Hello Everyone,

August 2019

It's been over 3 years since I have posted any material.

Today I begin with a trilogy based off a challenge someone gave me.

Enjoy the read

~g

June 26, 2012

My little review... Beyond Hades by Luke Romyn


Beyond Hades by Luke Romyn

This book has been the hardest for me to review.  It is such a great read I feared my enthusiasm would give spoilers.  Many rewrites for this review I must confess to.

As a tremendous fan of Greek mythology I fully appreciated where the author was going with this story.  If you think you're going to get some slow time between chapters think again.  Luke Romyn takes his readers by the collar and yanks them right into the action from start to finish.

Beyond Hades takes you into time, travel and fierce danger all the while charming you with characters.  You fear with Talbot while he races with time to save mankind and swear with Wes while fighting the enemies.

This book takes you not to just one world but a few, all the while unraveling Greek mythology with a fresh new twist.

Action to the end of the read.  Heart racing and riveting.  Beyond Hades takes you to hell and back, hell again and back and you won't want to get off the ride.

I loved this book and enjoyed it thoroughly not wanting to finish too quick.  Each chapter gave me insight to well thought out characters and a plot that kept me turning the page and gasping for air along the way.

Get your read on and get it with Beyond Hades, here is how:

About the Author:   http://lukeromyn.com/

Have a peek at his site:   http://lukeromyn.com/books

I have been fortunate to read 5 star books one after the other the past couple of months, 3 in a row.  What makes it 5 star... well heck any book that makes me miss train stops, ignore calls, catch my breath and feel sadness when I realize it will end soon - has pretty much earned several stars.  Check out my reviews for the previous 5 star books.  I hope this luck in selecting fine books remains.

Stay tuned for my next read.

June 21, 2012

AndMore...The power of thank you


A long time ago I read a good book, The power of thank you by Deborah Norvill and it helped me to grow.


I remember at one time working for someone that would have issue with my emails when I used the words, thank you or please.  She would say that what I was writing for was expected and therefore no thank you or please are necessary.

I recently read a Dear Abby column where a woman writes to complain that her husband says thank you for every step of being served in a restaurant.  Including when refreshments are served.

Since I see on a daily basis the lack of gratitude I am all for the Thank you to death.

During my commute, countless times I see someone holding the door for another and the person walking through without so much as an acknowledgement let alone a thank you.  A person (rare as this happens) giving up their seat to someone and not even receiving a thank you.

Just the other day someone called me with a problem with their cell phone.  I had not heard from this person in months.  They call frantic that their cell phone does not work and that the warranty expired.  This is not someone from work.  After spending well over 30 minutes on the phone, all I got was a 'there must be a faster way to fix this'.  I said YOUR WELCOME!

I see more and more people walking about as though they are entitled.  Entitled to be as inhuman and cruel as possible without expectations of repercussion.



To the boss from long ago...  Your constant job displacement may be an indicator of your ingratitude.

To the person that wrote to the column...  You would do well to learn from your husband and be 'grateful'.  He could be one of those cheaters, beaters or worse.

To the commuters...  You're not all that!

To those that think they are entitled... You're not!

Thank You Power - by Deborah Norville
Perhaps Deborah Norvill wrote it best with - "Regard¬less of your age, religion, financial circumstances, or any other classification society might dream up, you have within you the tools to allow you to live the life of satisfaction, security, and optimism you long for. That power begins with two words: thank you." - check out her site http://dnorville.com/books.php


I even give a mental note of thank you to those that have in one way or another caused me harm...

Thank you for in doing what you did, I am stronger
Thank you for in your not loving me, I learned to love without expectations
Thank you for in your cruelty I learned to appreciated kindness

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  For whether in good or bad, I learn, I practice, I live and I move on.


June 13, 2012

AndMore...I gave you life so that you could live it. ~Maria Portokalosbit

Being a mother is not easy.  It never gets easy.  It gets harder as they get older.

