Guess What?!

I'm gonna have my very first ever guest blogger! I'm so excited! I've already seen it and can't wait for you to check it out tomorrow. :) I really think you're gonna love it. I met the guest poster at SFWC and he's an amazing person and writer. Hopefully the other friends I made will take me up on doing a guest post as well. You interested in writing one? Email me and let me know.

On another note, just downloaded Adele's new album, 21. It's ridonculous. Serious.

--Me

Time to Tell You About My Trip!

 Now that life has somewhat settled down and gotten back into the easy groove of my normal routine (and now that I’ve somewhat caught up on the sleep I missed out on while in San Fran), I have the sense of mind to sit down and write a half-way decent post about my trip.

Since it’s also Freebee Friday!, I will include lots and lots of pictures. :)

The town of Occidental

How can you NOT fall in love?

After stopping at my beloved In-N-Out, The first part of my trip was spent in Occidental (a BEAUTIFUL small town in Northern California, nestled in the hills and a short trip from Bodega Bay) at my aunt and uncle’s house. That was probably the highlight of my trip, to be honest. The area of California they live in is breathtaking, their house is gorgeous--with a Japanese theme throughout, and everything was so laidback and peaceful. The town is quaint with only a 5 square mile area and a population of around 1,200. It sprang up from the railroad that passed through back in 1876 (and of course, I have to mention the Bohemian Grove. We did try to find it, but were unsuccessful. Although, food was a more important item on my list than the secret club was).

I ran in this everyday.
So beautiful.

Bodega Bay

While we were there, I went running on the old, hilly roads, realizing that I might die when I do my half marathon in April and my relay marathon in June. We took a trip to Bodega Bay (where they filmed Hitchcock’s The Birds), I scaled the bluffs with the only sensible shoes in the entire bunch (guess which ones they are), and we ate some pretty good fish and chips on the wharf. My aunt took me to winetasting at Lynmar and Iron Horse. I spent a lot of time with my grandma (who I hadn’t seen since I got married), my aunt and uncle, and my two little second cousins, who are in one word: Fantabulous!

The San Fran Bridge from
the back window of the car

After a couple of days in Occidental, it was time to head to San Fran, which in itself was an adventure. It had been raining the entire time we were there (which is awesome – I love the rain, especially in a place that is in the hills, and green, with copious amounts of trees), so all the back roads into the city were flooded. But we made it.

The front of our hotel from

across the street

I felt like a movie star staying at the Mark Hopkins. Everyone was dressed in double-breasted uniforms with white gloves. They pressed the elevator buttons for you and put the napkin on your lap for you at breakfast and lunch. It was AMAZING. The staff at The Mark went above and beyond at all times. After we dropped off our luggage, the skies had cleared for a little bit so we went for a stroll through Chinatown. I bought Hubby a kimono and myself a hand-painted silk robe. The Chinese New Year was that week, so Chinatown was a buzz of activity and people. We were going to go to the parade on Sunday, but our energy petered out and we stayed in the room instead.

High Tea

Thursday afternoon we took High Tea at Top of the Mark with yummy pasteries and iced coffee and then returned that evening for a swing band in full costume and professional swing dancers. It was so much fun. I even had an older gentleman (79, but didn't look a day over 65) teach me how to dance.



View from Top of the Mark



Friday, Saturday and half of Sunday was spent, from 7:30 AM to 11PM with classes and workshops. I was exhausted but pleasantly so, the whole time. Sunday was only a half day and ended at 1pm after Speed Dating with Agents (which was a fun experience—I’ll tell you about in another post), and I made some fast and valuable friends at the conference that I think I will keep for a long time (you know who you are).

