End of Month Ramblings

I am going to ramble, so be warned.

October was a terrible month for me on several levels. The one that mostly concerns this blog is the level of reading - or I should say lack of reading I did this month.

After a summer stuffed full of wonderful books, this fall has fallen completely flat for me. I just can't seem to find any book that really grabs my attention and keeps it.

I had (like many others), longly anticipated the arrival of J.R. Ward's "Covet", the first book in her new series about fallen angels. In truth, I am not a big fan of 'fallen angel' stories, I much prefer the shapeshifters and vampires, but this book was (I thought) going to be different because of the angel "Lassiter" from her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Let me back up a bit here.

Last winter I asked several bloggers to recommend a vampire series for me to read as I was really just getting into more and more paranormal romance books. I had read a few Christina Dodd series and then Nora Roberts Pagan Stone series and really enjoyed them and wanted more. Almost unanimously I heard "Black Dagger Brotherhood" over and over again.

When I first looked at the back blurbs I was turned off by the weird names "Wrath" and "Rhage" and "Vishous" etc, but since everyone recommended them, I decided to give them a try and bought the first two books only. I adored them! Loved the Brotherhood and the male relationships mixed with hot romance and a bizarre paranormal world that grabbed my attention and took me for a ride.

While the first four books were great, the last several left much to be desired in my opinion. But one character from the last books who did capture my attention and make me want to know more was the fallen angel Lassiter. All wounded, mysterious and very bad...what's not to like?! So when I heard about "Covet" I thought I would be captured by this new angel and his story line, but that didn't happen. I read "Covet" hoping for more of J.R. Ward's magic from the first books in her BDBH series, but sadly found none of it (it was like the last few books of the series, only without good back up characters).

That was my first disappointment of the month. Then I couldn't find a niche...I was all (as Charlie Brown says) "wishy washy". I didn't know if I wanted to read more paranormal or something historical or maybe another mystery series. I wasn't in the mood for a contemporary, but I do have to read one contemporary every month for the reading challenge I am in (see right side bar). So I searched my TBR pile and came up with a several books. Unfortunately, none of them kept my attention and I have failed to meet my required one contemporary read a month for the challenge-damn it!

So I then decided it was time to go back to a highly recommended book that I've heard many people loved and I myself have seen the movie version of and loved it. So I broke out "The Outsider" by Penelope Williamson. I have read 332 pages of the 527 page novel and put it aside. I am just not getting into it. It is more about religion and saving his damned soul then romance in my opinion and I just don't seem to be able to relate to any of the characters. So 'The Outsider' has become a DNF for me this month.

When that didn't work (pathetic aren't I?), I decided to grab a book from a series that I really love. So back to the TBR pile I go and dig out Kresley Cole's "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night". I got about half way through this one and again found myself putting it down as a DNF because I just can't get into the story.

My pathetic October reading list...
1) "Covet" by J.R. Ward - my rating 2.5 stars
2) "The Outsider" by Penelope Williamson - DNF
3) "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night" by Kresley Cole - DNF

Both these books are returning to my TBR pile for a future date- I am not giving up on them because I know its me, not the authors or the books. I am in some sort of a reading funk and it sucks!! Does this happen to anyone else? You just can't seem to get into anything you try reading?

At this point I think I am going to blame it all on Charlaine Harris! *grin* She totally seems to have spoiled me for other authors at the moment. I absolutely adored both her Sookie Stackhouse series and her Harper Connelly series. OK, I am done rambling about my pathetic reading habits of the month. Now on to something else...

So while I have numerous books to be read stacked all over my house, I decided maybe I needed something new. So I headed over to Ellora's Cave to look over some sexy romance books, hoping something would catch my eye and get me reading again. What I found was some really...well odd book covers in my opinion.

First the human heroine being the mate and lover of the half man/half horse really blew my mind. I can't be the only twisted mind that was trying to imagine the sex in this book! I mean the man is literally HUNG LIKE A STALLION with all the male horse sex parts while his mate is a female woman. How the hell does that work and when did bestiality become romance??

By reading the back blurb I wouldn't assume this hero "horsemen" was actually half horse and half man. And from the Ellora's Cave website, this is a 5 star book.

Back blurb "Highland Stallion":

"Sophia is madly in love with Zach, the gorgeous Horseman with whom she shares dreams. She is more than ready to plunge into a permanent relationship with him, but Zach has other ideas. A recently freed slave, Zach won't marry Sophia until he can properly support a wife and family. As Zach and Sophia begin to explore their sensual connection, they are stressed by Zach's reluctance to make their relationship more permanent. Zach must overcome his past to make a future with Sophia, but he may not be able to banish his demons."

