Friday, April 30, 2010

Review of Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon


Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon

A long time ago, when I first discovered romantic fiction, I found a Sherrilyn Kenyon book and was instantly hooked. What an imagination! The heady combination of intense, sexy, truly "heroic" heroes, her fascinating twist on mythology, and lots of lusty sex, fanned the flames of my romance addiction. Kenyon and Christine Feehan were my introduction to paranormal romance, and I could not get enough of their stuff.

Two of her books really stand out for me. Dance with the Devil, which is Zarek's story, is sort of a precursor in my mind to JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood books. Zarek is the original tortured paranormal hero. This book is astoundingly good. The other one, which inspired me to start writing myself, is Vane's story, Night Play. I adore this book. How brave of Sherrilyn Kenyon to create a "plus-size" heroine who is beautiful, sexy and courageous enough for her alpha werewolf mate. Love it! I attempted to write my own werewolf romance after reading her book...let's just say it wasn't quite as good as Night Play!

Unfortunately, as we all know, it's extremely difficult to keep the magic flowing in these long-winded series. And Kenyon's is longer than many. She has 19 books in the Dark Hunter series, which probably jumped the shark a long time ago. I stopped reading when I noticed sentences being repeated, a lack of intensity in the story line, and the biggest disappointment of all...her heroes were starting to seem eerily similar to me. I didn't get mad the way I did with JR Ward and the Vishous/Phury debacle. The series just sort of fizzled out for me, and I stopped reading.

So, after taking a lengthy hiatus with her series, I decided to check out Bad Moon Rising and see if I could reinvigorate my interest in her work. Since Fang plays an important role in Night Play and we were first introduced to the intriguing romance budding between him (werewolf) and Aimee, a were-bear!--I thought it would be great to see how their love affair finally played out. Unfortunately, although the story started out strong for me, I didn't fall in love with this book.

First of all, Fang is sort of an ass. He is the equivalent of the snarky, first person heroines who are all the rage lately. He is sarcastic, irritating, sort of juvenile, difficult to like. I honestly couldn't understand why Aimee was so attracted to him. However, Aimee is awesome! She is the high light of this story. Strong willed, beautiful, intensely loyal and courageous. She is a wonderful heroine. But this story lacked the "magic" for me of Kenyon's earlier works. I wasn't feeling the romance, and there was hardly any sex. HARDLY ANY SEX? What the....???? Where was the hot, lusty, emotional love scenes I used to adore in SK's books? It certainly wasn't happening here.

And finally, there is usually a real sense of anticipation with her story lines, but not in BMR. Since we already know a lot of what happens with the Dark Hunters (this takes place in the past, long before the newest releases), it was lacking that on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense.

I am definitely disappointed. I was hoping to rediscover the old magic of Sherrilyn Kenyon, and that certainly did not happen with Bad Moon Rising. However, I'm not ready to give up yet. I am going to check out her next release and see if a new couple might reignite my interest.

I will always have a soft spot for SK since she inspired my own writing career. And I highly recommend reading the beginning of this series if you haven't checked it out. The first 6 books (Night Pleasures, Night Embrace, Dance with the Devil, Kiss of the Night, Night Play, and Seize the Night) are outstanding examples of paranormal romance. Give them a try!

Grade: B-/C+

Penelope



Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Lover Mine Will Have To Wait

The UPS man finally delivered my book! Yee haw! Unfortunately, my dachshund Lucy is guarding it with her life. I guess she wants to read it first. She said I don't deserve to read it since I've been harshing on John Matthew for the past year, and Xhex is her hero.

Well, hell.

Hope Lucy is a fast reader.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Penelope's Sunday Recipe!


Happy Sunday! As many of you may know, I was a science geek in my former life...I have degrees in biology, plant taxonomy and horticultural science. Even though I am currently obsessed with romantic fiction, I still adore working on my garden every year. I am nuts about growing culinary herbs (I have over 10 varieties of basil alone), and I just love using fresh herbs in my cooking.

Since my recent wake-up call about my health, I have been trying to find a better balance in my life, which includes walking, healthy cooking, and gardening in addition to hours of reading and writing romance novels. I have decided to expand my blog a bit, by including healthy recipes, gardening updates and tips as they may arise, and other interesting or newsworthy items. If you have no interest in cooking, please feel free to completely ignore the following recipe. If you're looking for something fun to cook for dinner, then check this out....

