tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7358036620297659392023-11-16T11:27:31.351-05:00Cubie's ConfectionsA place to savor Romance books... from sinfully delicious paranormals to decadent historicals; from ambrosial urban fantasies to luscious erotica. Don't forget to check out my succulant Eye Candy! OVER 18 ONLY, PLEASE!Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.comBlogger366125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-29800510770058656312010-03-29T20:13:00.000-04:002010-03-29T20:15:06.194-04:00The Tudors Be Back!I just watched the first episode of the fourth (and *sob* FINAL) season of <a target="new" href="http://www.sho.com/site/tudors/home.do">The Tudors</a> on-line. When I went to <a target="new" href="http://www.sho.com/site/vip/home.do">this link</a>, I clicked the <span style="background-color: #cc0000; color: #f3f3f3;">WATCH</span> button, then entered the code <span style="background-color: #cc0000; color: #f3f3f3;">HABIT FORMING</span> when prompted. You see, an email from Showtime made it out to be some sooper seekret VIP Insider code, but it turns out that all you have to do is go to Showtime's Tudor's page and watch it <a href="http://www.sho.com/site/order/preview.do#/Tudors_s04_e01">there</a>. <br />
<br />
<img width="200" hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="QB's Quickie icon" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/EyeCandy/Celebrities/Henry_Cavill-March2010.jpg" border="0" />On one hand, I can't wait to watch the full season, but on the other, I DO NOT WANT IT TO END!! It's so lush and addictive. Although there was one major problem with this first episode-- not enough Henry Cavill, dammit! And hooboyhowdy, that Catherine (or Kathryn) Howard (aka The King's mid-life toy) was just too damn stupid to live, or maybe it's just that she was just such a flighty teenage girl without a clue what was expected of her station. I mean, if I didn't already know what happens to her (and I checked Wikipedia just to make sure), I'd be HOPING it would happen!<br />
<br />
And here's a sneak peek behind the scenes of the upcoming season:<br />
<div align="center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="225" id="flashObj" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/29474209001?isVid=1&publisherID=63128" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=68916687001&playerID=29474209001&domain=embed&" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/29474209001?isVid=1&publisherID=63128" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=68916687001&playerID=29474209001&domain=embed&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="300" height="225" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object><br />
</div><br />
*Sigh*<br />
Damn that's good stuff.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-93497184612630382010-03-16T00:14:00.000-04:002010-03-17T00:14:37.497-04:00The Runaway Paragraph<div align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img width="425" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/book-pile-6.jpg" border="0" alt="Buried in Books"></a></div><br />
Finishing up my <a target="new" href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2010/02/nommin-da-plumes.html">Passionate Plumes</a> books. About to start my <a target="new" href="http://www.romconinc.com/index.php/contest">Reader's Crown </a>books. Working. Getting tax crappola together to lug down to the CPA. Working. Prom shopping (aka The Death March) with Demon Spawn #3. College visits, housing contracts, etc. with Demon Spawn #3 (more fun, more money, more joy). Working. Running Demon Spawn #4 back and forth to sports. Working. Running back and forth to and/or for my Mom. Working. Wasting a good chunk of today filling out my <a target="new" href="http://dabwaha.com/">DABWAHA</a> brackets (instead of working). Trying to convince Mr. QB that he WILL be going with me to see Garth in Vegas and I DO NOT CARE how much extra work that heaps on our employees at the store- it's only for 5 freakin' days and they will just have to deal with it, dammit (although he told me that he DOES need to get away... to a deserted tropical island... with Heather Locklear... who he'll hunt down every couple of days... note that he neglected to invite me). Working. Finally made up a grocery list last Sunday between loads of laundry, may even find time to take said grocery list to "My Happy Place" (/sarcasm) before the Demon Spawn (aka the Swarm of Locusts) are reduced to gnawing on frozen cookie dough for dinner (not that they think that's a particularly bad thing, you understand, but then there won't be any cookie dough left for ME, and THAT is a VERY bad thing). Working.<br />
<br />
<img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Josh Wald" width="300" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/EyeCandy/JoshWald/2005-03-06-joshwald11-1.jpg" border="0" />Oops, gotta go. My Josh is INSISTING that I need a relaxing massage. <i>*sigh*</i> Oh, the things I must endure to keep that man happy.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-91131535958152751942010-03-06T23:12:00.002-05:002010-03-06T23:13:55.249-05:00QB's February 2010 Quickies<img alt="QB's Quickie icon" border="0" hspace="5" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/MnMQB-resized.png" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" /><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">"So, read any good books lately?"</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">"What did you think of...?"</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Here's my Quickie Reviews to answer to those questions. Click on the Links for more info.</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Madness-Mackenzie-Leisure-Historical-Romance/dp/0843960434?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (Leisure Historical Romance)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0843960434&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Madness-Mackenzie-Leisure-Historical-Romance/dp/0843960434?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0843960434" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="http://www.jennifersromances.com/" target="new">Jennifer Ashley</a></span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Highland Pleasures, book 1</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0843960434" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />Category:</span> Lava Cake</strong> - reads like warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (A,A-)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 5.5"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In our times, Ian would probably have been diagnosed as autistic as a child. But in the Victorian era, his father had him locked away in a brutal asylum. After inheriting the ducal seat upon their father's death, Ian's oldest brother demanded and received his release from the asylum. With his brothers' help, Ian then had to learn how to mimic "normal" human interaction without understanding or feeling it himself. </div><br />
Look, I'll make my thoughts short and sweet on the story that unfolds-- loved Ian, loved Beth, loved Ian's family. Marvelously, beautifully unique story and characters.<br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a target="new" href="http://kristiej.blogspot.com/2009/03/recent-read_20.html">KristieJ</a>, <a target="new" href="http://ahhhhhromance.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-madness-of-lord-ian-mackenzie-by_14.html">Tracy</a>, <a target="new" href="http://karenknowsbest.com/2009/11/18/the-madness-of-lord-ian-mackenzie-a-sorta-review%e2%80%a6/">Karen Scott</a>, <a target="new" href="http://romancerookie.blogspot.com/2009/10/review-madness-of-lord-ian-mackenzie.html">Jill D</a>, <a target="new" href="http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/04/28/review-the-madness-of-lord-ian-by-jennifer-ashley/">Dear Author-Janet</a>, <a target="new" href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=38406">RT</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Night-Joss-Ware/dp/0061734012?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Beyond the Night" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0061734012&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Night-Joss-Ware/dp/0061734012?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Beyond the Night</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0061734012" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="http://www.joss-ware.com/" target="new">Joss Ware</a></span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Awakening Heroes, book 1</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0061734012" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />Category:</span> Peanut M&Ms</strong> - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 5"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I normally wouldn't give a second glance to a post-apocalyptic SF romance- they are usually too bleak, depressing and hopeless- but I read somewhere that Joss Ware is another pen name for <a href="http://www.colleengleason.com/" target="new">Colleen Gleason</a>. Talk about extremes! From the Gardella Vampire Chronicles (aka Buffy Does Regency), to post-apocalyptic SF? I was intrigued. And you know what? I couldn't put it down! I've already bought the next book in the series.</div><br />
A group of men go caving near Sedona Arizona in 2011. Something happens, and when they dig their way out, it's fifty years later, the world as they knew it has been destroyed, and they seem to have some special powers. <br />
<br />
Besides the romance between one of these men, Dr. Elliott Drake, and one of the descendents of survivors, Jade, this book introduces us to a mysterious race of immortal beings and their zombie-like slaves. Did the Strangers have something to do with the destruction of civilization? Who or what are they? We DO find out in this first book, and I've got to say that I never saw THAT one coming! Can't wait to find out what's up with the blondes.<br />
<br />
The hairs on the back of Joss Ware's neck should be permanently raised considering the cataclysmic events happening in spots around the world right now that eerily echo the events that happened in her 2011 reality.<br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a target="new" href="http://thebookbinge.com/2010/03/review-beyond-night-by-joss-ware.html">Book Binge-Casee</a>, <a target="new" href="http://thebookbinge.com/2010/02/guest-review-beyond-night-by-joss-ware.html">Book Binge-Judith</a>, <a target="new" href="http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2010/01/guest-review-beyond-night-joss-ware.html">Katiebabs-Kati</a>, <a target="new" href="http://trelainastarblazer.blogspot.com/2010/01/beyond-night-by-joss-ware-2010.html">Stacy</a>, <a target="new" href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=40562">RT</a> <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Queene-Lightworld-Darkworld-Jennifer-Armintrout/dp/0778326624?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Queene of Light (Lightworld/Darkworld)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0778326624&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Queene-Lightworld-Darkworld-Jennifer-Armintrout/dp/0778326624?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Queene of Light</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0778326624" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> by <a href="http://www.jenniferarmintrout.com/" target="new">Jennifer Armintrout</a></span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lightworld/Darkworld, book 1</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;"><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0778326624" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>Category:</span> Dark Chocolate</strong> - loved by some, just "meh" to me (C-,D+)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 2"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This dark fantasy story SHOULD have worked, but it just felt too disjointed. I never figured out the difference between those in the <i>Lightworld</i> and those in the <i>Darkworld</i>- they ALL lived underground in dark, nasty subway tunnels. And why did they all hate each other? I never understood what kind of being Malachi (the male lead) was before he transformed into a... something (dunno what)... after touching Ayla. I didn't get how they went from mortal enemies to being, after a couple of brief encounters, <i>twooly in luv</i> and willing to give up everything for each other. I found it odd that poor, down-trodden, depressing Ayla suddenly decided she wanted to be Queen. </div><br />
I REALLY couldn't understand, and REALLY found it odd that I slogged my way through this entire book hoping it would eventually make sense and get better.<br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a target="new" href="http://romancebytheblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/feature-review-queene-of-light-by.html">RBTB-Amy</a>, <a target="new" href="http://www.featheredquill.com/reviews/sciencefiction/armintrout.shtml">Feathered Quill</a>, <a target="new" href="http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=5568">Night Owl</a>, <a target="new" href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=39798">RT</a><br />
<br />
<center>♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</center><br />
<img alt="Bow Down" border="0" hspace="5" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/YouareTheWoman.gif" style="float: right; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" />Th-th-that's all folks! Three, count 'em, THREE, whole books for the month of February. No, really, you may rise... It's truly not necessary to bow down in the face of my awesome book reading prowess.<br />
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<br />
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<em><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Have you read any of these books? Feel free to review or link to a review in the comments. Even if you don't agree!</strong></span></em>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-71628649005003093242010-03-04T12:10:00.001-05:002010-03-04T12:48:17.159-05:00Classic Slash Trek<b>Broke Trek:</b> <i>A Star Trek Brokeback Mountain Parody</i> (thanks again to <a target="new" href="http://eguiders.com/">eGuiders</a>)<br />
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Seriously laugh out loud campy and hi-lare-ee-ous. Wait'll you see the simulated buttsecksoring. But be warned that it's mildly NSFW.<br />
<br />
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7xSOuLky3n0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7xSOuLky3n0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-29862458630241446992010-03-01T12:06:00.000-05:002010-03-01T12:06:10.558-05:00Recipe for Sweet Beefcake Eyecandy<blockquote><span style="font-size:130%">Look at him, now back at me... I'm on a horse.</span></blockquote>(Thanks to <a target="new" href="http://eguiders.com/">eGuiders</a>)<br />
<br />
Is there anyone out there that DOESN'T know what commercial I'm referring to? And to prove just how effective it is, is there anyone out there that doesn't know what PRODUCT it's shilling? (Um, okay, maybe I should qualify those questions and ask if there's anyone in the U.S. that hasn't seen it?)<br />
<br />
Leo Laporte of TWiT Live interviewed the guys who created the ad to learn how it was made. Don't be intimidated by the length of this clip. Not only are the facts of its creation really interesting, but with heapin' helpings of sweet beefcake eyecandy, you won't even notice that much time passing.<br />
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<div align="center"><object width="420" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VDk9jjdiXJQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VDk9jjdiXJQ&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="420" height="340"></embed></object></div><br />
And here's the short version they refer to in the above video. I hadn't seen this one.<br />
