The "I Have No Idea What to Post" post aka Historicals vs Contemporary romances

Tracy here.  I have to be completely honest with you, I have no idea what to talk about.  I'm sitting here wracking my brain trying to figure out some great quirky and funny thing to post and yeah, it's like the desert up in my brain.  Sand blowing around, not a thought in sight.  Sad really when you think about it.  

Then...inspiration.  Ok, maybe not inspiration exactly but a thought (thank heavens, I thought those went the way of the yeti) .  I was looking at my "read" list over at Goodreads and thinking to myself - why don't I read more historical romances?  I really love them.  I have a ton of them on my shelves waiting to be read. On the whole though I really read more contemporary romances than anything else between the m/f and the m/m that I read.  Why is that?  I know I don't like reading too many historicals all in a row because they kind of lose their charm and if I read more than 2 in a row then they all start to sound the same. I KNOW they're not the same but they kind of....blend.

I don't think this applies as much to contemporary romances and I can't quite figure out why.  When I think about it there are a gajillion situations that can be written about historically as well as in contemporary times - so why wouldn't I think that the contemporary romances blend?

Yes, as a matter of fact I am asking you to pick my brain. Do a good job and don't hurt me while you're at it.

That is all.  I'm tapped out.

Covering It Up

Every Saturday I play a song on my blog (Tracy's Place) so I thought I'd continue over here today but with a slight difference.

Here are a few songs that I really like that are covers for older songs

311 doing Love Song




Seether doing Careless Whisper





Puddle of Mudd doing Rocket Man



Of course I love all the covers that Glee does but this is one of my favorites - Glee ...or more specifically The Warblers doing When I Get You Alone. (I really like the Robin Thicke original too!)

I Need Romance Novel Book Recommendations

Hey there - Tracy here. I'm filling in for Kati as she was hit by Hurricane Irene. She's well but has no power...therefore no internet. Please keep Kati and the many others on the east coast in your thoughts as they deal with the fallout.

The boss that I worked for for the past 10 years recently retired. She’s a good friend and knows that I read romance novels and likes to listen to all of the different stories I have to tell if I come across a bizarre premise or a juicy m/m novel, etc.

I had lunch with her yesterday and since she’s retired she now has all this time to read (lucky bitch) and though she reads fiction and non-fiction she’s only ever read one romance novel and that was Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. She really liked that book and even read part of the next one in that series but couldn’t finish it. She got an iPad for a retirement gift and just loves the Kindle app on it. She now wants me to choose a romance novel for her.

Oh. the. pressure. 

She’s not really a fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal or sci-fi kind of girl.

She would like a historical (any time period/country) or a contemporary.

I’ll have to work her up to m/m like I did for my mom but for now I think I’ll stick with m/f.

I have a couple of ideas but wanted some input from our many, many followers.

Tell me your 1 recommendation (I know, it’s hard to keep it to one) that you would give a non-romance novel reading friend – even if it’s fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, sci-fi or m/m – that’s looking for a really good romance.

Come on people, don’t be shy!

Abbott & Costello in the "Computer Age"

My mom sent this to me a few days ago and it was just too funny not to share.  I remember the first time I heard that a computer had Windows (yes, I was completely computer illiterate) andI could not figure out what the hell they were talking about! lol  We've come a long way baby!

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, 'Who's on First?' might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about
buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTELLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office.

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue 'W'.

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue 'w' if you don't start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!


(A few days later)

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: Click on 'START'...

Hope this brought you a laugh! Have a great day!

What Do You Look For In A Blog?

When I first started Tracy's Place I had a few online book friends that came occasionally and said hi, commented on my reviews, gave me encouragement, etc.. Only about a month later I got involved in the DIK hero draft and suddenly I had lots of peeps coming to my blog. Woohoo! Looking back I see that it happened really quickly – sometimes new blogs can go for months and get few visitors. I visit several different blogs that are wonderful – great reviews, nice content, etc. but they hardly get any comments at all. Why is that? IDK – it’s a mystery to me.

