On the Island - Tracey Garvis Graves

My good friend and fellow blogger Steph at KitchenKM isn't a huge fan of reading fiction, so when she recommended the book On the Island I was immediately intrigued knowing her recommendation wouldn't have come easily.  The premise does sound a tad salacious, as if The Blue Lagoon was mixed with The Mary Kay Letourneau Story.  30 year old teacher Anna Emerson is going for the summer to tutor TJ Callahan in the Maldives, where his family is vacationing.  TJ is 16 years old and recently in remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma.  The two travel together to the island, and what should be an uneventful trip turns into and unplanned struggle for survival when the pilot has a heart attack the two are stranded and forced to survive on a remote island.  This story of survival and what appears to be a taboo romance is handled with heart and grace.  Anna is not a cougar looking for her prey, but a woman who was looking for a change in her life and ends up with more than she bargained for when she must rely on the very student she came to tutor.  TJ is a teenage boy who has had to grow up fast because of his cancer, and then again when thrown into this survival situation he must face adulthood and his growing feelings for his teacher.  These two people only have each other, and bond while facing dangers in their struggle to live and survive.  The romance is handled over the course of time, and I think that is what softens any taboo or salaciousness of the age difference and student/teacher rolls.  The relationship is not fully realized or consummated until TJ is nearly 19.  This romance isn't a quick island romp, but built out of adversity and life and death struggles that shape the bond and eventual love for each other that develops between Anna and TJ.  This is a fast paced read that kept me turning pages and explores the deepening of a relationship over the course of time between characters that felt honest to me.  I am glad to say my initial expectations were wrong, and I enjoyed this wonderful romance.

Best Buy - GRRRRRRRRRRR

Okay, rant time, but this will be a short post too :0P  Yesterday I went to Best Buy to return something, with a receipt in hand, and that damn messed up policy to take and swipe my license makes me furious.  WHAT OTHER STORE DOES THIS!  Oh, the cashier tried to say Wal-Mart does this too, I haven't been there in a while, but I don't remember that and I am not sure if this is their policy now too.  It is ridiculous that they track returns this way, to my license, it made me feel like a criminal!  Okay, I can see there might be people who are return offenders, but give me a break.  Best Buy is in trouble, having to possibly let people go, hummmm, maybe that is why people don't want to shop there anymore, because they feel like criminals!

*I looked it up, Wal-Mart does this if you don't have a receipt, which I can tolerate, but when you have a receipt, that is just, ugh!!

K

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

It continually amazes me to think of the things life throws my way, and like a trooper one must soldier on.  Trying times, dark times, lonely times, those are the times that try the heart, mind, and soul.  Bloodied and battered from battle, it feels as if it will never end and enemy advance will deal the final blow.  However, once that time has passed, the battleground is cleared, and hopefully left standing to fight again, I am stronger.  I don't know what it is, but seeing others around me, and experiencing what I have in my life, I see that this can be the case.  Things are thrown my way, taking control and fighting to see another day is all I really can do.  If other people have done it, why can't I.  The pain, struggles, heartache in life are tumultuous and defy explanation for a concrete reason why, but the good and happy in life is made better, stronger, and brighter because of that.  It sounds like trite and as if Pollyanna is speaking when I say all this, but it is a way to look past the dark times, and see what lies ahead.  The past is history, we have the present to live, and and a future to shape and make our own.


Are there sad, dark times you are grateful for?  Something that was painful but brought you to a greater happiness?




K

One for the Money (Stephanie Plum) - Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum is the sassy and feisty heroine in a series of Janet Evanovich novels following her adventures misadventures as a bond enforcement agent, or bounty hunter.  Recently having lost her job as a lingerie buyer, this plucky Jersey Girl must figure out how to come up with some cash, and turns to her dad's cousin for work as a bounty hunter.  Clearly not well-suited to this dangerous work, she somehow has a keen instinct to know when she should dig deeper into a mystery surrounding an FTA, i.e. Failure to Appear.   Her first assignment is Joe Morelli, a vice cop seemingly turned killer who grew up in her neighborhood.  The two have a colorful history and clearly strained feelings exist, but she must do all she can to get her man.  With some help from Ricardo Carlos Manoso, otherwise known as Ranger, bounty hunter extraordinaire and mystery figure of male danger she lands herself in some rather dangerous situations along the way to getting to the bottom of things.

