Tell Me Sweet, Little Lies

Honesty would destroy the romance book industry.

How often do you want to grab a character and yell, "Tell! Her! Just tell her already!"

I don't have the time this would require but it seems to me that the life of romance (PNR, Contemporary, Historical or otherwise) characters would nearly resolve if honesty were the best policy. 

This week I have received a couple of New Release style newsletters. In Writerspace (register by the 12th for their mega prize Valentines Soiree Giveaways) a new book, LUCKY PENNY
by Catherine Anderson is described:

To support her orphaned niece, impoverished Brianna O’Keefe accepts work with a Colorado rancher. To guard herself from unwanted attention, she resorts to a harmless little lie: that she’s married to a Denver gold miner named David Paxton. But when her “husband” shows up, Brianna is stunned—not the least by her desire.
http://nalauthors.com/book2080

This is the little white lie, right? It's never going to hurt anyone, but makes a great plot resolution point. Obviously, someone suffers or the book wouldn't exist!

Then there is the lie of omission or the lie of withheld information.  This is often a form of punishment—If he didn't trust her enough, she won't tell the truth about whatever it was and the lovers will be apart for years. I think this is the most common lie, or a close tie with the dishonesty of misunderstanding or assumption. In this case someone assumes they have understood someone due to a miscommunication or assumption.  In this case, the solution is often so simple that simply asking a question would severely shorten a plot. For example I just finished reading Lover Awakened in J.R.Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood where this kind of assumption reigns supreme. Because the solution is often so simple I think much of the time the couple is avoiding the truth. 

Sometimes the truths are much bigger. It sounds like that is the case in another new book, THE GOLDEN HOUR by Margaret Wurtele.  Part of the publisher's synopsis goes:

As Giovanna helps Mario heal, their bond deepens. But the world around them is in upheaval, and terrible truths are slowly being revealed—truths that will endanger countless lives, as well as the love that has grown between them...
http://nalauthors.com/book2085

These are examples I have picked mostly at random.  I know there are other lies out there.

• Is there one lie that is bigger to you than others? 
• A particular book you recall with a plot built on lies?  
• Do you think lies and dishonesty is a primary source of daily strife in normal, everyday life for real people as it is for characters in books? 

I  would love to hear anything else you have t say about it.

Up Close and Personal and Over Sharing

Time to admit to myself that those fifteen pounds I do not want, are back and that only I can do something about it. They are not like little beasts that sneak on my body without assistance. I am pretty careful about what I eat but obviously something somewhere is off and I am lying to myself.  See, that is what I believe about weight loss, you cannot lose weight until you are willing to be honest to yourself. There are some valid medical reasons why weight can be hard to budge but they are not the usual reason.

Could a second glass of wine everyday put fifteen pounds on over 6 years? I don't know. When I didn't drink for a couple of months last winter I didn't lose any weight.  It is also possible that now I absorb more food. Until 2004 I ate gluten and was pretty much sick all the time. Probably why, when I ate bagels all day I lost weight.

As a former Weight Watchers leader I still have  a lot of faith in the program but where before my class was right down the block now it is about 15 miles away.  So, I signed up on line. They offer gluten free options as well. I am looking forward to getting back some discipline.  I need to get my High BP down. When I went in for my Mohs surgery they nearly kicked me out because my BP was 181 over 106. Of course, I had a migraine, cramps, and was having skin cancer surgery so I was a bit tense and in pain which kicked it all up a notch. I am down to normal now.

I do like that most fruits and vegetables are no point foods now. My old meeting leader used to say that none of us get fat eating too many fruits and vegetables.  Unless of course they are covered in butter or cream sauce or laden with sugar.

And, I am so tired of hating my closet. I have beautiful clothes that I am avoiding because I am too heavy for them. Weirdly I have put most of the weight on in my waist and bust. But I must be doing something wrong, like sitting and blogging way too much.  I admit to being less active and perhaps this was a bad time to start since I will be on restricted activity until my stitches are out.

Speaking of less active I just saw the coolest thing- A desk for your treadmill! It is called Trek Desk (video: http://bcove.me/g7bc3qec)

So, the surgery went well. Apparently they got everything in one slice and then gave me ten stitches. And then told me not to do anything physical for 72 hours. And, no exercise for two weeks. Frown. It is right above the back of my knee so when ever I move it moves and if I do wa long waking up type of stretch it is not pleasant.   I got to take the initial dressing off today. I didn't want to look at it, so my husband did it. I am not squeamish but I am vain and the stitches-soon-to-be-a-scar just amount to one more physical imperfection I get to hate.

Did I tell you my allergist who diagnosed me as being devoid of all allergies said that my perpetual sinusitis is due to my immune system being over active and creating too many of a certain type of white blood cells in response to the cancer.  Since my sinuses have some structural abnormality that's where the cells went. I thought this made a little sense but was a convenient explanation for it.  A friend who is an oncologist almost spewed his martini through his nose when I told him that.  And my Ear, Nose and Throat doctor was a bit angry I think about that. He did think that the GERD I have had for five years or so could account for the presence of the extra white blood cells. Well, once I am healed we'll see. It would be awesome if it were true and my sinusitis went away. 


And, I got a nifty new Mac Book Pro for my birthday. A dear friend sent me a lovely handmade necklace as a surprise too. Yay!