Once upon a time...many moons ago, Lin grew up. I know, it's an inevitability...so why should anyone care?
Lin USED to be really shy...She'd sit in her green arm chair in her bedroom, with her stereo on, reading like the voracious hermit she was...but adolescence gave way...to...gulp ADULTHOOD, and with it strange new things she had to figure out.
She got married young, to a man with definite likes about television. Growing up as she did, Lin was very used to the MAN OF THE HOUSE controlling what the whole household HAD to watch on the glowing CRT bulb...that didn't change JUST because she'd gotten married and crossed over into the "freeing" concept of "being adult."
Hence there were two shows back then this Lin, was FORCED to watch over and over and over again...STAR TREK and THE BENNY HILL SHOW.
I must confess...I was not the typical female back then watching STAR TREK and hoping James T. Kirk would be shown in combat, his Captain's shirt cast aside so I could see his...RIPPLING?...with THAT belly?..torso accented by alien bands and cuffs. What I'm about to admit, may explain me a bit more than I might care for it to, but I believe in letting the chips fall where they may...
I had a HUGE crush on old Mr. Sexy-ears, and well arched brows SPOCK. His "Live long and prosper" mantra combined with the oh so expressive hand gesture melted my cockles much, much more than Kirk's posing so his Spandex encased lower regions could be strategically jutted to match the come-hither look in his eyes.
Moving on...Benny Hill...I grew up in a very staid sorta family that never discussed body functions, let alone made fun of them. The Benny Hill Show always made me blush and want to run and hide...
BUT I've grown up. Not sure if that's a good thing...but there you have it.
You all know I have about 12 blogs I actively create posts for, and most of my posts are accented with pics. Ti's a tedious job, but along the way I keep my eyes peeled for stuff to either use later or that tickle the funny bone.
In my life now there is someone who LOVES potty humor...You KNOW who you are, so I keep my eye peeled for this person...simply because I know my sending this person this stuff gives that person's intensely hectic world a moment or two of stress relieving laughter.
It dawned on me this morning as I surfaced from the depths of slumber, my captures might give others the same moments of stress relieving laughter...so here I am...ready, willing and able to share the therapy...AND admit, I finally understand why THE BENNY HILL SHOW was so popular.
So are you ready?
It isn't always easy being responsible for bringing intelligent potty humor to the person I seek this for, but I do try...
And like the greatst of conductors, I begin my symphony of t-paper arias.
Of course being an adoring pet of two very creative kitties I learned long ago the great fascination they have for the many charms to be found in the potty room.
There are aspects of pottyism I really try hard not to remember...like my dad and my oldest brother...both who smirked like they'd accomplished something award winning when they let the ghost loose.
But of course, those of us who had to follow the ghost's release noticed something...
really scary. Don't know why the ghost wafting about made the T-P do the above, and I was not about to ask it for an explanation.
But the absolute worst exposé of what should be hidden, happened one Christmas Night. Have you ever wondered how Santa can sail around the world in one night and not have to give in to the call of Nature? Well to my less than wondering eyes, I happened to be peeking out a few years ago...only to wish I could acid wash the image from my screaming eyeballs afterwards.
Bet you didn't know the inflatable dump existed. I will never think of Santa in the same way ever again, or what all he carries around in his sleigh...will you?
And now we end Part One of GROWING UP LIN where we began...kinda...Remember my crush on Spock...
...well gotta give him credit for his potty logic.
And Now I leave you to go off and seek more pearls of tootie-ness...just in case.
It is always a pleasure to be asked to guest post on any of Ladybug Lin's Blogs...especially since Ladybug Lin is my own author mother, L.J. Holmes.
I am Kat Holmes and I am here today because...
One of my favorite people in this whole world is author N.J. Walters. She writes wonderful stories but is also a
beautiful and giving woman whom it is my honor to call friend.
My first introduction to this woman came through her books. She helped me when I was sick and feeling down. On a whim I bought her book, Christina's Tapestry and read it. It was the first in a series and the book was so fantastic I was hooked. I emailed her to let her know how great her story was and was thrilled when she emailed me back. We've been friends ever since.
I have read all six books in her Tapestry series and each one is an amazing read so full of life. You care about every single character and want them to have their happily ever after.
Christina's Tapestry: This is the book that starts it all and introduces us to the magical world of Javara. This is a world with a problem. Women are scarce and men are forced to compete, brother to brother, for the right to marry. But, thanks to a sorceress and her gift, once a generation a magical tapestry brings women from our world to theirs. And Christina, a woman who by modern standards is overweight, is the first. The Garen brothers have three days to convince her to stay before the tapestry returns to take her home.
