My Reading List from 2013

As 2013 comes to a close, I thought I'd take a moment to record the list of books I read, so here it is. There were blocks of time that I forgot to record what I was reading, so I'm pretty sure there should be a few more books on here, but I just don't remember them. And yes, I know it is a fuck-ton of books. But it's not a record number of books for me. I've read more in a year - I think 223 is my record.

Hell Fire by Ann Aguirre

Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre

Devil’s Punch by Ann Aguirre

Agave Kiss by Ann Aguirre

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews

Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews

No Strings Attached by Kate Angell

Lily’s Mistake by Pamela Ann

Glimmer by Vivi Anna

Dawning by Vivi Anna

Bloodstone by Barbra Annino

Opal Fire by Barbra Annino

Tiger’s Eye by Barbra Annino

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

The Rising by Kelley Armstrong

Rush by Maya Banks

Fever by Maya Banks

Burn by Maya Banks

Leopard Moon by Jeanette Battista

Leashing the Tempest by Jenn Bennett

Binding the Shadows by Jenn Bennett

Dead Things by Stephen Blackmoore

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Faerieground: Hope by Beth Bracken & Kay Fraser

Generation V by ML Brennan

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

A Soft Place to Fall by Barbara Bretton

Don’t Call Me Angel by Alicia Wright Brewster

Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker

River Marked by Patricia Briggs

Getting Sassy by DC Brod

World War Z by Max Brooks

Dark Beauty by Taryn Browning

Maid for the Billionaire by Ruth Cardello

Beauty from Pain by Georgia Cates

More Than Fiends by Maureen Child

If You Stay by Courtney Cole

Dark Legion by Rob Cornell

Darker Things by Rob Cornell

Darkest Hour by Rob Cornell

Dangerously Damaged by Lucy Covington

Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane

Rule by Jay Crownover

Blade Song by JC Daniels

Night Blade by JC Daniels

Seven Years by Dannika Dark

Fathom by Merrie Destafano

In This Moment by Autumn Doughton

I’ll Be Here by Autumn Doughton

On An Edge of Glass by Autumn Doughton

Angels Ink by Jocelynn Drake

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

Dweller on the Threshold by Rinda Elliott

A Terrible Love by Marata Eros

Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep

Real by Katy Evans

Mine by Katy Evans

Remy by Katy Evans

Unspoken by Jen Frederick

Just For Now by Abbi Glines

Unbroken by Melody Grace

Darker Angels by MLN Hanover

Vicious Grace by MLN Hanover

Killing Rites by MLN Hanover

Unclean Spirits by MLN Hanover

Graveyard Child by MLN Hanover

Not My Apocalypse by Devin Harnois

Ever After by Kim Harrison

Black Wings by Christina Henry

Graphic the Valley by Peter Brown Hoffmeister

Have Stakes Will Travel by Faith Hunter

Death’s Rival by Faith Hunter

Blood Trade by Faith Hunter

Chosen by Benedict Jacka

Before You Go by Clare James

Charming by Elliott James

The Name of the Star by Maureen  Johnson

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

Fifth Grave Past the Light by Darynda Jones

Death and the Girl Next Door by Darynda Jones

Death, Doom and Detention by Darynda Jones

Death and the Girl He Loves by Darynda Jones

The Fourth Channel by Jen Kirchner

Mist by Susan Krinard

Stay by Allie Larkin

Beautiful Stranger by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Bitch by Christina Lauren

Soul Trapper by FJ Lennon

Abby Road by Ophelia London

Wait for You by J Lynn

The Runaways: Pride & Joy by Marvel

Pandaemonium by Ben Macallan

Taken by Kelli Maine

No Takebacks by Kelli Maine

The Stone Demon by Karen Mahoney

Desert Tales by Melissa Marr

The Eidolon by Libby McGugan

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Chimes At Midnight by Seanan McGuire

Sometimes Never by Cheryl McIntyre

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mea

Requiem for the Dead by Kelly Meding

Iced by Karen Marie Moning

Magic for a Price by Devon Monk

Hell Bent by Devon Monk

Stay by Kelly Mooney

Blood and Feathers by Lou Morgan

Beautiful Mess by Lucy V. Morgan

The Faerie Guardian by Rachel Morgan

White Trash Beautiful by Teresa Mummert

Mountain Echoes by CE Murphy

House Rules by Chloe Neill

Biting Bad by Chloe Neill

Foretold by Jana Oliver

Freefall by Tess Oliver

Dead Spots by Melissa F. Olsen

A Trace of Moonlight by Allison Pang

Left Drowning by Jessica Park

Flat Out Love by Jessica Park

On Midnight Wings by Adrian Phoenix

The City’s Son by Tom Pollock

Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby

Damn Him To Hell by Jamie Quaid

Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

Dead Letter Day by Eileen Rendahl

Gabriel’s Inferno by Sylvain Reynard

Black City by Elizabeth Richards

The Hard Bounce by Todd Robinson

Undead Chaos by Joshua Roots

The Renfield Syndrome by JA Saare

The Ripple Effect by JA Saare

Tooth and Nail by Jennifer Safrey

Tidal by Emily Snow

Devoured by Emily Snow

Trickster by Jeff Somers

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Borrowed Billionaire by Mimi Strong

Real Ugly by CM Stunich

Get Bent by CM Stunich

Shadow by Amanda Sun

Ink by Amanda Sun

After Math by Denise Grover Swank

The Girl Who Would Be King by Kelly Thompson

Slashback by Rob Thurman

Trouble by Samantha Towle

Preservation by Rachel Wade

All the Time in the World by Shiloh Walker

Hunter’s Choice by Shiloh Walker

Wrecked by Shiloh Walker

Vampire Assassin by Samantha Warren

Easy by Tamara Webber

Along Came a Demon by Linda Welch

Red Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells

The Mage in Black by Jaye Wells

Green-Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells

Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells

Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells

Bait Dog by Chuck Wendig

Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig

Mockingbird by Chuck Wendig

Blue Blazes by Chuck Wendig

Unclean Spirits by Chuck Wendig

Such A Pretty Girl by Laura Wiess

Falling Into You by Jasinda Wilder

Tab Bennett and the InBetween by Jes Young

Underneath by Jes Young

On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Down London Road by Samantha Young

Into the Deep by Samantha Young

Until Fountain Bridge by Samantha Young

There were some really amazing books in this list and some real shit storms of garbage. And it wasn't all urban fantasy. This year was a mix of urban fantasy, contemporary romance and mystery - both adult and young adult. I found some authors who I'll follow forever.

