Books and Crafts

Books I've Read in 2011

2011-03-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the 2011 list!

1. Biting Nixie - Mary Hughes
2. All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris
3. Dreamfever - Karen Marie Moning (re-read)
4. Shadowfever - Karen Marie Moning
5. First Grave on the Right - Darynda Jones
6. Full Moon Rising - Keri Arthur
7. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
8. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
9. Heat Wave - Richard Castle
10. Secrets of a Former Fat Girl - Lisa Delaney
11. My Horiztonal Life - Chelsea Handler
12. The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin
13. Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews (re-read)
14. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
15. Lighten Up: Love What You Have, Have What You Need, Be Happier With Less - Peter Walsh
16. Lover Unleashed - J.R. Ward
17. Vampires Not Invited - Cheyenne McCray
18. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
19. A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin
20. Twice Bitten - Chloe Neill
21. Tangled Threads - Jennifer Estep
22. Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
23. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins

*updated 8/23/2011

Books I've Read in 2008

2011-02-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

Books I’ve Read in 2008

1. A New Earth – Eckhart Tolle
2. Never Say Diet – Chantel Hobbs
3. Hungry: Lessons Learned on the Journey from Fat to Thin – Allen Zadoff
4. Empire Falls – Richard Russo
5. Tales from the Scales – Erin J. Shea
6. The Virgin Blue – Tracy Chevalier
7. Dark Lover – J.R. Ward
8. Lover Eternal – J.R. Ward
9. Lover Awakened – J.R. Ward
10. Lover Revealed – J.R. Ward
11. The Rossetti Letter – Christi Phillips
12. Sideways – Rex Pickett
13. Dead Until Dark – Charlaine Harris
14. Living Dead in Dallas – Charlaine Harris
15. Bitter is the New Black – Jen Lancaster
16. Savannah Blues – Mary Kay Andrews
17. Chocolat – Joanne Harris
18. The Wednesday Sisters – Meg Waite Clayton
19. The Princess Bride – William Goldman
20. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – Mary Ann Shaffer
21. The Alchemyst – Michael Scott
22. The Magician – Michael Scott
23. Undead and Unwed – Mary Janice Davidson
24. The Other Boleyn Girl – Philippa Gregory
25. You Slay Me – Katie MacAlister
26. Thin is the New Happy – Valerie Frankel
27. Magic in the Wind – Christine Feehan
28. Inkheart – Cornelia Funke
29. Bitten – Kelley Armstrong
30. Practical Demonkeeping – Christopher Moore
31. Twilight – Stephenie Meyer

This is not the complete list, but I didn't really keep very good track this year :(

Books I've Read in 2010

2011-02-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

Yet another list! I try to keep a record of the books I've read over the years. I personally think it's fun to go back and see when I read a book, how my reading tastes have changed and if I can read more books than the previous year. So here we go for 2010:

1. Lover Avenged - J.R. Ward
2. Killing Moon - Rebecca York
3. Dragon Wytch - Yasmine Galenorn
4. Damien - Jacquelyn Frank
5. Queene of Light - Jennifer Armintrout
6. Julia's Chocolates - Cathy Lamb
7. Kiss of Fire - Deborah Cooke
8. Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye - Victoria Laurie
9. The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo - Stieg Larsson
10. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
11. Frankensten: Prodigal Son - Dean Koontz
12. One for the Money - Janet Evanovich
13. Ecstacy - Jacquelyn Frank
14. Spider's Bite - Jennifer Estep
15. Lover Mine - J.R. Ward
16. Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris
17. Boy's Life - Robert McCammon
18. Faefever - Karen Marie Moning
19. Dreamfever - Karen Marie Moning
20. Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris
21. Web of Lies - Jennifer Estep
22. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan
23. Better Read than Dead - Victoria Laurie
24. Night Huntress - Yasmine Galenorn
25. The Devil Inside - Jenna Black
26. Beyond the Highland Mist - Karen Marie Moning
27. Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs
28. The Sword - Jean Johnson
29. Touch the Dark - Karen Chance
30. A Vision of Murder - Victoria Laurie
31. Women Food and God - Geneen Roth
32. Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman - Elizabeth Buchan
33. Charmed and Dangerous - Toni McGee Causey
34. Knit One Kill Two - Maggie Sefton
35. Some Girls Bite - Chloe Neill
36. The Passage - Justin Cronin
37. Such a Pretty Fat - Jen Lancaster
38. Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
39. Venom - Jennifer Estep
40. Friday Night Bites - Chloe Neill
41. Heir of Night: Wall of Night - Helen Lowe
42. Demons Not Included - Cheyenne McCray
43. Halfway to the Grave - Jeaniene Frost
44. The Good, The Bad, and the Undead - Kim Harrison
45. The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
46. No Werewolves Allowed - Cheyenne McCray

Hello Again and First Grave on the Right :)

2011-02-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have really let this blog go. Sorry if anyone missed me, and if not, well hopefully I will be updating with crafty pics and some new books I've been reading! Thought I'd update with the latest and new book I just finished reading

Title: First Grave On the Right

Author: Darynda Jones

Synopsis: Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else
entirely.

My Thoughts: The first book in what I hope is a long running series. Darynda Jones has put a new twist on the paranormal genre by having her main character, Charley Davidson, as the Grim Reaper. She's sassy and funny with a touch of ADD. At times I did feel that there were too many little sub-plots going on (a LOT happened in this first book!), but I didn't have trouble following along. I'm really excited about this "series" and can't wait to see what kind of trouble Charley can get into next book!

Hello all....

2010-02-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been really neglecting my blog, and I'm going to blame school for that! I have read a decent amount while still in school, so I want to try and catch up on some of my book reviews.

I also want to start posting pics of my crafty things, mainly knitting and scrapbooking since those are my two obsessions of the moment.

That is all... ;)

Gideon - Jacquelyn Frank

2009-08-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

Title: Gideon (#2 in The Nightwalkers Series)

Author: Jacquelyn Frank

Synopsis:

For a thousand years, Gideon has healed his people. And as the oldest surviving male of his race, his wisdom has always been respected without question. But Gideon knows that even he is vulnerable to the powerful, primitive desires that befall his kind during Hallowed moons--and nine years ago that truth was hammered home when he found himself claiming Magdalegna, the Demon King's sister, in a wild embrace. Horrified by his lack of control, he left her wanting and furious--and then exiled himself for the better part of a decade. Now, with necromancers threatening his people--and Magdalegna nearly their victim--Gideon must face another truth. He and the beautiful, stubborn Magdalegna are destined to be together, to share a love as deep and old as time itself. But first he needs to regain her trust. Then he'll have to save her life...

My Thoughts:

I thought the story itself was a little slower than Jacob, but it was just as good. I really enjoyed the fact that this book really introduced the rest of the Nightwalkers races - vampires and the lycanthropes...and it seemed to open things up for future books. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I hope Frank writes more books in this series!!

Rating: A

The Unsung Hero - Suzanne Brockmann

2009-08-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

Title: The Unsung Hero (#1 in the Troubleshooters Series)

Author: Suzanne Brockmann

Synopsis:

After a near-fatal head injury, navy SEAL lieutenant Tom Paoletti catches a terrifying glimpse of an international terrorist in his New England hometown. When he calls for help, the navy dismisses the danger as injury-induced imaginings. In a desperate, last-ditch effort to prevent disaster, Tom creates his own makeshift counterterrorist team, assembling his most loyal officers, two elderly war veterans, a couple of misfit teenagers, and Dr. Kelly Ashton-the sweet "girl next door" who has grown into a remarkable woman. The town's infamous bad boy, Tom has always longed for Kelly. Now he has one final chance for happiness, one last chance to win her heart, and one desperate chance to save the day . . .

My Thoughts:

Usually when it comes to books labeled as romance, I tend to stick with the paranormal variety. However, I have a couple of good friends who continually have recommended this author and this series to me, which I would tend to call romantic suspense, so I decided to give it a try.

I absolutely loved this book! I thought the story was pretty interesting, and the characters were wonderful. I really enjoyed how Brockmann had the love story going on with Tom and Kelly, as well as you find out about their fathers' times in the war and a love triangle that was going on there. All this time, there is the story of Tom trying to capture this terrorist in his hometown, and getting the backing from is superior officers.

Rating: A-

Undead and Unwed - Mary Janice Davidson

2009-08-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

Title: Undead and Unwed (#1 in the Queen Betsy Series)

Author: Mary Janice Davidson

Synopsis:

First Betsy Taylor loses her job, then she's killed in a car accident. But what really bites is that she can't seem to stay dead. And now her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious power-hungry vampire in five centuries.

My Thoughts:

Poor Betsy! First she is attacked in an alley by some nasty people (if you could call them that) that aren't that familiar with soap and water. Then she gets hit by a truck, thrown into a tree and dies. Then she wakes up only to realize that her horrible stepmother stole all her designer shoes, and oh yeah - she's now the undead.

In my opinion, this is the ultimate humorous chick-lit paranormal! My favorite parts where the times that she continually tried to kill herself and be really dead, instead of undead or in-between. I also loved that fact that to get her involved with overthrowing the bad vampire, her friends bribed her with designer shoes!

I'm looking foward to reading more in this funny series!

Rating: A-

Want it Wednesday!! 8-26-09

2009-08-26T18:55:00.001-07:00

It's that time again to showcase a book that is on my wishlist. Mostly they are new books, but sometimes not. :)

Title: The Magicians

Author: Lev Grossman

Synopsis:

Quentin Coldwater's life is changed forever by an apparently chance encounter: when he turns up for his entrance interview to Princeton he finds his interviewer dead - but a strange envelope bearing Quentin's name leads him down a very different path to any he'd ever imagined. The envelope, and the mysterious manuscript it contains, leads to a secret world of obsession and privilege, a world of freedom and power and, for a while, it's a world that seems to answer all Quentin's desires. But the idyll cannot last - and when it's finally shattered, Quentin is drawn into something darker and far more dangerous than anything he could ever have expected...

I've heard this book described as a Harry Potter for grown ups, which of course sounds wonderful to me.

Dark Gold - Christine Feehan

2009-08-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Gold (#3 in the Carpathian Series)

Author: Christine Feehan

Synopsis:

Alexandria Houton will sacrifice anything--even her life --to protect her orphaned little brother. But when both encounter an unspeakable evil in the swirling San Francisco mists, Alex can only cry to heaven for their deliverance . . . And out of the darkness swoops Aidan Savage, a golden being more powerful, more mysterious, than any other creature of the night. The ageless Carpathian male snatches them from a hideous fate. But is Aidan Alex's salvation . . . or her sin? If she surrenders to Aidan's savage, unearthly seduction, and gives him the color, the light, the family he craves, will Alex truly save her brother? Or sacrifice more than her life?