The comments on my blog over the years, I’m just positive, are directly related to my blog hopping. If I’m out there being seen and leaving comments then I have more comments on my own blog. But even then, if I have crap on my blog (which I personally don’t think I do, but that’s me. lol), who’s gonna want to come visit?

So I want to get your opinion:

• Why you visit particular blogs?

• What does a blog have to have in order to keep your attention? 

•  If you blog do you think that blog hopping is directly related to visitors on your blog?

Let it all out, don't be shy - inquiring minds want to know. 

Libraries: Face to Face or Technology?

My city libraries recently went from county run to private libraries.  I continue to order books from the county (as I can do that online) and pick them up at a book mobile they have placed in an unincorporated part of the city.

I'm not happy (to say the least) with the privatization and though I didn't actually say I wouldn't go into any of the three of them I had no plans to even check them out.  But then I realized that I needed an audio book.  I went to see Holly and the drive is about 2.5 to 3 hours long and whenever I go I listen to an audio book to pass the time.  I would love to just download one an ipod or mp3 and hook it into my car but my car doesn't have that capability.

So I headed to the local library to check out their selection of audio books.  I found one that I could live with listening to (I'm not usually a fan of the way they're read) and went to check it out after I'd gotten a library card.  What happened when I went to check out my book?  Well, I was directed to a self-serve station that consisted of a flat touch screen where I scanned the bar code on my library card and then told it how many books I had.  I then put my book on the glass (that kind of looks like what they have to scan your groceries at the market) and the system read what my book was.  How did it do that?  No scanner, nothing.  No lights from below - nothing.  My oldest had 3 books and she stacked hers up one on top of the other and the system read exactly which books she had - again...no scanner.  The little sheet with my due date popped out of the mini printer and we walked out.

Besides the freakiness of the scanner - which is still hurting my brain to think about - I have to tell ya, I missed the face to face I used to get with the librarians!  I love talking to them while checking out and of course, talking about books - which I can do for days! It seems that today's society is so into self-serve that we're missing out on the wonderful and incredible social aspect of the library system.  Are we not allowed to talk to each other face to face any longer?  *sigh* I fear that's the way it will be from now on and I have to say, I'm not a fan.

So which would you rather have?  Face to face or the self-serve technology?

I Hear Voices

I’m sure I’ve read a blog post about this before somewhere…it might have even been on this blog. My memory’s not what it used to be.

Anyway, last week I read a book called The Larton Chronicles by James Anson. It was a great book about two men, their relationship, their lives, the lives of the people of the town they lived in, Larton, and various family members and friends of theirs. For the most part the book took place in the English countryside and while I was reading I heard the British accents – or Irish accents as they came along – of the characters. It really seemed odd to me that I was reading yet hearing them speak in an accent.

Normally when I read a book, if the characters are from a different country I never hear their accents in my head. Ok, I hear their voices in my head but it’s always in American accent – whatever that may be. I hear twangs if the person is from the South and I hear the New York in their voice if their from that area of the US but I rarely hear British accents - or any others. What causes this strange phenomenon…or doesn’t cause it as the case may be?

Do you hear voices?

welcome to the DIK giveaway!

Woo and hoo! :)


Tracy let me out of the DIK brig to announce our Big Winter Giveaway.  


Yeah, she's letting me bask in her glory.  She's nice like that.  


Sometimes.


Anyhoo...


Since we can't afford to bring you all to the island and we took a vote and decided we didn't want a bunch of drunken peeps hitting on our men, we decided to go with the next best thing?  A desert island giveaway!  But without involving the actual giving away of a land mass! 


I know!  We rock!  *beams*


What's going on?

Starting 20 December through to 2 January - yes, even on Christmas Day! - we will be giving away 2-3 different books per day thanks to some very generous authors.


