Beautiful Sacrifice by Elizabeth Lowell

According to Maya legend, December 21, 2012, will mark the end of the world as we know it. Is it myth . . . or will their prediction become reality?
Archaeologist Lina Taylor has devoted her life to studying ancient Maya artifacts, splitting her time between digs in Yucatan and the classroom teaching college students. But the professor’s structured, academic life is about to spin out of control. Some extremely valuable and important Maya artifacts have gone missing. Are the culprits fanatics determined to create chaos and usher in annihilation?

Helping out a friend, former immigration and customs enforcement officer Hunter Johnston is determined to recover the missing pieces and he needs Lina’s help. A man used to calling the shots and working alone, he isn’t comfortable letting anyone get close, especially a beautiful and brainy woman like Lina. His gift for reading people tells him there’s a lot going on below that professional exterior, and he’s more than a little curious to probe her depths.
Burying herself in her work, Lina’s had little experience handling men, especially one as fascinating and exasperating as the secretive, headstrong Hunter. A devoted archaeologist, she has the skill to excavate those protective layers all the way to his core. 

But finding the missing artifacts is only the beginning of a mystery that will plunge these unlikely partners into adventure, romance, and danger more thrilling, sensual, and deadly than either of them knows. . . . 

In Beautiful Sacrifice, Elizabeth Lowell manages to make a history lesson on Maya history and culture fascinating as she blends it with murder and intrigue and the end of the world according to the Mayan calendar.  Hunter needs Lina's help identifying some important artifacts but when they are attacked by a group of men speaking Maya and Spanish who try to kidnap her for the "El Maya", they are on the run. When Lina seeks her family's help, little does she know she is walking right into a spiderweb of family politics and deceit. 

Thank you to William Morrow, imprint of Harper Collins publishing for providing me with a courtesy copy of the book.

The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall

"Eric Sanderson wakes up in a house he doesn't recognize, unable to remember anything of his life. All he has left are his diary entries recalling Clio, a perfect love who died under mysterious circumstances and a house that may contain the secrets to Eric's prior life.  But there may be more to this story, or it may be a different story altogether.  With the help of allies found on the fringes of society, Eric embarks on an edge of your seat journey to uncover the truth about himself and to escape the predatory forces that threaten to consume him."

The Raw Shark Texts is one of the most imaginative and unique books I have read in a long time and I loved it.  Eric unleashes a ludovician, a conceptual fish that eats memories which is why he doesn't remember.  When he starts receiving letters from himself, he follows the clues and is a lead on a wild journey trying to piece together his memories and find his life, meanwhile never knowing quite who to trust and if he can even trust his former self.  The story is one wild, creative ride and will test the depths of your imagination. 

Sunday Salon: Keeping UPS busy

Happy Sunday. A little more than 2 weeks before Christmas and I haven't even started doing our Christmas shopping yet.   It was warm today and didn't feel much like winter weather as my morning glory are still blooming.  Time to make a list and check it twice and see who has been naughty or nice.  *grin*.  I've been especially nice to myself and went on a book buying spree with the money my parents sent for my birthday.  

I've added an eclectic assortment of fiction and nonfiction books and ebooks to my library this past couple weeks along with the next two books in Stephen King's Dark Tower series # 3 The Waste Lands and #4 Wizard and Glass.  

I'm currently reading The Great Hunt, #2 in the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for writers. 

I really haven't gotten back into a fictional writing mood but James is still going strong and working on yet another story.  I'm rather proud of him.   I have been working on the new mini challenges and posts for 52 Books in 52 weeks and will be posting the sign up link in the next few days. 

Life wise, we are heading out today to pick up our christmas tree and I'm looking forward to watching White Christmas while we decorate the tree.  Today is the 2nd week in advent and we are using What's in the Bible's Everyday Emmanuel.  The sequence we are following is Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.  This week is peace and we are supposed to be making a peace ornament for our tree.  Time for a trip to the craft store. 

Have a wonderful week! 

Happy Hanukkah!

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank.  People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!'  or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'  ~Dave Barry, "Christmas Shopping:  A Survivor's Guide"

Sunday Salon: Challenges

Josephine Walls "Ripples"

Happy December!  I had a wonderful birthday and we had a very enjoyable quiet Thanksgiving.  James gave me a couple books and Hubby gave me a new Nook Hd + tablet which is absolutely awesome except for when he and James are borrowing it to play Angry Birds.  LOL!   My folks gave me a nice check which has come in handy for those end of the year books I've been wanting to get my hands on.  I think I have the my eyes are bigger than my stomach syndrome, because there are so many I want when already have a huge teetering pile of books.

Reading wise, I've been looking at all the book challenges, what books I still have in my TBR pile and those still on my wishlist.  So.....   One,  I'm going to institute a buying ban come January 1st which will probably last through April and concentrate on those wonderful books that have been calling my name.  And I'll be limiting the number of challenges.