My Thoughts:

Another strong story in the Carpathian series, this time focusing on Aidan Savage. This is the third in the series, and I'm feeling as if all the stories are all the same in the sense that they are all more character driven than plot driven, the women are turned into Carpathians and have to be shown the way to live by their mates, and there is always an internal struggle with the females of the stories to want to be with their mates. They find they don't want their lives ruled by a man, and want a sense of independence, but in the end all works out well and everybody is madly in love.

Because Dark Gold was so similar to the last two books, I found myself becoming bored with the story. My friends say that as the series goes on the characters and the plot get better. I will probably read one or two more to see, but if this is all there is, I'm probably giving up on the series. It is a really strong romance, but the stories are becoming too repetitive.

Rating: B-

Naked in Death - J.D. Robb

2009-08-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Title: Naked in Death (#1 in the "In Death/Eve Dallas" series)

Author: J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts)

Synopsis:

It is 2058. New York cop Eve Dallas doesn't have to confront gun crime anymore, no one does. Guns are simply relics. She is assisted in detection by instant communications and probability predictions from the all-pervasive computer network. But this latest homicide is an old-fashioned crime in many ways. Sharon DeBlass is a high-class hooker from a wealthy, powerful family. Her brutal, possibly sexually motivated shooting sends shockwaves through her family, the upper echelons of political society and police headquarters. From the note under her body, it seems that a serial killer with a penchant for antique weaponry and a grudge against prostitutes is on the loose. The killer gets uncomfortably close to Eve Dallas as she pieces together his identity, flying in the face of authority and risking her career. Naked in Death introduces the reader to Dallas: a fascinating heroine, complex and vulnerable, a great detective with an aeroplane hold full of baggage. In the course of this murder investigation she meets Roarke, a charming self-made billionaire, and passions are stirred.

My Thoughts:

I really loved this book! I thought it was a solid introduction to Eve Dallas and Roarke, with a good mystery/thriller story line that kept me guessing for most of the book. I thought that Robb did a great job of mixing mystery and crime with a start of a great romance that didn't feel forced, but really moved the story along. I'm looking foward to reading more in this series, and I know I have a lot more ahead of me, considering that there are about 35 books in this series :)

Rating: B+

New Moon - Stephenie Meyer

2009-08-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

Title: New Moon (#2 in the Twilight Saga)

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis:

All is not well between demon-magnet Bella and Edward Cullen, her vampire Romeo. An innocent papercut at Edward's house puts Bella in grave danger when various members of the Cullen family can barely resist their hunger at the smell of blood. The Cullens promptly leave town, afraid of endangering Edward's beloved, and Bella sinks into an overwhelming depression. Months later, she finally emerges from her funk to rebuild her life, focusing on her friendship with besotted teen Jacob from the reservation. Bella's unhealthy enthrallment to Edward leads her into dangerous and self-destructive behavior despite her new friends, and supernatural complications are bound to reappear. Bella's being hunted by an evil vampire, and Jacob's adolescent male rage turns out to be incipient lycanthropy: It seems many Quileute Indians become werewolves in the presence of vampires, their natural enemies. Psychic miscommunications and angst-ridden dramatic gestures lead to an exciting page-turner of a conclusion drenched in the best of Gothic romantic excess. Despite Bella's flat and obsessive personality, this tale of tortured demon lovers entices.

My Thoughts:

Good news: I liked this book much better than Twilight. There was more going on in the story to keep me entertained, and I'm really glad that Jacob played a much bigger role in this book.

Bad news: I still cannot stand the character of Bella. She is so dramatic and at the same time flat and boring. She is so reckless, with no concerns to the consequences of her actions, as well as no concern for the people around her, except maybe Edward, with whom her life revolves around.

I'm still up in the air about whether or not to read the next book. If I do it will be awile, because I definitely need a break from Bella!

Rating: C+

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

2009-08-18T16:42:00.001-07:00

Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Author: Oscar Wilde

Synopsis:

After having his portrait painted, Dorian Gray is captivated by his own beauty. Tempted by his world-weary friend, decadent friend Lord Henry Wotton, he wished to stay young forever and pledges his very soul to keep his good looks. As Dorian's slide into crime and cruelty progresses, he stays magically youthful, while his beautiful portrait changes, revealing the hideous corruption of moral decay. Set in fin-de-siecle London, the novel traces a path from the studio of painter Basil Howard to the opium dens of the East End.

My Thoughts: (Orginally Reviewed August 5, 2003)

This story was really good. It's about Dorian Gray who is about 18 at the time his friend Basil paints a portrait of him. Gray prays that his portrait would age and he himself would remain young, and of course his prayer is answered.

Having been written in the late 1800's, it's hard to get past some of the vocabulary in this book, and also there are endnotes which makes it hard to read because you have to flip to the back and find what that part meant and then go back to reading. Another thing that I didn't like was when the author went on and on about jewels and embroidery - it was so hard to follow and it wasn't necessary the story at all.

Overall I liked the story, but it was a tough read, and although it's not a very long book (a little over 200 pages) it is not a light read. I think you should read this book if you're into classic literature, but otherwise I would pick something else.

Rating: C

Dark Desire - Christine Feehan

2009-08-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Desire (#2 in the Carpathian Series)

Author: Christine Feehan

Synopsis:

The stranger silently summoned her from across the continents, across the seas. He whispered of eternal torment, of endless hunger . . . of dark, dangerous desires. And somehow American surgeon Shea O'Halloran could feel his anguish. Drawn to the far Carpathian mountains, Shea found a ravaged, raging man, and recognized the beloved stranger who'd already become part of her. But was she to be his healer . . . or his prey?

My Thoughts:

I found this book more enjoyable than the first, and it seemed to move at a faster pace. The story takes place 25 years after Dark Prince, and we are met again with human vampire hunters, hunting the Carpathians. These vampire hunters are hunting and torturing any vampires they can find, including Jacques, a Carpathian male, who is the center of this story. Jacques is buried alive, obviously left for dead, for seven years, until he is able to reach out and call someone near through his mind. Our leading lady of the story, Shea, is called to Jacques and rescues him.

Like I said, I did enjoy this story much more than Dark Prince, I think because it kind of jumps right into the story and there's not much explaining and world building as there was in the first book. I'm currently reading the third in the series and am still loving where Feehan is going with this :)

Rating: A-

TBR Shelves

2009-08-18T11:23:00.001-07:00

So here are some pictures of my TBR books, there's alot! And there really is no rhyme or reason to their order....they are just there, and I need to read them :)

This picture is actually my "night stand' in my bedroom. It's got nice storage underneath, so what do I put in it?? Books of course! As you can see, they are double stacked.

Two shelves in a downstairs bookcase. These are also double shelved...you can see it better from the bottom shelf. The other shelves on this bookcase are filled with scrapbook stuff and other knick-knacks

One of my small bookcases downstairs...also double shelved

My other small bookcase, and like all the others...it's also double shelved.

In The Woods - Tana French

2009-08-17T18:22:00.001-07:00

Title: In The Woods

Author: Tana French

Synopsis:
When he was twelve years old, Adam Ryan went playing in the woods one sunny day with his two best friends. He never saw them again. Their bodies were never found, and Adam himself was discovered with his back pressed against an oak tree and his shoes filled with blood. He had no memory of what had happened. Twenty years later Adam -- now using his middle name of Rob -- is a detective with the Dublin police force. His colleagues don't know about his past. He works as a team with Cassie Maddox, a smart, tough cookie; they are best friends as well as partners. When the body of a young girl is found at the site of an archaeological dig, Rob and Cassie get the case. And when they reach the crime scene, Rob realises it is the exact site of his childhood trauma. They also find a hairclip that he recognises as having belonged to his friend. Could there be a connection between that old, unsolved crime and this? Knowing that he would be thrown off the case if his past were revealed, Rob takes a fateful decision to keep quiet. Rob and Cassie are investigating the murder of Katy Devlin, but they both hope that they might also solve the twenty-year-old mystery of the woods.

My Thoughts:

A solid murder mystery. I thought the character development was great, and the story was very interesting. I was a bit disappointed with a turn of events in a sub-plot, but I think that was because of a personal expectation of what I wanted to happen. I thought the writing style was fantastic and beautiful - French does a wonderful job of expressing feelings and thoughts in a way that is so wonderful. She really draws you in and you can really sympathize with the main character. I'm really looking foward to reading her second book, The Likeness.

Rating: B+

Book 1 in my Random Reading Challenge :)

5 for 1

2009-08-17T18:14:00.001-07:00

So I made myself a goal that I would read 85% of my library...the post can be found here. I'm not doing very good on it... ;) So I was happy when someone else was feeling my misery! Jackie over at Literary Escapism is doing a challenge to get the TBR pile down. I know I am not strong enough to not buy anymore books until I read all my TBR pile, but I can read 5 of my books before I'm can buy 1! This is gonna go along with my orginal "library goal" and I'll update with each book I read. :)

Anybody want to join us? I'm going to try and put pictures up soon of my bookcases of TBR's

It's Monday...what are you READING?? 8-17-09

2009-08-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Hosted over at J-Kaye's Book Blog.

Last week I finished up both Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin and In the Woods by Tana French!

This week:

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer (#2 in Twilight Saga)

and

Dark Gold by Christine Feehan (#3 in Carpathians series)

School does start this week for me, so I'm sure that's going to cut drastically into my reading time! :(

HUGE list!!

