I'm talking canned chicken over at Romance Writers of the Apocalypse...

Romance Writers of the Apocalypse: Canned Chicken Vs Romance Writers of the Apocalyps...: You know you want it. So, here we are once again to discuss the apocalypse. There hasn’t been much chat about the violence and weight ...

Six Sentence Sunday...

Welcome back for another Six Sentence Sunday. We’re still at a mining base on the moon of Esther in the year 2088. Louise has just stepped off the shuttle all ready to meet her new husband for the first time but he’s not the man she expected.

Thanks to all those that take the time to comment each week! Much appreciated. I’ll be off at the Romance Writers of Australia conference on the Gold Coast next weekend so I’ll catch you the week after. 

The man in the pictures the Marriage Coordinator sent her had dimples and a lopsided grin. But this guy… he was tall and lean with bloodshot eyes a demon would envy. He had a three day growth and a head of short dark hair beyond disarray. On one side of his head it stuck out in clumps as if he’d fallen asleep in something liquid and evil. He looked like someone had recently hosed him off a barroom floor. 
     And Gods, the smell of him.

http://www.sixsunday.com/

A look at Boomerang Bride by Fiona Lowe...

Matilda Geoffrey left Australia for small town Wisconsin looking for the adventure of a lifetime and Barry, her internet love interest. Decked out in her Nanna’s bridal gown and towing a liquor laced wedding cake, things aren’t quite going to plan. First up, Barry doesn’t seem to exist. Nor does the business he encouraged her to invest in for their future together. Penniless and stranded on the other side of the world in a vintage wedding dress, Matilda has well and truly landed in it.

Marc Olsen is an uptight, well to do type making his fleeting yearly visit back home to hicksville. When he spies Matilda resplendent in her gown on a mostly empty Main Street he knows he shouldn’t get involved. But curiosity being what it is and this being a romance, well, our heroine needs a hero and he’s it.

They’re an unlikely couple with the sassy, upbeat and very Australian Matilda telling it like it is. Don’t you love a strong outspoken heroine who deals with whatever life throws at her? Marc is a handsome sports car driving designer dud wearing dude in need of more in his life than a platinum credit card and a flashy flat back in New York. And while we’ve seen his type many a time before Ms Lowe gives us real substance in our hero. He’s a man who had to make sacrifices early on and this gives him layers. There’s nothing 2D about this character. His fears of being once more irreparably tied to his family and the poky small town are more than legitimate. Plus, he has a sense of humour. God love a man with a sense of humour and a woman who knows what to do with him when the time comes. Our hero’s intensity and RAWR’ness (yes, it is a word, the dictionary is wrong) are a real treat, along with the more lighthearted moments.

But you know what’s awesome about this book apart from the fact that it’s wonderfully well written by an Australian Woman Writer? Even beside the fact that it just won the 2012 RITA for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance? The secondary characters and their own stories, in particularly Mark’s sister Lori. I’m not going to go into it more than that except to say, bravo, Ms Lowe. Actually, I’ll throw in fantastic and exceptionally well handled as well. And also, it really gave me pause and made me think. I hope every woman reads Boomerang Bride for this very reason. The reason I’m not going into Lori’s story is because I’m a teasy thing. But do read it and let me know you think.

Boomerang Bride can be bought here…http://www.fionalowe.com/

This has been another Australian Women Writers 2012 Challenge Review. Please bang on the button to your right to learn more about this most excellent endeavour.

Six Sentence Sunday...

Welcome to another Six Sentence Sunday! It’s the year 2088 and the setting is a mining colony on the Moon of Esther. Today we carry straight on from last week where our mysterious heroine is bravely going forth to meet her assigned husband for the first time. She's just stepped off the shuttle and slipped on some gravel (as you do) and….

A strong hand grasped her elbow and a steady grip hauled her upright.

“Careful,” a man muttered and released her.

Louise reined in the palpitations and took her first good look at her savior. “Thank you, I'm...”

Shit, no.

They said Gideon would meet her but this was not the man she’d married, couldn’t be. 

For more Six Sentence Sunday goodness...

The Cock Rocking Goodness that is 'Magic Mike'

WARNING: I don’t think there are spoilers in this review because the movie, as fun as it is, is pretty much by the numbers plot wise. I don’t reveal how the HEA happens but I do discuss and pass judgment generally upon it. You have been vaguely warned.

Proving I’m not a complete shut in I went to the movies today to see Magic Mike. The film is about male strippers, a subject sufficient to get the bulk of females and a big number of male bums on cinema seats because you know you need to see it on a BIG screen. Right? Right. Now I had low expectations regarding anything but the quality of the ab’s I’d be seeing. I knew they’d be stellar, I’d seen them on Google Images (don’t judge me). And Facebook. And twitter. And a few other places around town (still don’t judge me, I’m warning you). Channing Tatum plays Mike. He generally doesn’t do much for me (thought The Vow wasn’t so bad) but this film turned that around. He was awesome. The story is based partly on his own experiences as a 19 year old stripper in Tampa so I dare say he had a wealth of personal experience to draw from.

Backing him up is Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganiello (spelt his surname right for once…) and Matthew McConaughey. All of these men are very pretty and spend a good part of the movie topless of which we must approve. MUST. Basically 30 year old Mike introduces a fresh faced 19 year old guy into the pack of strippers and said kid gets exposed to the party time lifestyle and the sort of shit you’d expect to happen happens. Girls throw money at him and things steadily spiral out of control. The film looked fantastic care of more than the muscles much as you’d expect with Stephen Soderbergh in charge. At times early on there was an almost documentary feel to it that was cool. There were some good laughs to be had. The dance routines performed by the cock rocking all male dance troop were eye popping spectacular. Costumes were suitably crazy and the music was thumping good. I heartily endorse this movie as a fun time to be had.

But what did it get wrong that prevents me from naming it as perfection, you ask? Go on. Ask. Well, this movie is rightly centered around the boys but the one big juicy feminine role to be had, that of the newbies big sister and Magic Mike’s possible love interest, fell flat. The chick spent the movie being judgey and sour a good deal of the time (and granted, a good deal of the time she has reason). But by the end, when exactly what you’re expecting to happen happens, I was not on her side. In mine eyes she had not earned her happy ending. The guy could probably do better. Whatever needed to take place for me to believe she was the right girl for the guy and vice versa had not happened. 

So there you go. That’s my take on Magic Mike. See it. Revel in it. And don't forget to let your ovaries explode at it's pervy magnificence.