This just boggled my mind...

Here's the book that begins an entire series of half man/half horse heroes and their human lovers.

Book 1 in the Horsemen series: "Dream Stallion" by Kate Hill

"Legend states that a Horseman and a human woman who share dreams are destined to mate for life.
Terra, an elite Fighting Carrier, has spent his nights in delicious torment, sharing dreams with a woman who stirs his soul like no other. Unable to control his desire, he travels to her home village to claim her.
Inez enjoys her freedom too much to chain herself to a husband, even one as magnificent as the rugged, black-coated Horseman who visits her dreams. Yet when astride his sleek equine back or wrapped in his steely human arms, she cannot deny the truest love she has ever known."

While I am mostly disturbed and revolted by the concept of this "romance", I have to admit to being curious as to how the author pulls it off and gets a 5 star rating from such a book. Does the hero shed his fur, tail and hooves for sex? (Egads I hope so!) Anyone read this book or series? Care to share your thoughts on this paranormal twist between half humans/half beasts and their human lovers?

Favorite Scary Movies

These are some of my favorite scary movies to watch around Halloween time. What scary or creepy movies do you like to watch around Halloween?
An American Haunting...
Based on a local Tennessee folklore legend. With over 20 books written on the subject, and a town that still lives in fear of the return of the unseen spirit, the story of "An American Haunting" is terrifying. Between the years 1818-1820, the Bell Family of Red River, Tennessee was visited by an unknown presence that haunted the family and eventually ended up causing the death of one its members. Starting with small sounds around the farm, and the sighting of a strange BLACK WOLF with piercing yellow eyes, the sounds escalated into full brutal contact with the certain family members, causing psychological and physical torment. The attacks grew in strength, with the spirit slapping, pulling, dragging, and beating the Bell's youngest daughter. The Bells searched for rational explanations and ways to rid their house of this entity, but to no avail as the spirit began to communicate with them through sounds, and eventually multiple voices that sounded like the wind. The cause of its actions could always be felt, but no being could be seen, and no explanation found- only the promise that one day it would kill one of the family members. Fearing that the haunting was caused by a local woman -branded a witch- who had put a curse upon the family as a result of a land dispute, the Bells tried desperately to find ways to get rid of the woman's curse, yet the attacks and disturbances only escalated. It was not until a manuscript of the local schoolteacher -who lived on the property during the disturbance- was found in 1998 that the horrifying and shocking answer to what caused this haunting would finally be unveiled.

This movie had me covering my eyes several times and I honestly needed to turn the lights on in the room! It was creepy, scary and disturbing to me.

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Loved this one because it had a great creepy New England woods feel to it and I love those.

The Village...





In a quiet, isolated village in olde Pennsylvania, there lies a pact between the people of the village and the creatures who reside in the surrounding woods: the townspeople do not enter the woods, and the creatures do not enter the village. The pact stays true for many years, but when Lucius Hunt seeks medical supplies from the towns beyond the wood, the pact is challenged. Animal carcasses, devoid of fur, begin to appear around the village, causing the council of elders to fear for the safety of the village, the pact, and so much more.




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I don't normally care for anything with UFO's, but this one was great. The story line was good and the actors great. Totally unexpected the first time I saw it as I refused to hear any spoilers before seeing it - I'm so glad because the element of surprise was wonderful.

Signs


Signs is something of a tour de force for Mel Gibson, uncharacteristically understated in his portrayal of a recently widowed minister whose isolated farm is the scene of inexplicable events. The sudden appearance of crop circles, followed by nocturnal visits from unseen strangers, unnerves the minister, his children (Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin), and his younger brother (Joaquin Phoenix). They choose to remain barricaded inside their run-down farmhouse to defend it against invasion by extraterrestrials.


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What can I say about this one...it's Johnny Depp! I'll watch anything with this man in it. This is a Halloween tradition for me, I watch this every year around now.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Johnny Depp)
In the early United States of America, young policeman Ichabod Crane is sent to from New York to the fledgling settlement of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of ghoulish murders. On his arrival, the town council informs him that the three victims were killed in open ground, and the heads had disappeared - taken by a headless ghost that is supposedly responsible. Ichabod is unconvinced of this, but learns more about the ghostly horseman - it is the ghost of a Hessian sent by the British during the revolutionary war, and he was caught by redcoats and decapitated with his own sword. When Ichabod sees the ghost kill one of the town council members, his skepticism evaporates - and he soon discovers that the horseman's ghost has an unholy connection to Balthus Van Tassel, a wealthy farmer - and whose daughter Ichabod is falling in love with...