<div align="center"><object width="420" height="255"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LpUrz9RvuPk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LpUrz9RvuPk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="255"></embed></object></div>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-24111095361056765362010-02-27T22:18:00.001-05:002010-02-27T22:24:14.369-05:00I Haz a Giddee<div align="center"><a href="http://ihasahotdog.com/2008/08/26/funny-dog-pictures-epic-happee/"><img alt="dog" class="mine_1705618" src="http://ihasahotdog.wordpress.com/files/2008/08/funny-dog-pictures-dog-is-very-happy1.jpg" /></a><br />
see more <a href="http://ihasahotdog.com/">dog and puppy pictures</a></div><br />
<b>I'm finally going to go see Garth in concert!</b> You've got no idea how much this means to me. Seriously, I'm pretty sure I'm going to start bawling happy tears when he walks out on that stage! <br />
<br />
And my husband will be a total grump because A) He doesn't like Country music and B) I've always been straight-up with him about the fact that Garth is the only man I would ever leave him for (ignoring the fact that he's now married to <i>Trisha</i>, whose name I say in my head with the same inflections that Seinfield used to say "Hello <i>Newman</i>"). But we'll be kid-free and in Vegas, so Ima thinkin' I can find SOME creative way to exorcize da grumpeez outta him. <i>*winkwink-nudgenudge*</i><br />
<br />
Back in the early 90's I was mostly listening to Oldies and Classic Rock radio stations because there wasn't really much of anything new and exciting happening in Rock music and pretty much nothing worth listening to in Pop. I don't remember what year it was exactly, but around that same time, NBC aired that first Garth concert special. So I figured I'd tune in a see what this Garth guy was all about and... HOLY SHIT! What IS that?! I want more, More, MORE!<br />
<br />
Naturally I went out and bought all the tapes I could get my hands on (yes I said TAPES- as in CASSETTES. Shut up. I had to work with what that MomMobile had.) and I loved every minute of them. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hits-Garth-Brooks/dp/B000008O4G?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Hits" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000008O4G&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Later, his greatest hits CD, <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hits-Garth-Brooks/dp/B000008O4G?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Hits</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000008O4G" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000008O4G" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, ended up saving my sanity, and that's not hyperbole. My mother was staying with us for about 6 weeks after having back surgery. At the time, my two oldest kids were in 1st grade, demon spawn #3 was a demanding toddler, and #4 wasn't born yet. Because #3 was so demanding I was only working part time and had to do much of my work at home whenever she would let me or when my husband was home to watch her. So, add my demanding mother into the mix, and a husband who resented the way she treated me so that the tension between them made things worse, and really, there were days I was sure I was going to go bug-fucking nuts postal.</div><br />
Only Garth's <i>The Hits</i> CD saved them all from Armageddon by Bevzilla. See my only escape was to go to the grocery store. So I'd go at night when it was dark and no one could see me. Then, after hurrying to get the groceries, I'd drive aimlessly around back roads singing to <i>The Hits</i> at the top of my lungs. Yeah, my singing would make your ears bleed, but at least singing along with Garth is easy enough that I didn't hurt myself trying. Anyway, after about an hour of that, I was always renewed and recharged and could go home and face the tension and pressure again for a few days until it built up enough that I needed to "get groceries" again. <br />
<br />
And Garth also brought me, a rock fan, over to Country radio. I always liked Country Rock groups like Buffalo Springfield, Poco, The Eagles, but Country WESTERN? Nuh-uh, no way. Too twangy. Or it WAS, before the appearance of Garth, the rest of the "Class of '89", and many others they later influenced. And I've continued to be a Country fan, although lately I've found myself listening to Classic Rock a lot again (too many sound-alike girl singers, I think).<br />
<br />
I always wanted to go see a Garth concert, but back when he was touring with that wild, kick-ass stage show, I just wasn't staying current with what was going on outside of home and work. So it never failed that, when he was playing in Cleveland or Pittsburgh, I wouldn't hear about it until weeks after the concerts were sold out.<br />
<br />
So when it was announced that he would be playing at <a href="http://www.wynnlasvegas.com/#homepage/" target="new">The Wynn Las Vegas</a> in a small, intimate venue a few weekends a year, I knew I HAD to go. But I didn't bother to try the first quarter because I knew there would be little chance I'd get through. So I've been waiting for the next quarter sale dates to be announced. <br />
<br />
Well Good News-Bad News. Good News- the tickets were going on sale this morning. Bad News- I'd be slogging around the slushy cold streets of Pittsburgh on a college visit with Demon Spawn #3 starting at 8 AM. NONONONONONO!<br />
<br />
So I emailed <strike>Demon</strike> Angel Spawn #1 and asked her if she would try for me. I gave her the dates we could go, my Visa card number, and told her she had to pretend to be me because of the strict ticketing rules. I even told her she was my favorite.<br />
<br />
Well, God Bless her, she was on the phone and online <b><i>for over three hours,</i></b> but she finally got through and got us two tickets! Did I mention that she's my favorite?<br />
<br />
I still can't believe it. And I probably won't completely believe it until I'm sitting in the Encore theater and see him walk out. Thus the aforementioned happy tears will commence.<br />
<br />
<div align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yezW7c_Qe8E&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yezW7c_Qe8E&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-4984359105033306652010-02-26T22:23:00.001-05:002010-02-26T22:24:31.678-05:00Nommin' Da PlumesI once again have the honor of being a first round judge for the <a target="new" href="http://www.passionateink.org/contests/">Passionate Plumes</a>, awarded by <a target="new" href="http://www.passionateink.org/">Passionate Ink</a>, the erotic romance chapter of the <a target="new" href="http://rwanational.org/">Romance Writers of America </a>(RWA). Winners will be announced at the Passionate Ink gathering at RWA's 30th Annual National Conference July 28-31, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.<br />
<br />
As you know, my tired, old, baggy eyes aren't up to reading ebooks anymore. However, there are very few PP entries available in print. <a target="new" href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2009/03/save-contemporary-romance.html">Last year</a> I indicated a preference for print and well, let's just say I decided it was worth risking eyestrain in order to get a chance at a better selection this year.<br />
<br />
So I've received 5 ebooks. ALL are paranormal this time (YEAH!)- one about the Sidhe, one vampire, one werewolf, one based on Greek mythology in a contemporary setting, and one based on psychic powers. <br />
<br />
One's from <a target="new" href="http://samhainpublishing.com/">Samhain</a> so I have high hopes for it. <br />
<br />
Two are from <a target="new" href="http://www.loose-id.com/">Loose Id</a> who've placed something in their PDFs that blocks me from converting to LIT (a pox on them for that) which means I'll have to read them in PDF instead of MSReader; which means no saving my place, no bookmarks, no sticky notes, etc. Which means they better be good because I WILL be irritated! <br />
<br />
Another book is from an epub I'm not familiar with. And the fifth is a cheesy sounding story from an epub that is known for its cheesiness. I'm trying to read that last one first to get it out of the way, but its constant scene jumping is irritating me to no end. Yowzer, is that Limburger I smell?<br />
<br />
I do have to give kudos to Loose Id and Samhain for including the blurbs and series sequence right at the beginning of the ebooks. That is SUCH an appreciated convenience!<br />
<br />
And since this year I will also be a judge for <a target="new" href="http://www.romconinc.com/">RomCon's</a> <a target="new" href="http://www.romconinc.com/index.php/contest">The Readers' Crown™</a>, AND since those books are due to be shipped next week, AND since it's my crunch time for work, don't expect to see me around much. I consider judging to be, not only an honor, but a responsibility I take seriously. <br />
<br />
<center>♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</center><br />
<br />
And now because I'm still fantasizing about it and still hoping that once Microsoft releases its <a target="new" href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/17/windows-phone-7-series-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know/">Windows Phone 7 Series</a> (not that I'll give up my leetle pink Razr anytime soon) and HP releases its <a target="new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7CUfRq7KsA">Slate</a>, then maybe, just maybe, Microsoft will then turn to the release of what I consider to be Tech Pr0n, <a target="new" href="http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/29/new-microsoft-courier-video-details-tablet-interface-exciting-l/">The Microsoft Courier</a>. <br />
<br />
You have no idea how much I'm lusting after this thing. I watch the supposedly "leaked" videos with as much intensity as some people watch internet porn. Seriously, who needs that oversized, underpowered, censored-to-all-hell-by-Big-Brother Apple iPad when you can have this. Man, this better not turn out to be vaporware. I'm still disappointed that Microsoft didn't announce this baby at CES last month.<br />
<br />
Just look at it- the perfect size to fit in my purse; its got a clamshell book-like design so I can throw it in my purse without a cover; it uses finger touch or stylus (which I prefer); I can probably use MSReader for all my LIT ebooks, and I'm assuming that any ebook reading software for other formats that's available for Windows 7 will work on it; and... and... aw, hell, just watch the video pr0n:<br />
<br />
<object width="420" height="255"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XfhM4alR7uA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XfhM4alR7uA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="255"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<i>*le sigh*</i> Was it as good for you as it was for me? <a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/comeandgetitff.gif" border="0" alt="Romantic"></a>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-28627365641462115552010-02-17T20:18:00.001-05:002010-02-17T20:18:25.861-05:002010 Audie Nominees Announced<i>From The <a href="http://www.audiopub.org/" target="new">Audio Publishers Association</a> (APA):</i><br />
<blockquote>February 15, 2010<br />
<br />
<b>15th ANNUAL AUDIES® COMPETITION SHOWS STRENGTH OF AUDIO INDUSTRY</b><br />
Winners to be Announced May 25 at The Museum of the City of New York<br />
<br />
Princeton Junction, NJ – The Audio Publishers Association (APA) has announced nominations for its 2010 Audies competition, the only awards program in the United States devoted entirely to honoring spoken word entertainment. Winners will be announced at the Audies Gala on May 25, 2010, at The Museum of the City of New York in New York City.<br />
<br />
Another record-breaking year with 1,056 titles entered, 2010 was a year of innovation for the competition. APA took the Audies into the 21st century and partnered with APA member, <a target="new" href="http://www.audible.com">Audible, Inc</a>., to distribute almost all titles for consideration digitally to judges. In years past, judges primarily received shipments of audiobooks on CDs and cassettes.<br />
<br />
Finalists for the most prestigious awards, Distinguished Achievement in Production and Audiobook of the Year, will be announced in the spring. The Distinguished Achievement in Production award honors an audiobook that demonstrates excellence in all areas of production. The Audiobook of the Year award recognizes an audiobook that, through quality, innovation, marketing and sales, has had a significant impact on the industry. Other categories for the judges' consideration included Audio Drama, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Humor, Multi-Voiced Performance, Mystery, Romance, Spanish Language, Thriller/Suspense and many more.<br />
<br />
“Each year the entries continue to grow in number and improve in quality and production,” said Janet Benson, APA President. “This is an encouraging indicator of the health of the audiobook industry. Also, such strong participation in the competition has allowed the association to plan for more widespread initiatives to ultimately help our member companies increase sales despite the challenging economic climate.”<br />
</blockquote><br />
Here's a few noteworthy (sez I) categories. Read the complete Nominee List PDF <a target="new" href="http://www.audiopub.org/2010%20finalists.pdf">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>AUDIO DRAMA</strong></span><br />
<b>Focus on the Family Radio Theatre: The Screwtape Letters</b>, by C.S. Lewis, adapted by PaulMcCusker, Narrated by Andy Serkis and a full cast, Tyndale House<br />
<b>Little Dorrit</b>, by Charles Dickens, Narrated by Sir Ian McKellan and a full cast, BBC Audiobooks America<br />
<b>The Maltese Falcon</b>, by Dashiell Hammett, Narrated by Michael Madsen, Sandra Oh, Edward Herrmann and a full cast, Blackstone Audio<br />
<b>The Rivalry</b>, by Norman Corwin, Narrated by Paul Giamatti, James Gleason, Lily Rabe, David Strathairn and Shannon Cochran, L.A. Theatre Works<br />
<b>The Word of Promise® Audio Bible</b>, Narrated by a full cast including Michael York, Richard Dreyfuss, Gary Sinise and others, Thomas Nelson Inc.<br />
<span style="color:#ff6600;"><i>Holy celebrities, Batgirls! The list of narrators in that category reads like a Who's Who of Hollywood.</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>MYSTERY</strong></span><br />
<b>Black Money</b>, by Ross Macdonald, Narrated by Grover Gardner, Blackstone Audio<br />
<b>Devil in a Blue Dress</b>, by Walter Mosley, Narrated by Michael Boatman, Audible, Inc.<br />
<b>The Dying Breed</b>, by Declan Hughes, Narrated by Stanley Townsend, Isis Publishing<br />
<b>Revelation</b>, by C.J. Sansom, Narrated by Steven Crossley, Recorded Books<br />
<b>The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes</b>, Volume 1, by Arthur Conan Doyle, Narrated by Charlton Griffin, Audio Connoisseur<br />
<span style="color:#ff6600;"><i>Hmmm. That Sherlock Holmes anthology sounds pretty good. Adding to wish list.</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>NARRATION BY THE AUTHOR or AUTHORS</strong></span><br />
Michael Chabon, <b>Manhood for Amateurs</b>, HarperAudio<br />
Kristin Chenoweth, <b>A Little Bit Wicked</b>, Oasis Audio<br />
Neil Gaiman, <b>Odd and the Frost Giants</b>, HarperChildrensAudio<br />
Tim Green, <b>Baseball Great</b>, HarperChildrensAudio<br />
Jeannette Walls, <b>Half Broke Horses</b>, Simon & Schuster Audio<br />
<br />
<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>ROMANCE</strong></span><br />
<b>Dark Slayer</b>, by Christine Feehan, Narrated by <b>Phil Gigante and Jane Brown</b>, Brilliance Audio<br />
<b>The House on Tradd Street</b>, by Karen White, Narrated by Aimée Bruneau, Listen & Live Audio<br />
<b>A Rogue of My Own</b>, by Johanna Lindsey, Narrated by Rosalyn Landor, Brilliance Audio<br />
<b>The Untamed Bride</b>, by Stephanie Laurens, Narrated by Simon Prebble, HarperAudio<br />
<b>What I Did for Love</b>, by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Narrated by Julia Gibson, HarperAudio<br />
