The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter review

This is the 2nd book in the Lords of the Underworld series. Fair warning, SPOILERS may follow.

Lucien houses the demon of Death. He is like Charon is that Lucien is the ferryman for the newly dead into their afterlife. He differs from Charon in that Lucien gets to go to heaven & hell. After centuries of ferrying souls to their final resting places, he was content to be alone so that he would never have to ferry another lover to either location. To prevent women from ever desiring him, Lucien intentionally marred his face so that no one would ever want to get close again. Unfortunately Anya isn't just anyone.

Anya, the goddess of Anarchy, is on the run. Since the Titans took over the Mount (and imprisoned the gods & goddesses) she is avoiding drawing too much attention to herself. With Lucien though, she's doing just the opposite. She's doing everything in her power to attract him & despite his constant cold shoulder routine, she is relentless in her pursuit. She's aware of his curse & doesn't mind at all, considering she has a pretty big curse of her own that she's not willing to share.

All of their bantering back and forth may be all for naught if they can't work together against the Hunters that are constantly plaguing the Lords. With little regard for themselves, these two are destined to find some measure of happiness. In this life or the next.

Gena Showalter continues the non-stop action that I'm enjoying so much. We pick up where we left off after The Darkest Night and start to move deeper into the plot of the story. I don't really mention what Lucien & Anya are working on together because there is just way too much detail to go into in order for you to understand. It would be way easier to read the books. Seriously. Basically the Hunters are the "bad guys" that want to exterminate the Lords by returning their demons to the box they came from. Unfortunately that has the nasty side effect of killing the Lords. Therefore, the Lords (and those feisty women helping them) are trying to stop the Hunters from gaining the upper hand.

These main characters were a little more extreme than the last ones. While Anarchy can sometimes facilitate the necessity for Death, the two are not mutually exclusive. Lucien is a brooding, dark, pensive kind of personality while Anya is bubbly, conniving, & jovial. She does have her Debbie-downer moments, but she tends to bounce right back from them. They are both highly developed characters that never cease to intrigue & bewitch me.

The writing continues to be strong. Again, there are sexual situations, but not as much (or as graphic) as in the first book. I find myself being more & more drawn into the story & the Lords' lives. I'll be very happy to see what's up next in their battle for survival!

The Darkest Kiss by Gena Showalter review

Williams-Sonoma 5 Interior Design Blogs We Couldn’t Live Without

Thank-you Williams-Sonoma for picking this blog!
5 Interior Design Blogs We Couldn’t Live Without

By Jay Johnson
It’s easy to smell a phony when reading a blog; the words don’t ring true, they sound contrived, and the advice isn’t from the heart. But a great interior designer’s blog can be inspirational and helpful – and even funny. As bloggers, Irwin and I appreciate the extra work it takes to step outside of your everyday design projects and communicate to people you might never meet about what you love, what you hate, what resources you’ve just used on a job, and what elements of taste and style make you see the world in your own unique way. Here are some of our favorite interior designer blogs.

Patricia Gray This cleanly designed and beautifully photographed blog is the creation of a generous designer. Vancouver based Patricia Gray shares her keen eye for style, takes us on trips around the world (and points out her “favourites”), and points out the resources and materials that she enjoys using on a job. The latter is particularly useful for interior designers. It’s great to see a master designer work, look at resources as they appear in finished spaces, and get an analysis of why and how they function beautifully. You also get the bonus of a well-trained feng shui student, layered on top of the interior designer, and you can better understand why Patricia’s interiors exude calm, serenity, and strong flow.
Read full article

PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning interior design firm in Vancouver writing about lifestyle and
WHAT'S HOT in the world of interior design, architecture, art and travel.
2011 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

Williams-Sonoma 5 Interior Design Blogs We Couldn’t Live Without

HOT SPOTS in CA: The Hollywood Museum

The front lobby of The Hollywood Museum. 

After living in Los Angeles for six and a half years, I finally made it to one of the tourist cornerstones of Hollywood and Highland: The Hollywood Museum. You'd think it would be a no-brainer for me to visit this den of cinematic archaeology sooner, but in a way I am glad that I waited. Finding and exploring a new jewel is nice, especially after scouring the whole city and thinking that I'd left no stone unturned. Then again, perhaps the "cheesy" factor delayed my interest. Beings that the museum is located next to a Ripley's Believe It Or Not, I often opted for "not," thinking it was a mere magnet for out-of-towners and that there would be little to engage a true connoisseur's interest (ahem). Well, thank God I finally got bored on a Sunday, because to the museum I did go, and I left more than pleased.

One of the pairs of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland 

during The Wizard of Oz.

Sandwiched between Ripley's and Mel's Diner, The Hollywood Museum is situated in the old Max Factor building at 1660 N. Highland Blvd. Due to its locale at the old make-up haven, the first floor is almost entirely dedicated to cosmetics and beauty. Different rooms, labeled by hair-color, feature different actresses, and artifacts like Joan Crawford's old make-up case are on display. The "Brownettes Only" room dedicates much of its space to Judy Garland: one of Frances Gumm's original, tiny stage outfits and Dorothy's Ruby slippers are proudly encased for drooling gawkers. The "Brunettes Only" room equally pays particular attention to Elizabeth Taylor, as the "Red Heads Only" does to Lucille Ball.

The dress Marilyn Monroe wore while entertaining the 

troops in Korea (Sorry for the glare).

