Our Lady of Immaculate Deception

Okay, this book is a doozy.  Nancy Martin, who also writes the Blackbird Sisters Mystery series, has come up with a character that has more than a few issues.  To put it simply, I did like this book but I had more than a few problems with Roxy Abruzzo, owner and manager of an architectural salvage company, who sleeps with anything that has a dick at the drop of a hat! Seriously, she doesn’t even have to know the guy but will fling him a condom and “...test his mileage.”   Hey, don’t blame me.  Her quote, not mine.  Now if she wasn’t such a . . . what’s the word I’m looking for . . . slut (and I really hate that word) then this would be a really great book.  If you can however get past her not so endearing hobby, Roxy is a funny, tough, level headed, independent single mum who struggles to pay the bills and stay out of her Uncle Carmine’s employment (mob boss), yet is loyal to her friends like Nooch. 

I have no idea whether this is part of a series, but I can definitely see more books featuring Roxy.  This gals got so much baggage to work through that you could get a whole Eve Dallas sized series out of her.  Her ex-lover Patrick Flynn (and father of her daughter) is back in her life.  A nice enough guy, Flynn's troubled past is hinted at here and there, but although he's still drawn to Roxy, he’s dating someone.  You can see the sparks fly between Flynn and Roxy that would have them wind up together in any future books, but with all the emotional baggage weighing them both down they’d more than likely sink like a bloody stone.  An emotional train crash just waiting to happen. 

The storyline for this book is simple, wife burns down house (with husband and his mistress inside), and from the ruins Roxy salvages a few items – including a nude Greek statue.  Turns out that this statue is worth an absolute fortune and was being hidden in plain site by the family’s matriarch (who is in and out of a convenient coma at a nursing home) and when her son is killed the same night Roxy takes the statue then it turns into a race against time until she can offload the antique for a good price, or the killer finds her.

The real scene stealer for me in this book was Rooney.  A moth eaten looking pit bull Roxy adopted that loves his momma, and will take a bite out of your arse at her say so.

Now, I’m not sure if I’d ever buy this book to put on my bookshelf, but I can see myself borrowing it again in the future.  I wouldn’t recommend it for anyone who isn’t keen on reading sex scenes, not that it’s terribly graphic, but she does get around.  You do get sucked into Roxy’s world so it doesn’t take long to read. Great for a bus or train, or even during your lunch hour.

Rating: 3 / 5

Birthday shout

I just want to say Happy Birthday to my favourite aunt. I hope you enjoy today, and are spoiled beyond redemption... hehe

Rumour Mill

I've been wondering for many months now just when I'd see the next Merry Gentry book.  It has been sooo long between drinks, and there have been more than a few Anita Blake books released. 

Was the Merry Gentry series going to be killed off?

or had Anita just kidnapped LKH?

The truth is that none of that happened.  And while I, personally, have not enjoyed the last few Anita books (and be truthful, are you really happy with the way Anita has changed?), LKH is preparing another Merry book. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee..... huh?  Just not for 2011! 

"I have begun work on the next one, actually, but it will not be out this year. The demise of the series and various other rumors have been greatly exaggerated, or just plain made up out of whole-cloth."

I found a blog entry on LKH's newly, and fabulously, revamped website here.  So if you want to read the real reasons behind the disappearance of new Merry books from bookstore shelves, and wish to pray to the Goddess of Fertility, then go there.

Too much?

It is officially freezing!  The mercury didn't budge above 12°c today. At the moment I'm rugged up in Tracksuit pants, Jersey top, a fluffy dressing gown and under a blanket and doona! I feel like a trussed up Turkey.  I'll be making sure that my hot water bottle is ready to go tonight, and think warm thoughts.

Hey, it worked!

Well, what do you know... blogging via mobile works!  Look out world :D

Gotta be quick.  I'm freezing my butt off at the local McDonald's.  Anyway, as promised I started to make a Curran wallpaper.  I'm not too sure if this is the final design, but thought that I'd put a small pic of it up.  Let me know if you like it or not, or if you can suggest the perfect human to be Curran.

