Not necessarily trying to tease those of you still in the grip of winter with my beautiful azaleas, but our yard has burst into bloom this past few days. On the downside, we need rain. Desperately! Here's hoping for a bit of precipitation over the next few months of Spring.
I've been reading--it helps me write, makes me relax and reminds me why I write. Over the past couple of weeks I've really found some great books--Jessica Scott's newest, BEFORE I FALL was absolutely wonderful. Jess is an Army captain who served in Iraq and will be teaching at West Point in the near future, and her military romances are beautifully done. Click on the title above for sales links and excerpts of all her books, but definitely check out all of Jessica Scott's books.
Another fantastic story was Nalini Singh's latest in her ROCK KISS series--ROCK HARD. This is Charlotte and T-Rex's story, and it's one you won't be able to put down. I've always loved Nalini's paranormals (who doesn't love her Psy/Changeling series or those sexy Archangels in the Guild Hunter series?) Find links to all of Nalini's books on the link in the Rock Hard title above.
Last night I finished Paige Tyler's latest, HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF. Talk about 'edge of the seat' read! Really loved this one about her SWAT (that's 'Special Wolf Alpha Team' to the uninformed...) Team. A terrific heroine, an absolutely HOT alpha hero, and enough action to have you flipping pages very, very fast. And missing sleep. Yes, it kept me up way too late.
Funny story about Jayne Ann Krentz's TRUST NO ONE. It's been sitting here, taunting me, since it arrived back in January, a beautiful hardbound book that I knew I would love. That's the joy of knowing authors who are "autobuys..." You know, the ones you grab off the shelf without even reading the back cover blurb? So finally, this week, I decided I was going to read it whether I had the time or not, opened the book and after the first sentence realized that I HAD read it, sometime during the nightmare of revisions on INTIMATE, but I'd been so stressed out I hadn't retained that little tidbit of info. But this one is just so good that I settled in and read it again, and realized there's a reason JAK's books always go on my keeper shelf, and that's because they're books I read over and over again.
I've been reading--it helps me write, makes me relax and reminds me why I write. Over the past couple of weeks I've really found some great books--Jessica Scott's newest, BEFORE I FALL was absolutely wonderful. Jess is an Army captain who served in Iraq and will be teaching at West Point in the near future, and her military romances are beautifully done. Click on the title above for sales links and excerpts of all her books, but definitely check out all of Jessica Scott's books.
Another fantastic story was Nalini Singh's latest in her ROCK KISS series--ROCK HARD. This is Charlotte and T-Rex's story, and it's one you won't be able to put down. I've always loved Nalini's paranormals (who doesn't love her Psy/Changeling series or those sexy Archangels in the Guild Hunter series?) Find links to all of Nalini's books on the link in the Rock Hard title above.
Last night I finished Paige Tyler's latest, HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF. Talk about 'edge of the seat' read! Really loved this one about her SWAT (that's 'Special Wolf Alpha Team' to the uninformed...) Team. A terrific heroine, an absolutely HOT alpha hero, and enough action to have you flipping pages very, very fast. And missing sleep. Yes, it kept me up way too late.
Funny story about Jayne Ann Krentz's TRUST NO ONE. It's been sitting here, taunting me, since it arrived back in January, a beautiful hardbound book that I knew I would love. That's the joy of knowing authors who are "autobuys..." You know, the ones you grab off the shelf without even reading the back cover blurb? So finally, this week, I decided I was going to read it whether I had the time or not, opened the book and after the first sentence realized that I HAD read it, sometime during the nightmare of revisions on INTIMATE, but I'd been so stressed out I hadn't retained that little tidbit of info. But this one is just so good that I settled in and read it again, and realized there's a reason JAK's books always go on my keeper shelf, and that's because they're books I read over and over again.
 | The weather has been so nice, I've been able to sit outside in the late afternoons with a glass of wine and a good book. I think that's worthy of a photo, don't you? And the last book I can think of that I recently finished is Robyn Carr's latest in her Thunder Point series, ONE WISH. |
One word? READ! This series is every bit as addictive as Robyn's VIRGIN RIVER series. Every time I meet a new character in one of her stories, I have this strong urge to invite them over for a glass of wine and a good, long, chat!
One other thing before I get to the contest, but it's something that has had me in sort of a strange dither (I do love that word!) for the past few months. A lot of you have heard me talk about living with MS--I was diagnosed in 1985 when I started falling and dragging my left leg, dropping things, and just in general noticing that my normal klutziness was off the charts. My symptoms were bad enough that my neurologist said I'd be in a wheelchair by the time I was 40...well, I'm 65 and still upright, and honestly, had been feeling pretty cocky about it.