I'm sorry I've fallen off the blogging grid (not that I was all that on it) but life has been challenging with my soon-to-be 19 year old aspie son at home. Blogging is a luxury I cannot afford. But I do tweet under UnseelieMe if you want to look for me there. 

If you're still following me (and there were only 7 of you, so...), I hope you had wonderful holidays. And I hope your New Year brings you happiness. 

Karen

An Emo Post about Boston

I live about 35 minutes south of Boston. Some of my favorite things to do are to go into the city and roam Faneuil Hall, visit the aquarium, shop the Pru and Copley Place (not that I can afford anything there, but hey). When I lived closer to the city and was single, I was in there a lot. In fact, I worked in the Hancock Building for a period of time as a temp. I'd walk to Boston Garden for lunch - I was bit by a duck there - or I would go grab a slice at Pizzeria Regina. I would sit on the steps of the old stone church that you can see in some of the images that they're showing on television over the last few days and read.

My husband and I had our first date at Bennigans in the Theatre District and then went over to The Comedy Club, followed by a night of drinking and laughing at the musclehead guys trying to pick up the big haired girls at a nightclub. While dating, we loved going into Boston to eat at restaurants or drink at bars near Faneuil Hall. We loved the blues club that was under Faneuil Hall. I love watching the street performers and people watching from a bench on the cobblestones.

We've been to see the Celtics, the Red Sox, the Bruins, Disney on Ice, Champions on Ice, The Nutcracker, The Lion King, Barnum & Bailey and Blue Man Group - all in Boston.

We've taken my son to every museum in Boston, some many times. The Science Museum and the Omni Theatre were a staple of his early years (as was the aquarium). Before they shut down the viewing floors of the Pru and the Hancock Tower, we loved to spend time there gazing down on the city and pretending to catch cars with our fingers. To this day we love catching the Red Line at Quincy/Adams station, taking the T into Park Street Station and taking the Green Line from there to Government Center. There are stairs there that lead down to the street and Faneuil Hall. I love those steps. When you stand at the top of them, you have one of the best views of Boston life.

Over the last seven months, with my son's cancer scare we've come to know another part of Boston - the doctors and staff at Brigham & Women's and Dana Farber. They are some of the most amazing, strong, steady and compassionate people I've ever met. Those doors in the images on tv are burned into my memory - not because of what happened on Monday, but because I've passed through them repeatedly as we took my son for emergency visits, consultations, surgery and follow ups. The image of the ATF agents storming to those doors is terrifying to me. That hospital represents safety to me. It's filled with the very best of humanity.

The injured who ended up at Brigham & Women's couldn't have been in better, more caring hands.

On Saturday, I'm getting me time so that I can go into the Seaport World Trade Center to go to Craft Boston, which is a spectacular showing of arts and crafts from the very best artisans in Boston. It has everything from steampunk rings to handmade modern art furniture.

In about a month, my son and I (along with several of his friends) will be going into Boston to attend Anime Boston which is held at the Hynes Convention Center inside the Pru. It's a convention that I've mentioned before where kids and adults like my son, who are often met with rejection, hostility, discrimination, bullying and worse gather in an environment where they're welcomed by tens of thousands like them, embraced and accepted. For a weekend, in Boston, they are part of a community that loves them.

While there, we'll take breaks and walk the Prudential Mall, Copley Plaza and Boston in general - where Bostonians and tourists will stare at them in their cosplay costumes with equal measures of amazement and confusion, and these anime geeks like my son and his friends will share their love of anime, manga, Boston and each other with everyone they come in contact with.

We'll likely walk past the spot where the bombing took place. I plan to bring flowers.

Nothing will prevent me from attending either event.

It's hard to watch television right now. I've been avoiding it for several days, because while the rest of the world goes on, here in Boston and the surrounding communities our televisions have been bombarded 24/7 with news coverage from the scene, replays of the bombings, footage of the aftermath and interviews with government officials, doctors, victims, family members, runners, etc. At some point it becomes overwhelming loud static. The news vultures constantly searching for a new, more tragic story angle to make us grieve harder make me want to vomit. They jump to spread misinformation and revel in speculation about how and why this happened, all while they run video footage of blood and pain over and over. And it doesn't stop. Every local station. Every minute of the day. It's relentless.

Yes, I understand that the news needs to be reported. I have a journalism degree. I get it. But there comes a point where enough is enough. Let these people grieve. Stop stalking them for a 10 second sound bite. Let us all grieve and regroup. Stop shoving the horror down our throats.

When I got up on Monday, my son was already up. In fact, he'd stayed up all night in some misguided attempt to regulate his sleep schedule. Aspergers is hell on sleep patterns. When he was young, he slept in 15 min. increments every 6-8 hrs., for the first 4 years of his life. (Can you say sleep deprived?) I used to put him in his baby swing and later in his johnny jumper while I napped on the floor in front of him. Or put him in the car and drive until he fell asleep. Sometimes that drive took me to Boston where I would load him in his stroller and push him along the cobblestones and pretend we were okay.

Monday was a beautiful day here - warm, sunny, we were up and the Marathon was happening. I've never been, which seriously is a sin since I've lived around Boston since graduating college in 1985. My son wanted to get out and do something. I suggested going in to the Marathon - an idea that he nixed because of concerns of sensory overload. Large crowds, motion, noise, strong odors - all of these can send him into a tailspin. So, while we entertained the idea of catching the Red Line in and making our way to the finish line to see the runners finish, instead we went to the local mall. We shopped and laughed and climbed in the car to drive home and heard the news.

I spent the next hour making sure people I love were safe. My sister and niece (who is on vacation this week) had also debated making the drive to Boston (they live 2 hrs. away). My niece is a crazy talented athlete at 14 and they often drive down to catch different sports events. She wanted to go to cheer on the runners crossing the finish line - my sister couldn't get her act together fast enough for them to make the drive. My immediate family and friends are all safe and sound. I don't know yet if there was anyone I know peripherally in that crowd. I think of all the doctors and nurses who have taken care of us through my son's scare and I'm pretty sure I knew some of those first responders, as well as at least one surgical team that helped save lives.