Orzo Salad

1 box orzo
2 T. white wine vinegar (to taste)
1/4 c. olive oil (to taste)
1 head broccoli, chopped up into small heads
1 red, yellow or orange pepper, chopped
1 bunch scallions, chopped (white and green parts)
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped (or more)
4 oz. feta, chopped
salt and pepper

Cook the orzo according to directions on the box. Drizzle olive oil on top (I don't measure, I just do it to taste!)...and sprinkle on some salt and pepper. Meanwhile, steam the broccoli, then cool. Mix broccoli, bell pepper, scallions, mint, feta, and orzo together. Drizzle olive oil and vinegar on top, then gently mix. Add salt and pepper to taste.

If you don't like mint, try fresh dill instead.

Since my husband is a major carnivore, I usually serve this with grilled chicken or pork.

Enjoy!


Hope everyone had a festive Spring Break,
Penelope

Friday, April 23, 2010

Spring Break Reading Update!


Is everyone surviving Spring Break week? I am in the midst of a crazy spring cleaning project, as well as reading as much as I can. Here are my updates....

  • Read The Prize by Julie Garwood. I realized, in a fit of embarrassment, that I never read this one, which some folks think is her best book ev-ah. Well, I liked it, but it was definitely not as good as The Bride or Honor's Splendour, my favorite Julie Garwoods.

  • Re-read Stephanie Lauren's A Rake's Vow, which is Vane Cynster's story. Love this one! Vane is one hot alpha-male sexual dynamo. De-lish!

  • Read Beauty and the Feast by Julia Barrett (Mandi at Smexybooks did a cute review for this one). I LOVED this book....tons of mouth-watering food descriptions, hot sex and great characters. I will be writing a review soon. Julia Barrett is a new favorite author!

  • Coming up this week...I have Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Demons and Stilettos by Sandra Sookoo, Knock Me For A Loop by Heidi Betts, and Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick. Whew! So much good stuff to read, I really don't know where to start.

I am also writing the end of Sweet Magik--20,000 words and counting! Some sexy lovin' with Oskar Klaus, battles of epic proportions between good and evil elves, and even a beach party at the North Pole. And I finally get to write my favorite part of the series--scenes with all of the Klaus Brothers together. So much fun!

Happy Reading,
Penelope

Monday, April 19, 2010

And We Have A Winner....


Big congrats to Stella (Ex Libris) who has won a copy of Carolyn Crane's most excellent debut novel, Mind Games! Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello and enter the give-away.

Happy Patriot's Day, Happy Boston Marathon Day, Happy Spring Vacation!
Penelope

Friday, April 16, 2010

Beard of the Day


I was a little late getting on the American Idol bandwagon, but I must say that watching David Cook perform Lionel Richie's song "Hello" is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. David Cook is freakin' brilliant, his voice is rough and tumbly and growly...oh yeah! And, his beard is the perfect balance of masculine scruff and well-groomed hotness. Rock on, Davy!

Happy Weekend! Happy Commencement of Spring Vacation! Happiness to All,
Penelope

p.s. The contest is still open to win a copy of Mind Games, so leave a comment for Carolyn!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Penelope Develops An Obsession For Books With The Word "Tycoon" In The Title


What exactly is a "tycoon" and why is it so damned popular in certain romance novels? According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, a tycoon is "a businessman of exceptional wealth and power: magnate." So, basically a tycoon is a really rich, powerful guy. Okay, I sort of get why that would be sexy. And, the tycoons in Maya Banks trio of books--The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress, The Tycoon's Rebel Bride, and The Tycoon's Secret Affair-- are all hot Greek guys. I'm getting the whole tall, dark and handsome thing, with the added benefit of them speaking Greek, which is sexy.

Unfortunately, after I inhaled all three tycoon books in about 24 hours, I remembered that I've read a book by Maya Banks--Seducing Simon--which irritated me for a variety of reasons. (See Penelope's review here).

Here's the deal with these books, and the shocking (and embarrassing) conclusion I reached:

  • Tycoons are big a-holes. There's arrogant, and then there's I'm-going-to-strangle-you-if-you-tell-me-one-more-time-to-be-careful-walking-on-the-stairs. (Seriously, I think 50% of the dialogue of The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress is Chrysander telling Marley to be careful walking on the stairs!). These guys are ridiculous!

