50 Challenge books: August

In one of my Yahoo reading group, members participates in a challenge call 50 Challenge Books. Our goal was to see if we can read reach 50 books by the end of the year. So at the end of each months we post a list of books that we have read. We wrote down the titles of the book, the authors name, a tidbit (or reviews) about each books and grade them. It is challenge to our self to see how many reading can we do by the end of the year. Some get pass the 50 books and then proceed to continue to read until they reach 100. It is lot of fun, cause it help members to find "new to me authors" and learn who have common taste in books that you do. Or just talk about your favorite authors and books. I think we been doing this for 3yrs running now. I just never posted it here before but I have done them at my Yahoo group reading. Below, is the list of books I read in August(click each titles book to read my reviews). This month, I have read 7 books. But since January, I have read total of 41 books so far.

P.S. My good friend Darla is the list owner of that Yahoo group and she is participating in 50 Challenge Books as well. I think the idea came from her. Please visit her blog and see her book reviews. :)

AUGUST

35. The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann(Contemp. Military Romance)(Re-read) 4.5
36. Curveball by Kate Angell (Contemp. Romance) 5.5
37. Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemp. Military Romance)(Re-Read) 5.5
38. Harry Potter: And the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (fantasy) No review 4.5
39. The Unfortunate Miss Fortune by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer and Anne Stuart (Romance) 4.5
40. Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemp. Military Romance)(Re-Read) 5.5
41. Take Me Tonight by Roxanne St. Claire (Romance Suspense) 5.5

Thursday Thirteen : Edition # 22

Books I Recently Brought

These are the books I recently brought. Some of the books, was brought a few weeks ago. But I still consider it brand new, since they are the only books that are new. If you notice, most books listed are part of an on going series. So they're the latest installments. If you want to see the book's cover, click on the titles below. I've been AWOL from Thursday Thirteen lately, and I missed doing this meme. I hope to catch up and try to get back on it again :) So. since I am a bit tired, this is the only theme I can think of to list for this week. Sorry it not anything exciting. Happy Thursday Thirteen everyone!

1. Stand in Groom/Time Enough for Love by Suzanne Brockmann
2. Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann
3. Edge of Midnight by Shannon Mckenna
4. Tangled Up in You by Rachel Gibson
5. Hidden Agendas by Lora Leigh
6. Tanner's Scheme by Lora Leigh
7. In Darkness Reborn by Alexis Morgan
8. Chain Reaction by Dee Davis
9. On Target by Catherine Mann
10. High Noon by Nora Roberts
11. Heiress for Hire by Erin McCarthy
12. Paint it Red by Carla Cassidy
13. Vanished by Karen Robards

How about you? Did you recently brought a new books?

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Xakara: Third Edition
2. Melody: Booking Through Thursday
3. WAHM: Reason Why Did Not Join Earlier
4. Darla: Anniversary Reminiscing
5. Susan: Excerpts from Interviews
6. Alice: Malaysia's 50th National Day

(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Statistics

Booking Through Thursday

There was a widely bruited-about statistic reported last week, stating that 1 in 4 Americans did not read a single book last year. Clearly, we don’t fall into that category, but . . . how many of our friends do? Do you have friends/family who read as much as you do? Or are you the only person you know who has a serious reading habit?

If you have read my answer to last week on Indoctrination , I mention that my sisters will read on occasion but they don't read as much as I do. And my family don't read. None of my closest friends read. They do on occasion read books to their children to bed. And that the only time I ever see them read. I do know of a guy who read but he doesn't read as much as I do either. I've always wanted to have friends to read together with and not feel like I'm the only one in this world who love to read. Thanks to Internet friends, I know I can count on them to boot my confident and say "You're not alone with this serious habit, 'cause I am one too".