Bakra Bride: Book 2 introduces us to Jane Smith, a woman who witnesses a brutal murder and loses everything she holds dear. But when she buys a tapestry on a whim, she's suddenly transported to Javara and finds herself being wooed by Zaren and Bador Bakra, the 2 eldest of the four Bakra brothers. But her presence brings new violence down on their household and she must decide if she can handle being part of a world that is not only beautiful, but primitive.
Woven Dreams: Genita Craddock is the only sister of the Craddock household. Her six brothers are brutal and she has been abused since childhood. But with the surprising help of her youngest brother she manages to flee. However, she finds herself on Bakra land and being protected and courted by Jarmon and Garrick Bakra. She knows however that they have reason to hate her family, but she doesn't count on how much they want to keep her. They won't let anyone, not her cruel brothers, nor her own guilt take her from them.
Threads Of Destiny: Marc Garen is not happy. Christina is truly only the wife to his elder brother and his loneliness eats away at him. But then he dreams of Kathryn Piedmont, a woman in desperate need. Kathryn is a scientist and the daughter of a ruthless man. With the help of her two friends Tienan and Logan she flees only to be taken to Javara and Marc Garen. They will break all the rules of Javara and even the tapestry to be together.
Embroidered Fantasies: Sednar and Radnor Craddock are the only Craddock brothers left. Unlike their older four brothers they respect women. But they are haunted by their family's brutal reputation. Their own people fear them and they know they'll never find a woman to accept them. Roxanne Sykes is a woman in hiding from her brutal ex. When she arrives in Javara she's attracted to the two wounded men who take her in, but she hears whispers about their cruelty. When her own past catches up with her, she has to decide if staying in Javara with Sednar and Radnor is worth the risk.
Fabric Of Fate: Book 6 introduces us to the Dannon brothers. They aren't as wealthy as most lords and have resigned themselves to being alone. But the magical tapestry has plans of its own and brings workaholic Audrey to them. Sick from a recent breakdown, Audrey is determined when the tapestry returns to go home. But the Dannon men invade her heart. Can she find a place for herself in their world, or will she go home leaving them all heartsick forever?
N.J. Walters series is available from Ellora's Cave and is a fantastic series. Each story can be read as a stand alone but each one is well worth reading.
You can follow
N. J. Walters and her many books on her personal
website,
her blog, and via her publisher
Ellora's Cave
Oh HOW Prolific Anne N. Reisser was...back when A CANDLELIGHT ECSTASY ROMANCE competed, almost head-to-head with the likes of Harlequin Romance and Silhouette.
Recently my Award Winning Daughter, gifted author Kat Holmes and I moved. Moving is always stressful, but it also gives you a chance to go through books you have collected along the way.
Anne N. Reisser is one such author from the 1980's I have savored, collected, read, and reread...but she disappeared after six powerful stories...
Anne's career began with A CANDLELIGHT ECSTASY ROMANCE # 20
THE FACE OF LOVE...This brilliant tale of bitterness combined with artistic magic calls me back to read it so often I had to replaced my mass edition copy three times so far. (My final purchase is a compilation of this and one of Ms. Reisser's later tales. I'll talk about that one later.)
Andrea is a brilliant artist, and the daughter of a man so evil you will love hating him...but he's not the only one you'll hate. Breck Carlson, new boss at Andrea's dad's place of employment has caught Daddyo embezzling...he's also caught sight of Andrea.
I LOVE this book. You are going to weep, cheer, and applaud Andrea, while at the same time hating, cursing, and wanting to kick Breck where his sun don't shine!
FIVE STARS...easily for this Anne N. Reisser tale.
Ms. Reisser's second book, number #24 from A Candlelight Ecstasy Romance is THE CAPTIVE LOVE.
I have to admit this is NOT one of my favorites. How would you feel if you're an adult whose rich daddy has decided he doesn't like the path you've chooses...okay it's dangerous, but to curtail your actions, he convinces a rancher from way out yonder, you're a spoiled little girl misbehaving badly...so needs to be kidnapped and held hostage way out yonder..oh and given a blistering spanking when you dare protest?
Definitely not my favorite, but it is so well written you DO feel Colby Duncan's rage at such unhanded treatment, and plots to get back at her father for countering her life plans.
Therefore I can only give this book FOUR STARS...which is STILL pretty good.
#33 gives us DECEPTIVE LOVE...and OH MY GOD...As much as I love THE FACE OF LOVE, I love this one even more.. Keri Dalton is a powerful, beautiful, brilliant woman who types faster than the speed of light, can beat an office into efficiency without breaking a sweat, but she cannot evade a man from her past bent on dragging her to the altar whether she wants to be dragged. She also cannot evade her new boss who sees through the matronly disguise she dons to protect herself from office Lotharios, and that man from her past...who just happens to now be the fiancee of her new boss's sister.
