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


Friday, December 3, 2010

Friday Update

To say I haven't gotten much reading done this week is an understatement. Between crazy work and getting the new blog up and running, it's been a bit unusual. I'm even behind on my DSP Daily Dose and it's only Day 3. Ack! I'm off to Chicago for a couple of days on Sunday and have a ton to do to get ready, but obviously I'll have time to read on the plane, but I've never been to Chicago before so a couple of friends are picking me up at the airport and are going to be tourists with me. Then two days of meetings and whisked back home.

I did however read one book and have a couple up over at Brief Encounters which I've linked to below.

Taste of Love by Andrew Grey (200 pages)
Dreamspinner Press

Darryl is a successful restaurant owner, and when business picks up he hires a desperate young man, Billy, to be a waiter. He's instantly attracted, but feels Billy is too young. Despite his determination to stay away, he can't help but be drawn to him. A misunderstanding leads to the knowledge that Billy is struggling to raise his five year old twin brothers following their father's death. Once Darryl gets past the age thing, and there is a good reason for his reticence which I won't divulge, things are going well. When Billy has to find a new place to live, they all move in together and are forming a happy family when it comes to light that maybe something hinky is going on surrounding the birth of the youngsters that could tear their new family apart. I do enjoy Andrew's style of writing and I liked both characters, Billy is very innocent and earnest and upbeat despite raising his brothers since his mother died shortly after their birth. I was pleasantly surprised, that when the crisis arose with the twins' origins, that it didn't get wiped away as a bit of a false drama. Sometimes there's an "oh my god, could it be true?" crisis which is then neatly solved with a "nope, we're fine now" ending that negates the whole drama. This doesn't happen here, and I think the way they had to deal with first the uncertainly, and then the reality of the changes in life, was handled well, but not overly melodramatically. This is a nice read which despite some serious subject matter, doesn't fall into a too heavy or angsty tone.

Click on the book title below to see my reviews at Brief Encounters Reviews.

Kid Christmas Rides Again by Eric Arvin



Picture Window by Dallas Coleman



Dinner and a Movie by Beth Wylde

18 comments:

Jenre said...

Ooh, Taste of Love does sound good. Are the twins really bratty or cutesy? Can't stand either in my books so that may put me off.

Average Reader said...

Hope you enjoy your Chicago trip! I've never been either, but I'd like to go.

Tam said...

They are pretty cutesy Jen, well behaved. Definitely not too bratty but they aren't "on page" all that much, at least I didn't feel like they took over and they're not 5 going on 30. To be honest I was wondering if they act like five year olds or not. It's funny how quickly you forget. I had one, but that was 10 years ago and I have no idea how she behaved or talked back then. You'll have a more honest opinion. :-)

Tam said...

Thanks Val. I won't have a lot of time, but hey, I'll take what I can get and getting to see a couple of friends is always a bonus. Maybe I'll get some Christmas shopping done for my daughter, she's getting harder and harder to buy for, and no, she's not getting a Mac Airbook or an ipad. LOL

Anonymous said...

Taste of Love sounds good. I'll have to get it. I've never been to Chicago. I hope you have a good time.

Tam said...

It was a good read Eyre. Thank, I really should be doing laundry or something but .... LOL

Chris said...

Oh, you won't be packing until tomorrow night! ;)

Tam said...

True Chris. Or Sunday morning since I don't have to leave until 9:30. I should be wrapping gifts. Yeah, later. Maybe finding Christmas cards. Ummm. Yeah, that too.

Chris said...

Oh, if I'd realized you were leaving that late on Sunday... ;)

K. Z. Snow said...

If you're being touristy, the Museum of Science and Industry is a requirement. Cool stuff -- seriously. (I'm such a dork!)

Lily said...

I've got A Taste of Love on my wish list already. It sounds really good, I like Andrew's writing.

Hope you enjoy your trip to Chicago. I was there a few years ago and really enjoyed the city. And it's nickname is definitely well deserved. Walking downtown can be interesting on a very windy day.

Tam said...

Thanks Lily. Right now I'm debating wearing my heavy winter coat vs my fall coat I've been wearing since it has a nylon shell which is good for cutting the wind. I hate this time of year, cold but not freezing so it's hard to know what to wear.

Chris said...

I hope it's warmer in Chicago than here, where it's 9F/-12.8C... and snowing again.

Tam said...

Supposed to be -6C and not much snow so I'm hoping. I decided to go with the fall coat and the hoodie because I hate traveling with a big coat. Almost time to board. They charged me $25 to check my bag. WTF? But I had some secret Santa gifts in there to mail and that includes booze so I couldn't bring it carry-on. Rip off.

Chris said...

The $25 is pretty standard, alas. :(

Have a good flight!

Lily said...

Wow! Chris,that's so cold. Brrrrrrrr :)

Tam, have a safe stressfree flight. Enjoy Chicago!

Tam said...

Landed nearly 1/2 hour early. What the heck? After the 10 mile walk to the luggage carousel by bag was second off. LOL Go figure. Maybe paying for baggage handling pays. So I'm waiting for my friends to pick me up in about 15 min. It was a smooth uneventful flight.

Chris said...

Welcome back to the States, Tam!