The museum too, unbeknown to me, possesses one of the most extensive collections of Marilyn Monroe treasures, which are of course shown in the "Blondes Only" room. Her old makeup, famous dresses she wore, and a memorial case dedicated to her untimely death are visible, as is a strange gadget that seems to be an early attempt at the "face-lift." It bears a stronger resemblance to the iron maiden, but for your mug. Needless to say, (or should I say "needles?"), I was scared. Apart from the make-up rooms, the back corridors lead you to a garage where Marilyn's private limousine is parked. I wanted to get a closer look, but was afraid that the monkeys from the Planet of the Apes display would come after me.

The early face-lift: The Max Factor Beauty Calibration Machine, 

still raising eyebrows...

Also on the first floor is an extensive anthology of signatures collected by notorious autograph hound Joe Ackerman. This guy got everybody's John Hancock, and now the majority of them hang on the walls, encased in picture frames according to various movies. The cast of Gilda adorns one wall, Tarzan another, but most happily to me the cast of The Great Dictator was hanging for all to see, complete with the signatures of Paulette Goddard and the Charlie Chaplin. Down another walkway is a room featuring a miniature representation of the barn used as Cecil B. DeMille's first office, used when filming The Squaw Man. This is now known as the Hollywood Heritage Museum, another superb spot. Glamour shots of all of cinema's greatest stars-- Spencer Tracy, Bette Davis, Lon Chaney, etc-- also decorated the walls, along with some beautiful photos of Hollywood's growth from the early, nearly vacant silent years to the bustling times of Schwab's Diner. The temptation to slip one of these portraits under my arm was hard to fend off.

Ackerman autographs from The Great Dictator: Charlie, Paulette, 

Jack Oakie, and Billy Gilbert.

From here I went downstairs to the "Hall of Horrors," which apparently was once a speakeasy, and where now a great many props from classic horror films are on display. I spied the mask of Jason Voorhees, the dresses of Elvira and Vampira, and most impressively the facial casts of some of Horror's greatest stars: Lon Chaney, Jr, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, and Christopher Lee (left). There was more than scary-stuff downstairs, however, and I was pleased with a display showcasing wardrobe from both the 1917 and 1934 versions of Cleopatra. Theda Bara's headdress and Claudette Colbert's gown were both featured. The big finale was the long, dark walk down Hannibal Lane, where a complete re-creation of Lecter's cell stood waiting at the very end. I admit that I got chills when nearing it. As in the film, a folded chair awaited Clarice Starling, and Hopkins's inmate costume and infamous mask within the cell completed the illusion.

Can you smell the fava beans? (Sorry for the darkness).

The upper floors are dedicated to rotating displays, which is what makes the museum worthy of multiple visits. When I was there early this September, I lucked out in being able to witness the "Lucille Ball at 100, I Love Lucy at 60" display. In addition to several of the awards that the lovable Lucy won over the years, various props, costumes, and personal dresses she wore to awards shows were present. One of my favorite features was the famous "three-headed monster," which was an innovative piece of equipment used to film what is now considered the first official sitcom. Much attention was equally paid to Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. As a Gustav Klimt fan, I was also appreciative of the "Portrait of Emilie Floge" re-creation with Lucy standing in for Emilie (right).

I Love Lucy's "Three-headed Monster."

And finally, the "piece de resistance" was the top level, devoted to one of my all time favorites, Jean Harlow. Another hundred year tribute, this exhibit proved that the sweet and gorgeous Jean continues to shine so many years after her death.  Much like the Lucy display, there were several dresses to view, as well as enlarged photos of the glamour vixen (in youthful days, left), and personal letters and documents on display. Seeing first-hand the correspondence and penmanship of this silver screen goddess was quite moving, especially when perusing cute notes to friends and colleagues. As big as she became, Jean clearly always remained down to earth and loyal to her pals. Another object worth mentioning was the movie star mural that husband Paul Bern apparently commissioned for their short-lived home together on Benedict Canyon. It depicts a fictional, ancient banquet scene with Jean at center table and other actresses like Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer in attendance. It was quite decadent and unexpected. By far, the most impressive was her personal Packard on display. I don't know much about automobiles, but in this case it was love at first sight. Jean definitely had taste.

Jean's 1932 Phaeton Packard. Yum.

In the back on this same floor, more space was dedicated to other historical mementos, including a roulette table from the infamous Pickfair, gowns worn by Mae West, Greta Garbo, and Clara Bow, and Pee Wee Herman's bicycle. I wish I had had more time to really peruse everything with great scrutiny, but I literally would have had to spend hours there to do so. All in all, it was a great experience with some truly jaw-dropping exhibits and unexpected charms. The downside was that in appearance the museum was a bit cluttered, but I could hardly blame them with all of the artifacts they have to jam into one place. It's still worth a visit to those truly interested in Hollywood history and the preservation of its favorite players. I will definitely be going back when a new display comes to town. 

The much beloved Roddy MacDowell's powder room, complete 

with friends' pictures and autographs.

To visit the The Hollywood Museum: 

1660 N. Highland Avenue

Hollywood, CA 90028

323-464-7776

$15 for Adults

Open 10am-5pm Wed-Sun.

http://thehollywoodmuseum.com/

HOT SPOTS in CA: The Hollywood Museum

Waiting on Wednesday: Fighting to Survive: As the World Dies II by Rhiannon Frater

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm looking forward to the November 8th release of the 2nd installment in the As the World Dies: A Zombie Trilogy entitled Fighting to Survive by Rhiannon Frater. There don't seem to be spoilers in the blurb, but read at your own risk if you haven't read The First Days.

