A King Undone by Cooper Davis - My Thoughts

Bought because KJ Charles had good things to say about it, A King Undone didn't disappoint.  This is the first time I've read anything by Cooper Davis and again, not disappointed at all.  Another author I will definitely read again.

Interested in my thoughts on A King Undone?  They're available on my book blog over at BookLikes, as always.

Three the Hard Way by Sydney Croft - My Thoughts

Here we are with another of my Christmas time reads.  Sydney Croft is the pen name of the author duo, Larissa Ione and Stephanie Tyler (who also writes as SE Jakes) and they have written this novella set in their ACRO World for the Riptide Share the Love holiday charity bundle.

To find out what I thought of Three the Hard Way, skip on over to my book blog on BookLikes.

I must add that I really like the cover (by L. C. Chase) on this one.


And then I read this quick Christmas freebie from one of my favourite authors and I totally loved it!

What Happens at Christmas by Victoria Alexander - My Thoughts

Another Christmas novel and I quite enjoyed the reading of it.  It's fun, it's light, it has it's faults, but 'tis the season and all.  :)   What Happens at Christmas made me smile.

I have a few more thoughts on this book that can be found in the usual place, my book blog over at BookLikes.

What Happens When I Get Up Early

I'm up early this Monday morning, so what better thing to do than blog.  *LOL*  Yeah, I know, there are tons of other things I could probably be doing, but what the hell.  :)

Last night I finished getting the Christmas decorations up.  Not that I did a lot, mind you.  Just the tree and some of the many, many Christmas knick-knacks that I've collected through the years.  It looks holidayish around here now.  :)    And my tree is very Canadian - red and white, our national colours.  *LOL*

I've finished my Christmas shopping, only a few stocking stuffers left to get for the boy which I'll do at some point over the next week and a half.  I have one last thing to get through the mail though, but I suspect it will arrive this week.  

Other than Christmas stuff, what's happening?  Well, as I laid in bed this morning, debating on whether I should get up and heed the Call of the Bladder, or hope to drift back off to sleep, I started thinking about things online that have bugged me lately.  *LOL*  I know, positive eh?   No wonder I ended up getting up.  

There's a trend going on that really drives me apeshit.  Seriously apeshit.  Now, I know that language is a living thing, changing and mutating with usage etc... but this trend of... what would it be?... bastardising adverbs?  I don't know, but it makes people sound stupid and ignorant in my opinion.  When adults do it makes me think that they're trying to be teenagers and 'with it'.  What is it?  Well... when instead of saying "I am excited." or "I am disappointed." they say, "I am excite." or "I am disappoint."  IT SOUNDS STUPID!  And uneducated.  And just plain wrong.  And every time an author does it?  An angel weeps.   

Another thing that bugs me is this sub-tweeting bullshit that so many of the supposed socially aware folks I follow on Twitter indulge in.  Most of them are authors and reviewers and it makes me wonder if this is something that is just prominent in the romance genre.  They snark like mean girls in the cafeteria at school.  All these veiled condemnations and callings out without ever naming the person involved.  Seems to me that if you think someone is so wrong, is so deserving of the ranting that can go on all day - for many days - then you should have no problem naming them and calling them out for their behavior.  If you actually want to change something, that is.  Otherwise, it's just mean boys and girls talking and snickering behind someone's back.  Bully behavior, actually.  It pisses me off and I lose respect for the person doing it, and unfortunately, for the 'cause' they're espousing.  What really got to me over the weekend was the plethora of subtweets about the author that turned out to be Joseph Konrath and a most obnoxious blog post he wrote up to publicise his new, supposedly genre-busting (*snort*  It's not at all, the guy's a tool who knows nothing) erotic romance novel.  So many people were on about him yet.. no one named him.  But the minute... I swear, the very minute that his co-author - who happens to be a woman (they write under a pseudonym) - makes a statement to defend him, they sure as shit are quick to name her!  Yeah, and you'd be right if you thought it was the feminists so quick to name her and not him.  

The other thing that that crew does that bugs the shit out of me is to constantly decry the lack of diversity in their books, meaning the romance genre books.  (Which I sometimes wonder if it's really as big a problem as it seems.  I find myself wondering if what they're looking for is actually GOOD books that are diverse. )  So there they are, crying out for diversity and then they turn around and rip apart any author that dares to stray into diverse story-telling.   HOW DOES THIS HELP?  It boggles my mind how erroneously righteous these people are.  