What I want to close with is this: I've learned over my 50 years that life isn't always fair, it isn't balanced - but the good always outweighs the bad. The sheer number of people who ran toward the bombing victims shows that. One person can do a lot of damage and we could focus on that if we wanted to - but instead we should focus on the good. The people who tore down scaffolding that the fucking blast couldn't knock down - with their bare hands and will alone. The people who ripped off their shirts, jackets and belts to make tourniquets. The doctors and nurses who raced to the hospitals to be there for the injured. The people who simply took the hands of the injured and held them so they would know they were not alone. The people who did what we all should do - be the light in the dark.

Darkness is always there. But light will ALWAYS be there to push it back. Be the light, people.

Karen

(As I finish writing this, the radio station just announced that there is a suspect in custody. Amen.)

A funny and strange book story...

Back in November (I think) I downloaded an e-reader book by J.C. Daniels (aka Shiloh Walker) called Blade Song. It's a fantastic book and I highly recommend it. A few weeks ago when the sequel, Night Blade, came out I was excited to read it and immediately downloaded it. Unfortunately, my TBR pile is miles deep, so I didn't get around to reading it until yesterday.

So, I start the book....and its weird, because Blade Song was in first person and its an urban fantasy. This book seemed to be a romance in third person about a girl who was abused and raped as a child, dealing with a psycho, trying to remember that past (she's blocked it out) and trying to trust the man she wants to love. It wasn't well written (it actually felt like a draft), but I thought...well, maybe there's a back story to get to the urban fantasy, so I kept reading. And skipping thru parts. And struggling to figure out how this fit in as a follow up to the first book.

I finished it this morning (really, I was skimming at that point trying to understand what the hell one book had to do with the other and wondering if the author had lost her mind somewhere between the two - which is highly unlikely because its Shiloh F-ing Walker). I thought maybe I'd missed something. I went back and looked at Blade Song. Nope. I thought maybe Night Blade came after this story - which was maybe a freebee offered up with it. Nope. I was all WTF?!?!? This can't be right? Am I losing my mind?

Then I remembered that maybe two days after I downloaded the book, I received an e-mail from Amazon saying that there was an updated version of the book. I'd ignored it, and deleted it - because I don't really care about updates. So I went to My Amazon and sure enough there was a link to download the update of Night Blade. I downloaded it. And waited. And....opened the book....

...the update is an entirely different book. And yes, it is the actual sequel to the first book! WT everliving FUCK?! So what was the book I just read? I. Don't. Know! I can tell you I wasn't a fan of it. It needed serious work. But I'm glad I now have the right book.

So I guess tonight I'm reading Night Blade. The real Night Blade. So strange.
Karen

Slashback by Rob Thurman

I'm just getting rolling on a stack of books from some of my favorite authors. Last night, I finished Slashback by Rob Thurman. As usual, this book excels.

Rob takes a bit of a twist in this books - in that she takes us back to when Cal and Niko were kids, and Cal believed there was a serial killer living next door. We get a rare look into Niko's psyche since the flashbacks are written from his perspective. (Have I said that Niko is one of my favorite book characters. If he was real, I would be all over him. Swear to God.)

Present time, is as usual, from Cal's perspective. He's still his snarky self, but underneath that Cal is taking on new and worrisome depths. He and Niko have to deal with an evil serial killer who is hunting them for some reason (hence the tie-in to the past).

This book is all about secrets. Secrets you keep because you're trying to protect the people you love from ugly things. Secrets that have to be revealed to heal broken parts of yourself. Secrets that are surprising in their implications. Seriously, now knowing these secrets, I may have to go back and reread the whole series again, because these secrets definitely play into all of the characters' motivations through the ENTIRE series of books. Holy crap, it's brilliant.

I'm recommending not just this book, but every single book in the Cal Leandros series. Seriously, buy them and have a reading festival. Be prepared to stay up late, skip housework and order delivery. Cal, Niko, Goodfellow and the relationships between them are amazing and real.

Karen

Trickster by Jeff Somers

You know how sometimes you read a book and it sticks with you even after you've finished it and moved on to another? This is one of those books. 

Lem is a mage (well, he refers to himself as a trickster, but basically he can do magic with blood). He's also a con man and taking care of Mags, who is also able to work magic, but is mentally challenged. They're down on their luck, just getting by, bleeding themselves to perform crap tricks like making a one dollar bill look like a twenty for a meal. Then all hell breaks loose.

This is a pretty dark and visually ugly world. Magic users cut themselves to make magic. Or they cut others. Blood fuels magic. More blood, more magic. The more powerful magic users have bleeders to bleed for them. And the highest level users slaughter people. They're not good people, as Lem says.

So, Lem and Mags make the mistake of breaking into an apartment and discover a body in a bathtub. This is only the beginning of their troubles, though. Because then they rescue a girl locked in the trunk of a car - a girl who has magical runes all over her. And that's a very bad thing. Why? Because they've pissed off a very strong mage who has plans for the girl. 

Why did I like this book so much? In all honesty, I think its because Lem doesn't try to be likeable as a character. But he is. He takes care of Mags as best he can. He wants to save Claire (the girl in the trunk).  If he has to con people to do it, then that's just what he has to do. He's practical. And compared to his fellow mages, he's a damned saint. 

I loved this book from the first page. It's dark and gritty and it bleeds hopelessness at the same time it gives you hope that Lem can do what needs to be done. Where it ends up....well, you'll have to read it to find out. Let's just say Lem is tested in ways that would break most people. But he's smart, tough, resolute and persistent. 

This is a definite must read if you like dark urban fantasy. I can't wait for the next book to come out. 

Karen

Is It Seriously March??

I think I entered a time warp. Damn.

(sigh)

I've probably lost what few people visit this blog, and am blogging to myself. That's just sad, you know? But blog I will...

I've been reading a lot. I've read some really fantastic urban fantasy books, some deliciously smutty books (don't judge me - I'm keeping myself sane), and a few bombs. Even the bombs have been an escape from my life, though, so I can't complain. I'm making a commitment to whoever is out there that I'm going to start blogging about the books, because I've discovered some really interesting authors.