I'm the only one who has a serious reading habit off the Internet world, and this may be true but darn it, I like it this way *grin* :)

Take Me Tonight by Roxanne St. Claire

(Romantic Suspense)
Roxanne St. Claire
5/5






Sage Valentine was shocked to discover that her roommate's suicide might be related to Take Me Tonight, a website owned by a private company, which they conducted in mock kidnapping and subsequent fantasy rescue strictly for personal entertainment. Sage want to find out what really happen to her friend Keisha sudden death, so she sign up for private service. But when she encounter Johnny, she thought he was one of the male "rescuer" of the takemetonight.com company and decided to use him for interview for her article research on the website and the Snow Bunnies Blizzard for Boston Living Magazine she work for. It'll help her get closer to the inside of the New England Snow Bunnies life, which is where Sage friend's Keisha work as Snow Bunnies dancer for the NBA team.

Johnny Christiano, a bodyguard Bullet Catcher who job is to protect his client, is assigned to stop Sage's kidnapping before it happen and protect her. Unknown to him that Sage had personal agendas reason she want to sign up for the Take Me Tonight service, he is unexpectedly trapped between deceit, desired and trying to protect her from getting closer to the danger that stalked them.

Take Me Tonight is the third installment to the Bullet Catchers series. It has action, an excitement intense scenes, likable characters and romance. I highly recommend it! If you want to read my reviews on the first two Bullet Catcher's books than click the link below....

1. Kill Me Twice
2. Thrill Me to Death

Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann

(Contemporary Militery Romance)
Suzanne Brockmann website
5/5





This is my third time re-read together with Angela. I love it the third time around like I did the first time I read it. Nothing have change my feeling on this book. Out of Control is the fourth installment to the Troubleshooter 16 series.

Savannah Von Hopf, a criminal appeals attorney, want to save her uncle Alex Von Hopf's life, so she go in search for Ken "Wildcard" Karmody for help. She need to convince him to help her deliver a Ransom money to the hand of terrorists to trade for her father life in Jakarta, Indonesia. But she never thought she would be in the Wildcard arms, before she could even ask him for help. After taken the advantage of his charm, she knew she must tell Wildcard who she is and her reason why she need his help.

Chief Ken "Wilcard", a military operative has always been attracted to beautiful women. When Savannah "accidental" walk into his life, he was taken by her and want her. When he discover her agendas, he wanted to end their affair. But Savannah is determined to go to Indonesia with or without him to help her uncle and Wildcard knew he couldn't let her go unprotected. So they end up to Indonesia together, even when Wildcard tried to ignore the attraction.

But Savannah plan went wrong, so they end up being trapped in the middle of dangerous jungle where enemy stalked. With time running out, they need to find a safe route to escape or risk their life in the dangerous nightmare.

The WWII story, Molly Anderson, a missionary, and an American expatriate who fell in love with Jones, who is accuse to be the traitor to American. She help him to hide so that he doesn't end up in prison, but while in hiding she fell in love with him too.

In subplot flashback romance, Ingerose "Rose" Rainer von Hopf -- Is Savannah von Hopf's grandmother. She worked for the FBI and the OSS during WWII, she was one of the first female American double agents. She wrote an autobiography "Double Agent", a memoir about her life as agent from Brooklyn to Berlin and her encounter with Hank who is the love of her life. Her book had recently made to the New York Times list. And Molly, Jones and Alyssa is seen reading the book. Hank Von Hopf met Rose when she took a trip to Berlin in 1939. They fell in love on first sight. But when Rose realized that he was part of an attempt by the Nazis to recruit her as a spy, she said her heartfelt emotional goodbye to him and left.

More development relationship between Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke. And you will see a little bit of what happen between Max and Gina (Both of their stories (Sam/Alyssa and Max/Gina will be told in their own story in later books). You'll also get to see some of the Troubleshooter 16 team and the FBI team again.

This is one of my favorite of the series. Because I love the stories line of all the characters in this three weaving connection. The WWII Spies family was great story! And love how the present characters are reading “Rose” bio book (Alyssa, Jones, Molly). Wildcard was likable and sexy in his own way in this book, then he was in the previous book where he was very annoying guy. I think once you get to know him (in his own story) we see him in different light. And than you get a another installment of emotion relationship between Sam and Alyssa. Suzanne Brockmann have always said that you can't always believe what other characters are saying about the other unless you heard it from the main person point of view.