<span style="color:#ff6600;"><i>Yep, Phil G. was nominated again. BOO-YAH! The dual-reader format that he's been doing with Jane Brown for the Carpathian series has become my favorite narration style. He does all the men, she does all the women and they switch off on narration.<br />
I've got <b>The Untamed Bride</b> here waiting until I finish my current Dresden. I'm looking forward to it. Simon Prebble's narration was excellent in Lauren's <b>Devil's Bride</b>. <br />
A SEP audio book won a couple of years ago. I think she's a bit more "mainstream" and therefore garners more votes. Though I've never read/listened to one of hers, so I can't fairly judge.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY</strong></span><br />
<b>Bellwether</b>, by Connie Willis, narrated by Kate Reading, Blackstone Audio<br />
<b>The Gathering Storm</b>, by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, Narrated by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer, Macmillan Audio<br />
<b>Kushiel's Dart</b>, by Jacqueline Carey, Narrated by Anne Flosnik, Tantor Audio<br />
<b>Kushiel's Scion</b>, by Jacqueline Carey, Narrated by Simon Vance, Tantor Audio<br />
<b>Podkayne of Mars</b>, by Robert A. Heinlein, Narrated by Emily Janice Card, Blackstone Audio<br />
<span style="color:#ff6600;"><i>Note to LissaNY: That's the Kushiel series I rec'd to you. Since they are so complex, I wasn't sure how easy they'd be to follow in audio, but the fact that they are nominated tells me they must work well. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>SHORT STORIES/COLLECTIONS</strong></span><br />
<b>Black Mask Audio Magazine Vol 1</b>, by various authors, Narrated by a full cast, Blackstone Audio<br />
<b>The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1</b>, by Arthur Conan Doyle, Narrated by Charlton Griffin, Audio Connoisseur<br />
<b>Just After Sunset</b>, by Stephen King, Narrated by Stephen King, Jill Eikenberry, Holter Graham, George Guidall, Ron McLarty, Denis O’Hare and a full cast, Simon & Schuster Audio<br />
<b>Love Letters of Great Men</b>, by Ursula Doyle, Narrated by Anton Lesser, Macmillan Audio<br />
<b>Nothing with Strings: NPR's Beloved Holiday Stories</b>, by Bailey White, Narrated by Lorna Raver, Tantor Audio<br />
<span style="color:#ff6600;"><i>Wow, the Holmes anthology is nominated in two categories; must buy/borrow. </i></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote>About Audio Publishers Association (APA)<br />
The Audio Publishers Association (APA) is a not-for-profit trade organization whose primary goals are to promote awareness of the audiobook industry, gather and disseminate industry statistics, encourage high production standards and represent the interests of audiobook publishers. Since 1986, the APA has worked to bring audio publishers together to increase interest in audiobooks. Please visit www.audiopub.org for more information.</blockquote>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-45678140737988440342010-02-11T19:15:00.000-05:002010-02-11T19:22:30.529-05:00We Dressed Up Our Barbies and Kens...<img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Bug Nuts Dancer" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/65.gif" border="0" />...but apparently <i>teh menz </i> like to dress up their playthings too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Mr. Bean Happy Peen" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/happy_mr_bean-animated.gif" border="0" /><a href="http://www.dapperdicks.com/" target="new">DapperDicks.com</a> (via <a href="http://www.queerclick.com/archive/2010/02/_the_sword_wolf_hudson.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Queerclick+%28QueerClick%29" target="new">QueerClick</a>) has an entire line of <i>"designer wear for down there"</i>. <b><span style="color: red;">WARNING: NSFW</span></b><br />
<br />
<br />
I can't decide if my favorite is Pirate Hardwood <i>(Yaaargh... Thar she blows!)</i> or Stroker the Cowboy <i>(YEE-HAH! Round 'em up and whip 'em out!)</i> Coming soon (har) are Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Bone Yard. <br />
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<br />
So you say you need a last minute Valentine's present for your Mister and his Mr. Happy?Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-55025967483366099342010-02-11T16:38:00.001-05:002010-02-11T16:39:41.792-05:00Happy 3rd Blogiversary to Me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>PARTY</strong></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJCDZgFtRldS2lHtfC2rh9u-FmEtXXZLtTuGzlclDw821cM5BzVTzjt1IbifWnj0tDTvbgsEgq86l8c-dktr6q6A9-c1eaq55PmNWpZD3-ZfuMBTv-GvUk3AiMViQp3TIRJ55PpYKiass/s1600-h/Josh_Wald-540006133_l_1__phixr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJCDZgFtRldS2lHtfC2rh9u-FmEtXXZLtTuGzlclDw821cM5BzVTzjt1IbifWnj0tDTvbgsEgq86l8c-dktr6q6A9-c1eaq55PmNWpZD3-ZfuMBTv-GvUk3AiMViQp3TIRJ55PpYKiass/s400/Josh_Wald-540006133_l_1__phixr.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
</div>Yep, as of yesterday, this blog has existed for THREE YEARS!<br />
<br />
Okay, yeah, I recently went on walkabout for a few months, but that wasn't my fault. <i>No really</i>. In addition to just not having TIME to blog (hence this day-late post), the fact is that I really didn't have much to say. I <b><i>KNOW</i></b>... <i><b>ME</b></i> with nothing to say! What's up with THAT?!<br />
<br />
But I think what started it was a string of favorite authors/series with less than stellar, or disappointing, or in some cases flat-out AWFUL books. That snowballed into a reading slump where most books I picked up just seemed like too much of a commitment. You wouldn't believe all the books scattered all around here where I read the first few pages, sighed, and sat it down because I just didn't feel like committing to the time required to read it. And when I DID decide a book was worth reading, it took me DAYS of start/stop reading to finish it! Really, I think I read more books in January than I I have in TOTAL over the past few months.<br />
<br />
I'm debating whether to do a blog post/series of blog posts about the let downs. Try to exorcize the bad-read mojo by purging all my negative thoughts at once. I dunno, is it bad sportsmanship to only post negative reviews? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/HappyBirthdayetc/pumpkinpuke-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/HappyBirthdayetc/pumpkinpuke-1.jpg" /></a></div>One of the scary things is that, even though I've eagerly devoured books by these authors in the past, once I hit these disappointing books, in many cases I haven't been able to read any other books in these series. Kind of like when you eat a favorite meal over and over again- can't get enough of it- but then that one time, the flu hit soon after eating your favorite. The next time you start to eat that favorite meal again, you can't help but think of all the swirling chunky bits you ralphed into the toilet bowl the last time you ate it.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-80207452033186189852010-02-08T19:36:00.003-05:002010-02-27T18:30:22.554-05:00QB's January 2010 Quickies, Part II<img alt="QB's Quickie icon" border="0" hspace="5" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/MnMQB-resized.png" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" /><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">"So, read any good books lately?"</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">"What did you think of...?"</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Here's my Quickie Reviews to answer to those questions. Click on the Links for more info.</strong><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kittys-House-Horrors-Kitty-Norville/dp/0446199559?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, Book 7)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0446199559&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0446199559" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kittys-House-Horrors-Kitty-Norville/dp/0446199559?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Kitty's House of Horrors</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0446199559" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="http://www.carrievaughn.com/" target="new">Carrie Vaughn</a></span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Kitty Norville Book 7</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
See <a href="http://cubiesconfections-index.blogspot.com/" target="new">INDEX</a> for previous books.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Category:</span> Lava Cake</strong> - reads like warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (A,A-)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 2"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Talk radio host and werewolf Kitty agrees to participate in a reality show along with other shapeshifters, vampires, and psychics. Filming in an isolated location starts off pretty much as Kitty anticipated, but then things suddenly start to go alarmingly wrong. The participants are being hunted. Some die. </div><br />
The best Kitty 2.0 story yet (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kitty-Takes-Holiday-Norville-Book/dp/0446618748?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Kitty Takes a Holiday</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0446618748" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is still my favorite Kitty 1.0, or pre-alpha, story). If you read this without reading the previous Kitty books, you probably won't quite understand why I enjoyed this so much more than many other Urban Fantasies. <br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a href="http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=2223" target="new">Fresh Fiction</a>, <a href="http://www.nightsandweekends.com/articles/09/NW0900650.php" target="new">Nights and Weekends</a>, <a href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=40584">RT</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Charm-Helen-Scott-Taylor/dp/0505528282?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Phoenix Charm" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0505528282&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Knot-Spell-Paranormal-Romance/dp/0505527960?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Magic Knot (Love Spell Paranormal Romance)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0505527960&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0505527960" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Knot-Spell-Paranormal-Romance/dp/0505527960?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">The Magic Knot</span></strong></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0505527960" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">by </span><a href="http://www.helenscotttaylor.com/" target="new"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Helen Scott Taylor</span></a></strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Magic Knot series Book 1</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0505528282" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Charm-Helen-Scott-Taylor/dp/0505528282?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Phoenix Charm </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0505528282" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Magic Knot series Book 2</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Category:</span> Peanut M&Ms</strong> - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)<br />
<strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 5.8"</strong> out of 9"<br />
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This fantasy romance series caught my attention with the recent release of book 2. So being the OCD Reader that I am, I bought book 1, which won the American Title IV contest. <br />
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I'm SO glad I did! Set in present day Cornwall with side trips to Ireland and Wales, some of the fae live secretly among humans, while others still live within the faery realms. You know, I'm pretty sure Taylor has even found a way to enchant the ink in these magical stories. There has to be some geis at work because, once the covers are opened, it's impossible to close them until the final page is read. And before I closed the cover on book 1, I was ordering book 2 from Amazon (Yeah for 2-day Prime!).<br />
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Just when I was sure I knew what happened next-- because I could see THOSE romance tropes coming from a mile away-- damned if Taylor didn't make a sharp turn nearly every time and gleefully skip away from the expected. (Spoiler hint: not all heroes have magic peens, and troo lurve doesn't always save the day- nor does it keep heroines from admiring other bits of sweet beefcake mancandy!)<br />
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This series may end up in my <strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Lava Cake</span></strong> category eventually. There's still a few unanswered questions that kind of puzzled me. Some may be answered when/if Nightshade gets his own book (pretty please?). But I'm afraid that the mystery of how Rose's mother managed to escape with all the things she escaped with (can't say more) will remain unsolved for the reader. And why didn't Michael and Niall's father bother telling either of them the truths about themselves? Of course we may find out more about him someday in HIS own book, too. Oh, and I was disappointed that we never heard from Niall and Rose (from book 1) throughout the entire 2nd book. Considering what they left behind under Michael and Cordelia's care, I just didn't find it plausible that they wouldn't be checking in or rushing back. <br />
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But you know what? Set those questions aside for right now. Just sit back and enjoy taking the fun, magical ride that is <i>The Magic Knot</i> series.<br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a href="http://thebooksmugglers.com/2009/01/book-review-the-magic-knot-by-helen-scott-taylor.html" target="new">The Book Smugglers</a>, <a href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=37588" target="new">RT</a>, <a href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=40564" target="new">RT</a>, <a href="http://www.theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/magiknottaylor.htm" target="new">TRS</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Call-Highland-Kendra-Leigh-Castle/dp/1402211589?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Call of the Highland Moon" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1402211589&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1402211589" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Call-Highland-Kendra-Leigh-Castle/dp/1402211589?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Call of the Highland Moon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1402211589" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="http://kendraleighcastle.com/" target="new">Kendra Leigh Castle</a></span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The MacInnes Werewolves Trilogy, book 1</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Category:</span> M&Ms</strong> - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 5"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Contemporary Highland werewolf Gideon MacInnes goes for a walkabout in America before he settles down to become his pack's Alpha. When injured, his wolfie senses lead him to his mate, Carly Silver, an American who owns a Romance bookstore. A light, entertaining read. Kind of fell apart a bit at the end. I'm disappointed that the next books in the series don't pair up Gideon's hound-dawg (har) brother and Carly's spunky best friend. They were both almost more interesting than the lead characters.</div><strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a href="http://kristiej.blogspot.com/2008/07/recent-reads.html" target="new">KristieJ</a>, <a href="http://ruthiesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/01/review-call-of-highland-moon-by-kendra.html" target="new">Ruthie</a> (warning: auto-music), <a href="http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=680" target="new">Bitten By Books</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadowfae-Erica-Hayes/dp/0312578008?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Shadowfae" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0312578008&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312578008" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadowfae-Erica-Hayes/dp/0312578008?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Shadowfae</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0312578008" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="http://www.ericahayes.net/" target="new">Erica Hayes</a></span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Chronicles, book 1</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Category:</span> Coconut Truffles</strong> - SO not for me! (D,D-,F)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 1"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Most of my DNFs (Did Not Finish) books are the result of setting books down and intending to pick them back up, but losing interest and never getting around to finishing them (unfortunately, there's been a LOT of those lately). Not so with <b>Shadowfae</b>. I literally FORCED myself to give this book a chance since I had been eagerly looking forward to it and had even placed it on my <i>Insatiable Lusts </i>Wish List! The blurb sounded soo good. But by the end of Chapter 8, I honestly said <i>out loud</i>, <i>"Enough of THIS! I've wasted enough of my time on it."</i></div><br />
