King Arthur Movie Tristan

Happy Sunday Salon everybody.
Wow, it's the last day of November, when did that happen? I hope everyone's Thanksgiving went well. I ate way too much then fell asleep while hubby was watching football.

As for books read in November, I read 5. I'm slacking, during the summer months I was reading 8. See my post on books read in November here. You can see my current TBR pile here.



This past week I reviewed The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer : This was a fun read. I didn't expect a mystery in the plot. It's my first time reading Georgette Heyer, and I did enjoy it. The characters are likeable, the plot well written and interesting....see my full review here




Two films I reviewed were The Strangers, which has officially scared me forever.

And Iron Man, which was a great action-hero flick.




That's about it for now, I've got to get back to my housework and hopefully catch up on some reading. I fell asleep last night while I was reading Inkheart ...Darnit. I was at a good part, but it was past midnight....lol.



What are you up to today?

title: Escape

author: Rye James

published: 2008

genre: suspense

Ray Spencer is an honest man trying to do the right thing. After uncovering information that would lead to a scandal a contract is placed on his head. He is then framed for a murder he did not commit forcing him to go on the run. A hitman and the FBI both desperately want him. At every turn there could be someone waiting for him. There's only one thing he can do--escape.

I interviewed author Rye James at my blog recently and he was kind enough to autograph a copy of his novel, Escape, for one of my lucky blog readers!


I used the handy dandy randomizer and the lucky winner is......



gautami!!









Thanks to all who entered, stay tuned for my next giveaway.

Here's the books I read and reviewed in November:

1. Romeo Romeo

2. Grit for the Oyster: 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers

3. Trust Me

4. Wife In the North

5. The Reluctant Widow

What's on Your Nightstand — November



Oh my gosh, I can't believe November is nearly over! Um, that means Christmas is right around the corner. *hyperventilating* I haven't begun shopping yet. I still need to get the tree up, decorate the house, do my Christmas shopping...etc...etc...


And I also need to read these books. This is my current TBR pile. However not pictured here are the newest Dean Koontz and Stephen King novels that I plan on reading soon as well. This also does not include a couple of books I have coming in the mail from publishers and authors. Some of these are sent to me for review, those are the ones I'll be reading and reviewing first in the upcoming weeks:







Inkheart by Cornelia Fluke (currently reading)

The Exchange by Inga Ellzey-for review (currently reading)

In the Land of Invisible Women by Qanta Ahmed-for review

The Islands of Divine Music by John Addiego-for review

Line of Scrimmage by Marie Force-for review

The Ruins by Scott Smith

The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold

The Virgins Lover by Phillippa Gregory





The two I am currently reading are Inkheart by Cornelia Fluke and The Exchange by Inga Ellzey. I am enjoying both. Inkheart is such a sweet, cozy read so far. I really like this one, I love that the characters share a love of books. Books are a main theme in the plot. The Exchange is the type of book that would make a great film. It's got some great characters and a fast moving plot. Plus it's taking place on a cruise ship, that's pretty interesting.





What will you be reading?

Saturday Fluffernutter - all the fluffy news about those nutty celebrities.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is a potty mouth TV chef here in America. In Britain, however, he is way up the celebrity scale, with his name appearing daily in the gossip tabs. Much of his fame comes from his bad guy on TV/dedicated family man in reality persona. It is under this guise that news of a reported seven year affair between the chef and serial mistress Sarah Symonds. Symonds was Jeffery Archer's bad girl at one time, among others and authored the book "Having An Affair? A Handbook For The Other Woman."

Ramsay has both denied the report, and reportedly has apologized to his wife Tana over the affair.

I'll tell you, if I was on Hell's Kitchen next season, the first time he called me stupid (which he does to everybody), I would retort "Oh, great. I'm being called stupid by a man who had an affair with a woman who wrote a book on having affairs."

I tell you, I can't get the audio out of my head about what a Gordon Ramsay affair would sound like:

"Not like that, stupid, like this. Do I have to everything my f***ing self?..."

Review in Brief: Twilight (as told by Miss Hespeler)

It was really cheesy, but good cheesy.

Was that Jason Priestly I heard on the radio the other day talking about kids these day? Brandon from 90210 complaining that the kids these days don't take what their doing seriously enough?

You know you're getting old when that kid you used to complain about is now complaining about kids.

Review in Brief #2: Guns and Roses Chinese Democracy.