Who you ask?  Well, there's LB Gregg, Josh Lanyon, Julie James, Jaci Burton, Astrid Amara, Nicole Kimberling, Juliana Stone, Stephanie Tyler and Devyn Quinn just to name a few.  It's awesomesauceness!


How it works?


To enter all you need to do is leave a comment with your email addy on the giveaway post, but you'll have to be super quick because each day's contest will only last until midnight that night (PST). 


It's open internationally and, once Randy The Randomizer has done his thing, the winners of the giveaways will be advised in the comment section of the post and via email.


This means that if you don't subscribe to the comments or provide us with your email you're shit out of luck and we will laugh our arses off at you when we give the book away again after 24 hrs.


You're welcome!


So, in the spirit of giving...

Santa said you were very, VERY good and told us to start off with...


A $10.00 gift certificate to All Romance eBooks (Giveaway #1)!

MERRY KRISMAS!

Thank you to my teachers....and YA Books

I was thinking the other day about all of the wonderful teachers that I had that truly encouraged me to read.

First there was my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Buck – who was also a good family friend so I had to mind my p’s and q’s. I still remember her telling us to just keep reading and we would get better and better. Little did I know that A Duck is a Duck would have such an impact on my life.

Then there was my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Galbraith. I think I had just a leeetle bit of a crush on the man so was anxious to please. Since he was a man who pushed reading I was all over it like it was the best thing since sliced bread. And I’ve learned that it IS! lol

Sixth grade took me to Mr. Sweeney and though the man had grey hair I think back now and think he was probably only in his mid 50’s, if that. He was kind and patient and had a love of reading as well which showed me, at that time, that there was something other than boys around.

Mr. Campbell was my 8th grade social studies teacher and he really nailed home that wonderful insight…knowledge can be found in books. *gasp* It’s brilliant isn’t it? I know. But even to a girl who had been reading on a regular basis it truly was a light bulb moment.

Though I had many great teachers after that none of them pushed reading like those four had and I have to thank them for all of their pushing.

So did you have any teachers that impacted your love of reading? Who were they?

Speaking of reading…

My oldest daughter is now in Junior High School or middle school (depending on where you live) and much to my delight they are really pushing reading. In elementary school they were required to read 20 minutes a night and turn in Read Sheets every month but until her 6th grade year I don’t think any of her teachers really pushed reading.

Not only is her school pushing reading they actually have a 30 minute period set aside every day after lunch so that the kids can read (called S.U.R.F. aka silent uninterrupted reading for fun). Yes, it’s required, and I’m sure some kids, including my own, scoff at having to participate and don’t really think it’s fun, but what a great idea.

Her English class also requires her to read and then take AR (accelerated reading) quizzes after she finishes. (My daughter doesn’t quite grasp that she should be reading her AR book for S.U.R.F. but that’s a whole other subject) Anyway, there’s a whole boatload of books that they have quizzes for but unfortunately none of the books that she wants to read are on the list! Very frustrating.

So I want to pick your brains. I need names of good YA books (I don’t normally read YA) that aren’t sexually in-depth if you know what I mean (she’s only 12.5), that you would recommend. I’m trying to compile a list and then I can see if any of them are on “the list”.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

The Best Romance Book Ever

I want to hear 1 book.  


The one book that you think is the best romance book you've ever read.  




Talk to me.

What Are You Looking Forward To?

I know that there are a ton of great books that are about to be released that I'm really looking forward to reading in the next few months.  Some of those are: 

Bonds of Justice by Nalini Singh

Demon Blood by Meljean Brook

Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

Raising Kane by Lorelei James

And wow - I could go on and on. 

So what are you looking forward to in the next few months - or even until the end of 2010?

So Eye Catching!

What is it about a book that catches your eye?  

Say you're in a bookstore and you're just browsing but really aren't there to purchase one book in particular.  There are a ton of options just in one genre!  What do you do?  Do you pick up books that have an eye catching cover and then read the blurb to see if it's something you're interested in reading? 

