A Unique Approach

I suspect that I am not a conventional movie renter. Here's my approach to renting movies:

Step 1: Start thinking about how it would be great to rent some movies. Then wait until that desire increases 10 times.

Step 2: Go to Hollywood Video (I don't like Blockbuster) and spend a minimum of one hour selecting movies.

Step 3: Come home and watch one of the movies.

Step 4: Remind myself on day two that I have five days to watch the movies, so I can watch the rest at leisure.

Step 5: Remind myself on day four that I need to watch the rest of the movies so I can return them. Decide I'm not in the mood to watch movies.

Step 6: Watch as many of the movies as I have time for on day five.

Step 7: Return the movies to Hollywood Video even though I haven't seen all of them OR keep them for an extra five days (incurring a late fee), hoping that I will be in the mood to watch the movies later.

When it comes to step 7, I usually take the latter approach. This time around, though, I went for the former. I'm delighted to say that I made it through three of the four movies: The Heart of Me, Red, and The Forgotten. Napoleon Dynamite will have to wait until next time.

Alyssa

Five Books I Want Right Now

There are several books I'm just dying to get. Some are available now but others are not. Here are five books I want right now, in no particular order:



Not much to say here except that I'm ready for another installment of Eve and Roarke. Origin in Death is not available until July, however.





Once I heard that Till Next We Meet has a plot reminescent of Cyrano de Bergerac, I was ready to buy it. It's available now, but I'm waiting to see if Karen Ranney will be at the RWA signing . . .




This debut by Lydia Joyce is getting a fair amount of good press from online reviewers and readers. I look forward to reading it. Joyce's website indicates that she will be doing another signing at the same time as RWA, so I needn't wait to buy it. I'll pick it up next week.





I know some people don't enjoy MaryJanice Davidson's Undead series, but I've loved both of the previous books. Davidson won't be at RWA, so I'll buy it once it hits the shelves, but I can't figure out whether that will be in May or July; I've heard both dates.





Since I enjoyed Marjorie M. Liu's debut book, Tiger Eye, I'm looking forward to seeing what she'll do with her next book. This book is apparently part of a multi-author series. It will be available in August.

Alyssa

Blogging Blues

I'm in one of those phases where writing on my blog feels too much like work, even though they have nothing in common except, well, writing. I've also been feeling guilty about not having written any TRR reviews for a few weeks. Since blogging and guilt should never go together, I wrote a review yesterday and will finish another one this weekend.

A number of bloggers have been expressing how much time they spend keeping up with the blogs they read. It seems like dozens of new romance-related blogs have started in the last few months. This is a good thing; I enjoy hearing all of the different voices and perspectives. I've also discovered that there are only so many blogs I can visit in the time I have for blogging. So, if all of you would stop linking to other blogs, it would really help me out. ;)

So, if it has felt like I've been taking a blogging break, you'd be right. I'll be back though, better than ever.

Alyssa

Hunter's Moon

After reading and enjoying Lori Handeland's Blue Moon, I was excited to read the next installment in the series, Hunter's Moon. While I didn't enjoy it as much as the first, it's still a strong read: 4 out of 5.

This story takes place in the same world as Blue Moon; in fact, the hero and heroine of that book play key roles in Hunter's Moon. But the focus is on Leigh, who has hunted werewolves for two years. This book is told in first-person from her point of view. Her latest mission takes her to Crow Valley, where she meets a mysterious man named Damien.

As I mentioned, this is a strong story. The plot takes an interesting (and at times surprising) direction. To avoid spoilers, I won't say more, but there are plenty of twists and turns to make the story exciting. Hunter's Moon seemed darker to me than its predecessor.

The romance is the weakest part of the story. Their relationship becomes physical quickly, which isn't a problem by itself; however, we're told rather than shown that their feelings for each other are deepening. More of the getting-to-know-you stuff would have helped here. I was more (though not completely) convinced of their feelings by the end of the book.

The third book in the series is Dark Moon; there's a short excerpt from it in the back of this book. Add another book to my to-be-bought list.

Alyssa

Narrowing the Field

Since my Canon Rebel gave up the ghost, I've been investigating digital cameras. It's amazing how small some of them are. I've found a few digital cameras I like--the Canon SD400 and the Sony DSCWS. Now I'm in the research stage, where I'll take a look at product reviews. I'm hoping to narrow it down to one, then go shopping so I'll have it before next month's trip to Arizona.