Loud, but not worth the wait.

Irony Alert: speaking of Chinese Democracy, in an example of true irony, not sarcasm dressed up as irony ala David Letterman, the Chinese government has banned the album Chinese Democracy in China.


Bruce Springsteen released his first single of his new album this week: Working on a Dream. The song is the title track from Springsteen's upcoming album, scheduled for release January 27th. He released it as a free one day download. It is now available on itunes for 99c until December 9th.



Rock and Roll Heaven acquired a new, however unlikely, rhythm section this week

Locally, former Platinum Blonde bassist Kenny MacLean (1956 - 2008) passed away of natural causes at the age of 52. MacLean has been active in the local music scene for over twenty years, and held a release party for his latest CD, Completely, Sunday night. He died through the night after the event.

Internationally, English drummer Michael Lee (1969 - 2008) passed away on Tuesday from what is presently being listed as unknown causes. He was 39 years old.

Lee played with Thin Lizzy, the Cult and Echo and the Bunnymen through his career. But he is most remembered here in Hespeler for his work with both Robert Plant and subsequently, Page & Plant. When former Led Zeppelin frontmen Jimmy Page and Robert Plant banded together to work up new material and rework some old Led Zeppelin tracks in 1994, Michael Lee joined them on drums. He would stay with them through the dissolution of the partnership in 1998.

Here's a clip of Page and Plant, with Michael Lee playing drums.

Okay, I can rest easy, j.kaye is hosting the Suspense & Thriller Reading Challenge again this year.
*yay* last year I completed it.

Rules of this challenge:


* Read TWELVE (12) different sub-genres of thrillers in 2009.


* You do NOT need to select your books ahead of time. Also, you may change as you go.


* Your books can crossover into other challenges.


* You don't need a blog to join in this challenge. For those who do, this is important. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your S/T books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed.

1. The Silent Man : Spy thriller

2. Heartsick : Serial Killer thriller

3. House : Supernatural thriller

4. The Broken Parachute Man: Medical thriller


5. The Secret Keeper: Crime thriller


6. A World I Never Made: Conspiracy thriller


7. Undone: Murder Mystery

8. Just After Sunset: Horror Thriller

I'm currently reading Inga Ellzey's novel
The Exchange.
Recently Inga's publicist sent me this article that Inga wrote. I read it and found it interesting. I'm posting it here, though should state that I don't agree with married people having affairs. I've been married 13 years to my high school sweetheart and I believe that marriage is sacred. But I did find it interesting what Inga got out of her sixteen year affair with a married doctor. Not many mistresses make out that well.







By Inga C. Ellzey,

Author of The Exchange


For 16 years I was the mistress of a married man. I was single, he was rich. I wanted to be someone. He was a doctor. I was a single mom. He had three kids and a Nanny. I wanted romance and passion. He was horny. His wife was the turkey. I was the gravy. I was, "The Other Woman."



Being a mistress is exciting . . . at first. Romantic trysts in clandestine restaurants. Lunch quickies. Having sex on the operating table (not that comfortable) or on the exam room floor (oh my aching back).



I was young when I met Adam (not his real name). I was 27, wore a size 8, had gorgeous long blond hair, beautiful teeth and a great personality. He was 43, with a sexy foreign accent . . . and he was a doctor . . . my doctor. That's how it all started. There was an instant attraction. He scheduled office visits more frequently. I became the last patient of the day. Then I got healed by the good doctor, but fell in love (and he with me). We started an affair that lasted sixteen years.



So here I was the mistress to a married man. Sixteen years you ask me? How is that possible? Didn’t the wife suspect?



Well, in most cases when the affair goes beyond a couple of wooly bully romps in the hay, and extends over many months (or years, as in my case), the wife knows. The wife either knows flat out but doesn't care, knows but is in denial, or really doesn't suspect a thing (which is highly unlikely in a long-term situation.) She might be so busy with the soccer Mom thing she really has no idea that her hubby is scoring somewhere else.



In my case the wife knew. She knew I knew she knew and I knew she knew I knew. She knew! But she didn't care . . . as long as Adam came home to her (most nights) and allowed her kids to attend the best private schools. As long as she could live in her million dollar house, have her Mexican house keeper and Nicaraguan Nanny, drive her gas guzzling Mercedes, wear her Haute Couture clothes, and keep her fancy horses in those snazzy stables . . . she just focused on those versus her husband's wandering ways.



