Very Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas this weekend

and may you find lots of pages under your trees ;)

From Our Family to Yours <3

Review of The Last Cowboy by Lindsay McKenna

Synopsis: "City girl. It was written all over her like a sign warning him to keep off. Sure, Slade McPherson would train her horse…With his ranch one bad day away from foreclosure, he can't afford to turn away a paying customer. But no way is this cowboy getting involved with a woman like Jordana Lawton—no matter how pretty she looks in a saddle.
Yet everything can change in an instant. A terrifying run-in with an angry bull tilts Slade's world off its axis, leaving him wounded and unable to compete in a race that could change his future, for good. With Jordana by his side, he just might stand a chance. But what happens when this old-school cowboy finds himself falling for a modern city girl?"

My Review: This was a wonderful book to take me back home. I heart Cowboys, even with their tough exteriors and forbidding personalities. I really enjoyed Slade's personality, though jaded and plagued with hardships he still manages to have a softer side. I also loved Jordana, she has such a positive outlook on everything even after being knocked down a time or two that should could break down any one's barriers. There really didn't seem to be any pointless characters, even the horses seemed essential and had fully developed personality. The ending is a little bitter sweet, since not all the conflict throughout the book is resolved but I think it made things a little more real since there really aren't any perfect happy endings in the world. It was really a very enjoyable, light western romance.        

My Rating: It was a good book, maybe not a great book but still a very good one that I enjoyed entirely.  So I give it a rating of Three Paws.

After Dark Review of A Caress of Twilight by Laurell K. Hamilton

I have added After Dark Reviews to my blog as a way of notifying you of a review of a book with Adult themes and scenes. From now on I will keep my reviews of all books I read that have explicit scenes in them for late night posts for those of you who prefer to avoid them or easy to find for those of you who seek them out ;)

 



 

Synopsis: "After eluding relentless assassination attempts by Prince Cel, her cousin and rival for the Faerie crown, Meredith Gentry, Los Angeles private eye, has a whole new set of problems. To become queen, she must bear a child before Cel can father one of his own. But havoc lies on the horizon: people are dying in mysterious, frightening ways, and suddenly the very existence of the place known as Faerie is at grave risk. So now, while she enjoys the greatest pleasures of her life attempting to conceive a baby with the warriors of her royal guard, she must fend off an ancient evil that could destroy the very fabric of reality. And that’s just her day job. . . ."

My Review: Another exciting adventure in the life of Merry Gentry and her guys! This book started out a little slow but picked up steam and moved like a train coming down a mountain. I loved getting to know each of they guys a little more, I have to say I am totally in love with Doyle and Kitto is just plain adorable and awesome. I liked the slow entry of some new characters, there wasn't a ton of information dumped on you and you had the time to get to know them before someone else entered the story. I am not sure I enjoy the ending of the book, it reads like those notes at the end of a movie based on a real story (ie. fred went on to work in the big city, tom and cindy got married and had a little family, etc.), it seems like kind of a cheap way to throw an ending together after spending so much energy and time in the rest of the story.

My Rating: I really enjoy Merry and all her men, though some of them have personalities that drive me nuts, they all just work.  I was able to put this one down but only for short periods of time, so I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

Wednesday Writing

So Wednesday is my official writing update day. I have so many story projects going on and I need a push to get some done. So I will be trying to post each Wednesday about how my writing adventures are going (and I may need a swift kick in the pants by you guys sometimes).

Current Active Project:

Princess Bs - 32,131 words

A story about a woman, recently divorced and returned to her home town to figure out what is next. She encounters an old friend and spends a weekend with him and his daughters. Feelings that are long since buried are rising up again, but are her recent loss and his current life going to stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Other Works in Progress:

The New Old Home - 17,193 words

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but what would you do with that money? That is the question presented to Natalie, when she is at the lowest point in her life, she is presented with an opportunity to make any normal person's dreams come true, but all those winnings can't give her what she wants most.

