The ending was dramatic with the big sacrifices and the pivotal moment when the bad switched to good and all the players breathed a sigh of relief. And the book set up nicely the next character's story. Which, I expect will be equally, if not more so, depraved and horrific.

::waves::

Bye to a series that initially was fresh, new and unique with fun moments and daring do, populated with quirky characters with amazing and inventive talents, following strong women who tamed men just as strong and equally stubborn. Because now, it's like every other book that's out there. Seen that torture, Been to that scene, and watched the light fade to black.

Ho-hum.

And no. I will not reveal the author or series. I will not promote it nor revile it. The early books in the series will continue to be on my keeper shelves, they're that good. If the story lines tip back into the light, where there is more positive than negative, less depression and more hope, more power to the good and less to the omnipotent evil, then I might reconsider.

Good thing I discovered a new series that has great entertainment potential.