You must educate yourself on putting your child first, inherit the animal instinct to protect your young at all cost.  Then they grow and you must for your own good and theirs ...... release, let go and let be.  It's so hard, I confess that I never not once thought of how hard it must have been for my parents to watch their daughters grow and their need to be released, let go of and let be.  Until I became a parent and it didn't happen quickly, the realization came when my son grew up and I had to release, let go and let be.


We recently went to my favorite place, a small cafe called Fine Grind.  I had not been there in many months and the last time I was there it left me with a sad memory.  I had planned to go there and just write.  Update my sites, blog, vent, write in my journal, the list goes on.  I planned to do anything but think.  However, plans changed and my son ended up going with me.

We talked about life, love and hardship.  I found myself saying things that I had wanted to say but feared I would get it wrong.  That day the words flowed with no pause, no error and plenty of love.


The only thing I did not get to say in a quote but rather in a longer way was the best and profound statement Maria gave Tula in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, I gave you life so that you could live it.


I may not agree with some of his choices, his route with love or his manner of deciding things.  But I gave him life so he can live it.  I admire my sons ability to take the hard road and walk through it as though nothing will keep him down.  He falls and gets up without even taking the time to slap some dirt off.  He trudges on... learning as he goes.

Are you happy I ask him.  He says yes with a brilliant smile. I tell him, 'That my love is all that matters to me'.


One of my parental fears was that I would die and he would not know how to make decisions, how to get out of a jam, prevent getting into one.  Fearing his heart would be broken, etc.  But... he started out early and has done quite well in surviving.

For the first time my son asked me what my troubles were, more specifically why was I so sad.  It was the first time I spoke to him about me and my own heart ache.  He listened like a son, a friend and a person that was weighing carefully my words which were hard to speak.  When I was done, my son, my boy...my baby gave me the best advice a man could give.  And in the end... having heard my decision, why I made it and although the pain at times unbearable why I would not change it; he said..... Mom, I'm so proud of you.


I had never heard those words from him, my surprise at hearing it matched his own surprise at saying it.  It was the turning point of our relationship.  The student has become the teacher.  The one that speaks has learned to listen and the one that listens learns to speak.


We may not cook a lamb in a spit in the front lawn, have a ton of family surrounding us daily, or a love story to write of and make a screen play.  We do however have the realization that we were given life and we are living it.

Imagine...my son taught me that pride works both ways and the great feeling does too.

Remind your kids... I gave you life so you can live it.


June 08, 2012

Why Indie Authors? Why new authors that promote themselves?............. Why not?

Indie Authors are independent of Publishing houses.  They invest their own time and money to market their books.  They deal directly with bookstores from what I can see in Twitter streams, mostly Smashwords, Amazon and the like.  Imagine that!  They write, they create a story, put it together and market it.  Now that's MULTI-TASKING!


I am a huge fan of James Patterson (who isn't), however one must wait for an author to write a book, then wait for the publisher to decide when to let it loose.

Another favorite is Lyndsay Sands (love her take on vampires - ooops Immortals), I picked up one book and had to back purchase all the others of the series.  When I caught up and realized there was more to come, I learned that even though she finished the next installment, her publisher would decide when to let it out to the market.


Indie Authors dictate when to release.  I have read some of the greatest books from Indie Authors promoting their material on Facebook, Twitter and even blogs.  I have some favorites that I cyber stalk to see when their next book or installment is coming out.  I have also learned to appreciate new genres.

Why Indie Author?  Because most are great authors.

Why new Authors that promote themselves?  Because they are telling you first hand what the book is about.  No 3rd party opinion.  Straight from the writer.  Awesome!

Why not?  Well, heck... I can't think of a reason not to give them a try.


This mystery reader has broadened to all kinds of reading and following are my all time fav -

YA fantasy - romance
Raine Thomas - If  you haven't read her Estilorian series you are missing out.  http://rainethomas.com/

Thriller
Claude Bouchard - I am sure you have read my rave on the Barry/McCall series. http://claudebouchardbooks.com/

Horror
Luke Romyn - This one shocks me the most.  I am not someone that would go for any type of horror, whether movies or books.  But I read his first book and got hooked.  I am currently reading Beyond Hades, review to follow soon. http://www.lukeromyn.com/

I mean those are my gotta read as soon as they write favs, but I am also reading new authors all the time.....  and loving it.