This series, which has a nineteenth book coming out, is funny, sexy, and lively.  Stephanie is a regular girl who takes a job as a bounty hunter out of need, and lands in deep water time and time again.  I have now read 6 books in the series and have enjoyed each of them.  They have funny characters, like Lula a former prostitute who ends up going along with Stephanie on some of her FTA missions as the series progresses.  Grandma Mazur is Stephanie's funeral loving grandma, who seems as trouble prone as Stephanie.   Even "Big Blue", a tank of a Buick Roadmaster that Stephanie endures driving after she continually loses cars fires, bombs, and garbage trucks becomes kind of iconic in her world.

The back and forth flirtations/relationships she has with Morelli and Ranger are endearing, because what girl wouldn't love having two sexy guys in their life.  Watching her figure out her feelings as she goes after FTAs is amusing, because both men must continually keep her out of the trouble she seems to draw to her.  She isn't a damsel-in-distress, but she is definitely a girl who attracts trouble, and the two men in her life have to endure a lo.

I find myself going back to this series for enjoyable, light reads, with a bit of adventure and romance mixed in.  Stephanie isn't perfect, and that is what I love most.  She goes in, does her thing, and somehow manages to make it out in the end.  Her no holds barred approach is always amusing.  I plan to continue reading the series and see what trouble our fearless bounty hunter finds herself in next.  

K

You Ought to Be in Pictures

Deep dislike of being photographed you say, oh, I get that. I am not a fan of those chest-out-duck-lips-posing-in-the-bathroom photos so very popular with women these days. When the camera comes out I cringe and simply want to be ignored, or better yet remain behind the camera. Don't push, don't ask, just let me be, I don't want my picture taken. I can pinpoint the precise moment, incident, etc. that induced this shyness phobia. Funny thing is, as a young girl I was a bit of a ham and didn't mind being playful in front of the camera, but that changed and I never felt relaxed in front of a camera again. It was pretty much when my Thyroid condition started around 6th Grade and I was being teased in school for my appearance, and then seeing pictures of myself was a horrifying experience on top of that! The photographic evidence of everything that was physically wrong is painful to remember and relive. Somehow I have gotten caught up in that place, and the associations of that period and of the "me" I was when I was sick and being photographed today isn't a pleasant experience I believe because of those associations. I don't want to see the photo and have to take in what I don't like seeing there, as I had to as child when I saw photos of myself. I was a slightly more outgoing, social child prior to all that, and then suddenly the shell thickened and remains today most likely because of those experiences. Confronting that is something to work on, and expressing where it comes from and what triggers those emotions is powerful. Sure, one little post isn't a cure, but it's a start and it always feels good to express those inner emotions and turmoils.

K

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

The rain came earlier than usual today, and it seems nothing else is new besides rain.  It was a soggy June, and now a soggier July here in Florida (actually even May had quite a bit of rain).  Afternoon rain is typical, but this is getting serious seriously ridiculous.  I can't help but feel waterlogged, and really want to dry out!  Tropical Storm Debby rolled through the last week of June, but it has felt like a never-ending monsoon has descended and has no intention of leaving.  So life continues in its soggy, summer way here in Florida, testing what Floridians are truly made out of, which apparently is a lot of water!

K

Yogurt, Blogs, and Rain

Today I was spontaneous, yes, moi, and did something spur of the moment!  I went with KitchenKM to a blogger meeting with fellow lady bloggers in our area.  It was nice, if not a bit intimidating, since I feel kind of like an amateur.   Meeting at a local do-it-yourself frozen yogurt place was fun, and close by, so good for a Sunday outing when it is rainy season.  Arriving early, of course, only uped my anxiety level as I waited for the others to arrive, hoping I would have something productive to say.  I, of course, spilled some yogurt on myself, and my raincoat, so it went much as I expected; I was utterly graceful and delicate!   This go round I simply wanted to take things in, my usual style for sure, hoping to get a feel for things and the fellow lady bloggers.  It was amazing seeing other women who enjoy blogging, and about so very different topics.  I was inspired once I came home to create a business card to go with my blog design.  It is a great, easy way to share your info on the go, and it is pretty easy to DIY also.  So, I have taken my first lesson from a blog meetup, and just add it to the others KitchenKM has shared along the way.  As she reminded me, blogging is about self-expression and meeting other people, where judgement isn't passed and being true to yourself is all that is expected.  Overall it was a nice, albeit rainy, Sunday in my world, and figured I would share that I feel like I have gained some inspiration and insight as I navigate my life, and my blog.  Not a bad days work, that's for sure!  And remember, bring your raincoat, it's July in Florida ;0)