And then we come to the word 'smirk'.  A smirk is not sexy, people.  It means to smile in a smug, conceited, silly way.  It's not cute, it's not a turn on.  A smirk says, "I am better than you."   It is such a self-satisfied expression.  It's not hot.  Stop using the word that way.   It's like a snicker.  A snicker is mean-spirited.   It's a laugh/chuckle that you smother because you're laughing at someone else's troubles.  It's like schadenfreude.  You know, where you take pleasure in the misfortune of others?  Yeah, you snicker then.  A snicker is not cute.  Or sexy.  Or hot.  

That's a lot of shit that bugs me!  *LOL*  But I've gotten it off my chest, so hopefully I can proceed with my week in a more positive fashion.  Because I do believe in thinking positively.  Negativity just breeds more negativity in my experience.  

So let's finish on a couple of positive things.  I got to read an advance copy of a novel that's coming out in March and it was TERRIFIC!  Keep your eyes open for Misfits by Garrett Leigh.  

I found out that the new CRAVE TV streaming service is part of my TMN Movie Network package.  It's going to be interesting to see what they add to it as they grow.  

And now for something totally positive... dancing!

Alex O'Loughlin

Maks and his hips

GROOT!!

Sleigh Ride by Heidi Cullinan - My Thoughts

Yes, so, I have finished another book.  This a Christmas season set book by one of my favourite authors.  With both main characters being over the age of 35!  Woot!  I loved it to bits!

If you're interested in hearing details about what I loved about Sleigh Ride, just head on over to my BookLikes book blog and check it out!

Monday Morning and I'm Blogging...

This is me trying to blog every now and again about something other than the books I've read.  :)   I don't know that I've got anything interesting to say, but... what the hell.  Gonna try.

So, yesterday afternoon and evening, I mainlined (via Netflix) the 5 episodes of the TV series The Fall out of the UK.  DAMN, it was good.  I watched the first 3 eps in the afternoon and then the last 2 after Once Upon a Time (PLEASE let this Frozen plot be DONE DONE DONE).  The series stars Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan and is quite honestly one of the most compelling things I've seen in a long while.  I am not really a fan of either of those actors, BTW.  Never was an X-Files fan and ever since Dornan signed on to do 50 Shades of Crap, my lip tends to curl in his direction.  *LOL*    I know, it's not fair and rather small-minded, but I can't help it!  But even though I am not a fan, man, can these two act!  Well the whole cast can, but these two are front and centre and quite fantastic.

This series is set in Belfast and so very, very dark.  There are a few different plot lines, the main one being that of a serial killer.  Gillian Anderson portrays the police inspector come north to 'help out' the Belfast force with one of the murders.  Dornan plays the killer.  And that's not a spoiler, it's revealed from the get-go.   This murder also ties into another plot arc about cops on the take and the internal workings of the Belfast police department.  There's also a whole current of comment on the devaluation of women in today's society as the police investigate these murders as well as follow the Dornan character in his day to day life as a bereavement counselor.

Now, unlike American cop shows, this one moves slowly and there are no bursts of explosions and gunfights and stuff like that, so the feel is quite different.  Felt a lot like the UK Line of Duty or Luthor, to be honest.  That type of show.   Anyway, if you like good good TV and can deal with intense and dark, give this show a watch.   Series 2 (as they call them across the pond) is playing now and sadly it's almost done.  It's showing on Bravo up here in Canada, so maybe I can find it On Demand or it will show up on Netflix really soon.

In other news, I started reading my Christmas novels and stories.  I started with Sleigh Ride by Heidi Cullinan and read the first 3 chapters last night.  It was like coming home, I have to say.  I love Heidi's writing and this felt like slipping on a pair of the most comfortable and warm slippers.  

Today, I might put up the Christmas tree.  Well Michael will put it up and put the lights on and then I'll do the decorating.  I will post pictures whenever it gets done.  :)

Let's see... what else can I natter on about?  Well, there's talk of there being a snowstorm tomorrow, but looking at the weather forecast, it only seems like we're going to get a normal snow fall.  Between 5 - 15 cm of the white stuff.  Which is like... 2 - 6 inches for you non-metric type folk that might possibly be reading this.

