My New Favorite Author

I have a new favorite author.
This changes on a regular basis so it's not really that impressive. I've been frantically collecting all her works lately which is probably why it's taken me over three weeks to update this blog. That's a lie, truth is I've been reading her since February picking up a book here and there, but I have been reading a lot lately and working full time and it's summer and my girl child was gone for three weeks so of course I had to spend more time with the boy child and the man when I wasn't soaking up the peace and quiet and that is why I haven't blogged.

Oops. Sorry.

Let me tell you a little bit about Susanna Kearsley, the author that is my new favorite. (I'll try not to be too wordy but I make no promises) She is simply amazing. That is my opinion. And my opinion is very important, as you know.

Susanna writes, "modern gothic novels that blend historical adventure and modern-day suspense with romance and a touch of something spooky." (from her amazon bio)

All things that I really enjoy in books rolled into one.

These books are not bodice rippers where the man and woman fall instantly in love with each other at sight and after overcoming a little internal and external conflict live happily ever after (even though I enjoy those books too).  In Susanna's books the characters are deeper than that and so is their love for each other.

Her first story I read was Winter Sea. I had seen it as a recommendation on Amazon and requested it through my local library's digital library. Winter Sea is about a woman named Carrie McClelland who is an author and her research has brought her to Slains Castle located in Scotland. There her book seems to write itself in her dreams and when she checks her facts she discovers that everything is spot on as though she has lived the moment she is trying to describe herself even though it happened more than two hundred years ago. The book is crafted so well that the both the modern and the historical parts of the story are woven together flawlessly.

After Winter Sea I picked up Rose Garden for $2.99 on my Kindle, I love when Amazon discounts books I really want to read! After her sister's death Eva Ward returns to a place she spent as a child. Staying with friends Eva busys herself helping her friend launch their new Tea Room, but somehow she finds herself slipping through time. In the past she meets Jack and Daniel Butler, well known and well respected smugglers.  Finally she is faced with a decision, stay there and continue to slip back and forth between time or leave.

The third book by Susanna Kearsley that I read was actually the second one she wrote but was rereleased in the US on April 1 this  year, was Mariana. Mariana is another story set in England that has time travel involved without being hokey and very plausible. Artist, Julia Becket has felt that Greywethers has belonged to her since she was five years old and twenty five years later impulsivly buys it. For a time she feels like she's loosing her mind when one moment a room is set up one way and in the next it is completely different, as though from another time. And there are strange people in her house talking to her and she knows exactly what to reply because at that moment she is no longer Julia Becket but Mariana. There is of course a love story but the twist at the end just might surprise you!

Other books that I have already read are The Shadowy Horses, Named of the Dragon, Season of Storms and The Spendour Falls. Each amazing in itself and worth the read. I would rank these six books in order from my favorite to least favorite but the truth is I'd have five favorites and two second favorites. And that list would probably change when I reread them, because I do plan to reread them. Several times I imagine.

Still in my TBR (to be read) pile are Every Secret Thing, Gemini Game and Undertow. The latter two have been out of print for some time and I'm having a hard time laying hands on them. I might have to use the interlibrary loan system through the library to read them until I can someday own them.

So in short, if you can call a nearly seven hundred word post short, read Susanna Kearsley books. The three books I discussed can be downloaded to an eReader from Amazon or Barnes and Noble if you are inclined to buy. If not check out your local library and see what's in their digital library or even on their shelf. I did as Ms Kearsley (and she actually replied) if her other books would become available in the US for eReaders and she said yes, eventually. If your library doesn't have her ask for Title Request form or an Interlibrary Loan form and get one on the way. She is amazing and I don't think you'll be disappointed in her.

Why You Don't Discuss Medical Issues with Car Guys

The following is an actual conversation my husband and I had just today on Yahoo IM. Please note that we've been married for almost 13 years and this is the man who suggested he could help the doctor cut baby Butter out of my stomach with a plastic spoon (follow the link to see Nickel with said plastic spoon).


Me: I think I should have my blood pressure checked.
Nickel: i have a guage int the garage
Me: a blood pressure gauge?
Nickel: fuel pressure..should be same
Nickel: think you gonna blow a gasket
Nickel: i can check your vaccuum also
Me: I'm wondering if maybe my meds aren't helping me as much. I'm really lightheaded when I stand up. I only lasted at work about an hour
Me: I feel better when I'm laying down though.
Me: I felt ok first thing this morning but as the morning progressed and I was on my feet I tanked and felt like crap again. 
Nickel: crazy
Nickel: yeah i dont know anything bout blood pressure, so dont know if that would do it or not
Nickel: i dont know ..doc still on vacation?
Me: i don't know, haven't called maybe I could just email him and see what he suggests.
Me: he'll probably tell me to get my bloodpressure checked though. he's like that.
Nickel: seems like high blood pressure wouldnt make ya dizzy
Nickel: if you were a car i would say you have fuel pressure regulator issues
Me: wouldn't that equate to blood pressure?
Nickel: maybe blew a power vale last time you backfired
Nickel: yeah it does
Nickel: unless you have a vacuum leak
Me: bleeding on the brain?
Nickel: take a deep breath and hold it...see if you have any leaks around nose,ears, eyes..that area
Nickel: Some people with uncomplicated hypertension, however, may experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and blurred vision usually with blood pressure that is very high. The presence of symptoms can be a good thing in that they can prompt people to consult a doctor for treatment.
Nickel: googles sez its high
Me: No leaks
Me: thanks googler
Nickel: still thinks its regulator,,,pressure high/not enough volume...could be your pump
Me: well, we don't want my pump, ie my heart, to go out so i guess i'll call the office.
Nickel: see if they can put in larger return line.
Me: I don't think that's possible without bypass surgery and I'm not in the mood for that thank you.
Nickel: we could do an external frame mounted set up make you look all cyberpunk bionic
Me: that's sweet, but no thanks
Nickel: i gots tools..the more dan and i clean the more i find
Nickel: i could build you a coolcan too fill with ice and keep you much cooler also
Me: well...uh...when you find them all we'll talk
Nickel: k
Nickel: til then best talk to a medical professional, or you will end up with petroleum based products runnin through your veins
Me: thanks babe.

Nickel: could move you up to a higher octane
Nickel: sucks you feel bad
Me: You know, I think I'm going to post this conversation on my blog. It's very enlightening.
Nickel: it may be easier to find a borg and get assimilated, they tend to repair flaws as they do the assimilation
Me: and someday when I write a book i'll put it in there too.

New Friends

I saw one of those eCard greetings on Facebook this morning that made me laugh. It has some inappropriate language so I won't post it, but the top part said, "I wish my house wasn't is such a disaster all the time, but folks won't quit writing good books and making cheap wine." I could care less about the cheap wine, but the good books are hard for me to put down.

But I recently discovered months ago and happily ignored until now, that several of my links are to people who a.) aren't there anymore and site has been disabled b.)haven't posted anything in an eon and have no plans to either or c.)I don't remember why I linked to them in the first place.

So I plan to go through my little list over yonder and see what needs taken down.

BUT

You knew there was going to be a but, didn't you? I've got several links that really must be added to the links tab and that is by far the most important news of this update.

But for now check out my friends Christy and Katie who will soon be added!