2009-08-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

So, I decided to make a list of all the series that I've read or am currently reading. The ones I've read are in red...get it read=red....I know I'm lame :) I do have a bit of what I call "Author A.D.D." and I even though I like to read series in order, I skip around from series to series. I'll try and update this about every month or so :) Believe me, this list does not even include the series that I WANT to read and haven't read any of the books yet :)

The Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews:
1. Magic Bites
2. Magic Burns
3. Magic Strikes
4. Magic Bleeds
5. Magic Slays

The Xanth Series by Piers Anthony:
1. A Spell for Chameleon - Reviewed
2. Source of Magic
3. Castle Roogna
4. Centaur Aisle
5. Ogre, Ogre
6. Night Mare
7. Dragon on a Pedestal
8. Crewel Lye
9. Golem in the Gears
10. Vale of the Vole
11. Heaven Cent
12. Man from Mundania
13. Isle of View
14. Question Quest
15. The Color of her Panties
16. Demons Don't Dream
17. Harpy Thyme
18. Geis of the Gargoyle
19. Roc and a Hard Place
20. Yon Ill Wind
21. Faun & Games
22. Zombie Lover
23. Xone of Contention
24. The Dastard
25. Up in Heaval
26. Swell Foop
27. Cube Route
28. Currant Events
29. Pet Peeve
30. Stork Naked
31. Air Apparent
32. Two to the Fifth

The Lightworld/Darkworld Series by Jennifer Armintrout:
1. Queene of Light
2. Child of Darkness
3. Veil of Shadows

The Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong:
1. Bitten - Reviewed
2. Stolen - Reviewed
3. Dime Store Magic - Reviewed
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living with the Dead
10. Frostbitten
11. Walking the Witch
12. Spellbound

The Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist Series by Jenna Black
1. The Devil Inside
2. The Devil You Know
3. The Devil's Due
4. Speak of the Devil
5. The Devil's Playground

The Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Crossed
4. Silver Borne
5. River Marked

The Troubleshooter Series by Susanne Brockmann:
1. The Unsung Hero
2. The Defiant Hero
3. Over the Edge
4. Out of Control
5. Into the Night
6. Gone Too Far
7. Flashpoint
8. Hot Target
9. Breaking Point
10. Into the Storm
11. Force of Nature
12. All Through the Night
13. Into the Fire
14. Dark of Night
15. Hot Pursuit
16. Breaking the Rules

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher:
1. Storm Front
2. Fool Moon
3. Grave Peril
4. Summer Knight
5. Death Masks
6. Blood Rites
7. Dead Beat
8. Proven Guilty
9. White Night
10. Small Favor
11. Turn Coat
12. Changes
13. Ghost Story

The Weather Warden Series by Rachel Caine:
1. Ill Wind
2. Heat Stroke
3. Chill Factor
4. Windfall
5. Firestorm
6. Thin Air
7. Gale Force
8. Cape Storm
9. Total Eclipse

The Cassandra Palmer Series by Karen Chance:
1. Touch the Dark
2. Claimed by Shadow
3. Embrace the Night
4. Curse the Dawn
5. Hunt the Moon

The Dragonfire Series by Deborah Cooke:
1. Kiss of Fire
2. Kiss of Fury
3. Kiss of Fate
4. Winter Kiss
5. Whisper Kiss
6. Darkfire Kiss

The Kay Scarpetta Series by Patricia Cornwell:
1. Postmordem
2. Body of Evidence
3. All That Remains
4. Cruel and Unusual
5. The Body Farm
6. From Potter's Field
7. Cause of Death
8. Unnatural Exposure
9. Point of Origin
10. Black Notice
11. The Last Precinct
12. Blow Fly
13. Trace
14. Predator
15. Book of the Dead
16. Scarpetta
17. The Scarpetta Factor
18. Port Mortuary

The Queen Betsy Series (aka The Undead Series) by Mary Janice Davidson:
1. Undead and Unwed
2. Undead and Unemployed
3. Undead and Unappreciated
4. Undead and Unreturnable
5. Undead and Unpopular
6. Undead and Uneasy
7. Undead and Unworthy
8. Undead and Unwelcome

The Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep:
1. Spider's Bite
2. Web of Lies
3. Venom
4. Tangled Threads

The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich
1. One for the Money
2. Two for the Dough
3. Three to Get Deadly
4. Four to Score
5. High Five
6. Hot Six
7. Seven Up
8. Hard Eight
9. To the Nines
10. Ten Big Ons
11. Eleven on Top
12. Twelve Sharp
13. Lean Mean Thirteen
14. Fearless Fourteen
15. Finger Lickin' Fifteen
16. Sizzling Sixteen
17. Smoking Seventeen

The Carpathian Series (aka the Dark Series) by Christine Feehan:
1. Dark Prince - Reviewed
2. Dark Desire
3. Dark Gold
4. Dark Magic
5. Dark Challenge
6. Dark Fire
7.Dark Dreamers
8. Dark Legend
9. Dark Guardian
10. Dark Symphony
11. Dark Descent
12. Dark Melody
13. Dark Destiny
14. Dark Secret
15. Dark Demon
16. Dark Celebration
17. Dark Possession
18. Dark Curse

The Drake Sisters Series by Christine Feehan:
1. Magic in the Wind
2. Twilight before Christmas
3. Oceans of Fire
4. Dangerous Tides
5. Safe Harbor
6. Turbulent Sea
7. Hidden Currents

The Nightwalkers Series by Jacquelyn Frank:
1. Jacob - Reviewed
2. Gideon
3. Elijah
4. Damien
5. Noah

The Shadowdwellers Series by Jacquelyn Frank
1. Ecstacy
2. Rapture
3. Pleasure

The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost:
1. Halfway to the Grave
2. One Foot in the Grave
3. At Grave's End
4. Destined for an Early Grave
5. This Side of the Grave

The Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke:
1. Inkheart
2. Inkspell
3. Inkdeath

The Sisters of Moon Series by Yasmine Galenorn:
1. Witchling - Reviewed
2. Changeling - Reviewed
3. Darkling
4. Dragon Wytch
5. Night Huntress
6. Demon Mistriss
7. Bone Magic
8. Harvest Hunting
9. Blood Wyne

The Anita Blake Series by Laurell K. Hamilton:
1. Guilty Pleasures - Reviewed
2. The Laughing Corpse
3. Circus of the Damned
4. Lunatic Cafe
5. Bloody Bones
6. The Killing Dance
7. Burnt Offerings
8. Blue Moon
9. Obsidian Butterfly
10. Narcissus in Chains
11. Cerulean Sins
12. Incubus Dreams
13. Micah
14. Danse Macabre
15. The Harlequin
16. Blood Noir
17. Skin Trade

The Nightcreature Series by Lori Handeland:
1. Blue Moon - Reviewed
2. Hunter's Moon
3. Dark Moon
4. Crescent Moon
5. Midnight Moon
6. Rising Moon
7. Hidden Moon
8. Thunder Moon

The Southern Vampire Mysteries (aka Sookie Stackhouse Series) by Charlaine Harris:
1. Dead Until Dark - Reviewed
2. Living Dead in Dallas - Reviewed
3. Club Dead - Reviewed
4. Dead to the World - Reviewed
5. Dead as a Doornail
6. Definitely Dead
7. All Together Dead
8. From Dead to Worse
9. Dead and Gone
10. Dead in the Family
11. Dead Reckoning

The Rachel Morgan Series by Kim Harrison:
1. Dead Witch Walking - Reviewed
2. The Good, The Bad, and the Undead
3. Every Which Way but Dead
4. A Fistful of Charms
5. For a Few Demons More
6. The Outlaw Demon Wails
7. White Witch, Black Curse

The Dark-Hunter/Dream-Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon:
1. Fantasy Lover - Reviewed
2. The Beginning
3. Dragonswan
4. Night Pleasures
5. Night Embrace
6. Phantom Lover
7. Dance with the Devil
8. Dark Hunter Christmas
9. Kiss of the Night
10. Night Play
11. Winter Born
12. Seize the Night
13. Sins of the Night
14. Second Chances
15. Unleash the Night
16. Dark Side of the Moon
17. Hard Days Night-Searcher
18. Until Death We Do Part
19. Fear the Darkness
20. The Dream-Hunter
21. Devil May Cry
22. Upon the Midnight Clear
23. Dark Hunter Companion
24. Dream Chaser
25. Acheron
26. One Silent Night
27. Dream Warrior
28. Bad Moon Rising
29. No Mercy
30. Retribution

The Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye Series by Victoria Laurie:
1. Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye
2. Better Read than Dead
3. A Vision of Murder
4. Killer Insight
5. Crime Seen
6. Death Perception
7. Doom With a View
8. A Glimpse of Evil
9. Vision Impossible

The Breeds Series by Lora Leigh:
1. Tempting the Beast - Reviewed
2. The Man Within
3. Elizabeth's Wolf
4. Kiss of Heat
5. Soul Deep
6. Hot Spell
7. Megan's Mark
8. Harmony's Way
9. Tanner's Scheme
10. Primal Heat
11. Jacob's Faith
12. Aiden's Charity
13. Beyond the Dark
14. Dawn's Awakening
15. Shifter
16. Mercy's War
17. The Magical Christmas Cat
18. Coyote's Mate
19. Bengal's Heart

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis:
1. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Voyage of the Dawn4. The Silver Chair
5. The Magician's Nephew
6. A Horse and his Boy
7. The Last Battle

The Aisling Grey Series by Katie MacAlister:
1. You Slay Me
2. Fire Me Up
3. Light My Fire
4. Holy Smokes

The Night Tracker Series by Cheyenne McCray:
1. Demons Not Included
2. No Werewolves Allowed
3. Vampires Not Invited
4. Zombies Sold Separately

The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning:
1. Darkfever
2. Bloodfever
3. Faefever
4. Dreamfever
5. Shadowfever

The Chicagoland Vampire Series by Chloe Neill:
1. Some Girls Bite
2. Friday Night Bites
3. Twice Bitten
4. Hard BittenThe Inheritence Series by Christopher Paolini:
1. Eragon
2. Eldest
3. Brisingr

The Alex Cross Series by James Patterson:
1. Along Came a Spider
2. Kiss the Girls
3. Jack & Jill
4. Cat & Mouse
5. Pop Goes the Weasel
6. Roses are Red
7. Violets are Blue
8. Four Blind Mice
9. Big Bad Wolf
10. London Bridges
11. Mary Mary
12. Cross
13. Double Cross
14. Cross Country

The Women's Murder Club Series by James Patterson:
1. 1st to Die
2. 2nd Chance
3. 3rd Degree
4. 4th of July
5. 5th Horseman
6. 6th Target
7. 7th Heaven
8. 8th Confession

The Amelia Peabody Series by Elizabeth Peters:
1. The Crocodile on the Sandbank
2. The Curse of the Pharohs
3. The Mummy Case
4. Lion in the Valley
5. The Deeds of the Disturber
6. The Last Camel Died at Noon
7. The Snake, The Crocodile and the Dog
8. The Hippopotamus Pool
9. Seeing a Large Cat
10. The Ape Who Guards the Balance
11. The Falcon at the Portal
12. Thunder in the Sky
13. Lord of the Silent
14. The Golden One
15. Children of the Storm
16. Guardian on the Horizon
17. The Serpent on the Crown
18. Tomb of the Golden Bird
19. A River in the Sky

The Jaz Parks Series by Jennifer Rardin:
1. Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Reviewed
2. Another One Bites the Dust
3. Biting the Bullet
4. Bitten to Death
5. One More Bite

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan
1. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
2. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
3. Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse
4. Percy Jackson and The Battle of Labrynth
5. Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian

The In Death Series by J.D. Robb:
1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengence in Death
7. Holiday in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgement in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Ritual in Death
29. Promises in Death
30. Kindred in Death

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Reviewed
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Reviewed
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