I think I'm still mourning the loss of my Canon Rebel. Is that stupid?

Alyssa

Taking Time to Read the TBR

I have time to write only a quick blog entry.

As I've been anticipating a trip to Reno for the RWA signing, I commented that it was going to be challenging for me to keep from buying new books between now and then. Then, I saw Rosario's recent blog entry about reading a title from her TBR pile, and was reminded that I could take a different approach to the whole thing. Instead of being frustrated that I won't be buying new books, I can view this as an opportunity to make a dent in my own TBR list. It certainly can't hurt, since my TBR bookcase is overflowing.

Now, I just need to pick one to start with . . .

Alyssa

Library Book Sale

I'm back from the library book sale. That trip was an adventure. There was a marathon in downtown Salt Lake City today, so I spent about 20 minutes maneuvering the streets trying to go the final four blocks.

Once I arrived, I realized that the library was in a completely different building. It's been several years since I went there, obviously. It was on the same block, just one building north. Anyway, I was shocked by the size of the book sale area. The new building is HUGE, but the sale area is probably one-third the size it was in the smaller building. Then I went looking for the romance section. They didn't have a romance section. !? They had a mystery/true crime section and a fiction section, which included romance. The entire paperback fiction section was about one-fourth the size of the paperback romance section at previous sales. So that was disappointing.

On the other hand, less to choose from meant I didn't have to be picky about what I purchased. I initially thought I would fill my bag, then buy what I wanted most. Instead, I ended up buying everything I put in my bag. For $13, I bought:

• Almost Like Being in Love, Christina Dodd: I enjoyed the first one in the series and thought I'd try the second.


• Blue Dahlia, Nora Roberts: I never got around to buying this one.


• Bubbles A Broad, Sarah Strohmeyer: I have the first three in the series, so I snatched this ARC.


• Conspiracy in Death, J.D. Robb: I'll add this to my lending library.


• Forever Blue, Suzanne Brockmann: It's a first edition in great condition.


• A Game of Chance, Linda Howard: After reading and liking To Die For, I thought I'd try this one.


• Knock Me Off My Feet, Susan Donovan: The cover appealed to me.


• Overload, Linda Howard: I read "night in an elevator" on the back cover and put it in my bag immediately.


• Paris or Bust, Kate Hoffman, Jacqueline Diamond, and Jill Shalvis: I'm still collecting Jill Shalvis's books.


• Rapture in Death, J.D. Robb: I'll add this to my lending library.


• Red Roses Mean Love, Jacquie D'Alessandro: I've been looking for this book since I read the library copy.


• A Rogue in Texas, Lorraine Heath: I am always looking for Always to Remember by this author; I didn't find it, but I picked this up.


• The Seventh Suitor, Laura Matthews: I remember loving Matthews' books 10 years ago; I can't remember if I read this one but decided to buy it.


• The Tender Stranger, Diana Palmer: Amazingly enough, I don't think I've read this book by one of my guilty pleasure authors.


• Texas Destiny, Lorraine Heath: I read the third in the series and thought I'd try this one.


• 'Tis the Season, Vicki Lewis Thompson: I hadn't gotten around to buying a copy; this one looks like new.


• To Die For, Linda Howard: I'll add this to my lending library.

So I got an interesting variety of stuff. When I got back from the sale, I created two scrapbook pages:

Thoroughly Modern, Page 1
Thoroughly Modern, Page 2

It reminded me (again) that I need to strive for balance. Work and reading does not a full life make--at least, not for me. I'm hoping to scrapbook more and mix things up a bit so I have more variety in my life. One of these days I might actually do something about it instead of just talking about it. :)

Alyssa

Adventures in Wax

So I was burning a small votive candle in my bedroom, and I was getting ready to go to sleep. I was too lazy to get out of bed to get the candle snuffer, so I tilted the candle holder so I could blow it out. As you might imagine, it slipped out of my hand. The good news is that very little of the wax got on my carpet. The bad news is that more than a dozen books are now splattered with wax. So far I've been able to get most of the books clean, but I've set aside the ones with the most wax on them for later. And I'm hoping to figure out a better method for wax removal than scraping it off with my fingernails.

My candle snuffer is now by my bed.

Last night I scrapbooked for the first time in weeks. Here are two pages about January's trip to Florida.