Picking up where The First Days ends, Fighting to Survive features the further zombie-killing, civilization-saving adventures of a pair of sexy, kick butt heroines and the men who love them. A hundred or so survivors of the zombie plague have found tenuous safety in the walled off center of a small Texas town. Now the hard work of survival begins—finding enough food; creating safe, weather-resistant shelter; establishing laws; and fighting off both the undead who want to eat them and the living bandits who want to rob and kill them.

From Goodreads

Now, if you haven't gotten the chance to read the first one yet and are on the fence, be sure to read my review of The First Days. It was surprising entertaining. There wasn't a whole lot to laugh at, I mean this is a vicious zombie apocalypse, but it was still a good read. I'm not sure how well the zombies are faring in the paranormal/sci-fi genre, but I seem to enjoy a few here & there. This is a keeper, so I'm excited to see the story continue! What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Fighting to Survive: As the World Dies II by Rhiannon Frater

Moms talk - PPD, PTSD, Baby Blues & the NICU

Sometimes what makes a mom feel the best, especially one who thinks she may be suffering from some sort of post delivery depression related issue, is to hear thoughts and other words from moms feeling the same way. I know when my PPD started settling in well after we were all home from the NICU, I just wanted to hear that I was going to get better from an understanding person. So this post is just a compilation of moms venting about their issues surrounding PPD, baby blues, and PTSD, following and during their NICU journey. Feel free to comment about your experiences.

"I feel so depressed latley. I dont even want to go to the hospital. not because I dont want to see natalie or take care of her - I just dont want to do it there - I WANT HER HOME. I dont want someone standing over me while I am trying to get her to eat, or asking me every two minutes if she latched on when i am doing non nutritional breastfeeding (breastfeeding during a tube feeding). I am not producing as much milk - which i personally think it has to do with giving her a bottle while I am there. I pump like maybe 250ml a day but they are giving her 320 ml a day - I had some stocked from the week she wasnt eating but I know they have to be running out now so at some point they are going to start giving her formula and that bothers me becasue I dont see how it can be good to give her some feedings of breastmilk with human milk fortifier and then do some feeding with similac special care 24 cal formula. I also think they are feeding her too much at a time. out of the bottle she will eat 32 ml and they will force another 6ml into her with a tube (the difference in formula is waste becasue they always put extra in the tube feed that just stays in the syringe after it is done). then I have to be really really careful moving her because she spits some of it back up - maybe that should tell them she is getting too much??" -Shannon



"Mine was delayed. I have baby blues complicated by bipolar disorder, and while the baby blues typically hit after birth, mine didn't start until we left the hospital, and I'm struggling with them now. Don't get me wrong, I cried 3x a day while he was there, but focusing on absolutely every procedure and test and goal distracted me for awhile. Once I got home and he was doing well, the mood disorder, hormones, and cumulative stress hit me like a freight train." -Becca


"Hi...I used to be active on here, but had closed my account and recently rejoined. My son, Logan, was born at 25 weeks and spent 123 days in the NICU. I had my own "hotel" room in a portion of the hospital that I lived in the whole four months he was there because the hospital was over an hour away from home. There were days when I would dread going to his room, and I felt major guilt over it. For me it was a fear of how his night had gone, or some new infection he may have. When he came home he was on oxygen until he was over a year old and we were homebound for several months. I think I was in survival mode during that first year. I didn't address any of my depression or grief while he was in the hospital or when he came home, and it caught up with me later. Once he was about 18 months old and was doing well and healthy in my eyes I started to recognize the depression. My doctor told me post partum can occcur up to two years after birth, and most likely mine was delayed because I was so busy surviving and taking care of Logan. I have also read some stories about moms having some PTSD when they have had a traumatic birth. I am a therapist myself, so it was hard for me to acknowledge my depression and that I couldn't handle it on my own. Talk to you hospital social worker or OBGYN, they can help you identify if you need any medication or an evaulation for post partum. Best of luck!!" -Jen


"I coped with the NICU through denial. I pretended everything was perfectly fine and normal...it helped that Jim was mostly a feeder and grower, but even on the bad days, I just told myself, "This is normal, he'll be fine." Even when clearly he WASN'T fine and even though nothing about the NICU experience was normal. It was about a year later that I started to really be a mess, right around the anniversary of my water breaking. That's when I started bursting into tears over random stuff--like, the if I smelled Ivory soap because that's what they had in the pumping room at the hospital, or one time I went to check on Jim and I realized his bed is pointed the same way that his crib was at the hospital, so it was like looking at him in the NICU again. I still do that sometimes, although it's better since we started therapy (DH and I go together--DH has full-on PTSD symptoms like nightmares and anxiety).

This stuff is hard, seriously hard. All the guilt and the anger and the grief and the fear, it's not easy to live with. It is a really good idea to get help, I wish I'd done it much sooner." -Anna


I had moments where I dreaded going to the NICU. I remember one particular day when I was driving there and I was praying. I said, "God, I know we have a LOT to handle and I know I just have face this, but I REALLY need a good day today." It was a good day (it was actually the first day I got to hold her), but that drive there I just dreaded the walk from my car to the NICU.

Still when I smell the soap they use in my hospital my heartrate jumps. I'm not so much nervous, but I feel it. It is ingrained into my very being now. 