Sunday, Madre and I explored the Wharf, Pier 39, the Ferry Building, street performers, and Ghirardelli Square. I bought Boudin Sourdough bread, a chocolate sundae, and amazing cheese by the Cowgirl Creamery called Red Hawk. It smells like the inside of a ripe diaper, but tastes amazing. Although Hubby tends to disagree with me since our whole house currently smells like Red Hawk. :)



The lobby at The Mark where
Liam Neeson and Samuel L. Jackson
were spotted



While at the Mark Hopkins, two movie stars were spotted in our hotel – Liam Neeson (Why couldn’t I have been there to tackle him????) and Samuel L. Jackson. Oh, the stories & memories this trip has given me!! Okay, this has been a far too long Freebee Friday! Post, so I must end it now.

Happy Friday, all, and I hope your weekend is vundabar!

--Me





 

Sensible shoes at Bodega Bay




The tasting bar was outside over a covered

awning with heaters. It was pouring rain outside.

A completely different experience and

vibe from the other vineyard we visited,

Lynmar, with it's manicured estate.



Vineyards at Iron Horse



Our wine tasting guide, Damien

and my aunt (There's an official title,

but I can't remember it. I think it

starts with an R or an S)



A display in the SEATAC devoted to
Twilight and Forks, WA. Thought this
was amusing and that I would
share. :) It even had
"Forks Sparkle Lotion"

View from the hotel room at night







Follow...Fol-low...Folow...

Ever notice that saying a certain word enough times makes it start to not make sense?

Take “follow” for example. At first glance, it’s a normal word, but as you start flipping through hundreds of “follow me” Twitter buttons for your blog, it becomes strange and foreign. You start to question the existential meaning of the word. Where did it come from? What does "to follow" truly mean?
I don’t really care; I just thought it was an interesting phenomenon.

I’m "fashionably" late to the whole Twitter craze. At SFWC, I had someone ask me if I was tweeting, since I was at the lunch table and on my phone. I explained that Twitter wasn’t on my radar at the moment and that I was texting. I got a very informative mini-lecture that Twitter is all-important and it should be on my radar. Roger that.

I never was one to stand up to peer pressure, and this is no different. So, I re-activated my Twitter account and now have a grand total of TWO tweets. :)

I don't promise I'll have anything overly interesting to say, but I have added a rather cute “Follow me” button on the top right of my blog. Feel free to click on it and become one of the first followers!

The End.

--Me

Updates, Updates, Updates!

Ohmygosh!

This is what I get for going on hiatus for a week to try to enrich myself! So much has happened this past week! I made it back home by the skin of my teeth, and only two hours after the time I was supposed to be. Not bad for flying standby on a holiday after the Chinese New Year celebration in San Fran.

Okay, so ARC Alerts!!! Three came in the mail while I was out (yay). Exit the Actress by Priya Parmar, Radio Shangri-La by Lisa Napoli, and The Land of the Painted Caves by Jean M. Auel (that one’s 757 pages! *gulp*).

Just Read…Death Cloud, the Young Sherlock Holmes by Andrew Lane (and I like the Amercian cover art so much better than the Brittish one I got), so I’ll have a Book Report on that one, soon, as well. Here it is!!

I’m still working on The Internet is a Playground by David Thorne, too. That one will be finished soon, as well.

Reading Challenge: Random.org helped me choose First Grave on the Right by Darnda Jones, so I’ll get started on that one sometime this week (hopefully) and finished it oober fast.

I’ll be typing until my fingers are bloody nubs in order to crank out posts about the conference and what I learned so that I can keep you lot entertained. They’ll be Adventures at Sbux and so much more!

Back to life and work. I now understand and appreciate the saying, “I need a vacation from my vacation.”

--Me

**UPDATE!

No sooner had I typed this, than today's mail came and with it TWO more ARCs! Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee (it looks amazing) and The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark. My "unread" list is growing in leaps and bounds. :)

   

The Joys of Flying Standby

Our flight is scheduled for 9:30AM.

It's 8:45 and I'm watching everyone else board the plane and I'm on standby.

It's the Chinese New Year celebration( the year of the rabbit, in case you wanted to know) in SanFran.

It's President's Day.

It looks like the stars may not be aligning in my favor today.