Then I started stumbling again, and dropping things, and in general seeing all the same symptoms I had thirty years ago, so I went back to the neurology department (new hospital, different doctors) for a new MRI and some blood tests. Got my results and, to put it quite bluntly, it's been sort of a mindfuck. (excuse the graphic language, but that's the only way to describe it!) My neurologist says I don't have MS, have never had it, and while I have all the symptoms, I lack the definitive markers (lesions in the brain/spinal column) for the disease. The thing is, when I was first diagnosed, MRIs weren't available, so my diagnosis was made on the basis of a spinal tap (not fun) and a series of tests called "Evoked response testing," which essentially means they hook you up to machines that give you electrical zaps and test your nerve reflexes. Since I'd flunked everything, the original neurologist (he of the wheelchair diagnosis...he really was a jerk) felt very confident with his diagnosis, and the many neurologists I've seen since have all re-confirmed the MS.
So, now I know I don't have it, but the doctor says I do have all the symptoms and a disconnect between my brain and my feet which accounts for the stumbling, but no idea what's causing it. Going from multiple sclerosis to "undiagnosed neuropathy" doesn't change a thing, though I had grown comfortable with the neat little label they gave me. Now, I guess I'll just stumble along (quite literally) until we figure out what IS causing it.
And, enough about me--now it's time to give away some books. I've got one copy of Sexy Beast VIII (that's the one with Chanku Spirit in it) and one copy of Wolf Tales VIII, and a few copies of Spirit Wild/Dark Moon. You must tell me what book you want when you enter. I really don't have time to write back and ask you, and I've figured out how to add a place to write in the title. Choose one of the three--if it's not on the list, it's not available this month.
Now, I need to get this up. I've checked and the entry form is properly loaded (I hope--believe me, if there's a way to screw something up, I'll find it!) and it appears all my ducks are in a row...not necessarily a neat one, but the little suckers are all lined up. I hope you're getting some decent weather wherever you live, and that it's finally feeling like spring. Here's hoping for a gentler season than winter turned out to be!
Be well, take care, and don't forget to find time to read a good book. There are so many wonderful stories out there--there really are so many books, and so little time.
Best to you,
Kate
Are any of you having as much trouble with the stupid 'captchas' as I am? I find it really difficult to decipher them--it just took me six tries in order to submit my comment!
One other thing before I get to the contest, but it's something that has had me in sort of a strange dither (I do love that word!) for the past few months. A lot of you have heard me talk about living with MS--I was diagnosed in 1985 when I started falling and dragging my left leg, dropping things, and just in general noticing that my normal klutziness was off the charts. My symptoms were bad enough that my neurologist said I'd be in a wheelchair by the time I was 40...well, I'm 65 and still upright, and honestly, had been feeling pretty cocky about it.
Then I started stumbling again, and dropping things, and in general seeing all the same symptoms I had thirty years ago, so I went back to the neurology department (new hospital, different doctors) for a new MRI and some blood tests. Got my results and, to put it quite bluntly, it's been sort of a mindfuck. (excuse the graphic language, but that's the only way to describe it!) My neurologist says I don't have MS, have never had it, and while I have all the symptoms, I lack the definitive markers (lesions in the brain/spinal column) for the disease. The thing is, when I was first diagnosed, MRIs weren't available, so my diagnosis was made on the basis of a spinal tap (not fun) and a series of tests called "Evoked response testing," which essentially means they hook you up to machines that give you electrical zaps and test your nerve reflexes. Since I'd flunked everything, the original neurologist (he of the wheelchair diagnosis...he really was a jerk) felt very confident with his diagnosis, and the many neurologists I've seen since have all re-confirmed the MS.
So, now I know I don't have it, but the doctor says I do have all the symptoms and a disconnect between my brain and my feet which accounts for the stumbling, but no idea what's causing it. Going from multiple sclerosis to "undiagnosed neuropathy" doesn't change a thing, though I had grown comfortable with the neat little label they gave me. Now, I guess I'll just stumble along (quite literally) until we figure out what IS causing it.
And, enough about me--now it's time to give away some books. I've got one copy of Sexy Beast VIII (that's the one with Chanku Spirit in it) and one copy of Wolf Tales VIII, and a few copies of Spirit Wild/Dark Moon. You must tell me what book you want when you enter. I really don't have time to write back and ask you, and I've figured out how to add a place to write in the title. Choose one of the three--if it's not on the list, it's not available this month.
Now, I need to get this up. I've checked and the entry form is properly loaded (I hope--believe me, if there's a way to screw something up, I'll find it!) and it appears all my ducks are in a row...not necessarily a neat one, but the little suckers are all lined up. I hope you're getting some decent weather wherever you live, and that it's finally feeling like spring. Here's hoping for a gentler season than winter turned out to be!
Be well, take care, and don't forget to find time to read a good book. There are so many wonderful stories out there--there really are so many books, and so little time.
Best to you,
Kate
Are any of you having as much trouble with the stupid 'captchas' as I am? I find it really difficult to decipher them--it just took me six tries in order to submit my comment!
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