Book Blogger Hop

It's been a while since I've participated in the blog hop, life and all that, but I'll jump straight back in!! 

Q: What’s the ONE super-hyped book you’ll NEVER read?

A: Any of the Harry Potter books.  Or movies.  Or associated materials.    

I think my dislike stems from everyone else raving about the series.  My mates tease me about Harry and now it's a matter of principle - I'll never read a HP book!  *cue Scarlet O'Hara*  But there isn't much I won't read, I'll give anything a go really.  Plus it helps in my line of work, to be able to recommend anything to patrons.

I've just finished this post and the linky is now closed, (I am at the wrong end of the week after all, but no matter, here it is anyway and I'll get to the next one on time).  

Have a great weekend :)

C.

TGIF!! Again!

It's that wonderful time again - Friday :)  There is the little matter of me having to work for a couple of hours tomorrow morning, but apart from that, my day is free.  As well as some frolicking with my girl Maggie, I'll be relaxing.

I'm planning on catching up with some reading for uni, I've got a stack of magazines, the latest KGI novel, Echoes at Dawn by Maya Banks to start.  I am loving the series so far and am so excited for the next in the series, Shades of Gray - which isn't out until next year.  Luckily I'll have a novella to keep me entertained in between.  Because of course I shall be buying NO other books until then!  I will have to bargain with myself so that I get my uni texts out of the way first!

 

Click here for print version and here for kindle :)

I also have the rest of Haven to watch.  Which I've really been enjoying, I'm only onto the first season, so hopefully it keeps going for a while.  I keep finding series that I love, and then they only last for one or two seasons O.o

I've also got a new recipe I'm going to try, (Golden Syrup Pecan Self Saucing Pudding) - thanks to last weeks Friday Feasts over at Cathryn Hein's blog.  Lexxie Couper was the guest blogger and I - lil' old me managed to win a title from Lexxie's back catalogue, which is a big huzzah for me.  I'm leaning towards some Savage Retribution...what do you guys think?

What's everyone else up to?  Have you got your #weekendreads sorted or are you winging it?  Any new authors you're going to try or can recommend?  I'm going to try get through some more of my free kindle books, I keep getting the freebies, then reading other things and I'm really falling behind in my reading this year.  So slack!  But until I can become a trophy wife and marry for money, I have to keep working for The Man.  *snort* just the thought of it makes me laugh.

Have a fantastic weekend.

C.

Tightarse Tuesday!

In the great tradition of things being cheaper on a Tuesday, this post is all about free Kindle goodies.  These are some of  the really short Ellora's Cave novellas in the 'Naughty Nooners' series they have going.  Some are very short, others have a little bit more to them.

Her VerySpecial Robot by Ann Jacobs

I enjoyed this story, to a point, I found it amusing the guy would dress up as a robot just to get the girl of his dreams, but him being completely hairless and heavily pierced (for a role in a movie – he’s an actor), did kinda freak me out.  I liked the back story to this.  Girl loves boy, boy is stunt man, boys bestie is also stunt man. Boy performs stunt with epic failure.  Boys bestie then quits the stuntman business for acting (hence the no hair and piercing), all the while offering shoulder to cry on.  Bestie realises he loves her and comes up with plan that involves fake robot sex!?  Then they live happily ever after.  So yeah I enjoyed the writing, but it was a bit weird at the same time.

DoorPrize by Lynn LaFleur

This was quite funny, with the main character going to an adult toy party, winning the door prize (you can imagine what it was) and then getting ambushed by her friend’s brother.  That’ll learn her :)

Danu, TheReturn by Sally Painter

This had a paranormal storyline, Danu being some sort of warrior lady and Ragna her Celtic warrior lover.  They vanquished some sort of evil and have been living happily ever after just the two of them.  What Danu didn’t tell Ragna, was that it’s only for 500 years, after that she needs to return to the present to train the next lot of ladies.  So they get separated, with Ragna vowing to find his way back to her.  I don’t read a lot of fantasy, but I didn’t mind this, although I don’t know how this would go as a full length story (either well as there would be room for more character development or bad, because they could have more sex).  There was also talk of scraping, which just sounded painful to me.

 

Desire inthe Dark by Naima Simone

This has been one of my favorites so far, Alise has loved Mac, her BFF from afar for the past year.  That all changes when Alise decides to tell Mac how she really feels.  Cue blackout – awkward feelings are always easier to deal with in the dark!  I really enjoyed Simone’s writing, I’ve not read anything by her before this, I was annoyed that this wasn’t longer, I’d love to know what happened when the lights came back on.

I originally downloaded these in 2009/2010 and they're all still available, some of them are terrible, but there have been quite a few that are great quick reads and they've made me seek out the author and try some of their other titles.  Enjoy, there's always free sexy books to find on the kindle store.

Sometimes it pays to be cheap ;)

C.

R.I.P. Sam

Just when I thought the year couldn't possibly get any crapper, I came home tonight to find my girl had passed away.  She was only 8 years old, but in the last year or so she'd had a heart murmur.  That, of course, doesn't make it any easier.  She was such a cheeky girl, she loved snuggles, river walks, beef sticks and belly scratches. 

She was possibly the most co-dependant, stuck to my side, I'll go where ever you are puppy I knew, but that was just how I loved her.  Many a Saturday morning was spent, lounging in bed, snuggling with Sam, reading my book and getting kicked in the ribs each time I turned the page, (which was Sams way of telling me"keep patting me dammit!").