I knew this was going to be a difficult read fairly early in the book. The lead character, Jade, is written in 1st person past tense. Then, for no apparent reason, Hayes writes all the other characters in 3rd person PRESENT tense. Now I'm not a big fan of present tense anyway, but it can be used quite effectively to convey a sense of menace- think of a Linda Howard villian's POV. But all <i>Shadowfae's</i> tense shifting accomplished was jolting me right out of the book. <br />
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Add in a whole lot of drooling blood, poison spit swapping, and other gross-outs; then consider the fact that none of the characters or their lives were particularly likeable, and this story was just flat-out not my cuppa. It might work for someone else, but just pushed too many of my "Do Not Want" buttons.<br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a href="http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-reviews-crimson-steam-and.html" target="new">KatieBabs</a>, <a href="http://www.scifiguy.ca/2009/10/review-shadowfae-by-erica-hayes.html" target="new">SciFiGuy</a>, <a href="http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=4371" target="new">NOR</a>, <a href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=39829" target="new">RT</a>, <br />
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<em><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Have you read any of these books? Feel free to review or link to a review in the comments. Even if you don't agree!</strong></span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><br />
Grrr, what is wrong with Google Reader? My first searches for Piquant Opines always start there. But for some reason searching ALL subscriptions doesn't always work. For instance, when I searched on "The Magic Knot", there were no review hits (just mentions and contests) within my subscriptions. Yet Helen Scott Taylor's website mentions a review by <a target="new" href="http://thebooksmugglers.com/">The Book Smugglers</a>. Sure enough, when I searched ONLY their feed, the review came up, but it SHOULD have hit when I searched ALL FEEDS. So, if I missed linking to someone, please let me know.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-65647159806106222342010-02-08T14:29:00.002-05:002010-02-08T14:31:57.409-05:00QB's January 2010 Quickies, Part I<img alt="QB's Quickie icon" border="0" hspace="5" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/MnMQB-resized.png" style="float: left; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px;" /><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">"So, read any good books lately?"</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">"What did you think of...?"</span></strong><br />
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<strong>Here's my Quickie Reviews to answer to those questions. Click on the Links for more info.</strong><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-All-Time-Bertrice-Small/dp/0451204743?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="A Love For All Time" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0451204743&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451204743" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-All-Time-Bertrice-Small/dp/0451204743?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Love For All Time</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451204743" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="http://www.bertricesmall.com/" target="new">Bertrice Small</a></span></strong> <br />
Sky O'Malley series, book 3</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Category:</span> Lava Cake</strong> - reads like warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (A,A-)<br />
<strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 6"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For years, this 3rd book in The O'Malley Saga (copyright 1986, but I've seen references to a 1981 release date) was unavailable except for expensive used copies. So you might imagine how thrilled I was to FINALLY complete my set with this reprint. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This one is about Skye's youngest brother, Conn, a charming Irishman considered to be "the handsomest man at court" and a particular favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. After he causes one too many scandals, Queen Bess marries him off to one of her wards, the relatively plain-faced heiress Aiden St. Michael. </div><br />
The story that unfolds is vintage Small (yes, kidnapping and harems are involved). The only reason this one isn't <strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Crème Brûlée</span></strong> like the rest of the series, is because, since the male lead is Skye's brother, we know going into it that he won't meet an unexpected early death. LOL, yeah, sounds bloodthirsty, but one of the myriad reasons I love Ms. Small so much is that I never know which man will be the ultimate survivor who wins the HEA with the heroine. <br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a href="http://www.shira.net/bookrvws/alltime.htm" target="new">shira.net</a>, <a href="http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=1656" target="new">AAR</a>, <a href="http://www.allreaders.com/Topics/info_27989.asp?BSID=158988181" target="new">allreaders</a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Enchantment-Dark-Magic-Book/dp/0425232018?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Wicked Enchantment (Dark Magic, Book 1)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0425232018&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0425232018" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Enchantment-Dark-Magic-Book/dp/0425232018?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Wicked Enchantment</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0425232018" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="http://www.anyabast.com/" target="new">Anya Bast</a></span></strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Dark Magick series, book 1</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Category:</span> Peanut M&Ms</strong> - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 5"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><b>Wicked Enchantment</b> definitely lands solidly in the ROMANCE genre, but its DARK FANTASY elements are what attracted me to it. Back in the 1600's, the fae were decimated by Watt Syndrome, an illness that may or may not have been magically created by a race of druids known as the Phaendir. Taking advantage of the fae's weakened state, the Phaendir teamed up with humans to hunt down and imprison the remaining fae within a magical warding. This warded zone, Piefferburg, is still in existence today; its warding maintained by a sort of collective hive of magic within the Phaendir. Through Phaendir-guarded trade with humans, the high ranking fae are now fairly wealthy, but nonetheless remain prisoners within this area around the North Carolina Outer Banks. On a humorous note, how hilariously appropriate is it that the humans would have a camera crew inside the Seelie court filming a 24 hour a day reality show called FAEMOUS? </div><br />
That's the basic background of the world building. Apparently the series will delve into a quest to find the elements needed to break the Phaendir's warding of Piefferburg and be a free race again. In this book, one of the pieces had already been found which, as I recently found out, is Bella and Ronan's story, a novella-length prequel in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Holidays-Lora-Leigh/dp/0515147001?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hot for the Holidays</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0515147001" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> anthology (I've since bought it but haven't read it yet). During the course of <b>Wicked Enchantment</b> we find out another crucial element has been in the possession of Aislinn, who had no idea what it was. <br />
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In addition to a fresh take on fae myths and unique world building, this book centers on Aislinn, who is a high ranking member of the Seelie court, and Gabriel, an important member of the Unseelie court, and his attempts to persuade her over to "the dark side". Lots of twists, turns and surprises made this a very engrossing, fast-paced read. <br />
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Having said all that, I personally would have preferred a bit more of an in-depth/extended look into the fae politics, but that's just my personal preference. However, I have to give Bast extra credit for just how much detail and imagination she was able to include within the framework of a romance (as opposed to an urban/dark fantasy). <br />
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I would say that if you enjoy Richele Mead's DARK SWAN series, Laurell Hamilton's MERRY GENTRY series, or the later books in Karen Marie Moning's HIGHLANDERS series, then Anya Bast's DARK MAGICK series might just be the new series you've been waiting for.<br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a href="http://www.bookchickcity.com/2010/01/book-review-wicked-enchantment-by-anya.html" target="new">Book Chick City</a>, <a href="http://www.literaryescapism.com/6714/wicked-enchantment-by-a-bast" target="new">Literary Escapism</a>, <a href="http://suchalush.blogspot.com/2010/01/review-wicked-enchantment-by-anya-bast.html" target="new">The Book Lush</a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unperfect-Souls-Connor-Grey-Book/dp/0441018386?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Unperfect Souls (Connor Grey, Book 4)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0441018386&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unfallen-Dead-Connor-Grey-Book/dp/0441016898?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Unfallen Dead (Connor Grey, Book 3)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0441016898&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0441016898" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unfallen-Dead-Connor-Grey-Book/dp/0441016898?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Unfallen Dead</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0441016898" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a target="new" href="http://www.markdelfranco.com/">Mark Del Franco</a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Conner Grey Book 3</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0441018386" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unperfect-Souls-Connor-Grey-Book/dp/0441018386?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Unperfect Souls</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0441018386" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Conner Grey Book 4</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">See <a href="http://cubiesconfections-index.blogspot.com/" target="new">INDEX</a> for previous books.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="clear"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Category:</span> Peanut M&Ms</strong> - mmmm...devour... sigh... then reach for the next one. My daily dose of Insanity-B-Gone. (A-,B+,B)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 2"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Del Franco has really hit his stride with this urban fantasy/dark fantasy series as he delves deeper into Fae politics, mysteries, and intrigue.<br />
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Now that I've been listening to the audio books of Jim Butcher's Dresden series, I can say that fans of that series will enjoy the Conner Grey series. They have a similar feel and voice, however Del Franco's stories and world building are unique to Conner Grey's world.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Note that book 4 was a January read, but I read book 3 a while back.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
P.S to the author: Mark... Dude, ya need to fix your website. Your Conner Grey links are not only not useful (where's the blurbs?), but some of them are fucked up.<br />
<strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a target="new" href="http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/book_delfranco_unfallendead.html">Green Man Review</a>, <a target="new" href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=37608">RT</a>, <a target="new" href="http://www.bookfetish.org/bookshelves/2009/04/unfallen_dead_connor_grey_book.html">Book Fetish</a>, <a target="new" target="new" href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=40857">RT</a>, <a href="http://www.bloodofthemuse.com/2010/02/unperfect-souls-by-mark-del-franco-ace.html">BotM</a>, <a target="New" href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/81115835">Jennifer/Goodreads</a>, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6607799-unperfect-souls?rating=#other_reviews">Goodreads (all)</a><br />
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</div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1599987864" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireflies-Ally-Blue/dp/1599987864?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Fireflies" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1599987864&tag=cubisconf-20" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fireflies-Ally-Blue/dp/1599987864?ie=UTF8&tag=cubisconf-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fireflies</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cubisconf-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1599987864" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> by <a href="http://www.allyblue.com/" target="new">Ally Blue</a></span></strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Category:</span> M&Ms</strong> - a bit lighter and/or not quite as satisfying as Peanut M&Ms, but still Oh-So-Enjoyable! (B,B-,C+,C)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 6"</strong> out of 9"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It was the beautiful, ethereal cover by Anne Cain that first drew my attention. For that alone, <i>Fireflies</i> was worth the price of a print copy. But Joey and Braeden's story, while not quite as substantial as I would have liked, was a lovely time spent within a charming faery tale.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a href="http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/?p=75" target="new">Jessewave</a>, <a href="http://unique.logophilos.net/?p=426" target="new">Uniquely Pleasurable</a>, <a href="http://www.mrsgiggles.com/ebooks/blue_fireflies.html" target="new">Mrs. Giggles</a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><em><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Have you read any of these books? Feel free to review or link to a review in the comments. Even if you don't agree!</strong></span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-52827603698660610952010-02-06T18:19:00.001-05:002010-02-06T18:22:08.164-05:00I Look FA-A-Bulous...<div align="center"><img width="420" border="0" alt="Tipsie Belmont" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/TipsieBelmont_body.jpg" /></div><br />