The gal at the ticket counter said there may be a chance I don't even get home today, which sucks beacause all I can think about is the hug I know is waiting for me at home from Hubby.

"Napa Makes Auto Parts, Sonoma Makes Wine"

I think for this week, I might make this a food blog, showcasing all the wonderful and fattening foods I plan to eat while I’m on vacation. Of course I’ll still tell you what’s going on, but I need to share the pictures.


Wine is everywhere this part of California. Sonoma County (Occidental to be exact) is a beautiful part of Northern California. Everything is green. The roads are lined with vineyards (thousands in the area, I’m told), beech, oak and redwood trees, plants and flowers. The winding roads that take you through the area and neighboring small towns are amazing. If I could live anywhere other than where I do, I would choose this area of California (join me in convincing Hubby).

I’m happy to finally be here again and am glad it will last a week. I’ll fill you in on the journey here.

AM
3:45 – woke up, drank coffee, ate yogurt, took taxi to airport
6:50 – Plane to Seattle
9:00 – Plane to Santa Rosa

PM
12:30 – Arrive at airport and picked up by Auntie (sidebar: Santa Rosa airport is the smallest I’ve ever been in)
1:00 – Stop by In-n-Out Burger, inhale a cheeseburger with grilled onion and fries; get offered a paper hat by a waitress to ease my sorrow of not having an In-n-Out in my home town

1:30 – Stop by Lynmar Estate Winery to do some wine tasting (first time!!). Lynmar was a beautifully manicured/maintained winery with sophistication and class. Awesome (Ate some more food, too, btw). Check it out if you’re in the area.

2:30 – Stop by Iron Horse Vinyard to do more wine tasting. BEAUTIFUL location. Damon told me all I could ever want to know about wine – hil-ar-ious guy. Definitely stop by for some great wine.

3:30 – back to airport to pick up our luggage (it was put on a later flight). Flight delayed to 4:40
3:30 – Stopped at restaurant in the airport to kill an hour. Ate a BLT
4:40 – Went to pick up luggage. Luggage not there. Mom and I freak out. Talked to guy at front desk. Looked for our luggage. “Huh, I have no idea where they are. Here, fill out these missing luggage forms.” This is not a good sign. Right about now, I’m replaying the scene from Meet the Fockers where Ben Stiller’s luggage is lost. Then the guy says, “Let me check in back, just in case.” He comes back with our luggage. Apparently, they came in on our first flight, but they neglected to inform us of that, so we wasted an hour of our day. But at least I have my luggage!
5:30 – More eating of crackers, cheese, and olives
7:00 – Dinner is served. Salad, asparagus, and crab. Fresh, wonderful, Dungeness crab. Followed by amazing cookies from Trader Joe’s.
8:00 – Passed out from food overload (happily, might I add)

FUN THING TO DO: My Uncle has a radio show and asked me if I wanted to join him. Talk about F-U-N!! If you’re looking for something fun to listen to, check it out. Reggae music from 7 – 9 pacific time!! KOWS Community Radio (http://www.kows.fm/). I’m not promising I’ll be a good DJ, but I’ll be a DJ - with limited talking.

I hope to give more details later, but right now I’m tired and all I want to do is go to bed. Especially with the knowledge that I’m going to have to run at least five miles tomorrow morning before I start my day in order to burn a quarter of the calories I ate today.

Ugh.

--Me

SEATAC Airport

--Me

Randomness: Brought to You by a Venti Pike and 7:30 in the Morning

**Okay, so I've taken a couple of deep breaths, and I am going to try and re-create the awesomeness that was my earlier post, before it was deleted by Blogger. Picture this post, only ten times cooler.**

Sitting in Starbucks at 7:30 in the morning is nothing but pure awesomeness. My laptop that enjoys placing my cursor in random spots of my text while I'm typing, however, is not.

