it would be the day you are re-reading Good Omens.

(I confess I like my copy’s cover better, though:)

#

 

* for me, obviously, as pretty much everyone else is already on Twitter.

This novel has been in the monstrous TBR shelves for…well, at least a couple of years, but probably more. I have already failed January’s installment of SLWendy’s TBR Challenge, but given Ms Jordan’s recent passing, I feel it fitting to review it nonetheless.

* * *

So Close and No Closer, by Penny Jordan

Originally released in 1989, this category romance definitely reflects the mores of the day, though both it and Ms Jordan were popular enough to warrant a Collector’s Edition re-release in 1991. There were several things I liked about this story, not the least of which is the setting, a lovely village somewhere near Cambridge, England¹.

The back cover blurb is typical of the time (though really, it doesn’t seem the misleading has changed all that much): (more…)

Shiloh would be the always classy Ms Walker, who is hosting a giveaway for Myke Cole’s upcoming book in her blog.

Now, it’s been quite a while since I’ve read straight fantasy. For many reasons, romance has been my staple when it comes to reading, for years now. Yes, I occasionally read other genres (I’ve even reviewed some and stuff) but it’s mostly romance for me.

However, after reading Mr Cole’s guest post over at Shiloh’s, I’m quite hyped about this fantasy novel. Whether I win it or not, I’m committing myself publicly to read it and reviewing it here soon¹.

What book, you ask?

Control Point, the first installment in Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops fantasy series.

Army Officer. Fugi­tive. Sorcerer.

Across the country and in every nation, people are waking up with mag­ical tal­ents. Untrained and pan­icked, they summon storms, raise the dead, and set every­thing they touch ablaze.

Army officer Oscar Britton sees the worst of it. A lieu­tenant attached to the military’s Super­nat­ural Oper­a­tions Corps, his mis­sion is to bring order to a world gone mad. Then he abruptly man­i­fests a rare and pro­hib­ited mag­ical power, trans­forming him overnight from gov­ern­ment agent to public enemy number one.

The SOC knows how to handle this kind of sit­u­a­tion: hunt him down–and take him out. Driven into an under­ground shadow world, Britton is about to learn that magic has changed all the rules he’s ever known, and that his life isn’t the only thing he’s fighting for.

Oh, and I have to say that I really like how Mr Cole uses the theme of the novels for the layout of his website, particularly the placement of the series logo, with one small exception: it’s a bit dark for the eyes of some readers *coughI’manoldbroadcough*

 * * *

¹ (ish–have to allow for real life and the soul-suckiness of the real job to interfere)

 

I was busy with other things yesterday when this review went up at Dear Author, but as I was coming over to post something else, Karen had already been there, done that, and come back to post about it.

Anyway, will you look at this precious, precious gem from Sandy: (more…)

Seriously, instead of thinking about what a shit job you did writing this book, you decide to slag off the reviewer?

It makes me laugh uproariously that you start off your post thusly:

“As all of you know, I love reviews. The good, the bad and the ugly. I have no problem posting them on my website or blogging about them.”

I’m pretty sure that what you meant was that you love glowing reviews, seeing as you just got a bad one, and you’re so pissed that you’re waving your knickers in the air for all and sundry to gawk at.

As for this part: (more…)

I don’t think I’ve ever had depression, but I know plenty of people who have suffered from it.
Of course, I, like most people have days when certain things bring me down and weigh on my mind, but those days are few and far between and don’t really bear any resemblance to what a lot of people with depression go through.

I recently read a very moving account of one sports man’s battle with depression.

His name is Stan Collymore, and he used to play football for a living, now he’s more of a broadcaster and sports commentator. (more…)

This is a debate that gets tackled in our house regularly. Did we get here by way of that mystical bloke who lives in the sky, who sees fit to let babies get raped and murdered, or did we spawn from bacteria, which eventually evolved?

If we were monkeys, how did the first monkey get here?

I know that there are a million theories, but I find that this morning, I’m fairly fascinated by the subject.

Anyway, what do you guys think?

After Wednesday widespread protests over SOPA and PIPA, I have spent quite a bit of time pondering what the internet as we know it today means to me. The freedom and inspiration from these “series of tubes” (Sen Ted Stevens) allow me, the boundless resources it holds at my fingertips.

Among these, a humongous crush of mine:

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

“Let’s bring the nerds”

The nerds, said with contempt. Yes, you morons, do bring in the nerds so that they can explain how this thing you are trying to legislate actually works–what it is, what it does, how it affects the lives of everyone of those around you (your constituents–remember them?) and your own.

 

Dear lord–and these people make decisions that affect the rest of us.

Ms Stiefvater, you may have not consciously intended to, but you most definitely belittled book bloggers with your comments–just as you have in the past belittled romance readers (many of whom read you despite your attitude towards what they read¹).

“A review is an unbiased, careful look at a book — basically it is a little academic paper. It involves an itty-bitty thesis on your opinion of the book, surrounded by tiny supporting sentences describing the strengths and weaknesses of said book.”

Says you–and I disagree with you in the most absolute, unequivocal manner possible. (more…)

Okay, so I’m probably being harsh in my interpretation, but that’s how this comes across to me¹: (more…)