Tag Archives: books

a good book

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I read this book over the weekend and I posted a review for it on Amazon (which I RARELY do). If you are looking for a good book for a teenage girl 14 years and older, I HIGHLY recommend Angel’s Choice.

Here’s my review:
ANGEL’S CHOICE begins in typical teenage fashion. A girl, a boy, a party and a very bad decision. Angel Hansen is a senior in high school and her plans for the future included graduating, going to Yale, and becoming a novelist. She’s always been the smart girl. But at the end-of-summer party, she has a lapse in judgement that will change her reputation and affect the rest of her life. With all options available to her, what choice will Angel make?

ANGEL’S CHOICE takes an honest look at teenage pregnancy and the decisions that go along with such a difficult situation. Taking a walk in Angel’s shoes is not easy. But it is heartwarming and emotional and realistic.

Lauren Baratz-Logsted tackles a difficult topic without judgement. ANGEL’S CHOICE is heart-warming and sincere and a must read for any teenage girl.

horseshoes and hand grenades

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Writing

I almost made my goal yesterday. I actually completed a scene which completed a chapter, but I did not write an entire chapter.

As my daddy always said, “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.”

So, today’s goal: complete 1 chapter.

Other

It’s storming today in Arkansas, and boy am I glad. We’ve desperately needed the rain as well as the cooling temperatures. It came a quick flood yesterday afternoon. A short burst of angry rain that nearly washed us off the road as we drove toward Rader’s soccer practice. Of course, by the time we arrived at the fields, the rain was over, which was great, because Rader really needed to practice.

He did well during practice but when the coach made him run a lap of the 3 fields, he nearly died. We told him during the last part of summer during his slouching, eating, and video game phase that soccer was gonna kill him if he didn’t get outside and run a little. Well, he figured it out real quick last night.

Ian started Cross Country yesterday, too. His coach said he hit that 1st mile with no problem, but about a quarter into the 2nd mile: problem. It seemed the summer couch potato lifestyle came back and bit him on the arse as well. LMAO. He runs 3 days a week at school. They’ll both be running with me the other days. I’m thinking being out run by your big momma might be incentive to get into shape. We’ll see.

Last night, after the kids went to bed, I settled in with my Kresley Cole book (I’m so gonna stalk her. She’s like awesome and totally in need of a new BFF. ) I was reading about this hot Scottish Vampire while the rain drummed soothingly on the tin roof of the porch when all of a sudden this loud freaking CRASH and BOOM shook the house. I thought a deer had crashed through the back porch. I turned on the light with the full expectation of finding a terrified 30 point buck thrashing around the patio.

Nothing.

Hmmmm.

So, we traipse into the backyard with our flashlight and began to investigate. We saw a very large tree limb on the roof of the patio. As we’re standing there, we hear a very loud CRRRRRRRAAAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKKKK and another limb falls, scaring the piss out of us all. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, well except for the patio roof.. It was so loud it woke the kids, but they quickly got over it and went back to sleep.

And I settled back in with my sexxxxy vampire and the steady drumming of rain. With a glass of wine for my nerves.

road trip

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I love road trips. I especially love some of the odd things one sees while cruising along across multiple states.

Especially in the south.

For instance, today I saw a Sonic advertising: It’s back, the Southwest Supersonic buger . Now, I’ve never had a SW styled buger and I certainly haven’t had a SW styled supersonic buger. but that sounds like a big ass spicy booger buger. I wonder if it burns when they pick it…

and just down the street I found a sign for Jehovah Java: Gourmet Coffee. So, you get a dose of God with your morning shot of caffeine?

I saw a restaurant who advertised “Travelers Welcome”. Of course, this made me wonder, are there restaurants where travelers aren’t welcome? Do you have to sign in as a traveler or a local? Do travelers eat from the special menu?

I can’t tell you how many JESUS signs I saw. And I don’t mean churches. I mean billboards with just the word JESUS on it. I saw one billboard that advertised: “Parents, take the rod to your child to save them.” I shit you not. I’m sooo getting a picture of that one if I see it again.

I drove by one house that had it’s front yard fenced in with chicken coop fencing. The entire family was sitting in the yard, many of them on kid toys like wagons, big wheels, rocking horses, etc. I’m serious. I slowed down to take a better look cuz I wanted to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. It was very cartoonish.

So now I’m sitting in my big room drinking my Samuel Smith’s India Ale and enjoying some mindless tv. I’m gonna listen to the rest of the book I brought (Nora Robert’s Morrigan’s Cross. I’m loving the story but hating the reader) and I’m gonna just chill. I pick up two of my friends from the airport tomorrow at 1:30, so I’ll probably check out and head to the mall until their flight lands.

The beach and shopping. Doesn’t that just sound heavenly?

land of internet

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I’m back in the land of internet.