I highly recommend anyone to read The Troubleshooter team 16 series, if you like military romance with action/adventure, drama, humors, emotional scenes and wonderful cast of characters (yummy men).

WIN WIN WIN

*NOTE* - This is sticky post. To find my most recent posts (reviews & meme), just scroll down to the next post(s)- *END NOTEs*

STICKY POST! STICKY POST! STICKY POST!
ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION!

The Long and the Short of It: Reviewing Long and Short Romantic Fiction, One Story at a Time will be having a pre-Grand Opening contest which will run from Monday, August 13 through noon, Eastern Time, on Sunday, August 26.
click this link here The Long and the Short of It and it will take you directly to the website for more information about how you can win a prize. International readers outside of US or Canada are eligible to participate too.

Notice - Due to shipping restraints, for our international reader, the prize will be substitute a $30 gift certificate to Amazon.com

Good luck to you!

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer & Anne Stuart

(Romance)
Jennifer Crusie , Anne Stuart , Eileen Dreyer ,

* * * * 1/2 stars






I'm reading this book together with Melody. It always fun reading along with her and discover what we both thought of the book. This isn't the first time we have read book together and if you have read our past and previously reviews, you will see that we almost have the same likeness in thoughts. You will find mine and Melody reviews on archives at my sidebar.

Dee Fortune ran away with her two young sisters, Lizzie and Mare from danger when their aunt Xan killed their parents. Dee have been trying to protect them from the world from knowing their secret and identity. No matter where they go, they hope their aunt won't find them. The men start to come into their lives the day when the sisters were voting to have Mare sent to school by using their mother jewelry. Dee started to worry, because she sense that the men were sent to them by their aunt Xan. And she is afraid that Xan have come to steal their powers and kill them, just like the way she killed their parents.

Dee - who have been trying to control her shape-shifting power, fell in love with Danny James, when he knock on their door, one morning. He wanted to ask them questions about their past. She want to prevent Danny from rediscovering their past. But Dee never knew that she will fall in love with Danny from the first sight she met him.

Lizzie, the middle sister, has the power to turn forks into bunnies. She is determined to save her family from financial ruin by turning straw into gold. But a mystery sorcerer, Elric appear to prevent Lizzie from disasters of her spinning plan. Lizzie couldn't help but fell in love with the handsome blonde Elric, even when she knew her aunt Xan had sent him to help destroy her.

Mare, the youngest sister, has a telekinetic power that dwarfed her gifts. So she felt she is weakest sisters. She work at "Value Video!!" at night and her co-worker and friend, Dreama help to remind her that she is strong person and they need her to stay strong. A mystery man name Jude, claimed he is the vice president of the "Value Video!!" headquarters. He is there to promoted Mare as manager, after he heard William tried to kill himself. But Mare past boyfriend, Crash Duncan show up to propose for marriage and ask her to move to Italy to make a life with him there. He shown Mare that she is not weak like she believe herself to be. He told her that she is the Queen of the Universe too. Mare couldn't make a decision if she want to move with Crash or stay for her sisters.

The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes is a collaboration novel written by three well-known and accomplished authors who "voices" incorporated the story. Three author: Jennifer Crusie, Eileen Dreyer and Anne Stuart own stories blend so well together that the overall story is intertwined and the book turn out to be good.

I've read many of their individually prior books they have written, so it wasn't hard for me to discover which story was written by Anne Stuart or even Jennifer Crusie. However I never read book by Eileen Dreyer before, but I'm thinking of trying her books. I think my favorite from The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes was Mare and Crash (Jenny Crusie "voice") because I love a story line with past lover/high school sweetheart fallen for each other stories. The relationship between them was sweet, heartwarming and romantic. I also love Lizzy and Elric as well. They have plenty of romantic love scenes, that is true to Anne Stuart signatures. All the characters were likable and whimsical. There were plenty of funny moments and heartwarming scenes. It was a fast pace read, witty dialogue, romantic and fun!

