Harry Potter

As I'm sure all of you know, today at midnight Harry Potter 7 (part one) gets released on the world...or at least the United States. Many bloggers have dedicated the entire week in celebration, which in turn has inspired my post today.

If anyone has not read the books, you should. Yes, they are children's books, but they are so much more than that. Very few books have captured the hearts of so many people of all ages and united them in their love for reading. After all, what other book do you know that has it's own theme park. I have not been but will as soon as I'm able. My story today is not about the seventh book but is probably my best reading HP story.

I remember when Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (BK 5) first came out. I was working as a horse back ridding instructor for a summer camp at the time and my days were filled with children and horses. Finally, on my night off, I rushed to town and bought the book.

The whole summer rumors had been flying that there was a major death at the end of the book and speculation ran through the campers and staff about who it would be. I couldn't wait to get home and start reading.

Unfortunately, the job took up most of my time (If you've ever been a camp counselor you know what I mean). I snuck a chapter here and a chapter there, staying up late into the night just to finish an extra chapter a day. The other staff members were reading right along beside me.

I remember the night very clearly when I got to the end, and the death that devastated me. I won't give it away on the off chance that some reader is planning on reading it (although really, where have you been). It was late, later than the other staff members were up but I sensed that the story was heading somewhere important so I curled into my bunk in the staff room with a flashlight and plowed ahead. When the character died, one of my all time favorites in the series, I bawled. Buckets. So loud that I woke up the other two counselors in the bunk next to mine and still to this day I remember their responses. Both were also currently reading the book. One woman, Fiona, asked me if I was okay, while the other woman, Carolyn, yelled down in a frantic whisper, "Don't tell me! I'm not there yet!" and covered her ears with her hands. Although other people I know feel differently, that death was worse for me than the one at the end of "Half Blood Prince". Although there were a few in the seventh book that devastated me equally or more.

Needless to say, I will be there midnight with my popcorn and soda (or coffee) anxious to see the new movie. Are you going to see the movie? Do you have any fun HP stories?

Twitter

I've been thinking lately about starting a twitter account but I must admit I'm a bit intimidated. I know I need to bite the bullet and get to it. And everyone tells me how easy it is, but for some reason I've been holding off. I'm not sure I'll have that much to say to be honest. It seems like people "tweet" once or twice an hour and that alone seems daunting. Not to mention...who will read them?

Then again, I said the same thing last spring when I started this blog. At first, I didn't know what to write or have any friends/followers. Now I love my blog and I love reading other blogs. So I guess it's one of those things you just have to do.

So, anyone have any twitter advice to share with a newbie like me?

Yay for Pre-Orders

I love when I pre-order a book on Amazon and then forget about it. It's such a nice surprise when I open up my kindle or email and see the notification that the book has been delivered.

I recently ordered "My Demon Saint" by R.G. Alexander after reading (and loving) the first book in the series, "My Shifter Showmance". There's really no other way to describe these books as fun. Just a short sweet story that kept my interest throughout.

Now my only concern is finishing my current read before diving into this one! I better get reading...

Madly in Love Monday - Nov. 15th

 Happy Monday Everyone! Hope you all had fantastic weekends. This weekend I finished the book "Captive Spirit" by Liz Fichera. It was very different than my normal read but utterly captivating. The imagery made everything very real. Just last night I picked up "Second Chances" by Lauren Dane. Ms. Dane is often hit and miss with me but so far this book looks promising. I'll let you know what I think once I'm done.

In the meantime, it's time for another Madly in Love Monday. Every Monday I choose a book from my keeper shelf I fell so "Madly in Love" with that I just had to share it with all of you. There were a couple books I was debating this morning but I find my mood often affects my selection. I was in the mood for a historical this week so I went with one of my favorites.

