It is quiet around my house today. The guys have headed toward Ft.Worth to watch the TCU football. I am reading a spooky book and cooking dinner. This morning I put on a pot of pinto beans and whipped up some cornbread. It has been a while since I've made cornbread from scratch...cornmeal, flour, baking powder, egg and milk, I was plentily surprised how it rose. Now to enjoy.
Dinner is ready, the books is calling...later gators.

I've decided to start working on my next big mosaic project, my kitchen back splash. First I've got to clean off the linoleum tiles I added a couple of years ago. So today, side one with the hairdryer, scrapper and elbow grease.

I also started checking out sites that have mosaic back splashes, tiles broken into a back splash. Here is one from a friend whose sister had her done. I like the white grout.

It seems after many years AOL is getting rid of their blogs so this will be my full time blog now. I can remember when life on AOL was good...how times have changed. I haven't been reading much, if anything in the past year. Sad to say. I have been doing more crafts, taking care of my grandson, getting one daughter married, one moved out of the house then back home again. My son moved into our pool house we built in 2004 for my FIL who is now deceased, my FIL not my son. We lost my little Mouse in May, found a fluffy puppy in June who has turned into a big dog, Miss Scooby Doo.

Life is ever changing in our home, sit back and enjoy the tales.

Happy reading all!!

Well, I've been reading the same book for two weeks now because real life is really interfering this time!

1. My oldest daughter is graduating from college with her bachelor degree in early education May 14th.

2. Also on that day my mother's husband is either going to jail for poisoning her with arsenic or return the 300K he stole from her over the past 10 years. Oh, the date to try to settle is May 14th at 10:00AM.

3. I lost 30 pounds from worrying, working my butt off, and chasing my 2 year old grandson 7 days a week while my daughter goes to college and works (she is a single mother living at home) in the past 4 months so I really need new clothes.

Okay...sounds like a soap opera I know!!

So what am I reading?? HIGH PRAIRIE BRIDE by Jenna Kernan. I just love her books and I am going slowly so I can enjoy it.

Happy Wednesday!

Tell us about the book you're reading:

Who?

Lacy Mason & Wyatt Anderson

What?

Just looking for a good time…

Waiting tables in a bar full of no-good cowboys isn't Lacy Mason's idea of fun. But between her daughter's illness, endless doctor bills, and her college tuition, she needs the money.

What she could really use is a night of no-holds-barred passion and no-strings-attached sex. Too bad she has sworn off cowboys for life…

A guy walks into a bar…

Full-time executive and retired cowboy Wyatt Anderson is drawn to Lacy from the moment he sees her. But she's an enigma. Daring and assured one moment and hesitant the next, it's as if something haunts her. Only willing to give him one night, Lacy clings tightly to her secrets.

Unfortunately for her, what Wyatt wants, Wyatt gets. And he definitely wants Lacy…

When?

Present Day

Where?
West

Which?

A TALL DARK COWBOY
Mackenzie McKade
2/2006
Ero/Rom/Tear-jerker


What's up next?

HIGH PLAINS BRIDE by Jenna Kernan

3 books...

one book I read yesterday and it goes on my keeper shelf. Great week of reading. I would give more teasers about the books but I sliced off the soft tip of my middle finger yesterday with an electric trimmer. OUCH!!

A LADY's PLEASURE Rated A+ - Burning (Best read so far this year)
Renee Bernard
11/2006
Rom/H-Regency

For a taste of sin, she would risk her reputation... and her heart.

SEEKING REVENGE, SHE DISCOVERS HOW DELICIOUS A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY CAN BE...

Merriam Everett has always been regarded as a shy, docile creature. But for one night, Merriam the Mouse has become a temptress who will recklessly take her pleasure with the arrogant earl who once slighted her, and then leave him aching with lust. A fine plan, if Merriam had not just seduced the wrong rogue!

Drake Sotherton left England amid dark speculation and has returned to seek vengeance against Julian Clay, the man he believes murdered his wife. Convinced that the masked beauty who seduced him is Julian's pawn, Drake tracks her down and proposes that she become his mistress for the Season. Every sensual desire, every secret longing will be explored... and fulfilled.

