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ryuden: I just unlocked the "Jobs" badge on @foursquare! http://4sq.com/c4Rqiq

As I started to read my first Victoria Dahl book, Crazy for Love, I didn't really know what to expect. I imagined humor, I imagined steamy love scenes, but I certainly didn't expect to find a hero with anxiety issues. But, find him I did - and I loved Max for being strong, true, and admirably struggling to live with his control issues.
Max and his brother Elliott have decided to take a much-needed vacation. Elliott is a divorced workaholic from the CDC and Max is a sea-faring treasure hunter who feels responsible for the safety of everyone he encounters. Everyone!
Max has managed to hide his anxiety by playing the charming playboy and the ploy has always worked, until he mets Chloe, a fellow tourist in the cabin next door. She sees right through his act and makes him face the truth about himself and his life.
What Max doesn't know is that Chloe has a secret of her own. A month ago, she was supposed to be getting married, but then her fiance died in a plane crash. Suddenly, she finds out he hadn't died after all - he had staged the accident to escape from marrying her! That's when the rumors start flying and suddenly Chloe is a national tabloid star as Chloe the Bridezilla! When Chloe's identity is revealed, she and Jenn are forced to return home to prepare for the ex-fiance's upcoming trial.
Reading Crazy for Love was a wonderfully refreshing experience. Dahl masterfully creates a main character that is strong, handsome, and neurotic. His anxiety issues reveal his true nature and make him endearing as we see him struggle to live with the worry that he battles 24/7. Chloe understands him and loves him, while also trying to help him be honest with himself as he starts thinking about changing his life.
Another of the Harlequin's Big Summer Reads off the list - but now I have all the other Victoria Dahl books to look forward to! So long, housework!

ryuden: Ah, they recognized @cletedog from his blog. We're so proud. Sniff. (@ Bentley's Corner Barkery) http://4sq.com/c3dQtj

ryuden: @kongtemplation Thanks! Cord management nice, cords go into panel w/outlets, table plugs into wall. Comp back now http://twitpic.com/2fzkj4

ryuden: @theanalogdivide @Detlev_P COS popular before iPods. Now space pop because counter/stools/outlets. COS not used http://twitpic.com/2fyh33

ryuden: For me those are #booksiloveasgrownup :-)RT @amandaletterman @jasonpinter #booksilovedgrowingup Tamora Pierces's series Song of the lioness

A few months ago, I had the fun opportunity to write a blog post for the Borders True Romance Blog. I wrote about being in a reading slump and how I just couldn't find a really great book to sink my teeth into. Well, I am in a slump no more, my friends! One of the reasons: Kristan Higgins, the next stop on the Harlequin Big Summer Reads.
What a thrill to receive a review copy of All I Ever Wanted from Harlequin! Kristan Higgins has quickly skyrocketed to a permanent place on my list of favorite authors. Her ability to create quirky characters, charming small towns, and relationships that suffer from insecurities, uncertainties and misunderstandings.
In All I Ever Wanted, Callie is ready to celebrate her 30th birthday (that's right, the big 3-0) when her boss/crush/ex gives her a gift, tells her she is special and then hits her right between the eyes with the news that he is seeing someone. Callie reacts much as the rest of us would, she runs to the DMV and has her breakdown there, much to the dismay of the uptight, Russian assassin in line behind her.
She tries to move on with life, so when she hears there is a cute new vet in town, she tells her dog to look sick and makes an appointment. Sadly, the new vet is the same Russian assassin from the DMV and is still ice cold, but that's when the fun begins.
Callie and Ian (who, it turns out, is not a Russian assassin after all) keep running into each other and eventually Callie breaks through the cold demeanor to find the shy man with a big heart that lies beneath.

Callie's life could probably be more complicated, although she isn't sure how. Her divorced dad is trying to make up with her mother 20 years after they split-up. Her man-hating sister is sleeping with the creepy mortician that works at their family funeral home, and her Gramps, well, Gramps has a story all his own.
Once again, Higgins has created a story full of people just enough and stories just weird enough to make it easy to fall into and difficult to remember that the characters aren't actually real! I find it interesting that while reading, I am fairly sure of a happy ending, I'm just not quite sure how it is actually going to happen.
The laughter, the tears, the romance - these books are money well spent (or library card well used). Don't just take my word for it, Higgins was awarded a RITA last month for Too Good to Be True. (Seriously, how awesome are these covers? Beautiful.)
With the holidays coming, Higgins' publishers should bundle her books for big holiday sales. Check out her other titles on her website and ENJOY!

cletedog: I don't know why she's so mad. Leaving the casserole on the counter seemed like an invitation to me. Hey, I waited till they had some!