Or do you just go to the authors you already know and love and see if there's anything that you haven't already read?  What is it about a book that calls to you?

I guess this would be a good question for ebooks readers as well.  Do you only buy the books that are recommended to you or by authors you know and love, or do you see a pretty cover, read the blurb and buy?  Inquiring minds want to know.

Talk to me people!

Review of Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale and Book Giveaway

Belimai Sykes is many things: a Prodigal, the descendant of ancient demons, a creature of dark temptations and rare powers. He is also a man with a brutal past and a dangerous addiction. And Belimai Sykes is the only man Captain William Harper can turn to when faced with a series of grisly murders. But Mr. Sykes does not work for free and the price of Belimai's company will cost Captain Harper far more than his reputation. From the ornate mansions of noblemen, where vivisection and sorcery are hidden beneath a veneer of gold, to the steaming slums of Hells Below, Captain Harper must fight for justice and for his life. His enemies are many and his only ally is a devil he knows too well.

This is actually two novella’s that involve the same main characters but take place couple of months apart from each other. They both include Captain Harper, a member of House of Inquisition, and Belimai who is a Prodigal, a human-like demon.

In the first story these two men begin more or less a work relationship while trying to find Harper’s sister who has disappeared but the relationship turns into more by the end of the story. They get involved in a murder mystery plot that involves the killing of many Prodigals that is told in such a way that you just don’t want to take your eyes from the page – ever. The world that Harper and Belimai live in is a fantasy/steampunk/paranormal type world that is so richly told I couldn’t help but want to know more as I turned the pages.

Belimai for all of his addiction to ophorium and hatred of the Inquistors was a likeable yet sarcastic man. He felt that the only soft parts to him were because of the ophorium as described here:

None of them had understood that my moments of sweetness were pure ophorium. Everything that they seemed to love about me came from the needles they detested. The man they desired was an illusion, an ugly stone made briefly beautiful by a trick of the light. In their own ways, each of them had fallen as deeply in love with my addiction as I had.

But he really wasn’t, I felt, seeing the good parts of himself. He’s been tortured at one point which began his addiction, but that wasn’t what defined who he was – he just had a hard time seeing that. He had a dry, sarcastic personality that showed in different ways. In one of my favorite scenes he has to wait at a law office for hours. He’s bored out of his skull and has to listen to a clock that plays a little tune at every half hour.

The wall clock chimed out a popular tune every half hour, and steadily I grew to hate it. I had nothing to do but wait and brood over the disassembly of that happy little clock.

And then when he’s finally called into the office.

The only thing that truly pleased me was the prospect of escaping the wait­ing room before that clock went off again.

But for all of his sarcasm I believed that he was a good person and was rooting for him and Harper throughout the book… which was strange since this was really more of a fantasy mystery story with a little bit of romance on the side. I guess it’s the romantic in me that doesn’t let go.

In the second story we get to know Harper a bit better when he’s off to visit his ancestral home without Belimai. As he’s waiting for the carriage to take ferry him away he hears a woman screaming for help. When he finds her he is told that he must assist a girl before she is killed. He runs to the house that she specifies only to find that the girl is already dead. With very little investigation he finds that the uncle has killed his niece after a long period of abuse. But the uncle, as well as the abbot who is Harper’s boss – is blaming the death on an intruder and covering up the true culprit just because the uncle is a noble and a friend of the abbot’s. Harper leaves the scene of the crime but is then in a fury to protect the witness, Belimai, his career and life. It’s a mad dash for him to get all of this accomplished but he finds that for all of his hard work matters are falling down around him. In the end he has to make some decisions for himself that are extremely difficult but truly showed me what a fine man he was. He was an incredibly loyal friend and relative who wasn’t afraid to stand up for what he believed in.