"If you doctors are really saying she isn't doing well, they are idiots. I mean honestly... any baby in the NICU who is able to move to a crib and be off oxygen is doing GREAT! My doctors NEVER said anything like, "she isn't doing well." Even on the days we were waiting to see if this treatment worked or she would die. They were constantly positive. On the day we were being discharged, one of her doctors came in and said, "I never wanted to tell you until I was sure she was going home, but Beth had the worst lungs of any child I've seen in my 35+ years of practice who has lived." I was thankful he said it then (when we knew she was going home and doing well) because I know it was a miracle that she is so well now. So, next time your doctors say something like that, tell them you really don't need to hear it." -Sara


"I have post traumatic stress disorder and had postpartum. McKenzie spent 2 months in the NICU and Madison spent 5 months before she passed away. i had a lot of things to deal with. I still can not drive past the hospital without bawling." -Daisy


"I have to agree with the others. In a way I am thankful for this post because I know I am not alone. When my son was born, my husband was in Iraq. He was born at 23 weeks and was a very sick little baby for a very long time. My husband came back and forth a couple times before he got to stay for good. We went through a lot with him coming back from Iraq to THAT. A sick baby. He was having his own issues while I was having mine. We were both on survival mode. We communicated about....never. It was very bad, but oddly enough, I never felt "depressed", I felt overwhelmed and was only able to take things a day, hour, or minute at a time. My son came home on oxygen, an NG tube, and a monitor. It was like the NICU at home, and we continued in survival mode. 10 months after my son came home, DH and I separated. I became EXTREMELY depressed to the point that I literally did not ever want to get off the couch, not even to play with my own amazing son!! It was horrible and I finally got help. I was also experiencing some pretty intense PTSD symptoms, to include flashbacks and severe OCD. After two months, DH and I decided to try again, and we got counseling. All of that has REALLY helped, but it is still hard. I think that as NICU moms we definitely go through a much different type of post partum/PTSD. Hang in there and don't be afraid to get help, and get it NOW before it gets to the point that I let it get to. Good luck!" -Dianna


"I had a significant depression post NICU, and my twins were adopted-they were born at 28w in Feb 09, we moved to the NICU in May 09 for a month, they came home healthy, but I had a 2 year old at the time, a husband doing shift work, and no family to help us out. By Aug 09 I was on antidepressants, and feel better than I have in years. NICU is exhausting, mentally and physically for the entire family. I'm glad we're talking about this, I felt like an awful mom for a long time b/c I had these three (now four) amazing kids, and I was so overwhelmed and exhausted and crying all the time. I didn't feel I deserved them since I couldn't cope. Once the meds kicked in, I felt great and got my resources to gether and we're coping and thriving, but those first few months home with the twins were very dark." -Marie

Moms talk - PPD, PTSD, Baby Blues & the NICU

The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter review

Maddox is a god among mortals. More precisely, he is an immortal warrior created by the gods. As one of the most elite & powerful warriors to ever grace the mount, Maddox was a relatively content man. He & his comrades shed blood when needed & enjoyed female companionship when it suited them. All that changed when Maddox & his friends were scorned by the gods' preference for Pandora (another immortal warrior) to transport the box of oppression carrying the most atrocious demons that not even hell could contain. Their vanity cost them everything.

When they opened the box containing the demons, all hell broke loose. The demons were crazed from their captivity & entered into each of the warriors. Now each one must bear the eternal burden of carrying such demons as Promiscuity, Pain & Violence. Maddox was settled with Violence. In his thousands of years with his brotherhood of damned warriors, known as the Lords of the Underworld, Maddox has learned to contain & tame the demon as much as possible. There are definite signs of Violence in their remote fortress in Budapest, but no more than to be expected of warriors. What he doesn't expect, especially after all these years, is to find someone the demon doesn't want to kill, maim or even hurt.

That person turns out to be Ashlyn Darrow. A woman with an extra-sharp sense of hearing, so sharp she can hear any & every conversation that has ever occurred where she is currently located no matter the time, date or year, who is in Buda doing some research for a corporation she believes to be helping those with "special" abilities. Despite her boss's warning, Ashlyn treks toward the fortress hoping that the mysterious Lords can help her tame & control her hearing.

When the two meet on the snow-covered embankment there is an intense silence that neither can deny. The voices are silent for Ashlyn & the demon is silent for Maddox. What that means for them is unclear, but Ashlyn's boss is none too pleased at her disobedience & intends to prove his point against the Lords.

This was a doozy of a read! I devoured this book in less than 24 hours because I just couldn't get enough of these characters! The Lords are unlike any other possessed character I have ever read. Now it's possible that I just haven't read enough, but we can't be sure. :)

The torturous relationship of Lord & demon is so raw & incisive that I was completely drawn in to their world. Of course, since this is a romance novel, all the Lords are especially hunky in their own ways. Most of them are ridiculously muscular with a striking visage. The main female in the role is a trim, but toned woman that most men would faun over. While I can get tired of these stereotypical roles, the writing, characterization & plot development overrode any annoyances I might have perceived. Again, this is a romance novel so there are some sex scenes that vary from taught & tame to wild & a bit raunchy. If you're in the mood for that, read on; if not, feel free to skim/skip ahead as I do. ;)

The Lords of the Underworld presents a unique history & presentation of the gods. There is A LOT of back story, that is surprisingly well-handled. I didn't feel bogged down in history so much that I couldn't enjoy the action! A fabulously fun read, The Darkest Night is the first in a continuing series by Gena Showalter that I fully intend to see to the end.

