What I'm Reading . . .Today

I forgot that when I did yesterday's post that, well, it would quickly change.  Usually on the weekend I can finish a book in a day, unless I'm busy or the book really sucks... It's not like I sit around reading all day, well, sometimes I do :o) but I'm also a fast reader. Yesterday I manged to cram a day of cleaning, shopping, internet browsing and a book. Today will just be a bit of housework, some time online, and a good (hopefully) book.

I've got another new to me author off the TBRR pile:

SIREN'S SECRET

by Trish Albright

Here's the blurb straight from the author's website, http://www.trishalbright.com/ and the back of the book:

Lady Olivia Yates enjoyed a wide array of scholarly pursuits. And she had an astounding vocabulary to prove it. Thanks to her archaeologist father, she also knew just about everything there was to know of ancient Egyptian artifacts—including a code no one else had yet deciphered. But she had no idea what to do when it looked as though someone was trying to murder her.

Samuel Stafford understood only about half the words that came out of the woman’s mouth. But he didn't mind—so long as he had a chance to watch those luscious lips at work. Too bad he wasn't paying more attention, because suddenly Olivia was dragging the shipping captain halfway around the world on a perilous treasure hunt. From fighting Barbary pirates on the high seas to exploring centuries-old tombs, only together could they unlock the... SIREN'S SECRET.

My impression so far (I've only read the first chapter) is to think of the movie, THE MUMMY, action, adventure, Egyptian archeology, Brendan Fraser -yummy, only move it back about 150years. 

Update - My opinion of this is now posted on Night Owl Romance, at: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=5336

What I'm Reading . . .

On this chilly freezing Michigan winter night, I'm going to curl up with my fuzzy blanket and a book.  Top of my TBRR (To be read & reviewed) pile is an ARC of :

THE HIGHLANDER'S SWORD

by Amanda Forester

Blurb straight from http://www.amandaforester.com/ :

Swept up in the turmoil of 14th century Scotland, Lady Aila Graham is destined for the convent until her brother’s death leaves her an heiress. Soon she is caught in the conflict between the hastily arranged marriage with a Highland warrior, the Abbot’s insistence that she take her vows, the Scottish Laird who kidnaps her, and the traitor from within who betrays them all. Her new husband, Padyn MacLaren, is a battle-hardened knight, scarred by betrayal, who seeks Aila’s fortune to save his clan. Yet Aila is not what he expected and has secrets of her own.

This is Ms. Forester's debut novel, available March 2010. I'll be posting a review when I finish at http://www.nightowlromance.com/.

My little rant...Women's clothing-Tall/Long in sizes above a 14, where in the HELL are they?!?!

What the hell is it with clothing stores that decide not to carry Tall/Long in certain sizes anymore!!!! How frustrating.  Do they think that ALL tall people are a size 14 and below...if we're fat/chunky/heavy/etc..., we must also be average or short????!!!!????!!!!  Now don't get me wrong, I know that I need to shed a few pounds, and I'm working on that, but until then I still need to buy work clothes.  I can't buy anything without trying it on first, because EVERYTHING fits so differently. 

So, what started this rant...
Yesterday I was all set to go to my favorite retailer at the local outlet mall (Eddie Bauer) to pick up some pants for work, a pair of jeans, and maybe a new top or 2, and SPEND some of my hard-earned CASH.  I've ALWAYS been able to find size 16 Long, much to my dismay (boy is that putting it mildly) I ask the sales lady, and she informed me that "oh they stopped stocking that in the stores, you can buy it online or in the cataloge though...) yeah, um, NO, first off the catalog/online doesn't have the great deals that were in-store (yes, I checked), and second, I need to try them on before I buy, since no 2 pair fit the same. 
Oh, and I can't forget to mention that the sales associate was sure to bring it to my attention that their average sizes run really long, to the point I was almost rude when I finally told her "Not LONG enough."  really this wasn't my first trip there...I think I know what length I need by now.

As a result, I bought NOTHING. 

Eddie Bauer is not alone either.  I've tried Gap, Old Navy, Kohls...nobody wants to carry them. Some stores don't carry tall/long at all, others also think that nobody over a size 14 is tall.  Am I alone out there, some sort of freak of nature, being tall and chunky.  No, I know this is not the case.  I see women like me all the time. So why don't the stores want me to spend my money???? Or is this some freaky scheme to get me to finally loose the weight I've been wanting to-it's not helping, now I'm even more stressed out because I REALLY need some new work pants. 

I did find that Tractor Supply (my husband only wears jeans from there) carries women's jeans in a size16x34 -yippee and they are really cute and very inexpensive-I paid less than $20 (the brand is C.E. Schmidt).

Ready for 2009 to be behind me

2009 has been a year of change...