Thank God. I hate downloading my email to my phone because inevitably, when I return an email, it gets hung up and the recipient gets 400 copies of the same email. Plus, I can’t always get my pics to download and this past week, I apparently received some excellent photos from Feisty this week and I should have never had to wait to see those.

I read 3 books in 3 days. I would HIGHLY recommend all three.

The Leopard Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband by Melissa Mayhue

Lord Sin by Kalen Hughes

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a really good historical. I believe the last time was earlier this year when I read Antonia’s Bargain by Naughty Kate. If you like historical romance, run, don’t walk, to Amazon.com (see links above) and buy all three of these books.

You won’t be sorry.

I will be buying these authors again.

no spoilers here…

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This is a Harry Potter weekend.

I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on Friday and am impatiently waiting for Fishdog to finish reading so we can discuss. If you’ve read the book, please don’t post spoilers in the comments because then I’ll be forced to edit/delete/moderate and frankly that’s just too much damn work. If you do force me into that position, I shall curse you with a pox. And trust me, after reading Deathly Hallows, I can soooooo curse you. Okay, that’s a spoiler, but it’s the only one…

So while I’m waiting for Fishdog to finish reading I’m going to go to the noon showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This is the first time I haven’t seen a HP movie on opening day. But this year, I was otherwise engaged when HP opened. Fishdog took the kids while I was in Dallas. He was a bad, bad boy. He broke the rules by going to see the movie without me and he was punished…

I’m really looking forward to O of the P because, even though it was my least favorite of the books (could Harry have been any whinier?) I’ve heard it’s the best of the movies. And all the trailers and previews I’ve seen look fantastic. Plus, we meet mean ol’ Dolores Umbridge. What a deliciously awful character!

Actually, I’ll be doing a double feature today because the family is going to join me for the 3:00 showing of The Simpson’s.

Today is gonna rock like a landslide.

i should be spanked…

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Sorry I haven’t posted in a week. I was sick after my San Fran trip and I still haven’t downloaded my pics from my trip.

And sadly enough, I’m not about to really blog now because The Fishdog and I are headed to Little Rock for his 20 year high school reunion.

I should be spanked twice…

Speaking of spanking…

While I’m gone and still not blogging, you should totally check out this hot new read by Eden Bradley

The Dark Garden

A deliciously potent tale of one woman’s quest for self-discovery

Rowan Cassidy likes to be in charge—especially in her personal life. As a mistress at Club Privé, the most exclusive bondage/S & M club on the West Coast, Rowan can live out her dominant fantasies safely, and with complete control—until the night Christian Thorne walks in. Self-confident and sophisticated, he’s a natural dominant if Rowan’s ever seen one. Yet she can’t stop thinking about him and imagining his touch.

Christian has returned home, hoping to break free from his dissatisfaction and malaise—and discovers the cure in Rowan. He’s dying to get his skilled hands on her and watch her surrender, to unlock the mystery of her that captivates him. Determined to be her master, he makes Rowan a daring proposition: give herself over to him for thirty days.

Rowan finds Christian’s offer terrifying—and impossible to resist. But abandoning herself to Christian’s power might be more than she can handle…. Or it might be the realization of her true nature and the dark garden within her. There will be only one way to find out. And once the game has begun, there’s no turning back.

About the Author
Eden Bradley has been writing since she could hold a pen in her hand. When not writing, you’ll find her wandering museums, cooking, eating, shopping, and reading everything she can get her hands on. Eden lives in Southern California with a small menagerie and the love of her life.

i command thee…

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While I’m at home trying to heal myself, I thought I’d order you guys to buy my friend’s book. We call her Naughty Kate for a reason, you know…. Buy it now:

Where Have all the Cowboys Gone? (Cheek) (Paperback) by Kate Pearce (Author)

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless you’re Lauren
Redstone. In her case, a little klutziness at a hotel bar turns into an unexpected opportunity to indulge in her most erotic fantasy – sex with a real, honest-to-goodness cowboy. When Lauren wakes up the next morning, she discovers she’s gotten more than a night of incredible passion – she’s also sporting a brand new, sparkling gold wedding band.

Grayson Turner never expected a woman like Lauren to literally fall into his lap. He may have only recently traded his pinstriped suits for a dusty Stetson, but if the lady wanted a cowboy, he figured he fit the bill well enough. This was Vegas, after all, and marriage to this sexy woman fits his goals even better than a single hot night in the desert.

But Lauren’s plans don’t include a lifetime commitment to one man. Not when she has a nice safe life with her retro props business and a firm desire to stay far away from controlling men like her father. Love isn’t even a factor in her game plan. But her sexy cowboy isn’t ready to fold his hand just yet. Can he convince her that true love always wins the game in the end?

in which she asks for an opinion.

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As I sit in my fishbowl (aka my office) and stare across the hall through Chip’s window, I realize today is a wasted work day. Sure I’ve done some work–but if I’m truly being honest–I pretty much pissed the day away.

Oh well. Such is life.

