Three Girls and a Wedding

by: Rachel Schurig

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

Synopsis:
Jen Campbell loves weddings. In fact, she loves them so much that she became an event planner in the hopes that she would one day get the chance to help women create the fairy tale day of their dreams...Unfortunately, the only thing Jen has been allowed to plan so far are boring restaurant openings and children's birthday parties.

When Jen’s big break finally comes, she realizes that wedding planning is a heck of a lot more complicated than picking out the perfect flowers and cake.

Add to the chaos a pair of fighting friends, a totally pressuring mother, and a ridiculously gorgeous (but moody) best man, and Jen has her work cut out for her.

In Three Girls and a Wedding, Jen Campbell will try to plan the perfect wedding and maybe—just maybe—create her very own happily-ever-after.

---

This is the story that continues the lives of Ginny, Annie and Jen. 3 girls...now women...who have been best friends since High School. After college they rented a small house in Ferndale. The first book, Three Girls and a Baby, was centered around Ginny who had broken up with her long-time boyfriend and found out she was pregnant. This one is from Jen's view. Jen is a very organized event planner. She just received the opportunity of a lifetime, plan the wedding (and all the events relating to it) for Kiki Barker, daughter of a rich real estate investor, David Barker. At the same time her best friend Ginny gets engaged. Can Jen plan both without losing her mind?

Jen's boss takes away all of her current projects and tells her she will be assisting newly-promoted partner Jason Richardson. While excited by the opportunity, she is less than thrilled at the prospect of working with smarmy Jason. Jen is determined to make this a success, knowing if she does everything right she will get a promotion and be allowed to work on the events she wants to work on. Jason leaves her with almost all the work, and the next 5 months are spent in a haze of overwork and sleeplessness. Ginny's wedding is barely on her radar.

There are also 2 love interests. When the first one was introduced, Matt - the best man and groom's brother, I thought I knew exactly what would happen. But then she kept getting mixed signals and started dating Jason, reluctantly of course. I didn't know what was happening until the very end. It wasn't predictable at all!

Rachel Schurig uses a light, conversational tone throughout the story. For example, I kept seeing the word "gonna." At first it bothered me, very poor grammar and all. But then I realized if I were talking that's what I would say. Does anyone actually say "going to" anymore?

The title is long, but catchy. The first book was Three Girls and a Baby, about Ginny. This book is Three Girls and a Wedding, about Jen. The third book will be titled Three Girls and a Leading Man, about Annie. The cover art is so cute, and it fits in with the first book. Rachel is making it obvious that these three books are connected. It doesn't always work, but in this case it is both necessary and fun.

The story was a very fast read, even at 198 pages. I started reading Sunday afternoon and finished it Monday morning. I couldn't put it down. The story doesn't slow down for a minute, but it's not too fast either. It does, however shift pace. When tensions are high, the story moves faster. When Jen hits the wall and slows down, so does the story. It forces your own feelings to play along.

These stories are set in Metro Detroit, so I actually recognize a lot of the places mentioned in the book. Like the RenCen, which is the Renaissance Center in Detroit. It's a beautiful and large building right in the city.

I was so excited to read this story. As soon as I heard it was out, I wrote the author begging for a copy. I couldn't wait to read it and after the first book I knew I would love it. It did not disappoint. Rachel is a great author and this is a great piece of chick lit.

And now, sadly I must wait for that third book. I swear, I want to volunteer to be a beta reader just so I can read it sooner.

Free eBooks November 3, 2011

Here are some eBooks I found that are free to download. I looked at Barnes & Noble first, I will link there and Amazon if they have it as well. I have not read these books, so this list isn't one of recommendations, just a list of free books I thought looked interesting.

1. Five Little Caskets by D. R. Bennett - B&N, Amazon for 99cents.

Darryl's life was humming along. Great job, good friends and a solid family. Until the Akamak made their presence and intentions known.

American political folly and selfishness are portrayed in this dark tale of one man's trials and tribulations in the aftermath of first contact with an advanced alien race.