The Argeneau Series by Lynsay Sands:
1. A Quick Bite
2. Love Bites
3. Single, White Vampire
4. Tall Dark and Hungry
5. A Bite to Remember
6. Bite Me If You Can
7. The Accidental Vampire
8. Vampires are Forever
9. Vampires, Interrupted
10. The Rogue Hunter
11. The Immortal Hunter

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flemel Series by Michael Scott:
1. The Alchemyst
2. The Magician
3. The Sorceress
4. The Necromancer
5. The Warlock

The Knitting Mystery Series by Maggie Sefton:
1. Knit One, Kill Two
2. Needled to Death
3. A Deadly Yarn
4. A Killer Stitch
5. Dyer Consequences
6. Fleece Navidad
7. Dropped Dead Stitch
8. Skein of the Crime
9. Unraveled

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith:
1. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Reviewed
2. Tears of the Giraffe
3. Morality for Beautiful Girls
4. The Kalahari Typing School for Men
5. The Full Cupboard of Life
6. In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
7. Blue Shoes and Happiness
8. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
9. The Miracle at Speedy Motors
10. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
11. The Double Comfort Safari Club
12. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Pary

Dies the Fire Series by S.M. Stirling:
1. Dies the Fire - Reviewed
2. The Protector's War
3. A Meeting at Corvallis

The Kitty Norville Series by Carrie Vaughn:
1.Kitty and the Midnight Hour
2. Kitty Goes to Washington
3. Kitty Takes a Holiday
4. Kitty and the Silver Bullet
5. Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
6. Kitty Raises Hell
7. Kitty's House of Horrors
8. Kitty Goes to War
9. Kitty's Big Trouble

Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward:
1. Dark Lover - Reviewed
2. Lover Eternal - Reviewed
3. Lover Awakened
4. Lover Revealed
5. Lover Unbound
6. Lover Enshrined
7. Lover Avenged
8. Lover Mine
9. Lover Unleashed

The Fallen Angel Series by J.R. Ward
1. Covet
2. Crave
3. Envy

The World of the Lupi Series by Eileen Wilkes:
1. Tempting Danger - Reviewed
2. Mortal Danger
3. Blood Lines
4. Night Season
5. Mortal Sins

The Moon Series by Rebecca York:
1. Killing Moon
2. Edge of the Moon
3. Witching Moon
4. Crimson Moon
5. Shadow of the Moon
6. New Moon
7. Ghost Moon
8. Eternal Moon
9. Dragon Moon

Last Updated 2/10/11

Lover Eternal - J.R. Ward

2009-08-15T18:22:00.000-07:00

Title: Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood book #2)

Author: J.R. Ward

Synopsis:

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...

My Thoughts:

I love this series! This second installment picks up right where the first one left off. This time, however, we learn more about Rhage and all of his inner demons (figuratively and mostly literally). I love this series because of the characters, and how with each book the plot becomes more complex and more of the pieces fit together.

It's a series I believe you don't have to absolutely read in order, but to get the most out of the books, I would recommend it :)

Rating: A

Books in this Series:

Dark Lover

Lover Eternal

Lover Awakened

Lover Revealed

Lover Unbound

Lover Enshrined

Lover Avenged

Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

2009-08-15T18:03:00.001-07:00

Title: Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Mystery Series book #3)

Author: Charlaine Harris

Synopsis:

Sookie Stackhouse is having man trouble. Her vampire boyfriend, Bill, has been distant and inattentive lately. Then he announces that he is going on a business trip, which clearly is more than it seems. After a werewolf tries to abduct Sookie at work, Bill's boss, Eric, tells her that Bill fell under the sway of his--Bill's, that is--ex, a sexy vamp named Lorena, and has been kidnapped. Eric wants Sookie's help in getting Bill back, and despite her hurt over Bill's betrayal, Sookie agrees to go to Jackson, Mississippi, to find her wayward lover. Eric has persuaded Alcide, a dashing werewolf, to get Sookie access to Josephine's, aka Club Dead, the local hangout of Jackson's supernatural element. In between dodging kidnappers, the advances of amorous Eric, and her growing feelings for Alcide, Sookie has to find out who kidnapped Bill and figure out a way to rescue him.

My Thoughts:

Yet another great addition to the Sookie Stackhouse story. She's back at it again, this time Bill has been kidnapped, and she must go search for him and his kidnappers in Alabama. Some great new characters, as well as the characters we've met before. In my opinion, this series keeps getting better with each book.

Rating: B+

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

2009-08-13T20:19:00.000-07:00

Title: Twilight (The Twilight Saga book #1)

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis:

Bella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

My Thoughts:

First, the good news - I enjoyed the plot. Bella moves to a crappy little town and meets a gorgeous boy, Edward, who turns out to be a vampire. She wants to be with him, and he wants to be with her, but that puts Bella in danger in more ways than one. I can see why so many teenagers like this book (and so many girls) :). I also really enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's writing in the sense that it is so fluid. It's one of those books that I pick up and in no time I've read 100 pages just because the writing flows so well.

Now the bad news - the combination of the character Bella and the book being told in first person narrative drove me up the wall! Maybe if the story would have been told from third person, I would have enjoyed it more, but who knows. I usually don't have too much of a problem with reading first person narratives, but all of Bella's internal dialogue was too much like a junior high student to me...yes, I know she is in high school, and at that age everyone pretty much only thinks about the opposite sex, but it just made her seem really shallow and mundane.

Bella got on my nerves so much, I haven't been able to pick up the next book, but with much coaxing from friends who are addicted to the series, I have a copy on hold at the library. If I'm that annoyed with Bella after New Moon, I'm giving up on the series, and waiting to watch the movies.

Rating: C

Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K. Hamilton

2009-08-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Title: Guilty Pleasures (Anita Blake series book #1)

Author: Laurell K. Hamilton

Synopsis:

Anita Blake may be small and young, but vampires call her the Executioner. Anita is a necromancer and vampire hunter in a time when vampires are protected by law--as long as they don't get too nasty. Now someone's killing innocent vampires and Anita agrees--with a bit of vampiric arm-twisting--to help figure out who and why.
Trust is a luxury Anita can't afford when her allies aren't human. The city's most powerful vampire, Nikolaos, is 1,000 years old and looks like a 10-year-old girl. The second most powerful vampire, Jean-Claude, is interested in more than just Anita's professional talents, but the feisty necromancer isn't playing along--yet. This popular series has a wild energy and humor, and some very appealing characters--both dead and alive.

My Thoughts:

A nice introduction to the Anita Blake Series. I have been reading a bit of paranormal romance lately, and I was suprised that this read more like a detective story involving paranormal creatures. Anita Blake is a tough lady that can definitely hold her own with the boys (and the vampires, zombies, and ghouls!) I'm anxious to see what my reaction is to Hamilton's newer books in the series, because there is so much controversy surrounding them, and I wonder what side of the fence I'm gonna be on :)

Rating: A

Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Jennifer Rardin

2009-08-12T18:23:00.000-07:00

Title: Once Bitten, Twice Shy (The Jaz Parks series book #1)

Author: Jennifer Rardin

Synopsis:

I'm Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best--assassination. And I help. You could say I'm an Assistant Assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass. Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he's meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing's ever as easy as it seems?

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love Jaz Parks! She's a no-nonsense smart ass :) The characters were well developed, the story line was good and kept me interested through the whole thing. There's a lot of action, a conspiracy, and some humor. I always say this, but I'm really looking foward to reading more in this series to see what happens with Jaz and Vayl!

Rating: A-

Want It Wednesday!! 8-12-09

2009-08-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

Title: The Sorceress (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel Series book #3)

Author: Michael Scott

Synopsis:

Nicholas Flamel's heart almost broke as he watched his beloved Paris crumble before him. The city was destroyed by Dee and Machiavelli, but Flamel played his own role in the destruction. Sophie and Josh Newman show every sign of being the twins of prophecy, and Flamel had to protect them and the pages from the Dark Elders.But Nicholas grows weaker with each passing day. Perenelle is still trapped in Alcatraz, and now that Scatty has gone missing, the group is without protection. Except for Clarent - the sister sword to Excalibur. But Clarent's power is unthinkable, its evil making it nearly impossible to use without its darkness seeping into the soul of whoever wields it.If he hopes to defeat Dee, Nicholas must find an Elder who can teach Josh and Sophie the third elemental magic - Water Magic. The problem? The only Elder who can do that is Gilgamesh, and he is quite, quite insane.

I love love love this series! It's a young adult/teen series with lots of action, mythology, and history all mixed into one. This one is already been released, but alas, is in hardback, so I'm just waiting it out.

Books in this Series:

The Alchemyst

The Magician

The Sorceress

The Necromancer (2010)

Living Dead in Dallas - Charlaine Harris

2009-08-11T17:06:00.000-07:00

Title: Living Dead in Dallas (Southern Vampire Mystery/Sookie Stackhouse Series #2)

Author: Charlaine Harris

Synopsis:

Cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse is on a streak of bad luck. First, her coworker is murdered and no one seems to care. Then she's face-to-face with a beastly creature that gives her a painful and poisonous lashing. Enter the vampires, who graciously suck the poison from her veins (like they didn't enjoy it).

Point is, they saved her life. So when one of the blood-suckers asks for a favor, she complies. And soon, Sookie's in Dallas using her telepathic skills to search for a missing vampire. She's supposed to interview certain humans involved. There's just one condition: The vampires must promise to behave - and let the humans go unharmed. Easier said than done. All it takes is one delicious blonde and one small mistake for things to turn deadly...

My Thoughts:

How much more danger and adventure can Sookie Stackhouse get into?? Apparently quite a bit! I'm not sure I enjoyed this book quite as much as the first one, Dead Until Dark, but it still was entertaining. The whole issue with the fanatical fellowship was really interesting, and was left a little open for further mention in other books. I did feel that the murder that occured in Bon Temps was wraped up too quickly and not really given much development. I also didn't think the introduction of the maenad was very developed as well, but hopefully that will be brought up in future books. Despite these flaws, I'm just loving Sookie and Bill and all the other characters and am looking foward to reading the rest of the series.

Rating: B

Changeling - Yasmine Galenorn

2009-08-11T16:41:00.000-07:00

Title: Changeling (Sisters of the Moon Series #2)

Author: Yasmine Galenorn

Synopsis:

Delilah, a were tabby cat by a twist of genetic fate, and her half-Fae, half-human sisters are on the front lines of a brewing war. Just recovering from a battle, and adjusting to a relationship with human cop Chase, Delilah is drawn into investigating the mysterious, gruesome deaths of the Rainier Were Puma Clan and becomes attracted to their leader, Zachary. As she fears, a new threat emerges, manipulated by an old enemy, and it will take all of their efforts, and acceptance of her fate, to bring them down.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the series, and even more bad things are happening to the D'Artigo sisters! I like how Galenorn mixes in a bunch of genres in this series: a little bit of humor, some mystery, some romance, a lot of paranormal and fantasy! I did find myself being a little frazzled at how much stuff was going on in this story, but it didn't make me enjoy it any less. I'm really enjoying the series so far, but they definitely need to be read in order to understand everything that is going on.