Have any of you read these books? How did I miss them?! What do you think about the romance? Is it on par with the genre or a little more/less than is typical?

The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter review

Holidays With Preemies

Holidays with preemiesThe holidays can be a fun but sometimes difficult time for the parent of preemies. Smack dab in the middle of RSV season comes a holiday that usually involves celebrating with family and friends. It can be hard to spend holidays without everyone with you and if you are allowed to be in groups, you have to remain ever vigilant about hand washing and any other issues you might be facing with your preemie. Here are some tips and ideas for celebrating the holidays with your preemie and enjoying the season despite the challenges we face.

Keep it small - Even though you may normally celebrate with large family gatherings or holiday parties with friends, don't forget that this is RSV season. Try and celebrate with just your immediate family or keep the gathering very small. For parties, either find a babysitter for your little one or forgo attending parties where you can't control who is there (or how healthy they are).

Celebrate - Even if you are just celebrating with your husband/wife and kids, still create a festive environment. I've talked to several preemie parents who have said "why bother if it's just us" but trust me - you are worth the effort too! Make a special meal, follow the holiday traditions you normally have and still take the time to simply celebrate how far your family has come this year.

Let your preemie be has involved as he/she wants to be - The holidays can be overwhelming for all us but especially to preemies. The lights, the excitement, the people, the noise - it can all get to be too much. Be mindful of your preemies' cues and try to make sure they don't get too overwhelmed with all of it.

Have some fun - Even if you preemie is small and doesn't really understand what's going on - still keep him/her involved in the holidays. Keep your preemie in the room with you while you open gifts. Let your preemie play with the wrapping paper, ribbon, boxes or anything else that grabs his/her attention.

Capture Growth - The holidays are a great time to take an annual picture that shows just how much your preemie has grown. We use a stocking that in our son's first year he could fit inside of and now he just holds it up. A great reminder of how far he has come. Other great ideas are a special ornament, hat, candy cane, decoration or anything else that you have around the house.Enjoy your little miracles!

Holidays With Preemies

POLL

We interviewed a NICU-MT today and will post the questions/answers soon! We were just wondering how many families had a music therapist in the NICU. So here's a poll! Please vote.

POLL

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel review

"Evil be he who thinketh evil." This is the motto that Lenah Beaudonte has lived her 592 vampire years by while at home in Hathersage, England. With Rhode, Vicken & the rest of the coven by her side she was the most powerful & heartless monsters to walk the planet. Until Rhode took her away from it all. While he convinced the rest of the coven that Lenah was in hibernation, Rhode woke her early & took her to a small, private school in Rhode Island. Once there & with everything perfectly set up for her, Rhode sacrificed himself to remake Lenah into the human she deserved to be rather than the monster he created all those years ago.

A newly-minted human teenager (she was only about 17 when Rhode turned her into a vampire) Lenah must come to terms with the gift she has been given & the precious balance that must be kept in place in order for the coven not to hunt her down & kill her. After acclimating to the ability to be in the sun, Lenah begins to explore her new home on the Wickham school campus. She reluctantly makes friends with an artistic loner named Tony who begins to show her the ropes of the school. And just when she starts to become comfortable, she meets Justin. The emotions Lenah feels are painful after all these years, but she craves the sensation of his touch & his attention.

Unfortunately time is running out and the coven is growing suspicious that their queen has not risen from her hibernation. Lenah must now fight for what Rhode gave her, even if it means losing herself.

Infinite Days is one of the best vampire books in the YA genre. I'm going to let that sink in...

Good now? Ok. This original concept is so mesmerizing that I couldn't put it down once I got back into a vampire groove (I have reading grooves where I like to read the same kinds of things & then move on to another "book type"). The characters are lush & poetic while still maintaining their own definitions. Lenah & Rhode have got to be some of the most poignant vampires that I have seen depicted. When we first meet Lenah she is the epitome of everything we know about vampires: cold, callus, evil. It's through Rhode's huge sacrifice & Lenah's recovery from her re transformation that we discover what she is truly like.

Lenah was stolen from a simple life during a much simpler time. Rhode took that simplicity away from her & watched her create this cruel coven one by one over the centuries. When he finally had enough & wanted what he had originally found back he did the only thing he could think of that would force her hand. The magnitude of that act sticks with Lenah throughout her entire time at the Wickham school & she continues to develop as a person with a cast of characters that fill her every need.

My favorite parts of the book were the flashbacks where we are given a window to look at how far Lenah has come in her transformation & to really appreciate all that she is working through. It also gives us a greater understanding of the coven because for the most part they are just in the background.

This book is one that I think everyone should read. If you like vampires, and I mean real vampires, then this is one that you don't want to miss! I'm truly excited for the April 2012 release of Infinite Day's sequel Stolen Nights. It seems that we will pick up right where we left off with a cliffhanger that you must read to believe.

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel review

MENTAL MONTAGE: Screen Star Life Savers

One of cinema's favorite heroes, John Wayne, saves the day and rides off 

into the sunset with Natalie Wood and Jeffrey Hunter in The Searchers.