I like to pretend to listen to my iPod and eavesdrop on the conversations around me. It's very entertaining the things people say around you when they think you're not listening. I'm not counting the two Russians who keep looking at me and speaking in a language I don't understand (little-known fact: we have a Russian mafia in town).

Some poor girl is interviewing for a job, but I don't think she's going to get it. A) don't come to an interview in a brown beanie, even if it is for Sbux. B) don't insert into your interview, "I should probably tell you about x, y, & z bad things that happened to me last time I worked at Sbux. I just wanted to let you know so it didn't effect your decision on hiring me." It never turns out well. Ten bucks says they've already marked the "un-hirable" box on the interview sheet.

I have my laptop out and my iPod in and some guy comes up to me and asks, "Are you here to meet a D.J.?" Sorry, buddy, but with me typing on my laptop and listening to my iPod, I'm probably here to type on my laptop and listen to my iPod, not meet a D.J. Of course, I only smiled and said, "No, sorry."

I was a little bummed that the barista didn't leave room for cream in my coffee like I asked, I'm not gonna lie.

I keep getting envious looks from fellow patrons at the killer spot I snagged (table, padded bench and TWO outlets) because I got here so early that the parking lot was still empty. But it nets out to 0 with the chilly draft swirling around my legs.

Enough randomness!

I leave for San Fran tomorrow morning, bright and early at 6:30. Yes, that's in the AM. I think I have everything ready--two suitcases, a giant carry-on purse with everything from my laptop to the kitchen sink, and a book.


My mom and I are spending the first half of the trip with family and the second half at the conference, and I think I'm ready. My book is finished (almost, just doing a couple more scenes) with three edits. I have my pitch. I have my first pages in case anyone asks. And I'm finishing up my query and synopsis. No I just have to psych myself up. Which is kind of weird.

Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you I'm a happy, positive, laid back, social person. I love being around people and don't mind being the center of attention sometimes. I like always being on the go and being around a group of people. But something about going to this conference terrifies me. As in--can't breathe and hope nobody talks to me terrified.

Which is dumb on countless levels.

I'm going there to network and meet people. I'm going there to TALK to agents and pitch my book--hopefully come home with many requests to see more. So why am I so scared?

If I were laying on a couch talking to a therapist charging me hundreds of dollars an our, they would probably say it went back to my childhood. High school to be precise. I wasn't popular. *insert sympathetic noises, here*. I wasn't popular. I didn't really fit in anywhere, and I kind of clung to that.

Which is weird.

Because I'm going to SFWC to meet people, network, and *gasp* TALK to people--namely agents who can sell my book. In order to do that, I'm going to have to draw attention to myself.

Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you I'm a funny, social, laid back, outgoing person. I like being around people, big groups, and trying new things. I like being spontaneous and trying new things. Sometimes, I even like being the center of attention. My biggest fear is, WHAT IF THEY DON'T LIKE ME????

Silliness, I know. I guess my excitement at this amazing opportunity is temporarily masked by morbid fear. I'll let you know if it passes. Anyway, I am completely psyched at the opportunity to learn and meat people. I will try and keep daily posts going during SFWC for those of you who care, and it'd better be all of you. :)

I just need to project positiveness out into the universe and it will return it back to me (extra points to those of you awesome people who can name the TV show and character who says that).

Roger, roger. Over and out.

--Me

Things that make me mad...

My laptop that will place my cursor in random places in my text when I'm typing.

People that don't accelerate to the speed limit when merging onto the freeway.

Ordering a Caramel Brulee Latte and being told they don't have the syrup anymore.

WRITING A KILLER BLOG POST AND THEN BLOGGER DOESN'T SAVE IT AND DECIDES TO DELETE INSTEAD, AND THEN I'M LEFT WITH NO MOTIVATION TO RE-TYPE IT!!!
--Me

ARC Alert!!!

Revenge of the Radioactive Lady

by Elizabeth Stuckey-French

Can't wait to get started!

--Me

Freebee Friday!!!