There's a bit of a snit happening in the book world I frequent, the usual suspects ragging on an author for not totally focussing on every last aspect of racism and bigotry in a historical romance.  It's called critical reading.  Personally, I read to relax and when I read romance, it's to enjoy the unfolding relationship between two people.  Yes, in the period under question there was much racism, classism, bigotry, narrow-mindedness... all that bad stuff.  And these are all represented in the book, but the main focus is the romance... and well... I just think they, the critical readers, are harping on a little too much about a lack of representation of racism and how one of the main characters is a total racist.  I also don't understand how a person can absolutely LOVE the book and then turn around and pillory the author for not addressing the things they thought should be addressed.  And as a corollary to this... people wonder why so many authors are wary of writing anything diverse or outside their own (straight, white) experience.  Because of fear of being raked over the coals in just this manner, that's why.

Anyway, that pissed me off over the weekend.

I'm mulling over yet another novel idea.  Something to do with Christmas and fae-types and a specialty shop... we'll see.  The nasty natters mentioned above are no help whatsoever.  I must learn to not give them purchase in my brain.  Once I figure out how to do that.  *LOL*

And now, I need another cup of coffee and my breakfast of bagel and cretons.  I've earned it,  I think!

The King's Deryni by Katherine Kurtz - My Thoughts

My Birthday Book!  My prezzie to myself of a new book by my favourite author writing in my favourite universe.  It's been 8 years since the last book by this author, in this series, came out.  The publication date - December 2nd - is the day before my birthday, so I declare that it is mine.  :)

My thoughts - as honest as they could be - can be found, as they always are, on my book blog over at Booklikes should you wish to read them.  :)

I took my aunt to Hawksbury for some tests this week, while I was reading The King's Deryni, but I didn't want to bring the big tome with me.  Did I not mention this was a hardcover brick of over 500 pages?  So I took my ereader with me and read a shortie by another of my faves.  I love the Charm of Magpie series and I love Stephen and Crane, and I had been saving this short story for a special occasion.  This was it.  :)   I had a quick thought over on Booklikes.  

Christmas Clothes

So it's December 1st, time to dress the blog in its Christmas finery.  I went a little retro this year instead of shiny and sparkly.

I'm reading my The King's Deryni slowly, savouring it because there's a part of me that fears it may be Katherine's last one.  Once I have finished, I'll get into my Christmas reading, first of which will be Heidi Cullinan's Sleigh Ride.

I have almost finished the Christmas shopping.  This coming weekend will see the tree go up - we always wait until after my birthday which is this Wednesday.  Then I shall wrap the prezzies and put them under the tree to taunt the boy.

I'm also going to try and blog about more than the books I read because God knows, I do do more than that in a day!  *LOL*  For instance, today I did some tidying in my bedroom - you know how those mountains of un-put-away clothes grow and grow.  Well I put some of it away today.  Also stashed away some purses.  I also cleaned the kitchen - yes, I know, excitement abounds.  *LOL*

I haven't posted any hotties lately... so let me rectify that.  I'm going to post a pic of a new fave of mine, Eoin Macken, who starred in this summer's Night Shift.  He also played Gwaine in Merlin and just last month released his first novel, Kingdom of Scars. (which was great, BTW. I loved it!)   This is a still from one of his latest roles in the indie movie The Wedding Invitation.

Bomber's Moon by Alex Beecroft - My Thoughts & The Blushing Bounder by Meljean Brook - More Thoughts

I enjoy a good fantasy with historical elements and renegade fairies and a bunch of fun characters.  Bomber's Moon doesn't disappoint.  This is the first of the two Under the Hill books by Alex Beecroft and if you wish to know what I thought about it, head on over to my book blog on BookLikes.

Oh, and then, last night, once I finished Bomber's Moon, I started the shorty, The Blushing Bounder by Meljean Brook.  A lovely little steampunk romance designed to put a smile on one's face.  I wrote a few quick thoughts on my book blog.

Tattoos and Teacups by Anna Martin - My Thoughts

This had been in my TBR for a while and maybe it should have stayed there.  Sadly it wasn't a great read, not even close.  :(  It happens.

If you want to read why, then my thoughts are over on my book blog at BookLikes.  

Fatal Shadows by Josh Lanyon - My Thoughts

Josh Lanyon's series of mysteries starring bookstore owner and newly published author Adrien (with an 'e') English has been recced to me over and over the past couple of years and I had never gotten around to reading them.  I have read a couple of Josh's other works and quite enjoyed them and guess what?  I enjoyed this one too.  :)

If you want more of my thoughts on Fatal Shadows, you know where they are - over on my book log at BookLikes.