Tamlyn Marie's Grace - 12,072 words

Think Cinderella only with a matchmaker ;)

The Last Mountains - 15,352

A equine shapeshifting family is being hunted to near extinction and the young new leader must go against all her lessons and approach the elite council for aide. Will they help her? How will she keep her family's traditions and values alive, let alone her herd?

Night Rider - 17,229

Alice is a recent high school graduate who is a very accomplished competitive rider in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western/Rodeo. Her parents had arranged for her to attend a private college on the east coast geared specifically to equine professions. However, Alice wants to focus on her studies in English Literature. When she arrives at the college she hides her riding abilities, but can she keep her talent and love of horses hidden?

Other Ideas Plotting:

Bloodsoar's Story

A pegasus struggles through life, ejected from the herd, near capture by humans.

The Assassin's Assassin

A student learns what the school is really teaching and sets out to destroy those who support the program.

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I really should be crowned the queen of procrastination!! I know exactly what I want to write on the Princess Bs story and where I want it to go but I keep doing other things! 

 

I think I am going to attempt to set a goal to finish the last 18,000ish words by then end of the year, that gives me 10 days.  Now I just got to make sure my finger heals (I managed to slice my pointer finger open really good cutting bagel- gosh I am a clutz) so my fingers can fly instead of having to hit delete and backspace constantly!

Preparing for Christmas

Hehe sorry just had to share this, I love Simon's Cat!

Anywho I promised yesterday that I would share some of what I have been working on that has taken me away from reading and writing so much.

I know this all completely non book related but I thought some of you may enjoy it ;)

So first we have a few of the Christmas custom my little ponies I have been working on (only 2 more to go)

Baby Ginger (her hair smells like cinnamon)

Gaia - a gift for a close friend

Morning Light

(was suppose to be a trade but I am making a different one for them since I am soo in love with her!)

Now for some bookmarks 

A quick Scherenschnitte Hot Rod bookmark for my FIL

Mistletoe Kisses

Glory and the Christmas Star

And some jewelry

Necklace/bracelet for SIL (can be used either way)

Turquoise Necklace for MIL

Some Wine Charm Sets

Girly Girl 4 piece set





Shooting Sports 4 Piece Set

Fishing 6 Piece Set for my parents







Doberman 6 Piece set #1 - 3

(all of these were donated to the rescue we got Niko from to auction off as a fund raiser)

and last Scherenschnitte Christmas Cards

See I really have been super busy this month! I have a few more Wine charm sets, some Scherenschnitte cards and bookmarks, and a custom ponies in the works too :)

I hope you are all ready for Christmas and that you get to spend time surrounded by those you love!











Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

What I Read Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Were She Belongs by Dixie Lynn Dwyer (adult paranormal romance)

Currently Reading:

Sabriel by Garth Nix - PB - on page 231 of 496

The Last Cowboy by Lindsay McKenna - PB - on page 132 of 348

A Caress of Twilight by Laurell K. Hamilton - PB - on page 246 of 348

Torment by Lauren Kate - PB - on page 132 of 452

Next Books to be Read:

Catundra by Stephen Cosgrove - Childrens/Bedtime stories

Holes by Lewis Sachar - Middle Reader/ 2011 Challenge

The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - Middle Reader/ 2011 Challenge/Jan. Book Club

 

 

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Well not too much reading this week, the problem is that they are all paperbacks so I can't be reading them while the boss is in the office (where as I can sneak books on the nook since I have it downloaded on the computer).  But the hope is that this week I will get to leave a little early on a few days. 

 

I only have one more handmade gift to work on (which is not going to get done before Christmas but oh well) and then a few batches of chex mix to make, other than that I am finally caught up and done with Christmas projects!  I will have a post here in a day or so to show you what I have been working so hard on instead of reading and writing. 

 

Speaking of writing, more story ideas are flooding in, eerrg why does that happen when all you want to do is finish one of the many WIPs you have going?!

 

Hope you all have a great week!!