Hold Down the Fort at DIK Today

Yes yes... Its true, I still live and breath. Life is still hectic and work is, well, work. Got a new kitty, but more on that later (promise)!


In the meanwhile....

I'm over at DIK blog. Come stop by and say howdy. ^_^

Another Award.

Cherry over at Contest and Freebies gave me an award.



The Lemonade Award is a feel good award which shows great attitude or gratitude.

Here are the rules:

* Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog or post.
* Nominate at least 10 blogs that show great attitude or gratitude.
* Link your nominees within your post.
* Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Here are my nominees:
Ann Agurrie
Katiebabs of Babbling About Books
Desert Island Keepers
AnimeJune of Gossamer Obsessions
Barbara of Happily Ever After
Kati of Katidom
Leontine of Leontine's Book Realm
Kristie of Ramblings on Romance
Mandi of Smexy Books
Orannia of Walkabout

New URL Address and an Update

Shaymless Aymless now coming to you from:

SHAYMLESSAYMLESS.BLOGSPOT.COM

It was an excellent book week. Scored three books.

Thanks to Joss Ware

Thanks to Julie James

Thanks to the folks over at My Favourite Books

Read three books. But also discovered a free e-book download site (thanks to Karen Marie Moning's author site here). See Suvudu here. Not that I have an e-book reader (yet). So books IN once again greater than books OUT. No wonder I keep adding bookcases.

Now that phone call about getting the job would be great... any minute now... REALLY... any minute now...

Lookie here!

Whee! Tracy over at Tracy's Place gave me an award!

Its the Excellent Blog Award. *blushes wildly*

I'm going to pass this on to some of my evil nice book pimps promoters and some new blog friends:
Orannia of Walkabout
AnimeJune of Gossamer Obsessions
Katiebabs of Babbling About Books
Barbara of Happily Ever After
KristieJ of Rambling on Romance
Mandi of Smexy Books
Wendy the Super Librarian

Joss Ware ARC giveaway

A new author hit my radar just now and luck would have it she is giving away ARCs for her new book!

Josh Ware has a new series coming out in January 2010 as a part of the 3 book deal with AVON.


Here's the blurb:

A man with no future...
When Dr. Elliott Drake wakes from a mysterious fifty-year sleep, the world as he knew it is gone. Cities are now desolate, and civilization is controlled by deadly immortals. Stranger still is Elliott's extraordinary new "gift" – he has the power to heal, but it comes with fatal consequences.

A woman with a past
Jade barely escaped the immortals and is now hell-bent on revenge. She trusts no one... until Elliott. His piercing gaze and tempting touch shatter her defenses, but the handsome doctor seems to have dangerous secrets of his own. Is it safe to trust him with her heart?

If they are to survive in this dark new world, Jade and Elliott must work together to fight the forces that takes them beyond danger.

Beyond desire.
Beyond the night.

Doesn't it sound fantastic. Drop by her blog to enter! Good Luck!

New Blog Title

I've been playing with my Blog title. I'm thinking this may be the final name...


At least for now. *g*

Which Character Are You?

So I've been in hiding again for the last couple of days (and experiencing technical difficulties... reading too much is that right?). Anyway... I was wondering around all my usual spots and lookie what I found at Lisabea's (Nose in a Book)! So of course I had to do it and here is my Star Trek character:

Your results:
You are Jean-Luc Picard

Jean-Luc Picard 95% Spock 64% Data 62% Beverly Crusher 60% Geordi LaForge 55% Will Riker 55% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 45% An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 45% Chekov 40% Worf 40% Deanna Troi 40% James T. Kirk (Captain) 35% Mr. Scott 30% Mr. Sulu 20% Uhura 15%

A lover of Shakespeare and other fine literature. You have a decisive mind and a firm hand in dealing with others.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz

HA! I knew I was captain material (just not that overly dramatic one!) . Not digging that I'm 45% Expendable. I am SO not fodder!

Who are you?

DIK Hero Draft!!!

Hi all!

You all probably remember (or not, for original draft check here) the silliness that was the Hero Draft hosted by seven jailers hostesses. This in turn became the springboard for the Desert Island Keepers' blog. So in fond remembrance, a new draft has started (we're adding more cabana boys!). Come check out the funniness that is the Hero Draft!