My life is chaotic. Kiddo turned 18, which is scary & challenging. He's taking a couple of courses at community college (one he loves, one he's withdrawing from). I remind myself that at least this withdrawal is only $600 lost, compared to last semesters spectacular failure which cost us over $16,000. He thinks he's doing well - and he's happy with the way his life is, but from my end I'm dealing with a sullen, erratic, volatile, uncompromising dictator. Aspergers is part of it, but not all.

My beastie has been another source of stress for me. We've been back and forth to the vets since October dealing with what we thought was an injury to his leg. That led to xrays which showed the beginnings of arthritis in both his lower spine and the leg he was favoring. Over the last few months, things have progressively gotten worse. There have been tests, expensive meds, more xrays, emergency visits - which in the end has led to the diagnosis of systemic lupus. He can no longer sit at all, or stand from a lying position. The stairs require the help of a sling under his belly. For now, he's stable and not in pain, and I'm hoping with the coming of warm weather, some of his symptoms will subside. We'll see. I'm pretty emotional about it, because Leo is the smartest, sweetest dog I've ever known. And he's been my constant companion through all the shit.

I'm back to being a chauffeur, sitting in parking lots while kiddo goes to classes. On the upside, I've started writing again. It's crap, but at least its giving me a release. Writing is cathartic. Which is why I'm going to start blogging.

So for those of you who are out there, don't abandon me. I'm trying. I have so much to blog about - book-wise, that is. My personal life I'll keep to myself as much as possible.

Karen

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I'm sorry for my absence from the blog. I've been dealing with some heavy stuff and talking books fell by the wayside. I'm hoping to get back to blogging soon - it helps to keep me sane and I miss it desperately.

2012 was a year of turmoil and trauma for me with my father becoming very sick first with shingles and then enduring 3 surgeries to remove gallstones (two failed attempts), only to have his gall bladder removed in the end. He is recovering slowly but surely.

While that was going on I had a cervical cancer scare. It's thankfully not cancer yet, but they will be monitoring me closely.

On the day that I found out I didn't have cancer, my son discovered a lump on his hip. What followed was a nightmare experience where they told us he had terminal vascular cancer - only to learn he had a very very rare benign vascular tumor. He underwent two surgeries and while he'll be monitored yearly by Dana Farber, they don't expect any recurrence.

He left for college 3 weeks after the second surgery, while still recuperating. Unfortunately, the challenge of having Aspergers Syndrome, dealing with that and all the changes that living away from home presented sent him into a tailspin. He decided he no longer needs his medications which control his perseverations and inflexibility. We medically withdrew him from school at the end of October when we realized he was not eating, sleeping, brushing his teeth, showering or attending classes at all. It has been a roller coaster ride since with the only constant being complete chaos.

The reality is that he may never be able to live on his own. It has been .... discouraging and disheartening to say the least.

In addition, a month ago my beastie (dog) couldn't get up one day. He's only seven years old. I made several trips to the vet for bloodwork, meds, xrays, etc only to determine that they think he suffered a catastrophic injury to his back - probably chasing the cat down the stairs. That triggered already developing arthritis to rapidly flare. (Or it could be a tumor, but I'm not putting him through more stressful tests to check that because if it is, there is little they'll be able to do.) He can't get from a lying position to a standing position without help and has to be held in place until his legs and back will support him. He also needs a sling and help to get down the stairs and is currently on 4 different meds to take away the pain. (At the moment he is not in pain.) If he doesn't improve, I will most likely have to make a quality of life decision that I'm not ready to make yet.

This dog has been my companion, comfort and savior over the last seven years.

Needless to say, I can't wait to see 2012 end. (END ALREADY 2012!)

I can only hope 2013 is a better year.

Tomorrow I hope to post a final count of the books that I've read this year. I'm currently reading The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong and enjoying it immensely. I love strong female characters and Maya, the protagonist, is definitely that. It's very well written, with a good story, well developed characters and an interesting world. Stay tuned and don't give up on me. I will be blogging about books again hopefully soon.

Have a happy and safe New Year everyone. Don't drink and drive.

Karen

...Can you hear the crickets??.....

Can you hear the crickets??....

Life got away from me again.

It's actually kind of amazing that I'm sitting here typing a blog. My world did another 180 and knocked me on my ass for a while. Why? Well, it became apparent that kiddo was not managing himself at college. We went to visit him for parents weekend and ... well, he was ... He'd stopped taking his meds. He wasn't showering. He wasn't brushing his teeth. He hadn't done his laundry once. He was dirty, smelly (as was his room) and he'd lost about 40 lbs. He wasn't eating. He wasn't sleeping. He was failing all his classes.

It took one week - one week where I don't think I slept - until I convinced him to see his psychologist. It took the psychologist one visit (granted it lasted 3 hours) to decide we needed to convince him he needed to withdraw. It ended up taking very little convincing. He knew he was in trouble.

He's been home for about ten days. He's gained back about 5 lbs. He's been eating and sleeping and not much else.

Obviously, I've been a little preoccupied and distracted. My opportunities to read have been limited. My opportunities to blog? Nonexistent.

Things are easing up. We've all accepted that he cannot live on his own, at least not now. Nor can he manage college class loads without a lot of help. My empty nest is full again. I am drained.

I've learned one thing from my crazy life - when things go to shit (and they usually do), you suck it up and keep on moving.

And that, people, is more than enough emo drama for today.
Karen

Wherein I Fail & Offer Up A Book

As you can see my resolve to blog every day is a total fail! And sadly, I'm not going to review a book tonight either. I swear my life is like a bad country music song.

However...

Yesterday I received an Amazon book delivery. And damn if I didn't order the same book twice! I can't even figure out how I managed it. I guess I'll just chalk it up to a brain glitch. So here's the deal...

The book is London Eye by Tim Lebbon
It's a young adult dystopian urban fantasy - here's the blurb on it.

Two years after London is struck by a devastating terrorist attack, it is cut off from the world, protected by a military force known as Choppers. The rest of Britain believes that the city is now a toxic, uninhabited wasteland.

But Jack and his friends—some of whom lost family on what has become known as Doomsday—know that the reality is very different. At great risk, they have been gathering evidence about what is really happening in London—and it is incredible.

Because the handful of London's survivors are changing. Developing strange, fantastic powers. Evolving.