K

A Lady and Her Vamp

Okay, so I admit I am a Twilight fan.  I love the books, have seen the movies, and I'm hooked.  In all truth I wasn't into the vampire thing prior to that.  Anne Rice and her vampire world weren't my thing.  Bram Stoker, eh, not so much.  Funny, it is the little 'tween novel that turned on my passion.  It is just something about the intensity and passion of vampires I started to be intrigued by.  Passion and intensity are powerful, and make a great story and pull me in.  Those characters and stories awakened something in me, something more than I though was there to be honest, passion and desire wise.  I know Twilight is arguably a very sanitized version, but it suites me and I have found I can veer into the paranormal with a little more ease these days, since I am also a fan of The Vampire Diaries TV show, and get sucked in, pun fully intended, to the weekly drama and, yes, sexy romance.  Something about being desired, granted not by some sparkly vegetarian or vicious killer, but having someone passionate about me just sounds amazing.  Am I crazy for wishing that, hummm, I think deep down many, if not most, woman have the fantasy of being desirable and cherished by someone.  It fills a need in me to read stories like that, not that I expect real life to match up, but it is fun for a fantasy.  I can keep the hope I suppose, to one day find that passion for myself.   Reading about it for now will have to suffice, and get me through.  And I think every lady can use a little passion, and yes, vamp, in her life every once in a while :0)

K

Confidence Boost

As a self-professed and unabashed "Book Geek"  I admit that I find myself usually most comfortable and passionate when speaking about books, otherwise I find I am severely lacking self-confidence or self-assurance, and grapple with being a severe introvert.  Dealing with most social situations always revs up my anxiety level to unprecedented levels.  Worry overtakes me, and I find any relaxation, or enjoyment, hard to muster.  It isn't so much that I dislike being in a social situation, it is more that my concerns and insecurities far outweigh any ease I try to feign.  I do a little better one on one, but when  surrounded by a larger group, it isn't pretty.  It is an unease of how to fit in, where to place myself, what to contribute that hinders my bravery.  Oh, certainly the adage of "be yourself" comes to mind, but it is hard advice when you fear people won't like the "yourself" you are.  There are people I see so at ease when sharing with a group, leading a group, etc. and I envy that.  

In my bookclub I recently had to take the reigns in our discussion and felt pretty useless, even though it was about a book.  I am far better at sharing my thoughts about the current book when I don't have to worry about leading, otherwise I am a bundle of nerves.  Even when I am just sharing I am questioning myself; am I talking too much, making an absurd point, being rude!  Recently, when I went to hang out at a good friend and fellow blogger KitchenKM's game night, relaxing wasn't so easy, especially early on.  I felt awkward and kind of clammed up.  Then as we played the game, I think I got kind of snippy when I had to be silly in the game that was meant to be fun and easy going.  I feel like a pretty uncoordinated and unimpressive figure to begin with, and acting silly or uninhibited just makes that even worse for me, even when it should be fun or lighthearted.  Overall I had fun, but I know I wasn't at my best or socially graceful.  It is a constant battle between wanting to be accepted and be more social, and a fear of failing and just not measuring up or fitting in.  These thoughts are hard to ignore, it is just a given that I will be nervous, clumsy, and awkward.  Confidence never has been, and most likely never will be my strong suit, I just can't seem to find my size. 

K

Still a Sucker for Romance

Despite not having had the best luck in the romance department, I am still a sucker for romance and love stories.  That part of me has dwindled as of late, but I still hold on to what is left of it.  Wanting what I seemingly can't have is hard, but I guess a part of human nature.  People who have it can't quite comprehend the feelings when you are still out of luck in the romance department though, try as they might.  Yes, they may have fought for what they have, they may have been trough the ringer, but once they stand on the other side shinning in the basking glow of love, that perspective shifts.  It is just how it is, and I probably would be the same if it happened for me.  It hasn't yet, so I wrestle what my heart is feeling with what my head is saying to do.