Think warm thoughts guys.  I'm outta here......

On the go

Just downloaded a blog app. Hopefully this will work. So far its force closed twice. I'm beginning to think that some of the negative comments were right!

If this does work, then it means I'll be able to blog whenever the muse strikes.  Wish me luck.

Needing a Kate Daniel's fix?

Well, look no further.  I've been feeling a tad creative lately, so I asked myself "...what wallpaper do I really, really, really want to have on my desktop?"  and as I'm waiting for my copy of Magic Slays to arrive, the answer pops into my head - Kate Daniels of course! 

So here is a 1680x1050 wallpaper I knocked up.

And before you tell me, yes, I know this isn't her usual sword.  Work with me people!

Enjoy :D

PS - am working on a Curran wallpaper now.  Will post as soon as it's ready!

Who ya gonna call?

Okay, take two.

I tried to post this entry earlier but it went into the ether.  So here it is again . . . huh hmmmm

I just got my new mobile phone yesterday.  I love it.  It's only my 2nd ever mobile, but the first connected to the internet.  My old faithful phone lasted for 11 years, but lately had been a bit dodgy, so I upgraded plans and got a new phone.  Yesterday I just explored all the apps - and couldn't resist adding kindle - but the book I was bursting to get isn't available to Australia!  I had that happen before.  They don't mind selling you paperbacks, hardcovers, audiobooks but not the kindle!  Heavens forbid that we would want to purchase an ebook!  Okay, over it.

So I've been adding contacts, and basically customising it to my desires. 

PS - Would add a pic, but I keep running into this stupid 'cloud picker' box when I try to upload an image.  Will add one when I can.

Gotta Dance!

Have been feeding my silver screen fix for the last few days.  I recently pulled out and dusted off my boxed set of 'That's Entertainment' and spent a few hours just watching Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller and company light up the screen.

It really has been ages since I have even so much as glanced at the 'classics' section of my DVDs, but I saw something on TV earlier this week and it just got me hankering to watch my all time favourite legend Gene Kelly.  Unfortunately for moi I'd forgotten that I've packed most of my DVDs away in boxes - to save room for my books - oops!  So I sought comfort on the net, trying to find a couple of really great photos.  Talk about trying to find a needle in a haystack! 

I did happen across a truly wonderful photo thanks to a friend who emailed it to me {big thanks to you!}.  I just have to show you because it shows Gene Kelly the man, not the polished star.  For all you Kelly fans out there, little white attic, enjoy!

Who do you love?

I've been asked this question a lot lately, "Who is your favourite author?"  and while I could take the easy way out and just say Jane Austen, Karen Rose, or which ever author I'm currently devouring, this morning I just sat and really thought about it for awhile and came to the conclusion that I'm not a one author gal.  I just can't honestly say that I love one author above all others.

During said rumination I bounced from literary snobbishness ". . .but I only read the classics!", to Para-Rom tart where only Kate Daniels, Elena Deveraux and other kick-ass heroines are welcome.  So were do you draw the line?  If I'm totally honest with myself and you, it really depends on when you ask me.  So as you've asked me today this is my answer.

In no particular order, here are the top ten author's that have pride of place on my bookshelves.

•  Laurell K Hamilton - Anita Blake (books 1-10 only) and Merry Gentry series
•  JD Robb/Nora Roberts
•  Kylie Chan
•  Ilona Andrews - Kate Daniels rocks
•  Anne Bishop
•  Ella Wheeler Wilcox - brilliant poet
•  Nalini Singh - Guild Hunters series
•  Jane Austen - Je rêve de toi, Mr Darcy
•  Janet Evanovich, and finally
•  Stephanie Laurens

Yes, I know I have an ecclectic palate.  It seems my tastes vary wildly in both literature and music.  You'll notice that some names are missing, and while I really enjoyed Christine Feehan, Sharon Sala, the Arcane Society and Twilight series I wouldn't class them as some of my all-time favourites.  These are the books that I just can't help but return to again, and again, and again, and again . . . you get the idea.