I'm a sucker for Chuck Norris jokes. I'll spend hours searching Flair and the internet for them. So, in honor of Freebee Friday, I have composed but a few of my favorites. You might think them lame, but you have to admit that they also rock. What's your fav?

--Me

Chuck Norris can Moonwalk forwards

Chuck Norris simply walks into Mordor

Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door

When the boogieman goes to bed at night, he checks under the bed for Chuck Norris

There is no theory of Evolution. Just the list of creatures Chuck Norris allows to live

The quickest way to a man’s heart is with Chuck Norris’ fist

There is no such thing as global warming. Chuck Norris got cold and turned the sun up

Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until they give him the info he wants

Brainstorming Session

I would like to point out that I have a whole newfound respect for David Thorne and what he does.


Secondly I would like to point out that if you HAVE NOT read the Hunger Games A) do so NOW and B) this contains slight spoilers from book two, Catching Fire. You have been warned.

We have an unofficial book club at work. It’s mostly just me and two other girls, but occasionally 1 of our 2 male co-workers joins us (this is the only time, actually). This is a conversation we had while I waited impatiently for him to finish the book so we could discuss it.

Happy reading. :-)




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 8:51 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: There is no more...

District 12!

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 8:58 AM
To: Justin
Subject: RE: There is no more...

I know!!!! Can you believe that???

RaeLynn




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:00 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: RE: There is no more...

I was actually disappointed the games didn’t finish. I thought that would have been more exciting, having her have to kill Finnick or have Peeta die or something. But it was still a pretty cool ending…I definitely wasn’t expecting it.

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:02 AM
To: Justin
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Yeah, I was hoping they’d play it out more, like an alliance between the remaining Careers and them overthrowing the Capitol. And trust me, as book three goes on, you’ll start to wish more and more that Peeta died in the arena…Gale too (even though he wasn’t there).

I say to Katniss—“Screw Peeta and Gale!! Go for Finnick!”

RaeLynn




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:03 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Haha, oh geeze. It’s not a love triangle, it’s a love square!! Nooooooooooooooooo!! :)

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:05 AM
To: Justin
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Are you prejudice against rhombus’ (rhombi)? Maybe Katniss should hold a Hunger Games of her own for all of her eligible bachelors? That’s one thing I hate sometimes about books, here’s this poor pretty girl and she *groan* has soooo many boys chasing after her. She must be so put out by it all!

RaeLynn




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:10 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Haha, actually, I AM prejudice against rhombi! I’m a rhombist :)

Now that would be an awesome book! You should write it! Seriously, I would buy that. But yeah, poor Katniss, it’s hard being perfect. *lame*

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:18 AM
To: Justin
Subject: RE: There is no more...

HAHA. So true. You start a rhombist movement and I’ll write two books, How Costco is Like the Hunger Games and Katniss’ Arena.

There’s one redeeming line in book three and it comes from Peeta. Wanna know what it is? It won’t ruin anything, promise.

RaeLynn




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:25 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Haha, nice!! Get crackin’ on those!

Suuuuure, why not. As long as it doesn’t spoil anything :)

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:27 AM
To: Justin
Subject: RE: There is no more...

I don’t think it will….

He looks at her and says something like, “You’re not much to look at, are you?” It was so funny!

RaeLynn




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:43 AM
To: Justin
Subject: RE: There is no more...

I almost forgot about Haymitch! We can’t leave him out of Katniss’ Arena!!

RaeLynn




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:47 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: RE: There is no more...

I agree. I say he dies first, than Gale, than Peeta and Finnick have to battle it out to the death. Whoever is alive, gets the pleasure of telling off Katniss and dumping her :)

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:51 AM
To: Justin
Subject: RE: There is no more...

OOOHH!!! I am totally going to do a spoof of that! That is too perfect! ROFL!! But I think that it should be Gale and Finnick…Peeta’s a pansy…

RaeLynn




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:55 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Hahaha, that’s true. He’s over there frosting cupcakes while Gale and Finnick are attacking each other with daggers and axes.