Rating: B+

It's Monday...What are You Reading? 8-10-09

2009-08-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

I love this little weekly meme hosted by J-Kaye-Book-Blog.

So this past week I read Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison! loved it

and this week I'm reading Once Bitten Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin (book 1 in the Jaz Parks series) and hopefully will also start In the Woods by Tana French.

I'm Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best--assassination. And I help. You could say I'm an Assistant Assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass.Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he's meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing's ever as easy as it seems?

When he was twelve years old, Adam Ryan went playing in the woods one sunny day with his two best friends. He never saw them again. Their bodies were never found, and Adam himself was discovered with his back pressed against an oak tree and his shoes filled with blood. He had no memory of what had happened. Twenty years later Adam -- now using his middle name of Rob -- is a detective with the Dublin police force. His colleagues don't know about his past. He works as a team with Cassie Maddox, a smart, tough cookie; they are best friends as well as partners. When the body of a young girl is found at the site of an archaeological dig, Rob and Cassie get the case. And when they reach the crime scene, Rob realises it is the exact site of his childhood trauma. They also find a hairclip that he recognises as having belonged to his friend. Could there be a connection between that old, unsolved crime and this? Knowing that he would be thrown off the case if his past were revealed, Rob takes a fateful decision to keep quiet. Rob and Cassie are investigating the murder of Katy Devlin, but they both hope that they might also solve the twenty-year-old mystery of the woods.

Fantasy Lover - Sherrilyn Kenyon

2009-08-09T18:22:00.001-07:00

Title: Fantasy Lover (The Dark-Hunter Series book #1)

Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Synopsis:

Dear Reader, Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day. As a love-slave, I knew everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She, alone, bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again. But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace-the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two thousand year old curse? Julian of Macedon

My Thoughts:

I really thought this was a nice introduction into Sherrilyn Kenyon's series. Personally, I felt the story started a little slow, and was more of a romance than a paranormal that everyone was telling me this series is. Luckily about halfway through, it really picked up for me. That's where Kenyon really started to mix the Greek Mythology in with the present day, and started to get really interesting. Having read the second book in this series, I can say that it definitely picks up from this one and is more entertaining. Fantasy Lover was a nice, but not great, introduction to this series.

Rating: B-

Dead Witch Walking - Kim Harrison

2009-08-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

Title: Dead Witch Walking (Rachel Morgan/The Hollows Series book #1)

Author: Kim Harrison

Synopsis:

All the creatures of the night gather in "the Hollows" of Cincinnatie, to hide, to prowl, to party...and to feed.

Vampires rule the darkness in a predator-eat-predator world rife with dangers beyond imagining - and it's RAchel Morgan's job to keep that world civilized.

A bounty hunter and witch with serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring 'em back alive, dead...or undead.

My Thoughts:

This is my first Kim Harrison book and I absolutely loved it. I thought the world she creates is fantastic, and am excited to see how that evolves. I also loved the characters and their interaction with one another (my personal favorite being the fiesty pixie, Jenks). I thought the story was intersting with touches of humor here and there, and definitely left some things open for the next book. I'm really looking foward to reading more in this series!

Rating: A

Writer's Block

2009-08-04T17:15:00.001-07:00

Found this little question over at livejournal, thought I would share it with my answer :)

Question:
Imagine you manage a coven of baseball-playing vampires. The Cullen family is really strong this year and you want to bring in a ringer. Which currently active MLB baseball player do you sire?

My answer:
Okay, so I wouldn't even bring in any MLB players! I would recruit the fellas from the Black Dagger Brotherhood and the Demons from the Nightwalker race. The litlle sparkling baby Cullen vampires wouldn't stand a chance!

Dime Store Magic - Kelley Armstrong

2009-08-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Dime Store Magic (Women of the Otherworld series book #3)
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Synopsis:

Unlike the Wizard of Oz, the witches in this sexy supernatural romance, including the murdered mother of 23-year-old heroine Paige Winterbourne, are not evil entities inhabiting a fairy tale land. They're an ages-old race of women so frightened by the possibility of exposure and endangerment that they've allowed their magical powers to atrophy. When Paige inherits her mom's mantle as Coven leader, however, she also inherits caretaking responsibility of Savannah Levine, an extremely gifted but rebellious 13-year-old who possesses her dead mother's penchant for dark magic-and for attracting the unwanted attention of darker magical beings (including Savannah's long-lost sorcerer father). The only person Paige can depend on is the one person she doesn't want to associate with: Lucas Cortez, an endearingly nerdy lawyer/sorcerer ("It was a sad world when a witch had to rely on a work-starved sorcerer for help"). As in Armstrong's debut novel Bitten, this story's special strength lies in its seamless incorporation of the supernatural into the real world. A convincing small-town setting, clever contemporary dialogue, compelling characterizations and a touch of cool humor make the tale's occasional vivid violence palatable and its fantasy elements both gripping and believable.

My Thoughts:

A great follow up to Armstrong's last book 'Stolen'. This story felt a little different from the last two books, and that could possibly just be because it's told from a different point of view, but I was still completely drawn into the characters and the story, just like the previous books. Really the synopsis says it all :) Another great one by Kelley Armstrong!

Rating: A

Jacob - Jacquelyn Frank

2009-08-03T12:51:00.001-07:00

Title: Jacob (The Nightwalker Series book #1)

Author: Jacquelyn Frank

Synopsis:

Since time began, there have been Nightwalkers - the races of the night who live in the shadows of the moonlight. Love with humans is absolutely forbidden, and one man makes certain to uphold this ancient law: Jacob, the Enforcer...

FOR 700 YEARS, HE HAS RESISTED TEMPTATION.BUT NOT TONIGHT...Jacob knows the excuses his people give when the madness overtakes them and they fall prey to their lust for humans. He's heard every one and still brought the trespassers to justice. Immune to forbidden desires, uncontrollable hungers, or the curse of the moon, his control is total...until the moment he sees Isabella on a shadowy New York City street. Saving her life wasn't in his plans. Nor were the overwhelming feelings she arouses in him. But the moment he holds her in his arms and feels the soft explosion of her body against his, everything changes. Their attraction is undeniable, volatile, and completely against the law. Suddenly everything Jacob has ever believed is inflamed by the heat of desire...

My Thoughts:

Yes, this is a paranormal romance, but it's so much more than what the synopsis says! Jacob is the Enforcer of the Demon race, making sure that demon kind do nothing to harm humans. Not only does Jacob have to do this job, along with trying to deny the fact that he himself is falling in love with a human, but there are also demons who have been 'summoned' and turned into horrible creatures, of which he must hunt down and kill. He also must find the human necromancers who are summoning these gentle, kind demons and turning them into the most horrible monsters ever.

This is such a fast paced book with a lot of action and a lot of romance. I love the world Jacquelyn Frank has built with this story. I've been recommending this to anyone who likes the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward.

Rating: A+

Witchling - Yasmine Galenorn

2009-07-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

Title: Witchling (The Sisters of the Moon Series, book #1)
Authour: Yasmine Galenorn

Synopsis:

The first in an engrossing new series about conflict in the magic modern world—as told by the half-human, half-Faerie D'Artigo sisters—is a whimsical reminder of fantasy's importance in everyday life. Narrator Camille is a good witch with unpredictable powers who runs a Seattle bookstore while working as an Otherworld Intelligence operative, sent Earthside to keep an eye on things. When an operative from the Wayfaerer, a human/Faerie hangout, is killed, Camille springs into action with her sisters Delilah, a werecat, and Menolly, a freshly minted vampire. Tracing the murder back to evil demon leader Shadow Wing, the sisters find evidence of a far-reaching plot, but the Otherworld Intelligence Agency offers no help, stifled by bureaucratic red tape and a nasty Otherworld battle.

My Thoughts:
I love the spin that Galenorn puts on these girls: They each have their own talent (Menolly's a Vampire, Delilah's a Were, and Camille is a Witch), and all three are half human and half faerie. Because of their mixed blood their magic tends to short circut ocassionaly, which really add an element of humor to a darker story line.

There is a lot going on in this story, from the demons coming earthside, to a battle that's brewing in the Other World. With all the different plot lines that are going on, it does make the book a bit confusing at times, but it also makes for a very fast read. I think this was a great start to the series, you get to know a lot of background information, as well as getting to know the sisters better. It was a really nice blend of paranormal, action, mystery and romance!

Rating: B+

Stolen - Kelley Armstrong

2009-07-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

Title: Stolen (Women of the Otherworld book #2)
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Synopsis:
Elena Michaels, the only known female werewolf, cavorts on a more fully cultivated supernatural playing field in this sure-footed follow-up to Bitten (2001). While investigating a suspicious notice advertising information for sale about werewolves, Elena meets witches Paige and Ruth Winterbourne-and, to her misfortune, a team of mortal and supernatural commandos who abduct Elena and Ruth to a remote underground bunker in the wilds of Maine. There Ty Winsloe, "billionaire and computer geek extraordinaire," is collecting a menagerie representing all the supernatural species that coexist anonymously with humanity (vampires, werewolves, witches, etc.). While his scientists study such creatures in the hope of distilling their uncanny powers as salable commodities, Winsloe hunts those captives who have outlived their usefulness in cruel most-dangerous-game fashion. Elena's efforts to outsmart Winsloe long enough to apprise her Pack of her whereabouts are complicated by a werewolf wannabe among the captors. Though the tale is pretty much a prison-break story spiffed up with magic, Armstrong leavens the narrative with brisk action and intriguing dollops of werewolf culture that suggest a complex and richly imagined anthropologic backstory.

My Thoughts:
From only reading Bitten and Stolen, Kelley Armstrong has very quickly become one of my favorite paranormal authors, with the Women of the Otherworld being one of my favorite series. I'm not sure if it's Armstrong's writing or the story or a combination of both, but with each book I find myself completely drawn into the book and can't put it down. My favorite think about this story is that it not only focuses on the werewolves this time, although they are a big part of it. Armstrong sets up for future stories by introducing Witches, Wizards, Vampires, Sorcerers, ect. Stolen is a very intense and dark book, but I absolutely loved it!

Rating: A+

Recently Funny...