Flight of Magpies by KJ Charles - My Thoughts

I am amazed!  I was able to read this book within 3 weeks of it's publication.  *g*  That doesn't happen often these days.  Flight of Magpies is the 3rd of the A Charm of Magpies trilogy and supposedly the conclusion of Stephen and Crane's story.  I suspect that they will make a 'guest appearance' in the next novel in this universe, Jackdaw, which is out next year, but for all intents and purposes, the story is complete (ish).  :)

My thoughts on Flight of Magpies are, as always, available at my book blog on Booklikes if you're interested.  :)

Magic Mansion by Jordan Castillo Price - My Thoughts

In all the M/M reading I've done over the past couple of years, Jordan Castillo Price was always an author that was recommended to me but I never had the chance to follow up on those recs. One day I had a thought strike me that I had never read a romance about magicians and I thought that would be an interesting occupation for a main character and indeed a fascinating world to explore.

If you're interested in what I thought about Magic Mansion, check out my book blog over at BookLikes.

The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan - My Thoughts

I'd been wanting to read this one for a long while and finally was reminded of that fact by Aleksandr Voinov.  I went to check out availability and it was on sale.  WOOT!  So I bought it and read it and if you're curious as to what I thought...

head on over to my book blog on Booklikes.  In the end, I wasn't disappointed.  :)

One-Eyed Jack by Elizabeth Bear - My Thoughts

Elizabeth Bear is one of those authors whose work has an almost magical feel to it.  I love it, but I don't always understand it.  :)  Odd to say about a fantasy author, yes?

At any rate, my thoughts on One-Eyed Jack are as always, posted on my book blog at BookLikes.

How to Train Your Dom in 5 Easy Steps by Josephine Myles - My Thoughts

Josephine Myles is a favourite of mine.  Her books are so very British and I love the different flavour of them.  I had been looking forward to this one because she turns some very popular tropes on their heads and does it in inimitable Jo style.  :)

My thoughts on How to Train Your Dom in 5 Easy Steps are, as always, available on my book blog over at BookLikes, should you be interested.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan - My Thoughts

This is the book I set aside to read Kingdom of Scars.  I really, really wish that I could visit a bookstore like this one day.  :)

To read my thoughts on Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore, head on over to my book blog at BookLikes.

Kingdom of Scars: A Novel by Eoin Macken - My Thoughts

Yep, this is the debut novel written by the guy who played Gwaine in the TV show Merlin.  Eoin Macken has become a fave of mine, so I went for the book, ready to be disappointed.  Nuh-uh!!  It's great!!

Read my thoughts on Kingdom of Scars over at my book blog at BookLikes and see why I liked it so damned much.  :)

Stormhaven by Jordan L. Hawk - My Thoughts

I read the third book in the Whyborne & Griffin series and quite enjoyed it.  It has its problems, yes, it wasn't perfect, but it was a fun read.

My thoughts on my read of Stormhaven are on my book blog at BookLikes.

A Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrews - My Thoughts

This is a book that came highly recommended and when Heidi recs, I listen.  I wasn't disappointed.  A Forbidden Rumspringa is not my usual choice, but I did find it quite enjoyable.  

Read my more in-depth thoughts about the book over on my book blog at BookLikes

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Not Fade Away by SE Jakes -My Thoughts

Just a quickie in a favourite series by a favourite author.  Good for what ails ya!  And these books have the best covers.  :)

My thoughts on Not Fade Away are available, short as they are, on my book blog at Booklikes.

Mélusine by Sarah Monette - My Thoughts

I love Sarah's writing and her voice and Mélusine was no exception.  As happens, the book left me with some scratching of my head and a determination to read the rest of the books in the series.  :)  

For my more detailed thoughts on Mélusine, you can find them on my BookLikes book blog.

Y'Know What?