Even though this been a fun book, I grade this 4 half stars because I prefer their individually books better. Anne Stuart and Jennifer Crusie has their individually best works that I highly recommend anyone to read. If you look at the author's link I provide next to the book cover art above this post, it will take you directly to their website. The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes was a good book for me but I enjoy getting to know the characters and the book.

Indoctrination

Booking Through Thursday

Using a suggestion from Erin today:

When growing up did your family share your love of books? If so, did one person get you into reading? And, do you have any family-oriented memories with books and reading? (Family trips to bookstore, reading the same book as a sibling or parent, etc.)

As a little kid, I was already interested in books. Pictures grab me enough to want to read. But I don't recall anyone in my family reading books, not until I got a little older to notice it. I think it was my sisters who got me into reading romance genres back than. I remember my sisters was debating whether they should allow me to read "Whitney My Loves" by Judith McNaught. I guess they thought I was old enough to read it because they hand me the book and I started to read. I remember waking up in the morning and see my two older sisters reading a book in bed. So I would pick up a book and lay down with them and began to read. We would read as long as we can until we get a headaches. They influence me to expand my reading and to love my books. And that is what I did.

Although my parent did encourage me to read, they are not an avid reader like me. On some occasion, they will pick up a international newspapers or magazines and read them. Never a novel books. They use to tell me "get a book and read, it will help you to learn". They felt it was important because it would help me to learn my english better. I don't even recall if my grandparents ever read or if their sibling read. But I do recall my cousin reading books.

In the present day, my sisters read on occasion but they're not a avid reader like me. It seem they don't have time to read anymore. Not the way they use to. Back than we would take a trip to bookstores together and buy books. My last memory of us going to bookstores together was when I went to Suzanne Brockmann's book signing in New Orleans 4 years ago.

So now that leave only me in the family who still read. That as far as I know. And I'm proud to be reader *grin*. It is really interesting to see how different family members are from one another :)

What about you?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann

(Contemporary Military Romance)
Suzanne Brockmann's website
5/5 stars





Over the Edge is another Troubleshooter series, that I'm re-reading with my friend Angela. This happen to be one of my favorite book of the series. Nothing change my thoughts on this book during my re-read.

Lieutenant Terri Howe, is one of the best helicopter pilots in naval reserves. She has the passion to fly and got the highly skilled for it. But when a past mistake surfaces, it jeopardized everything she's worked hard for.

Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok, was sent to Terri's aid when a jet carrying an American senator's daughter is hijacked. Stan and the rest of the Troubleshooter team had to work together with the FBI on rescue mission. But Stan, as much as he tried to steer clear of the whole enlisted verses office fraternization rule, want to avoid getting closer to Terri. So he tried to set her up with Mike Muldoon.

An emotional and a very intense relationship began between FBI negotiator Max Bhagat and Gina Vitagliano, when she was one of the victims of an explosive hostage situation in the plane that was hijacked and is forced to land in Kazbekistan. Stepping up forward to the terrorist to pretend to be the Senator's daughter Karen Crawford, Gina wasn't sure she will make it out alive. She only has Max voices, from the contact radio to survive.

[If I remember correctly with WWII story] The back history story of WWII is told in the eyes of Helga in the present day, who is the best friend of Stan's mom Marte. Her best friend helped out the Jewish family next door and the Danish girl fell in love with Stan's mom older brother. It is in a memory of Holocaust survivor and tragedy of the past. Now in the present day, Helga is suffering from Alzheimer's and tried to hide it from everyone, while she want live to let everyone know that she is one of the Holocaust survivor.

Another ultimate angst and emotional built up romance story, continue between Lit. Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke.