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 9:59 AM
To: Justin
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Here we go, even better.

Peeta, Gale, and Finnick kill Haymitch, and realize that Katniss is just using them all and playing with and breaking hearts is what she does best, not rallying rebel forces or being the Mockingjay.

The three of them decide to kill Katniss, but when it comes down to it, Peeta buckles and professes his love for her and that this was all a mistake. Gale kills Peeta for betrayal (a cover for his true drive—jealousy).

Then he and Finnick tag team Katniss and tell her what for. Then they go off and set the mutts on her.

And I’ll still add in the cupcakes and frosting.

RaeLynn




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:01 AM
To: RaeLynn - Boise
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Hahaha, sounds deliciously evil…I love it! Maybe Peeta gives Haymitch one of his cupcakes…a POISONED CUPCAKE! MWAHAHAHHA :)

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:01 AM
To: Justin - Boise
Subjet: RE: There is no more...

Mwahaha indeed!

We’re going to be so rich once this book hits the shelves!

RaeLynn




From: Justin - Boise
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:11 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Excellent! I can’t wait to sleep on a pile of money every night :) :) :)

Justin




From: RaeLynn
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:27 AM
To: Justin Subject: RE: There is no more...
Subject: RE: There is no more...


And throw bills senselessly in the air so they flutter down around me! (while twirling)

RaeLynn




From: Justin
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 10:28 AM
To: RaeLynn
Subject: RE: There is no more...

Haha Sounds like heaven to me! :)

Justin



--Me

The Super Bowl

I’m not a huge NFL fan, college is more my taste, but I do participate in the American tradition of watching the Super Bowl (sort of). I watch it more for the commercials (but I’m glad the Packers won).


I’ve noticed over the past few years that a few companies dominate the commercial slots, which is a little disappointing. I enjoyed seeing several companies advertisements, now it seems to be dominated by Budweiser and Doritos. Oh well.

There were a lot of funny commercials yesterday, but two made me laugh pretty heartily. The Audi commercial (when I get rich I’m planning on owning one) and one of the Doritos commercials. I’ve linked them below.

What about you? Which was your fav?

--Me

Exciting Discoveries

Firefly!
Did you know that's the show they based the movie Serenity on? I'm serious!


I only have two weeks until San Francisco!
I only have two weeks until San Francisco?
Crap! I ONLY HAVE TWO WEEKS UNTIL SAN FRANCISCO!

--Me

ARC Alert!!!

I'm putting my random.org book selector on hold for my newest ARC, The Internet is a Playground by David Thorne. I'm crackin' up over here.

--Me

The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

The Gargoyle

by Andrew Davidson

Spoiler: Yes

Rating: PG-13

Coffee Beans: 5/5

It's amazing.

One of my favorite books is a nontraditional love story called The Gargoyle by Canadian author Andrew Davidson. Davidson has a remarkable talent of delivering a captivating and engaging story that recounts an unnamed main character and his short, but emotionally electric, relationship with a woman named Marianne Engel. To tell you the truth, I didn’t even realize the main character didn’t have a name until a friend asked me what it was. That’s how good the book is. I didn’t need to know his name. But for purposes of my review, I’m going to call him MC.


Here’s the set up: MC is handsome, sexy, a famous porn star/producer, rich, unfulfilled, selfish, arrogant, and an alcoholic/drug addict. A perfect combination for a fall from grace, after all, a man can only take so much. One night, on a drunken binge and a bottle of liquor between his legs, he gets into a horrific, fiery car crash, landing himself in the hospital burn unit with third degree burns covering his entire body, including that pesky and oh-so-important-to-a-porn-star spot between his legs. MC’s a man who’s entire sense of self worth and life is based on his sexuality, and with the emergence of the monster he’s become, he’s devastated.