Wicked Gentlemen is a truly wonderful book with amazing world-building, gritty characters and a lovely romance. I adored the book and all of the little nuances of Harper and Belimai, as well as the secondary characters. I will definitely be reading more from Ginn Hale in the future.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Now on to the book giveaway:

This giveaway is being offered by Blind Eye Books. They have recently gone digital and their very first digital release is, you guessed it, Wicked Gentlemen by Ginn Hale. This digital release is available through weightlessbooks.com who BEB has partnered with.

2 copies of Wicked Gentlemen in ebook format are now up for grabs! Please leave a comment by 11:59pm tonight, March 27th to go in the running. Two winners will be chosen through random.org and announced tomorrow.

Discarding Books from my TBR

I have a lot of books.  For those who know me this is not news at all.  Back in June I confessed the total number of books in my TBR.  I've read a whole host of books since then but I've also gotten a boat load as well so the number probably is very close to accurate.

Now of these books I have in my TBR there are quite few that I will never read - mostly print books, but some ebooks as well.  They were given to me as gifts by some poor misguided relative with excellent intentions or they are ones I bought and I've had for a darned long time and have just never read.  So why are these books on my shelves when I know, deep down inside, that they will never get read?  I know that they'll never be read but yet I have a hard time letting them go.  Why?  Is it the small hope that one day I will get to them?  Probably not, but I have a hard time discarding books that I haven't read.  Yes, I've done it in the past but it's not something I like to do.

So what do you do? How do you do it?  Are you ruthless?  Do you just give away the books that you know you won't read? If so, how do you decide which ones go? 

Or are you a hoarder like myself and keep them long past their expiration date? 


Also, I never get rid of ebooks even though there are some in there that I'll never read as well.  I think because storage is so simple the thought doesn't even cross my mind.  Do you get rid of ebooks?

Turning Books Into Movies

When I was in 8th grade I adored my oldest sister.  I still love her to pieces but thank God for her I don't follow her around like a puppy any more.  Of course she lives halfway across America so that makes it difficult as well. Ann had just graduated 12th grade and hung around with her friend Kathy and dammit I wanted to do everything they did.  

One of those occasions that I remember so damned well was when they were going to go see the Danielle Steele movie The Promise.  It had come out in the theaters and they wouldn't take me with them!  How dare they?!  They thought they were being quite clever and decided to give me the book.  They said that when I was done with the book they would take me to see the movie.  Well I finished that puppy in a day - of course they were shocked - but they still wouldn't take me with them.  (Ok, Ann took me eventually)  Now being in 8th grade I thought The Promise was a fab book so I was extremely excited to see the movie...which was crap.  I mean as far as I'm concerned it was utter and complete shite.   This was a poorly done "made for TV" movie that shouldn't have even aired on TV.  I was so stinking disappointed I could have screamed!

Another time this happened was many years later after having read Relic by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.  A great thriller that I loved.  I was totally excited to see that it was coming out in theaters.  Oh. Dear. Lord.  Suckage.  Seriously people?  You thought that was good enough to release? And then they changed the end of the movie to make it more fantastical.  Ug.  


Now I realize that no movie can truly capture the emotions that we feel while reading and no one person can be in my brain seeing the way I picture things (thank heavens) but it would be nice to see a close approximation to how events are described in the book.  Wouldn't it?

There are exceptions to the rule of course.  The first one that comes to mind is Jurassic Park (which my 12 year old watches every time it's on).  I thought they did a really great job of that one cuz let's face it, the book was so involved there was no way they were going to get every little nuance in the book taken care of in the movie.  There's also Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility which are incredible.  

Overall though, I've learned the hard way that some books are just better as books.  What books have you read that were turned into movies that you loathed?  Or on the flip side, what books were turned into movies that you adored?

My Thievery at Work

Jenre was so nice and sent me some beautiful men to get my collection going once again - thanks so much!