...thanks to RuPaul's <a target="new" href="http://www.logoonline.com/shows/rupauls_drag_race/season_1/series.jhtml"><i>Drag Race</i></a> <a target="new" href="http://www.dragulator.com">Dragulator</a> (via <a target="new" href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/02/05/rupauls-drag-race-dragulator/">EW.com</a>). <img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="cool wink" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/winksunglasses.gif" border="0" /> <i><b>Miss Tipsie Belmont </b></i>is absolutely Fierce on Stilettos, don't ya think?<br />
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And my blog has now had a bit of a makeover too. Nothing major, just less work because I decided to let my Amazon Wish Lists do most of my sidebar work for me. I also added a couple of new pics of chocolatey goodness. <br />
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Yep, I'm reviving this poor old lifeless blog. Oh, I may not post as often as I used to, but I WILL post. In fact, thanks again to my Amazon Wish Lists, I am actually working up a post on my January reads. I'll probably never review my whole backlog, maybe a few here and there, but I can start up fresh with January and proceed from there. <br />
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<img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="confused" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/wacko1.gif" border="0" />Now, if only I can remember what little HTML I used to know.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-34154889252754634462010-01-20T12:07:00.006-05:002010-01-20T12:59:46.202-05:00Now THIS is news...... worth blogging about!<br /><br /><a href="http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/01/19/true-blood-sam-bill-spoilers/" Target="new"><img width="200" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="Moyer-Trammell" hspace="5" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/TrueBlood/moyer-trammell_320.jpg" border="0" /></a>According to <a href="http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/01/19/true-blood-sam-bill-spoilers/" Target="new">EW.com's Michael Ausiello</a>, in the upcoming season of <a href="http://www.hbo.com/true-blood">HBO's True Blood</a>, Bill (Stephen Moyer, left) and Sam (Sam Trammell, right) <strong>"will forge 'not just <em>any</em> connection, [but] an <em>erotic</em> connection.'”</strong><br /><br />My bet is that, like Sookie with Eric (so far), it won't go any further than Sam having erotic dreams of Bill because he drank Bill's blood. But <strong>BOO-YAH</strong>! <br /><br /><img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 2px 2px 0px; " alt="NOOOO" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/afraid.gif" border="0" />The only thing hotter would be me and Eric steaming up the sheets. Okay, so that would undoubtedly not be hotter for any of YOU, in fact, you'd probably castrate, sew-it-up, or otherwise personally mame yourself into permanent celibacy. But hey, I'm a fashionista in <a href="http://www.charlaineharris.com/" Target="new">Charlaine Harris'</a> fictional world (<a target="new" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0441017150/cubisconf-20">Dead and Gone</a>), so I could always declare myself to be fictionally HOT too, right?<br /><br /><img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 2px 2px 0px; " alt="shaddup" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/shutup.gif" border="0" /><em>Oh, btw, I've had to turn comment moderation on because I have a couple of persistant spammers/asswipes who have discovered this blog. What a fruitless waste of time. Get a life cuz I ain't clicking on, buyin' from, or friendin' the likes of you scumquats.</em>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-38262348348510872442009-07-14T19:47:00.003-04:002009-07-14T19:57:36.288-04:00On My Short List...<strong>...of Most Entertaining Commercials Evah!</strong><br /><div align="center"><br /><object height="252" width="415"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XQcVllWpwGs&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XQcVllWpwGs&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="415" height="252"></embed></object><br /></div><br />Thanks to <a href="http://www.eguiders.com/" target="new">eGuiders</a>' Newsletter for the Heads-Up! <br /><br /><br /><em>BTW, yes, I'm still alive, just never time to blog and seldom time to blog visit. As much as I love Summertime, it will be nice if/when I get the house back to myself someday.</em>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-38901374369156729172009-05-30T18:08:00.002-04:002009-05-30T18:18:54.081-04:002009 Audie Award Winners!I promise a nice, long chatty post later about what I've been doing during my Blogosphere Break, but first I have to say that, in addition to being a bad blogger, I also really suck as a fangirl. If it wasn't for an email from Phil G today <em>(<span style="color:#ff0000;">SQUEE!</span>)</em>, who knows when I would have remembered to check the results of last nights <a target="new" href="http://www.audiopub.org/press-releases.asp">Audie Awards</a>! DOH!<br /><br /><img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Phil Gigante" height="150" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/For_TGTBTU/philpic1.jpg" border="0" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1423341546/cubisconf-20" Target="new"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="audiobook- The Dark Highlander by Karen Marie Moning" hspace="5" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1423341546.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0" /></a>Anyway, note the winner in the Romance book category-- uh-huh, that's right, <strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">Mr. Eargasm</span></strong> himself, <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Phil Gigante</strong></span>, for his brilliant <s>narration</s> performance of Karen Marie Moning's <a target="new" href="http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=BK_BRLL_000309&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes"><em>The Dark Highlander</em></a> (the one with Dageus MacKeltar and Chloe Zanders)!!<br /><br />Although, as I've said before, they really should have created a whole new <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333399;">Series Narration</span></strong> category so he could win that one too. Right along with <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/08/qbs-aural-quickies.html" target="new">Johanna Parker</a>. Oh, have I mentioned that I'm a Phil G. fangirl? Hmmm... I might have had a thing or two to say about him <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2007/09/qbs-aural-quickies_22.html" target="new">here</a> and <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2007/12/sticky-aural-pleasures-on-tgtbtu.html" target="new">here</a>, <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/01/i-am-so-screwed.html" target="new">here</a>, <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/01/morning-after-glow.html" target="new">here</a>, <a href="http://goodbadandunread.com/2008/02/14/valenduckie-phil-gigante-worked-his-vampire-mojo/" target="new">here</a>, and <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/03/audio-book-kiss-of-highlander-by-karen.html" target="new">here</a>, oh and <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/05/she-shoots-she-scores.html" target="new">here</a>, <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/08/qbs-aural-quickies.html" target="new">here</a>, <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/09/highlanders-audio-series-by-karen-marie.html" target="new">here</a>, and <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/11/nominations-needed-please.html" target="new">here</a>.<br /><br /><img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Aural Pleasures" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/For_TGTBTU/aural_pleasure_by_Kagehoshi.jpg" border="0" />As an audio book enthusiast (and in the interest of fairness), I want to congratulate ALL the deserving nominees. But really, there can't be too many other narrators that have fangirl groupies swooning over them, can there? <br /><br /><br /><br />Here's a few of the categories and winners. For the complete list, go to <a href="http://www.audiopub.org/press-releases.asp" target="new">The Audio Publisher's Association (APA)</a> site (which should have them posted soon) or, as I did, go to <a target="new" href="http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/">AudioFile Magazine's</a> <a target="new" href="http://www.theaudies.com/">Audies page</a>.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">CHILDREN’S TITLES FOR AGES 8-12</span></strong><br /><strong>The Cricket in Times Square</strong>, by George Selden, Narrated by Tony Shalhoub, Macmillan Audio<br /><strong>Fairest</strong>, by Gail Carson Levine, Narrated by Sarah Naughton and a full cast, Full Cast Audio<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>The Graveyard Book</strong>, by Neil Gaiman, Narrated by Neil Gaiman, HarperAudio<br /><strong>One-Handed Catch</strong>, by M.J. Auch, Narrated by Ryan Sparkes and a full cast, Full Cast Audio<br /><strong>Nation</strong>, by Terry Pratchett, Narrated by Stephen Briggs, HarperAudio<br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>CLASSIC</strong> </span></span><br /><strong>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</strong>, by Mark Twain, Narrated by Grover Gardner, Blackstone Audio,Inc.<br /><strong>The Count of Monte Cristo</strong>, by Alexandre Dumas, Narrated by John Lee, Blackstone Audio, Inc.<br /><strong>Galapagos</strong>, by Kurt Vonnegut, Narrated by Jonathan Davis, Audible, Inc.<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Great Expectations</strong>, by Charles Dickens, Narrated by Simon Vance, Tantor Media<br /><strong>The Picture of Dorian Gray</strong>, by Oscar Wilde, Narrated by Simon Vance, Blackstone Audio, Inc.<br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>HISTORY</strong></span></span><br /><strong>The Bloody Shirt</strong>, by Stephen Budiansky, <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Narrated by Phil Gigante</span></strong>, Brilliance Audio<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Gandhi and Churchill</strong>, by Arthur Herman, Narrated by John Curless, Recorded Books<br /><strong>The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea – The Forgotten War of the South Pacific</strong>, by James Campbell, Narrated by Stephen Hoye, Tantor Media<br /><strong>The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family</strong>, by Annette Gordon-Reed, Narrated by Karen White, Tantor Media<br /><strong>Pictures at a Revolution: Five Movies and the Birth of the New Hollywood</strong>, by Mark Harris, Narrated by Lloyd James, Tantor Media<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">MULTI–VOICED PERFORMANCE</span></strong><br /><strong>Family Audio Bible</strong>, Narrated by Dick Cavett, Marsha Mason, Andrew McCarthy, Martha Plimpton and Tom Wopat, HarperAudio<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Mudbound</strong>, by Hillary Jordan, Narrated by Joey Collins, Peter Jay Fernandez, Kate Forbes, Ezra Knight, Brenday Pressley and Tom Stechschulte, Recorded Books<br /><strong>The Plague of Doves</strong>, by Louise Erdrich, Narrated by Peter Francis James and Kathleen McInerney, HarperAudio<br /><strong>The Word of Promise®: </strong>Next Generation-New Testament, by Various Authors, Narrated by Sean Astin and a full cast including Codey Linley, AnnaSophia Robb and Jordin Sparks, Thomas Nelson, Inc<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">MYSTERY</span></strong><br /><strong>A Killing Frost</strong>, by R. D. Wingfield, Narrated by Stephen Thorne, Ulverscroft Group Ltd<br /><strong>Cross</strong>, by Ken Bruen, Narrated by Gerry O'Brien, Ulverscroft Group Ltd<br /><strong>The Silver Swan</strong>, by Benjamin Black, Narrated by Timothy Dalton, Macmillan Audio<br /><strong>Swan Peak</strong>, by James Lee Burke, Narrated by Will Patton, Simon & Schuster Audio<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Voice of the Violin</strong>, by Andrea Camilleri, Narrated by Grover Gardner, Blackstone Audio, Inc.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">NARRATION BY THE AUTHOR or AUTHORS</span></strong><br />Maya Angelou, <strong>Letter to My Daughter</strong>, Random House Audio<br />Joshilyn Jackson, <strong>The Girl Who Stopped Swimming</strong>, Hachette Audio<br />Cokie Roberts, <strong>Ladies of Liberty</strong>, HarperAudio<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span>David Sedaris, <strong>When You Are Engulfed in Flames</strong>, Hachette Audio<br />Maria Shriver, <strong>Just Who Will You Be?</strong> HyperionAudio<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">POLITICS — JUDGES AWARD</span></strong><br /><strong>Descent into Chaos</strong>, by Ahmed Rashid, Narrated by Arthur Morey, Brilliance Audio<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Hot, Flat, and Crowded</strong>, by Thomas Friedman, Narrated by Oliver Wyman, Macmillan Audio<br /><strong>Mike's Election Guide</strong>, by Michael Moore, Narrated by Michael Moore, Hachette Audio<br /><strong>The War Within</strong>, by Bob Woodward, Narrated by Boyd Gaines, Simon & Schuster Audio<br /><strong>The Way of the World</strong>, by Ron Suskind, Narrated by Alan Sklar, HarperAudio<br /><br /><img hspace="5" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="in the mood" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/comeandgetitff.gif" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">ROMANCE</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>The Dark Highlander</strong>, by Karen Marie Moning, <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Narrated by Phil Gigante</span></strong>, Brilliance Audio<br /><strong>Fire Me Up</strong>, by Katie MacAlister, Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat, Recorded Books<br /><strong>Forbidden</strong>, by Suzanne Brockmann, Narrated by Traci Svensgaard, Blackstone Audio, Inc.<br /><strong>Mismatch</strong>, by Tami Hoag, Narrated by Jen Taylor, BBC Audiobooks America<br /><strong>Tribute</strong>, by Nora Roberts, Narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck, Brilliance Audio<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Calculating God</strong>, by Robert J. Sawyer, Narrated by Jonathan Davis, Audible, Inc.<br /><strong>Childhood's End</strong>, by Arthur C. Clarke, Narrated by Eric Michael Summerer, Audible, Inc.<br /><strong>Ghost Radio</strong>, by Leopoldo Gout, Narrated by Pedro Pascal, HarperAudio<br /><strong>Skybreaker</strong>, by Kenneth Oppel, Narrated by David Kelly, Full Cast Audio<br /><strong>Sunrise Alley</strong>, by Catherine Asaro, Narrated by Hillary Huber, Blackstone Audio, Inc.