2009-07-30T10:37:00.000-07:00

Yet another weekly meme (I do love them so!). This one is courtesy of Booking Through Thursday :

It asks what's the funniest book you've read recently?

Most recently has been Katie MacAlister's "Fire Me Up" (It's book #2 in the Aisling Grey Series)

Synopsis:

The last person Aisling Grey wants to see when she arrives in Budapest is Drake Vireo. A part-time courier and new Guardian (as in to the portals of Hell), all she wants to do is deliver an amulet to a hermit and, hopefully, find herself a mentor at the GODTAM (Guardians, Oracles, Diviners, Theurgists, and Mages) conference, but now she must also deal with Drake, her former lover and current wyvern of the green-dragon sept. While he innocently insists he is only in Budapest for a peace summit, Aisling finds it suspiciously coincidental that this gathering of dragons is taking place at the same hotel as her conference.

Not so recently read but still probably the most hilarious books I've read are memoirs by Jen Lancaster: Bitter is the New Black and Bright Lights Big Ass

Want it Wednesday!

2009-07-29T15:31:00.001-07:00

Title: Twenties Girl

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Synopsis:

Lara has always had an overactive imagination. Now she wonders if she is losing her mind. Normal twenty-something girls just don't get visited by ghosts! But inexplicably, the spirit of Lara's great aunt Sadie - in the form of a bold, demanding Charleston-dancing girl - has appeared to make one last request: Lara must track down a missing necklace Sadie simply can't rest without. Lara's got enough problems of her own. Her start-up company is floundering, her best friend and business partner has run off to Goa, and she's just been dumped by the love of her life. But as Lara spends time with Sadie, life becomes more glamorous and their treasure hunt turns into something intriguing and romantic. Could Sadie's ghost be the answer to Lara's problems and can two girls from different times end up learning something special from each other?

I've only read Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, but I really enjoyed that book. I think this book just sounds too fun! Although since I have so many books in by TBR pile already, I will probably waiting on this to come out in paperback.

Tempting Danger - Eileen Wilks

2009-07-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

Title: Tempting Danger (World of the Lupi book #1)

Author: Eileen Wilks

Synopsis:

Lily Yu is a San Diego police detective investigating a series of grisly murders that appear to be the work of a werewolf. To hunt down the killer, she must infiltrate the clans. Only one man can help her - a werewolf named Rule Turner, a prince of the lupi, whose charismatic presence disturbs Lily. Rule has his own reasons for helping the investigation - reasons he doesn't want to share with Lily. Logic and honor demand she keep her distance, but the attraction between them is immediate and devastating - and beyond human reason. Now in a race to fend off evil, Lily finds herself in uncharted territory, tested as never before, and, at her back, a man she's not sure she can trust.

My Thoughts:

An excellent start to a series!! This was such a fast paced and intense story that it definitely held my attention. There is a lot of paranormal and magic in this story along with some great characters - my personal favorite is Grandmother Yu; I really hope they do more with her character in future books. Even though this is categorized as a "paranormal romance" I consider it to be more of a paranormal murder/mystery.

My one complaint about the book was that the big battle at the end was very anticlimactic. The battle starts and then cuts away to a time period later where everyone is recovering, and Lily explains what happened at the battle. I was disappointed, but I thought it was done well, and didn't upset me too much.

Rating: B+

Dark Prince - Christine Feehan

2009-07-28T18:22:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Prince (Carpathian Series Book #1)

Author: Christine Feehan

Synopsis:

Raven Whitney, a telepathic hunter of serial killers, travels to the Carpathian Mountains for a little rest, hears telepathically Mikhail Dubrinsky's cries of loneliness and answers, only to find she is his life mate. Dubrinsky, Prince of the Carpathians, enchants Raven, while fending off a group of vampire killers who are attacking Carpathians.

My Thoughts:

I thought this book started a bit slow, but I think that's partly due to the fact that this is the first book in the series. Feehan really takes time to explain The Carpathians (basically they are 'good' vampires), as well as a bit of their history and customs. I thought this was a really nice set up for the series, and you meet some more Carpathians that have their own story on down the line. Despite the fact that it was a slow start, it did definitely pick up towards the middle, and the action and romance in the book really made the rest of the story fly by. As with a majority of paranormals, this one is definitely intense as well as dark.

Rating: B+

It's Monday...What are you Reading??

2009-07-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

I got this lovely meme over at J-Kaye's Book Blog

So this past week, I read

Changeling by Yasmine Galenorn
The Voyage of the Dawn by C.S. Lewis
Mr. Maybe by Jane Green

This Week I'm reading:

Tempting Danger by Eileen Wilks

I don't know what elise I might get to...just depends on my mood

Mailbox Monday July 27, 2009

2009-07-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks to The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Mondays!

I got a lot of books last week, mostly thanks to my favorite local used bookstore:

The Kalahari Typing School for Men - Alexander McCall Smith

Thin Air - Rachel Caine

Kissing Sin - Keri Arthur

The Darkest Kiss - Keri Arthur

4th of July - James Patterson

Vengeance in Death - J.D. Robb

Purity in Death - J.D. Robb

Divided in Death - J.D. Robb

Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs

Julie & Julia - Julie Powell

Safe Harbor - Christine Feehan

Turbulent Sea - Christine Feehan

Undead and Unappreciated - Mary Janice Davidson

New Moon - Rebecca York

Personal Demon - Kelley Armstrong

Eileen Wilks - Mortal Danger

Eileen Wilks - Night Season

Fearless Fourteen - Janet Evanovich

As you can see, for the most part, I'm trying to get books in the series' that I'm reading or want to read. :)

Coyote Blue - Christopher Moore

2009-07-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

(Orginally Reviewed December 5, 2005)

Description:

As a boy growing up in Montana, he was Samson Hunts Alone -- until a deadly misunderstanding with the law forced him to flee the Crow reservation at age fifteen. Today he is Samuel Hunter, a successful Santa Barbara insurance salesman with a Mercedes, a condo, and a hollow, invented life. Then one day, shortly after his thirty-fifth birthday, destiny offers him the dangerous gift of love -- in the exquisite form of Calliope Kincaid -- and a curse in the unheralded appearance of an ancient Indian god by the name of Coyote. Coyote, the trickster, has arrived to transform tranquillity into chaos, to reawaken the mystical storyteller within Sam ... and to seriously screw up his existence in the process.

My Thoughts:

Although I liked "Lamb" better, "Coyote Blue" was a good read. Once I got through the first few chapters, I really got into the story and breezed through it. Christopher Moore is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors - the characters he creates are so great! This was a solid book with a few laughs here and there - highly recommended to fans of Moore's other books.

Rating: C+

Mr.Maybe - Jane Green

2009-07-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Synopsis:

Libby Mason, 27, enjoys her fashionable career in PR, but is determined to marry a rich, "gorgeous" man who will support her in sumptuous style and allow her to join the class of ladies who lunch. Her previous relationships have proven unsatisfactory on all fronts, but then she meets Nick, who happens to be "gorgeous," smart, funny, sensitive and unparalleled in the sack, but unfortunately also a struggling writer who lives in a "grotty" (but clean) bedsit. Libby decides to have fun in bed with Nick and not fall in love, because he's not rich and she doesn't like his left-wing, blue-collar friends. They do have lots of great sex, until Nick breaks up with Libby because he is too attracted to her and isn't ready for a relationship. Libby turns for comfort to her best friend, Jules, who is happily married to the "gorgeous" Jamie. On a girl's night on the town, Libby meets well-known financier Ed McMahon, who is very rich and very eligible, but not "gorgeous" he is older, pompous, boring and the worst lay she has ever had, but when he proposes Libby accepts, as she sees her dream of becoming the idle rich at last coming true. Despite an annoying overuse of the word "gorgeous," Libby Mason manages to garner reader sympathy and even a cheer or two.

My Thoughts:

This was a typical "British Chick-Lit" - A women pushing 30 who is dating all the wrong men, in the hopes of meeting Mr. Right and getting married, and a completely horrible mother who is also pushing the main character to get married. Sometimes, the story was a little repetitive, but overall, I really enjoyed the story. It was really touching and funny, and you realize that sometimes what you think you want in a perfect man is not right for you at all.

Rating: B

The Alienist - Caleb Carr

2009-07-24T16:52:00.000-07:00

Description:

The year is 1896, the place, New York City. On a cold March night New York Times reporter John Schuyler Moore is summoned to the East River by his friend and former Harvard classmate Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a psychologist, or "alienist." On the unfinished Williamsburg Bridge, they view the horribly mutilated body of an adolescent boy, a prostitute from one of Manhattan's infamous brothels.

The newly appointed police commissioner, Theodore Roosevelt, in a highly unorthodox move, enlists the two men in the murder investigation, counting on the reserved Kreizler's intellect and Moore's knowledge of New York's vast criminal underworld. Laboring in secret (for alienists, and the emerging discipline of psychology, are viewed by the public with skepticism at best), the unlikely team embarks on what is a revolutionary effort in criminology-- amassing a psychological profile of the man they're looking for based on the details of his crimes. Their dangerous quest takes them into the tortured past and twisted mind of a murderer who has killed before. and will kill again before the hunt is over.

My Thoughts (Orginally Reviewed July 31st, 2006):
I really enjoyed this book! I found it interesting that whole concept of criminal profiling and forensic science was just being discovered and tried out. I felt that the book dragged just a little, but it was pretty action packed throughout the whole thing. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a mystery and who is interested in criminology and psychology.

Rating: B

July/August Library Goal...Starts

2009-07-24T16:32:00.000-07:00

So, I don't know how often this happens to anyone else, but I know that I have many many books on my bookshelves that have been there for years that I've never read. I'm also horrible about having conversations with people talking about books (example):

looking at books with friends, customers ect:
ME: Oh, I own that book!
Other Person: Is it any good?
ME: I don't know, I haven't read it yet.

So I've decided that I really want to try to have read at least 85% of the books I own. I've got the list of all the books I own, minus self-help and reference books and here are my numbers:

BOOKS OWNED: 631

BOOKS READ: 153

PERCENTAGE READ: 24%

I have a long way to go ;) I'm hoping by doing this it will help me read the books I have and slow down my book buying (hillarious, isn't it?) I thought this is something I could do once a month or so and see how my progress goes :)

Any questions or comments - I would love to hear them :)

Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons - Lorna Landvik

2009-07-22T19:30:00.001-07:00

Orginally Reviewed January 29, 2005

Synopsis:
Sometimes life is like a bad waiter—it serves you exactly what you don’t want. The women of Freesia Court have come together at life’s table, fully convinced that there is nothing good coffee, delectable desserts, and a strong shoulder can’t fix. Laughter is the glue that holds them together—the foundation of a book group they call AHEB—Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons—an unofficial “club” that becomes much more. It becomes a lifeline

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. Each chapter is told from a different point of view, and the characters are wonderful. I do wish that there would have been a little more talk about the books that they picked for their bookclub, but it didn't make me enjoy the book any less. I would compare this book to something like "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" just because the women in the book are so quirky and they have such a strong friendship. I definitely plan on reading more of Lorna Landvik's work in the future.