We often come to worship our film heroes with very little impetus. Our great admiration is born of a strange combination of respect and envy. Whatever it is that draws us to our favorite movie star-- her glamour and class, his strength and swagger-- one has to admit that the resulting awe is comparatively ridiculous in the wider scheme of things. Especially coming on the heels of the recent ten year anniversary of the Twin Towers devastation, where innocent citizens lost their lives and even more brave men and women in the police force and fire department risked their lives to try to save them, the vanity of screen hero adoration seems a bit shameful. Movie stars are just people after all... But our need to both hold them up and tear them down remains perhaps the most fascinating thing about the great facade that is Hollywood. Our love for them is always there, for whatever reason, and in the end it is our gratitude for the personal sacrificing of their souls on the silver screen that demands our steadfast devotion. Their work, therefore, is to be commended. Yet, there are some stars who have proved above and beyond their contemporaries that they deserve the title of "Hero" not for their outstanding cinematic efforts, but for the actions they performed behind the scenes. In these moments, when appearing at their most human and most brave, certain men and women have done more than enrich the public heart through entertainment; they have even saved lives.

Ginger Roger's (left) adherence to the controversial religion of Christian Science may have raised a few cynical eyebrows in her lifetime, and still in ours, but whatever the outside opinion, her faith served her well throughout her many years. Perhaps beyond anything else, it was Ginger's own core strength that made her so sturdy and reliable when those around her needed someone to lean on. Heaven knows, she certainly nursed more than one husband through a peculiar ailment and made a believer out of him. One can only imagine that mantras like "Every problem has a solution," and "This too shall pass," continually played in Ginger's head. She never seemed to lose her composure under pressure or give in to feelings of defeat or depression. If something had to be done, in her hands, one could trust that it would be done. This incomprehensible resilience would come in handy to many but to one woman in particular. When traveling in Rio (of course) with husband of the time Jacques Bergerac, Ginger would come into the acquaintance of upcoming actress Elaine Stewart. The two hit it off right away, so Ginger was deeply upset when she learned from the morning paper that Elaine had been taken seriously ill with acute appendicitis and was being hospitalized. It was even more shocking to her when a strange Brazilian gentleman informed her that Elaine had been asking for her in particular. After all, Ginger had only just met the girl and was far from being a close friend or family member. Nonetheless, despite being perplexed, Ginger went to Elaine, who in her frail condition seemed to be hanging on by a thread. Undeterred, Ginger leaned in and whispered to Elaine to stay positive and maintain a grateful heart. She encouraged her to stare at the ceiling and fill it with thoughts of all that Elaine was thankful for in her life, hoping to encourage her to have the will to live. After offering more words of faith, Ginger departed from the slightly alleviated patient. The next day, Ginger returned, and the very shocked doctor explained that Elaine had almost completely recuperated. It turns out that Ginger had made her previous visit during a very critical hour. Had Elaine not made it past that very hour, she would have died. It was Ginger's words that had carried her through. Elaine thenceforward considered Ginger to be her guardian angel.

Veronica Lake (right), despite her now well known feisty demeanor, was also a bashful and easily intimidated ingenue when she was just starting out in the business. Never fully certain that she wanted to be an actress, she already felt like an outsider when making the rounds as an extra with the other more obviously ambitious girls. Yet, Ronni was no shrinking violet, and she held her own and stayed true to who she was when thrown into the melting pot of hopeful young starlets. She certainly never thought she would make it big, but she was grateful when she was given opportunities in the business, and her discerning myopic eye easily zeroed in on people that she found to be truly helpful to her or genuinely hardworking and talented on their own. One such man who impressed her and won her respect was director John Farrow who worked with Ronni on Sorority House. Though "worked with" is probably too strong a phrase, since the two had little contact. Nonetheless, when she wrapped, Veronica decided to give John a token of her esteem- a Catholic medal. John was stunned, probably not having noticed the small girl amongst the other lovelies, but he accepted the gift willingly. Years later, the two would reunite, at which point Veronica was one of Hollywood's favorite sexpots. She didn't remember her small act of kindness to John, but he certainly did. He told her that the medal she had gifted him had actually saved his life. While fighting in WWII, he had been shot, but the medal had stopped the bullet! It turned out that a small act of kindness had gone a long way, and the pipsqueak beauty had become a savior to the war-weathered filmmaker.

Lon Chaney (left) was considered a silent saint to many. While he remained a mysterious man in the press, those who knew and worked with him were often touched by his far-reaching generosity and selflessness. A man of integrity, he could easily sniff out the like quality in others, and such people could always count on him for a hand in desperate times. His equal empathy for the underdog also created in him a sort of unexpected avenger. He always stuck up for his leading ladies when he felt they were being mistreated or manhandled, as Loretta Young and Joan Crawford could attest. But, he expected no gratitude for these acts. He simply stepped in, performed a selfless act, and then seemed to slip out again like a ghost. This was a characteristic always present in him, it seems, for examples of it can be found long before he ever reached stardom and started concocting his public persona. Sometime around 1915, when Lon was still struggling to get any work he could get his hands on, he like many had to take the the Pacific Electric cars up to the studios. On one particular day, there was a serious accident when a truck ran right into two of the rail cars. As a result, the truck passenger's left leg was severed. Without any hesitation, Lon, who was riding on one of the cars, ripped the shirt from his very body to help bandage and stop the bleeding of the injured man, who certainly would have died had it not been for the timely help. During a period of history when actors were frowned upon and ostracized in the early Hollywood community, this small act of heroism helped to change more than a few minds. For now, a nameless actor was a hero to one man, but in time he would be a great hero to many.