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My favorite Stephen King - because it's creepy and has a kick ass hot rod car in it!

"Christine" - Body by Plymouth, soul by Satan
She was born in Detroit… on an automobile assembly line. But she is no ordinary automobile. Deep within her chassis lives an unholy presence. She is Christine – a red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury whose unique standard equipment includes an evil, indestructible vengeance that will destroy anyone in her way. She seduces 17-year-old Arnie Cunningham (KEITH GORDON), who becomes consumed with passion for her sleek, rounded, chrome-laden body. She demands his complete and unquestioned devotion and when outsiders seek to interfere, they become the victims of Christine’s horrifying wrath. Based on the book by Stephen King.

A few others I like are; "The Forsaken" (vampire movie starring Brenden Fehr), Wes Craven's "The People Under the Stairs", and sexy yet creepy vampire movie (with a fantastic soundtrack I highly recommend to dark vampire music fans) "Queen of the Damned".

So those are some of my favorites, what are yours? Which creepy, scary horror movies do you rewatch each Halloween?

Oh the things you can do with a pumpkin...

The Pumpkin House

The Pumpkin Crack

The Pumpkin Ass

Puking Pumpkin

Pumpkin Flasher with a woody

Pumpkin Coach

Pumpkin Burger

Pumpkin Massacre

The Life and Death of a Pumpkin

I think this short horror film is brilliant in its simplicity and creativity.
The above is the winner of the Best Short Film and Best Concept, 2006 Chicago Horror Film Festival, October (Chicago, IL)

Some Creepy Shit

In honor of Halloween being this week, I've put together some assorted creepy shit. When I think of creepy, it has to give me chills and if its really good creepy shit, it will sort of bug me for years.

The book that gave me the most chills and made me sleep with a light on for a week was "Amityville Horror" back in the 1980's. I had seen this family on (I think) the Donahue show (OMG am I dated myself with that revelation!). Anyway, they were all serious about the horrors they endured in that house in less than a months time. I had seen the movie and yeah it was creepy (glowing pigs eyes out the window- EEEKK!). But the book was 100% worse than the movie in the creep factor area. So if you're looking to read a creepy fast read book, pick up "Amityville Horror" by Jay Anson - turn on all the lights in your house before reading it!

Here are some creepy ass photos...

Here's some creepy videos.
I have no idea what they are saying in this one, but near the end they catch a 'gnome' on video *grin* - check it out...

And a creepy alien on the CNN Larry King Live show... (my kids loved this show back in I think 2007- I had to dig it up for this).

Creepiest music in a movie...JAWS hands down for me!

Creepy...large fish tries to devour a duck...pay close attention to the next 10 seconds (and have your sound on).

BWAHAHAAHAAHAAA!!!!!!!! Is that some creepy shit or what?? *grin*

It's WTF Wednesday!

I haven't posted any "WTF" photos in a while, so today I give you an assorted buffet of WTF pictures to scratch your head over and ask "What the fuck???"...

Wtf was this guy thinking??

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I thought this one was great! The orgy cake!

Have a great Wtf Hump Day!!

My Weekend Roundup

Egads! Is it Monday already??
This weekend flew by way too fast. Besides the usual (grocery shopping, trips to the Post Office, filling the fuel tank etc), I watched the movie "The Duchess" starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes - two actors I really like. My thoughts are mixed on this movie.

First, the acting was wonderful and the costumes amazing and the locations stunning. Loved the visual and was amazed by every scene. I was fondly reminded of Keira Knightley's version of 'Pride and Prejudice', which is my favorite version of the classic yet.

Secondly, I had no idea it was based on a true story of a real woman. This made it better for me in some ways and in others really saddened me and bolstered my opinion of men in power being huge dicks and the need for more women's rights around the world.

My third impression was "Damnit! Why the hell did it have to end like that?!". After all the heroine goes through - and its a lot- the very end tells how her life ends and how much more she endures. While she was a Duchess, had all the material things the world has to offer, she suffered emotionally in major ways. It was gripping and tore at my heart on more than one occasion.