Next up on my TBR pile: Harlequin's Big Summer Reads. I am determined to make this summer last longer and that won't be a problem because there are some great titles on this list!
First up: How the West Was FUN!
Cowboys and romance novels, now that is a combination that appeals to many. Some may be attracted to the cowboy stereotype simply because of biological tendencies - the desire to be provided for and protected. Others may be charmed by the strong silent type that cares as much for animals as they do people. No matter what attracts you to cowboys - you'll want to consider these two series.
Prolific author Linda Lael Miller has written several western romance series, both historical and contemporary. In McKettricks ofTexas: Garrett, the second in the series, Garrett works for a married political giant who has taken a wrong turn by going public with an illicit affair. He feels betrayed by the man he idolized, so he quits and returns home to the family ranch. Upon arrival, he finds that the family's home is currently inhabited by temporarily displaced Julie, her son, Calvin, and their three-legged dog, Harry.
Julie can't deny her attraction to Garrett, but she is determined to be cautious both to protect her young son and because she can't imagine that as a high-powered political insider would settle down with a small town girl. To complicate her life even further, Calvin's dad is back in their lives, she's overwhelmed at work, and their home is being sold out from under them
I enjoyed returning to the world of the McKettricks and catching up with Tate and Libby while looking forward to Austin's story. Miller is able to present a contemporary story with enough of the wild west to make you feel right at home on the Texas ranch. She also write children and animal characters particularly well, making the family dynamics ring true.
Another steamy title is Claimed by Vicki Lewis Thompson from her Sons of Chance series. Ten months ago, Jack was reluctant to leave the warm bed he shared with girlfriend, Josie, so he told his dad to go pick up a new horse without him. When his dad is later killed on the trip, Jack feels responsible and breaks up with Josie as his penance.
So, when he decides to visit Josie after a night of drinking in the small Wyoming town, he shouldn't have been surprised that the encounter goes badly. She pushes him away, and he makes a fool of himself. Jack is going to be the best man at his brother's upcoming wedding (on horseback, naturally) and guess who is the maid of honor? Yes, fair Josie - and she doesn't know how to ride a horse. Jack himself offers to teach her and soon their lessons turn into a secret affair. Josie wants to give her heart to Jack, but is he ready to take it for real?
Claimed is part of the Harlequin Blaze series, which are shorter, steamy contemporary romances with an emphasis on the development physical relationship between the two characters. I don't read this series too often, but check them out if you want a quick, sensual read (kind of like dessert!). I have, however, thoroughly enjoyed Thompson's Hex and Nerd series. You can learn more about these fun, sexy series on her website.
Yeehaw!

stacyuden: #Wallyism: "If any of that sounded like work, I'll do some more of it next week."

ryuden: @theanalogdivide @kongtemplation @mickjacobsen Sorry to listen in, but had to share Dilbert comic about dual monitors! http://bit.ly/a8he8a

cletedog: Ready for my closeup! RT @BarringtonIL: Pet Fest 2010 this wkend w puppy adoptions, pet massages & pet phoDOGrapher http://fb.me/EyNcPJBl

ryuden: @jasonsdeli 2014 Brazil (Probably too late!)

ryuden: Techy librarians, check out these jobs RT @LifesizeLD: Go work for her! RT @LauraPorto: i'm hiring for 5 #ux positions! http://bit.ly/d2uIUU

ryuden: Not airline issue; Sandwich gen issue. Will grow as Boomers age. New Going Postal. RT @pogue Flight attendnt goes nuts http://nyti.ms/dahZvj

ryuden: @BiggbyBob Do stores accept if you show them a current coupon on mobile phones vs printing out? BTW, love having peanut butter chill back!

ryuden: Created new twitter for romance fiction/writing. Interested? Join stream at @ryannuden. Library, tech, & randomness remain here. :-)

ryuden: Growing out hair to be Temp Brennan "Bones" (TV) at Halloween. Blue labcoat, chunky necklace, b rational/literal #idontknowwhatthatmeans #fb

ryuden: Kristan Higgins Too Good to be True (Fab read, 2010 RITA) & Claimed by Vicki Lewis Thompson. RT @christinadodd What are you reading today?

stacyuden: Had lunch with #redhat sales & engr reps today. They gave me a Red Hat hat, that is red! Very cool, but hard to describe, esp to non-geeks.