I will always be grateful to Rebecca Woodhead, my first hot off the authors hand press read - Palaces and Calluses, it opened these eyes to a whole new world of book shopping.  http://www.rebeccawoodhead.com/

Step out of your comfort zone and try giving someone new a chance.  You don't have to give up the old, just know that while you are waiting for their publisher to decide when you can read it, these authors are already putting their goods out there.

Get your read on!


June 07, 2012

AndMore...Pipe Down, D cup, The Damn Russian Oh my

Pipe down - for those of you that follow me on FB, you know I have an issue with this.  I mean, every time someone says that it makes no sense.  Just say - SHUT UP!


But this time, I say it in the literal sense.  Let's begin with the alarm this morning.

It went off... damn thing!  I got up and shortly realized the faucets were not working. I grabbed the last bottle of water to brush my teeth.  I attempted the water again and it worked.  I looked in the mirror and decided I have been feeling quite low as of late.  A quick 5 minute facial mask is in order.  I found an avocado mask tube that I had not used yet.

Avocado THIS!
At work a co-worker and I have been having a debate, which is better California or Florida avocado.  I say it's a preference, I like the taste of the larger, prettier avocado.  He is the Haas fan and wants to impose that on everyone.


I layered the mask on - THICK.  I walked to the kitchen (short walk from bathroom) and began to make coffee............no water.  I tried the bathroom faucet...no water.  I tried to shower.....no water. I waited and tried every 5 minutes.  I would be late for work so I just text the landlord.  -No water-need water-fix pipe-late 4 work-NO WATER!


I thought I had some time before he showed up, he is NEVER in the building.  But a few seconds later there was a knock on the door.  I ran to the bedroom without turning on the light and grabbed the first thing I felt in the tote that holds all that is house and sleep wear.  I put on the robe and ran down the stairs.  I opened the door.............................................waited..................................he was still laughing.

His view
I could find a headband so I used a fabric belt from one of the house sweaters.  The long remaining fabric hanging and swinging about my thighs.
The robe I selected was a bright orange with green pacifiers, a sick gift that I actually wear when I know (?) no one will see.
Flip flops


I couldn't stand the obvious hilarity he was having at my expense.  'JUST FIX IT'.  We went upstairs.  He went straight to the bathroom.  Now, I live in an attic apartment, 1 bedroom, it is tiny, the bathroom is a work of art on how they got it in there.  So I have to put my towel, clothes or what have you on the toilet or sink.  I put the clothes I was to wear when I took a shower on the toilet seat cover.  He picked it up to hand it to me when the towel toppled over and there spilled the towel and my bra.  The darn thing just popped right up as if screaming 'THAT'S RIGHT BABY D-CUP'.


I snatched the clothes turned without looking at him and sat on the sofa........ wishing instant death would take me.

Let me tell you something about face mask, it was not created to remain on the face long.  It actually hurts.  I couldn't smile without my cheeks and chin hurting, my neck felt as though something was slowly strangling me.


I went to check up on him and he turned and.........................wait for it...............................you ready................................LAUGHED.
 

I went back to the living room, mentally cursing him and my life as much as possible.


I heard his voice and realized he was talking to someone in his language while laughing through the words.  He was on the cell.  Word was getting out.

It took about an hour and a half before it was fixed.  His cheesy grin in place, he said (I guess he said since I barely understand him), 'it's fixed'.


I walked him out, even though he is very tall, I was able to make his shoulders shaking from laughter from behind.  I had to fight the urge to push him down the stairs.  At the bottom he turned.....cheesy grin in place, I just shut the door on it.  Damn Russian!

For years people have been saying....things will get better.  I have something very important to say to all those people.


SHUT UP!