Rating: B+

Want It Wednesday!

2009-07-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

I'm finding all these great little memes from book blogs I'm following.

Title: Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward

Release Date: Already released

Synopsis:
Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood - even though his sister is married to a member, for he harbors a deadly secret that could make him a huge liability in their war against the lessers. As plots within and outside of the Brotherhood threaten to reveal the truth about Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world, Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him - and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series is probably by far one of my most favorite parnormal romance series! I've read the first 5 in the series, and still have Lover Enshrined to read before this one. I tell myself that I'm waiting for this one in paperback, but I just don't want to read them, and then be waiting impatienly for Ward to put out the next one!

Anywho, for those who haven't read this series, it is a bit dark, but the plot line is fantastic, and it has some great love scenes that don't take anything away from the story.

Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life by Alexandra Stoddard

2009-07-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

Originally reviewed January 31, 2006

Description:
Bursting with creative ideas and brimming with illuminating anecdotes, this concise, joyful, and practical book shows how to find -- and forge -- happiness in the large and small events of everyday life. Based on her more than thirty years as a noted thinker and speaker on personal contentment, Alexandra Stoddard shares what she has learned about the small but significant changes you can make in your mind, heart, and surroundings to be happier day by day.

My Thoughts:
A nice little book for some good inspiration. This book talks a lot about living in the present moment and being grateful for what you have and choosing happiness day to day. Sometimes I felt the sections of the book got a little to hokey, and didn't need to be in the book, but overall a good read. It's got some really good inspirational quotes sprinkled throughout the pages as well. I'd recommend it to people who like inspirational/self-help sort of books.

Rating: B-

30 Days to a Simpler Life by Connie Cox & Cris Evatt

2009-07-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

Originally Reviewed November 7, 2005

Description:
In their book, 30 Days To A Simpler Life, co-authors Connie Cox and Cris Evatt share their ideas on simplifying your closet, your bedroom, your bathroom, your drawers, your furniture, your knickknacks_your life! Their incredibly resourceful and detailed guide will show you the way to a simpler and more organized lifestyle. And scattered throughout are helpful hints on small details that make large impacts on our lives.

My Thoughts:
That basically sums up the book pretty well. It has some great ideas for organizing and simplifing every room in your house, and it's something that I am definitely going to refer back to in the future. It takes things one day at a time and gives you tiny time increments so anybody can get organized. A great reference for anybody who wants to get organized and simplify their lives!

Rating: A

Mailbox Monday July 20th, 2009

2009-07-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

I found this little meme from a couple of blogs i'm following and thought it sounded neat.

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I have some from last week, and some I just bought today:

Holy Smokes by Katie MacAlister (#4 in Aisling Grey Series)
Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin (#3 in the Jaz Parks Series)
Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Windfall by Rachel Caine (#4 in the Weather Warden Series)
Dragon Wytch by Yasmine Galenorn (#4 in Sisters of the Moon Series)
Witch Heart by Anya Bast (#3 in Elemental Witches Series)
3rd Degree by James Patterson (#3 in the Women's Murder Club Series)
Creation in Death by J.D. Robb (#25 in the Eve Dallas Series)
Witching Moon by Rebecca York (#3 in the Moon Series)
Eternal Moon by Rebecca York (#8 in the Moon Series)

Bird by Bird - Ann Lamott

2009-07-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

Description:

Lamott's ( Operating Instructions ) miscellany of guidance and reflection should appeal to writers struggling with demons large and slight. Among the pearls she offers is to start small, as their father once advised her 10-year-old brother, who was agonizing over a book report on birds: "Just take it bird by bird." Lamott's suggestion on the craft of fiction is down-to-earth: worry about the characters, not the plot. But she's even better on psychological questions. She has learned that writing is more rewarding than publication, but that even writing's rewards may not lead to contentment. As a former "Leona Helmsley of jealousy," she's come to will herself past pettiness and to fight writer's block by living "as if I am dying." She counsels writers to form support groups and wisely observes that, even if your audience is small, "to have written your version is an honorable thing."

Originally Reviewed March 5, 2004:

I found this book to be very inspiring. Ms. Lamott gave suggestions on writing and shared her knowledge, and I found it very useful. This book is also very funny and light and a quick read. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to write or needs advice on writing, because I think it is an excellent source of information.

Rating: A

Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris

2009-06-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Originally Reviewed July 30, 2008:

A great start to a series I'm excited to continue with. This book has humor and suspense, a good romance, and a great mystery. I thought it started off slow, but as you get to know the characters it definitely picks up. I love the main character, Sookie Stackhouse, and her 'gift' of being able to read people's minds which is both a blessing and a curse. I've heard that later books in the series are even more exciting, and am anxious to continue on with this series!

Rating: B

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Gregory Maguire

2009-06-23T15:13:00.000-07:00

Originally Reviewed October 19, 2004:

Description:
Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, has gotten a bum rap. Her mother is embarrassed and repulsed by her bright-green baby with shark's teeth and an aversion to water. At college, the coed experiences disapproval and rejection by her roommate, Glinda, a silly girl interested only in clothes, money, and popularity. Elphaba is a serious and inquisitive student. When she learns that the Wizard of Oz is politically corrupt and causing economic ruin, Elphaba finds a sense of purpose to her life - to stop him and to restore harmony and prosperity to the land.

My Thoughts:
First of all, I've never read Baum's books, so I was just comparing this book to the movie The Wizard of Oz. The book had a lot of political and religious concepts that I didn't fully grasp, but found interesting anyway. I expected this story to just be the Witch's perspective on the whole story...and it was, but Dorothy and the gang didn't even show up until page 332 out of a 406 page book. Overall, it was hard to get into, but it picked up, and was an interesting read.

Rating: C

Marley & Me - John Grogan

2009-06-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

Originally Reviewed February 9, 2006:

Description:
Labrador retrievers are generally considered even-tempered, calm and reliable;and then there's Marley, the subject of this delightful tribute to one Lab who doesn't fit the mold. Grogan, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, and his wife, Jenny, were newly married and living in West Palm Beach when they decided that owning a dog would give them a foretaste of the parenthood they anticipated. Marley was a sweet, affectionate puppy who grew into a lovably naughty, hyperactive dog.

My Thoughts:
This is a great book that any animal lover (especially dog lovers) can relate to on some level. It's funny and touching and I've been telling everyone I know about Marley the dog. Definitely read with kleenex close by.

Rating: A

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

2009-06-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

Originally Reviewed June 22, 2003

Wow!! Yet another great installment of Harry Potter! Harry is now in his third year at Hogwarts and faces new adventures as well as new dangers. Ms. Rowling does a wonderful job of taking us through another year in Harry's life. I loved this book as much as the first two. I think it's beautifully written, and there are always twists and turns that take the reader by surprise! All of the Harry Potter books are complete page-turners, and the "Prisoner of Azkaban" is no exception. Bravo Ms. Rowling!

June 23 2009:

This is probably one of my favorite books in the series. No matter how many times I reread these books, they always entertain, and I never am bored!

Rating: A+

Bitter Is the New Black - Jen Lancaster

2009-06-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

I actually read this book for a book club, and I'm so glad we picked this book! This book is made up of short stories that give you a very real and funny look into Lancaster's life after she is fired from her job. During this time she applies at every company imaginable, gets married, adopts a couple of dogs, and even loses her apartment steps! This book was laugh out loud, and I can't wait to read her other books!

Rating: A+

Dark Lover - J.R. Ward

2009-06-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Originally Reviewed May 13, 2008:

At first I thought the book was kind of corny, with vampires with names like Wrath, Phury, Rhage, Zsadist, and Vishious! But as the story went on, the more I was drawn in. JR Ward writes a really good vampire novel with a lot of romance, and enough suspense to keep me hanging on! Can't wait to start on the next one in the series.

June 22, 2009:

This has quickly become one of my favorite series! Ward creates such a great society with the Black Dagger Brotherhood, and I continually look foward to more books from her!

Rating: A

Books I've Read in 2008

2009-06-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

Books I've read in 2007

2009-06-22T14:07:00.001-07:00

I've kept a list for the past couple of years, so here is the one for 2007

1. The Energy of Money - Maria Nemeth, Ph.D
2. Slammerkin - Emma Donoghue
3. A Creative Companion - Sark
4. Make Your Creative Dreams Real - Sark
5. You Don't Have to Be Rich: Comfort, Happiness, and Financial Security on Your Own Terms - Jean Chatzky
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
8. Beloved - Toni Morrison
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

Affluenza - John De Gaaf

2009-06-22T14:03:00.000-07:00

(Originally Reviewed December 18, 2004)

Description:
From the producer of the award-winning TV specials Affluenza and Escape from Affluenza, uses the whimsical metaphor of a disease to tackle a very serious subject: the damage done — to our health, our families, our communities, and our environment — by the obsessive quest for material gain. The authors examine the origins, evolution, and symptoms of the affluenza epidemic. But more importantly, they explore cures and suggest strategies for rebuilding families and communities and for restoring and respecting the earth.

This book was very eye opening! The author really explains how advertisers pull in their consumers, and why we always feel the need to buy stuff. This book also asks us: is the stuff we buy really what makes us happy? Is it helping our environment as well? This book really made me think about how wasteful I am, and I recommend this book to anybody and everybody!!

Rating: A

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

2009-06-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

(Originally Reviewed January 22, 2004)

Wow! While I was reading this book I continually asked myself "why didn't I read this book any sooner?". It's great. I'm not a big fan of the fantasy genre, but loving the Lord of the Rings movies, I wanted to read the books and began with this one. The story is jammed pack with action and really heroic moments. My favorite thing, however, is the writing. Tolkien just has a great way of writing and telling the story, and that is what really drew me into the book. I would highly recommend this book to anybody! especially those who are a fan of the movies and have not read the books!!

Rating: B+

Tempting the Beast - Lora Leigh

2009-06-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

Description:
Callan Lyons is a genetic experiment. One of six fighting for freedom and the survival of their Pride. Merinus Tyler is the reporter who will tempt him, draw him, until the fury of the “mating frenzy” locks them into a battle of sexual heat there is no escape from.
Deception, blood, and the evil Genetics Council are hot on their trail. Callan will use his strength to try and save them both…and do all in his power to keep his woman in the process.