  • The characters in these books are pretty unlikable and not very well developed. The women are whiny, manipulative, submissive, wishy-washy....Jiminy Cricket! I especially didn't like Jewel, the heroine of The Tycoon's Secret Affair. She jumps into bed with a total stranger, then gets pissed off when she's fired because she unwittingly slept with her new boss. She screams "You can tell Mr. Anetakis that he is the lowest form of pond scum...He's a gutless piece of chicken shit, and I hope he chokes on his damn cowardice." Nice manners, babe.

  • The TSTL moments are unbelievable. You're a pregnant woman with amnesia, and you allow a total stranger to take you to a secluded island and then jump into the sack with him at the first opportunity? You've been warned about potential kidnappings, but insist on escaping your security team so you can sub in for your friend at her stripper club, even though you've never danced before? (Hee hee....I love that one!). You find yourself pregnant after a one night stand and call the "chicken shit" up to insist he cares for you during your high risk pregnancy, even though you have a best friend who could do the job, who you are conveniently ignoring. Uh.....okay.

  • The purple prose is incredible. Here is an actual line from one of the books.... "She raced up a mountain slope and hurtled into a free fall of ecstasy." Also, "turgid manhood" was mentioned in the last book. ;)

  • Have you ever read a book and gotten the distinct impression that the author was intending to do something with a specific plot point, and then later changed her mind and just decided to wrap it up with a couple of dorky sentences? There is a kidnapping in book one, and the criminals are never apprehended. The threat of potential kidnappings for the heroines in books 2 and 3 is brought up repeatedly, and they both have a team of big, beefy security guys yapping at their heels. I was waiting for the kidnappers to strike again, get caught in a dramatic way, find out that they were actually 2nd cousins of the Greek family, something. Anything. It was like dangling a piece of unresolved plot in front of the reader's face. However, after waiting patiently throughout the third book for a bad guy to jump out of the bushes or something, Banks casually mentions that the kidnappers were caught in NYC. We never find out who they were or why. What the hell is that all about? Okay, end of rant.

Now for the embarrassing conclusion. In spite of the unlikable characters, bad purple prose, bizarre TSTL moments, and plot lines left dangling with no where to go, I still found myself addicted to these books. And, if Maya Banks suddenly decided to find a long-lost Greek brother in the family who wants his own tycoon book, I would probably read the damned thing. Why?

Well, I guess it all comes down to one simple thing....entertainment. These books entertained the hell out of me. I laughed my ass off at the purple prose. I gasped at the stupidity of the heroines. I shook my head at the "black moments" and their obvious conclusions. Maya Banks knows how to get a reader addicted to her storyline, and that is a very good thing.

Honestly, it was worth inhaling the whole trio just to say I've read a book with the title The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress.

Happy reading,
Penelope

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Interview and Give Away with Carolyn Crane


Welcome, Carolyn, to Penelope's Romance Reviews! Readers, please leave a comment/question/salutation for Carolyn, and you'll be entered to win a copy of Mind Games. Thanks!

Penelope: Tell me a little bit about your writing background....when did you first get interested in writing? Is this your first completed novel? When did the "idea" for Mind Games first pop into your head?

Carolyn: First, thanks for having me! I love visiting with other writers. It’s fun, and it’s been fun getting to know you, Penny.

So, writing background…I’ve always loved books and reading, and I’ve been writing pretty seriously since college (and I’ve hit my 40’s now, so that’s a while). Early on, I was into writing funny essays by fake people. In fact, my husband and I used to put out a humor zine of silly essays called Gauzy Memento. Then I switched over the fiction, and Mind Games is my fourth novel. The others, gah! One novel had an agent and was ALMOST sold, but alas. I tend to write stuff that’s neither fish nor fowl.

I got the idea for Mind Games after reading Straw Dogs by John Gray, this unbelievably depressing sort of philosophical book that takes a super dismal view of humanity. It made me feel awful about life, and I thought, if I had an enemy, I would give them this book as a gift, so that they could feel as disillusioned as I did. Then I thought, what if there were people who disillusioned other people for money? Like a hit squad, except on a more emotional and philosophical level. Then I thought, that would make a fun plot!

I like how your twisted mind works! Hee hee hee.... Those first three books obviously got your writing polished, because you come across like a very experienced author.

I was really blown away by your prose. It's clean, descriptive in unexpected ways, modern and very, very honest. Are you a plotter/pantser? Do you write "clean" or go back and edit and revise until you want to rip your freaking hair out?