Do you agree with me?  Let me know if you think I should include a certain author in my top ten.

PS - for those Kate Daniels fans out there I have included a small banner and picture that I've made for Curran.  Hope you enjoy.

A mini milestone achieved!

woo hoo!  100 blog entries posted . . . go me!  I wondered how long it would take me to reach it.

For this momentus occassion, I'm going to share with you a truly simple but scrummy recipe for BBQ Pork Spare Ribs (they'll be ready for lunch) that came from an unlikely source.

I've been cooking this periodically for more than 10 years, and so far to date it's turned out perfectly each time.

If you want to, adjust the spices and salt to suit your tastes.  I use just a plain old run-of-the-mill tomato sauce, but you could use any type of catsup you fancy.
Okay, first the recipe.  I've used Pork, but you can use any type of meat you want.

click to enlarge

Now this recipe actually comes from a beat up old cookbook that I found in a thrift shop called Gone with the Wind Cook Book.  Usually recipes found in some of the 'movie' based cookbooks are a tad bizaar and not food that I'd usually cook.  If you ever come across this recipe book, snap it up.  The recipes are simple and easy to reproduce time and time again.

Gardening anyone?

Sorry about the lack of entries lately.  I've been absorbed by my gardening projects at the moment.  I've been up to my elbows in potting mix and mulch planting roses and veggie plants.

To read about my 'missing time' from this blog, head on over to A Lazy Gardener to see what I've been doing.

Will be posting new reviews of Nora Roberts Chasing Fire and Treachery in Death by JD Robb when back.  Should also have my new delivery of books from the UK by then.

It's nearly here!

I can't believe it's nearly time to order in the new Kylie Chan book!  I have been reading this series since it first hit the shelves.  Although set in modern day Hong Kong (mostly), they delve into the world of Eastern mythology so realisticly that you don't even question why centuries old demons are using mobile phones ;-D

The latest offering, Heaven to Wudang,  is the last book in the second trilogy - confusing I know - and will hit Australian and New Zealand shelves on 1 June 2011.

Ancient Chinese mythology comes to life in this bestselling series of martial arts and demons,

dragons and gods, legends and lies ... and a journey to the depths of Hell.

 

The demons that could control stones and elementals have been defeated, but the most powerful of Simon Wong′s associates still remains -- the one who can create almost undetectable copies of humans and Shen. This demon has allied with Kitty Kwok and together they plot to trap Emma and Simone in a web of copies.

 

Wudang Mountain is enveloped by dark foreboding as Xuan Wu begins to reappear -- sometimes human, sometimes turtle, but always without memory. Emma and Simone must race from Hong Kong to Hanoi as

they try to rescue Xuan Wu before the demons capture him.

This is not the last book in the series ladies and gentlemen.  This is only the conclusion of the 2nd trilogy and yep, you guessed it.  There is one more trilogy to go!

Spider Update

Oops, nearly forgot.  Remember that funky spider I spotted on my rose?  Well, it turns out that she was just a large, but common variety of garden spider.  My bad! {hangs head in shame}  I finally got a good look at her after sunset.  She was not the best subject to photograph as she kept moving or curling up into a tight ball so the quality of the photo isn't that great.

PS - she must not have liked the fact that her picture was going to be posted online as she scarpered the next day.

Bored senseless

It's time for the Easter holidays here in Australia so every child (and their iPhones) are roving around the shopping centres in packs. Thank GOD it's been too much trouble to go into town for anything other than the basics.

This week has been one of the most boring that I can remember.  I've been re-reading books that I've already digested many times over, TV has just had the most annoying and stupid programs on - and those that I've actually wanted to watch have coincided with others of interest making me choose, damn it.  {stamping foot in little tantrum}  With all this rain any outdoors activities or chores have had to be postponed as it is extremely soggy underfoot.  I ask you, what's a girl to do?

To fill up some time I've been studying - again boring - and trying to keep my mind active with lists and notes, etc. 

Stick a fork in me, I'm done.  I'll just crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head . . . wake me when it's over!