Special thanks to Leontine from Leontine's Book Realm for the super header.


Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Feeling a bit lost without the Olympics

My daughter noted last night we can't remember what any of the other channels are. We only know 7, 27 and 30. The three Olympic channels. We did watch Top Chef Masters. Seems we missed a couple but it was kind of weird not to have sports, sports and more sports.

Spring, I hope, is coming to Canada, unlike parts of the US who are still getting snow. What's up with that? It's supposed to be +7 here on the weekend (45F). Yay spring. We are likely heading to Quebec City for a few days in mid-March when my daughter is on spring break which I hope will be fun. I've read a couple of books but am feeling kind of blah despite the sunshine.

A Fair Trade by BA Tortuga (44 pages)

This was one of the shorts at ARe which was benefiting heart research. Cotton is a cowboy who is bathing in a water hole when two crows show up. They try to steal his spurs but he chases them off. That night they show up again and turn into men and he figures he's going crazy or dead or dreaming but he's not going to turn down a chance to go to their place. They have some hot smexin' and he decides to stay with them for evah. What I liked about this was the way the birds thought. They spoke English and they understood everything but the way they talked and spoke had kind of an innocence to it, more child-like way of thinking about some things. You knew they weren't normal humans. It found it rather endearing. So it's a smexy little short with a different twist. Not sure they are twins, they apparently look the same, but then all crows do, don't they?

(And I'd swear that guy in the back is the same one on Chris's site today. I looked closely but I can't be sure. I think it's his chin/lip, I tried to compare the nipple. LOL)

Family Unit by ZA Maxfield (256 pages)

Richard at 45 is raising his 9 year old grandson Nick. At Halloween they trick-or-treat at "crazy army guy's" house who scares the crap out of them but Richard loves it. Retired army guy (not so crazy) Logan kind of starts stalking (in a not too creepy way) Richard. One day he joins him jogging and when he openly flirts Richard is so shocked he runs into a light pole (and made me laugh - I'm so mean). Logan takes him to the hospital and they admit they are attracted but Richard hasn't dated since he got custody of Nick who's mother is an addict and his father (Richard's son) died when Nick was 3. They try to work around it, with Nick NOT thrilled that Grandpa has a boyfriend. Not that he's a boy but that anyone is rivalling his affections and has serious issues because of his mother's neglect/abandonment as a child. It's basically the two guys figuring out how to be together as a family which Logan wants/misses with some drama surrounding Nick's mother's desire to be back in his life with a druggie boyfriend in tow. I liked it that both guys are older and yet Richard didn't act older all the time which was nice because I don't FEEL 45 and I'd like to think if I met someone I could be fun too. I remember someone reviewing this and saying sometimes they acted old and sometimes not, but as a grown-up sometimes you have to do the responsible grown-up stuff and act your age and sometimes you get to have fun and be goofy. It's a time of split personalities I think.

I also liked that while Nick was not thrilled I think he was portrayed accurately. Sometimes kids in books seems older or younger than they are but I think the fact that ZAM has young boys (a little older) means she can write a 9 year old with a lot of accuracy, how they behave and what they are interested in. I also think his response is completely in line with how he would react with his father figure never dating in 6 years suddenly bringing home a guy, not just any guy but "scary army guy". LOL There was lots of humour, them googling chicken liver because they didn't know what it looked like and talking about gutting fish. I am pretty much a ZAM fangirl though, so I love her work and if you are looking for a book with mature heroes I think it's a great choice.

19 comments:

Erotic Horizon said...

I jump over the ZAM review - as I will be reading it soon... but I like Tortuga works that Io have read...

He has a certain quality about his work...

As for getting back into the swing of things - I have my pom pom's still here - I have been shaking it alot lately... So tell me the date and the time we can start our own Olympics...


E.H>

Chris said...

LOL - I don't THINK it's the same guy. Check out his lats (are those the muscles over the ribs?) - unless they were airbrushed smooth... I think I do recognize that guy, although I'm not coming up with any other example covers at the moment.