Florida, Page 1
Florida, Page 2

Today's the first day of the big library book sale. I'm going to try and be selective today, but on Tuesday I'll go back and take advantage of the bag of books for $5.

Alyssa

I'm Just a Girl

Here's my latest quiz, courtesy of a link on Alison Kent's blog.

I am a hybrid of: Academic Girl Progressive Girl Click on the pictures below to read more: Take the 'What Kind of Girl Are You?' quiz at CookingToHookup.com

Book Signings

I'm going out of town for two book signings this summer: one next month to meet Charlaine Harris and one in July, the RWA signing. One of today's tasks was to call the bookstore where Harris will be signing so I could find out their policy about bringing books from home. I made it clear that I will be buying books there, but I wanted to find out if I could also bring some. The employee said yes, even after she asked how many I'd like to bring and I said six. So I'll have a nice collection of signed Charlaine Harris novels.

As for the RWA signing, there will apparently be more than 400 authors there. Although the list of authors will be posted at some point, patience is not one of my strong suits. I am visiting author websites to see if they have mentioned that they will attend. If I don't see anything about it, I have been e-mailing to ask if the author is attending and if she happens to know what she will be signing. I want to know the latter so that I can (hopefully) avoid buying books twice. Some authors seem pretty sure about what they will be signing, while others don't have the final word. The latter doesn't surprise me after hearing Wendy's comment about this subject, but I figure it doesn't hurt to ask.

What hurts is the thought of waiting to buy books by my autobuy authors. I'm used to being able to buy a book I want when I see it on the shelves; now I'm telling myself to pass until July--for authors attending the signing, anyway. I keep reminding myself that I managed to go a few weeks without buying The Trouble with Valentine's Day, but that hasn't improved my mood. On the other hand, a kind reader offered to send me a copy of a book I've been anticipating for months. My library doesn't have it, so I was going to go without until July. Thanks to this reader, I won't have to.

Is anyone else planning to attend the Reno signing? Would it be valuable for me to create a file with information about the authors I have contacted and what they will (or hope to be) signing? If others will find it useful, I'll put something together.

Alyssa

Blue Moon

I wish more days were like this. I worked only three hours before leaving to catch a matinee performance of Thoroughly Modern Millie. I'd never seen the movie, but I adore the theatre, so I jumped at the chance to go when a coworker invited me. It's a fun story, and it was quite well-performed here. Great stuff!

In book news, I seem to be one of those readers loved by publishers these days. While I've seen many readers say they are tired of vampire novels and the like, I can't get enough of paranormal romances if they are done well. That's the key, of course. Thankfully, that's the case with Lori Handeland's Blue Moon, which was very well done: 4.5 out of 5.

Blue Moon is a first-person story told from Jessie McQuade's point of view. Jessie is a police officer, and there have been problems with wolves biting people in her town. Her pursuit of the truth leads her to Professor Will Cadotte, a man Jessie's boss and mentor warns her against. But she can't help the attraction between them.

I'm sure you can guess that werewolves are the paranormal element of this story. What I like most about Blue Moon is its almost perfect combination of mystery and romance. It was interesting to learn more about Will through Jessie's eyes. I have to admit that I'm a fan of romances where the hero is more attractive than the heroine. A recent Romancing the Blog column discusses this kind of story; for me, it's simple fantasy. Come to think of it, though, I like plain/less attractive heroes, too. I'm getting sidetracked here. My point is that I like the characters and I thought they dealt with interesting internal issues.

As for external issues, there are the werewolves to deal with. Caveat: I'm not the most mystery savvy reader, and there aren't a lot of people to choose from when it comes to identifying a villain. Still, I thought the story has a few interesting twists.

I bought Hunter's Moon, the next book in the series, and I look forward to reading it.

Alyssa

E-Book Experience

You may remember one of my columns for Romancing the Blog explained why I don't read e-books. Last week I decided to break with tradition and try a few e-books. I bought Arrested by Alyssa Brooks (whom I found courtesy of Romancing the Blog) and The Vampire's Christmas by Angela Knight. Since I don't have an e-book reader, I went with the PDF format.

I bought Arrested after being intrigued by the cover and the excerpt. The story itself was not as enjoyable as I'd hoped: 2.5 out of 5. I was definitely convinced of the couple's lust, but they knew next to nothing about each other when they first hit the sheets. This can work in a story, but the hero and heroine need to get to know each other as the story progresses. That didn't really happen here.