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">TEENS</span></strong><br /><strong>Burn Journals</strong>, by Brent Runyon, Narrated by Christopher Evan Welch, Recorded Books<br /><strong>The Compound</strong>, by S. A. Bodeen, Narrated by Christopher Lane, Brilliance Audio<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Curse of the Blue Tattoo</strong>, by L.A. Meyer, Narrated by Katherine Kellgren, Listen & Live Audio<br /><strong>Fairest</strong>, by Gail Carson Levine, Narrated by Sarah Naughton, Full Cast Audio<br /><strong>Paper Towns</strong>, by John Green, Narrated by Dan John Miller, Brilliance Audio<br /><strong>The Uprising</strong>, by Margaret P. Haddix, Narrated by Suzanne Toren, Recorded Books<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">THRILLER/SUSPENSE</span></strong><br /><strong>Blue Heaven</strong>, by C.J. Box, Narrated by John Bedford Lloyd, Macmillan Audio<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Child 44</strong>, by Tom Rob Smith, Narrated by Dennis Boutsikaris, Hachette Audio<br /><strong>Executive Privilege</strong>, by Phillip Margolin, Narrated by Jonathan Davis, HarperAudio<br /><strong>The Graveyard Book</strong>, by Neil Gaiman, Narrated by Neil Gaiman, HarperAudio<br /><strong>Sweetheart</strong>, by Chelsea Cain, Narrated by Carolyn McCormick, Macmillan Audio<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR</span></strong><br /><strong>Brisingr</strong> by Christopher Paolini, read by Gerard Doyle, published by Listening Library<br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>The Graveyard Book</strong> by Neil Gaiman, read by the author, published by HarperAudio<br /><strong>A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father</strong> by Augusten Burroughs, read by the author, published by Macmillan Audio<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">Distinguished Achievement in Production</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>WINNER: </strong></span><strong>Curse of the Blue Tattoo</strong> by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren, published by Listen & Live Audio<br /><strong>Fairest</strong> by Gail Carson Levine, read by Sarah Naughton and a full cast, published by Full Cast Audio<br /><strong>Many Things Invisible</strong> by Carrington MacDuffie, read by the author, published by Blackstone Audio <br /><strong>The New Adventures of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer</strong> by various authors, read by Stacy Keach and a full cast, published by Blackstone Audio<br /><strong>Louis Vuitton Soundwalk: Shanghai</strong> read by Joan Chen, published by Soundwalk<br /><br /><strong>About Audio Publishers Association (APA)</strong><br /><blockquote>The Audio Publishers Association (APA) is a not-for-profit trade organization whose primary goals are to promote awareness of the audiobook industry, gather and disseminate industry statistics, encourage high production standards and represent the interests of audiobook publishers. Since 1986, the APA has worked to bring audio publishers together to increase interest in audiobooks. Please visit www.audiopub.org for more information.</blockquote>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-34394771507525099392009-05-08T20:45:00.001-04:002009-05-08T20:53:42.346-04:00Just Sayin'...<div align="center"><img alt="Dead and Gone inside cover page" hspace="5" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/DeadandGone_inscription.jpg" width="420" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br />You can imagine my reaction when I received this from Charlaine... so, um... are your ears are still ringing from <em>The Fangirl Squee Heard 'Round the World</em>? **<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">** Confused? Click </span><a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/11/oops-i-did-it-again.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">.<br /></span>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-324446467079616352009-04-22T19:18:00.003-04:002009-04-22T19:26:31.422-04:00*WINNER* Blue Diablo Contest<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" target="new"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre" hspace="5" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0451462645.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="120" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/" target="new">Ann Aguirre</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" target="new">Blue Diablo</a></span></strong>, <strong>Corine Solomon book 1</strong><br /><br />And <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2009/04/its-wrap-ann-aguirres-reader-blog-tour.html">the winner</a> is...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%; color:#FF0000;"><strong>KRISTEN</strong></span><br /><br />Contact <em>azteclady1 at gmail dot com</em> ASAP with your physical address so she can mail your book. <strong>CONGRATS!</strong>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-29205561523237806132009-04-20T00:01:00.007-04:002009-04-20T00:08:23.982-04:00It's a Wrap: Ann Aguirre's Reader Blog Tour and Contest<em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" target="new"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre" hspace="5" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0451462645.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" width="120" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/" target="new">Ann Aguirre</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" target="new">Blue Diablo</a></span></strong>, <strong>Corine Solomon book 1</strong><br /><br />Yes, that's right, in between her world travels and calls to the gas company, Ann Aguirre has been doing a whirlwind Reader Blog Tour that ends right here before she jets off to RT Con in Orlando.<br /><br />Ah well, last week I finally gave up and cancelled my hotel reservations for RT Con (I had reserved suites at two different hotels just in case I ended up going). So, since I won't be meeting Ann in person after all (or you either, AZL), I'm at least lucky enough that she's stopping by today to share a bit of warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (Yep, <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2009/04/few-of-my-favorite-things.html" target="new">it's that good</a>).<br /><br />Read on to find out how you can also be lucky enough to enjoy a copy of Ann's urban fantasy, <strong><em>Blue Diablo</em></strong>, or if you've already read it, watch for Ann's alternate prize.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>But first, Ann dishes about Corine's sex life</strong></span></em> <em>(note Ann's <a href="http://thebookbinge.com/2009/04/guest-author-ann-aguirre-casting-call.html" target="new">casting choices</a> that I want to disagree with SO badly)</em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">...</span><br /><br /><div align="center">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</div><br /><br />By now, many of you will have read <em>Blue Diablo</em>. (If you haven´t, what are you waiting for?!) That means I can discuss the book in a bit more detail than I have done previously in the tour. Yippee!<br /><br /><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Christine Hendricks, Ann's Corine Solomon" hspace="5" width="150" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/EyeCandy/Characters_LKH-BDB-etc/Christina_Hendricks_as_Corine_Solom.jpg" border="0" />Since this is Bev´s blog, I´m going to talk about sex and relationships, or vice versa, maybe. <em>[Bev: Whatever could you mean? ::bats eyes innocently::]</em> In <em>Blue Diablo</em>, I explore the trope of lovers reunited or star-crossed lovers, if you will. That´s Corine and Chance.<br /><br />She broke up with Chance eighteen months before the start of the book, believing he didn´t love her as much as she loved him. She felt as if he only maintained a relationship with her because it was convenient, and he wanted to profit from her gift. So she left him in the middle of the night, after an accident that nearly cost her life.<br /><br /><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Cha Tae-hyun, Ann's Chance" hspace="5" width="150" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/EyeCandy/Characters_LKH-BDB-etc/ChaTae-hyun_as_Chance-BlueDiablo.jpg" border="0" />Chance represents many things to Corine: adventure, danger, excitement, potent sexual attraction. Blogger <a href="http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2009/04/blue-diablo-book-review-ann-aguirre.html" target="new">Katiebabs</a> did a great job of describing him, in fact. Let me quote her briefly: <em>¨Chance is that seductive type of guy a woman would do anything for... a slick guy...¨</em><br /><br />YA author <a href="http://staceyklemstein.blogspot.com/" target="new">Stacey Klemstein</a>, also known as <a target="new" href="http://www.staceykade.com/">Stacey Kade</a>, had the following to say about the book: <em>¨It was so REFRESHING to read something different but still an urban fantasy, if that makes sense. Also? Chance is HOT. His ability in particular or his luck, however you phrase it, was particularly intriguing because it was like nothing I'd ever heard of before. I'm totally 100% Chance. I like Jesse, too, don't get me wrong, and he's probably a better long term relationship choice, but...I have a thing for bad boys. Not that Chance is bad exactly, just more dangerous somehow.<br /><br />I LOVE that about these characters too. Corine's gift is a gift but it hurts her and leaves her with physical marks. That, too, is something I'd never read before. And Chance is dangerous, not because you could get your heart stomped on, which is the usual kind of danger, but with his luck, you could end up being a victim. Basically, loving him could kill you.¨</em><br /><br />She has totally hit the nail on the head, regarding the conflict inherent in their relationship. It´s not just that they have communication and trust issues (and they do). There are also real concerns about his gift. He nearly got Corine killed once before because of his luck, and it doesn´t have an off button. (You´ll need to read it to understand, and if you´ve already read it, good for you!)<br /><br /><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Olivier Martinez, Ann's Jesse" hspace="5" width="125" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/EyeCandy/Characters_LKH-BDB-etc/OlivierMartinez_as_Jesse-BlueDiablo.jpg" border="0" />As for Jesse, he represents safety and securty, home and earth. With Jesse Saldana, Corine could realize her dream of being normal, marrying into a family of ¨Gifted¨ humans, who have known about their abilities for many generations. She would have extended family, inlaws, cousins. This is stability. He represents everything she´s ever wanted. But is that what she wants, really? Should she make the safe choice?<br /><br />Chance, on the other hand, has only secrets he hasn´t shared, including his real name and the identity of his father. He has a mother who is nearly as mysterious as he is, but with him, Corine will never have the sense of community and belonging she so fiercely desires. Is passion enough? Chance also has difficulty communicating and suffers from an inability to give of himself fully. In <em>Blue Diablo</em>, we see him struggle with that, and we see Corine´s reaction to his failure to meet her needs. But he loves her, desperately. It´s intense and bittersweet and heartbreaking at times.<br /><br />As for sex, that will be handled differently in this series. Corine is a highly sexual woman, but she has enjoyed a series of one-night stands in Mexico, men she didn´t bother to get to know, and who fulfilled a physical need but not her emotional ones. Before she gives of herself again, she wants to know she´s found the person she can build a life with. That means she won´t be jumping in and out of bed, however much she may want to. No spur of the moment flings. She wants it to mean something, this time. She wants to be sure. That means there will be massive sexual tension before this thing is resolved and her heart is won.<br /><br />Readers are asking me who she will choose. I honestly don´t know. A few them are surprising me by naming Kel or Booke as possible love interests. Well, I never intended that, but I honestly don´t know how her story ends. That´s part of the joy in writing: finding out.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>What do you guys think?</strong></span> I invite you to speculate on who she might end up with and argue for your favorite. If you haven´t read it, you can pick someone at random. <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>A random commenter will win a copy of Blue Diablo (if the winner hasn´t read it yet.) If the winner has read it, I´ll buy them any paperback they want that also costs $6.99.<br /><br />And chat on!</strong></span><br /><br /><div align="center">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</div><br /><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Contest Rules" hspace="5" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Emoticons/DaRules2.gif" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>Contest Rules:</em></strong></span><br />Leave a comment INCLUDING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS to have a chance at winning.<br /><br />Contest lasts 24 hours and the winner will be randomly selected and announced here on this post tomorrow. Winner will also be contacted via email, and a valid email address must be provided for the comment to be entered in the giveaway. Good luck!!<br /><br /><div align="center">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</div><br /><em>Thank for visiting, Ann, and thanks to the wild and glue-crazed <a target="new" href="http://karenknowsbest.com/">Azteclady</a> for arranging your visit. For what it's worth, I'm not sure who I think Corine should end up with (although, based on your casting pics, Jesse wins hands-down). You've left everything so deliciously open-ended. You gave us enough resolution to be satisfied for now, but I can't wait for Corine to let me back into her world. <strong>So, how long DO we have to wait anyhow?!</strong> </em>Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-77354947721459995392009-04-07T20:06:00.006-04:002009-04-07T20:45:48.531-04:00A Few of My Favorite ThingsNo raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, just a few things that have given me Teh Happy lately:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" Target="new"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre" hspace="5" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0451462645.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><a target="new" href="http://www.annaguirre.com/">Ann Aguirre</a> - <a target="new" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20">Blue Diablo</a></span></strong>, <strong>Corine Solomon book 1</strong> <br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Category:</span> Lava Cake</strong> - reads like warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts (A,A-)<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Flame Height:</span> 3.5"</strong> out of 9"<br /><br />Today is the offical release date for Ann Aguirre's <em>Blue Diablo</em>. Yes, I read the eArc, but this one's a keeper and I'll be buying the print too.<br /><br />In case you haven't seen it yet, head over to <a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/">Ann Aguirre's site</a> to download her April newsletter (or you can join her Google group to read it). Why? Because <a target="new" href="http://www.karenknowsbest.com">AztecLady</a>, who creates the newsletter, was apparently crafting with some of <a target="new" href="http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-secret-revealed.html">Tracy's glue</a> and asked me to contribute a short piece on Urban Fantasy heroines. <br /><br />Here's the section of that article that pertains specifically to <em>Blue Diablo </em>(quoting myself. heh.):<br /><br /><blockquote>You know how you’ll often hear a guy referred to as “a man’s man”? Well Corine is “a woman’s woman” that I couldn’t help but identify and empathize with. <br /><br />Ann has given us a heroine who’s more BFF than avatar. She’ll have your back in a bar fight; but she won’t be bailing you out of jail because she’ll drag your butt out from under the bar and through the window before the cops ever get there. She loves food, drinks, and damns her hips. Corine sometimes has to bite her tongue to hold back inappropriate comments, and sometimes she doesn’t bother to hold back. She gets horny and gets satisfied, whether alone or with someone else—unless she’s denying herself to prove a point. She unabashedly appreciates a nice helping of eye candy. And, oh yeah, she also happens to possess a few paranormal gifts that have kept her on the run most of her life and get her involved with other not-quite-normal characters. Those other characters include her ex-boyfriend, Chance, who’s complicating her life again, but still needs to prove to Corine that he’s not just offering lip service (in more ways than one). <br /><br />Within just a few moments of meeting Corine I eagerly followed her away from my world and into hers. Is there anything better than feeling reality slip away as you settle into a great book? Blue Diablo reminded me why I love to read, and Corine reminded me why I love to read Ann Aguirre’s characters.