K

Being Conservative, Politics, and Friends DO NOT MIX

After recently getting into a somewhat heavy political discussion with a friend I realize that politics, like religion, is best not discussed with friends when your opinions diverge from a common point of view.  I particularly feel that when falling on the conservative side of the debate one better keep their mouth shut.  I don't think anyone necessarily means to make a person feel that way, but I have felt, at least in my experience, that the liberal view comes like an attack and not getting into it is probably best.  I don't feel I am a particularly judgmental person, but somehow my conservative leanings need to be questioned, dissected, and smacked around.  It's not that I don't have an answer, or reason for my beliefs, it is just that the opposing view can't seem to shake that somehow my opinion differs, and that I am not bringing the Western World down by not agreeing.  I have never questioned and argued with someone the way that I have been interrogated before, this was far from the first time it has happened or the only person who has placed me in the hot seat.  Take for example liberal celebrities that take award show moments to wax political, yes, it is often liberals who choose those moments for browbeating and chest-thumping their view, and their causes.  I don't know why liberals tend to be louder, and more aggressive, but as a conservative you cannot afford to be loud or aggressive it often seems, and must apologize for your views, because it is obviously wrong, crazy, and mixed-up .  So, I conclude it is best to keep politics out of friendships, it just makes things more peaceful, despite political debate not being a bad thing, it just saves on frustration.

K

Expectations of Thirtysomethings

As I endure celebrate another birthday in what I am affectionately calling "The Dirty 30s" I realize the expectations placed on a woman in her 30s.  As an unmarried, unattached woman of a certain age I do face particular expectations from people.  It sometimes feels I am expected to be married with children and living a certain life.  That is all well and good, but my life hasn't taken that path for whatever reason, and I am becoming increasingly okay with that.  I am making the most of my life, it is my life to live after all.  I sadly have been hard on myself when I feel I am not measuring up, and that is something I resolve to stop.  Comparing myself to others is only going to frustrate me, and letting others dictate the lens I view myself through is an exercise in futility.  Are there things I wish I could make different, yes, but I can't dwell on what isn't, it is embracing what is that is what is important and the best way to live.  So as I settle in with another candle on the birthday cake, that is adding more and more candles too fast now for my taste, I am learning to be okay with who I am and where I am at, no matter what anyone else wants or expects of me.  So it is with great fanfare I wish myself a Happy Birthday in my Dirty 30s ;0)

K

Parents

Since today is Mother's Day I have been thinking a great deal about family, parents in particular.


A dear friend of mine recently lost her mother, and the loss she has experienced seems completely overwhelming and indescribable.  Seeing what she is going through got me wondering about mother/daughter relationships.   Recalling what my parents went through when the lost their mothers was a sobering experience, despite the years removed from those losses.  Any parent/child relationship is going to be different and unique, even among siblings and their parents. The capacity to love is something that words really can never truly express adequately.


I have heard that mothers love their child before they even give birth, while fathers don't feel the same connection until the child is actually born.  Obviously, the child as an infant needs the parent, and the bond that needs to form is delicate and amazing to watch.  As childhood passes, it seems to change and grow with the child needing the parent less and less, so they think.  It seems once the parent is sick, or has passed, the need for the parent/child bond becomes more evident and the loss can be shattering to the spirit.

The closest I came to learning how devastating losing a parent could potentially be was in 2005 when my father had a quadruple bypass.  He recovered and has been okay since, but the time we waited from December 2004 until his surgery in early January 2005 gave me time to think about what could go wrong.  The day of his surgery was a blur, I seemed to live it but somehow not really feel it.  Time that day did not move, and it was one of the longest days of my life.  I still remember the numb feeling of seeing my father intubated, and post-op.  It will never rank as a memory I want to maintain, since the fear became all to real.  It is a close as I ever want to come for a very long time and has made me appreciate every moment.


For as much as a parent can drive a child crazy when the teenage years start and beyond, and vice versa, it seems one is never truly a grown up.  I don't truly believe we fill that "grown-up" roll until our parents are gone.  Despite living a life of our own, needing a parent never quite seems to end.


Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there! 