But keeping his enemy close is a dangerous game. Merriam is an irresistible mix of innocence and abandon, and each encounter proves more soul-searing than the last. With a passion this wild, this wonderful, one Season will never be enough....

COLTERS' WOMAN Rated B / Burned the sheets off
Maya Banks
1/2007
Ero/Rom/C/S

Adam, Ethan and Ryan aren't looking for women. They're looking for a woman. One woman to share their lives and their beds. They don't want a casual romp in the hay, they want the woman who will complete them and they're losing hope of finding her. That is until Adam finds Holly lying in the snow just yards from their cabin. He knows she's different the minute he holds her in his arms. But before Adam gets his hopes up, he knows he has to gauge his brothers reactions. Soon its evident that she's the one. There are a few problems, however convincing her she belongs with them and keeping her safe from the man who wants her dead.

THE LAWMAN's BRIDE Rated B+ / Spicy Warm
Cheryl St. John
2/2007
Rom/H

Kidnapped as a child, sold to a con man, she'd fast learned how to sweet-talk her way out of trouble. Now all Sophie wanted was to be left alone to build a new life--one that was honest and decent, based on truth, not trickery.

Clay Connor was the last man she should care about. Upright and honorable, the town's marshal deserved better than a woman with a tainted past. But if only Sophie could learn to trust again, she might find this lawman would make her new life complete.

Thank you BYRON for doing the typing this week!!!

Cheryl St. John is one of my favorite historical authors. Her hero talk and listen to their heroine meaning less big misunderstanding plots. Most of her books tug on your heart strings, leaving you wanting to glom her backlist. Too bad I've read all of her books and have to wait for new one to be release.

Yesterday on the way to my nephew's 18 th birthday party I finished reading THE LAWMAN'S BRIDE. Our heroine, Sophie, has had so my tragedy in her life by the time she was 12 years old; Her family was attacked by Sioux Indians, killing her father and brothers then taking Sophie and her mother captive. Her mother dies after 2 years then the Sioux sold her to a white man, Tek Garrett for a gun and whiskey.

Once with Garrett, Sophie was trained to be his partner in cons jobs. He dressed her, taught her how to talk, act, seduce men out of the pants for money. After many years living the con life she escapes when one of their cons fails, she runs away from Garrett. Sophie wants freedom and to be able to make decisions about her live on her own.

Our Super Librarian has a wonderful review of THE LAWMAN'S BRIDE.

I rated THE LAWMAN'S BRIDE - B+ Warm
I would highly recommend JOE'S WIFE, THE DOCTOR'S WIFE (who appear in TLB), THE MISTAKEN WIDOW, SWEET ANNIE, HIS SECONDHAND WIFE, PRAIRIE WIFE, THE BOUNTY HUNTER.

It was another sad week of reading...I am working to get the reading mojo back to flowing. I did start a couple of books but just couldn't finish them for right now. I think I am leaning towards a ghost, witch, paranormal theme maybe in a medieval time period. So I will be TBR diving again this weekend!

THE OTHER WOMAN Rated C - warm
Patricia Kay
7/2001
Rom/C

Okay, I went into this book thinking it was like one of her Silhouette books. Wrong. The heroine, Natalie Ferrenzo and Adam Forrester had a hot love affair when they were young in college. But Adam's family hit a bad time with money and sister needing to go to college a weathy family on the outs. They need Adam to save them by marrying his childhood friend Julia.

Adam did the right thing and married her.

After about 12 years they meet again. Julia is a bitch and Adam wants out so he ask for a divorce and Julia takes a nose dive down the stairs. Got the picture yet? Julia is in a wheelchair and Adam is guilty because he was leaving. So Adam and Natalie have a 5 year long affair. That was the whole book....the five years of sneaking around and when she found out she was pregnant she ended it. That was the first chapter! Her telling him she was leaving him because she couldn't take it anymore...not the baby.

I was expecting a book about after the divorce and them starting fresh. I guess I wasn't in the mood for adultery.

Has anyone read any of the Haunting Heart Series?

Can you recommend any?Haunting Heart series?