<br /> </blockquote><br />Really, I could go on and on about Ann's new type of Urban Fantasy heroine but that quote pretty much sums up why <em>Blue Diablo</em> really is as nummy as "<em>warm Chocolate Lava Cake... à la Mode... sprinkled with nuts</em>". <br /><br />Read more about it <a target="new" href="http://www.annaguirre.com/books/blue-diablo/">here</a>. And while you're on Ann's Site, check out her <a target="new" href="http://www.annaguirre.com/blog/">blog's sidebar</a> to see all the stops in her <em>Blue Diablo</em> blog tour- she'll be here on April 20th. <strong>She's giving a copy of <em>Blue Diablo </em>away at each stop of the tour!</strong><br /><br /><strong>Piquant Opines:</strong> <a target="new" href="http://thebooksmugglers.com/2009/04/joint-review-blue-diablo-by-ann-aguirre.html">Book Smugglers</a>, <a target="new" href="http://darquereviews.com/12612/32212.html">Darque Reviews</a>, <a target="new" href="http://rosemont1217.blogspot.com/2009/04/blue-diablo-by-ann-aguirre.html">Rosie</a>, <a target="new" href="http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/2009/04/blue-diablo-book-review-ann-aguirre.html">Katiebabs</a>, <a target="new" href="http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=38147">RT</a> <br /><br /><em><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong>Have you read this book? Feel free to review or link to a review in the comments. Even if you don't agree!</strong></span></em><br /><br /><div align="center">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</div><br /><br /><img width="275" hspace="5" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="AI Top Three" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/AI_2009-KrisAllen-AllisonIraheta-Ad.jpg" border="0" /><a target-"new" href="http://www.americanidol.com"><strong>American Idol</strong></a>- or more specifically, Adam Lambert (at right in pic) and his opening acts Kris Allen (left), and Allison Iraheta (center). Okay, I'll add Matt Giraud in 4th place, but I think Danny Gokey and Lil Rounds are overrated and not unique enough. Same goes for Anoop Desaii, but I never did get Scott MacIntyre's appeal. Alexis Grace should have been part of my top 4 or 5.<br /><br />However Adam is the one I wait for each week, the rest just entertain me while I'm waiting to see what he'll do next. The term "gifted" gets thrown around way too often, but this kid truly does possess a gift. What I find hilarious is the non-scandal that occurred when he was "outted" (can you out someone who's already out?). Straight men do NOT sing Cher songs! DUH! Nothing shocking going on here people, move along.<br /><br />The best way to describe his voice is that he's the luv child that resulted when Steven Tyler, Sam Harris, and Freddy Mercury got together and gang-inseminated a drag queen Liza Minelli impersonator. Yeah, sometimes he's over the top (an Indian influenced <em>Ring of Fire</em>, Adam? Seriously?! Holy Shit, Dude!). But what a gift he has! This kind of singer rarely comes along. And when he reigns it in and keeps complete control of his gift, the results can be unforgettably brilliant (although I'm not too crazy about the Elvis/Dean Cain look instead of his edgier look):<br /><div align="center"><br /><object width="4oo"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vJWldnJfe9k&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vJWldnJfe9k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></div><br />What's odd though is that the iTunes downloadable studio version is overproduced instead of haunting and stripped down like he did it live. My guess is that he was allowed more control over the live version. <br /> <br /><div align="center">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</div> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.sho.com/site/tudors/home.do" Target="new"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="The Tudors season 3 poster" hspace="5" width="200" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/tudors_s3_poster-388x500.jpg" border="0" /></a>Season 3 of <a target="new" href="http://www.sho.com/site/tudors/home.do">The Tudors</a> on Showtime- although it's scheduled rather oddly since the promoted episodes are available On-Demand about a week EARLIER than the promotion date. So, even though the the first episode of season 3 just aired this past Sunday, I've already watched the second episode On-Demand. Go figure.<br /><br />Anyway, I <a target="new" href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2009/02/qbs-video-quickies.html">mentioned before</a> that each episode is like an Oscar-worthy movie, but have I mentioned that I have a complete <em>Cougar Lust Crush</em> on Henry Cavill who plays Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk? Fortunately, <a target="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Tudors_characters">his character</a> has only had a loose connection to the real life <a target="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Brandon,_1st_Duke_of_Suffolk">Duke of Suffolk</a>, so I don't have much advance knowledge of what happens to him in the series. But DAYUM, I could nom him!<br /><div align="center"><br /><img width="200" hspace="5" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Henry Cavill" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/Henry_Cavill-Tudors_S3.jpg" border="0" /> <img width="200" hspace="5" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Henry Cavill" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/tudors-cavill-10.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />nomnomnomnomnom</div><br /><br /><div align="center">♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥</div><br /><br /><img width="260" hspace="5" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px; " alt="Richard, Anita, Jean-Claude" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/EyeCandy/Characters_LKH-BDB-etc/Zombies.jpg" border="0" />I haven't quite decided if this next bit of news gives me Teh Happy or not. Back in <a target="new" href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2008/11/lkhs-anita-blake-tv-pilot.html">November 2008</a>, I posted that IFC (Independent Film Channel) had commissioned Lionsgate to develop a TV pilot based on the <a target="new" href="http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/Anita/AnitaOverview.htm">Anita Blake series</a> by <a target="new" href="http://www.laurellkhamilton.org/">Laurell K. Hamilton</a>.<br /><br />Well, on March 31, 2009, the <a target="new" href="http://blog.laurellkhamilton.org/AnitaBlakeRelease.pdf">official announcement</a> was released that the project is on IFC's schedule for Summer 2010. <a target="new" href="http://blog.laurellkhamilton.org/index.php/site/No_Foolin_Its_for_real/">This LKH blog post </a>contains several links to the announcement details. However I'm still trying to wrap my head around this being an IFC project. Yet Lionsgate is no lightweight in the industry, so this could be interesting or a disaster, particularly in light of the following section of the press release (bold WTF-ery emphasis added by me):<br /><br /><blockquote>“‘Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter’ marks the first time in IFC tv’s history that we have created a fictional feature film for the network. <strong>IFC is appealing to its core base of men ages 18-34 who are looking for vampire content</strong>. The popularity of the network in this demographic indicates that there is a clear demand for films that delve into provocative topics and nothing is more classically provocative than vampire lore” said Jennifer Caserta, EVP and general manager of IFC tv. “Anita Blake fits perfectly with our successful original programming.” <br /><br />“Laurell has created a fascinating heroine in Anita Blake and we quickly recognized the onscreen potential for this vivid character,” said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate’s president of television programming and production. “We have an outstanding creative team and are excited to be moving forward with IFC, which will allow us to fully explore the complex world of Laurell’s highly intriguing and <strong>erotically charged novels</strong>.”</blockquote><br /><br />See what I mean? Are they mixing up the later books with the earlier books and producing one-handed viewing for the ComicCon crowd? BTW, I always thought that vampires were more popular with women.<br /><br />So will this be entertaining or a clusterfuck... or possibly an entertaining clusterfuck?Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-87681733587702008002009-04-07T11:15:00.002-04:002009-04-07T19:37:49.555-04:00Castelnuovo, ItalySome of you may remember that my oldest daughter spent the fall semester (2007) of her junior year in college living in Rome right outside the Vatican walls and studying at Pontifical Urbaniana University within Vatican City (I think I have that name right). <br /><br />The first three weeks that her study abroad group spent in Italy was in their advisor's hometown of Castelnuovo. While there, in addition to intense Italian language lessons, they explored the countryside, hiked a couple of mountains, and spent a day playing in the Aegean Sea.<br /><br />The people of Castelnuovo and the surrounding towns like L'Aquila welcomed those kids with open arms and she will always have fond memories of her time there.<br /><br />Right now, her professor is on personal leave in Italy (outside of the Castelnuovo area) to be with her dying mother. While everyone's prayers are with her during this time, it turns out that it also saved her and any new study abroad students from being in Castelnuovo during the earthquake that has killed so many and destroyed so much.<br /><br />My daughter and every student that has been part of her college's Vatican studies program mourn with the residents there every time they hear of another death or see a picture showing the rubble of another building they became so familiar with, such as the apartment building they lived in and its adjacent restaurant, and the church where they attended Mass every week. <br /><br />Most moving of all however, was the picture of Bianca, a neighbor's lovable pet whom they all spent time playing with, searching through the rubble for its missing owners.<br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090406/481/701552be4c524e37903305b1c64a239a/" target="_blank"><img width="200" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/Bianca.jpg" border="0" alt="Bianca, Castelnuovo, Italy"></a> <a href="http://www.examiner.com/a-1947444~Rescuers_still_hope_for_Italy_quake_survivors.html" target="_blank"><img width="200" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/Bianca2.jpg" border="0" alt="Bianca, Castelnuovo, Italy"></a><br /></div><br />We humans are odd creatures, aren't we? All the human grief and loss, yet it is a picture of a forlorn pet that has the most emotional impact illustrating the losses in that devastated area.<br /><br />Our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Castelnuovo and the surrounding areas.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-20961850229089942982009-03-14T21:30:00.000-04:002009-03-14T21:38:24.085-04:00Save the Contemporary Romance?<strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Oh HELL NO!<br /><br />AAAAAHHHHHHH... Make the bad words go away!!!!!</span></strong><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/02/09/funny-pictures-to-see-it-again/" target="new"><img class="mine_3188460" title="funny-pictures-cat-hates-what-he-sees" alt="funny pictures of cats with captions" src="http://icanhascheezburger.wordpress.com/files/2009/01/funny-pictures-cat-hates-what-he-sees.jpg" /></a><br />see more <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/" target="new">Lolcats and funny pictures</a><br /></div><br />As I said <a href="http://cubiesconfections.blogspot.com/2009/02/best-laid-plans.html" target="new">previously</a>, THREE out of the five books I’m judging for this year’s <a href="http://www.passionateink.org/contests/" target="new">Passionate Plumes</a> are Contemporary Romances.<br /><br />Book one is from an author whose paranormal I judged VERY highly before. But this Contemp? Not so much. The <s>heroine</s> female lead has a nasty personal hygiene problem. After a double penetration ménage scene that involved condoms and copious amounts of lube, she pulls on her clothes and leaves. After another scene that involved anal sex and no condom, she again merely pulled her clothes on and left. Then came the complete gross out scene— after an entire night of marathon sweaty sex, her alarm goes off in HER HOUSE, and she gets up, gets dressed and goes to work.<br /><br />Now, I can hear you saying, “<em>Bev, REALLY, do you honestly expect an author to detail every trip to the bathroom?</em>” <strong>No, no I don’t</strong>. However, when an author describes in great detail every little thing the female lead does—from what drawer she pulled clothes out of to what she pulled out of each drawer and what color each item was- I think it’s reasonable to expect at least a brief mention that this woman also stopped by the bathroom to finish getting ready. I mean, they were awake BEFORE the alarm and she got out of bed as soon as it went off, so it’s not plausible that she was too rushed to pop into the bathroom to hose herself down. Instead, this author had the heroine pulling on each item of clothing as she talked to the hero and then rushing downstairs to feed her dog (I’ve chosen to presume she had a doggie door and the poor dog wasn’t expected to hold it all night and all day) and then out the door to work. At no point did she make ANY stops to take a shower, comb her hair, or even wash off. Note that there was also <strong>NO TEETH BRUSHING</strong> either and this skanky smelling woman <strong><em>WENT TO WORK THAT WAY!</em></strong> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">EEEEWWWWWWW! <em>Can you imagine working beside this oozing spooge queen all day?!</em></span></strong><br /><br />However, I DID make it through the book because the storyline wasn’t completely awful. Mind you, it wasn’t great, and I’d have a tough time calling it good, but it wasn’t awful. On the Passionate Plume Judging Scale of 1 to 9, I gave it a 5.8. I think I would let it just barely slip into the bottom (<em>heh</em>) of my <span style="color:#cc33cc;">M&Ms</span> category with a <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Flame Height</span> of 7” out of 9”. Wait, I take that back, the hygiene issue was a complete turn-off so I’m deducting <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Flame Height</span> for that. So let’s say 6.5” out of 9” <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Flame Height</span>.<br /><br />I decided to break up the Contemporaries with the two Historicals between each of them. They are both by the same author and are books 2 and 3 of a series. I finished the first historical (book 2 of the series) and it really wasn’t bad- VERY erotic and definitely pushes the envelope for mainstream press. If it was from an epub, I’d say it probably would receive one of their higher heat or flame ratings. As for the storyline, I often felt like chunks of the story were missing. Not characters or info from the previous book that I haven’t read, but sections that would help make more sense of the plot of THIS book seemed to be missing and I often felt like I’d walked into the middle of a conversation or scene. All in all though, I liked the characters despite their professed arousal at body odors (<em>Yes, I’ll cut the historical SOME slack about hygiene</em>), and I was COMPLETELY surprised by the identity of the villain and their motivations. So, this one gets scored 6.8 out of 9, and I’d place it firmly in my <span style="color:#cc33cc;">M&Ms</span> category with a <span style="color:#cc33cc;">Flame Height</span> of 8” out of 9”.