2. Star Wars Lost Tribe of the Sith #7: Pantheon by John Jackson Miller - B&N, Amazon

When the Sith ship Omen crash-landed on Kesh two thousand years ago, the crew encountered native barbarism and superstition. Now a violent millennium has reduced the Lost Tribe of the Sith to a similar state. While Sith teachings are remembered, honored, and violently practiced, knowledge of the Lost Tribe’s true origins has all but vanished. With a dark age imperiling the Sith, the future rests in the hands of the unlikeliest of people: Caretaker Hilts, the official keeper of lore. Mild-mannered by Sith standards, the aged Hilts hopes to use the wisdom of the ancients to reunite his people. But the truth he uncovers becomes anything but the Tribe’s salvation. Rather, he may have set loose forces leading to its destruction—and his own. BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Ascension.

3. Viridis - A Steampunk Romance by Calista Taylor - B&N, Amazon

In steampunk Victorian London, where airships dot the sky and tinkerings abound, Lady Phoebe Hughes develops an herbal elixir, Viridis, unlike any other. London’s elite flock to her club to experience the euphoria and heightened senses the drink brings, an orgasm brought on by a single kiss. But when Lord Hawthorne is murdered after leaving her club, Phoebe is shocked to find that not only was he working for the Special Services to infiltrate the Cause, a movement fighting for the city's poor, he was also in possession of her secret formulation for Viridis.

Adding to her difficulties is the unexpected return of Mr. Seth Elliott, a brilliant tinkerer who stole her heart and imagination, only to abandon her when she needed him most. Unable to ignore all that is between them, Phoebe finds herself falling for Seth once again, only to have a powerful rival for her affections wrongly accuse Seth of attempted murder. As Phoebe struggles with a way to free her love, revolution, conspiracy and murder threaten to ruin it all.

*** Author's note: Some scenes may not be suitable for those under 18 years of age. ***

4. Axel the Truck: Rocky Road by J. D. Riley (Author), Brandon Dorman (Illustrator) - B&N

Axel is a little truck with big, big wheels, and he races off to explore the rocky mountain roads. VROOM!

In this NOOK Kids Read to Me book, children can choose to hear the story read aloud, tap to enlarge text and pinch & stretch to zoom in on pictures.

5. Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo by Heather Wardell - B&N, Amazon

When Candice's in-laws died in a car accident eight months ago, she lost her husband Ian too. After only two years of marriage their guilt and pain have left them living together but apart. During Ian's month-long trip overseas, Candice plans to decide if her marriage can be saved, but when the first man she ever loved is the new client at work, she wonders what she truly wants from life and love.

Microcrafts - Tiny Treasures to Make and Share

compiled by: Margaret McGuire, Alicia Kachmar, Katie Hatz and Friends

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
It is a small world, after all!

Here are step-by-step instructions for making tiny teddy bears, little ladybugs, petite porcupines, itsy-bitsy bikinis, and much, much more! Microcrafts shows crafters how to create dozens of miniature treasures, each no larger than a spool of thread. No previous crafting experience or pricey materials are necessary—just a love of all things small!

---

I'm still enthralled by all the tiny crafts in this book. There are pictures, traceable patterns and step-by-step instructions to walk you through whichever craft you'd like to attempt. There weren't too many that were my style, but I saw many that I want to try or that I think friends would make.

There are candy charms made with clay, tiny felted cats and dogs, boats, microtaxidermy (little deer heads, bears, birds, etc), fabric buttons, tiny flower pots with a tiny plant, greeting cards and even books. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. Things we all love making, with a tiny makeover.

I want to try making the cats and dogs and teddy bears...in fact I think that would be a great Christmas gift for the kids in husbands family. If I can find the tiny pots, I think the little plants would be cute for adults.

The tiny cat next to the spool of thread on the cover really gives you a clear idea on what this book is all about. It's ironic that its a fairly large hardcover book. Not thick but tall.

Each project has a small tag on the page sized picture with the actual size and who designed it. Considering that this is a "compiled by", it is interesting to see who is involved in each craft.

So the question is, do you like exploring your crafting skills? This book will challenge even the most talented crafter - and it's a fantastic way to use up all your odds and ends!