ARRANGED IN HEAVEN
Sara Jarrod. 5/1998. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/A/Gh]

BITTERSWEET SUMMER
Rachel Wilson. 6/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/Gh]

COMING HOME
Willa Hix. 5/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

EARTH ANGEL
Kate Freiman. 11/1997. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

ETERNAL LOVE
Alice Alfonsi. 1/1998. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

ETERNAL SEA
Alice Alfonsi. 1/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/Gh-New Year's Day]

ETERNAL VOWS
Alice Alfonsi. 1/1997. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

THE GHOST AND KATIE COYLE
Anne Kelleher. 11/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh-Pirate]

A GHOST OF A CHANCE
Casey Claybourne. 8/1996. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh-Regency]

GHOST OF SUMMER
Sally Steward. 8/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

GREAT CAESAR's GHOST
Cynthia Sterling. 1/2000. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh-Frontier]

HAUNTING HOPE
Raina Lynn. 10/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

HEAVEN ABOVE
Sara Jarrod. 10/1996. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

HEAVENLY BLISS
Sara Jarrod. 7/1997. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

HEAVEN's PROMISE
Rachel Wilson. 11/1998. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh-Victorian

IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
Kimberly Randell. 4/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

NIGHT WHISPERS
Karen Sandler. 9/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

RESTLESS SPIRITS
Rachel Wilson. 3/1998. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh-Victorian

ROSES FOR CHLOE
Elaine Grant. 12/1998. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/H/Gh- [Rom/C/H/

SHADOWS IN THE FLAME
Tess Farraday. 9/1997. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh-Frontier]

SNOW IN SUMMER
Tess Farraday. 2/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

SOUL SURVIVOR
Susan Plunkett. 12/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh-Vietnam War]

SPIRIT CATCHER
Elizabeth Hallam. 7/1998. Jove. JHH. [Rom/TT/Gh-Frontier

A SPIRITED SEDUCTION
Casey Claybourne. 5/1997. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh-Regency]

SPIRIT OF LOVE
Rachel Wilson. 10/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh-Frontier]

SPRING ENCHANTMENT
Christina Cordaire. 6/1996. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh-Regency]

STARDUST OF YESTERDAY
Lynn Kurland. 4/1996. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]
Jul-2001 paperback

UNFORGETTABLE
Karen Sandler. 3/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/C/Gh]

WHISPERS ON THE WIND
Donna Fletcher. 3/1997. Jove. JHH. [Rom/H/Gh]

A WILLING SPIRIT
Cynthia Sterling. 7/1999. Jove. JHH. [Rom/Gh]

Check out my Slide Show!

My reads for the week - March 16 - 23

CEREMONY OF THREE Rated B - Burning
Evangelina Anderson
2/2007
Ero/Rom/C/V

Vampires.

ONE MAN AND A BABY Rated B+ sweet
Susan Meier
7/2006
Rom/C

Cute story of a young daddy that has learned from is mistakes, returns to
his hometown where he was the town bad boy. He wants to make a future for
his
daughter and bring her up with his family near.

ANIMAL ATTRACTION Rated B - Burning
Alexis and Patrick Silver
2/2007
Ero/Rom/O/WW

Shifters, all big cats. She didn't realize she was a shifter until her
husband and Brand teach her how. Cats love to be petted!

I am reading -
THE STRANGER I MARRIED
Sylvia Day
1/2007
Rom/H

So far very good....he was rake, he married her so they both could continue
to have "other lovers" but when the love of his life dies in childbirth (his
child) he disappears for 4 years coming back a very serious man who wants
his
wife to himself and he plans to court her.
(Older woman/younger man)

Have you ever had "Fear of the next book" syndrome? What is that?

You go to your TBR shelve right after you've read a very good book, then you start skimming the shelves looking at the series, historical, contemporary books you have, then all of the sudden realize what if this book isn't as good as the last. Fear of reading a bad book!

Are we allowed to talk about wallbangers anymore?? Remember The Wall? Remember hurling those books against the wall? Made you feel so much better. LOL

I can't remember the last real bad book I've read and I hope it isn't my next book!!!