I thought Knightley and Fiennes did a superior acting job in telling the life of Georgiana, duchess of Devonshire and depicting what things were like during that time period. This movie was based on the novel by Amanda Foreman - I don't think I will read it now that I know how it all happens and ends, but I wish I had first read the book then seen the movie.

I rate the movie 3.5 stars out of 5. I would have given it more, but the end made me sad for her and to rate a 5 I simply MUST have a happy ending!

I am currently reading "The Outsider" by Penelope Williamson. I love this movie and have rewatched it dozens of times, but have not yet read the book. So this weekend I finally sat down and started it.

Back Blurb: "After Rachel Yoder's husband is murdered by outlaws in an act of outrageous greed, she must raise her 10-year-old son alone on the Montana Plains.
One day, a handsome stranger dying from a gunshot wound walks into her ranch. With simple kindness, she treats his injury and nurses him back to health.
Soon Rachel finds herself drawn to this mysterious outsider with a violent past—and must put her future on the line for a last chance at happiness."

So far its good, but not great. Not as great as I think the movie is, but I am only on chapter seven, so I am hoping it will get great-soon. Considering all the great things I've heard about the book, I don't think I will be disappointed.

Halloween Pet Costumes

It's that time of year again. No I am not talking about Christmas (though it is snowing out as I write this post).

It's nearly Halloween and the kids are changing their minds hour by hour about what to be for Halloween this year.

While they drive me nuts with their indecision on costumes - not to go trick or treating, but to wear to the school dance- I decided to check out pet costumes. I can't dress up the family dog...he'd eat the costume before I could snap a photo, so I live precariously through other pet owners who have tolerant pets and can get a chuckle out of them.

So to pet owners everywhere, happy Halloween costume shopping!!
I hope these give you a few good ideas. :o)

(The Harry Potter cat is my favorite,

while the dog won't let me dress him up, the cats will!)

Do you ever dress up your pets??

Visit me on DIK today!! Check out my creepy Halloween songs!

"Covet" by J.R. Ward

Last January, just after I began this blog I was looking for a great paranormal series to read and numerous bloggers told me I should try J.R. Ward's "Black Dagger Brotherhood" vampire series. I did and fell in love with not only the series, but also the wonderful writing of J.R. Ward. So after devouring every BDB book written and the books she wrote under the name Jessica Bird, I was eagerly awaiting her next series about fallen angels. The first book in this new series is "Covet".

Back Blurb: "Redemption isn't a word Jim Heron knows much about-his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he's good with that-until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart-and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul."

The book starts out with a prologue about good and evil being played out like a football game on earth with the demons and angels hand picking Jim Heron as the star quarterback; each thinking their side would sway Jim into doing their will. Personally, I really didn't like this prologue at all and it nearly turned me off the book before I even got to chapter one.

In the first chapter the book introduces us to its hero Jim Heron. He's in a bar on his birthday with two co-workers Eddie (biker dude, shitkicker boots, over all badass looking guy) and Adrian (wears lots of black clothes and has piercings all over his body). While there Jim sees a woman (devil) in a blue dress ( 'devil in a blue dress' - now I can't get this freaking song out of my head!). Adrian wants Jim to hook up with the woman in the blue dress but Jim is not interested even though its been a long time since he's had sex.

Jim decides he's had enough of the bar and leaves only to be corned by the woman in the blue dress outside, she wants sex and won't take no for an answer so Jim screws her in his truck, not knowing he's just had sex with a demon and that this would have long reaching effects in his future.

Here the book jumps around to more characters. We meet Marie-Terese a hooker with a son who is hiding from her ex and Vin an extremely wealthy and powerful man who Jim is working for. Vin is building his dream home and Jim is one of the construction guys working on the house. When Vin shows up at the construction site with the woman in the blue dress on his arm, Jim is startled to find out he's just banged his bosses girlfriend. Jim stumbles, falls into a puddle with an electrical cord and gets electrocuted and dies. While dead, he talks to angels who tell him they are counting on him to win the football game...that is save 7 people from 7 sins. His first assignment is Vin and the sin is coveting. Jim is sent back to earth and brought back from the dead to get to work on saving others from sin.