Drama - an Actor's Education

by John Lithgow

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Synopsis:
Through the vivid stories in "Drama", John Lithgow shares a backstage history of his struggle, crisis, and discovery, and the scenes of his early life and career that took place before he became a nationally-known star. Above all, "Drama" is a tribute to the most important influence in John Lithgow's life: his father, Arthur Lithgow. An actor, director, producer, and great lover of Shakespeare, Arthur brought theatre to John's boyhood, where performance and storytelling were a constant and cherished part of family life. Lithgow brings the theatre worlds of New York and London to life as he relives his collaborations with renowned performers and directors including Mike Nichols, Bob Fosse, Liv Ullmann, Meryl Streep, and Brian De Palma. Lithgow's ruminations on the nature of theatre, performance, and storytelling cut to the heart of why actors are driven to perform, and why people are driven to watch them do it. At once hilarious and reflective, "Drama" pulls back the curtain on the making of one of our most beloved actors.

---

For such a mundane and simple cover, I was dazzled at the direction the book and Lithgow's life took. He moved around a lot because of his father, who had this dream of starting the next great Shakespeare festival. So for all the goofy roles you've seen Lithgow in, he's been acting in Shakespeare plays since he was a child. John writes of the excitement of acting as a child, but his real dream was to be an artist. His parents were so supportive, they even sent him to an art class for teenagers in New York when the high school's class was too rigid.

But he continued to act, for his father and in high school. If you've ever seen Buckaroo Bonzai, you will remember Dr. Emelio Lizardo. He says that not only was this his favorite role, but he played it based on Dr. Pinch whom he played way back in high school.

While doing the art and acting, he was also a model and active student. Graduating with honors, he attended Harvard on a full scholarship. He had planned on pursuing art, and his father took him to see a respected artist and the guy's question to Lithgow was "If you want to be an artist, why the Hell are you going to Harvard?" It opened Lithgow's eyes, it really didn't have a program that would take him where he thought he wanted to go. When he got there he fell in love with the Drama area. There wasn't an actual program, but there was a theater and students working in it. He majored in English and went to town with the other Drama students.

He married before he finished college and went to London on a Fulbright scholarship to study acting. It had been decided, he would be an actor. His wife was a special education teacher, 6 years his senior. She went where he went, working to support them and occasionally acting with him. He worked for his father first but then moved on to pursue more challenges. He really had a slow start, but by the 70s he was a Broadway actor, in fact he was in 12 plays through the 70s. He's done some movie work, and some TV but he absolutely adores the theater.

I had no idea I would enjoy this book so much. He didn't have a terrible childhood, his parents loved him. The only trauma that shaped him was the constant moving around. But it certainly helped his acting career - he knows how to fit in. He didn't spiral out of control on a drugged-out bender. The worst period for him was in his 30s when adolescence finally hit. He was an ass, and he admits he was an ass. I finished this book with a lot of respect for the man, even though some of his actions I didn't like or agree with.

I also learned that I really enjoy a well-written autobiography.

Sunday Stealing: The W.T.F. Meme

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. One of my favorite TV shows recently changed the actors who played two characters. Have you ever been bothered by a TV show or movie series changing actors who play a character you love? I think Bewitched handled it best, the actors looked similar. But today they can look totally different, like Roseanne's 2 Becky's...similar hair color and that's about it. They couldn't have looked more different and that bothers me.

2. A coworker recently shared a link to a blog listing the "five things you should know before dating a journalist." As a journalist, I can honestly say the writer was spot-on. What are some things people should know before spending time with you? At some point I'm going to make a stupid joke, or in some other way sound like an idiot...please bare with me I'm not good at this whole socializing thing. :) And if I seem stuck up, I'm not...just really, really shy.

3. What is something you often do without realizing that you're doing it? fidgeting with my feet.

4. Who has the capacity to make you angrier than anyone else in your life, and what in particular does he or she do to make you so angry? Me, and just repeating the same stupid behaviors over and over.

5. If a fairy waved a magic wand and gave you the house of your dreams, where would it be and what features would it have? In the country on a big plot of land with lots of trees. It would have a huge kitchen and master bath/bedroom. The boys would each have their own rooms, and there'd be a large living room with space for the family to hang out and all our computers. And a big basement with storage and laundry room.

6. What’s a belief that you hold with which many people disagree? I won't mourn people I don't know. It's not that I'm happy, I'm not celebrating either. But I'm not going to pretend to be all broken up when I didn't know the person (or people).