Next up:

THE STRANGER I MARRIED by Sylvia Day

I’m stealing this from Bewitched By Books and if you “steal” it from me, leave a comment here so I can come and read your answers. I love seeing what other people are reading, their favorite author and books.

Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror?

***When I was reviewing at RRT I did some Science Fiction, didn't care for it but that is strange because I love Star Trek. Fantasy, not so much but last week I was reading blurbs on Ellora's Cave Romantica about a heroine that turns into a dragon, hummm might have to check this out . Horror, never! Don't even watch horror movies.

Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?

***I love paperbacks....hardbacks are hard to read when you're curled up.

Amazon or Brick and Mortar?

***I wish brick and mortar....I live in a small town with Hastings as our bookstore. Have you ever seen a romance section at Hastings??? Older published books and full retail.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?

***To far to drive.

Hitchhiker or Discworld?

***I’ve never read Douglas Adams and I have no freakin’ clue what Discworld is. Ditto - I take Bewitched answer.

Bookmark or Dogear?

***Bookmark!

Asimov’s Science Fiction or Fantasy & Science Fiction? *** Neither.

Alphabetize by author, Alphabetize by title, or random?

***Again, Bewitched and I have the same answer. Alphabetize by author, then by title among the same author. But if it’s a series then it is in order of the series.

Keep, Throw Away or Sell?

***I have a keeper shelf of about 300, only toss if the book is damaged, don't sell anymore but I trade them for credits at PBS.

Keep dust-jacket or toss it?

***I don't usually read HBs but why would anyone toss a dust jacket?

Read with dustjacket or remove it?

*** I leave it on.

Short story or novel?

***I love the novels but holiday themes I like to read short and fast.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? *** Neither.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?

***Chapter break unless I have to get up and can't get back to finish the chapter.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time?” *** Both!

Buy or Borrow?

***I hate to borrow so I buy or trade.

Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation or Browse?

***I read mostly readers Blogs, Yahoo lists and cyber friends who rave about a wonderful book they've read.

Lewis or Tolkien? *** Tolkien

Collection (short stories by the same author) or Anthology (short stories by different authors)?

***Both, Mary Balogh has some get short stories and anthology.

Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?

***Nice tidy ending....HEA

Morning reading, Afternoon reading or Nighttime reading?

***mornings with coffee and emails, afternoons watching soaps, evening while DH is watching sports.

Standalone or Series?

***Standalone but they are getting as extinct some animals!!

New or used?

***Both, I buy new if I can't wait to read it, used off PBS.

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?

***WHEN THERE IS HOPE by Jane Goodger - 6/1996 - Rom/TT/R-Victorian

Top 5 favorite genre books of all time?

***Since I am a romance snob I only did different genres in romance. And as you can see I am a bit of a historical romance snob!

SHADES OF TWILIGHT by Linda Howard - Rom/C/S

HOPE's CAPTIVE by Kate Lyon - Rom/H/I-Frontier

MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN by Jen Holling -Rom/H-Renaissance

TAPESTRY by Karen Ranney - Rom/H-Georgian

A MAN IN A KILT by Sandy Blair -Rom/TT/Gh-Medieval (this hit three; time travel, ghost and it is a medieval)

Favorite genre series?

***Jen Holling's series about three sisters who have different gifts.

MY WICKED HIGHLANDER rated A+
MY DEVILISH SCOTSMAN rated A+
MY SHADOW WARRIOR rated A

Currently Reading?

***ONE MAN AND A BABY by Susan Meier

I AM DANCING A JIG!!!

I download my BYRON CDs then went to their website to download something else.

Then I copied my BYRON on the old computer (Dell 2004) on to my SeaGate 40 GB. Then connected my SeaGate to my new computer (lenovo 2006) I got for Christmas.

All of my notes, reviews of books, ratings, are there!!! This is really going to help me get back into my books!

What is also nice, each update I can copy over the old BYRON in my SeaGate as a backup if this computer crashes. :::::knocking on wood::::::

So easy it took about 45 minutes to upload to SG and download to this computer.