Laura Lee Guhrke's "Guilty Pleasures". This book is the classic make-over read but with some new twists. I was captivated every moment of this story and found myself utterly charmed by both the intelligent and awkward Daphne Wade and the dashing Anthony Courtland.

blurb:

One of Daphne Wade's guilty pleasures is to watch the Duke of Tremore as he works, shirtless, on the excavation site of his ducal estate. Anthony Courtland is by far the most exciting and handsome man she has ever known, and she dreams of one day being able to speak with him without getting tongue tied.

Anthony, meanwhile, only sees Daphne as a hard worker on his excavation team. He considers her a plain young lady and says so in a careless remark to a friend, unaware that Daphne is outside the library door, her heart shattering to pieces. So Daphne decides she will not be so silly any longer. She begins to be tutored in the social graces, forcing Anthony to see the beauty who has been right in front of his eyes.

If you're in the mood for a historical romance or even just a great make-over story, "Guilty Pleasures" is the book for you.

What's your "Madly in Love" Monday pick?

A Haunting

So, as I know I've mentioned once or twice, I have a terrible memory. Because of this, I usually write down things I want to remember. But occassionally I don't and then they come back to haunt me. Right now, I'm being haunted.

I was on someone's blog a couple weeks ago and they had a blurb up about one of their upcoming releases. And I remember thinking, how cool, I'll have to remember that and look into it when it comes out. Now, what I should have done was write down, really anything. But what I actually did, was nothing. As a result, I don't know the site I was on, what the title of the book is, or who wrote it. But I'm hoping the author is one of you lovely people who read my blog since I do remember the basic details.

The heroine of the book was a dryad, something I found fascinating since I've been playing around with the idea of writing a book with dryads (my favorite creature since reading the Belgariad). The hero was a vampire. I think the vampire was cursed to be vegetarian. Or something along those lines.

I know that's not a lot to go by but the book sounded really good. So if you wrote it or you know what it could be, please help me dispell my ghost of memory lost.

Madly in Love Mondays - Nov. 8th

Well, it's the start of another week. Usually, I'm tired on Mondays, but I find myself with a surplus of energy today. I spent the majority of my weekend visiting family, and I always find myself anxious to get back into my routine after being away (even for so short a time). So Happy Monday Everyone!

As many of you may know, every Monday I look through my keeper shelf (or my kindle archives) and pick out one book I've fallen so "Madly in Love" with that I wanted to share.

Today, I've chosen something I actually downloaded as a free kindle book from Amazon. Since purchasing the book (and I use that term lightly), I've revisited it over and over and looked at other books from the same author. I wish I could say it was still free but unfortunately it's gone back up to it's list price (although definitely still a great buy). The book I've chosen is:

'Compromising Positions' by Jenna Bayley-Burke. Not only is the premise of this book fun, the characters are easy to like. The heroine is confident without being snooty with just the right dash of quirkiness and uniqueness that make her stand out. If you're looking for something fun and light, this is the right book for you!

blurb:

Falling in love is the last thing on his busy agenda…but compromising positions can lead just about anywhere.

David Strong knows how to do a lot of things—run an international fitness company, finesse stock portfolios and stay out of emotional entanglements. That is, until he gets tangled up with Sophie Delfino and her Sensational Sex workout. He’s supposed to help her demonstrate Kama Sutra positions for her couples’ yoga class. The rigorous postures require more than just physical control. And his co-instructor unexpectedly tests his control to the limit.

Sophie’s been fantasizing about David since her teens, but she never dreamed she’d actually be expected to run through her intimate desires—with an audience! The class is very professional, tame even—or it would be, if she’d been in any of the positions before. But she hasn’t—except in her wildest fantasies about David. Sophie knows she wants David in every way, and she’s flexible enough to use whatever she has to get him.

David can’t afford any unexpected distractions. Besides the sensual positions he has to endure without embarrassing himself in public, there’s an embezzler stealing from his company. And then there’s Sophie—who is well on her way to stealing his well-guarded heart.

What's your "Madly in Love Mondays" pick?

Author Interview with Nichelle Gregory

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