7. I used to talk in my sleep. In fact, I could carry on a conversation with someone when I was fully asleep, and my mom used this fact when I was a teenager to find out if I did anything wrong and was hiding it from my parents. If you were talking your sleep tonight, what do you think you would say? I don't know. My dreams are so inconsistent, it would change all the time.

8. The fourth installment of the "Twilight" movie series ("Breaking Dawn Part I") will be released in theaters soon. Movie theaters started selling advance tickets for midnight showings months ago. Have you ever attended a midnight premiere showing of a movie? No, that is a fairly new phenomenon and with the boys I don't like to be up that late anymore. Plus I know it'll be crowded. I'd rather wait a few weeks so I don't have to touch people I don't know.

9. On Tuesday, tigers, lions and bears were let loose in Zanesville, Ohio, by their owner before he committed suicide, leading to a hunt in which 49 of the animals, including 18 endangered Bengal tigers, were killed. How would you react if you saw "Caution exotic animals. Stay in your vehicle" being displayed on a road sign? Safari!

10. If a company opened a theme park aimed at adults, what would you name one of the rides? Huh? God this meme today is annoying.

11. Imagine you just moved onto Sesame Street. Which puppet would you want as your new roommate? Mr. Snuffleupagus, people tend to leave him alone, so we'd have some quiet.

12. Have you ever had a weird crush on a famous person that didn't make sense to you? No, what a strange question. It's not like sexuality is this set thing that never changes. You can like lots of different people, male, female, short, tall, thin, fat....and all at the same time. Why would that be strange?

13. If you get ten minutes to interview any celebrity of your choice, who would you like it to be? Helena Bonham Carter

14. You've just won the complete DVD collection of all the movies starring one actor or actress. Which actor/actress would you pick? Johnny Depp

15. Actor George Clooney recently told People Magazine that he doesn't use Twitter "because I will drink in the evening and I don't want anything that I could possibly write at midnight to actually end my career." What is something you've said through social media and then regretted it? It's not anything for myself. But I have put my foot in my mouth on my friends' pages. And I'm not about to tell you what it was!

16. VH1 has re-introduced its hit show "Pop-Up Video," which gives behind-the-scenes facts for popular music videos. What musician would you be most interested in learning behind-the-scenes facts about? Eh, I could care less. I just want to hear the music I enjoy. I don't need to know the biography of all the musicians. Oh, ok I guess it would be Weird Al. His stuff is always interesting.

17. If you stumbled across someone's personal written journal that was accidentally left in a public place, would you read any of the content? I'd love to say I wouldn't...but I would. Well if I knew the person I wouldn't but a stranger...yeah I'd read it all.

18. What is the title of a self-help book that you'd never want to see on a store bookshelf? Let Loose your Inner Stripper?

19. Many media outlets have been asking this question a lot this week... Which Halloween costume do you think will be overdone this year? I don't know...Don't care.

20. Should a marriage license have a renewal date or expiration date, like a driver’s license? No, marriage is a commitment. If you know before you get married that you won't make it, then don't get married. I'm not saying I'm against divorce, mistakes happen, but we shouldn't completely let go of the institution of marriage. And yes we should allow gay people the right to marry AND make divorce something possible without lawyers.

Mile 81

By Stephen King

Available at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles (e-book only I'm afraid)

Synopsis:
With the heart of Stand By Me and the genius horror of Christine, Mile 81 is Stephen King unleashing his imagination as he drives past one of those road signs...

At Mile 81 on the Maine Turnpike is a boarded up rest stop on a highway in Maine. It's a place where high school kids drink and get into the kind of trouble high school kids have always gotten into. It's the place where Pete Simmons goes when his older brother, who's supposed to be looking out for him, heads off to the gravel pit to play "paratroopers over the side." Pete, armed only with the magnifying glass he got for his tenth birthday, finds a discarded bottle of vodka in the boarded up burger shack and drinks enough to pass out.

Not much later, a mud-covered station wagon (which is strange because there hadn't been any rain in New England for over a week) veers into the Mile 81 rest area, ignoring the sign that says "closed, no services." The driver's door opens but nobody gets out.

Doug Clayton, an insurance man from Bangor, is driving his Prius to a conference in Portland. On the backseat are his briefcase and suitcase and in the passenger bucket is a King James Bible, what Doug calls "the ultimate insurance manual," but it isn't going to save Doug when he decides to be the Good Samaritan and help the guy in the broken down wagon. He pulls up behind it, puts on his four-ways, and then notices that the wagon has no plates.