Blogversary!!!

It's my first Blogversary!

It all started last year due to the Desert Island Keepers heroes draft which led to the founding of the Heroes Liberation Organization. The HLO is now a part of DIK (we have our own little corner of the DIK island) and all is well in the land of heroes.

For me, it's been a strange year spotted with work and many months of non-volutary vacation. Here's to hoping for a better personal year!

Come Visit with Linnea Sinclair

Come over to DIK and chat with award winning author Linnea Sinclair!

You don't know what your missing if you haven't read any of her books. They are a must read for me. Go check them out!
Gabriel's Ghost (book 1) See my review here
Shades of Dark (book 2) See my review here
Hope's Folly (book 3) See my review here
Games of Command (my review will be up next week)
Finders Keepers (review also coming soon)
Accidental Goddess
Down Home Zombie Blues

Play Host Over at DIK

Hiya folks. I'm the blogger-in-charge over at DIK for the next three days.







A mystery guest will be joining us today. A mystery prize (provided by our mystery guest) will be given to the first person to correctly identify our guest. Tomorrow there will be a Q&A session with our guest. Come over and play!

My Top 5 books for 2008

It's the time for year for reflection. Its been a tough year: work has been slim and hard to find and money has been in short supply, but overall things are better than when the year started. I'm ending this year employed and in good health (the migraine seem to be in control at last! *knock on wood*).

As far as books and reading goes, it has been a great year. Thanks to my many new friends in the blogosphere, I've been introduced to some great new authors: Anne Bishop, Meljean Brook, Jean Johnson, and Linnea Sinclair just to name a few. In addition some of the old favorites have come out with some great new read this year, Marjorie M. Liu, Nalini Singh and CL Wilson really standing out. So with no further ado, my top five book for 2008 are...

5. The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
This could be the start of another lovely relationship with Marjorie. I have loved her Dirk & Steele series (minus the unfortunate The Last Twilight, which just didn't live up to the rest of the series). Maxine Hunt is definitely on my list of great heroine and I have great hope for the series. The story is both inventive and lively. I just love anything that ties in reality (as most think of it) with the mysterious and unseen, the whole fairies really do exist. And let's face it, we all could use a bit of magic in our lives.

4. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews
If I could be a sword-wielding, magical bounty hunter I would definitely be Kate. This is the second book in the Kate Daniels series and it's as fantastic as the first. I can't wait to see where Kate goes from here and all about her mysterious history (and really who IS Roland... I wonder if he has a tattoo of a skull and crossbones encircled with a heart on his ass *g* Probably not but hey wouldn't it be fun). Ilona does a wonderful job of blending the supernatural forces with the mundane. I love how technology and magic seem to be at opposing ends of the spectrum, that only one really works well at any given time. And let's not forget Curren... grr...

3. Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh
Nalini just can't go wrong. This is a wonderful 5th chapter (well full length book) in her Psy-Changling series. Dorian is absolutely scrumptious, Ashya is delightfully icy and sassy, and Amara is so wickedly evil you can't help but love her. Nalini just takes us deeper and deeper into this wonderfully crafted world and story that she does indeed take us all hostage to pleasure. I can't wait to read all about Mercy and Riley and to see where Nalini will take us next (after Dev and NY). And besides, who wouldn't love this cover.

2. Demon Bound by Meljean Brook
I can blame my addiction to Meljean on the DIK draft that occurred in May of this year. It's all their fault (not that I am complaining, missing the Guardian series would have been disastrous). Jake has a delightfully boy-ish charm, Alice is beautifully creepy and Michael is a bit less mysterious (I can't wait for his story, unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how one looks at it, Meljean has indicated that he will be last). Next comes Irena and I can't wait! And I'm hoping for Hellhound pups!

