They're going to be on The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan and Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead. I have some things to get done today but I should have them up for you by this evening.
I hope.
We Moved!!!
15 years ago
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Sea Swept - Nora Roberts
Every NR fan I know has told me that I must read the Chesapeake Bay series. And "must" is always emphasized that way when they talk about it. I figured it should be good but I picked it up last year at the last book. I never blogged about it because I didn't want to go out of order here. lol ... yes, I know.
Anyway, Cameron Quinn came from a troubled past as did the rest of the boys that Stella and Ray Quinn adopted. She was unable to have kids so they kept their eye out for children who needed the assistance. Cam did. When they came across him thinking about stealing their Corvette, they never thought about it twice. Cam had been beaten severely and regular abuse from a mother who just didn't care left him wary and mistrusting of everyone. Ray and Stella assumed legal guardianship and fought to adopt him to give him a better life.
It took a while but eventually he came around and became part of the family. In time, they gave him brothers. Phillip and Ethan had gone through similar issues and eventually became absorbed into the family whole. They thought of themselves as brothers and they were at the heart of it.
Eventually, they grew up and left the nest as children so often do. Ethan stayed the closest, choosing to fish the waters of the river and bay. Phillip went into advertising in Baltimore. And Cameron went to Europe to race. I think he raced hydrofoils solely. They're those things that float just on top of the water. Our story really starts with Ray's accident.
He had collected another child and only had him for a few months when he ran into a telephone pole on the way back from Baltimore. It started a ripple effect for everyone connected with him. Cam came back from Europe. Ethan and Phillip moved back into the house after the funeral. Seth was still in a surly stage especially since he didn't really know Cam. He, like the rest of them, had been abused not only by his mother but by the men she brought home constantly. He trusted no one.
Enter Anna Spinelli, a social worker with a caring heart and an insight into the kind of troubles that can tear a child apart. Her only interest, at first, is the best interests of the child. She guides the Quinns through the process, all the while seeing that they're becoming a family unit. The inevitable happens (it IS a NR book after all) and she falls for Cam. Being male, he falls for her too but doesn't realize it until it's too late.
One question lingers over all of them. Was Ray's accident truly an accident or was it suicide?
Anyway, Cameron Quinn came from a troubled past as did the rest of the boys that Stella and Ray Quinn adopted. She was unable to have kids so they kept their eye out for children who needed the assistance. Cam did. When they came across him thinking about stealing their Corvette, they never thought about it twice. Cam had been beaten severely and regular abuse from a mother who just didn't care left him wary and mistrusting of everyone. Ray and Stella assumed legal guardianship and fought to adopt him to give him a better life.
It took a while but eventually he came around and became part of the family. In time, they gave him brothers. Phillip and Ethan had gone through similar issues and eventually became absorbed into the family whole. They thought of themselves as brothers and they were at the heart of it.
Eventually, they grew up and left the nest as children so often do. Ethan stayed the closest, choosing to fish the waters of the river and bay. Phillip went into advertising in Baltimore. And Cameron went to Europe to race. I think he raced hydrofoils solely. They're those things that float just on top of the water. Our story really starts with Ray's accident.
He had collected another child and only had him for a few months when he ran into a telephone pole on the way back from Baltimore. It started a ripple effect for everyone connected with him. Cam came back from Europe. Ethan and Phillip moved back into the house after the funeral. Seth was still in a surly stage especially since he didn't really know Cam. He, like the rest of them, had been abused not only by his mother but by the men she brought home constantly. He trusted no one.
Enter Anna Spinelli, a social worker with a caring heart and an insight into the kind of troubles that can tear a child apart. Her only interest, at first, is the best interests of the child. She guides the Quinns through the process, all the while seeing that they're becoming a family unit. The inevitable happens (it IS a NR book after all) and she falls for Cam. Being male, he falls for her too but doesn't realize it until it's too late.
One question lingers over all of them. Was Ray's accident truly an accident or was it suicide?
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
Poor Percy Jackson. He's special ... in an odd sort of way. He suffers from ADHD and dyslexia. Because of that, he is constantly getting into trouble. He doesn't mean to. He doesn't WANT to get into trouble; it just sort of happens to him. All sorts of weird things happen to him.
It's not until he turns 11 that he finds out why. Percy is special but not because he's a troubled kid. He's a demigod. Half human. Half Greek God. It's a further shock to find out exactly who his father is. It's not just any Greek god. It's Poseidon and that's where the fun starts.
For those who don't know, Poseidon is the god of water in Greek mythology. And since water exists just about everywhere, you can see why he's so powerful. Percy finds all this out and then goes to a special place to be protected and learn to refine his powers. Right up until Poseidon and Zeus start to fight.
He's then sent on a quest to locate something that has been stolen from Zeus and return it to the most powerful of gods on Olympus. Does he do it? I'm not telling.
I liked this book. It was fun. It was a fast read and it was engaging enough to make me go back for the second book in the series. I'll definitely keep reading.
It's not until he turns 11 that he finds out why. Percy is special but not because he's a troubled kid. He's a demigod. Half human. Half Greek God. It's a further shock to find out exactly who his father is. It's not just any Greek god. It's Poseidon and that's where the fun starts.
For those who don't know, Poseidon is the god of water in Greek mythology. And since water exists just about everywhere, you can see why he's so powerful. Percy finds all this out and then goes to a special place to be protected and learn to refine his powers. Right up until Poseidon and Zeus start to fight.
He's then sent on a quest to locate something that has been stolen from Zeus and return it to the most powerful of gods on Olympus. Does he do it? I'm not telling.