But I just hopped over to Ms. Moonlight's blog and the thievery began. Ok, is it really thievery when she says I can steal? I'm not sure. But here are a few of the lovely, lovely hotties I picked up. (I'll keep it clean)


Yeah, they don't call me the cali-butt-girl for nothin. :)

Best/Worst Date Ever

My husband and I went out on a date last night for the first time in a while. You see the kids are gone this week, on vacation with my parents, and it gave us the perfect opportunity. So we just went out to dinner, but while we eating we started talking about dating. First it was if so and so (one of his friends who's divorced) was dating anyone, or if one of my friends (forever single) was dating anyone and then it went onto when we first started dating. All this talk about dating brought to mind a movie that I saw recently called My Best Friend's Girl with Dane Cook and Kate Hudson. Men would hire Dane Cook to date their girls if they felt that the women were about to bolt on them, or if the women had already bolted and Dane would take them out. He would be a complete ass and be the epitome of the worst date in history and then the girls would run crying back to their men thinking that they were wonderful. Parts of the movie were retarded while others were just laugh out loud funny.

When the hubster and I got home we started talking about all the horrible dates that we had and we were laughing hilariously at some of the stuff that we put up with before we found each other (yes he is my real live hero).

So I want to hear about either the worst date you've ever been on or the best - whether you've found you're real life hero, or not.

Throwaway Pile/Keeper Pile

I don't technically have a throwaway pile. I mostly just stack the books I've read on the shelves until they get

A) Unsightly

B) To be a crushing weight

C) There's a So. Cal. Blogger get together and I gather them up to see if I can find good homes for them.

But which ones do I get rid of...and why? And why, for that matter, do I keep the ones I do?

I have quite a few books on my shelves that I've read that I wouldn't take to a desert island with me if I had the choice. Are they good books - absolutely. But not so damned good that I would want to read them over, and over, and over...as you would have to do on the aforementioned desert island (assuming you didn't have the vast libary that we do here on DIK). But why do I keep the ones I do? I have no answer. I think it's just a feeling. A feeling that I had when I read the book and when I see the book on my shelf that feeling returns - and it's a good one.

That leads me to my throwaways. These are the books that I have no problem sending on to their final reward...uh, I mean, passing on to the next person (let's be clear - I've never actually thrown a book away). These don't instill quite the feelings in me that the keepers do. It's more a meh feeling about whether I keep it or not. Not that I didn't like the book but I don't particularly care to read it again for whatever reason. Then there's the feeling that when I look at a book I just say - wow, can't get rid of that fast enough. I don't have many of those feelings, thank the gods and knock on wood.

So do you have a throwaway pile and how do you decide what to give away? And the keepers? Are they all DIK's or not?

Sex as Love and InstaLove

I've been thinking about this for the past few weeks and although I've not come to any conclusions about it...I just keep thinking about it.

I think it started when I was reading several books in one week where the hero and heroine who hardly knew each other would have sex and then declare their love. This is not something that occurs in my own personal DIK book picks so it confuses me that stories are constantly written where this happens. And there are some people that eat it up. I realize that everyone is different in their reading choices - even within the romance genre - but am I the only one that this particular premise confounds?

I think it hit me right between the eyes when I was reading a short story (love is very difficult to pull off depending on page count) that had co-workers who'd decided to date. Our hero had lusted after our heroine in the office (and vise versa) but also had noticed cute little mannerisms about her that he really liked. But when he was waiting for her to join him at the restaurant for dinner he admitted to himself that he really knew nothing about her. So they had dinner which led to drinks which led to hot monkey sex at her house and a declaration of love the next day by our hero. Was the story cute? Sure. And the sex was scorching hot but to me it just didn't say love. It said more like - I think that you're someone I can't stop thinking about and I definitely want to know you better.

I realize that InstaLove happens all the time - sometimes without the sex happening first. Anyone who reads my blog on a reg. basis knows that my parents met and got married 3 weeks later and just had their 50th wedding anniversary - so I know first hand that InstaLove can work. But does just having sex with someone qualify as love?