During MC’s long stint in the hospital—complete with detailed scenes of bodily skin scrubbings—he’s visited by a dark-haired beauty with tattoos covering her body, who’s escaped from the psych ward in the hospital. Marianne explains that she releases stone gargoyles as they call out to her, and that she has dozens of hearts in her chest. Each creation she unearths is gifted with one. She tells him when her last heart is given away, she will finally get to go home.

Something about her intrigues MC and he uses that interest as a source of strength during his painful rehabilitation hours, looking forward to her visits. During his months of recuperation, Marianne paints vivid stories about the depth and strength of love, spanning eras and cultures, as well as their own love story that has lasted through hundreds of years and dozens of past lives. MC knows that she is crazy, but her moments of lucidity are what he falls in love with.

When he’s strong enough to leave the hospital, Marianne takes him to live with her, where she spins more tales of love and gives more of her hearts away to her stone creations. As the MC’s addiction to painkillers is revealed, Marianne does her best to wean him off the painkillers, but it is not an easy journey for him. In a feverish fit of sleep, MC goes to a place much like Dante’s Inferno, where he meets the characters of Marianne’s stories, all very real. Through this feverish journey, MC fights the demons of his addiction, his past, who he really is, and the very real possibility Marianne’s stories could their past. At the end of his journey, at the gates of hell, he must make a choice that will define the rest of his life; to go back or die.

He chooses Marianne and their love, but when he finally comes to, it’s to the realization that she has given away all of her hearts to more gargoyles. All but one, and that one she says, is for MC. At last, Marianne can go home. And at last, MC has found the love that he lost, so long ago.

Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. It’s an incredibly visual and sensational story of pain, growth, love and acceptance. The ending wasn’t warm and fuzzy, but it was satisfying and fulfilling. After I finished, sitting on my couch, I thought to myself, it couldn’t have ended in a more perfect way. In fact, to try and imagine any ending other than the Davidson gave it, is impossible. It fits the voice and the characters in a way that I haven’t seen from a book in a long time. Even though The Gargoyle is an international bestseller, in my opinion, it is still grossly unknown. I do my part trying to change that by suggesting it to everyone I know and screaming about it from the rooftops. I even have an extra copy to lend out. So do your part, read this book and suggest it to others.

--Me

Reading Challenge List - Prepare to be Amazed...

164 books are sitting on my bookshelves screaming over the top of each other with their gripping summaries and creative covers. Some are old, some are new. Some are borrowed. Some, I want to read a lot more than others. So, to keep things fair and unprejudiced, I will have the next book I read selected by Random.org. Here’s how my self-imposed contest will work:

• I will pick a book.
• I will read the book (you can read it with me, if you want. Hey! We can do our own little book club!).
• I will post about the book.
• I will pick another book and start this all over again.
• Maybe even I’ll try and come up with some way cool contest and sweet prizes for fun.
• We can even have our own little book club (But we have to promise to be enjoying a big cup of coffee when we discuss the book).

'Cuz I’m cool like that.


--Me





















 