One of Moviedom's favorite onscreen couples was too one of Hollywood's best pair of friends. Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor became thick as thieves during the filming of A Place in the Sun (right), and while Liz may have preferred an offscreen romance as well, Monty's sexual preferences relegated their relationship to a platonic one. (Though rumor has it they did have a game or two of tonsil hockey). The pairing made sense. As two of the most beautiful people to ever grace the silver screen, they simply looked good together, and the deep and abiding love and respect that they had for each other endured until the end of Monty's life. Even Richard Burton was jealous of it. While the pals' union was prematurely severed with Monty's death, things were almost brought to an even more abrupt end much sooner. After attending a late night party at Liz's, with the likes of Rock Hudson and Liz's (at the time) husband Michael Wilding, a very tired and perhaps a little lubricated Monty jumped into his car to make the trek home. Another of Monty's lifelong friends, Kevin McCarthy, was ahead of him in his own car, leading the way down the hill to make sure that Monty got home ok. In his rear view mirror, Kevin witnessed Monty lose control of his vehicle and run straight into a telephone pole. 

Monty filming Raintree County with Liz post-crash.

As quickly as he could, Kevin raced back up to Liz's house for help, and immediately Elizabeth rushed down the hill to her friend, who lay beneath the dashboard, unconscious, his face half torn off, and covered in blood. Realizing that he was choking, she jammed her hand down his throat to remove his obstructing knocked out teeth, clearing his air passage and saving his life. Rock joined in, helping to pull Monty from the car as they awaited the ambulance. Liz insisted on riding to the hospital with her battered friend. Thanks to her, Monty did not die that night crumpled up in his car. He even gave her his two front teeth as souvenirs! However, he would suffer the consequences of the wreck for his remaining days. His handsome visage was irreparably marred, and the physical pain he experienced led to an even further dependence on chemical substitutes for alleviation. So, while this wreck didn't directly kill him, it helped to end his life further down the line. At this point in time, Liz was not willing to let him go. Had she always had him under her wing, perhaps she could have saved him in the long run. After Liz's own passing this past March, one hopes that the two are finally together again.

MENTAL MONTAGE: Screen Star Life Savers

Waiting on Wednesday: Darker Still (Magic Most Foul) by Leanna Renee Hieber

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

So you may not know this, but I'm a decent sized fan of classical literature. I enjoy the writing quality, the terminology & the scandals so much better! Darker Still (Magic Most Foul #1) by Leanna Renee Hieber is perfect because it seems to blend all these things together. Due for release on November 1 from Sourcefire Books, this is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord Denbury. Something in his striking blue eyes calls to her. As his incredibly life-like gaze seems to follow her, Natalie gets the uneasy feeling that details of the painting keep changing...

Jonathan Denbury's soul is trapped in the gilded painting by dark magic while his possessed body commits unspeakable crimes in the city slums. He must lure Natalie into the painting, for only together can they reverse the curse and free his damaged soul.

From Goodreads

How mesmerizing does that sound? It really is all those classics rolled up into one! Provided the author keeps the mystery going & depicts the time period with accuracy & reverence, this could shape up to be one of the best historical fiction books since The Vespertine. What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday: Darker Still (Magic Most Foul) by Leanna Renee Hieber

Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon review

SPOILER ALERT: This is the 18th book in the Dark Hunter series & while the author says that the books can be read in any order, I like to give fair warning anyway. Just FYI.

Fang Kattalakis is far from a lone wolf. He is a member of a pack, with his brother, his father & several other folks. But he has never desired a female as much as that of Aimee Peltier. Too bad she's not a wolf, she's actually the owner of Sanctuary's daughter. Oh, and a bear too.

Fang wasn't looking for a mate, heck he wasn't even looking for a date when he & some pack members wandered into Sanctuary for a meal. Of course nothing can ever be that simple & when Aimee's life is threatened by roving jackals, Fang protects & defends her, winning eternal gratification from the bears.

As it turns out, that "gratification" comes in very handy when things go sour faster than he ever thought possible. When his own father hands down the execution order for Fang & his brother, the bears are there to nurse them both back to health. Unfortunately the damage to Fang is extensive & he finds himself actually locked in a hellish purgatory with Aimee as his only way out. The unwilling couple form a bond that nothing seems to shake & she manages to save, in more way than one. Their bond, although tenuous, comes in handy sooner than they would have liked when the different lycanthrope groups decide to stage an all-out war. Will Sanctuary survive the battle or will it become a casualty of the young couple's budding romance?

Bad Moon Rising is one of the plethora of books from the wonderfully enchanting Sherrilyn Kenyon. I pick and choose which books of her's I want to read because while they are all loosely affiliated, you do not have to read the previous books to understand the main storyline of the current book you're reading. The first book I read was No Mercy , which comes after this book in sequence, so I understood certain things with more clarity after reading Bad Moon Rising, but nothing that completely altered the book for me. Any way...

Aimee & Fang are a fun couple to watch develop. They really have no intention of being attracted to one another & actively try to dissuade & distract themselves from the other, but they just have no luck. As cursed beings their lives are kind of determined by the gods & the gods have a sick sense of humor when it comes to messing with people's love lives. Aimee is a strong-willed woman who is the only female of the bear clan & is doing everything in her power to keep the family name clear & pure to continue their legacy. Fang is a little haggard, but his rough-and-tumble life is as good as he could expect it to be. Bringing these two smart-mouthed, wise-cracking, hard-headed fools together is one of the most explosive & fun things I've seen Ms. Kenyon do in her books.