The Vampire's Christmas was pretty short, 28 pages. The characters and plot were interesting but the sex turned me off: 3 out of 5.

Here's a question about e-books. Arrested was 63 pages and cost $5.75. The Vampire's Christmas was 28 pages and cost $2.49. I realize that one page on a PDF does not equal a book page, but it still seemed like less value for the page count than a paperback. Am I wrong about this? Feel free to express an opinion or set me straight if I'm missing something. I realize that creating a book in different formats takes some doing, but surely it's less expensive than an actual paper printing.

Would I try e-books again? I won't rule them out, especially if I get some kind of e-book reader so I don't have to read them on the computer. That's a bit cumbersome. But I can't say that I'm going to spend much time shopping for e-books.

Alyssa

Blog and Run

I'm off to work soon, so this will have to be a quick update. Sometime in the next few days (baring injury or massive overtime; the latter is a distinct possibility), I will write about last week's e-book adventure (I decided to give them a try) as well as a review of Blue Moon and hopefully one or two other books I've read last week. (How's that for a long sentence?)

In the meantime, this thrilling guessing-game post is still unfinished, and I will encourage more people to guess by having a contest. After any nine of them have been guessed correctly, the person who guesses the tenth will win Jacquie D'Alessandro's Love and the Single Heiress, a book I discovered she will be autographing at the RWA signing in July. So I have an extra (unsigned) copy available.

Go forth and guess!

Alyssa

Updated: The Winner Is . . .

The April contest has concluded and it's time to announce the contest winner! Everyone who commented between April 12-17 had her name entered, and one of my coworkers just selected the winner by drawing a name. Update: Nicole already has the book, and she won last time, so she generously said to pick another winner.

The winner is . . .

Maili!

Congratulations, Maili! I will put my e-mail address in the comments section below, so you can contact me with your address.

My thanks to everyone who entered!

Alyssa

Color Me Intrigued

I saw this at Larissa's blog and thought I'd give it a try. It's actually pretty accurate.

VIOLET You surround yourself with art and music and are constantly driven to express yourself. You often daydream. You prefer honesty in your relationships and belive strongly in your personal morals. Find out your color at Quiz Me!

No, I Don't Have Enough Books

Thanks to Nicole, I'm now a member of the Paperback Swap site. (Nicole, watch for the referral credit.) It's an interesting idea. I've posted 10 books there for now, and we'll see how it goes. If you'd like to check it out, I put a link in the sidebar.

The city library's biannual book sale is next Saturday through Tuesday. I may stop by on Saturday to get first crack at some things, but I'll go on Tuesday for sure, when it's buy a bag for $5.00.

Perhaps this will satisfy my need for shopping sprees. At least for now.

Alyssa

Another Working Day Has Ended

I seem to be in a weird place emotionally, and I'm not sure what to do about it. The fact that I'm physically exhausted is a big part of this. Every year at this time, I know that I will have to work overtime. I know that and expect that. It's never been quite this bad, however. Consistent overtime for months just leads to burnout, a state I hit several weeks ago. A number of other people in the department are working late, too, so I can't shift some of my workload to them. This week I'm planning to talk to my boss about hiring at least one more person.

I've indulged in more book and scrapbooking supply shopping than usual--a sure sign that I'm stressed. I'm also eagerly anticipating my May vacation, all three days of it, though it would be nice if I could get rid of the bags under my eyes by then. I'm also not convinced that May will ever arrive. Right now, I'm very much focused on getting through each day.

I'm still reading and hope to post soon about some recent reads. First, though, I need to make some headway in house cleaning. It's fallen by the wayside lately.

Happy reading,
Alyssa

P.S. Does anyone know what Police song the title of this blog entry is from? Extra points if you do. :)

Can You Guess?

Zippy's post inspired me.

1. Post a list of 10 TV shows you've watched.
2. Have people guess your favorite character from each show.
3. When someone guesses your favorite character, bold the title. [I'll go one better; I'll post links to autographed pictures I own (if I have one).]

1. Babylon 5


2. Cadfael Mysteries: Cadfael. Jorie guessed this one correctly.


3. Days of Our Lives


4. Due South: Benton. (Though I usually think of him as Benny because that's what the first Ray calls him.) I wish I had an autograph of him, but I don't. Jorie picked the right person with her second guess. I knew she'd get this one.