I was even invited to their house on numerous occasions. I recall one time when they invited me to their beach house for the week end. (Figure that one out?!?!) I was on the beach with Adam making love while she was in the condo making Flan. Boy that Flan was delicious. I still think of her when I order Flan in restaurants.



Then there was this heart attack thingy. Well what happened really was that every Sunday night he would come to my apartment. We would have wild sex, a couple glasses of wine, and then he would leave. Well this one particular Sunday night he went home and had this major heart attack. You know the 9-1-1 call, no breathing, he's gonna- die-kind of heart attack. Well, wouldn't you know it but right after he made her call 9-1-1 he made her call me. She knew I knew she knew and I knew she knew I knew! Enough said.



So what are the benefits of being, "The Other Woman?"



Well it depends on how smart you are. Here's what I got along the way. I got my Bachelor's and Master's Degrees paid by him. I had to do the studying. He paid the tuition and expenses of a college education. So I got my B.S. (Bachelor in Sex) and my MPA (Masters in Pleasing Adam). No seriously, I did get legitimate college degrees.



I got spending money to buy clothes and shoes. He helped me get a nice car every few years and he paid off my credit cards when I overspent (when I did frequently). After all wifey over there was living in some fancy-dancy mansion while I was living with the Dumb and Dumbers on the left and right side of me in an apartment complex.



And then did I mention the life insurance policy? Now it's not like I want him to die or anything, after all the affair was over 21 years ago. But if he dies, I still get $100,000.00 . . . tax free.


Well you see when I was his mistress, I agonized about him leaving me (especially after that heart attack stresser), so I made him take out life insurance on himself with me being not only the beneficiary of the policy but (me being college "edicated" and all), I insisted I became of owner of the policy as well. (Thanks to that finance class he paid for.) Being owner of the policy means I have to make the payments on the life insurance annually, but I don't care. As long as I pay, he can't cancel it. I still get $100,000.00 tax free when he dies . . . even 21 years after the affair ended. Let's see how old is he now . . . ?



So what are the disadvantages of being a mistress?



Oh, there are those lonely holidays. But it's really not that bad when you have those credit cards which you know he will pay off if you overspend. Then there's reading about him and her in the local newspaper attending some charity ball. He has his arm around her, she's smiling. The happy couple. Pillars of the community. Until Sunday night!



Marriage? You know in sixteen years, marriage was never addressed. I guess I thought he would leave her eventually. If I was honest with myself I knew he never would. Come on, sixteen years? Duh?

So here I am . . . 21 years later reminiscing about that affair. Don't tell my present husband. My third (he's only 35 and I'm, 59 . . . I never was good in math). At any rate, my current hubby wouldn't like it much if I mentioned dear Adam.



So in conclusion, here's my advice. If you are going to be a mistress:


1. Enjoy it for what it is . . . an affair.


2. Don't be afraid to take gifts and monetary remuneration. It's not immoral. It's only fair.


3. Don't expect a marriage proposal. (Most men that are unfaithful will always be unfaithful . . . so who wants to be married to an unfaithful man? Better to just screw him and have fund . . . I mean fun.)


4. Be prepared for lonely nights and fun shopping sprees.


5. Never make life all about him. When it's over . . . it's over. Move on. There's always another Adam just around the corner.



©2008 Inga Ellzey



Author Bio

Inga Ellzey is a self-made multi-millionaire, the owner and president of the Inga Ellzey Practice Group, Inc. She is a leading authority on medical billing, and has written, taught and lectured extensively over the past two decades. The Exchange was written in Yorkshire, England, where she was inspired by the solitude of the remote countryside and the 16th century farmhouse she vacationed in. For Inga Ellzey, The Exchange is yet another dream come true. She lives in Winter Park, Florida.

Remember during the election all the stories, what an upstanding, honest, ethical guy Stéphane Dion is? So how come today he is negotiating to bring the traitorous Bloc Quebecois into the government of Canada and the story is, Stephen Harper blinked, as I heard it reported on three different newscasts this afternoon?

I'm still trying to imagine Stephen Harper negotiating to put Gilles Duceppe in cabinet, and not being called a traitor. Yet nobody is calling Stéphane Dion or Jack Layton a traitor (or hypocrite,, since they would be teh first to scream if Harper did this). I'm going to spend some time looking for it tonight, but wasn't there once a picture of the two of them sitting together that ran as a "look how close they are" story?