I have an early morning tomorrow since check in for the 5K is at 7:15. Yes, I’m voluntarily getting out of bed on a Saturday before 8 a.m. to exercise. Somebody take my temperature. Something just ain’t right.

Alright, alright. I know you don’t care about that shit. You are only here to give me an opinion. Really, how self important of you.

Okay, so I’m buying some domain names so that the Fishdog can get to work on my new website. I currently have a very old and outdated site: McKenzieFrancis.com We’re gonna update the look to fit my current writing and to reflect my YA books. (Bite Me! and untitled book 2, HarperCollins, coming not so soon, to a bookstore near you!)

I want to write under the name Melissa McKenzie Francis and that domain name is available in both dot com and dot net. I’m not sure if I can write under the whole name or not. It’s long…so it will take up a lot of the book cover. But, I think I should be able to, I mean, it’s exactly the same number of letters as Susan Elizabeth Phillips...and she’s awesome. And multi-published. I think that’s a sign. 🙂 Since she goes by SEP does that mean I could go by MMF? (NO. Not MF, assheads….MMF. I swear, you people are sooo immature.)

Melissa Francis dot net is available but dot com is owned by a little girl in the UK who never updates her site but continues to renew it. Grumble.

Then there’s also Mel Francis or MMFrancis.

Tell me, oh blog readers… who am I?

in which she asks for an opinion.

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As I sit in my fishbowl (aka my office) and stare across the hall through Chip’s window, I realize today is a wasted work day. Sure I’ve done some work–but if I’m truly being honest–I pretty much pissed the day away.

Oh well. Such is life.

I have an early morning tomorrow since check in for the 5K is at 7:15. Yes, I’m voluntarily getting out of bed on a Saturday before 8 a.m. to exercise. Somebody take my temperature. Something just ain’t right.

Alright, alright. I know you don’t care about that shit. You are only here to give me an opinion. Really, how self important of you.

Okay, so I’m buying some domain names so that the Fishdog can get to work on my new website. I currently have a very old and outdated site: McKenzieFrancis.com We’re gonna update the look to fit my current writing and to reflect my YA books. (Bite Me! and untitled book 2, HarperCollins, coming not so soon, to a bookstore near you!)

I want to write under the name Melissa McKenzie Francis and that domain name is available in both dot com and dot net. I’m not sure if I can write under the whole name or not. It’s long…so it will take up a lot of the book cover. But, I think I should be able to, I mean, it’s exactly the same number of letters as Susan Elizabeth Phillips...and she’s awesome. And multi-published. I think that’s a sign. 🙂 Since she goes by SEP does that mean I could go by MMF? (NO. Not MF, assheads….MMF. I swear, you people are sooo immature.)

Melissa Francis dot net is available but dot com is owned by a little girl in the UK who never updates her site but continues to renew it. Grumble.

Then there’s also Mel Francis or MMFrancis.

Tell me, oh blog readers… who am I?

buy this book!

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My friend, A.E. Rought has a new book out….so go buy it.

You can buy the paperback here

or

You can buy the e-book here

Look at this hot cover. Now, go buy the book.

ISBN: 1-59998-103-3
Cover art by Anne Cain

She controls the Elements, but he controls her heart.

Book One of The Chronicles of Nuermar.

Nuermar’s history is whittled in ruins, its prophecy carved in stone. Maelis, child of the Prophecies, is the last of her kind — a green-eyed witch, and the only one whom the stones of Nuermar say can channel the Elements. She alone has the power to vanquish the evil that reigns over her land. But without the greatest element of all, she has no hope of winning such an impossible battle.

A turncoat-assassin holds the key to her ultimate triumph. Yet the destruction of her village and the brutal slaughter of Maelis’ family lies on Joran’s hands. Can she overcome her hatred in order to fulfill the Prophecies and channel the ultimate Element – Love?

  1. “A.E. Rought delivers an exciting and intriguing fantasy tale which will capture the reader’s attention from the very first paragraph and refuse to let it loose. The world-building is excellent and the story left this reviewer eager for the return to this world with the next in the series! Caution to readers: there are some scenes of graphic violence.”

    — Annie, ECataromance

  2. “Nuermar’s Last Witch is a wondrously magical adventure in a battle against good and evil, A.E. Rought has created a fantasy world that opens the door to love and passion. Readers will be able to experience a world like no other filled with amazing creations that will leave them in awe.”

    — Anita, The Romance Studio

  3. “Nuermar’s Last Witch blends second chances and forgiveness with a fantastic fantasy plot. Both Joran and Maelis are very complex characters, well drawn and multi-layered. It was a full read that was very fulfilling. I really rooted for Maelis’ emotional journey and her determination to save everyone. Due to the past emotional baggage of the characters, the romance plot was very fulfilling and I felt as if I’d been on a very full journey with the author. I’m very interested to read any upcoming books in this series.”

    — Cat, Two Lips Reviews