Rachel Carrington's Blog, page 53

Down to the Top Three

Now we're down to the top three on American Idol in this alternate universe. I'm still in shock over James' elimination. I thought for sure it would be Hayley, but I've been wrong all season long. Apparently, this show has become more about popularity than who can sing and sing well.

So with Scotty, Hayley, and Lauren the front runners, my choices have become a bit easier. I mentioned before that I could hear James and Scotty on the radio, and that hasn't changed. I can imagine James has already been approached by record labels. If not, he should be soon. If Simon Cowell has been paying attention, he should take care of James. I think that James will have a very successful career. He just needs to look at Chris Daughtry who was also voted out from the number four position. I hope he proves everyone that he wasn't just in this for a crown but for a career.

So anyway, back to the top three. My choice is most likely going to be Scotty, but I wish it could have been James. How about you? Why do you think James got voted off?

More American Idol

How could I have been so wrong about the final contestants for American Idol? What universe am I living in where Casey gets booted off before Jacob? Yes, Jacob's gone now, but how he outlasted Casey I'll never know.

Now, we're down to just James, Lauren, Scotty, and Hayley, and honestly, I'm befuddled. I honestly thought Casey was a strong contender for the top three. Now, I have to cast my vote for someone else, and I'm just not sure who to choose.

James has gotten stronger. I love to hear him sing a ballad, and Lauren is just about pitch perfect. I still can't see Hayley making it to the top three, but I'd be very surprised if Scotty didn't know. He has a strong fan base with good reason.

So now that I'm in a conundrum about who to vote for, how do I choose? I'm trying to look at stage presence, singing ability, and see if I can actually hear them on the radio. The only two I can clearly hear on the radio right now are James and Scotty. Maybe that's because I'm not sure what type of singer Lauren will be, what genre she'll go for. As for Hayley, I think she's leaning more toward the bluesy type, and I don't listen to blues. So I guess that narrows my choice, but I'm still conflicted.

So any ideas how I should choose?

Running behind…

I'm running behind on my guilty pleasure which is American Idol. I haven't watched it in two weeks. It's still hung up on my DVR, but this is for a good reason.

Book three in the Angel of Death series was just contracted, and A Queen Seduced just released in print. So that's keeping me a bit busy. In the meantime, I'm trying to avoid all the Idol buzz until I can watch it for myself. Maybe tomorrow night…fingers crossed!

Back to American Idol…

Am I the only one who was flummoxed when Stefano was sent home this past week? Seriously? The guy had a set of pipes on him and didn't have to resort to screaming the notes like Jacob or James.

The week before that, Pia went home, and that one had me scratching my head, too. She was twice the singer Hayley is, in my opinion. I read that she got voted off because everyone thought she was safe. Maybe that's the case, but I know she's got a bright future ahead of her.

Now we're down to the top 6, and here's how I think they stack up.

1. Casey

2. Lauren

3. James

4. Scotty

5. Hayley

6. Jacob

Now here's why:

While good, Hayley seems to need a certain type of song to really shine. So I don't think she's going to make it into the top three. Scotty is also a good singer, but he, too, is pigeon-holed. I know Carrie Underwood is a country singer, and she won AI, but she has much more range than Scotty does.

James and Jacob. Oh, how I grow weary of the notes that have to reach the ceiling. I think the guys can sing, but I also think they're too focused on showmanship. American Idol might be about the entire package, but once you've shown America you can hit those high notes, maybe it's time to back off a little and show us another side.

Lauren has the vocal range, the power to her voice, and has a great on-stage presence. I would be very surprised not to see her in the top three.

And finally Casey. When I first started watching Casey this season, I wasn't too wild about him. I thought he was a one-trick pony, but he's proven me wrong. This guy can really sing, and he's brought some of the oldies back into the light of day. He's stayed true to himself and who he is as an artist which is impressive for someone so young. Plus, I think he's humble enough to take criticism and wants to learn. He'll go far even if he dosen't win Idol.

And there's my take!

Feel the Heat–Only $0.99

Who doesn't like vampires? They have always been a fascination of mine since I wrote my first vampire romance in 2003. I just made Feel the Heat, an older vampire romance of mine that I rewrote, available Amazon Kindle for only $0.99.