I've been musing about a couple of things lately and figured I might as well write them down for some sort of posterity.  *LOL*

This morning, I read a blog post by Natalie Luhrs, 57 Mind-Blowing Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Books.  In it she speaks about the lack of female representation in lists of this sort and I realised that, for me, I've never really noticed nor questioned if I'm reading a male or female author, especially if the work is good.  On Monday, I went for lunch with my childhood best friend, as some of you may know from my Twitter feed.  We've not been in contact for over 30 years and it was funny to discover things like we both read lots of fantasy.  So she asked me to recommend stuff to her.  I did.  I sent her 10 recs - 9 of which are series, but that's a whole 'nother subject!  When I read Natalie's blog post this morning I went back to that email to see how many were female.  You know what?  7 out of 10 of my recs were female authors.

And now you're curious, aren't you?  What were my recs?  Well... In random order.

1.  The Deryni novels by Katherine Kurtz
2.  Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
3.  The Dragon Prince trilogy by Melanie Rawn
4.  The Riverside novels by Ellen Kushner
5.  The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb
6.  The Coldfire Trilogy by C.S. Friedman
7.  The Tales of Aeron series by Patricia Kennealy
8.  The Black Jewel trilogy by Anne Bishop
9.  The Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks.
10 The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson

I could have recommended a whole bunch more too, but I didn't want to overwhelm her.  And in those that I could rec - including science fiction - I realise that my collection is pretty much evenly split between male and female authors.  And I have to add, I seldom read the paranormal, urban fantasy romance type books  (a la J.R. Ward or Patricia Briggs) which have a huge majority of female authors.

I find myself wondering if I am not the norm because I don't notice things like author gender. Notice or allow it to factor into my book buying/reading decisions.  Do the majority of readers really do that?  Are they that shallow?   I just want to read a good book.  :)

Another thing that's been turning over in my mind lately has to do with quite a few of the authors/bloggers that I follow on Twitter.  A good number of them are feminists, vocal feminists.  Quite a few of them offer their opinions on many news items of the day, which is great.  That's a big part of why I follow them - but I've begun to notice something that bothers me more and more and last night it really annoyed me.

Remember I did that post about TSTL - Too Stupid To Live?  Well this is sort of like that.  See... there's been talk for a long time about the horrible threats that female gamers are subject to, especially when they deign to speak their minds.  I mean things like rape threats and death threats levelled at them  And these authors that I follow, they decry this - and RIGHTLY SO! - they decry and condemn and demand change.  I'm all for that!  Yet.... YET.... these same people, many of whom I respect and value their opinions, these same people come up with (I'm paraphrasing)....  The roof should fall in on the Fox News studio with catastrophic loss of life... misogynists should all go away and die.... people who hold (an opinion not held by feminists) should just fuck off and die...   if you don't agree with this thing I say/believe then I don't even want to know you...  I've heard/read it all many times.  Do they think they're being clever?  It's SO damned hypocritical and you know what?  It makes these feminists sound like the stereotypical hysterical women having a tantrum.  It makes me sad that these bright, articulate, intelligent people allow themselves to do pretty much the same thing they condemn.  I wish they'd stop.

So those are the things I've been pondering.  As well as what am I going to make for supper.  ;)

Killing Floor by Lee Child - My Thoughts

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book and also surprised at how it was different from what I expected.  I still can't see Tom Cruise in the role of Jack Reacher, but maybe I need to read a book or two more.  :)  My friend, Rhona, says he gets the attitude down and that's most of the challenge right there.  I will let you all know when I get there.  :)

In the meantime, if you're curious about my thoughts on Killing Floor, they are, as always, available at my book blog over at BookLikes.

Bone Rider by J. Fally - My Thoughts

Thank you Amy Lane for mentioning this book on Twitter back in March!  I loved it and actually gave it 5 stars - something I don't do often these days.  What a FUN read!!  And touching too!  I was casting the movie before I was even half-way done with it.  *LOL*    Fans of Abigail Roux and SE Jakes should DEFINITELY give this book a try!

For all my thoughts on Bone Rider, head over to my book blog on Booklikes!

Beyond Temptation by Kit Rocha - My Thoughts

So I'm filling in the blanks in the Beyond series by Kit Rocha.  This one, #3.5 was part of an erotic anthology back near the beginning of the year, I think, and I'm just getting around to reading it now.

If you're interested in my thoughts on Beyond Temptation, they are on Booklikes on my book blog.

Because Faby Asked.

For my friend Faby on Twitter!

Mom, me and my great Aunt Annie when we lived at Grandpa and Grandma's vacation house in Clearwater, Florida around late 1958 early 1959.   This was at the front of the house and we were most likely headed to church.

