Thursday, November 16, 2006

Your Planet or Mine? by Susan Grant

In Your Planet or Mine?, there's a nice, feisty heroine and a hunky hero from another planet. What more could you ask for? Fast-moving plot? Tons of action? You've got it.

California State Senator Jana Jasper comes from a long line of politicians who are deservedly well-respected. So, when Jana's family comes under fire for corruption, she is horrified. She makes a side trip to the grocery store for some comforting ice cream and bumps into an alien who just happens to look vaguely familiar.

Human, but from another planet, Cavin of Far Star has come to earth to save Jana and the people of her planet. Unfortunately, an assassin is after Cavin and Jana isn't entirely convinced that Cavin isn't a figment of her imagination. Will Cavin survive long enough to save earth? And, what on earth is Jana going to do about that handsome alien?

Your Planet or Mine? is a romance, technically speaking, and I'm not an avid romance reader but there are times you just need a little brain break and romantic comedy fits the bill for me. And, what a whopper of a fun story this one is. With an abundance of action including my favorite kind of scenes - people being chased and things blowing up - Your Planet or Mine? is a wild ride from beginning to end. I absolutely loved it and would have gobbled it up even faster if not for the fact that I'm in the midst of National Novel Writing Month. And, I do appreciate Susan Grant's ability to entertain even more than I normally would, thanks to the many hours I've spent wondering how on earth anyone ever manages to complete a novel and make it something worth reading. Many thanks to SciFi Chick for the excellent review that led me to this book!

4.5/5

And on to the latest:

Nano Report: Just over 31,000 words and I can feel my butt spreading. I really wish my walking buddy hadn't "fallen off the wagon", but the rain would have probably stopped us, anyway (insert lengthy sigh).

Nano Stupidity Level: Growing exponentially, actually significantly faster than the word count is rising.

Today I drank: So many different sugary drinks I probably couldn't even list them if I tried. And, I'm not willing to try. But, somewhere in there you can insert at least one type of coffee, one tea and one soda. Take your pick. For one of the hot drinks I used the mug at right, which features a painting of Oxford's town square by Mississippi artist Wyatt Waters. It's available at Square Books because Wyatt's not stupid. He knows when to paint something commercially viable and sell it through the store featured in his painting. Smart guy.

Why the heck I'm posting after 4 am: Son #2's nap lasted forever, so we got a very late start on the last bit of that geography project I've been wailing about because the teacher absolutely cannot be pleased (if she takes off points indiscriminately, she simply leaves off the explanation). Since it was too late to take an Ambien and the alarm hasn't actually awakened me recently, I figured . . . nyeh, might as well stay up all night. I'm going to pay dearly for this.

Now focusing on: The Invention of Solitude by Paul Auster. My goodness, he has an interesting family history - and a rocking vocabulary. I want to be as intelligent as Paul Auster and write as descriptively as he does when I grow up. Oh, dear, can that happen if I last another 40 years?

Save me from: The song "Muskrat Love", which is on continuous mental replay in my Bookfool brain. Ugh. Didn't skip it fast enough while listening to America's Greatest Hits, this afternoon. I'll try diligently to avoid that making that mistake again, in the future. Ugh, ugh, ugh!

Group hugs all around!

11 comments:

  1. So glad you liked it!
    She has a couple sequels coming out for this book.. but the covers look more like romance books.
    that's why i liked this cover.. more like chick lit than steamy romance.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've read 2 books by Auster and need to read some more. Clever man! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll have to look for the sequels, but I'm with you. I don't like the "typical" romance cover at all. The cover for YPOM is perfect for the book, IMHO.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks a lot for the ear worm, Bookfool! Now I can't get that damned song out of my head!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nat,

    Clever's a good word. Unique and quirky are two others that come to mind. Funny, I think this is my third Auster, if you don't count the one I set aside because I was juggling too many titles! I do like Auster!

    Okay, Les,

    I don't have to look up ear worm to know what it means! Try this: Ventura Highway, Ventura Highway, Ventura Highway. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous8:36 PM

    I'm really really sorry you've got that song stuck in your brain. It's evil and must be destroyed!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I agree, Suzi. Horrible song.

    Fortunately, I moved on to Ventura Highway and then American Pie. Now I'm on this weird song from son #2's computer game - Charlie Mops? I'm stuck on "Beer, beer, beer, tiddly, beer, beer, beer . . . " Okay. I think I'll dig out the Vivaldi to clear the old head so I can write!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Man, I am always amazed by the people that just simply stay up all night. I can't do that... I would die. Even with university, I have never pulled an all-nighter.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Kailana,

    I'm a very bad sleeper, so I'm often up all night in spite of trying to sleep. It was no big deal to just stay up. But, there are consequences. I'm just coming off a major migraine that was undoubtedly triggered by the lack of sleep.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous8:21 PM

    what an excellent review! It sounds like romance with a difference - and some romance books are so unrealistic anyway!
    I love the way you write!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ebbye,

    Thank you, thank you, and thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed my review and that you dropped by to visit!

    And yes, definitely, Your Planet or Mine? is a very unusual romance - more adventure than romance but with enough of the romantic moments to satisfy those who particularly enjoy the romance factor. The whole point of romance is escapism with a happy ending, right?

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting my blog! I use comment moderation because apparently my blog is a spam magnet. Don't worry. If you're not a robot, your comment will eventually show up and I will respond, with a few exceptions. If a comment smacks of advertising, contains a dubious link or is offensive, it will be deleted. I love to hear from real people! I'm a really chatty gal and I love your comments!