Talk to me people. Tell me your thoughts on this subject. How do you feel about sex as love - or even InstaLove?

And in case you're wondering - I loved all the heroes in my hut waaaaaaay before the hot monkey sex began we came to the island. Just sayin.

What the Hell was That??

Today I'm sitting down to chat with the one and only Phineas Tucker.

Thanks for sitting down with me Phin. I asked all the other guys to sit for a strange, eclectic, completely off the wall, non sequitur question/answer session and they ran for the beach like the friggin devil was after them. What’s up with that? You’d think after everything they’d been through this would be no prob.
Phin: Hey, my pleasure. As long as I’m with you it’s all good.
Me: Phin, you’re gonna get some whether you brown nose or not so cut it out.
Phin: I’m just messing with ya. Ok, let’s get started.
Me: Right. On to the questions…and let me warn you – there’s no rhyme or reason here.
Phin: That’s cool, I’m used to that with you.

What was your first impression of the island?
Phin: Well I thought there were a lot of men here that were kind of strangely dressed, especially from that chick Tumperkin’s hut, but I figured what the heck – maybe they’ll share their clothes.
Me: Uh, Phin – your not allowed to wear clothes remember?
Phin: oh yeah, my bad.
Me: And those men in T’s hut are from historical times and ya ain’t wearin their bloomers!
Phin: Dammit! Ok, whatever.

We’ve all (everyone in our hut that is) gone out on several dates and it’s been a bit of an argument each time because we all like to do different things. What is your idea of a truly romantic evening?
Phin: Staying at home with candlelight, good food and music. Gotta have the music.
Me: That sounds really nice but don’t you think it might get a little crowded in there with everyone hanging out?
Phin: I’m thinking we can probably loan them all out for a night, don’t you?
Me: I don’t know, they’re all pretty attached to me. Especially Z – he’s doesn’t really play with others well.
Phin: Ok, Z can stay but the others can go find their own fun.

Apart from the most obvious one, which other two areas of your body are the most sensitive and responsive?
Phin: Wow – you’re going right to the personal questions, aren’t you? Why don’t we just go find out? *waggles eyebrows*
Me: *laughing* Come on, it’s not like I don’t already know – this is just for the other ladies to know.
Phin: Well in that case, I’d have to say the arch of my foot – man it feels good when it’s kissed or stroked and right behind my left ear. Not so much my right though.
Me: Yeah, I noticed, what’s up with that?
Phin: I think someone hit me with a pool cue there once, I can’t remember though.
Me: Makes sense

Which fruit/vegetable do you think I resemble and why?
Phin: Do I really have to answer that?
Me: Yes, and be honest.
Phin: All right…a pear. There I said it, do you hate me?
Me: LOL Hell no! If you’d said anything else I’d know you were lying.
Phin: *wiping sweat from brow* That’s a relief.

Little CJ - funny or creepy?

Phin: Oh definitely funny...in a creepy sort of way.

Me: I understand completely.

If someone told you they saw me with another guy (besides the ones in the hut), what would your first reaction be – she’s cheating on me, he’s probably an old friend or I need to get to the bottom of this?
Phin: It would be – can I join?
Me: God I love you!! Good answer!

Have you ever found yourself attracted to someone of the same sex?
Phin: um, well…
Me: Come on, it’s cool.
Phin: Ok, that guy in Sarai’s hut I've been corrected: Lisabea's hut, Jake Riordan.
Me: *laughing hysterically* yeah, good luck with that one honey!
Phin: Yeah, I know, he said he’s not gay.
Me: *laughing while holding sides* He what? Ok, I’ve gotta stop laughing! Oh that was funny!

Ok, thanks for answering my questions – strange as they were. I’ll meet you down at the dock and we’ll gather the guys for a naked beach party.
Phin: I’m there!

Anyone who wants to join us for the naked beach party grab the rum and come on!