I am hosting Read 52 books in 52 Weeks again in 2013 and we'll be doing several mini challenges including the Dusty Book Challenge which is just another name for read your own books.  

We'll also be doing a Chunkster challenge which are books that are 500 pages or more.   I'll also continue with the Well Educated Mind and Mind Voyages Sci Fi/Fantasy mini challenges.  There is a Canada Books readalong in the works as well as reading books from other countries.   Plus random mini challenges along the way which I'll borrow shamelessly from on The Novel Challenges blog.

I'm going to make an effort to read more non fiction this next year so in that vein will have doing a non fiction reading project.

Besides that, I have signed up for Beth Fish Reads What's in a Name challenge again. 


Writing wise, Nanowrimo was a complete bust for me. I just wasn't ready and my heart  wasn't in it this year.  However, I do have the beginnings of a good story and will be doing more research and brainstorming, then dive in have my own mini nano in order to get the first draft done.  James however, totally jumped in with both feet, wrote two fan fiction stories and managed to do about 31,000 words.  He was thrilled to get a certificate from the Nano young writer's program and has it taped to his wall.  He took a couple days break and has started yet another story.  I need some of his writing mojo.  Meanwhile, I'm going to devise a  writing contract with myself for 2013 and I expect you all to hold me accountable.  Yes, I'll be continuing with ROW80 next year and will attempt to do a better job with my goals and accountability.

Have a wonderful Sunday and I'll see you round the blogosphere!  

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm Thankful for You   Thanksgiving is the appointed time
for focusing on the good in our lives.
In each of our days,
we can find small blessings,
but too often we overlook them,
choosing instead to spend our time
paying attention to problems.
We give our energy
to those who cause us trouble
instead of those who bring peace.
Starting now,
let's be on the lookout
for the bits of pleasure in each hour,
and appreciate the people who
bring love and light to everyone
who is blessed to know them.
You are one of those people.
On Thanksgiving,
I'm thankful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!     By Joanna Fuchs    

Let's Party People!

Celebrating # 53 today with my hubby and son by going out to Ruth Chris Steakhouse and enjoying a wonderfully fattening dinner and equally sinful dessert. 

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun.  Enjoy the trip.  ~Author Unknown

Ready for another trip around the sun.   Raising a glass to all!  ~clink~

Sunday Salon: Finding the way

Happy Sunday!  It is the official start of our thanksgiving vacation and we are free this week to do what we choose.  Well, except for me working at the shop on Monday and hubby working Tuesday and getting off early Wednesday so we can go out to dinner for my birthday. No lessons - that is the biggie.  We actually are taking  a full week off from lessons. It is a much needed break.  We will be hanging around home for Thanksgiving and the rest of the week.  

I was contemplating today what it would be like if I could take one day and use 8 hours and for 2 hours each just write, draw, edit and research.   How much would I really accomplish?  And I could do that because I have the time.  If I don't waste it.  That experiment may be happening soon. Will keep you apprised.  When I find myself browsing and reading randomly without committing, without commenting, being a shadow, a lurker, it's time to shut off the internet.  More than one hour and my brain goes passive.  I finally realized that this feeling of looking for something, needing inspiration, searching and just browsing the interwebz trying to find it, whatever it may be, is actually my subconscious telling me to get up off my butt and do something - like write or draw or read.  Or maybe my muse, my subconscious is saying listen to me and quit ignoring me.  

So trying not to ignore my subconscious and have been working on my Nano story.  I'm not going to make the 50,000 mark.  I've won 5 years in a row so I know I can do it.   I just don't have it in me this year.  But I'm not going to quit, just changed the goal that's all and  I'm currently at 13,000.  I'm trusting the process of the crappy first draft and just writing and letting the characters reveal the story to me bit by bit.  Sometimes you just gotta get yourself out of the way and quit with the self sabotage.   The year nanowrimo has turned into a reflective experience rather than an all out stressed out affair. 

James however has already written a 25,000 word fan fiction story and is currently working on a 2nd story.  He's been spending three to four hours at least writing every day immersed in the process.   I'm so proud of him.  

Reading wise, we have 6 reading weeks left to the year.  I never quite made it through my TBR pile. I think my books are having babies because the stack never gets any smaller.  I will be continuing the Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge in 2013.  Decided I'm going to challenge myself to read more nonfiction next year, but that is a whole other story.  I've done an abysmal job of reviewing books sent to me for review the past few months so have a bit of catching up to do.   Feeling guilty about that so will try to get caught up before the end of the year. 

Be sure to check out Patrick's creativity tweets of the week - They are awesome.

Happy Thanksgiving!   Count your blessings instead of your toes for there are so many more than 10.  Just need to look for them.  

Love and hugs!!!!