---

Before the Storm by Diane Chamberlain The Book Theif by Markus Zusak The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini Dead Funny by Tom Holt Falling Sideways by Tom Holt White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows Tuck by Stephen Lawhead Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski Storm Front by Jim Butcher The Horse Boy: A Fathers Quest to Heal His Son by Rupert Isaacson The Life of Pi by Yann Martel Belong to Me by Marisa De Los Santos The Paradise War Book One in the Song of Albion Trilogy The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy Tempted House of Night Book 6 by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast (YA) Zombies vs. Unicorns by Black vs. Larbalestier (YA) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine Lengle (YA) Mondays New Beginning by Janice Hildreth Sundays Promise by Janice Hildreth The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning BloodFever by Karen Marie Morning Faefever by Karen Marie Morning Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes One For the Money by Janet Evanovich The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove (YA) The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Fireproof by Eric Wilson The Sea of Monsters by Rick Roirdan (YA) The Titans Curse by Rick Roirdan (YA) The Shadow of the Moon by M. M. Kaye The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye The Lost Cyclist by David V. Herlihy Jesus Freaks by D. C. Talk Jesus Freaks Revolutionaries by D. C. Talk Enders Game by Orson Scott Card (YA) Self-editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King Writing Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson & Peter Economy Stephen King on Writing a Memoir of the Craft The First Five Pages: A Writers Guide to Staying Out of the Rejection Pile by Noah Lukeman No Plot? No Problem! A Low-stress, High-Velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days by Vhris Baty The Writers Little Helper by James V. Smith, Jr. Revision & Self-editing by James Scott Bell *ARC - Death Cloud Young Sherlock Holmes the Legend Begins by Andrew Lane (YA) *ARC - The Girl Who Became a Beatle by Greg Taylor (YA) *ARC - Three Seconds by Roslund Hellstrom *ARC - When the Thrill is Gone a Leonid McGill Mystery by Walter Mosley *ARC - Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult *ARC - First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones *ARC - The Athena Project by Brad Thor Shakespeares Champion by Charliane Harris Shakespeares Landlord by Charlaine Harris Shakespeares Christmas by Charlaine Harris The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Gone Tomorrow A Reacher Novel by Lee Child Alvor by Laura Bingham (YA) The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle The Princess Bride by William Goldman The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (YA) The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison Every Which Way but Dead by Kim Harrison Harms Way by Stephen White Private Practice by Stephen White Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson (YA) Fool Moon by Jim Butcher Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur Kissing Sin by Keri Arthur Whats a Ghoul to Do? Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenorn Don of the Dead by Casey Daniels Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Emma by Jane Austen Mansfield Park by Jane Austen First King of Shannara by Terry Brooks Rumours of Rain by Andre Brink The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf The Gospel of Judas by Simon Mawer A Sky so Close by Betool Khedairi On the Night Plain by J. Robert Lennon The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds Chalktown by Melinda Haynes Between, Georgia by Joshilyn Jackson The Foxs Walk by Annabel Davis-Goff Forever by Pete Hamill The Whole Truth by David Baldacci Simple Genius by David Baldacci Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver Driftwood Summer by Patti Callahan Henry Dead Aim by Iris Johansen The Camel Club by David Baldacci The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro Torment by Lauren Kate (YA) Cavedweller by Dorothy Allison The Blind Side by Michael Lewis Dark Visions by L. J. Smith (YA) Fencing the Sky by James Galvin River, Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke The Fallen by T. Jefferson Parker The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice Testimoney by Anita Shreve Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji A Long Way Gone Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah Genesis of Shannara by Terry Brooks The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks Crow Lake by Mary Lawson The Hard Way by Lee Child Nevermore by Kelly Creagh (YA) Cold Pursuit by T. Jefferson Parker Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch Coal Black Horse by Robert Olmstead The Hearts of Horses by Molly Gloss Say Youre One of Them by Uwem Akpan Half a Heart by Rosellen Brown First Family by David Baldacci T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton Shadow Prey by John Sandford Bones by Jonathan Kellerman The Mercedes Coffin by Faye Kellerman True Detectives by Jonathan Kellerman The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich Back Spin by Harlan Coben Cross Country by James Patterson Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs Light Before Day by Christopher Rice The Confessor by Daniel Silva The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer The Dark Tide by Andrew Gross Divine Justice by David Baldacci Power Play by Joseph Finder Die in Plain Sight by Elizabeth Lowell In for the Kill by John Lutz Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell Damage COntrol by J. A. Jance Now & Then by Robert B. Parker Stranger in Paradise by Robert B. Parker The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie The Keepsake by Tess Gerritsen Slow Kill by Michael McGarrity Dont Look Twice by Andrew Gross The Jury Master by Robert Dugoni Across the Universe by Beth Revis (YA) Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (YA) Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo Apologize, Apologize! by Elizabeth Kelly The Imperfectionist by Tom Rachman

Get your own FREE Linky Tools