Oh, thanks SO much!! I’m a total plotter. Though I alter the plot along the way, I like to know what I’m writing towards. And, I HATE first drafts. I write a crap first draft, by hand. Then I type it up. I love editing and tinkering. I could edit forever.

You write by hand? Holy Macarena! I am speechless. It's good to know other authors are editing fiends, too!

Are you a hypochondriac? How the hell did you come up with a heroine who has severe hypochondria? It is the antithesis of a typical heroine, and yet it works so incredibly well in your book.

Well, I had the psychological hit squad idea, then I went to what I knew, hypochondria, because I used to be a hypochondriac. I trace my health fears back to a variety of things: the 70’s hit song Seasons in the Sun, that Willy Wonka movie where that poor girl eats something and puffs up, a specific Brady Bunch episode that is mentioned in the book, and the general 1970’s hysteria about cancer.

Actually, I can still slip into it even now. I specifically didn’t give Justine any of my pet health fears, because, you know how, when you write a book, you end up thinking about your subject so much? I thought that would be dangerous. Do you have a thing with Christmas from writing your books? Like you think about Christmas too much?


Oh, I LOVE Violet from Willy Wonka...she ate the "special" gum and turned into a giant blueberry. ("Violet, you're turning violet!"). So far, writing about the Klaus brothers has not completely ruined the Christmas season for me, but it's a touch and go thing!

Do your characters evolve as you write or are they fully formed in your brain before you start the story?

I start with an idea about them, but they evolve and gain complexity. For example Sterling Packard started life as a pretty two-dimensional character, and I uncovered him in a way.

Interesting. Packard is such a complex character. You must really layer it in as you go....

How did you come up with the amazingly cool paranormal scenario in MG? "Weaponizing your neuroses"??? Are you kidding me? This is such an original, fresh, offbeat concept. It's fantastic!!! (I'll bet Woody Allen would be totally on board with this whole thing! hee hee.....)

LOL. Woody Allen. He is a hypochondriac, isn’t he? Actually, though, in a way, Woody Allen is working with weaponized neuroses and emotions, on a small scale, in some of his movies. Do you remember Annie Hall’s brother, played by Christopher Walken? And he would infuse the people around him with a kind of dread.

In the book, my hit squad ‘zings’ targets with their darkness, and there’s a way where I think zinging’ already happens on a very minor scale. For example, have you ever spent time with somebody who’s intensely angry or depressed, or who is incredibly light and happy, and it affects you? Not that they do it on purpose, but emotional and psychological states can be ‘catching’ in their own ways.

As I created the whole scheme, I was also thinking about this old friend of mine who was slowly going insane—conspiracy theories, voices, the whole deal. It was really terrible, and sad. And whenever I’d hang out with him long enough, then afterwards, I’d feel a all crazy and wired, too, as if I’d soaked up his crazy energy.

I hadn't thought about it this way, but you're basically talking about "catching" negativity from toxic people. Cool. (In a disturbing way!)

First person POV is tricky business. Sometimes it works great (Fever series by KMM), sometimes it does a face plant, especially if the heroine is unlikable. You have done a remarkable job making Justine a real and appealing character--I love how she is struggling with doing the right thing vs. being selfish, and her very honest attraction to different men. How did you create such a colorful heroine? Are you totally into first person POV? Would you write a novel using third person POV? Do you have examples of both that you really dig?

Oh, these are such great writerly questions! You know, some have thought my heroine is sort of narcissistic, though I wasn’t trying to make her that way, but I think that’s a risk with first person, because you have a person talking about their experience for a whole book. Also, people in pain or distress are often narcissistic, because how can you not be self-focused?

You know what’s funny? Doing interviews, I totally feel narcissistic! You’ve done it, isn’t it sort of a weird kind of conversation? because, I’m like, going on about my process and not asking questions back.

I love first person POV, two of my favorite books are Kazuo Ishiguro’s Remains of the Day and Nabakov’s Lolita, both masterpieces of first person POV which I’ve read repeatedly out of utter writerly love. But I like third, and I have the first book of a new series written that’s in a third person POV, rotating between three people. It’s a PNR with UFC fighters!

Yes, the interview thing is weird. I agree. A PNR with UFC fighters....Oh yeah, baby! I can't wait!

