Amie Stuart ~ On the Back Porch

Probably becuase I was up until 1 Am reading this book. (I’m so glad I didn’t read the sneak peek at Book 2 because it doesn’t come out until October).

Now I’ve been a Karen Marie Monning fan since her second or third book and I glommed her backlist and waited anxiously for her next book. By the time Adam’s book came out though, well, see my post from yesterday about hype. But after Wendy reviewed Darkfever I really really wanted to give her another try. May, if you don’t want a romance, this is the book for you.

From Publishers Weekly

Drawing on elements from the paranormal world that bestseller Moning (Spell of the Highlander) created in her earlier romances, this suspense novel takes readers on a darker journey, one dominated by the search for a powerful Faery magic and bereft of the romantic magic Moning’s fans have come to expect. When MacKayla Lane, an ordinary young woman, travels to Ireland to track down her sister’s murderer, she is sucked into an extraordinary world filled with ancient secrets, vampires, assorted Fae nasties and other tough-to-kill beings. In the process, Mac learns of her own unusual talents and finds an unlikely mentor in the wealthy and mysterious Jericho Barrons. Moning’s newest foray contains suspense and plenty of setup. Indeed, this reads like a fragment of a larger story, an introduction to character and place that, while entertaining, skims the surface. But it’s a compelling world filled with mystery and vivid characters, and this, combined with the hint of sparks between Jericho and Mac, will stoke readers’ fervor for Bloodfever, the next installment.

I stole that because i’m too lazy to write my own synopsis. I loved this book. The only thing I love more than fairy tales is …stories about the Fae. Maybe it’s because I saw a fairy once. Don’t ask. I won’t tell. Like Wendy, I had a few issues–I’m too lazy to dig up her review–but they didn’t stop me from um yeah staying up to finish the book.

Mac (the heroine) kept telling us how big and hot Barron was and it just didn’t work for me. This can be a hazzard of writing in first person, but he just didn’t feel as intimidating as Mac let on.

Mac was too resisitant to the truth for far too long for my liking (like 1/3 of the book). After a while it just got irritating and I had to remind myself that she was only 22.
Mac pissed away an opportunity for more information toward the end of the book and it just left me reeling and a bit pissed. Especially since everyone seemed to be keeping her in the dark about a lot of things.
The ending–do you remember the ending of POC 2? Yeah that cliff hanger that left you kind of gasping and going what the fuck? If endings like that bother you, this might not be the book for you.

But, I really liked Mac, I liked her interplay with Barron for the most part, Mac is for all intents and purposes, a clever girl, and I think this is KMM at her shiniest (despite how the book ended *grumble*). There are some kickass one-liners in this book (…and Borges’ stupid story about the avatar and the tortist didn’t teach me a thing, except how much better I like Little Bunny Foo Foo; it rhymes and you can jump rope to it). While I didn’t really buy into the attraction between Mac and Barron, that didn’t bother me a bit (LOL Sybil).

And in case you didn’t catch my earlier mention…This is NOT a romance IMO.
I woke up to the first bit of real sunshine in almost a week and my back yard is like a swap. I have contest entries to get off my plate today and the kids want to go bowling so off I go. Happy Saturday everyone!

PS Dionne is running a first kiss contest!

But blog fifty times a day. I should really save some of these for when I have nothing but screw it.

Larissa has set up a TBR Callendar!

And that reminded me of something I was thinking about the other day. I have an aversion to anything that gets tons of hype–books, movies, music, doesn’t matter. If it’s in my face, I tend to avoid it. It’s nothing personal; it’s just the way I am. I remember when paranormals and futuristics were as rare as a Susan B Anthony coin and now they’re like the pennies of publishing (I mean no disrespect), so I’ve held off on reading. Now while many readers have had their fill and are grumbling and dealing with upset reader tummies, I’m out buying them. Am I the only one doing this?
Larissa I lied….I just bought books a few weeks ago (and in January) and the majority were paranormals of some kind.

Let me see if I can scrap together a list. First up, the books I bought when Dennie and I hit Waldens which was actually early February I think?
KMM’s Darkfever

Noelle Mack’s Juicy

Colleen Gleason’s The Rest Falls Away

I Know I didn’t just buy three books.

Then there was the booksigning a few weeks ago…

Rosemary Clement Moore’s Prom Dates From Hell

Jim Butcher’s first Dresden book

and a book for a friend’s birthday, plus a book for the kid so that’s not so bad!

Then there was this week….which I am TOTALLY blaming on Jordan!

Jill Shalvis’s Smart and Sexy

Gennita Low’s The Protector

Michele Alberts Tough Enough

Vicki Pettersson’s The Scent of Shadows

Alyssa Day’s Atlantis Rising
Somebody stop me.

PS there’s a fabu post at Keishon’s about heroines.

So over at Agent Kristin’s she posted this tidbit….

And plot can be fixed. Voice can’t. You either have it or you don’t.

Someone commented that it was like saying a painter needs an eye for color.  Which I didn’t quiet get–lots of folks can paint, that doesn’t mean they’re GOOD at it.