There are numerous things going on here (truth be told, this is a pet peeve I have with J.R. Ward's books - too much going on. I wish she'd simplify some things.). So we have Jim on heavenly assignment to save Vin from the sin of coveting. But Jim's old boss is in the picture too and he wants Jim to do an assignment for him (Jim is a paid killer for the government- he kills by shooting, knifing, poisoning, bombing - anything that works). This didn't work for me, heaven picking an assassin to win against demons and sin??? I had to force myself to ignore that plot theory and continue reading the book. We also have Marie-Terese the hooker who wants out of the business but is in debt. There is Marie-Terese's son who has trust issues and a bad guy after Marie-Terese. There is the devil in the blue dress and a killer on the loose who seems to be stalking Marie-Terese. Then there is Eddie and Adrian who are mysterious to say the least, and sexy in the most basic obvious way, but for me not endearing at all. I think I was supposed to really like Eddie and Adrian, but I didn't. They were OK, but it fell flat for me. To be honest, so did the hero Jim. I got glimpses of likability, but it never really happened. This is not a memorable character at all. None of them were, the whole thing left me flat and disappointed because I know J.R. Ward is capable of so much more.

I am not going to get into how it all unravels and comes together because that's probably the closest thing to interesting the book offers, but even that was unappealing to me.

I don't think I will continue with this series unless others read the second book and tell me its much better than the first.

I rate this 2.5 stars out of 5.

My Tuesday Post

Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I am getting over this nasty cold, but still not 100% yet - though I don't look like a corpse any longer so I guess I can't complain.

I am almost finished with "Covet" by JR Ward - I've got mixed feelings on it. I haven't read anyone's reviews of this book yet because I didn't want to read any details or tidbits before I read it. Now that I am nearly done, I am really interested in hearing what everyone else thought of the book. So please share your thoughts. And if you have written a review, I'd love it if you would leave a link in the comments to your review of "Covet" so I can read it.

Since I haven't been online much, I know I have been missing out on some great reviews - sorry about that. I hope to soon get back to my usual schedule and daily blogging (have I mentioned how much I miss blogging and all of you?!).

I don't know what I am going to read next, I've got dozens of new books waiting but I have to admit that because the movie "New Moon" is coming out next month (wahooey!), I am itching to reread Stephenie Meyer's "New Moon" (again). I never read and reviewed "New Moon" on my blog (read the entire series long before I ever had a blog), so I might do that before the movie comes out.

Well, I guess that's about it for me right now. Take care everyone!! (((hugs)))

Today's hunks...

I MISS YOU!!

You all have NO idea how much I miss you and blogging! You just can't imagine the withdrawal I've been going through - top that with a nasty cold and still no resolutions to the problem that pulled me away from blogging in the first place. *sigh*

I MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you can believe it, I have not picked up a single book to read at all this month! I have books waiting for me, but no time to read them yet. But I have been watching lots of fall TV shows so that is what I am going to yammer away about today (and don't worry, I'll dig up some hunks for you *grin*).

First..."Supernatural". Anyone else disappointed in this season? The writing...*snooze*, the storylines...*snooze*...the guys...*perk!*. My eyes never get tired of looking at them, but to me the show isn't as good as it used to be. I am getting really tired of all the 'hunt down the devil and figure out which angel is good and which is bad' story lines. I am seriously missing the stories from the first two seasons with the brothers hunting assorted supernatural beings (ghosts, vampires, werewolves etc.) in their classic muscle car while great classic rock cranks out. What happened to the magic that was Supernatural? I'm not seeing it this season or the last half of the previous season.

Second..."Vampire Diaries". Complete dud for me. I am just not getting into this show and I still can't seem to force myself to complete the books either. Guess this one just isn't for me.

Third..."Three Rivers" starring Alex O. (x-vampire Mick from Moonlight). Loved the first episode of the show and I'm looking forward to watching more. I always get a bit worried when I really like a new show because so often it only lasts one season then gets axed. Hopefully this one will stick around- I am guessing it will because of shows like ER and Greys Anatomy being so successful.

Next..."Ghost Hunters". Still love this show and can't get enough of this group of people exploring and investigating assorted "hot spots" around the world in their search for supernatural adventures and experiences. Fun show.

And last, "Project Runway". While I still love this show, I am not loving it as much as when it was on BRAVO and set in New York. Plus all the product pushing IN the show is driving me up a wall, its like a reality show with an infomercial stuck in the middle of it. It's annoying. But the project challenges have been fun and as always Tim Gunn is worth tuning into each week just to hear him say "Make it work!".

Now for some hunks...

I hope everyone is doing great! I am so sorry I haven't been around and I know I must be missing out on some great posts on all your blogs. Hopefully I will be back to blogging as usually really soon. (((hugs)))