Ten minutes later, Julianne Vernon, pulling a horse trailer, spots the Prius and the wagon, and pulls over. Julianne finds Doug Clayton's cracked cell phone near the wagon door — and gets too close herself. By the time Pete Simmons wakes up from his vodka nap, there are a half a dozen cars at the Mile 81 rest stop. Two kids — Rachel and Blake Lussier — and one horse named Deedee are the only living left. Unless you maybe count the wagon.

---

Classic King. Boys doing boy things you don't even want to think about (especially now that I'm a mother of 2 boys), man-eating cars, and only the kids smart enough to stay back from said car.

I was leary buying this - I'm not special enough to get review copies of King books yet (lol), but I am a die hard fan. This is only available as an e-book so I decided to give it a chance. Hell, Christine scared the snot out of me when I was 16, and the description felt like it was sort of in that spirit. The last e-book short story he did, I think it was UR was awful. Like I quit reading it because it was just boring and not going anywhere...that's why I was arguing with myself. Well the Christine side won and I pushed the button to purchase.

Yup, straight up classic King. Very scary, kind of gooey and really, really stupid people. I love how he dives into people's heads as they are dying. The fact that they think things that are so absurd and down to earth makes you feel like you'd probably think the same things. I really don't want to give too much away, but the one thought that stuck with me was "Oh, that's what she meant by sticky."

If you like scary stories then go ahead, it's only $2.99 and I read it in about an hour. Plus there's a preview of his newest book 11/22/63: A Novel.

Pagan Writers Presents Samhain

Edited by: Camenæ deWelles, Angelique Mroczka, Rosa Sophia

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble (also in paperback)

Synopsis:
Samhain marks the end of summer and the preparation for winter. To many, Samhain is merely Halloween, but to Pagans, it is a day when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, and we can reconnect with our beloved deceased. Samhain is a joyful celebration where we invite the spirits of our loved ones into our homes to remember and honor them.

Pagan Writers Presents Samhain is a collection of articles, poetry, and short stories. Forty Pagan writers have come together to express how we celebrate the holiday, to share their thoughts and feelings, and to entertain with stories that take place on or around the last week of October.

Leave your broom by the door and join us at the hearth as we tell you about the Sabbat known as Samhain.

Pagan Writers Presents Samhain is the first anthology in the Pagan Writers Press Sabbat collection.

All proceeds from the sale of this anthology further the mission of the Pagan Writers Community, an organization that seeks to edu­cate, inspire, and pro­mote artists, authors, blog­gers, musi­cians, poets, and writers who follow alternative-faith spiritual and religious paths.

---

Well let me get the bad out the way first. There are some words cut off and the separations between pages isn't always the best. I don't think there was enough time taken for the editing process.

That being said, I still loved it. It's a collection of articles, rituals, poems and short stories. I know 3 of the contributors from Facebook. There's our beloved Mrs. B of Confessions of a Soccer Mom who writes out a great article on making your own runes using nothing more than Pumpkin seeds and a marker. I just bought pumpkins on sale yesterday, I think I'll have to try this one. Anyone want a set?

Angelique Mroczka of The Balanced Witch and The Pagan Writers Community leads us through a guided meditation appropriate for this season.

And Kallan Kennedy of The Secret Life of the American Working Witch who shares with us a Samhain Chant called "Homage to My Ancestors."

It's like a collection of blog entries all tied together. There is a lot of writing about ancestors and altars, and an altar for ancestors. There are recipes, family traditions, ancient traditions. And as I mentioned before, poems and stories that feed off all of that. Definitely an entertaining read, and only 109 pages, so it's fast as well.

All profit on this book goes into the coin purse of The Pagan Writers Community - which seeks to help, inspire and promote artists of alternative faiths. Considering I can only think of 2 publishers that work with pagan material, this is a needed program.

Double Dexter

by Jeff Lindsay

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
Dexter Morgan is not your average serial killer. He enjoys his day job as a blood spatter analyst for the Miami Police Department . . . but he lives for his nighttime hobby of hunting other killers. Dexter is therefore not pleased to discover that someone is shadowing him, observing him, and copying his methods. Dexter is not one to tolerate displeasure . . . in fact, he has a knack for extricating himself from trouble in his own pleasurable way.