Justine's sense of humor is delicious. I have a sneaking suspicion that this is actually Carolyn Crane's wry sense of humor. (True or false?) Do you have a favorite quote from the book? Here's one of my favorites...

"We wait. I've always enjoyed those "downward spiral" tales of real-life corruption and dissipation you can see on cable TV--true crime stuff, rock stars gone bad. But as I stand there adding "bartering sexual favors for tips on how to be a more effective vigilante" to the list of things I now stoop to, those stories seem a whole lot less entertaining."

Oh, I love that you picked that one out! My favorite is this, about Aggie, a villain who killed her husband in a really gross way with ants:

Aggie is one of those women who never lost their baby cheeks. Hers are covered with a thick application of shimmer powder. It’s the kind of make-up choice that would cast her entire mental landscape into question if the business with the ants hadn’t already accomplished this.

As for your question on humor, Justine is far more clever than I am. If only I could have a writer slaving over my every utterance!


That scenario with the ants makes me think you should send a copy of your book to Quentin Tarantino. Something tells me he would love it!

Now onto the "sex fiend" portion of the interview. :) Your love scenes are fabulous...I would use the word "succulent"---are these easy or difficult to write? They flow seamlessly in your novel, which is really impressive to me as an author.

Oh, you run such a complimentary interview! Thank you! That means so much to me because, OMG, I work so hard on those scenes! You can’t even know - sex scenes and love declaration scenes are my real weak area. I study the scenes of other writers a lot. When I find a successful one, sometimes I copy it by hand, as a way of getting a visceral sense of how the really good ones are built, as far as pacing and so forth. It’s so hard to do those scenes. Actually, I am doing a hard love scene in edits right now, and I have sent it to my CP twice on a kind of emergency basis.

Wow! That makes me feel a lot better, because I also struggle with love scenes, but yours seem so effortless.

Did you already have the concepts in place for the entire trilogy when you were writing MG? I cannot wait for the next book, and to find out what happens with the love triangle between Justine and Packard and Otto. I love the humanity of J and P and O....they are a delicious mix of righteousness, confusion, vulnerability and strength--morality issues are blurred, and the characters are all about shades of grey, which is so honest and real. But at the same time, you infuse your book with optimism, which is what all true romance readers are looking for. I was so worried the ending was going to be depressing as hell, but instead it ended PERFECTLY, not wrapped up in a tidy bow, but with a feeling of accomplishment and hope for the future. Not a lot of UF books bother with this. Did you feel it was important for your story? I, for one, am thrilled that you ended your book this way!

I love that you bring out the optimism, and that being a key quality for romance. It’s important to me, too. I don’t need a book to tell me life is dismal, or hard, and that things turn out poorly. So, in a book, several story arcs tend to be in operation, but it’s important to me that things are looking up at least somewhere. Though, OMG I’M EDITING OUT THINGS I’M DYING TO SAY ABOUT BOOK TWO!

F. Scott Fitzgerald once said that when a writer creates opposing characters or viewpoints etc. in a book, she should be able to fully argue for—and believe—either side. I take that to heart in a huge way. I like when there is something ideologically meaty to wrestle with, and I can see either side. That’s not to say I don’t come down somewhere in the end.

I didn’t have the entire concept in place for the trilogy. I had ideas. At one point, I imagined bringing Cubby back evil! Also, I thought about making Shelby and Justine nemeses, but I can say that is not happening. And early on, angry Carter was the romantic hero! In the earliest draft!

Cubby evil! I love it! I was actually really stressing out about Cubby (which I assume was your intention). Jiminy Cricket. I thought Justine was going to find his head in a refrigerator or something.

Are you working on any other projects? Non-UF?

Yes, that UFC fighter paranormal, and I also have an idea for a cozy mystery series.

I'm ready for the UFC paranormal, and I adore cozy mysteries. Can't wait!

Huge thanks to Carolyn for joining us today. Please leave a comment if you'd like the chance to win a copy of Mind Games.

Penelope


p.s. check out Carolyn's website!

p.p.s. buy Mind Games!

p.p.p.s. check out Penelope's review for Mind Games!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Reading Update and Reminder for Carolyn Crane Interview and Give Away


Happy Monday, Yinz Guys (for those of you not familiar with Pittsburgh-ese, Yinz or Yunz is a Pittsburgh-y way of saying "You"). Okay, reading update time (cue news music....)