Upon discovering that his mother is still alive inside London, Jack, his sister, and their three friends sneak into a city in ruins. Vast swathes have been bombed flat. Choppers cruise the streets, looking for survivors to experiment upon. The toxic city is filled with wonders and dangers that will challenge Jack and his friends... and perhaps kill them. But Jack knows that the truth must be revealed to the outside world or every survivor will die.

Sounds good, doesn't it? So how do you get me to send you my duplicate hardcover book? 

Post a comment. Tell me about your favorite Halloween costume. Mine is the witch costume I'm wearing in this picture. My mother painstakingly created every costume that my sisters and I wore over the years. Until I had a kid (and yes, I made every one of his costumes, too) I didn't truly appreciate the amount of work she put into Halloween for us (thanks Mom).

If you don't want to talk costumes, tell me your favorite Halloween candy. (Mine is anything chocolate. lol) Or hell, just say hello.

I'll talk books tomorrow.

And I'll draw the winner from a hat (cause lets face it, I won't have that many entries) on Halloween!
Karen

Tin Swift by Devon Monk

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Devon Monk. If you've never read her Allie Beckstrom series, you're missing out on a fantastic story with characters you will love.

Tin Swift is the follow up to Dead Iron, a steampunk story set in the wild west. Well, that's how its described. I would call this series a romantic steampunk horror urban fantasy western with faeries and magic and werewolves and well, it's just plain fucking fantastic.

I hate westerns. Really, I'm not kidding. And while I love dressing and decorating my house steampunk, stories in the steampunk genre have to be perfect for me to like them. Creating mechanical creatures and an alternate world run by steam is tricky business. When this book was announced, I thought - "ptht, not my thing" - and almost didn't buy it.

Devon Monk creates a steampunk/western world with such skill, it all makes beautiful sense. Her characters are fantastic and fascinating. And the action makes the book fly by much too fast. In fact, this is one of those series I actually pace myself because I want to devour it, but I also don't want to miss the smallest detail.

The detail is amazing.

Tin Swift gets my highest marks - 6 stars. It deserves it. This is one of those books that I tend to adjust bookshelves for (shhh...don't tell) in B&N. I've recommended it to complete strangers standing near me in the sci-fi section. In fact, I can't recommend it enough. It's different. It's interesting. And it's phenomenally well written.

Karen
(Hey, 4 posts in 4 days! Go me!)

Technomancer by B.V. Larson

I'm not going to discuss the books I read in order. Instead I'm going to talk about the book I'm most interested in each day. Today I want to tell you about Technomancer by B.V. Larson.

I'll be honest, I bought this book because I liked the cover. Yes, the premise sounded good, but I really wanted to see that cover in person. And then I read the book...

The story centers around Quentin, a man who wakes up in a mental hospital room with no memory of who he is. You know pretty much immediately that there's something very unusual about him - not to mention the hospital and the people there. It unfolds as Quentin attempts to figure out what the hell is going on, who and what he is and accepts it all so that he can take care of business.

I really enjoyed this book. There was plenty of action, the story was well-developed and the world was interesting. So I'm giving it 4 stars. Buy this one. If you want to save money, buy it in ereader form.  Its definitely an entertaining read.

(Sorry, this was a short post. I had to make a round-trip visit to my kid at college because someone stole his jacket & his phone croaked. Then I went antique shopping - New Beford, MA has a massive antique mall!! By the time I got home it was dinner time and then I had to watch Supernatural! Why? Well because Jared Padalecki is my secret crush & nothing comes between me and him. Lol.)

More book talk tomorrow!
Karen

After the Crux by Dani Worth

This is a short e-read and in all honesty I wanted it to be longer! I'm giving it 4 stars, but I was leaning toward 5 stars. In the end, the shortness of it gets it the 4 stars, but I definitely recommend it.

Ross, the main character is one of a group of survivors of a plague. They live together in a communal like setting. He's secretly in love with Jenna,  a girl who he saved when they were kids. Jenna, however, is with Dorian who he also saved. Jenna and Dorian both love Ross and they decide its time for him to come to terms with not only what he's feeling for Jenna, but what he's pretending he doesn't feel about Dorian.

And then Ross is injured rescuing a boy from an abusive group when he's out on a supply gathering mission...With him incapacitated, Jenna and Dorian are presented the perfect opportunity to set their plan to seduce him in motion.

Now, I love to vent about sex in books, because most of the time its unnecessary or over the top. And you'd think this scenario would throw me for a loop because its not just male/female, its male/male. But here's the thing - it was kind of beautiful. The characters are well written and sympathetic and I just wanted them all to be happy. It was also integral to the story and very well written.

So, this book is more than a love story. It's about survival and hope. There is a plot other than the romance. And its all far far too short. I loved it.

And hell, its only $2.66 right now on Amazon. Now, go and buy!

Let's Talk Books!

I just want to apologize for not posting. I've been working my way through some of the most difficult days of my life and I'm finally (hopefully) seeing an end to the endless tunnel of stress, anxiety and depression.

Sooooooo....LETS TALK BOOKS!!!

Here's my plan. This first post is to give you a list of everything I've read since I last posted about books. And I've read a lot! But even better, I'm making October a review month. Every day I am going to review at least one of these books until I'm completely caught up. Or at least hopefully I'll be caught up, (I'm laughing right now, because it's going to be iffy) because I haven't posted the books I've read since June!!

So, here we go:

Books Read in July, August & September:

Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent *****

After the Crux by Dani Worth ****

Between by Cyndi Teft ***

Glimmer by Vivi Anna ****

Knight’s Curse by Karen Duvall ***

Darkest Knight by Karen Duvall***

Tin Swift by Devon Monk ******

This Dark Earth by John Horner Jacobs *****

Tainted Night, Tainted Blood by E.S. Moore ****

Dawning by Vivi Anna ****

Dark Beauty by Taryn Browning *

Unbound by Adriane Ceallaigh **

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead ****

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead ****

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones *****

Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews *****

Bait Dog by Chuck Wendig *****

All Seeing Eye by Rob Thurman *****

A Wolf at the Door by K.A. Stewart *****

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake ****

Technomancer by B.V. Larson ****

Under the Moon by Natalie J. Damschroder  ****

No Peace for the Damned by Megan Powell ****

Blood and Feathers by Lou Morgan ***

Precinct 13 by Tate Hallaway ****

Biting Cold by Chloe Neill *****

Haunted by Jeanne C. Stein *****

Mockingbird by Chuck Wendig ******

Taken by Benedict Jacka *****

Ashes of Honor by Seanan McGuire *****

In A Fix by Linda Grimes ****

The Killing Jar by Justin Zimmerman ***

Awakenings by Edward Lazellari **

Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker *

Necromancing the Stone by Lish McBride *****

Vampire Assassin by Samantha Warren **

Like I said, its a LONG list - 36 books. My scale 0-6 Stars.