A couple of years later - same house - other end of the front.  We must have come down for vacation from Cincinnati.  (I really miss Mom around to clarify dates for me!)  That's me with my great Aunt Annie, Mom and my Grandma.  I must have been going somewhere with Aunt Annie and Grandma because we're all dressed up and Mom's in her casual type clothes.  :)

Under the Rushes by Amy Lane - My Thoughts

The best way for me to describe this book is to call it a romantic, sci-fi, steampunk, super-hero adventure novel.  It's different than Amy's norm, sort of like Amy's voice with an accent.  :)  I had it in my TBR pile for the longest time and I should have read it sooner.  :)

My thoughts on Under the Rushes are available at my book blog over on Booklikes if you wish to know more.  :)

Think of England by KJ Charles - My Thoughts

KJ Charles knows how to write a good historical suspense romance.  A very good one.  :)  I loved this book and I loved both protagonists.  I had been hoping to finish last night and I tried so very hard, but with about a chapter and a half to go, I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.  The spirit was willing!!

If you want to read more of what I thought of Think of England, just click over to my book blog at Booklikes.

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler - My Thoughts

I asked for this book for Christmas because the blurb sounded good and I'd heard people recommend it positively, and my son came through.  :)  I finally got around to reading it and I enjoyed it thoroughly!  A well-characterized military fantasy novel that kept me avidly turning pages.  I will say... I have gotten spoiled by my ereader and reading this book in its over-500 page hardcover incarnation is tough on the wrists!  *LOL*

As always, if you want to read more of my thoughts on The Thousand Names, head on over to my book blog on BookLikes!

You Know What? TSTL. It Bugs Me.

Twitter just doesn't have enough damned characters!  I need to express my feelings and thoughts, dammit!  Is it a full moon?  *goes to check*    Nope, not a full moon, so just things pissing me off.  *LOL*

Here we go...

The term TSTL aka Too Stupid To Live.  You see this term all over the place in discussions about romance novels of all sub genres - fantasy, PNR, suspense, urban fantasy etc...  Writers, reviewers and readers all use it ad nauseum and it's always used to talk about the heroine of the novel.  I have seen others try and use it in fandoms, media fandoms in talking about TV shows, but not that often, yet always talking about women.  So, you say, what's the problem?  So many of these romance heroines are dumb and shame on the authors for writing them that way and yadda yadda yadda but, all you people standing up for the rights of women, and denouncing the rape culture in our society, and calling out all the things that denigrate and insult and belittle women....  TOO STUPID TO LIVE???  What is THAT?   You're agreeing that women, if they make the wrong choices should die??

NO ONE is TSTL.  Really.  And in this case it only adds to the misogyny and all these women complaining about how women are being written... it's kind of hypocritical.   It's like... YAY for the strong, multi-faceted, smart portrayal of women, but those ones here?  TSTL.   Do you see the problem?   The less than clever, brave, well-rounded are not worthy of life.

I know it's a clever, catchy, pithy little phrase/acronym, but isn't it really just feeding the misogyny?

Beyond Solitude by Kit Rocha - My Thoughts

Beyond Solitude is #4.5 in the Beyond series by Kit Rocha and I can't tell you how much I love these books.  Dystopian erotic romance with kinky overtones.  Yum, yum, yum!!   This one is a novella and DAMN, I wish it was a full blown novel!   It wasn't my plan to read it right now, but events happened and I did.  *LOL*

For my thoughts on Beyond Solitude, please head over to my book blog on Booklikes.  

Noble Metals by L.A.Witt - My Thoughts

Wow!  I really should write something other than book things in here.  :)  I'll have to think of something or somethings...

Anyway... I finally was able to obtain and read Noble Metals by L.A. Witt, something I had been looking forward to for a while.  I didn't quite get what I was expecting or hoping for.  :(

My thoughts on Noble Metals are, as always, available on my book blog at Booklikes.  

The Next by Rafe Haze - My Thoughts

I've been lucky.  I haven't read a bad book in a very long time.  That changed this week.  I think I'm still shell-shocked over this one.  I had expected something much better.  The cover is great though.

Read my thoughts on The Next over at my book blog on Booklikes for the details.  

This Rough Magic by Josh Lanyon - My Thoughts

Another fun 1930's mystery, this one an M/M from Josh Lanyon.  I do love mysteries in this era and this didn't disappoint.  And the cover?  A perfect mix between Gene Kelly and Mark Ballas.  *g*

My thoughts on this read are, as always, on my book blog over at Booklikes.