You will fall head over heels in love with Keri, and cheer her on when she takes on the arrogant office witch who has unrequited designs on the boss, and will not tolerate competition calmly and stand in her corner when her boss's spoiled rotten sister sets out to destroy her at all costs!.
ANOTHER FIVE STAR BOOK
Moving Right Along, we have # 54 ALL'S FAIR
As a woman who has always had a "Little Girl Voice" I was immediately drawn to Morgain McMichaels. Small, seemingly child like she's found tinkering with an airplane her gender hidden by the overalls of a mechanic, she's arrogantly reamed out by the tall panther like Gareth Hammond.
Gareth is ticked this boy-mechanic is taking too long, in his opinion, to get this charter plane ready for one of the pilots to whisk Gareth off to the wilds out there and the sight of his company's newest construction..
Problem...at least for Gareth...Morgain IS not just the not-so-much a boy mechanic, she's also very much his pilot...a COMMERCIAL pilot on vacation and temporary assignment at her brother's charter plane company.
She may LOOK like a child, but the Morgain packs a powerful punch in her petite frame...she can also put any of the male pilots to shame with her almost supernatural flying skills.
How will Gareth deal with this dynamo, especially when the life of one of his crew up their in the wilds depends on her talents in navigating against all odds through a killer storm no one else could make it through?
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book, and one I eagerly give FIVE STARS TOO.
Number 76, COME LOVE, CALL MY NAME, is another one of my absolute Anne N. Reisser favorites.
Raine Fisher travels the world to the worst places imaginable creating memorable art work the world covets for its stark realism and depths of emotions. Coming home after a long sojourn, Raine literally bumps into needy mother of one Nick Hunter, wealthy and jaded casino hotel owner Nick Hunter.
Postponing her trip home to those who love her, Raine, dressed like the seasoned traveller into the underbelly of the world she is, arrives as Nick's mother's guest at his high class establishment where sparks, suspicion and jealousy are unleashed. Nick suspects Raine is a gold digger...Raine is amused. Nick's current girlfriend, his torch singer, has no plans of ever being replaced, but isn't stupid enough to want any competition without ten light years of Nick....Raine is amused and in a slick play on words, gives him to the torch singer on a flowery silver platter.
Again I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book...and this is also my daughter Kat's favorite of my Anne N. Reisser's...Will you be surprised to learn I am again giving THIS book
FIVE STARS? Didn't think so.
Last, but not least is #81 is
BY LOVE BETRAYED...
I feel about this one much the way I feel about THE CAPTIVE LOVE. Deborah McLeod met him far from the world this heiress grew up in...far from the world that KNEW her as an heiress...Stewart Grainger...but HIS father, not recognizing the heiress, had other plans (Another heiress) for his son...plans that did not include a nobody...with the cruelty he'd honed, Stewart Grainger's dad did everything to smash this relationship and Deborah to smithereens.
Years later the Grainger's courting business with Deborah's grandfather find instead an angry grandfather bent on destroying the ones who tore his granddaughter's soul apart...and he has the power to do so. But for Stewart, learning the truth at last about his father's evil, care nothing about the destruction of their company...not once he's seen all his father's perfidy cost him.
Not one of my favorites, but BY LOVE BETRAYED is no less powerful as any of the other Anne N. Reisser books.
So I give ANOTHER FOUR STARS.
The publishing world was smart. One of the saddest moments for me was the demise of A CANDLELIGHT ECSTASY ROMANCE. I'd started collecting them from their inception, and hated to see them end...BUT Anne N. Reisser's books were reintroduced to another batch of fans in the form of compilations...
For instance...Her first book, THE FACE OF LOVE was rereleased by Leisure Romance in 1994 as the second offering, with Noelle Berry McCue in Valentine Sampler.
But Leisure Romance didn't stop there. Realizing what a gifted author Anne N. Reisser is, they came out with two more compilations, but this time calling them THE BEST OF ANNE N.REISSER.
We have DECEPTIVE LOVE and BY LOVE BETRAYED in one THE BEST OF
And in the second one we have ALL, FAIR and COME LOVE, CALL MY NAME.
OMG...while researching for this posting I found another Anne N. Reisser I didn't know existed.
Released in January 1984, from another new romance publisher no longer with us, Loveswept we have their # 28
Love, Catch a Wild Bird...so now I have some hunting to do...find this book, read it, and come back and let you all know what I think. Keep your fingers crossed I can find it. Know that if I do, it will join all the other Anne N. Reissers in my permanent collection of books I will NEVER part with.