You will see glimpse of Jules Cassidy, the team OX Jazz Jacquette, "wildcard", Mike Muldoon and the rest of the Navy SEALs Troubleshooter team :)

Still remain one of my favorite book in the Team 16 series. This had everything I want in books. Plenty of good actions, dangerous mission and romance. Enjoy my re-read (even though I re-read this one plenty of times) and Max & Gina was great. Terri and Stan was wonderful. I love what we learn about Stan and his home. And a heartbreak with Sam and Alyssa was sad. It was great to see all the team SEALs in this one. Humors was there, action was exciting and intense. And the story were great!

Over the Edge is the 3rd installment to the "Troubleshooter" series and it is a great read and I don't anyone would be disappointed......

Monogamy

Booking Through Thursday

One book at a time? Or more than one? If more, are they different types/genres? Or similar?

(We’re talking recreational reading,here— books for work or school don’t really count since they’re not optional.)

- Normally I would read one book at a time. It better for me to concentrate in one book so that I can devour it and enjoy it much better. A better way for me to get a feel for the characters and better understanding. If I read more than one, it hard to concentrate on both sometime. Because than I won't enjoy both books. Instead I might enjoy the other book more than the other one. So it won't be fair to the other (yes I treat my books like they're my children *grin*). I don't have problem remembering what happen from the book, where I left off if I picked it up again. But I do however would forget some small details if waited too long to get back to it. I want to be able to enjoy reading both of my favorite series books (yes I'm a big fan of a series books *grin*).

If I read more than one books, it normally is in a different genres. I read variety of genres book, but I mostly prefer romantic suspense, adventure/actions or comedies romance. My friend Darla, have taught me to appreciate all genres and to try different things. No matter if you don't like the book or genres, we just have to appericate the authors for their hard work on writing the book :)

But lately, even though I normally do read one book at a time, it seem I've been reading two books at the same time. Because 1.) I'm doing a re-read with someone else so that we can get ready for the next installment (the latest) books to come out. Or 2.) I'm doing a reading along together with someone else for fun. And last but not least 3.) It for the Books Challenge. *phew!* That seem a lot of reason...hehehe.

How about you? One book at a time or more than one?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Nice Matters Award

First, I just want to say thanks for all the friends I have made through out the years. Friends from either my Yahoo Group emails, regular email or bloggers. I'm thankful for friends like you :)

I got a wonderful surprise when my friend Alice given me a Nice Matters Award. What can you say about our Alice? Well...she is sweetest, caring and the most fun person I ever know. She always make me smiles and turn my days more brighter. Thanks YOU!



And than I received another Award: Thoughtful Blogger Award from my dearest long lost twin sister, Melody. She and I met through Lori Foster's message board. We talked a bit from there and than decided to chat in emails. Since than we became close friends. She is a very thoughtful friend, who also put up with my silliness mood(and it never tend to be said in mean way) I'm thankful to have her as my friend.



I would like to give these two awards to the people who I consider as my friends:

Darla, Angela, Melody, Alice, Kat, Cmate

Curveball by Kate Angell

(Contemporary Romance)
Kate Angell website
5/5 stars





The Bat Pack gang is back! The bad boys of baseball are the top power hitters of Richmond Rogues and the team hope for shot at the World Series. But when Psycho, Romeo and Chaser have to be benched for brawling, they could lose their chance at winning. But while on their times out, the Bat Pack never thought that they will find love along the way....

Psycho is attracted to his decorator, Keely Douglas who he decided to hired after he is hassled by a group of women who is determined that he fix up his historic Colonial house to honors the original owner's reputation and the home historical significance. When he found that she had common childhood background as he did, he decided to keep her and suggested her to move in with him.

Romeo knew he want the female reporter, Emerson Kent, who wrote column articles on the Rogues baseball games. But she tell him she don't want him even though the attraction she has for him is there. So use to women fallen on his feet, he was little surprise when Emerson kept walking away from him and not fall for his handsome look. With entire season still ahead, he knew he had time to sway her to change her mind.