American Craftsmen by Tom Doyle - My Thoughts

A new contemporary fantasy author, an intriguing premise that pings all my Tom Clancy, Strike Back, buddy stories buttons and I thought I'd devour it.  Not quite.  It was a bit of a disappointment for me, but I AM glad that I read it.

My thoughts about American Craftsmen are, as always, available at my Booklikes book blog.

(And my God, I need to blog more in here about stuff other than the books I  read!  *LOL*)

Cross & Crown by Abigail Roux - My Thoughts

I so thoroughly enjoyed this novel from Abi Roux.  I'd been worried about the move of focus from Ty & Zane to Nick & Kelly, but it was all for naught!  This was a totally fun romp and I couldn't put it down.

My thoughts on Cross & Crown are, as always, on my book blog at Booklikes.

 

Hot Lead, Cold Iron by Ari Marmell - My Thoughts

I'd heard some good stuff about this book online and decided to give it a shot.  Elven PI in 1930's gangster Chicago.  It sounded like a lot of fun and it was!   Different from the normal fare.

My thoughts on Hot Lead, Cold Iron are over on my book blog and Booklikes if you're curious.

Killing the Good Men

So I read a simple phrase over on a blog entry at Dear Author where Jane said: The book sounds interesting but … I’m not interested in another George RR Martin type of story where all the women are raped and all the good men are killed. It stuck a chord in me.

Leaving aside the whole all the women are raped discussion because it's a whole 'nother ball o' wax that I'm not willing to get into at the moment, what hit me was the all the good men are killed.

I love the George R.R. Martin Song of Ice and Fire series of books. Its setting of Westeros is a land of extremes in a time of great turmoil and things just aren't that simple. I don't buy the all the good men are killed idea. I think what GRRM does is give us characters that make us think about what actually makes a good man and whether or not men (and women) can realistically be all good or all bad. And to wonder if there can be redemption for those that we have labelled 'bad'. And if that redemption is indeed enough to, if not wipe out, overcome all the bad in that person's past. Nothing has been black and white in those books since the beheading of Eddard Stark in Book One and even then, Eddard was a noble man, an honourable man, a responsible man, but was he actually GOOD? I'm not convinced.

GRRM has been able to perform some miracles with his characters, in my opinion. He took at least two main characters, awful people when we met them, and actually was able to render them likable, even at times admirable. He has also taken characters that were, upon first meeting, heroic, honourable, good people and managed to have them commit some atrocious acts as the tales continue. Pause and take a look at the story arc so far of the great feminist hope of Daenerys Targaryen, the Khaleesi. The young lady ain't no angel!  Nor is Arya Stark, far from it.  And Jon Snow, the everyman, the one offspring of the afore-mentioned Eddard Stark that seems the most like his father.. he has his moments of shameful actions as well, yet he is considered one of the good guys. One of the good men, all of whom are killed, some say.

It's just far too easy to say that all the good men are killed. It's way too facile. Way too black and white. And real characters are seldom, very seldom, black and white.  Thank God.

 

Bound to be a Groom by Megan Mulry - My Thoughts

Exactly as advertised. An erotic menage romp.  I don't know why I was expecting more, but obviously I was.  *LOL*  Read my thoughts about it at my book blog on Booklikes. 

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison - My Thoughts

I won a copy of this book from the book blog, My Bookish Ways.  It's been all over my twitter feed since its publication back in April so I was eager to read it.  Also, because it's by an author I like a lot - Sarah Monette under the pen name of Katherine Addison.

If you want to know what I thought of The Goblin Emperor, head on over to my book blog at Booklikes. :)

The Tomb by F. Paul Wilson - My Thoughts

My friends Ginette, Michel and Alain all recommended this book to me and I finally was able to read it.  I quite enjoyed it and now I'm casting the movie in my head.  *LOL*  I will read more, that's for certain.

My thoughts on The Tomb are ready to be read over at my book blog on Booklikes if you're interested!

Those Chmerkovskiy Brothers!

Oh.  My.  Stars!

HOORAY!!!!

Meryl and Maks are the champions of Season 18 of Dancing With the Stars!!!  I am SO thrilled!!!  Congratulations to both Meryl and Maks for making this the best season of DWTS EVER!  

