Goals: 2x Legs, 2x Cardio, 2x Arms (2 wts), 6x Abs
Sitrep: 1x Arms (2 wts)
Adding that 2nd weight to arms was tougher than I thought...especially considering I was doing arms w/2 weights easy earlier this year. Soooo...I've decided that amping up abs at the same time is asking for trouble...So the abs are staying at 6x Abs beginner workout. My biceps are starting to feel a little sore/shaky this moring. [g]
Now for the book report: Maybe I'm just a picky reader...okay, let's rephrase. I am a picky reader. Last Friday I was doing my monthly grocery shopping and decided to pick up a book. One of my favorite authors is Brenda Joyce, and the latest book in the De Warenne dynasty has been out for awhile. I've been saving it for a book-slump. And frankly, have not been in the mood to read fiction since Suz' book came out in August. She (and Joyce) are those types of author's I have to switch to non-fiction after reading their books. They spoil me for other authors. I saw that the second book in Brenda Joyce's "Masters of Time" series was out. Now, B.J. is one of those authors that has a bunch of stuff going on. She writes the Francesca Cahill novels (the Deadly series) that I really, really, really like. It's a very talented writer that can change the Hero from book one to a different guy, and make me like him more! I resisted, of course, but now I'm glad I gave in.
She does a really good job of developing characters and the relationship and emotions between the Hero & Heroine. And she does a fabulous job in my opinion of building the romantic/sexual tension as well. It's hard not to get invested in the characters. You get drawn in.
So, although I'm not a big fan of books with time travel and special warriors of the gods/goddesses, I decided to give this one a try. [I've tried the J.R. Ward series - didn't even finish one.] After all, it's a Brenda Joyce book, and they're medieval Scottish warriors. And with a 2nd B.J. book to read after it, it wouldn't be that bad. Well. Consider this a "Good Authors Gone Bad" warning. Okay, I'm being too harsh. Once I got into the book, it was good, the usual characterization did finally appear. Once she got away from several things:
- Oversexed hero (she uses that term quite a few times! What the heck does that mean? To me, I'm thinking "all used up". But I guess that's not the definition of the word.)
- Larger than life in all respects (trying to be PG here) hero
- Supposedly fabulous, best sex ever and the hero knows it and is a smug s.o.b.
- Heroine that falls in love with hero because of said better-than-chocolate & books & everything-else-in-the-known universe sex and willingly gives all up (including her comfy rich 21st century life) to travel through time to 1430 Scotland for said hero after knowing him all of two seconds!
Maybe it's me. But when authors describe these types of heroes, it's a turn-off. I mean, absolute perfection. Huge, buff bodies, always described as "golden gods" and so on. And then the sex is supposed to be so mind-blowing, and the attraction so overwhelming they fall into bed within seconds...All I could see is one of those muscle-men competitions, with the not-natural steroid-induced muscles. The kind that usually make me go "gross". And in the rush to follow this new trend of the almighty warrior, B.J. didn't get the usual characterization in first. The development of the sexual attraction and emotional attraction wasn't developed. It was this paltry description of "golden, god-like, warrior, oversexed" and poof. They're in bed. Even though demons are coming out of the fabric of time to kill her, he leaps through time with her (not something she's ever done or known was possible before) and dumps her somewhere unconscious and alone, and then shows up 24 hours later. None of this matters when she sees him again. Huh. Things like this bother me. The sex, okay, I can understand being overcome and falling into bed. But I didn't get the basis for the rest of it? No rational person would do this. But then, maybe that's just me. [g]
I ended up skipping ahead in the book, and read the last 1/3 of it first. Sad, but true, and not something I've ever done with one of her books before. By that point, she'd gotten away from that aspect of the story, and had actually started into her usual flow of things. The characters, the emotions, the plot-line was more solid. I was actually a little teary near the end. So I went back on Saturday and read the front part of the book. Once I got past the stereo-typical warrior/god stuff, it was good.
I doubt I'll be reading the rest of the series. But it was okay. And it did have an interesting tie-up to the time travel bit. (I always have a problem with people going back in time and staying. I can see going forward as your DNA line, parents, etc, have lived. But I have a hard time with people being able to exist before their parents. How is that physically possible? But I digress.)
To make this post even longer, on Sunday morning I picked up the other book by Joyce, The Perfect Bride and ended up reading it all day. Seriously. My intention (it was only 8am) was to read about an hour and then exercise (I'd just eaten breakfast) and then start on my chores/plans for the day. I stopped somewhere in the afternoon when my sister called. Only because I hadn't talked to her in at least a month and they're going on vacation this week so I won't have a chance for a bit to talk to her. As soon as we got off the phone I picked the book up again. Finished it around 5pm. It was good. Probably one of my favorite books, and not just by her. I loved the hero/heroine. I loved the issue facing them, and...it was just a really good book. I think I like it better than the last few Suz Brockmann books, to tell you the truth. Only issue was the resolution of the issue. It was tied up just a teensy bit fast, but not in a bad way. I'd've like a little more in-depth on it. The last few scenes probably weren't needed...but they were nice.
But I'd better stop now. This has been a very long post!