Like the previous five best-selling novels in the Dexter series, Double Dexter showcases the witty, macabre originality that has propelled Jeff Lindsay to international success. Double Dexter is raucously entertaining . . . full of smart suspense and dark laughs.

---

Silly me - I had no idea Dexter was based on a series of books. My husband and I saw most of season one, when it aired on CBS. I don't think it came back because with all the censoring of language and gore, each episode was only 5 minutes long.

The cover, with the double blood-covered knives sets the creepy stage. I was actually surprised how creepy Dexter really is. In the series you get the feeling that he really is a decent guy with a serial killing bend. But no, he's a psychopath all the way. The only reason he follows the rules is to stay out of jail. The only person he really loves is his daughter. He married his wife basically because it helps him blend in more and she's a great cook. The kids are psycho too, and Dexter is taking them in hand to mold them to be like him. That's what creeps me out - instead of getting them help he is encouraging them. The baby girl is the only one with a chance of growing up normal.

The story is from Dexter's perspective, so it does leave all the other characters slightly 2 dimensional. It works in this case. The point being, Dexter doesn't know how to read other people, remember he's psychopathic?

In the beginning Dexter is "playing" with a guy who dresses up like a clown to prey on children. Dexter does pick people you don't mind him killing. The clown had been taking boys from the park near his hotel/apartment. When he was done with them, he disposed of their bodies nearby in a sewer tunnel. Dexter knew this was a bad egg. He's all set up and working in an abandoned house (isn't the foreclosure crisis grand?) when someone happens in and sees him. The witness leaves so fast that Dexter can't catch him. He then spends most of the book tracking this guy down.

Mostly I enjoyed the story. But if Dexter was really worried about this guy, he would have made it more of a priority to find him. Instead it was a spare time hobby, most nights spent doing nothing more than seeing his family. Although perhaps Rita's erratic behavior was puzzling him. Even though he doesn't get people, there is enough description that we readers can guess what is going on. Trust me, you'll know Rita's problem LONG before Dexter does.

Oh and Dexter's brother makes a comeback. He comes over every Friday for dinner and puts on the charm for Rita. He wants Dexter to join him. I thought Dexter had murdered his brother, but then again I can't really remember and the books and the TV show aren't exactly the same. Honestly I like this book better than the show. I may find Dexter extra creepy but it made for a tense, thrilling story.

So yes, if you like Dexter, then read this book. And as someone who has not read any other Dexter book, you can just pick it up and read it. You might get a little confused when he talks about the rules of Harry. Well when Dexter was little his brother and he witnessed the very brutal murder of their mother (parents?) and were locked up with the mess. Harry, a police officer on the case, adopted Dexter. He saw what Dexter was going to be, and shaped him to only go after bad guys and only after he had proof they were indeed guilty. So Dexter has his outlet but in a useful way...kinda...even Dexter realizes it's wrong he is powerless to stop himself. So I guess if you have to better to go after people who are truly wasting air?

Sunday Stealing: The Questions Galore Meme, Part 3

Cheers to all of us thieves!

41. What is a quote that you love? "You may not get hurt, but huff-puff you won't get loved either." It's from the 10th kingdom and it really speaks to my own inner trust issues.

42. Do you think of pure hate as something humanity created? Yes, I really do.

43. When was the last time you wanted to scream? While I was watching Life Unexpected (and yes the 2 seasons are streaming on Netflix), it's deliciously bad tv. A soap with less people. :)

44. Do you ever at times see the world in black and white? Not often, there is so much gray that I try really, really hard to not pass judgement.

45. Have you ever thought that cell phones are too obtrusive? Always...I still have one though. lol I just don't like when I see parents with their kids and the cell phone is glued to their ear and the kids are ignored, that really bothers me. Well I'm less bothered when it's a group or pair of older people. I just think that's rude. Could you imagine being on a date and the other person kept talking on their cell phone? I had one like that once and he told the person he wasn't doing anything important. OUCH!

46. In your life, where do you thank the rainbow will end? Am I on a rainbow? If so it really blows! It will probably end in the Bog of Stench.