Chaser fell in love with his childhood best friend, Jen. He had known her since they were kids living nextdoor to each other. And they were always been there for each other like good friend. But one night accidental kiss, sparked both Jen and Chaser into seeing each other in different light.

We see behind the romance story of three guys who each realizes that happiness is just within reach...even when fallen in love that can throw a curveball at them. The three men are different in their own way. While they do have rep of being bad boy, they do have soft side too. They do things that are out of their elements too, which make me smiles all the times. The book is romantic, sexy, has sense of humors, fun characters and it is fast paced read. Very enjoyable for baseball fan (and non-baseball fan). And I fall in love with each characters.

This is the second book I read by Kate Angell, I love it! It is part of the connection to Squeeze Play, which is the first book. Angell have a way to bring fun and romantic to the books. And she satisfied the fan by given each guys their full story. This book should not be miss!

If you like to read my review for Squeeze Play then click here

Here the order of The Rogues Series it to be read. Please give it a try..I recommend it!

1. Squeeze Play
2. Curveball
3. Strike Zone - Not out yet, but releasing in April 2008

There will be more The Rogues series book to come.

Multiples

Booking Through Thursday

Do you have multiple copies of any of your books?
If so, why? Absent-mindedness? You love them that much? First Editions for the shelf, but paperbacks to read?
If not, why not? Not enough space? Not enough money? Too sensible to do something so foolish?

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

- I use to have lot of multiple copies stacked in my pile, but I soon given it away to those people who want it or need it. I think two year ago, I gave away some of Nora Roberts's copies and Linda Howard's copies to a good friend whose home was hit by Katrina hurricane. She lost most of her books than too. It amaze me what Katrina can do to her own home.....

I know I have double copies of some books, because some are from the winning prizes that I enter from authors' contests. I also have double copies of others because I might have prefer the other book covers over the other one. I even have double copies because I want to keep the covers in good shape for my own collection. Series book does this to me hehe. I normally give away the one that I don't want, to those who want it. So that help bring down the books from my crowded bookshelves. It not half bad as it sound, because there only a few copies now. Since I given away whole lot - I keep one and give the other one ot someone else :)

The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann

(Contemporary Romance-Military)
Suzanne Brockmann's website
4 half/5 stars







This is my re-read of The Defiant Hero that am re-reading along with my friend, Angela. I don't think the 2nd reading changed much when I read it the first time. The only thing is I understood Meg more better than I did the first reading. Still I enjoy it :)

Meg Moore, a widow, was forced by terrorists to kidnap a foreign national exchange for her daughter and grandmother, who was holding captive by them. Meg feel like it was hopeless situation, since she does not trust the terrorists nor anyone else for help. Under duress, she tell the hostage negotiators that she will only negotiator with John Nilsson, a Navy SEALs who she had met while in a past foreign assignment. But Meg would do anything to meet their unspeakable demands, anything --just to save her daughter.

John was summoned to Washington, D.C by FBI to help negotiate a hostage situation. But he didn't expect to find Meg holding the foreign ambassador at gunpoint. He has carried with him a feeling he had for her over many years. He just never acted on his feeling since she was married at the time. Now that they met once again, his feeling for her has never disappear.

We also get to see the first starting glimpse of the story behind the love-hate relationship between Navy SEALs Lt. Sam Starrett and the FBI Agent Alyssa Locke. (Their story proceed over the next several installments in the series. Their relationship was the favorite couple for me. I always look forward to reading their stories the most.)

There is a background story of Eve (Meg's mother- transplanted from Hollywood to Ramsgate, England when she was 15.) and Nick. The World War II subplot is centered around the May 1940 evacuation of the BEF (British troops) from Dunkirk in the terrible aftermath of the Nazi blitz invasion of France.

You will met more of the navy SEALs, Troubleshooter team: Wildcard, Jazz, Jenk, Mike Muldoon, Jay Lopez and so on. You will see more of them as the next installments move on.