0 stars means I didn't even attempt to finish and is my own private list. I don't mention them because I don't want to crush any author. If you write, you put your heart and soul into it and you don't need anyone telling you that's worth shit. (Mom always said, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all - its good, solid advice.) BTW, its a very short list since I find redeeming qualities in pretty much every book.

1 star means I skipped large portions of the book because it didn't appeal to me personally, and I'm happy to share why with these books because someone else might actually enjoy them for the very reason I disliked them.

2 stars means I skipped small portions of the book because I had issues with some aspect of it. 

3 stars is a good book. It probably has minor flaws in my opinion with plot or character or world building, but I would still recommend it. 

4 stars is a good book, leaning toward great.

5 stars is a great book with well developed plot, characters and world. 

6 stars is a book that knocked me on my ass with its brilliance.

So, welcome to October - my favorite month of the year! Why? Because it ends with Halloween (my favorite holiday) and contains my birthday. Yay! This year I turn 50! Scary, hunh? Well, not so much. You see, my older sister turned 50 last year, so in the true spirit of sisterhood, I spent the last year telling people I was almost 50 in solidarity. So, it's not such a big deal. What that has to do with books, I don't know. And you know what? 50 really isn't all that old mentally. I can't do cartwheels anymore, but I still love microbrew beer and angsty indie rock music, and I'm still a hardcore video game junkie. 

I will be posting my first review later today.

Karen

Remember how I was going to talk books??...

I was totally serious. The problem is, my life for the last month has been what I like to call The Month Of Surgeries & Scary Moments.

The good news is, after a second surgery - this time at Dana Farber (well, Brigham & Women's to be technical) - kiddo is healing up nicely. We've been running around for the last week shopping for everything he needs for college. Yes, he IS going. That was in doubt for a good week & believe me, I was freaking out about it. But I'm smart and resourceful. I sat him down and told him if he didn't go, he would have to get a job (gasp) and pay rent (eek) and do his own laundry (gulp) and learn to drive (agh). It took about 24 hours for that to absorb and then he announced he was going. Woot!

I'm going to miss him horribly. I've been packing him up all day today. We drop him off tomorrow. But as much as I'm going to be having The Empty Nester Blues, I want this to work for him desperately. Cross your fingers everyone.

While all the medical crisis with my son was going on, a separate and equally scary medical crisis was unfolding with my father. Two weeks ago, he had his gall bladder removed after it was determined the fucker was doing more harm than good. What has ensued is a series of disasters - and yes, he's still in the hospital (and probably will be for another week at least), but he's on the mend. Finally. 

I have a stack of books to blog about. Cross my heart and hope to ... ummm ... well, not die. Geez. If I say that, it might just happen considering everything that's gone down since the beginning of July. So, don't give up on me. I'm going to have lots of time on my hands to blog. Lots. Of. Time. *sob*

What the hell am I going to do with myself? I've been in full-time mom mode for 17 very long years...This is so weird.

When Life Hands You Lemons, Chew Them Up & Spit Them In It's Face

I swear, I am trying to separate my personal life from this blog. I have a boatload of books I read in July - and I can't wait to blog about them.

Right now, I'm sitting in my armchair watching my kid sleep. We got back from Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston about an hour ago and we're all pretty exhausted. If you didn't catch my last (somewhat ranty) post, I hinted at what we've been dealing with. I'm just going to briefly share a reader's digest version of the last month.

7/4 - kid notices weird bulge on hip
7/5 - bulge is bigger and weirder; we go to local ER; ultrasound shows a mass the size of an egg; follow up xray shows no other growths; meet with surgeon who says no biggie, let's give it a week; believes its a pocket of bloody tissue from a bad bruise; schedule appt in his office to re-examine & maybe remove
7/7 - back in ER; mass bigger & darker; CAT scan shows no significant change but they encourage us to try to see surgeon sooner
7/11 - surgery to remove growth in office; things go horribly wrong; removal almost causes kid to bleed out; thankfully dr is prepared tho he had a moment of panic; dr says should have been done in hospital, but feels nothing to worry about - thinks its a blood clot from ruptured blood vessel
7/18 - follow up with surgeon; they take me to private room & tell me kiddo has hemangioendothelioma, a rare malignant vascular tumor - so rare dr knows nothing about it; refers us to Dana Farber; says he doesn't think he got it all out; he's traumatized, so are we
(A week of chaos & emotional upheaval ensues.)
7/25 - meet with dr at Dana Farber; says it IS an extremely rare vascular tumor but its benign; it is so rare that there are only 30 cases worldwide that have been recorded since 1990; there is no name for it & only anectdotal information available; schedules us to meet with surgeon
8/2 (today) - we met with surgeon who repeats what first doc said; adds that it can come back locally if not completely removed; schedules MRI for tomorrow; next week kiddo has Freshman Summer Institute for college; the following Mon will meet with anesthesiologist; surgery to go back in and make sure its all out scheduled that week so he has time to heal before college starts 9/2.

As you can guess from that, its been a traumatic month. We went from the high of kiddo going off to live at college, to preparing ourselves for the reality of him dying within the next few years, to discovering he's going to live but preparing for more surgery and regular follow ups for the rest of his life and back to him going away to college.

Books have been my refuge through this, they've been my buffer from the real world which has been at times too much to bear. But we're here, we're functioning and kiddo is going to live! We're taking that and running with it.

My next post will be about nothing but books. Promise.
Karen

What the hell is going on? My thoughts on Goodreads

I have to admit, I haven't followed the whole Goodreads fiasco. To be honest, I don't even know what started it other than what little references to it I've seen in authors' and other bloggers' posts. It all seems kind of ridiculous to me.

I'm one of four sisters, all raised in the same house, all within 4 years of age of each other. We are all avid readers. We all had access to the same books growing up. But ... Oh my God ... We all like different books, different genres and different authors! How can this be?