K

Divergent - Veronica Roth

Much as Suzanne Collins did in her Hunger Games Trilogy, Veronica Roth in Divergent begins painting a disturbing and startling vision of the future.  In the dystopian Chicago of the future society, for better or worse, has broken into five factions that regard a particular virtue as important and the key to a better future.  Abnegation the Selfless, Dauntless the Fearless/Brave, Erudite the Knowledgeable, Candor the Honest, and Amity the Peaceful.  Beatrice Prior is 16 and about to come of age in this society as the Choosing Ceremony is about to take place, and she must make a choice that will forever change her.  Growing up in Abnegation has never felt right to Beatrice, and a hard choice confronts the young woman as cracks in what is supposed to be a seamless societal structure begin to show.  Her journey is a fast paced, exciting, and gripping as she confronts the choice she ultimately makes.  Beatrice is a strong female narrator, painted in true strokes despite the dystopian premise of the story.  Growing up, making choices, no matter what are universal themes.  The themes about society as a whole and what virtues, frailties, and power surrounds are equally intriguing.  A very different world from The Hunger Games, but no less imaginative, and for Young Adult fiction I find it to be equally thought-provoking.  Well written stories take the reader in and raise questions, make us laugh, make us cry, make us cheer, and Veronica Roth has created a well-written novel.  I am eagerly anticipating the second book in this trilogy!


K

11/22/63 - Stephen King

Having never read a Stephen King book, it was with some trepidation I began reading 11/22/63 for my bookclub.  I was surprised that I ended up enjoyed the book.  It is not the usual King "Horror," but about a time traveler and a real historical event.  The event is the watershed moment, November 22, 1963, the day President John Kennedy was assassinated.  It is a lengthy book, something I have heard repeatedly about King's writing, but not a badly written story at all.  The book focuses on time traveling teacher Jake Epping and his journey as he attempts to change the obdurate past.  It weaves in the historical figures Lee Harvey Oswald and his wife, with the fictional people Jake meets along the way.  The more outrageous time travel element is about the only discernible supernatural or paranormal device more expected of King, but at it's core remains a character book and a book about choices.  The story about a regular man, an extraordinary opportunity, and the consequences for himself and those around him of taking or not taking that opportunity.  And as historical fiction, and being a history lover myself, the notion of a journey to the past, and the implications of altering the past, or the butterfly effect, did intrigue me despite my being unfamiliar with King's writing.  Engaging storytelling, and an interesting premise, helped me navigate King's lengthy writing style.  Overall, I found it an enjoyable read, good for King fans as well as King newcomers.

K

Turner Point

When I was about 11 years old I got sick with a bad cold or flu.  At the same time I had also developed a goiter.  My eyes protruded and my neck had a tire like bulge.  The doctor ran some tests and we discovered I had a thyroid condition.  It would require daily medication and was easy enough to treat.  However, I also wasn't growing.  At the time I was hovering well below 5', despite my parents being taller than average.  My dad is 6' and my mom is 5'8".   Further tests lead to a more devastating diagnosis of Turner Syndrome (TS). Essentially I was born missing one of the two X chromosomes every girl and woman has.  This leads to short stature, infertility, and a variety of other possible complications.  This is a rare condition affecting 1 out of 2,000 to 5,000 female births, and only about 1% to 2% of embryos with this condition are actually born.  With this diagnosis my life became a regular series of doctors appointments as I was growing up.  I was placed on a protocol by my specialist, and as her oldest patient I was a test subject for her as well.  This protocol consisted of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Estrogen Replacement Therapy.  I had a sonogram of my kidneys to make sure they were formed correctly.  I regularly got x-rays to see how my bones were fusing.  This was certainly a difficult thing to face during adolescence, when a child may already feel different, to have a genetic test confirm, indeed you are quite different.  I could get angry at God for giving me this to deal with, but I never have.  I have the sense that I am lucky to have been given the life I was, despite it's imperfections.  It is part of my life, and something I have to deal with on a regular basis.  I will never have a child of my own, and can only get pregnant using a donor egg and IVF.  Adoption is something I have tossed around, and the idea of giving a child a home and family that needs one seems to be the route I would feel comfortable taking.   Why try to crate a child when I would face a more than risky pregnancy, why not find that child who needs me?  I feel that might be my purpose if I am to become a mother.  I am at risk for heart issues, diabetes, eye problems, osteoporosis, hearing loss, just to name a few.  Since there are limited women and girls with this condition to study, it isn't easy for doctors to know with certainty what issues a TS patient will face as they age.  I did reports on the condition in school to learn more, and had for a time thought I wanted to go into the field of medicine specializing in this and similar conditions.  My hope was to give assistance to others facing what I had faced.  Although I realized quickly my squeamishness would not be conducive to a career in medicine.  Besides and physical issues, there are the psychological issues that go with a genetic condition.  Dealing with infertility from such a young age is not easy.  It certainly sets a TS teenage girl apart from her peers.  Feeling like you don't quite measure up to society standards is never an easy thing to deal with, and knowing how you don't measure up doesn't make it any more palatable.  It isn't that TS makes a girl or woman masculine, but you certainly don't feel like you are quite an average woman.  It is hard to feel like you can be accepted for who you are, when you feel so apart from the average.  Fortunately I am taller than the average TS woman, although this brings me to the conundrum of sharing TS with them, but somehow being different from them.  I feel that I can't even fit in with TS right somehow, because I tower over them, so sometimes I feel where do I really fit in?  Where can I be accepted?  Hard things to wrap my head around.  Yes, every woman has her body issues, but this condition is so linked to your womanhood, accepting yourself is not without difficulty.  This diagnosis may not have been the most devastating by some standards, but it certainly changed how my life would play out.  I have faced unique challenges, and will most likely continue to do so for the rest of my life.