Oh, and one last request for the media, can we please stop calling it a stimulus package and call it what it is? A spending package! This is nothing more than Bob Rae, spend your self rich stupidity that the Liberals Bloc and NDP are screaming for, and it's bad public policy. Last week you were yelling deficit, he's put us in deficit, this week your yelling spend! Spend!! SPEND!!! And shame on the media for letting you get away with it.

Want to overthrow the legally, elected, constitutionally legal government? Then what is your plan. Let Canadians know exactly what you mean by stimulus.

************************
Update: From the comments:

*“We would see him [Stephen Harper] and (Bloc Québécois Leader) Gilles Duceppe, if they get enough seats, working together to dismantle this country that all of us are so proud of." (Paul Martin, Toronto Star, December 3, 2005)
* Martin questioned how the Tory leader can explain “his common agenda with the separatists.” (Ottawa Citizen, June 3, 2005)
* “Stephen Harper has made it so clear that he is prepared to do the Bloc's bidding in Parliament, which I find incomprehensible...” (Paul Martin, Ottawa Citizen, April 28, 2005)
* “Let me tell you, Stephen Harper, you made an alliance with the Bloc, not me. The Bloc wants only one thing: a referendum to divide us and break up our country.” (Paul Martin, Globe and Mail, November 29, 2005)
* “The Conservative Party and the separatists … want this Parliament to fail because the Bloc wants Canada to fail.” (Public Works Minister Scott Brison, Hansard, May 2, 2005)
* “…it is impossible to understand why the Conservative Party supports the Bloc” (Scott Brison, Hansard, April 5, 2005)
* “It has become clear that the Conservative-Bloc alliance is alive and well, despite the Leader of the Opposition's claims to the contrary.” (Susan Kadis, Hansard, May 17, 2005)
* “It is an unholy alliance [Between Conservatives and the Bloc] and Canadians need to know all about it. I take great exception to the hypocrisy of saying that they are not in bed with the Bloc and the separatists because they are.” (Roy Cullen, Hansard, April 14, 2005)

title: The Reluctant Widow

author: Georgette Heyer


genre: historical fiction

pages: 316

first line: It was dusk when the London to Little Hampton stage-coach lurched into the village of Billingshurst, and a cold mist was beginning to creep knee-high over the dimly seen countryside.

published: 1946

rated: 4 out of 5






A sparkling Regency romance with intrigue and excitement, from the queen of the genre. Elinor Rochdale finds herself married and widowed within 24 hours, and embroiled in an international spy ring, housebreakers, and murder.




Elinor Rochdale accidentally finds herself at the home of Eustace Cheviot. She was hired to be governess for woman's children, instead her coach dropped her off at the wrong house. There Elinor meets Ned Carlyon, Eustace's cousin and heir.
Carlyon was actually waiting for a woman to answer his ad in the paper, for a woman willing to marry his sick cousin.

She found herself in a library. It was quite as untidy as the hall, but a variety of candles in tarnished wall-brackets threw a warm light over it, and a log fire burned in the grate at the far end of it. Before this fire, one hand resting on the mantlepiece, one booted foot on the fender, stood a gentleman in buckskin breeches and a mulberry coat, staring down at the leaping flames. As the door closed behind Miss Rochdale, he looked up, and across at her, in a measuring way that might have disconcerted one less accustomed to being weighed up like so much merchandize offered for sale.

By the time Elinor realizes she is at the wrong house, she is mortified and inisists on being taken to the right house. Carlyon explains to her that his cousin is very sick, he has a drinking problem and is near death. He doesn't want to inherit his estate when he dies, he has his own estate and wants nothing more to do with Eustace, so he makes Elinor an offer. That she marry Eustace. She is tempted to, since she is twenty six and unwed and has a scandal in her family, this is a good opportunity for her. Carlyon promises her that Eustace will not touch her once they are married. Eustace is actually an evil man, and hates Carlyon and does not want to leave him his estate when he dies.


Soon enough, Eustace is accidentally stabbed. Elinor marries him on his deathbed and she becomes his widow shortly after.


She goes to live in her new home, and before she knows it, in the middle of the night there is an intruder in her house. With the help of Nicky, Carlyon's younger brother, Elinor tries to figure out the indentity of the intruder and the reason for the break-ins. There's twists and turns to the plot. This book takes off and keeps on going.