5. Farscape


6. First Wave


7. Highlander: Methos. Nicole guessed this one.


8. La Femme Nikita: Nikita. AngieW guessed correctly.


9. NYPD Blue


10. Sisters: Teddy. AngieW got this one.

Let the guessing begin!

April 19 Update: AngieW guessed Peter Reckell's Bo for #3. It isn't Bo, but it is one of Bo's love interests.

Alyssa

Really Hot!

Today I have been burning a new candle scent, and it's now one of my favorites: Grapefruit Blossom. Very nice.

Barely Behaving was my first Jennifer LaBrecque read, and I remember liking but not loving it. I loved Better Than Chocolate . . ., though, so I picked up Really Hot! when it came out in February. It's part of a series about reality TV. There's enough explanation that it works well on its own, but it includes a spoiler from one of the previous stories.

I have to admit that I haven't relished the recent romance trend of reality TV settings. I'm not a big fan of reality TV myself, except for Dog, The Bounty Hunter (which probably says something scary about me). Even that I watch sporadically. I probably wouldn't have picked up this book if LaBrecque weren't the author. That would have been a bad thing, because I would have missed a good story: 4 out of 5.

Rourke O'Malley is the star of a new reality series where 12 women will vie for his attention. He was a runner up in a previous show with the opposite scenario, but his good looks and charisma make him an ideal focus for a show of his own. These same qualities also bring him to the attention of associate producer Portia Tomlinson.

Really Hot! uses some familiar elements of romance--a heroine who had only one other lover, was burned by him, and vows not to trust anyone--but LaBrecque breathes new life into the characters. Portia could have been a stereotype, but she's not. She's a multidimensional woman.

Rourke is the perfect man for her. Down to earth yet charming, he's single-minded in his interest in Portia. I enjoyed reading about both characters.

This is the book I'm giving away in this week's contest. Just post a comment between April 12 and April 17, and you'll be entered in the contest. (Limit one entry per person.)

Alyssa

Contact

The Silhouette Bombshell series has been hit and miss for me. I've enjoyed one--Catherine Mann's Pursued--but the others I've read haven't impressed me. Until I read Evelyn Vaughn's Contact. Vaughn's skilled writing makes Contact an unforgettable book: 5 out of 5.

To say that Contact is a book about a female psychic who hooks up with a skeptical cop is a serious oversimplification. Faith Corbett has always been different. Her senses are amplified: she has heightened abilities to smell and hear. Her sense of touch is also unique. When she touches someone, she can sense his feelings. Faith is very aware of her unusual abilities, and she has isolated herself physically because of it. She avoids the touch of others.

The murder of her roommate forces her to work closely with New Orleans detectives Butch Jefferson and Roy Chopin. She's known both men for a while, and she anonymously feeds Butch information about cases. Roy distrusts psychics and doesn't know that Faith is the anonymous informant.

The Bombshell series promises strong heroines, and Faith lives up to the billing. While young (only 22), she is very mature and she doesn't hesitate to jump in and kick ass. This is no pseudo-strong heroine who talks a good game but needs the hero to jump in and save her.

What made the story so good, though, is the way Vaughn depicts Faith's abilities. We really get inside Faith's head so we understand what she experiences. I was especially impressed with the descriptions of what it's like for Faith to touch someone. Faith has held back for so long because she becomes overwhelmed through touch. There is a scene with Faith and Roy that's beautifully written. You'll know it when you get to it.

Roy is a wonderful hero. We don't really get any scenes from his point of view, but I still felt like I got to know him pretty well. He's abrupt and strong, but he has a softer side I find appealing.

I wish more books in the Bombshell series were like this one. When I originally read it, I rated it 4.5. I've gone back to reread it a few times already, though, so I figure it's a 5. Now I need to order Vaughn's backlist.

Alyssa

Sick

I stayed home today. This morning I was exhausted. Now I just feel sick. I am dutifully drinking my Sprite and hoping that settles down my stomach. Ugh.

In other news, last year I started having problems with my camera. I took it in to find out how much it would cost to repair it. Here's the news:

Cost to send to manufacturer: $20
Camera Repair: $140-$160
Lens Repair: $110

Grand Total: $270-$290

This means that I am looking for a new camera. I haven't decided whether to make the switch to digital. If you love your digital (or not) camera, feel free to make recommendations.