The writing is spot on with some great quotes & active story building. The Dark Hunter/Were Hunter worlds are very diverse with a lot of history & details that I can't even begin to imagine trying to keep up with, so I appreciate the effort she puts in to make the story so engrossing. This one was turned turn in steamy romance compared to the first book I read, but there is still definitely some lovin' (of multiple acts) going on between these two characters. As I've continued to say, I'm not the biggest fan of misplaced romance. It has to actually add something to the story in order for me to get behind it. That was definitely the case in this book, so I didn't mind so much.

I'm looking forward to the next book I plan to read from Ms. Kenyon, although I'm not sure if it will be a Dark Hunter/Were Hunter book or if I'll wait for the next Chronicles of Nick book that's due out in February of 2012. I'm stuck. What do you think?

Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn Kenyon review

October 1st-Family & Angel Event

October 1st-Family & Angel Event

The God Of Miracles

The God of MiraclesThe overhead light from the incubator cast an angelic glow over baby John's tiny body. It was quiet and dark in the pediatric unit despite the many premature babies that had been born. I stood gazing at the miracle before me. My nephew who had been so anxiously awaited for was born at twenty-six weeks. My mind jogged back to when my sister first told us she was pregnant. We were all excited since this was going to be the first nephew/grandchild born in our family of five girls. I envisioned a bright and chubby baby to spoil whenever I wanted. Instead, I had traveled for hours to be with my sister after her emergency c-section and was standing before my nephew who barely weighed over a pound. The music box chimed out "Jesus Loves Me" while I bit my lip to fight back tears. I cried out to God- "Why? I don't understand. It's not supposed to be this way." He looked so tiny and helpless. I was almost afraid to breathe. Through my tears I heard God's voice resounding in my ears- "Do you trust me?" This was not the first time I heard him ask. There had been issues with money, relationships and decisions where I needed to relinquish control, but never had I trusted him to pull a life from the jaws of death.The music box chime ended and drowning the silence now was the rapid beeping of the apnea monitor just above my head. Politely a nurse came by and gave John a gentle shaking. "What is that?" I asked. She responded, "Most premature babies have apnea. They sleep and forget to breathe. We just give them a little nudge to remind them." My outlook on the situation grew even more grim. Again, God's voice came- "Do you trust me?" I thought of everything that he had done for me. The nights that I had no one, but he was there; the times he cared for me and loved me unconditionally. "Yes." I answered. I will trust you." Peace and a new boldness of faith came upon me. Physically there was nothing I could do for John, but I could pray for him. I could believe God. So, from that moment on the decision was made. I was going to believe God no matter what the situation looked like. Some people called it denial. But, there was no denying that the outward circumstances looked grim. I chose to trust God and have faith that he was bigger than any problem that John would face. The bible became my best friend. I recalled the saints of old who faced impossible circumstances: Abraham, Noah, Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Ester, Paul and even Jesus himself. Their faith and perseverance became comfort and inspiration to me. At the time, my sister and I were staying at a nearby Ronald McDonald house.We quickly became connected with each family staying there. Though each situation was different, the affects were similar. There were tired bodies, broken spirits and hearts full of anxiety. Yet, at night when I would lie in the bed so unfamiliar to me, and lift my prayers of faith, the presence of God would surround me and hope would enter my heart.Each day we would walk the short distance to the hospital and every day they would tell us that John had gained an ounce overnight. In our excitement they would remind us that most babies who were as premature as John was, were prone to infection and to become joyful was to only bring ourselves to a place of great disappointment. I would only smile knowing that God was in control and he was just proving it to me. Every day from then on was touch and go. Some days he would gain weight; some days he would lose weight. On one occasion he had lost weight overnight and had several apnea occurrences.I could tell that it was weighing heavy on my sister's heart. The nurse on duty walked up to the incubator admiring the "Jesus Loves Me" musical toy block the aunts had purchased for him. She smiled "That's wonderful." I nodded. She spoke " John, what a strong, solid name, it fits him perfectly." The gold cross around her neck seemed to illuminate when she smiled and winked. I almost gasped at the love of Christ I saw on her face.Learning to trust God with a life as fragile as a baby born at twenty-six weeks was the one of the hardest trials I ever faced. Seems silly when I think about it. The God who cut a dry path through a raging sea; the God who took a lowly shepherd boy, five stones and a sling shot and made him a warrior; the God who delivered Peter out of a guarded cell; is the same God who cupped his massive hands gently around a frail body and breathed life. The same God who laid his hands upon the lepers, the outcasts, the lame placed his hands upon my heart and said "Fear not, only believe."Today, John is a healthy, talkative and intelligent five-year- old. Every time I look at him I remember the past, yet I can't help but think of the future. He was the best teacher I ever had. He taught me to have faith, he taught me that God cares, he taught me that we are not here by mistake or chance, but by the grace and love of God. Most importantly, he taught me humility. For apart from God I can do nothing, but with him nothing will be impossible. We are not in control, but when we loosen the grip from those things we cling so tightly to, his tender voice will cut through the icy sting of disappointment and give us the courage, strength and faith to face the trials of life head on.One day someone asked me if I believed in miracles. I thought for a moment. "No." I answered to the surprise of the one who asked. Then, I continued " I believe in the God of miracles. "(c) Darlene All Rights Reserved

The God Of Miracles

Winner of All These Things I've Done!

Congratulations are in order for Jasmyn who has won the copy of All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin. Your information has been submitted to the publisher for book mailing.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway. I'm hoping to have a special giveaway coming up soon, so stay tuned!

Winner of All These Things I've Done!

Edition 3 - Preemie Prints Newsletter

Preemie Prints Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/fNdMM

Edition 3 - Preemie Prints Newsletter