My Week

I'm going to try free-styling about my week to kind of break up what seems to be only redirects to my book blog entries.  Honestly, I do more than read!  :)   At least this way I'll have one entry that's about more than books.

As I write this, I'm looking out my window at a bright and sunny day  I wish it was a little warmer.  15C or 59F isn't exactly closing in on balmy.  But it's great for the sun to be out and there to be no rain or cloudy skies.  It's tough on the allergy suffers though.  Hay fever season is supposed to be short this year but very intense.  After the crazy polar vortex stuff this winter, it's only to be expected.  Also, as I look out, I see that the windows need some cleaning.  *LOL*  Ah... spring.

What am I reading?  Well, I'm reading The Tomb by F. Paul Mitchell, the first Repairman Jack novel.  It was recommended to me by a bunch of my friends.  It's not my usual fare, it's a horror novel, but halfway through, I think I'm finally getting invested.

This past week I've been following many of the romance writers I follow on Twitter at the Romantic Times conference down in New Orleans.  I'm SO envious!  My good friend, the writer Zoe X. Rider is there and from what I can tell from her tweets and pics, is having a terrific time!  As are most of my other faves.  A couple of the gals had to leave the con early because of health issues which is a total bummer.  Anyway, maybe one day I'll get to go and meet all those lovely people in person.  RT and GRL (Gay Rom Lit) Retreat are the two I'd love to attend.  I guess I should get writing then, eh?

So yeah, writing.  I have a bunch of ideas being fleshed out.  The afore-mentioned Zoe, henceforth known as H, pointed me towards a software program called Scapple that's from the same folks - sorta - as the Scrivener people.  It's basically a plotting program, like a whiteboard on my computer and it's pretty nifty.  I'm using it on my m/m fantasy novel for the moment and so far so good.  It's given me some ideas and put some structure to the ideas that I already had.  What I really miss though, is that person that I can jaw with about this.  Exchange ideas, brainstorm, just sort of meanderingly conversate about character and plot points and arcs and things of that nature as well as be a cheerleader with feet planted firmly on the ground.  This, apparently is something I need in my so-called creative process.    What I don't need is all these people whining about privilege and representation and diversity and who make it sound like you have to be a card-carrying, minority, survivor, special snowflake to be allowed to write anything worthwhile.

I watched The Preakness yesterday and was pleased that California Chrome won.  The backstory of that horse, the sire and dam being bought for peanuts and bred to produce a champion is amazing!  I'd love to see him win the Triple Crown.  I suppose this means I'll have to watch the Belmont Stakes now.  *LOL*  I also found out that my Grandad was a part of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.  I don't remember knowing that and I think it's way cool.  :)

The finale of Dancing With the Stars is tomorrow and Tuesday.  I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see Meryl and Maks come home with the mirrorball trophy and I'll be doing my best voting for them to achieve exactly that.  When I set aside my skepticism that it's all been predetermined and filled with production/network meddling to present the winner they want,  I still find myself thinking that there's no way anyone can overcome the pairing of two prosthetic legs and Derek Hough.  Even if Meryl and Maks have been presenting the most exquisite dances all season.  It's disheartening if I pause to think about it, so I do my best to focus on the joy and emotion that Meryl and Maks have brought to me this season and know that they are really the best.

I have to get my RPG tagging mojo back.  I love it so much and I feel like I'm letting the side down, so to speak.  I think I need to just stop thinking so much about it and just do it.  *LOL*  I have pups in my head who need letting loose or they get unruly.  :)   Maybe with the sun coming out, things will flow easier.  *crossing fingers*

I watched the movie White House Down yesterday and while it had one of the most preposterous plots ever, it was a lot of fun to watch things get blown up and enjoy both Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx.  I like no-brainer movies every once in a while.  :)

I discovered some good music yesterday... the day before... um... the day before, thanks to the DWTS dancer Tristan McManus.  It's a band called Big September and their first album (I think) has just come out and it's called, appropriately, Ballroom Addicts.  But it's got nothing to do with ballroom dancing.  :)  It's just some good music by a young Irish band.  Check 'em out!  They sort of remind me a bit of Runrig, a Scottish band I like alot - rockish, popish with a bit of je ne sais quoi in their sound that piques my interest.




And in closing, I came across a wonderfully hot picture of my Sully, Sullivan Stapleton and I NEED to share it.  Because... reasons!

And that's that.  :)