Shhhh. Lean in close and I'll tell you.... We are all different. Thats it. Thats the secret. No two people are going to like exactly the same things, no matter how much alike they are.

So here is my advice...

For reviewers:

If you didn't like the book you read, that's okay. Taste is subjective. You have every right to say so. But explain why, for God's sake. Was it the characters, the world building, the pacing, the dialogue, the genre? Or did it strike a negative cord based on your life experiences? These are all fair and acceptable reasons to not like a book.

However, it is not okay to attack an author personally. If you don't like them for whatever reason, use the good sense your mother gave you and keep it to yourself. That has nothing to do with their book. And giving a negative review to a book because you don't like an author's lifestyle or opinions, is just mean-spirited.  Cut it out.

If you're giving a negative review just because you're a miserable person. and you can leave a negative review...well, that makes you an asshat. Grow up and find something useful to do with your life.

For authors:

Not everyone will like your book. Taste is subjective. Most readers pick the books they read based on their tastes, and they don't really give a shit about the reviews. A large number of them don't even read reviews. I have actually bought books based on negative reviews. Relax. Give readers some credit. We can tell when someone is just being a douchecanoe. Its pretty obvious when someone is just out to attack a book because they can.

Don't do stupid things like post personal info about a blogger who has pissed you off. Use the good sense your mother gave you. Thats not only mean spirited, its dangerous. You don't know what kind of whack-a-doodles might be out there reading your post. Is your offense over some dickhead insulting your book/you so huge that you would want them to be maimed or killed by some unbalanced fan? Seriously?!? That makes you ten times the asshat of the person who posted the review, even if they are a complete asshat to the tenth degree.

Look, life is short people. I'm sitting here tonight trying to wrap my head around the fact that my 17 yr old son has an extremely rare vascular cancer that has no known effective treatment and you're getting all pissy because someone doesn't like you. Kind of puts your temper tantrums into perspective, doesn't it?

Grow the fuck up. Grow a thicker skin. And quit being a douchebag because you can.

The world would be a much nicer place if we all made an effort to take care of each other, rather than trying to undo each other. We are all unique with unique tastes and unique views. That, in itself, is a fucking miracle. Appreciate it.

Karen

A Link to a Vent...

I'm attempting to separate my life from my blog a little bit. I created a second blog for myself to talk about Aspergers and the challenges it presents in our daily lives. For those who have no desire to read about it, just ignore the link. For those who are interested in what life is like for someone with social deficits and for their family, feel free to follow the link. What you will read might make you rethink the way you treat people. My posts are honest and frank. They are often painfilled. Life is never simple, that's for sure.
Karen

Link: http://adailydoseofaspergers.blogspot.com/

Books Read in June (I think)

First, I have to say if you're going to read as many books as I do, you have to remember to log them in. In that, I was epic fail (taking a term my son loves). I have my list - but, unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I'm missing a book or two.

That being said, lets talk books:

Fated by Benedict Jacka *****

Cursed by Benedict Jacka *****

The first two books I read in June were Fated and Cursed by Benedict Jacka. I don't know why I didn't expect to like these books...I think maybe is was the less than spectacular cover. In fact, I overlooked them several times until I read a review of them and decided to try them. Am I ever glad that I did because they were fantastic. The books revolve around Alex Verus, a diviner mage. Basically, he can see all the potential paths in a situation - a very useful trait. I loved the world that Benedict Jacka created. The characters were strong and understandable. The stories were fast paced and exciting, with a lot of action. I can't wait for the next one! 

Jenny Pox by J.L. Bryan ***

This was an e-reader book about a girl who is born with the ability to cause lesions and kill just by touching someone. She's spent her entire life being "the freak" because she has to cover herself up to keep from touching accidentally. Her father is an alcoholic, her mother died giving birth to her. She's tragic. Enter a scrawny, abused dog and a boy who has his own unique power, and the story becomes something more. It's about love, loss, hope, doing the right thing and being strong when you want to give up. I've already invested in the sequels. 

Caleb by Sarah McCartney *

Remember my post about things that annoy me in a book? Okay, this book was not for me. Don't get me wrong, it's well written in many ways but I (a) had a problem with the whole concept of her vampires - because I'd totally kill them all and (b) didn't really like the heroine and (c) got very very tired of the sex, which (sorry) was kind of repulsive to me. Seriously, the girl needed to start wearing skirts if every time she and her vampire man were together he used his claws to slice open the crotch of her jeans so he could fuck her. Ick.

Sterling by Dannika Dark **

Another e-book. I liked this book for the most part. The main character, Zoe, is attacked on her way home from work and the attacker does something to her. A man rescues her and when she comes to, she discovers she's no longer herself - by that I mean she's completely physically transformed and she's developed some unusual powers. I thought the characters were interesting, but I got a little frustrated that Zoe went from one guy to another guy to another guy just because they came along and said they could helps  her. It would have been better if it was more in-depth, both in the world and the development of the characters. Still, I didn't hate the book and I liked the end enough that I bought the sequel. I actually want to find out what happens. It was a good first novel.

Reaper by Mina Carter ***

This e-book was an interesting take on the end of the world as we know it. Andy is a reaper. She sees ghosts and sets them free from their attachment to this world. But she also takes care of bad things. Mason is living in a settlement which is being harrassed by werewolves. The people of the settlement don't like strangers. Mason and Andy find themselves in a situation where they have to fight to protect the life he's created. It's worth reading.

Finding Magic by Stacia Kane *****

Chasing Magic by Stacia Kane ******

I think I'm pretty clear in that I would bow down and worship at Stacia Kane's feet. I connect with her books and her main characters on a visceral level. Her writing is amazing. The world she's created is amazing. And I own this series in both paperback and e-reader. If it was published in hardcover, I'd pounce on it. A must own!

Silver by Rhiannon Held *****

This book was another one that caught me by surprise. It's main characters are werewolves, but it's not truly a werewolf story. It's more of a story of loss and redemption, of pushing on when there's no reason to, of doing the right thing even if it means walking away from everything you've built for yourself. I loved this story. I was close to tears at points. I stayed up until I couldn't keep my eyes open to read it. I highly recommend it.

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep ****

I love Jennifer Estep's Mythos series - about a gypsy girl who attends a school with the sons and daughters of gods. Dark Frost picks up where the last book left off. It's action packed with humor and plenty of angst. Another one you should read.