47. What is something that you never want to do again? Oh I don't know, I've done so many disgusting things in my life. Ok at the top of that list is to clean up someone's vomit. Considering my oldest is 5 and the youngest is 3, that's probably a pipe dream. :)

48.When was the first time you realized the world was small? I don't think the world is small now. It's massive.

49. How you spend your time contemplating life’s mysteries? Far too much, too bad you can't get paid doing that.

50. Ever discuss your political beliefs with people? Pretty much just with my husband. I don't like to make waves with people and that leaves off religion and politics.

51. Do you care about the environment? Yes, in that I'd like there to be a planet for my kids to live on when they grow up.

52. What’s your motto for life? If you aren't hurting anyone, it's no one else's business.

53. Is progress destroying the beauty of the world? Yeah, I think that a lot. I live in a state that used to be all trees...and sometimes I try to imagine what it was like and it makes me sad.

54. Do you believe there is life somewhere else in the universe? Of course, a infinite area life has to have been repeated a million times over. Do I believe they are traveling here to give anal probes to farmers? No - that one I don't buy. lol

55. Would you like to rule a country? Good GOD no! I wouldn't want to be in charge of a township, much less an entire country. Look at the president, all the way back in your memory. Anytime something bad is going on, it's the presidents fault. People never seem to remember that the president only has so much control and most decisions are made in congress and the senate. But it's the president's fault. And if a new guy comes in and it doesn't get fixed fast enough, then people forget the last guy who they previously thought caused the mess.

56. Do you believe everything has a purpose? Not everything but sometimes it's surprising. Last week I nearly bought a Thomas costume for Ivan at Wal-Mart. He was fussy and I put it back and he was ok with that - and if you knew how obsessed with Thomas Ivan is you'd know how shocking that really is. Then a few days later we are at Merchandise Outlet and find a James costume for less money and Ivan was thrilled.

57. Is war ever for the best? I really don't think so. So many innocent lives are lost, people that could care less about politics and just want to live their lives and watch their families grow and change. Why do they have to pay the largest price while the guys making the decisions sit in their comfy homes and offices and never see the results of those decisions.

58. Could you kill anyone in defense of self or loved ones? I don't know, if someone was trying to hurt my boys I'm not sure how far I could go. I don't want to be in that situation, I can say that one for sure (yeah like anyone would!)

59. How do you react to people (Such as Governor Rick Perry) who don't believe global warming is really our fault? I don't, they aren't worth the attention or the breath it would take to react. The fact is when people are like that, no matter what you say it won't make a difference to them. They will dismiss anything you say, even any facts you present.

60. Does love conquer all? No, it doesn't. It is nice, though. It makes life bearable.

61. Is euthanasia morally acceptable? Depends, honestly look at what we do with our animals. If our beloved furry pet is at the end of their life and suffering, we put them down. But when a human is in the same position, then it's murder and illegal. I don't think that's quite right that we treat our pets better than our fellow human beings. Shouldn't it be the persons choice? And yes I do see the other side of people not being mentally capable of making that decision. Or bad guys committing murder, but those are things in any situation. If a person is going to kill themselves, they will make it stick. I just think they should be able to go peacefully if death really is the only outcome.

62. Is world peace impossible? Yes, people suck, the end.

63. Is pride a good or a bad thing? Depends, people being jackasses about it is when it is bad. A little self confidence never hurt anyone.

64.What do you think is the purpose of your life? I have no idea, but i hope I find it soon. Then again maybe it's just to be a mother to these little guys and a good wife to my husband, maybe I'm not making a huge mess of that.

65. Do you believe in karma? I don't know, I'd like to but far too often total dicks are getting everything they want. We try so hard to be good people, to work hard and it's never enough.

Not Everything Brainless is Dead

by: Joshua Price

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords.

Synopsis:
Captain Rescue and his arch nemesis are always at each other’s throats, but this time, Dr. Malevolent’s criminal caper goes horribly awry. The two are forced to put aside their differences and form an unlikely alliance to thwart mankind's undeadliest threat—zombies!

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Great cover, but I don't remember any zombies coming out of the ground. The first part of the book is pure wackiness as Captain Rescue dashes in to save the day when Dr. Malevolent decides to rob the Bank...yes The Bank...biggest bank in town...actually from the way it sounded the ONLY bank in town.