K

Pen and Sword

My love of books and reading, along with my deep desire to write has made me think about the power of the written word.  The power an author has in their words placed on the page is tremendous to behold.  Authors take the reader in, hopefully if they have great skill, and essentially share their "world" with the reader.  Whether it is fiction or nonfiction, the author is the ultimate creator of what the reader experiences.  The phrase the pen is mightier than the sword comes to mind.  Seeing just how much damage a scathing article can have on someone, or how deeply people come to love characters in a favorite novel or series, makes it apparent how deeply we connect with the written word.  I have a friend and real blogging maven, who I am always amazed by how she can share an experience, making it come alive somehow on the page.  There is something compelling about sharing one's emotions and thoughts on the page, because somehow in writing it down, the emotions behind it feel stronger or more visceral.  That also allows some sense that those feelings or emotions have been worked through in a more concrete manner.  Giving expression to what rages inside feels necessary somehow, and the pen seems the most expedient way of going about expressing emotions, and working through something nagging at the mind.

K

When to Fold 'Em

Ah, the great problem of knowing when to bow out of something gracefully.  It can be a hard realization to come to, the lesson hard learned.  Playing the game, win or lose, that doesn't matter.  Sometimes having to end the game, step out of it, is the most important action to take.  Being a graceful winner or loser is all well and good, but bowing out when you need to takes true courage.  Fighting for what you want isn't always the way to go, pummeling yourself to seek victory can be exhausting and futile.  Finding other dreams and hopes to seek, fight for, desire, that doesn't make someone a coward, changing the game isn't wrong.  That game you lose at can teach you to win in another, be better in another, and hopefully win in that one.  If that lesson can be taken from leaving, it is worth it.  Strength in the fight and battle can come from different places, and different tactics.  Cowardice and fear are not proud emotions to own up to, but they can teach and steer you in the right direction, if you can be open to seeing what can be taken from them.

K

3rd Wheel

With so many couples around me being the single girl out can be a trying thing.  It is hard seeing the pairings around you and not feeling left out of something.  People have less time for you, it's just a given, they don't mean to make you feel that way, but it can happen.  It isn't that I need a relationship I am learning, it would be nice I won't lie, but I am learning it is important to find other things to fill my life with.  There is so much to experience and do in life, letting being single get me down just seems stupid.  It isn't always easy taking that approach, but I am gonna give it my best effort from now on.  Make my life what I want, not worrying about what I feel is lacking, but appreciate and embrace the good things that are there and make the most of things.  I guess I will remain the 3rd Wheel for the foreseeable future, and that is just gonna have to be okay.

K

The Waiting Games

I am in the process of reading several continuing series right now and realize how frustrated I truly get as I wait to see how these series will play out.  Waiting, in most instances up to a year or more, after finishing one book for the next in a series is slow torture.  Because I have read a few series  when all the books have been available, meaning there is no wait, I ask myself why did I start series that are still ongoing, boy was that a bad move!  I feel like I am left in the middle of some great event, and then it abruptly stops so they can take a time out.  Not knowing what will happen next that really does me in, I ALWAYS have to know.  Leaving characters in peril or questions unanswered really doesn't suit me at all.  I get that it is a trick, played to keep those like me coming back for more, but ugh, it isn't an easy wait.  A good author makes that time between books worth the wait.  If they can return and make you feel satisfied they have made it worth the torture.  I have two books coming in May that I can't wait for, so I am waiting for April to hurry up so I can delve back into stories that have left me waiting for far too long.

K