I love this book because it beginning glimpse of Sam and Alyssa story, who is my favorite couple. We see some good and bad side of both and spark as well. Again I love Suz WWII subplot stories and always look forward to reading more of them. As always she done pretty well with threading three stories into one.

The reason why I grade The Defiant Hero 4.75 is because Meg is my least favorite heroine characters. At one point I just want to strangle her. But than I understood her reason why she does what she did, even when I don't like it. But as a whole, it was good book :)

Ten Things You Will NEVER Do Again...

Ten On Tuesday


I Will Never.....

1. - Order Pizza Hut at the same address place - I order pizza online and there were two place nearest to my house. The first choice we chose, took about 2 hours for them to deliver to our house and by the time it came to our door it was cold! The second time, I want to switch it to the other address but I have no idea how to do it. So I end up ordering at same place again. And twice it was cold too! ugh!
2. - Never ask someone a questions that was meant to be asked for someone else behalf. I get eaten alive and blamed if I ask a questions that wasn't from me. Why shoot the messenger LOL
3. - Went on a blind date few times, and it was disaster! Why let someone put me in blind dates when I hate to do this to others people *shrug*. I will never do this again
4. - Agree to do something for someone and than end up delaying it. I don't like to have someone wait too long for it and than feeling angry at me for it
5. - Borrow books from my friend Annie. Anytime I do, I took a very long time to sent it back to her. I don't like doing that to her when she have been so nice to me :)
6. - Go shopping in the malls alone. It never fun being by yourself sometime. I want a company of friends to talk with while we shop.
7. - Never forget to make sure the stoves are turn off before leaving the house
8. - Tell a guy that he had nice butt, I swear it was by accident hehehe. I was horrified about it all ;) LOL!
9. - go anywhere without eating first. Every time I do, under the hot moisture heated sun in the car, I get very nauseated and sick.
10. - Never make people think I can swim, I almost drown from it

Letters! We Get Letters.....

Booking Through Thursday

Have you ever written an author a fan letter?

Did you get an answer?

Did it spark a conversation? A meeting?

(And, sure, I suppose that e-mails DO count . . . but I’d say no to something like a message board on which the author happens to participate.)

- Yes I've written an author a fan letter. I have written some when I was younger - maybe 18yrs old. I got snail mail letters replied back from authors like Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood. I remember being so excited over that! Back then I have not know about internet yet. But when I did, I began to write an email letters to some of the authors letting them know how much I've enjoyed their books. And which characters are my favorite. And then ask questions about what upcoming books she going to write next. It is fun to see replied from the authors in my email inbox. And discover things about them, their family and how nice they are. Authors make you feel comfortable to want to share things with them as well. Authors like to chat and interacted with their readers and hear what they think of their books too.

Like the conversation I had with Suzanne Brockmann through emails. She is one of the nicest person I ever met. Through emails, she make sure that everything is alright and taken care of me when I have concern about booksigning events, one time. I have spoken to her husband (who is book author as well) who assure me that they will make sure I will be comfortable at the signing, since I am shy person. What I didn't know was that he was going to seek me out and talk to me and my sister. I had nice conversation talking with him while we were waiting in line. When it came to my turn to see Suzanne Brockmann, her husband told her who I was. And she welcome me with an open arm. She made me so comfortable that I forgot to be shy. Since then I always requested Suz to sign my book as "To Shy Asian Gal in Louisiana". What amaze me was that she remember who I was every time I requested that personalize signatures :) She remembered all of her fans.

Over the years, letters I have written to an authors through snail mails were all kept in the red chest box. And over the years, some letters that I have written through emails( authors like: Suzanne Brockmann, Nora Roberts, Anne Stuarts, Roxanne St. Claire, Rebecca York, Diana Gabaldon, etc...) were comfort interaction between authors and I that I will remembered. It made me feel good that I have made authors feel good when they tell me that they love to hear readers praise them about their books. But it also the easiest and faster to get answered on some burning questions you have from authors upcoming books as well. It really nice when authors interacted with their readers. That why I continue to emails them (But I haven't done so lately) :)