Captain Rescue is a complete idiot...like Batman without the brains...or stacked body. Dr. Malevolent can't believe who she has to work with. It takes nothing to put him in their truck and head off. But even a broken clock is right twice a day, and somehow he gets lucky when the truck crashes at the police station.

No one is super smart, or strong, or even coordinated. Everyone is normal. Dr. Malevolent's father was killed when she was a little girl, and in her mind it was a big faceless corporation that took him out (ignoring the fact that he was a street vendor and probably just hit by a car). And Captain Rescue's parents were killed by dolphins, he swore to protect people from the dangerous mammal and grew up to meet this goal only to discover that they are actually quite docile. LOL And his cave? Under a urinal cake factory.

So the police confiscate all the evidence and Dr. Malevolent and her crew are put in jail. The guys inventorying the bank goods were not any better. One of them actually drank a dangerous green liquid, and yes that's what started the zombie apocalypse. I about died when Captain Rescue realized what was going on and unlocked the jail cell, shut the door behind him and then threw the keys outside the cell. Actually thought Dr. Malevolent was going to kill him.

So they band together, along with a psycho police officer named Freight and a talking zombie they nick-named Stubs (ok that was Captain Rescue) to save the world. Dr. Malevolent realizes that there has to be a world in order to take it over.

This book really tickled me. It was absurd, farcical, down to earth, and occasionally realistic (when that was an absurd concept). You will never find a zombie apocalypse this hilarious! And you know Dr. Malevolent has a large group of lackeys to take on death for the rest of the heroes - once Freight even throws one through a door to make sure it's not a trap - LOL.

MyMemories Wednesday

What are little boys made of?
Frogs and snails
And puppy-dogs' tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice
And everything nice,

That's what little girls are made of.

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Today's entry was made using MyMemories free designer kit that can be accessed here - www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_1.

Remember if you do want to purchase the software - use this code at checkout - STMMMS94433.

And now for an added bonus. 5th commenter wins an additional free kit. Just make sure I can contact you.

Meowmorphsis

by Cook Coleridge, Franz Kafka

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Synopsis:
“One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that he had been changed into an adorable kitten.”

Thus begins The Meowmorphosis—a bold, startling, and fuzzy-wuzzy new edition of Franz Kafka’s classic nightmare tale, from the publishers of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! Meet Gregor Samsa, a humble young man who works as a fabric salesman to support his parents and sister. His life goes strangely awry when he wakes up late for work and finds that, inexplicably, he is now a man-sized baby kitten. His family freaks out: Yes, their son is OMG so cute, but what good is cute when there are bills piling up? And how can he expect them to serve him meals every day? If Gregor is to survive this bizarre, bewhiskered ordeal, he’ll have to achieve what he never could before—escape from his parents’ house. Complete with haunting illustrations and a provocative biographical exposé of Kafka’s own secret feline life, The Meowmorphosis will take you on a journey deep into the tortured soul of the domestic tabby.

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This review is very hard for me to write. The cover is cute, and this is another of the Quirk Classic mash-up, and Kafka is a big name. Hey, I like cats, I was looking forward to this one. A way to get my classic lit into my reading diet.

I like the cat change...in the original the guy turned into a big cockroach. So what Cook Coleridge did, worked.

However, Kafka...what were you writing? I think he is a writer that intellectuals say they love so they don't look stupid. The book didn't make any sense right from the beginning. The character is working for this awful company as a traveling salesman to work off his parents debt. Yet they live in a nice house with a servant girl??? And why would he HAVE to work for the company, just get the job you want and pay it off. Here's a thought, since Mom, Dad, and sis don't work, let them cook and clean. You would pay off that debt even faster!

So he wakes up one morning and he's a kitten. More afraid of losing his job than anything else. I'm pretty sure the morphing into a kitten would be my TOP priority. And even with the original cockroach I'm not sure what the point here is. Unless he's saying all salesmen are the most disgusting bugs...I think lawyers and politicians are worse. lol

I hate writing a bad review, but I do think I'd give Cook Coleridge another chance on his own work but Kafka...you and I are done. (Ok my husband just told me that it's an Absurdist novel and it's not supposed to make sense so I guess...job well done?)