1. The biggest change was the very unexpected loss of my Dad in August.  He collapsed while at work, thank God he was not on the road, as he was getting ready to drive the semi, things could have been much more tragic.  
We (my husband, kids and I) rushed to Wisconsin-a 10hr drive- to be with him, we said our good-byes, but his spirit was already gone.  We were all (my husband & sons, my mom, sister, her husband and daughter and my aunts and uncles) there with him when the machines were shut off, and watched him take his last breath.  It was hard to watch, but yet I wouldn't have been anywhere else.  I was at first worried about my 7 & 14 year old sons, how was this going to affect them, witnessing the end of life.  Fortunately they seemed to grasp a bigger understaning of life, beginning to end, and to see that God is there with us throughout the whole process.  

My sister and I immediatly choose the same quote from Little House on the Prairie:

"Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you. If you can only remember with tears, then don't remember me at all."


My mom, sister and I have always used humor as our coping method.  Not only that, but we know that Dad would be horrified if we were to not remember all the good times with him, and to only dwell on the sadness of 2 days.  As we are good at keeping busy, we have been able to deal with this all.  I was a little leary as to how our first Christmas without him would be, but we were together, and because of that and the laughter we shared as we recalled all the happy memories, we had a wonderful Christmas.
 
Our faith in God and the knowledge that we will meet again in Heaven someday has been a big part that holds us together.  That and the extrodinary friends and family we have in our lives. Thank you all for being there for us, and for continuing to be there, especially for Mom.

2. The second major change we experienced was that we moved in November.  Granted it was only about 10 miles, but it was still a hell of an event.  How in the hell do you accumulate so much shit is 4 years (thats how long it had been since the last move)  Now we are in the new house, but there are still boxes in the living & dinning room, I'm still trying to figure out where all this crap is going to go, oh and what can I get rid of!  Oh and did I mention that I'm sure that we will be moving again in a few years...I think the longest I've lived in a house since I've graduated high school has been 6 years.   Right now we are renting, and when my husband finds his PERFECT piece of land, the plan is to eventually build...we shall see where that road leads us.

3. Job change!!!!  Okay I live in Michigan, the unemployment rate is over 15%...not only that but I live in Northern Michigan, not a hugely populated area so good jobs are not easy to come by.  In December of 2008 I was laid off from the title insurance company I'd been working for (I spend 10+ years as a title examiner)  I'd been doing title work since I got out of the Army in 1997. So anyway, back to my job woes, my hours had been cut earlier in the year and I got part-time work at Bath & Body Works...but the hours really sucked.  Shortly after I was laid-off I got wind that that Register of Deeds office at the County had a job opening....so me and 110 others sent in our resumes and applied for the job, I had an interview set up for Jan. 5, and started on Jan 12!!!!! I was super excited to get the job. 
I knew that I was qualified(+), but this is a small community, I've only lived in the area since 2005-though I had done some researching in the office and was accqainted with the people that worked there. But, the Register grew up in this area and knew a lot of the other applicants.  I kept telling my mom (and anyone who'd listen) that I had FAITH that I was going to get this job, something just felt right.  Thankfully the Register wanted to hire someone that she wouldn't have to completely train...I was already familiar with the ins and outs of real estate, searching, drawing out long legal descriptions, explaining to people the hows and whys, withOUT giving legal advise...

Sooooo...as you see, that was just the 3 MAJOR changes for 2009, I rather hope that 2010 has fewer changes in store for me. 

review of HIS WICKED SINS by Eve Silver

Rating: A



Elizabeth Canham has accepted a teaching position at Burndale Academy to help support her family. Soon after her arrival to the academy she learns of a monster in the area, one who favors fair women with golden hair. Having faced unspeakable horrors in her past she is not immediately frightened by the tales.

Griffin Fairfax has done some terrible things, he is a self-proclaimed villain, never claiming to be a gentleman. It is whispered that he killed his first wife and drove his daughter to silence. He would like nothing more than to hear Isobel speak to him, but knowing what she has witnessed, he has little hope.

Elizabeth recognizes a kinship in Isobel. Having followed a similar path in her youth, she can't help but empathize, and try to help. In Griffin, she recognizes danger, but she also feels calm and safe in his company.

Together, can they conquer the monsters of the past? Or will past sins continue to haunt them?

Eve Silver weaved an extraordinary tale of mystery and romance. I loved the dark Gothic feel of HIS WICKED SINS. I was so engrossed in this story that I could clearly picture the scenes along with the accompanying musical scores as if I were watching a movie, as I read. Beth and Griffin each had their own horrors and ghosts in their pasts that they had mostly succeeded in overcoming, giving them a better understanding of each other. I liked them for their flaws and the strength they'd shown in overcoming their fears and anxieties.

I loved how images of the past were interwoven throughout the story giving us clues to the past. Another great thing about this book was that I was so far off in my guesses as to who the madman was, it was someone that I never even thought to expect. I love a mystery that I cannot immediately identify the villain. Ms. Silver did a great job casting shadows on various characters, including the hero, which really made me wonder.

Along with Gothic style historical romance and paranormal romance, Eve Silver also writes futuristic speculative romance as Eve Kenin. I cannot wait to pick up another one of her books by either pseudonym.

And I just thought I'd let you know about a contest Eve Silver is holding in celebration of her newest book SEDUCED BY A STRANGER, which is being release in September 2009, details can be found at:

http://www.evesilver.net/contest.html

Happy Reading & Good Luck!