R.I.P. Sam

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

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

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

C.

Seduce Me by Cheryl Holt

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

Blurb is taken from the authors website.

He had it all but always wanted more...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

C.

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

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

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

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

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

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

C.


New digs finally!

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

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

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

C.

DVD Reviews - With something for everyone!

Prom - This wasn’t too bad, but I think I’m getting too old to watch these movies.  They don’t shine quite as bright as they used to.  Or maybe I'm turning into a horrible cynic!  It was terribly predictable, I’m pretty sure I managed to work out the major plot points and what was going to happen to each character before I watched it.  But what the hell, I love a cheesy movie and it was the perfect movie to watch for NYE.   

And hello new eye candy – although I’m almost 99% sure I’m old enough to be his mother, come on down Thomas McDonell!  He’s Jesse, the angsty hotness counterpart to Nova, the good girl who’s got it all worked out.  This will obviously get compared to High School Musical, and while yes, it is set in a high school, there are teenagers, there are no dance numbers and the storyline is a little older.   

I guess the best way to sum this up is: don’t judge a book by its cover, follow your dreams and don’t rely on others for your happiness.  Don’t lie and cheat – because karma’s a bitch.  And most importantly – bro’s over ho’s.

Fanboys - I’m not a fan of Star Wars by any means, but this was a fun way to pass the afternoon.  And really who doesn’t love a road movie, with awesome cameos – it’s William ‘F*cking’ Shatner and a very scary Seth Rogan.   

Overall this was a lot of fun, I'm a fan of road movies – but it’s still not good enough to make me watch the first Star Wars movies…and nothing will EVER change my mind on that!  I thought the epic fight between the Star Wars / Trek fans was awesome and I loved George Lucas' 'house' was brilliant, I'd make my security dress up as storm troopers if I could!

Eight Legged Freaks - I remember this film from way back, it’s still as silly as I remember.  It’s too ridiculous to be really scary, but it still had me jumping and checking my sheets before I climbed into bed that night.  I do love a good ‘dumped toxic waste or leaked steroids/chemicals that can create mutant wildlife’ story – who could forget the awesome ‘Ticks’ movie? (The link takes you to ‘Infested’, which is what it was called in the US, but ‘Ticks’ on IMDb has the correct movie poster, but the wrong synopsis.  

 My favorite bit is still the jumping spiders as they chase guys on motorbikes through the desert.  Really silly, but the perfect way to forget everything, unwind and have fun for a bit.

 Eden Lake - Ok this wasn’t exactly what I expected.  I enjoyed it yes (as much as one can enjoy a movie like this), but I didn’t think it would be so good.  It had me thinking about it for the next few days – both how I felt about the movie and what I’d do if that was happening to me.  Maybe good isn’t the right word – terrifying perhaps, scary even.   

For those faint of heart, this isn’t the movie for you.  While there is some swearing, compared to the gore and violence it’s nothing.  This had me cringing, biting my lip and hiding my face.  And I think it’s made all the worse because the violence is steeped in reality.  I could see this really taking place – something, not quite as violently has happened in my town. 

This was far from a perfect movie in terms of plot, or actions of some of the characters.  At times I got frustrated by some of the characters actions, and I will never get why Jenny and Steve didn’t just leave, although there was that, I don't think that detracted too much from the story.  When the final credits rolled I was left staring at the screen, thinking ‘What? That’s it? Seriously.’  It was a tightly wound, perfectly combined thriller/horror film.


C.

Pack Mistress 1 & 2

After my vow to not buy any new series in 2012 and to finish as many off my Mt. TBR - what did I do - I went and bought a new series.  Kind of!  After reading a review of the second installment in the series on Awesomesauce Book Club, I was all "I just have a little peek" on Amazon.  What I found was an interesting take on on a book series.  The author, Evelyn Lafont is releasing her new book in serial format.  What does that mean fearless reader...it means that Pack Mistress #1 was released in late December, PM #2 in January and from February onwards another installment will be released every second month.

Huh?  I hear you say.  Which was kinda my thoughts at first.  When I love a book, I just want to read it all, in one big gulp.  But what if I could extent the fun over the year?  And that's what Lafont has done, taken a normal length book and split it into bite sized pieces, each around 30 pages.  With all the other things I had to do over the weekend, (rather than pack all my stuff - I'm tempted to chuck it and start again!), all I managed to read were the two excepts.  So this was perfect for me. 

So just what are you in for if you decide to read Pack Mistress...some very sexy werewolf action - in and out of the bedroom, an angry phone stalker, some forbidden love, one tired pack mistress, (I'm not sure how she does it!), and a little art appreciation.

All werewolf packs need a sexual outlet. For south Florida’s Red Wolf pack, the sexy, liberated and infertile werewolf Lorena is it.  Not your average Were, Lorena satisfies the males like no other wolf can. But as much as she enjoys her role as pack mistress, she longs for something she’s never had. A mate she can call her own…

I enjoyed both of these, read one after the other.  Lorena is a well written character and I look forward to seeing how she progresses as the book unfolds.  It's an interesting premise, having a 'pack mistress', something that I haven't come across before and while Lorena is supposed to be subsurvient, Lafont has written her as a strong woman, which I like.  Yes there is a lot of sex for such a small book, but it's creative and well written.  I'm hanging out for more of the art gallery and another encounter with R.W - who I'm guessing is going to become somewhat of a fixture for Lorena.  Roll on February, I need a pack fix!  Until then a reread wouldn't go astray - always a sign of a good book.

As you can see, I got the pics of the covers from Amazon.com and here's a link to Evelyn Lafont's site, where you can read an excerpt of Pack Mistress.

Until next time, enjoy.

C.

One down, fifty one to go...

I can't quite believe that the first week of January 2012 is almost over.  It's gone past in a blur and I feel like I haven't really done anything - but hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll have finished AT LEAST one of the books I've started over the past week and a half.  I've been in a reading funk, I want to read, but don't know exactly what I feel like, so I've started a few different books, but none have hit the spot. 

What has everyone else been reading?  Have you found that magical book to kick off the new year with?  What ever the case may be, I hope that the weekend gives you time to relax, kick back and enjoy this lovely summer weather, (unless of course it's Winter where you are, then look on the bright side - you have snow!).

C.