I heartily enjoyed Loreen Augeri's debut novel, Tormented Hearts, which will be released on May 28, 2010 by The Wild Rose Press. It is a satisfying and emotional historical about a tormented hero (my favorite kind!) and a strong-willed heroine escaping the evil clutches of her abusive husband. The premise for the book is rather clichƩd, but the characters are extremely well developed, and Augeri's writing style is very impressive for a debut author. I especially loved Brett, the hero, who is struggling with alcoholism to dull the pain of his first wife's death. I am looking forward to reading more of her novels.

I also inhaled Elizabeth Peter's A River In The Sky this past weekend. Peters has not published an Amelia Peabody story for years, so I was super excited for this book. The beginning started out very strong, the ending was a bit lack luster. The chemistry between Amelia and Emerson is so fabulous, I just can't get enough of those two. I love the dry wit of Peters' writing, the fantastic banter between the characters, the fascinating and beautifully described settings, and the archaeological backdrop. However, the "suspense" part of this mystery was not very engaging; in fact, it was rather dull. The "Indiana Jones" feeling that we usually get with Ramses' adventures wasn't happening this time. Since this book is not a chronological sequel to the last one, it takes place before Nephret and Ramses have gotten married, and so the wonderful romantic chemistry between these two characters was missing, too. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the book, and I'm hoping that EP has some cool stories coming up with Nephret and Ramses' naughty twins.

Finally, I just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow I am hosting Carolyn Crane for an interview and give-away. I was completely blown out of the water by her marvelous debut novel Mind Games (see Penelope's review here). We will be having a good time talking about Willy Wonka-inspired hypochondria issues, Woody Allen, and succulent love scenes. Please stop by!

Penelope

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Reading Update


I just ordered my copy of A River In The Sky, the latest Amelia Peabody book by Elizabeth Peters. I can't wait! It's been years since EP published one of these babies.

I am also currently reading Tormented Hearts, a lovely debut historical by Loreen Augeri, which will be published by The Wild Rose Press in May.

Mandi at Smexybooks has got me jonesing for some Kate Noble books, so I think I'll try The Summer of You next. (Thanks, Mandi!)

And finally...Adam Langer (who is one of my husband's buds from college) has a new (non-romance) book coming out this summer called The Thieves of Manhattan. It looks really cool, and I can't wait to read it.

Hope everyone is having a rockin' reading week,
Penelope

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Nora Trilogy Fizzles


In spite of the fact that I loved Jewels of the Sun, and enjoyed Tears of the Moon, I am now officially off the Nora bandwagon. Heart of the Sea was not a great ending to this trilogy. First of all, I can't imagine something less romantic than two folks making a business-like agreement about their sexual relationship. Yuck! This takes place at the beginning of the story, and I realize that it was consistent with their characters, but still....not romantic, and a bad place to start. I also had a hard time with how mercenary Darcy Gallagher is...her greed for wealth and comfort sort of got on my nerves. Trevor, the hero, is quite likable, but not enough to save this book. Finally, the ending was one of the most abrupt and unsatisfying endings I have ever read in a romance novel. With just pages to go until the end, Darcy is still flinging things at Trevor and pissed off. Suddenly, they propose their love and yippee! it's HEA forever. Too rushed, totally unbelievable. And, after watching Carrick (the fairy king) and Gwen (his ghostly love) suffer and pine for each other throughout all three books, I was really looking forward to their reunion. Nora gives us a couple of pathetic sentences about them flying off on Carrick's horse into the sky, and that's it. Another bummer, and no satisfaction. Oh well. The first book, Jewels of the Sun, was really romantic, so I guess I'm glad I gave this trilogy a go. Grade: B-/C+

I am now off to stuff 10,000 plastic Easter eggs with candy for the annual hunt!


Happy Sunny Easter Day,
Penelope

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Hugh Jackman To Play Nicholas Klaus in Hollywood Version of Sweet Inspiration!


Breaking News Bulletin:

Hugh Jackman literally begged his agent for the role. He said, and I quote, "My life will be complete when I get to play Nicholas Klaus on the big screen. Merry Christmas!"

Penny Watson, author of Sweet Inspiration, has snagged the role of Lucy Klaus, after extensive liposuction, plastic surgery, and dying her hair bright red.

Look for the movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, sometime this holiday season.


Happy April Fool's Day!

Love to all,
Penny