I have that ZAM book on my reader. Someday I will get to it!!

Average Reader said...

Hi, Tam! I might have to get that ZAM book. For some reason the cover puts me off because they look about 65 rather than 45. But I love her writing, and I like the idea of heroes in their 40s.

Anonymous said...

Sorry that you're feeling blah. I completely understand that feeling.

I agree with you about Family Unit. ZAM did a good job making Nick sound his age. As someone who works with kids, I'm pretty picky about that. I hate it when three year-olds say and do things that most six year-olds couldn't. I also hate it when 16 year-olds sound like 11 year-olds.

The guys on the cover look much older than the character do in my head. I just don't think they look like 49 and 45 year-olds. It's a cliche that age is just a state of mind, but it's kind of true. There are times when I "act my age," but there are times when I'm sure I'm as goofy as a 14 year-old or as serious as a 60 year-old is supposed to be. Richard seemed just right too me.

In the end, ZAM has never disappointed me.

Tam said...

Nekkid boy Olympics EH. *stare dreamily off into space* KZ wants to be a judge. :-D

Tam said...

Chris: I wasn't 100% sure but something called to me. LOL

Val: The cover doesn't do it for me and for some reason they look like brothers to me. LOL But if you ignore that part it was a good read. I think Logan was 49, or closer to 50 anyway but as an ex-marine had the body of one.

Tam said...

Eyre: Yeah, once you are grown up you sometimes have to behave older. You don't have the liberty of blowing off the responsible stuff like a 20 year old can get away with, but I don't want to be stodgy and uptight either.

Having a kid myself it's easy for me to be critical of depictions of kids (and you working with them every stinking day LOL) but I suppose if you only are around extended family it's a difficult line to walk. My daughter casually threw "anal sex" into a conversation the other day so at almost 15 they definitely know more these days than I did. LOL

Kris said...

I'm so superficial. As much as I enjoy ZAM's work I just can't get past that cover.

Erotic Horizon said...

Nekkid boy/Men Olympics EH

I amended the banner for the event and you do know all judges must be impartial...

Tam said...

Just close your eyes Kris while you hit the "scroll down" button or whatever e-readers have. :-)

Oh, I'm sure we'll all be completely impartial EH, looking at each athelete and their "performance" VERY closely to ensure a fair result. :-)

Erotic Horizon said...

It' the VERY closely that I am worried about...

Harrasment comes to mind....

Tam said...

Ah, we just had a seminar on harrassment today. It's only harrassment if it's UNWANTED attention. The rules of these games will be stated very clearly so we'll be in the clear. LOL I'm government, we think of every loop hole.

K. Z. Snow said...

Your new jail bait...uh, pin-up boy is very, very pretty.

I'm glad the Olympics are over. I become too emotionally invested in certain books and movies and sporting events. Don't need it.

Lily said...

I've read most of BA's books but this one never appealed.

ZAM's story has been on my Reader for months. I don't like the cover at all. I think the guys look older than they're supposed. However, I'll be reading it soon cause I think I've placed it on one of my Challenge lists.

Sarah said...

I am missing the olympics too. :( Been enjoying lazing about watching sport. Not sure I want to get rid of summer yet though, we've had the worst summer here in years. No spring just yet!!!

Tam said...

He is pretty isn't he KZ? :-D I'm just looking of course. *bats eyes innocently*

Tam said...

It's a shame Lily how many people are not reading that book because of the cover. Sigh. Perhaps headless torsos would have been the way to go here.

The BA book had a different feel that I quite enjoyed.

Tam said...

I am always ready for winter to end about two weeks after it starts Sarah. Not sure what our summer will be like not too hot would work for me. I'm just tired of wearing boots and mittens. I might live dangerously this morning and wear sneakers even though it's -6.

Chris said...

Oh, I hear ya, Tam. SO tired of cold and snow. It's already +21F (at a bit after 7:30), so today should be nice. It's definitely sunny.