While I'm complaining, I'll mention that I'm having serious McVane blog withdrawl. I'm really starting to wonder if Maili is OK . . .

Anyway, watch for some book-related blog entries in the next few days.

Alyssa

Erin McCarthy

I'm rereading Erin McCarthy's "Fuzzy Logic" from Bad Boys Over Easy, and I have to say that I love her writing. The first book I read was Bad Boys Online. I picked it up for half-off at a bookstore that was having an out-of-business sale. It tempted me each time I went to the bookstore, and I was so glad I finally picked it up. All three stories have an Internet tie-in. I loved it--McCarthy offers such a nice balance of sensuality and humor. "Press Any Key" is my favorite of the anthology.

Since reading Bad Boys Online, I've bought everything she's written. Here are the grades:

Bad Boys Online: 4 out of 5
Smart Mouth: 4 out of 5
Houston, We Have a Problem: 4 out of 5
Mouth to Mouth: 4 out of 5

McCarthy also has short stories in these anthologies:

Bad Boys in Black Tie
Perfect for the Beach
Merry Christmas, Baby
Bad Boys Over Easy

I like McCarthy's full-length books better than her short stories, but she's still quite skilled there, too. My favorite of her short stories are "Blue Crush" from Perfect for the Beach and "Fuzzy Logic."

Another great thing about her is that she usually writes two books a year plus a short story or two. Her next novel is due out in May. I will have to exercise considerable restraint by not buying a copy until the RWA signing in July.

Alyssa

Contest

It's time for another contest. As with my previous contests, all you need to do to enter is make a comment between Tuesday, April 12 and Sunday, April 17 to one of my blog entries. Only one entry is allowed per person, but feel free to comment as much as you'd like.

This month's prize is a copy of Jennifer LaBrecque's Really Hot. I've learned that she will be signing this book at the RWA signing this summer, which means I can pass on the copy I already bought.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Alyssa

Evolution

"If you even lived 10 minutes in my head, you would run screaming."
--Alyssa

One of my coworkers has a quote board where she writes down quotes that she finds amusing. The quote above is from me, though I can't remember the exact circumstances. In any case, it seems appropriate for this blog entry, which will give you a glimpse into my head.

Now that my Romancing the Blog column is online, I thought it might be interesting to describe the evolution of a paragraph. Here is the original version:

While I like the FPS trend, I also appreciate what it suggests: (1) that some authors are trying different approaches; (2) that some editors and publishers are allowing or encouraging experimentation; and (3) that some readers are open to the new and interesting. I hope all three things are true and that more new ideas and trends will follow, whether they use a unique setting, character, or point of view.

This was the version I had until last Saturday. Though I had planned to go with this paragraph, I didn't really like it much. I wanted to make a broader point with my column, but I decided that the first-person trend isn't significant enough to lead to the conclusions I listed. I recognized this at the time and tried to counter it by using "some" in all three points. However, the fact that I had to qualify the conclusions that way meant that I needed to go in a different direction.

So here's the second version:

While I like the FPS trend, not every story should be told in first-person. What I want is for the author to stay true to her story--that's what makes it come alive for readers. And if that story happens to use a unique setting, character, or point of view, that's great. I look forward to seeing what new ideas and trends will come next.

When I reread this last night, the two middle sentences sounded like generic blah, blah, blah, so I revised it to put my voice back into it. This is the final version:

I like the FPS trend, but I don't think that every story should be told in first-person. As a reader, I really want only one thing: a good story. If that story uses a unique setting, character, or point of view, I'm all for it. Bring on the new and unique. I look forward to seeing what trends will come next.

Are you screaming yet? I hope not, but you can't say I didn't warn you. ;) You'll be pleased to know I don't usually spend so much time revising one paragraph. However, I spend considerable time writing, reviewing, and editing. I'm a bit more casual here at my blog, but I think this is why I don't write as many TRR reviews as I'd like. Good writing takes time--for me, anyway.

Alyssa

Revision Hell

I've just spent the last half hour revising tomorrow's Romancing the Blog column. Yes, you read that correctly. I revised it. Again. It's partly because of the various comments flying around about some RTB columns being a bit lackluster. I went back and read my piece; when I did so, I realized that I had revised some of the life right out of it. So I've made some changes that revitalize it (I hope). The good news is that I finally feel OK about the column. Perhaps I should say better--it's really just relative. At least I'm finished with the column.