He was gone, and she was left in some lowness of spirits, wondering how she should contrive, and what would be the end of this strange adventure. A period of quite reflection helped to calm the natural agitation of her mind; since she had consented to take up residence in this mouldering house she must do as best she might.

This was a fun read. I didn't expect a mystery in the plot. It's my first time reading Georgette Heyer, and I did enjoy it. The characters are likeable, the plot well written and interesting. The main characters were good as were the supporting characters. I liked Elinor and Nicky the most. You can't help liking Nicky, he's kind of this goofy guy who just wants to help out. He made me laugh at times. Elinor was smart and a sweet character, who is kind of thrust into this mess and you hope everything works out for her in the end.

'I'm in the hall', his voice answered her, a trifle faintly, but reassuringly cheerful. 'The devil's in it that I missed the fellow!'

She hurried down the stairs, holding the lamp up, and saw him rather unsteadily picking himself up. 'Nicky! Good God, do not tell me indeed he did come back?'

'Come back? Of course he did!' Nicky said, cautiously feeling his shoulder. 'Whats more, I should have had him if you would not keep a damned suit of armour in the stupidest place anyone ever thought of! Oh I beg pardon! But indeed it is enough to try the patience of a saint!'

If you are looking for good historical fiction with mystery and a dash of romance, pick up a copy of The Reluctant Widow .







About the author:

Author of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, who made the Regency period her own. Her first novel, The Black Moth, published in 1921, was written at the age of fifteen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. Although most famous for her historical novels, she also wrote eleven detective stories. Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.

related links: http://www.georgette-heyer.com/



this book has also been reviewed by:

becky

joanne



Special thanks to Danielle from Source Books for sending me this book.

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

title: Iron Man

Release Date: 2 May 2008

plot: When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.

rated: 4 out of 5







Tony Stark creates weapons of mass destruction for the U.S. Government. While in Afghanistan demonstrating a new missile, he is taken hostage and held captive for 3 months, where he has a huge change of heart (no pun intended). When Tony comes back to the U.S. he decides he no longer wants to create weapons that will kill, he wants to use his gift for the greater good.

I shouldn't be alive... unless it was for a reason. I'm not crazy, Pepper. I just finally know what I have to do. And I know in my heart that it's right.

I really enjoyed seeing Robert Downey Jr. back on the big screen. He was really good in this movie.



The plot was good, the special effects were great and the casting was done very well.
I enjoyed this movie and my kids really liked it too. The ending also leaves room for a sequel.


If you're in the mood for a good super-hero flick, grab this one.





the website is very cool, take a peek: http://ironmanmovie.marvel.com/

Wally Lamb has a new novel out called The Hour I First Believed. I'm going to have to grab a copy of this one, I loved his first two novels, 'She's Come Undone' and 'I Know This Much Is True'.


She's Come Undone is one of the few novels, I re-read. It was such a wonderful book, very moving.

She's Come Undone explores a feisty young woman's journey through her suburban New England existence. A preteen Dolores Price comes from a broken home and turns to food and television for comfort after being the victim of rape at age 13. By the age of 17 she has eaten her way to clinical obesity. Following the death of her mother and being ostracized at college, she attempts suicide and is placed in a mental institution for several years. There she loses 100+ pounds and analyzes her anger with her parents. After being released she makes the bold move to Vermont following a few of what she sees as lighter spots in her younger life.


This novel has many themes, the main one being emotional liberation and self discovery

'I Know This Much Is True' was about identical twins Dominick and Thomas, one of whom suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Dominick struggles with the guilt of being the normal twin. He also learns some long kept family secrets.

In his new novel, The Hour I First Believed, Lamb travels well beyond his earlier work and embodies in his fiction myth, psychology, family history stretching back many generations, and the questions of faith that lie at the heart of everyday life. The result is an extraordinary tour de force, at once a meditation on the human condition and an unflinching yet compassionate evocation of character.

I'll keep an eye out for The Hour I First Believed. Have you read Wally Lamb? Do you plan to?

The Blue Blogging Soapbox Blogging Tories Site of the Week for the week of November 23rd is:

Teaser Tuesdays

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

'Jewel's eyes were fixated on this gorgeous specimen of a man standing before her. He untied his linen pants and they also dropped to the floor.'

-The Exchange by Inga Ellzey