I liked this book. It was fun. It was a fast read and it was engaging enough to make me go back for the second book in the series. I'll definitely keep reading.
Monday, December 28, 2009
2010 goals
It's here already. I can hardly believe that a new year will be upon us by week's end. Time flew and it didn't all at the same time. It seems like it's gone in the blink of an eye and yet what was accomplished?
Next year, I've set myself a reading goal. I plan on reading 25 new books. New to me, that is. They don't have to be released next year. I'm starting out with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. I'm also planning on listening to the audiobook version of The Magicians if I can figure out how to transfer it to my MP3 player. (I'm a little technologically challenged and realized that I downloaded it into the wrong format.) I am just doing a few rereads of old favorites to tide me over and keep me in the reading habit until 1/1/10. I've gone through Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts and I'm listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. I have reviewed both of them here, I believe.
I'm also going to write a little more now that I have my own laptop. Kiwi Writers, watch out. 25K is my next goal in my book of shorts.
So here's to new beginnings and goal accomplishment ... see you in 2010!
Next year, I've set myself a reading goal. I plan on reading 25 new books. New to me, that is. They don't have to be released next year. I'm starting out with Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. I'm also planning on listening to the audiobook version of The Magicians if I can figure out how to transfer it to my MP3 player. (I'm a little technologically challenged and realized that I downloaded it into the wrong format.) I am just doing a few rereads of old favorites to tide me over and keep me in the reading habit until 1/1/10. I've gone through Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts and I'm listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling. I have reviewed both of them here, I believe.
I'm also going to write a little more now that I have my own laptop. Kiwi Writers, watch out. 25K is my next goal in my book of shorts.
So here's to new beginnings and goal accomplishment ... see you in 2010!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Kiwi Writers
I may be mad. It's quite possible. But I signed up to do the Kiwi Writers mini challenge in January. It's the same concept as Nano but in the southern hemisphere and will focus on 25K of new material.
I think it's the perfect time to test out my new laptop, don't you? :o)
I think the Kiwi Writers allow for a bit more leeway in their rules. With Nano, it HAS to be new material. Kiwis would prefer it but won't ding you if it's not. January 2nd is rolling around fast and I have some work to do.
www.kiwiwriters.org
Bring. It. On.
I think it's the perfect time to test out my new laptop, don't you? :o)
I think the Kiwi Writers allow for a bit more leeway in their rules. With Nano, it HAS to be new material. Kiwis would prefer it but won't ding you if it's not. January 2nd is rolling around fast and I have some work to do.
www.kiwiwriters.org
Bring. It. On.
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Book of Lies - Brad Meltzer
I think the author borrowed from Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code. A lot. It was the same idea. Tracking down an illusive item from the Bible using nothing more than a handful of clues that were embedded in plain sight for all the world to see. But this story became secondary as Cal rediscovered his father and himself.
The more prominent story was the story of Jerry Segal and the trauma that led him to create Superman in a row house in Cleveland in the 30s. That was more fascinating to me than the pursuit of the murder weapon with which Cain murdered Abel. It parallelled Cal and his father's relationship to the extent that there was a need for understanding and forgiveness on the part of the son. I don't think Jerry was ever able to forgive his father for leaving him, no matter that it wasn't by choice or illness.
Overall, it was a clever little story. I was able to see who a few of the "mysterious" characters were well before they were exposed in the storyline. Predictable? Yes. Enjoyable? In the end.
The more prominent story was the story of Jerry Segal and the trauma that led him to create Superman in a row house in Cleveland in the 30s. That was more fascinating to me than the pursuit of the murder weapon with which Cain murdered Abel. It parallelled Cal and his father's relationship to the extent that there was a need for understanding and forgiveness on the part of the son. I don't think Jerry was ever able to forgive his father for leaving him, no matter that it wasn't by choice or illness.
Overall, it was a clever little story. I was able to see who a few of the "mysterious" characters were well before they were exposed in the storyline. Predictable? Yes. Enjoyable? In the end.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Nano afterward
I tried. I really did. I started out the month with a strong idea and was consistently doing more than the day's average. I felt good and proud of myself that I was keeping up with it. Right up until I got sick. >:o(
I was sick with two head colds back to back for most of the month. Between that, my commute, helping friends to move, and just life, I didn't get to finish Nano this year. I was also borrowing my husband's laptop. Since I couldn't really appropriate it all the time without feeling guilty, I didn't get to do as much as I wanted. Phooey on me.
Next year, it will be different. My loving mate bought me my own laptop for me to do with as I will. I'll be able to write, surf the net, and generally cause havoc on Facebook all I want without feeling like I have to give up my possession of the computer "to be nice." :o) I'm planning on finishing this year's Nano work too. There's always the Kiwi Writer's Mini Challenge in January: 20,000 words of new material in a month. And then there's SoCNoc in June.
And Nano next November ... I'll finish someday.
I was sick with two head colds back to back for most of the month. Between that, my commute, helping friends to move, and just life, I didn't get to finish Nano this year. I was also borrowing my husband's laptop. Since I couldn't really appropriate it all the time without feeling guilty, I didn't get to do as much as I wanted. Phooey on me.
Next year, it will be different. My loving mate bought me my own laptop for me to do with as I will. I'll be able to write, surf the net, and generally cause havoc on Facebook all I want without feeling like I have to give up my possession of the computer "to be nice." :o) I'm planning on finishing this year's Nano work too. There's always the Kiwi Writer's Mini Challenge in January: 20,000 words of new material in a month. And then there's SoCNoc in June.
And Nano next November ... I'll finish someday.