Watch for it tomorrow!

Alyssa

Reading Spaces

A few years ago, I bought a chaise for my bedroom. It's very comfortable, and I thought it would be a great place to read. In spite of this, I read in bed more often than not. I think it's habit. When I have at least an hour to read, I light a scented candle. This weekend I've been burning a new scent named Hawaiian Rain Forest, and I love it.

Where do you read? And what are your while-reading habits (candles, music, etc.)?

Alyssa

Hard to Handle

After hearing about the fundraising efforts for Jamie Denton, I realized that I hadn't read anything she's written. I bought Hard to Handle yesterday and loved it: 4.5 out of 5.

The plot: Mikki and Nolan were divorced several years ago. Make that, they thought they were divorced. Then Nolan finds out that the divorce is invalid. Since he never wanted the divorce, he decides this is the perfect opportunity to get back into Mikki's life.

I loved this story. Nolan and Mikki's chemistry is immediately evident, as is the fact that they still have feelings for each other. However, Mikki has kept a few secrets from Nolan that make a reconciliation challenging. I liked both characters and got caught up in the story. It deals with some interesting issues as well--it's more a serious than lighthearted Blaze, which is exactly what I needed. Sometimes I enjoy reading good angst.

Alyssa

What Do You Think?

Alison Kent links to Wendy Duren's blog entry about being disappointed in Romancing the Blog. Like Alison and Wendy, I would enjoy more columns from a reader-focused perspective; I figured that was simply my preference.

Do you visit Romancing the Blog? What do you think about Wendy's comments?

Alyssa

The Assassin

At last, it's the weekend. I still feel like I need a vacation. Weekends are nice, but I am ready to get away for a few days and just be, if that makes sense. Unfortunately, I don't think that will happen for a while.

I haven't been in the mood to read much lately. I've picked up a number of books, read a few chapters, then put them down again. One book I finished this week is Rachel Butler's The Assassin, which I rate 3.5 out of 5. The label on the spine calls it a romantic suspense. The suspense part is stronger than the romance; although the main characters love each other by the end of the book, it happens so quickly that I'm not convinced of it. I believe in their chemistry and in the fact that they want to spend more time together. I'm not so sure about love, though. This is apparently the first book in a series that will follow the characters; I'm interested enough to try number two, which will be available later this year.

Alyssa

Hate It When That Happens

After surviving today's seven-hour meeting at work, I decided an obituary was in order:

We regret to announce the unpleasant demise of Alyssa, who on the 7th of April of this year was viciously shot by a homicidal maniac. This unfortunate incident occurred in a sewer pipe in New York City. The deceased was reported to have shouted "Did you hear something?" just before expiring. Alyssa is survived by four sisters and a mule. Funeral services will be held the 7th of next month.

I just hate it when that happens.

Alyssa

Reviews

My two latest reviews are now online:

Rake's Wager by Miranda Jarrett

The Backup Plan by Sherryl Woods

Hope you enjoy them.

Alyssa

Warning: Big Whine Ahead

I need a vacation. I've just about had it with work. Part two of the project from hell has begun, and I'm so tired of pushing myself to get everything done. I hate feeling "off" like I tend to do when I don't have enough time for me. A frustrating thing about the current project is that the process went badly last year. I hoped that we'd worked out the kinks, but now it's bad in different ways. I don't have any hope that it will be any better next year. But it's really too depressing to think about doing this again next year. I think I'd better stick with surviving the week.

I really should not blog when I feel like this.

On the plus side, I picked up two special orders today: one a DVD of the foreign film Blue (or should that be Bleu?) and a book, Rachel Butler's The Assassin. It looks interesting, but I'm not sure if I'll start it tonight. Collapsing in a heap sounds good, but I have to stay awake long enough to put my clothes in the dryer once the wash cycle is finished.

Depending on my energy levels, I may not post again until the weekend. I'm trying to figure out how I'll survive Thursday's seven-hour meeting.

Alyssa

Desktop

Jo Leigh recently posted her desktop and encouraged other bloggers to do the same. I can't figure out how to do a screen capture, but here's the image I've made my wallpaper.




That's my Joaquin.

Alyssa

At Last

I finished two reviews for The Romance Reader. Watch for them in the next week or so.