Reading: ONE MAN and a BABY by Susan Meier

Mad is a bad influence on me! She has been buying, reading, and teasing me with e-books in paperback from Amazon.

Last night I decide to order 3 new nightstand books. The last 3 nightstand books I bought were COOKING UP A STORM, MENAGE both by Emma Holly and SHADOWPLAY by Portia DaCosta. ~~~~~~ HOT, BURNING HOT!!~~~~~~~~

So what is a nightstand book? My nightstand books I read s_l_o_w_l_y to be savored like a dark sweet chocolate. Yummy!

I might read a chapter a night or just start reading from the beginning again. Oh, and they have to be very naughty!!!

Back to Mad's bad influence on me....here are the books I ordered last night to be put into the naughty nightstand. A TALL DARK COWBOY by Mackenzie McKade, LOVING LIES by Lora Leigh, & COLTERS' WOMAN by Maya Banks. The covers are so hot I just know the pages will be burning up!! Thanks Mad!

I decided yesterday that if I am not reading like normal, I need to play with my TBR, add book to my wish list and check out other Romance reader's Blogs to see what they are reading.

Today I finished getting the first download of BYRON on to my new computer. The last time I bought a new computer I was inventorying BYRON as soon as hubby went to work so I could stack book on his chair! This computer is almost 4 months old and my slump is a little longer.

So getting back to normal I will be....playing with my books, reading Blogs, talking to readers and finding my favorite themes on BYRON again.



Sunday I read a very hot vampire e-book from Ellora's Cave, CEMEMONY OF THREE by Evangelina Anderson. It started off a little stiff and silly but once the sex started I forgot about the writing!! If you read Emma Holly's MENAGE this book has vampires with a sweet young thing.

We made it home Friday afternoon after a wonderful romantic week of B&B hopping!

I've added a few teaser pictures here but at my personal Blog I have more.

http://journals.aol.com/browney44/debbiesdiary/

I took to read Emma Holly's COOKING UP A STORM, a very hot re-read for me.

My DH and I are headed out for three nights at three different Bed andBreakfasts. We are in our fifties, kids flying out of the nest, a boom rang daughter returns to the nest with a chick, a new grandbaby who I watch 12/7. Did I say I am in my fifties...damn, it was so much easier in my thirties!

So anyway...we're having our first second honeymoon shorter then the first honeymoon but hopefully just as romantic. But wait the first time around my groom DID NOT fart around me and I this time WANT the sex!!!

Okay, this is where the romance books come in....hummm. should I pack a sweet regency? Or how about one of these men in a kilt? What if I pulled one of Emma Holly's out of the TBR?

Yes, I think even in my fifties, if I can take one hot tub, one bottle of Texas wine, and afternoon swinging in a hammock reading Emma Holly this middle age couple can burn up a few sets of sheets!!
What do you think?
http://sunriseexoticranch.org/bed_and_breakfast.html

I've been visiting tons of Blogs tonight. I am not only a romance reader but also a romance reader lover who loves to read about romance books on the Internet and what other romance readers are watching on TV, seeing at the movies and more.
Some of these Blog are a hoot! I've added them into my links, check to see if you see a new link-to-you. If this doesn't get me started reading again I don't know what will!

So please leave a comment if you're romance reader and how you got out of your reading slumps, the last book you read you rated an A, if I missed your page.

Where have all the romance readers gone? I ask this of one of my good cyber friends that I meet about 8 years ago on AOL message boards.

All the AOL members will remember when romance readers ran those boards and we talked about books with authors, invented the spoiler lines, etc.

Then we had message boards at different sites like Book Bug, eHarlequin, Romantic Times Magazine message boards. Who didn't love to read who was fighting with whom!!! ROFLOL

Then we moved to the Yahoo Lists....broke it down into all kinds of romance books. You have your Harlequin-Silhouette lists, HP list, Romance_Historical, RomanceGarden, Bookstore Junkies, authors got them to tell us about what they are doing, when the new book is coming out, newsletters.

Now there are publishers, authors, and romance readers at MySpace but to me they aren't that user friendly.

So romance readers where is your favorite place to hang out to discuss the books you've read and find other readers????