Blood Kin by M.J. Scott ****

This book isn't my normal reading. It's set in an alternate world and I sometimes get frustrated with that, but I loved it because of the world. The main character is a thief for hire. There are Templars, vampires and werewolves. There's political intrigue. What I liked best was the world itself (not that I didn't love the characters - I did), but the world had this feel of a victorian era and yet it felt completely modern as well. I can't explain it better than that. I definitely recommend it tho. 

So...that's the list for June that I can remember. I'm 100% sure there should be two more books on that list, but I'm damned if I can remember what they are. It's...well...frustrating. Damned ADD.

Happy Reading!

Karen

Oh CRAP!

I was going to do a rundown of the list of books I read in June only I didn't log my books for the month!!! *Runs screaming thru the house in horror*

Where is my brain?? Who stole my brain?? Aghhh! *Grabs iPad and runs for the bookshelves*

....I'll be back.

What Drives Me Nuts In A Book...

I've read a few excellent books this month....and I've read a few (hmmm)...well I don't want to say they're duds. They're not. But I can't say they were good.

I do think any creative endeavor that helps a person express him or herself is a worthwhile effort. And there were parts of these books I enjoyed...until I didn't. I was even swearing and cursing at one to just END (which is really bad) as I skimmed the first sentence of each paragraph and skipped most of the dialogue because it made me want to take my iPad and feed it into my husband's shredder....(I know. Calm down, Karen, it's okay.)

So without further ado, here are things that make me want to take a book and shake it with frustration:

1. Snark where it's not necessary.
Don't get me wrong, I love snark. I love wise ass characters that spit in fate's face with a smile on theirs. But damn it, when you have a character randomly spit out snark because you've thought of a witty comeback - but it doesn't fit with the character's personality or with the flow of the book - well, its not necessary. If your character is serious, let them be serious. If they're snarky, let them be snarky. But if they're a sweet, naive, serious character who talks in a sweet, naive, serious tone only to have a wicked, sexually forward, snarky comeback to someone that doesn't fit with their character....aaaagh! Don't do it.

2. Characters who talk like they went to formal diction school in the 1700's. I mean, what 17 year old says "One moment please. I am going to peruse the tomes on these shelves, and then I am going to procure my wallet to pay for my selected purchases." (I made that up, but you get the point, right? Right? Do you expect me to believe your character is normal? Or that they even exist in this world? What kid talks like that? He'd better be a time traveler from the past.

3. Characters who don't have a steady personality. This reflects on the last two entries. I'm sorry, but your character can't be innocent and promiscuous. They can't be tough and a wimp. Sure, they can have moments where they do something unexpected, but they can't just do things that go against who you've created them to be without a damn good reason. A character that's a werewolf enforcer isn't going to cower when they're attacked by three guys any more than they'd cower when attacked by one. They're going to fight. Unless for some reason they have a phobia about the number three (maybe they were raised by an evil three headed hell dog and they have a flashback to a vicious beating). See - ridiculous it may be, but it's an explanation. Don't make your character do things out of character unless its part of their character.

4. A World out of whack. Okay, so your character lives in a world where supernatural creatures - lets say faeries - exist. Only no one knows they exist. Well, they can't walk around with six fingers on each hand, and an extra set of knuckles on each finger, razor sharp pointed teeth, green skin and pink hair without some sort of glamour. Hello? No one's going to notice that? Seriously?

5. As an extension of that - your setting has to be believable, too. A city full of vampires that burn to ash in the sunlight isn't going to have buildings with huge plate glass windows that let the sun in all day long. I'm pretty sure the vampires would design buildings that protect them from the sun's rays. Do you see what I mean? You can't just take a setting you're familiar with and throw characters in it when you're writing urban fantasy. That's the whole point. You have to think about it. What would a city full of vampires who only come out at night look like? (Again, this is just an example.)

6. Unnecessary extraneous characters. Yes, you need to have characters for your main character to interact with, but don't dump forty million useless characters on me only to have them stick around for one chapter and be gone, never to be heard from again. I don't need to meet Bobby's cousin Darrell, who's in town for the city wide vampire purging unless Darrell's going to do something to affect it. Screw him. He's unnecessary.

7. Evil bad guys with no reason to be evil. If you're going to slap a bad guy in and make me like him or hate him or feel sorry for him, then you'd better give me a reason. If he's a total evil asshat without any redeeming qualities, why is that? You can't just make someone evil and say 'he's evil because he's the bad guy'. Maybe I'll like him more than the hero. Believe me, I've read books where I was rooting for the evil dude to kill everyone just so the book would be over! (I read two of them this month.) It's frustrating.

8. Sex where its not necessary. Yes, sex is good. I like sex in a book when it belongs there. But if you have sweet Suzie Sugarpants, who is all of seventeen and untouched, dry humping the hero (sorry, I know that's rude) because he's cute (and that's the only reason), I'm probably going to vomit in my mouth. And if you've got two characters having sex against walls and doors and under tables in busy restaurants, but the conversation/interaction between them is so stilted that it can't even create a reason for them to be doing it...well, ptht. I'd rather read Charlotte Bronte. (No I wouldn't, but honestly...sex for sex's sake does not make a good book.)

9. No reasoning behind the emotion. This is probably one of the most frustrating issues I have with characters. Here's heroine Bonnie, clearly distraught at finding a woman wandering on the side of the road. She's in tears as she helps the obviously injured woman into her car & later breaks down with emotion. Why? I don't know! You tell me! If you don't give me a reason to go on, I just think your character is a nutjob. Jeez. God.

10. Gorgeous heroes/heroines with no other redeeming characteristics. Sure, hot guys are nice. I wouldn't kick Thor out of bed with two feet, but don't give me a guy with six pack abs and a face to die for and have him be a chauvinist pig or a total douchecanoe or a wimp and expect me to believe that the heroine would still want to be with him. I wouldn't put up with any of that - and if she's a strong woman, neither would she. Sorry. Don't buy it. Leave the pretty face out of it. Make him average. I don't give a shit. I'd rather lift my skirts for a guy who's likes me being tough and looks like he was hit by a mack truck, than for a guy who looks like Thor and wants me for a naked housekeeper.

That's all. Vent over.