This means I can (finally!) move on to my next set of review books!

Alyssa

Top Five Series Romance Covers

Yet another in my top-five series. Here are my top five series romance covers in no particular order.

A Prince of a Guy by Jill Shalvis

This cover appeals to the true romantic in me. I love the flow of the heroine's hair along with her backless dress. The hero's facial expression is sweet; it says he is totally in the moment.



Taking Cover by Catherine Mann

I checked this book out of the library based on its cover, which is atmospheric and unique. It was my first book by Mann and remains my favorite of her books.



Wickedly Hot by Leslie Kelly

I love the combination of the black and white picture with the red accents. That's one steamy kiss they've got going there, too.



Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann

What can I say? I love a man in uniform. This cover is nice because it allows me to imagine what Joe looks like--it doesn't fill in his face for me. It's a nice change.



Whisper by Nancy Warren

This is an evocative cover. The pose and the scarf figure in the story, and it's great to see them shown on the cover.



Honorable Mention: All Tied Up by Alison Kent

I love the heroine's you'll-do-what-I-want-baby body language, but the hero looks a bit too stupified. Can't say I blame him, though.



Two of these covers are Harlequin Temptations; I still wish Harlequin hadn't decided to stop distributing them in North America after this summer. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

Damn it.

Alyssa

One Down

After all my talk on Sunday about buckling down and writing some reviews, I've written . . . some notes. Oh, and I finished my Romancing the Blog column, which is scheduled for April 12. I went with my original idea, though I altered the focus of the column a bit. We'll see how people respond. The column has a fun title, if nothing else. :)

So now I can say I've got one column down, two reviews to go. I'm determined to do them this weekend so I can move on to the next books in my pile to review.

Alyssa

A Week's Worth of Reads

I've mentioned before that I read quickly, so I decided it might be interesting to post a list of what I've read so far this week. (I'm also feeling too lazy to do one of my usual book write-ups.)

The Last Hellion by Loretta Chase
I loved Lord of Scoundrels, and since this features some familiar characters, I wanted to like it. Well, I liked it but didn't love it: 3 out of 5. It includes some nice moments but most of it wasn't particularly memorable.

The Hope Chest by Jacquie D'Alessandro, Julie Kenner, and Susan Kearney
I love D'Alessandro's work, and she's the reason I picked up this anthology. The three stories are set in the past, present, and future, respectively. I loved D'Alessandro's "Yesterday's Magic" even though it left me wishing it were longer: 4 out of 5. Kenner's "Today's Secrets" was less enjoyable. The characters fell in love right away and the conflict seemed contrived: 3 out of 5. Kearney's "Tomorrow's Promise" was good, once I stopped saying "That's improbable" and just went with the story: 3.5 out of 5. So the anthology itself receives 3.5 out of 5. This book also includes an excerpt from an upcoming book, Kearney's On the Edge, and I'm intrigued enough that I'll probably buy it.

Free Fall by Jill Shalvis
Shalvis is turning out to be a consistently enjoyable writer for me, and this book is no exception: 4 out of 5. Loved the hero and the heroine.

My Favorite Mistake by Beth Kendrick
I impulsively added this book to my last order from Amazon to qualify for free shipping, and it was well worth it. It's chick-lit, and I loved Kendrick's voice: 4 out of 5.

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
With Kenyon's books I tend to sit down and enjoy the ride . . . er, read. This one is lots of fun with some passion and drama added for good measure: 4.5 out of 5.

Aftershocks by Nancy Warren
I was a little worried about reading this book after reading a review at All about Romance, but I liked the book much more than the reviewer did: 4 out of 5. The tape is a bit off-putting, but I was more convinced of the heroine's conflict. I thought she did a good job of pursuing the facts, too, once she started asking questions.

Today, I'm heading out to do some shopping. I received my federal tax return, and since I have some money left after paying a few bills, I am stopping at the bookstore. Yay!

Alyssa

This Is So NOT Me

I hope I'm not turning into a quiz (or whatever these are) junkie, but I saw this on Lynn's blog and thought I'd try it. This is so not me.

What Is Your Battle Cry?

Lo! Who is that, running across the tarmac! It is Thracian, hands clutching a jeweled meat hammer! And with a low scream, her voice cometh: "Ares, God of War, be praised! Skulls will be fucked for Satan!"

Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ?

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