You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WPNFZ6.

Hope you enjoy it!

And yet another great review for Share Your Soul

I just discovered this review from Book Wenches!

Nobody ever expects to find romance and possibly love, after they have died, and this is what makes Share Your Soul is a unique romance with a paranormal twist. 

Rachel Carrington's lead character, Olivia, is strong-willed and determined to get what she wants. Sometimes her passion for taking down her ex-husband tends to be so hyper-focused that she doesn't always consider the consequences of her actions.  She may be dead, but she is still very much human.

Gabriel, the angel of death, is tall, dark, and mysterious. Frustratingly mysterious, in fact, as he never fully answers any of Olivia's questions. He ends up leaving her and us readers with more questions, which makes him a complete tease, whether he intends to be or not. The romance that develops between Olivia and Gabriel is sweet, sexy and passionate; there is a lot of sexual and emotional tension between them and the build up to their consummation is exquisite.  

One thing that impressed me about Share Your Soul is that while the tale of romance is light and sweet, its message about violence against women is strong without being preachy. Ms. Carrington has given her readers a book with a solid message, a steamy romance and realistic characters. Nothing about this book is overdone, not even the rules of death and the afterlife which is why I enjoyed it.

New Review for Share Your Soul

Katie from Jagged Edge Reviews had this to say about Share Your Soul:

Review:
I am not one for ghost stories but…. OMG OMG OMG OMGOGMGOMGOGMGOGM!!!! * BREATH breath breath* Ok this story is amazing! The first few words are strange but just strange enough to draw you in! So in all this book is IMPOSSIBLE to put down. So well written I could just see the characters the pain, the hatered, the passion. It was all there! Olivia's visions made you feel as if you could see them too. mmmm Firery Hot! 81 Pages of Amazing!! I would love to see the story continued! (I saw on Rachel's website that there will be…. Eeeeeeeek!!!) 5+/5

And this is why I write.

Thank you, Kati!

American Idol-My Take

I really am loving AI this season. I wasn't sure about Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler at first, but now, I really do enjoy seeing them each week. Steven Tyler is hysterical.

Now, as far as the talent goes, I think this is the best group they've had in ten seasons. Here is my take in order of talent and who I think will most likely win America Idol this season.

Pia
Casey
Jacob
James
Lauren
Scotty
Stefano
Hayley
Paul

Don't get me wrong. I think all of these contestants are strong, but Pia has been consistent, her voice is pure, and she's the whole package. She's very comfortable on stage, and as much as I love Casey and Scotty, I just don't think they'll surpass her. I could be wrong, of course. It's been known to happen before, but if she doesn't win, I'll be very surprised if she doesn't make it to the top two or three.

My one wish for this season is for a little less behind the scenes information. I mean, did we really need to know that the mansion was leaking so the contestants had to be moved to a hotel? How about the private plane? I could have done without that, too. I much prefer that the show keep its focus on the talent, but here, again, we have my opinion. What's your take?

I've Found More Time!

Yes, you read that right. I've actually discovered more time in the day since I started using my crock pot again for meals. I've been on this health food/all natural kick for a while, and it was difficult to find healthy meals that work well in the crock pot…until I found Fix it and Forget It Lightly-Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slowcooker by Phyllis Pellman Good.

So far, I haven't found one bad meal in the book, and I've tried several of them along with one of the deserts. They are quick, easy to make, and delicious. So thanks to tonight's cran-apple chicken, I have some extra time to write. Of course, it also helps to use paper plates and bowls.

Check out the book if you're looking to free up some time for writing or your family. It's worth the inexpensive price of $9.83 at Amazon, especially considering I paid more at Barnes and Noble. (But I'm not bitter!) Enjoy!

Book Release This Friday!

A Queen Seduced is releasing this Friday, March 25th! I can't wait! This was one of my favorite books to write, and I really enjoyed learning about Egyptian ancient history and Irish mythology. You can find it Friday at www.decadentpublishing.com in e-book format, but it'll be coming to print soon as well.