As a reader, voice will win me over okay writing every time.  But the bigger question is, how do you teach voice?

Because as someone else said over at Agent K’s, some people will never have an interesting voice no matter how hard they work at it.  And in that same vein, no one’s writing voice works for everyone.

Again how do you teach something that is supposed to be so innate.  How can you even teach by example when everyone’s voice is different?

Okay, lets make it simpler.  How did YOU find your voice?  Me?  I said, “fuck it, I’m writing this the way I want to.”  So, throw it out there.  While keeping in mind I might use this for an article someday.

First off, this morning I put on a pair of jeans I haven’t worn in like 2 years. So that size 14 ass may be a long way off but it IS in sight! Sizes are funny things, so much depends on how something is cut (note to self START EXERCISING). At the rate I’m going, I should be down about another 20 pounds by Nationals!!!! Believe me, it’s super-scary to put that out there. But that’s two more sizes, which is pretty scary too.

Why is it every time I have kids and plan on doing yardwork (like WITH their help), it rains. I realize it’s the rainy season here, but dayum! I really really need to clean my gutters (like there’s weeds growing in them) and I’m DYING to get some planting done. Somehow that just sounded WRONG. I’ve about given up on ever getting my house done *sigh*. Every time I think I’ve got a handle on something, something else breaks. Last night it was one of my recessed light fixtures which is currently being held closed with a thumbtack.  One of the local bedroom stores had mattresses for sale for 99.00 per piece (that’s per mattress and box spring). I’m SO tempted to just go buy myself a new bed, which I really need, but…but…but…I think I’m just gonna have to hang tough until #1’s braces are all paid off *gulp*
Last but not least, Jordan posted about her safety net, those folks who hold her up and help her keep plugging along in what is undoubtedly a very crazy business.  We all have them.  I know I couldn’t handle this business without my CP’s and writer friends, but I’m gonna talk about someone I admire for a minute because I think she’s just a damned cool person.

She’s worked hard and she’s put a lot of her writing self out there for the rest of us to see.  We all know how much hard work and heartache goes into writing and she’s always been pretty frank about her internal struggles and finding her writing groove.  I’m sure there’s much more to her writing journey than what we’ve seen but through it all, even when I’m sure she’s gotten frustrated as hell, she always emanates a Zen-like calm that makes me wish I was more like her.

I had this great blog post all planned so you may get two for one today!

But first, Thirteen things I miss–in no particular order.
1. Cookies–Fuck I miss cookies!
2. The smell of a man. Not to gross anyone out but I actually ENJOY the fact my son wears cologne and uses Axe–it’s nice to have those manly smells around the house.
3. My size 14 ass *sigh* soon my love, soon!
4. My mom cleaning my house
5. Sex — don’t ask.
6. Being able to run two miles
7. Being able to write 15 pages a day
8. South Texas–I cannot WAIT to get back to San Antonio
9. My friend Judy.
10. Cake–FUCK I miss cake.
11. Some of my writer friends (I feel a blog post coming on *g*)
12. Someone to mow the grass for me and not expect to get paid.
13. Someone to change the lightbulbs for me–period. I hate ladders!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Rhiann
2. Sci-Fi Chick
3. Beck
4. Samantha Lucas
5. Anne Douglas

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks*, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants*actually I think I have my trackbacks turned off because of spam. I’ll check.

But first…Blood Ties is growing on me. I’m still not sold but the hunk-a-liscious vamp sure helps.

Prison Break–OMFG! that’s all I’m saying.  HOLY COW!  I can’t wait for next week. But I”m sad because it’s the season finale!  I am however looking forward to DRIVE

And I’m still loving The Riches–am I the only person watching this? Dirt season finale to watch this afternoon.  Ugly Betty keeps getting better and better.  What the hell was that crap on LAO: SVU last night? That was like the worst episode EVAH!

Okay AI

Lakiki–she was okay.

Chris Sligh–he was okay.  Definitely not as bad as Simon said.

Gina–was DA BOMB! I agree–definitely her best perfomance yet.

Sanjaya Malamohawk–WTF  I need my WTF smiley so bad here.

Haley–cute but again, forgettable.

Phil–I have to say I was impressed.

Melinda–good as usual. I loved her outfit–take that Simon

Blake–good. I think he’s the male to beat.  He’s such a pro!

Jordin–HOLY COW. I totaly agree with the judges.  She’s definitely one to watch–she’s got dark horse written all over her.

Chris R–I heart you.

I think the bigger question is who’s going home this week. I mean no one really sucked.  I mean REALLY SUCKED.  We know it won’t be Sanjaya Malatoff-cocktail –so I’m gonna guess Haley or Phil.

Ok who watched? Did that not rock. OMG! I was hollaring! My kid was threatening to call the funny farm on me!
I’ll be at Southern Fried Chicas later this morning with my regular blog post. First I have to drop the kid at school and get to work.

Spoliers below if you didn’t watch Battlestar Gallactica last night.  It’s your choice to click

(more…)