<br /><br />But then I picked up the third book (second Contemporary Romance) I needed to judge. <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh Great Balls of Badness!</span></strong> By page 22 I had already chalked the book off as a DNF at least three times. Let me repeat—BY PAGE TWENTY-FREAKIN-TWO, I had already REPEATEDLY fought back the overwhelming urge to flush this craptastic tome down the toilet. But I didn’t want to fuck up the plumbing so here it sits and the thought of picking it back up causes gagging dry heaves in much the same way that the thought of drinking any more of the GALLON of thick, slimy, salty bowel prep before my December colonoscopy did.<br /><br />The premise is silly; the coincidences absurd- a woman who can’t achieve orgasm decides to try uninhibited sex with a stranger <em>AND DOESN’T USE A CONDOM</em>. And oh yeah, the stranger just HAPPENS to be the professor who will be teaching her upcoming sexuality class (of course she doesn’t know this yet) that her ex-boyfriend signed them up for before they broke up (I understand he shows up later in the book for a ménage). Yet, during this <em>CONDOMLESS RIDE ON A STRANGER</em>, she bumps and grinds but gets frustrated because she can’t reach the Big O with this guy either. Yet neither Ms. TSTL nor the Sexpert ever touch her magic luv button. HellooooOOOOO... the clit, the clitoris... ever hear of it Mr. Sexpert? Ever read Cosmo magazine, Ms. TSTL? Shit, even my kids’ health classes <i>at a Catholic high school</i> show the clitoris in their female genital illustrations.<br /><br /><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 5px 5px 0px" alt="Look again..." hspace="5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-nx9R_yeKO7T8L7NA4oefkkRXRBRONeL68tghawoF6rrfcxMCkc7pdtkFC1geiRB2kuelGztSJcPyy5mr7jSOxTLlp5DA1F3XpzMfBJ6aDi_GwDqDA5GB7b-iTafPKW99wRAuzqGbwk-H/s400/LookAgain-cropped.jpg" width="200" border="0" />Or wait, maybe the author is saying that <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>women who can’t achieve orgasm without direct clitoral stimulation</strong> </span>(which includes all but about 27% of women) <em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">are sexually dysfunctional.</span></strong></em> Hmmm... or maybe the author doesn’t have a clue WTF she’s writing about.<br /><br />At this point I was desperate and hit the interwebs to find out if there was ANY chance- even an eentsy, weentsy one- that this sludge heap got less stinky if I could just force myself to read further. Okay, as expected the usual culprits are saying it’s one of the <em>Best.Books.Ever.</em> in exchange for being quoted in print. And RT gave it 4 stars (<em>WTF?),</em> but what’s REALLY scary is that the last Contemp I need to judge was only given 3 STARS by RT! <em><span style="font-size:85%;">::*meep*::</span></em> So if this fecal matter is a FOUR STAR, then speaking in relative terms, the last Contemp WILL be flushed and damn the plumbing bill! Or there’s some m/m interaction in it. Because when it comes to m/m, an RT 3 star is the equivalent to a straight romance’s 4 or 4.5 star. <em><span style="font-size:85%;">::*sigh*::</span></em> Somehow I doubt I’ll be that lucky.<br /><br />A search through my Google Reader subscriptions turned up only one “regular” blogger who mentioned this piece of crapola- <a href="http://031771.blogspot.com/" target="new">Kati</a> and she gave it a <strong>D+. </strong>So, I’m assuming it doesn’t get any better and I don’t know WHAT I’m going to do about this book. And how the hell am I going to get through that LAST Contemp? NO ONE in my Gooogle Reader has reviewed it! But the blurb sounds like it might lean toward romantic suspense so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. At least I should be able to get through the last historical since it’s a sequel to the other historical I read.<br /><br />In the meantime, these books had almost completely wiped out ANY urge I had to read. Now keep in mind that I haven’t read an entire book in TWO FREAKING MONTHS (just bits of anthologies) so I SHOULD have been open to ANYTHING and devoured it like a ravenous beast. <strong><em>THIS WAS NOT GOOD, PEOPLE!</em></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" target="new"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="Blue Diablo Book Cover" hspace="5" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0451462645.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0" /></a>But I had one hope and I had deprived myself long enough. In case of emergency, open eARC. <strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">GOD BLESS </span></em></strong><a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/" target="new"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">ANN AGUIRRE</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">!</span></em></strong> Within just the first few pages of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" target="new">Blue Diablo</a>, I said to myself, “<strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">THIS is why I love to read</span></em></strong>.” Seriously, I’ll write my full review shortly (<span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Ann will be guest-blogging here on April 20th</em></span>), but my mental movie reel started up right away and allowed me to escape the awful Contemps. And it hasn’t stopped (Yes, Jen and MB, I’m a dork). Even though I have had to frequently put <em>Blue Diablo</em> down and tend to other matters ::<em>grrrr::</em>, the movie stays in Pause mode in my head just waiting for me to hit the Play button again. No, wait, that’s not quite right... it’s also as if I need to hurry back to it so I don’t miss anything. Okay, I realize that probably makes more sense in my head. Nonetheless, halfway through and DAYUM I’m enjoying the hell outta this one! Like I’ve said before, I’m not able to read many ebooks on my PDA anymore, but this one is well worth the risk of eye strain. Unfortunately, I had a queen sized headache all day yesterday and didn't dare try to look at that screen.<br /><br />However, I STILL don’t know how I’m going to be able to read those last two Contemps, but right now I couldn’t care less because, even though it APPEARS that I’m sitting here in front of my computer in the Land O’ the Grey (NE Ohio), the truth is that I’ve escaped to Mexico and Texas. See ya in Laredo!Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-38615106251391254542009-02-27T09:44:00.006-05:002009-02-27T21:07:48.243-05:00Another Secret Revealed!<div align="center"><a href='http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=3481865' ><img width="410" src='http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/2/20/128796676290675382.jpg' alt='funny pictures' /></a><br />moar <a href='http://icanhascheezburger.com'>funny pictures</a></div><br /><br />I'm guest blogging over at the <a target="new" href="http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/">DIK Ladies blog</a> today talking about... well... DIKs! Oh, and Secret Coves. And there are hot menz involved. <br /><br />Intrigued? Click <a target="new" href="http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-secret-revealed.html">here</a>.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-73760950999715755952009-02-25T19:21:00.004-05:002009-02-25T19:44:56.996-05:00True Life True Blood<p align="center"><img alt="Bill and Sookie" hspace="5" src="http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f62/daCube/Cubies_Confections/Misc_Blog_Pics/TrueBlood/Ep1-SookieandBill.jpg" width="350" border="0" /></p><br /><br />Well, this is an interesting exclusive interview from <a target="new" href="http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/NewsFeed.aspx#Story123">TV Guide</a> via <a target="new" href="http://www.popeater.com/television/article/anna-paquin-stephen-moyer-true-blood/357789">Popeater</a> today:<br /><blockquote><br /><div align="center"><strong>True Blood's True Romance</strong></div><br /><a target="new" href="http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/">True Blood</a> stars Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin say it’s true love. The pair—who play romantically linked 173-year-old vampire Bill Compton and telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse on the HBO series—have confirmed they are dating. “We are together,” Moyer told TV Guide Magazine exclusively on the True Blood set—right after finishing an intense scene where Bill and Sookie have a major lover’s quarrel. <br /><br />Moyer and Paquin’s real-life romance first sparked at the True Blood audition, but the couple decided to wait to go public. “The reason it was dodged last year was very intentional on both our parts,” says Moyer. “It was very important to me that the cast and crew we were working with didn’t feel it was fickle, and didn’t feel it could possibly potentially encroach on their lives, you know, just like, ‘Oh the two stars are having a thing.’ We didn’t want to take anything away from the show. The show is the star, not the two people having a relationship.” <br /><br />So where is this romance going? Well, it seems Moyer, 37, and Paquin, 26, are living together—at least on this side of the pond. Moyer, who is British, divides his time between Los Angeles and London where he has two young children from a previous relationship. “It’s just exciting and that was there from day one,” Moyer says. “We always take the piss out of each other and are silly with each other and it is great. We’re very, very happy. She’s the best.” —Kate Hahn<br /></blockquote><br /><br />I imagine gettin' it on for the cameras every week let's you get to know someone fairly quick. I wish them all the luck in the world, but how many times have we seen serial monogamists in the acting community who find a new "true love" on each different project. <br /><br />Having said that, I can't help but wonder if producer Ball will luck out and this real life romance will start hitting the skids, as Hollywood romances usually do, about the time that Bill and Sookie part company. Wouldn't THAT make for some genuine scenes! I know... my bad.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-735803662029765939.post-21642094148140626122009-02-24T13:15:00.001-05:002009-02-24T13:17:41.037-05:00The Best Laid Plans<div align="center"><a target="new" href="http://icanhascheezburger.com"><img class="mine_3431971" style="word-spacing:3431971px;font-size:3431971px;" width="400" src="http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/2/15/128792039681980060.jpg" /></a><br />see more <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com">crazy cat pics</a></div><br /><blockquote>"I am determined to not read another book until I've got my sidebars updated including writing QB's Commentaries and updating my index for all the books I've read in the past few months!"</blockquote><br />‘memba that proclamation in the last post? Uh... I probably should have checked the calendar first. SOOOO can’t happen this time of year!<br /><br />You see, once again I have the honor of being a first round judge for the <a href="http://www.passionateink.org/contests/" target="new">Passionate Plumes</a>, awarded by <a href="http://www.passionateink.org/" target="new">Passionate Ink</a>, the erotic romance chapter of the <a href="http://rwanational.org/" target="new">Romance Writers of America</a> (RWA). Results of the first round voting will be announced sometime in April, with the final results announced at <a href="http://rwanational.org/cs/conferences_and_events" target="new">RWA National Conference</a> in Washington D.C. July 15-18, 2009.<br /><br />I’ve been really lucky so far and have only received books in my #1 ranked genre, Paranormal. This year, however, I received NO paranormals. Instead I received two of my #2 ranked Historicals (in print), and THREE of my #4 ranked Contemporaries (1 ebook, 2 print, all appear to be menages). I don’t know if that means there was a dearth of Paranormals this year (say it ain’t so!), or there was an overabundance of Contemporaries and everyone got some, or if there is really any significance at all to the genre I received.<br /><br />To be fair, I did select a preference for print if possible and that might have something to do with it. I figured anything to prevent more strain on my eyes, right? But then again, last year I selected “No Preference” and received paranormals in print. Maybe it’s just a spin of the wheel.<br /><br />As big an honor as it is to be a first round Passionate Plumes judge, I still have to quibble with the way they categorize the books. I just don’t think the categories make sense:<br /><br />_ Contemporary<br />_ Historical<br />_ Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi<br />_ Paranormal / Time Travel<br />_ Novella<br /><br />It seems to me that “Futuristic/Sci-fi/Time Travel” should be together and “Paranormal/Fantasy” should be together. Actually, Paranormal and Fantasy might even be separate categories. But the real puzzler for me is that NOVELLA is a genre category. HUH? Doesn’t that just refer to the LENGTH? So how can I say whether I do or do not want novellas when it would depend on the genre/theme/subject matter/whatever?<br /><br />Really, it’s almost impossible to rank my preferences, so this is what I ended up sending in:<br /><br />4- Contemporary- (rank 1-2 if m/m)<br />2- Historical<br />3- Futuristic/Fantasy/Sci-fi (Fantasy rank= 1-2; Futuristic Sci-Fi rank=5)<br />1- Paranormal / Time Travel (TT rank= 3-4)<br />-- Novella- Yes, ranked within the above genre rankings<br /><br />Yeah, I know, confusing. But then so are the PP categories.<br /><br />Anyway, back to the books. I really am not too crazy about straight Contemporaries, yet here I am with THREE of the things to read. And not even just three Contemporaries, but apparently three M/F/M ménage Contemporaries, so there might not be much variety among them. RUH-OH! Ironically, the Contemporary ebook and the two Historicals are written by authors whose PARANORMAL stories I’ve enjoyed in the past; in fact I previously judged the ebook author’s Paranormal with a very high score in a previous PP year. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad omen.<br /><br />But, because I take the honor of judging for the PP awards VERY seriously, I am determined to keep an open mind and judge each book on its own merits again this year. So to help facilitate that happening I plan to read a Contemporary, then a Historical, then Contemporary, Historical, Contemporary. Last year I received a book about Demons, Dragons, and Angels. Any ONE of those themes would have had me running the other way, but I kept an open mind and was surprised by a strong, enjoyable story.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" target="new"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 5px 5px" alt="TITLE Book Cover" hspace="5" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0451462645.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg" border="0" /></a>If I start to feel overloaded on Contemporary ménages, I’m going to use that as a perfect excuse to take time out and read the ARC for <a href="http://www.annaguirre.com/" target="new">Ann Aguirre’s</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0451462645/cubisconf-20" target="new">Blue Diablo</a> that I’ve been denying myself the pleasure of for far too long. Unfortunately, I’m about to start end of month work crunch again, so I don’t know how far I’ll get on any of these books until I’m done with that.Bev(QB)http://www.blogger.com/profile/03571585694956752892noreply@blogger.com2