I'll miss you Sambo, love you lots. xoxo

C.

Seduce Me by Cheryl Holt

This review was originally completed for the Australian Romance Readers Association.  I was given an ebook version of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb is taken from the authors website.

He had it all but always wanted more...

Lucas Merriweather grew up rich, spoiled, and entitled. He thrives on pleasure in his personal pursuits. But with his father's death, he's suddenly thrust into the role of family patriarch and CEO of their vast global holdings. When his estranged grandfather dies, Lucas learns that — shortly before his death — the elderly man married his young, sexy housekeeper and left her ten million dollars. Lucas is positive the woman is a con artist and thief, and he's determined to get back the money she stole. He'll do whatever it takes to win in the end.

She knew what she wanted and just how to get it...

Faith Benjamin takes in strays — people, pets, kids. Growing up an orphan, she understands the importance of loyalty and connection. When she bonds, it's forever. As she begins working for aged, dying, Harold Merriweather, he proposes marriage, but the union comes with more than a small fortune. If she accepts the money, she accepts the Merriweather family secrets too.
Her decision to wed puts her on a collision course with Lucas who's quickly intrigued. Is she the gold digger he expected? Or is she someone else entirely? He can only think of one way to strip away her layers and get to the truth. But when attraction is the bait and lust the fuel, seduction is the only game to play. And Faith is a master.
Lucas may have finally met his match.

This was a short and ultimately sweet novella, fast paced, with the story moving along nicely, it was a quick and easy read.

I loved the first time we meet Lucas and Faith, it’s a case of mistaken identity, with very amusing results, all at Lucas’ expense.  Which to be honest I didn’t really mind as I didn’t like Lucas at first, he was a bit of a douche.  But as the story unfolds, you get to know him better.  Holt has managed to write the character of spoilt, self serving Lucas perfectly.  He’s impatient, rude, and expects everyone to be in awe. But it’s not until you get to know him that you realise that is how he wants everyone to see him, that it’s safer to not let anyone in.  Because letting someone in, caring about someone will only end in heartache.

Faith is very much as the blurb says, caring, kind and she doesn’t like to see anyone hurt or taken advantage of.  I enjoyed Faith’s scenes with Bryce and Peanut, they showed her caring side.  Both she and Lucas have had childhoods that haven’t been the greatest, but it’s only made her more considerate and forgiving.  She’s a strong ‘mama bear’ type character, which is one of the things I like about her – but she has one weakness – Lucas Merriweather.  But what a weakness to have!  There are some hot, hot scenes, but nothing too explicit and I love how Holt builds up the tension between Faith and Lucas and the first time they’re together had me laughing out loud.

As always with stories like this I did get frustrated that the couple doesn’t tell each other the truth, that they allow lies to get between them, especially when Faith and Lucas know what the rest of their families are like – but really, what’s a little romantic angst between friends!  It wasn’t until after I’d finished Seduce Me that I realised it was the first in a new series, so I’m hoping we’ll get to revisit Faith and Lucas in their happy ever after.  Seduce Me was a very enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours.

 What does everyone have planned for their weekend reading?  I've got a Maya Banks that's calling my name...

C.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

It is that time again - Paddy's Day. Hope that everyone is well recovered (as technically it was yesterday here).  I am playing designated dora for my friends tonight, who at one of our local pubs saying farewell to another friend.  I'm sure I would be running amuck, if it wasn't for the small fact that I have to work tomorrow!  Bring on the green :)

 - This post has been sitting as a draft for the last couple of weeks, as well as the 17th being Paddy's Day, it's was also my mums b'day. It's was the first b'day since she passed away, although it's the last of many that she's been absent from the last few years. She died on January 30th this year, after a very long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. It was one of the hardest things I've had to witness, nothing can ever fully prepare you seeing a loved one slip away so slowly and surely, until there is nothing left of who they used to be. Harder all the more, because she was such a vibrant person, who really loved life and all that it had to offer and who in the early days of her illness was aware of what was happening, but was unable to do anything about it.

It's a complete bastard of a disease, one that I wouldn't wish on anyone, (not that I'm in the habit of wishing illness on anyone).  One day soon I hope that there is a cure, so that no one else or their family has to go through the horrible process or losing themselves/their loved one.  Hopefully , it's something that as a family we don't have to go through again.

- Well I can't seem to finish writing what I want to say - What do I want to say? My mum was awesome, I've missed her for a long time, wish she was still here - Alzheimer's sucks - and any number of other things.  So I guess, instead of my own words, I'll use anothers...

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

C.


New digs finally!

Day five in my new digs, all moved in - now I just have to sort everything and find a place for it, at the moment the kitchen and one of the bedrooms is full of boxes. I don't know how I have all this crap, but hell if there ain't some treasures just busting for the pool room - I'll have to take photos and share.

Apart from that, everything has gone well, Sam has settled in, my clothes are in the wardrobe and I even managed to read a few chapters of Corralled by Lorelei James. It's part of the Black Top Cowboys series. And so far, so awesome, which I'm happy about, I've been waiting ages for it to arrive.  I just wish I could stay awake long enough to finish more than a chapter at a time!

Just a quick update, as this is Sam's first full day alone, although I did go home at lunch time to check on her, so it's back to the unpack. Le sigh.

C.