1. King of Sword and Sky by CL Wilson
I so LOVE this series and can hardly wait for the last book to come out! I think I continuously read this series for well over two weeks! Cheryl just has to write faster! Every character is delightful (even the evil ones) and there is no aspect of the book to glance through. Each scene is wonderfully crafted and the descriptions so richly described that you feel like you've really seen it or experienced it (okay, maybe not the torture parts). This is a true fairytale. An abandoned princess, the handsome prince, the perilous quest, the imprisoned king and queen, a great and powerful evil and a destiny bound to change the world. *sigh* I really NEED the last book and I NEED to know what happens to everyone. There is so much still to discover. And it doesn't come out until JUNE! *pout*

Meljean Brook's Demon Bound

In honor of the release of Demon Bound and the national election on Tuesday Nov 4th, Meljean's running a contest and prize voting. Check it out!

Hosting Three Days over at the DIK blog

Hello All... I've taken over the DIK Ladies Rule blog for the next three days. Come by and have a drink and oogle our books and heroes.

Have Taken Nalini Hostage...

In honor of the release of Hostage to Pleasure, I and my fellow partner in crime (Alice) have taken the One and Only Nalini Singh hostage, but we'll give her back... promise... *wink*


This is a bit late but come over to the DIK Island and check it our interview (she'll be with us until Sat.)!



Also thanks to Alice (who got it from Christine)...

The Ice Cream Cone Personality Test

• You are an incredibly modest person. You don't feel comfortable bragging about yourself... or even receiving complements.

• You have a wild reputation, but you're not as wild as you seem. You take risks, but only measured risks.

• You are a very open minded, liberal, and flexible person. You love many things. You tend to have tastes that range from down home to cosmopolitan.

• You are a natural multitasker. You feel alive when you're doing more than one thing at a time.

• You are a serious and contemplative person. You definitely do your own thing in life.

Take The Ice Cream Personality Test

Hostage to Pleasure Contest!

Nalini Singh is holding a contest to celebrate the upcoming (September 2nd!) release of Hostage to Pleasure the 5th full-length entry in the Psy/Changeling world.

What's up for grabs? US$75 gift certificate to the winner, chosen at random.


Goto Nalini Singh for the details.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Which fictional hero (from books, TV, movie...) would you most like to hold hostage?H,,,, Hari (Marjoire M. Liu) Rand R'Ash from (Celta series by Bobin Owens,

Which fictional hero would you most like to be held hostage by? So many choices... Rainier Vel'En Daris aka Rain Tairen Soul (CL Wilson Tairen Souls book) or Deamon Sadi (Anne Bishop's Black Jewels books) or Colin Ames-Beaumont (Demon Moon by Meljean Brook)

Which fictional world would you most like to be held hostage in? The Pys-Changling world. Because is a cleaner, greener version were where I already live. (Nalini Singh's world)

Nancy Drew Week!

Make sure you all head over to the The Thrillionth Page for Nancy Drew week! It's all about our favorite tween sleuth extraordinaire.

It's the half way through the week, but well worth a visit since there is an interview with the one and only Nancy Drew!

Back into the Groove of Thing

After taking a break from my migraine induced read-a-lon, and still pondering where Wednesday when, and returned to my usual life of enlightening (aka time wasting) activities.

First was the monthly trip to the used book store (Bay Books), where I happily acquired more books to add to the tittering TBR piles and ate some yummy Mediterrean food for dinner.

Then off to do my internet surfing, still increasingly puzzled as to where Wednesday went, and have discovered that PatRack continues to be the best for squadering the hours away until the next feeding (mine or kitty's). In between playing PatRack (since all the items you are looking for are no longer anywhere to be found), its off to Bloggia. At my first stop, I see a quiz to take. Here are my results:

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

HA! I always said I would be back to haunt people for whatever deed or misdeed they have done, this simply proves it.

Additionally, I am happy to inform EVERYONE.... This Aymless is now once more among the employed! Whee! Now I too can complain about how I never have anytime to do anything and how the boss sucks, and why we HAVE to get up on Mondays! Best of all NO MOM, I'M NOT MOVING BACK HOME!!!!

DIK Page Up and Running

For those who have been following the DIK (Desert Island Keeper) and HLO (Heroes Liberation Organization), a new blog has been created to combine our love of books and characters (heroes) into one blog. Come check it out.

http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/

The DIK blog has a listing of all the DIK Ladies and for the next couple of weeks each will be introducing themselves and tell us all a bit about themselves. Come and join the FUN and madness that is DIK!