How’s everyone’s week going so far?  It’s been a little quiet around here, hubby had surgery a week ago and we are all basically in quiet and care mode right now; which is nice because it gives me a little more time to read and write. *evil laugh*

Awhile ago I picked up a Romantic Suspense (probably my favorite genre) by Jayne Ann Krentz called, Secret Sisters. I loved it.  I was thrilled because I was in between books from my favorite authors and looking for something new and I really enjoyed the author’s voice and the flow of the story.  What also made me want to boogie was when I discovered that Jayne had MANY other books out there (she writes under THREE different names), so I rushed to the bookstore to get as many of her books as I could find.  (I have a small mountain of them, perched on a chair at my dining room table…just waiting to all fall down like Humpty-Dumpty.)

So, just the other day, I finished reading, Flash.  Even though this book was published back in 1998, you don’t get the feeling of going back in time.  The suspense element is good, there was a point towards the end when I was sure that the book was set to end, but the author threw in a small red herring and I was honestly a little surprised with the ending.  In a very good way.  I liked the female lead, even if the description of her office space leaves me cringing; and the hero was not too overbearing with just enough protective instincts.  (Generally speaking, I really prefer that a heroine that isn’t whiny or weak – in the sense that she waits for everyone else to solve her problems for her.  I can’t stand being in the head of someone who is obnoxiously selfish, no matter how great the story is; you know?)

So, overall, if you like Romantic Suspense and have never given Krentz a try – please check her out.  She also publishes under the pen name of Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle.

What have you been reading lately?

It’s Friday, and that means the first “Teaser Friday” in May.  Below is a small exert of the novella I’m currently working on.  I really hope that you enjoy it!

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It was time. The evil that struck once was prepared to strike again. Catherine could feel the tentacles of hate circling the air as if it were steam, the warning before the fire. She had been too late before, surprised by the length that jealousy would go; although to be fair, she shouldn’t have been. She had been living with these immortals since the beginning of time and despite the respect they had shown her, Catherine was disgusted by the lack of respect they showed each other and the mortals they claimed to protect. It was laughable, really, if one could find humor in all that horror. Catherine was sick of it. She knew that her interference was forbidden, but she didn’t care. She would break all the rules to thumb her nose at these petty and hateful “gods;” she was just lucky that this time, it was for the greater good.

Glancing into the greenish pool of water that covered the cavern floor, Catherine observed the cloak failing. Her spell had done it’s job for several hundred years, but like most things on this precious Earth, was beginning to end. The materials she had used to cast the spell weren’t strong enough to go on indefinitely, and perhaps that had been the problem to begin with. She needed to find something that would protect and last much longer. Such materials weren’t hard to find, however, procuring them could be tricky. All she had to do was trick a god. How hard could that be?

May the fourth be with you today! *throws glitter in the air – Vadar gives me the stink eye*

I’m sorry, Darth.  Geez.  So, how’s everyone’s May been coming so far?  As promised, it’s Wednesday, so I’m going to share with you the book I’m currently reading; and I’m hoping you’ll comment below with what you are reading right now as well.

If I havne’t shared before, our family has decided to homeschool our daughter and before making that decision, I read as many homeschool books and articles that I could get my hands on.  I understand that this might be a bit “taboo” for some, but it works well for our family.  (I want to throw out there that this decision is not a reflection on any other families education decisions, it’s just what we decided for ours.)

In that spirit, I’m always looking for new books, or in this case old books, about education I can get my hands on.  Yesterday, I started reading, Learning All the Time, by John Holt.  This book came out in 1989, and might be a little outdated in some parts, but overall, I love reading John Holt books.  He’s kind of famous for beginning a movement called, Unschooling, where basically you allow children to direct their own learning (this is a very base definition, if you are at all curious, please check out some of these links).  This book talks about how children learn to read, write, and count.  It’s pretty interesting so far.

John Holt used to have a magazine publication that was called, Growing Without Schooling, that is no longer in print (I really wish it was), and he has also published many other books to include: How Children Learn, How Children Fail, and Instead of Education. (For a full list of his works, check this link.)

So, that’s what I’m reading today; how about you?  You got any fun books on your “To Be Read Pile?”