My Thoughts:
First of all, this is one of the hottest books I've ever read! I would say it definitely crosses over from the "normal" steamy paranormal romances I read into erotica. The sex scenes were ver explicit, and there were many of them, but I think in this case it really added to the story. You got more of a sense of what the characters were going through in their "mating frenzy". Even if you were to take out the sex of this book, it was a really good story! Scientists have fused feline DNA with that of humans. These hybrids have been put through hell from experiments and tests and training, and they have escaped and are hiding from those that hunt them. I'm really looking foward to read the next book and finding out what happenes to the Pride.

Rating B+

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: Men I've Dated - Shane Bolks

2009-06-21T14:02:00.001-07:00

Description:
Rory Egglehoff has always been a geek. She has built her life around her Star Wars addiction, relating all of life's triumphs and travails to what she's learned from watching the movies. She's clumsy, smart, and a hopeless romantic. When her childhood crush walks into her office, Rory decides that she's had enough with dating Wookies and sets out to snag a Jedi Knight of her own. With the help of her best friend, she undertakes a plan to get Hunter Chase to notice her and invite her to their high school reunion. The plan works, but Rory still believes herself to be the geeky outsider and is still so in awe of Hunter that she loses a bit of herself as she wrongs her current boyfriend, neglects her family, and denies her very essence. Rory's so scared of rejection that she can't bring herself to tell Hunter that she already has a boyfriend, that she's a vegetarian and has a hippie mother, or that she's obsessed with Star Wars. Once he realizes that she hasn't been entirely truthful, he breaks off their relationship, and it looks as if Rory will once again be alone. In the end, though, she learns an important lesson about being true to oneself.

My Thoughts:
At first I was worried that all the Star Wars references were going to get on my nerves, but they actually became one of my favorite things about this book. They were quirky, and made really great sense when relating Star Wars to dating. However, I did find myself wanting to throw the book across the room with how insecure the main character was. I am the first to admit that I have insecurities, and I know how they can affect your love life, but I felt the author really took it to the extreme, especially for a character that's in her 30's. She doesn't even want to tell her crush that she's a vegetarian for fear that he will think she's a freak and never speak to her again. Overall, this was a cute story, but the main character tended to get on my nerves.

Rating C

Books I've read in 2006

2009-06-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

A list of all the books I've read in 2006

1. Night -Elie Wiesel
2. She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
3. Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life - Alexandra Stoddard
4. Book Lust - Nancy Pearl
5. Marley & Me - John Grogan
6. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Alexander McCall Smith
7. Confessions of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella
8. Life of Pi - Yan Martel
9. The Body in the Library - Agatha Christie
10. Milkrun - Sarah Mlynowski
11. The Book of Ruth - Jane Hamilton
12. Reading Lolita in Tehran - Azar Nafisi
13. Misery - Stephen King
14. The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens - Jay McGraw
15. The Ultimate Weight Solution - Dr. Phil McGraw
16. 1st to Die - James Patterson
17. Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping - Judith Levine
18. Bob Greene's Total Body Make Over - Bob Bob Greene (re-read)
19. Love Smart - Dr. Phil McGraw
20. The Accidental Buddhist - Dinty W. Moore
21. The 10 Commandments of Dating - Ben Young & Sam Adams
22. Mr. Right, Right Now! - E. Jean Carroll
23. Romantically Challenged - Beth Orsoff
24. The Devil Wears Prada - Laren Weisberger
25. The Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom
26. The Honk and Holler Opening Soon - Billie Letts
27. The Queen's Fool - Philippa Gregory
28. Lord of the Flies - William Golding
29. The Alienist - Caleb Carr
30. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
31. Angels & Demons - Dan Brown
32. Living the Simple Life: A Guide to Scaling Down and Enjoying More - Elaine St. James (re-read)
33. The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron
34. The Sound of Paper - Julia Cameron
35. The Right to Write - Julia Cameron
36. The Creative License - Danny Gregory
37. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
38. Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg
39. Pen on Fire - Barbara DeMarco-Barrett
40. Drawing From Life - Jennifer New

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

2009-06-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

Description:
Dead to the World continues the story of telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse, who has fallen out with her undead lover, Bill. Bill has no sooner departed for Peru, than Sookie finds the head vampire, Eric, running naked and terrified through the rural night. She helps Eric, and discovers his memory has been destroyed by a coven of unscrupulous, astonishingly powerful witches, newly arrived in her small Louisiana town, and offering a huge reward for Eric. Sookie tries to hide Eric, but her brother sees him--and immediately disappears. And Sookie finds herself caught in a war among witches, vampires, and werewolves.

My Thoughts:
This is probably my favorite Sookie Stackhouse novel so far in the series. With each book in the series, I feel that Harris is getting more elaborate in her mysteries and her characters, which I love. As far as characters go, I think this book really does have them all, vampires, werewolves, shap shifters, witches, were-witches, and even a fairy. I'm really looking foward to her next book, and to see what these characters are up to, and what sort of trouble Sookie gets into next time.

Rating: A-

Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling

2009-06-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

Description:
What is the foundation of our civilization? asks Stirling (Conquistador) in this rousing tale of the aftermath of an uncanny event, "the Change," that renders electronics and explosives (including firearms) inoperative. As American society disintegrates, without either a government able to maintain order or an economy capable of sustaining a large population, most of the world dies off from a combination of famine, plague, brigandage and just plain bad luck. The survivors are those who adapt most quickly, either by making it to the country and growing their own crops—or by taking those crops from others by force. Chief among the latter is a former professor of medieval history with visions of empire, who sends bicycling hordes of street thugs into the countryside. Those opposing him include an ex-Marine bush pilot, who teams up with a Texas horse wrangler and a teenage Tolkien fanatic to create something very much like the Riders of Rohan.

My Thoughts:

My boyfriend really got into this series and recommended this to me, and I'm so glad I picked it up. It does start slow, but that's mainly because you are learning about the characters and learning about "the Change" and how it is effecting everyone. The story mainly centers on two different people, and how each of them work to protect and feed themselves, their friends, and their family. Really interesting and I'm looking foward to reading more!

Rating: B+

Blue Moon by Lori Handeland

2009-06-14T16:03:00.000-07:00

Description:
No-nonsense Jessie has never believed in magic or other supernatural "woo woo," but when she sees schoolteacher Karen Larson turn rabid in the classroom and attempt to bite one of her students shortly after being bitten by a wolf herself, she begins to realize that the world is not just black and white but "a host of annoying shades of gray." Before long, she's tramping through the forest with a self-professed werewolf hunter by her side and lusty thoughts of gorgeous professor Will Cadote, an expert in Native American mythology, racing through her mind. The enigmatic professor may be able to help Jessie figure out why the onyx wolf totem she found on the road near where Karen was bitten is so important, but it's possible he may be a werewolf himself.

My Thoughts:

I thought the story started off a bit slow, but it did certainly pick up about a third of the way into it. Handeland does a really good job of mixing mystery with paranormal romance in this story, which I think is what made it so intriguing. I'm really looking foward to reading the next in the series.

Rating: B+

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

2009-06-07T18:40:00.000-07:00

Description:

On Peter Houghton's first day of kindergarten, he watched helplessly as an older boy ripped his lunch box out of his hands and threw it out the window. From that day on, his life was a series of humiliations, from having his pants pulled down in the cafeteria, to being called a freak at every turn. But can endless bullying justify murder? As Picoult attempts to answer this question, she shows us all sides of the equation, from the ruthless jock who loses his ability to speak after being shot in the head, to the mother who both blames and pities herself for producing what most would call a monster. Surrounding Peter's story is that of Josie Cormier, a former friend whose acceptance into the popular crowd hangs on a string that makes it impossible for her to reconcile her beliefs with her actions.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book I've read by Picoult, and she is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. The thing I find that I like about Picoult's style is that she makes the reader feel sympathetic to characters who are in situations that would normally not deserve sympathy. In Nineteen Minutes, Peter Houghton is an outcast and has been his entire life. He's picked on and bullies constantly, and ends up taking four guns to school one day and killing 10 people. Picoult has a way of taking you into a character's world so you understand why they do what they do, even if it isn't right.

This story had lots of emotion and hard topics that are tough to deal with. I found it facsinating!

Rating: B+

Books I've Read in 2005

2009-05-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Here is the list of books that I read in 2005.

1. Your Money Or Your Life - Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin
2. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
3. Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik
4. Coffee & Kung Fu by Karen Brichoux
5. A Cup of Tea by Amy Ephron
6. Coyote Blue by Christopher Moore
7. Bob Greene's Total Body Make Over by Bob Greene
8. A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
9. Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
10. Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
11. Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern
12. Napalm & Silly Putty by George Carlin
13. Wake-Up Calls by Joan Lunden
14. Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress by Susan Jane Gilman (Audiobook)
15. French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano
16. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
17. The Great American Detox Diet by Alex Jamieson
18. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
19. Morrie: In His Own Words by Morrie Schwartz
20. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (re-read)
21. Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
22. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (re-read)
23. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
24. Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook
25. Matilda by Roald Dahl
26. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
27. It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken by Greg Behrendt & Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt
28. 30 Days to a Simpler Life by Connie Cox & Cris Evatt
29. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
30. Your Money Or Your Life - Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin (re-read)
31. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
32. There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale by Sean Astin

Books I've Read in 2004

2009-05-21T12:42:00.000-07:00

So, I love lists!! In 2004 I started to keep track of all the books I read and also movies that I saw. So here is a list of all the books I read in 2004.

1. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
2. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life - Anne Lamott
3. Lord of The Rings: Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien
4. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers - J.R.R. Tolkien
5. The Stepford Wives - Ira Levin
6. House of Sand and Fog - Andre Dubus III
7. The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
8. The Bad Beginning (book 1) - Lemony Snicket
9. The Reptile Room (book 2) - Lemony Snicket
10. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
11. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
12. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
13. Girl with a Pearl Earring - Tracy Chevalier
14. Mystic River - Dennis Lehane
15. The Talented Mr. Ripley - Patricia Highsmith
16. Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West - Gregory Maguire
17. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck
18. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling (re-read)
19. The Wide Window (book 3) - Lemony Snicket
20. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal - Christopher Moore
21. He's Just Not That Into You - Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo
22. Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic - John De Graaf
23. The Heart of Buddha's Teaching - Thich Nhat Hanh
24. Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom
25. The Idiot's Guide to Simple Living - Georgene Lockwood
26. The Simple Living Guide - Janet Luhrs
27. Dracula - Bram Stoker
28. Living the Simple Life: A Guide to Scaling Down and Enjoying More - Elaine St. James
29. Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things that Really Matter - Elaine St. James
30. Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser

A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony

2009-05-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

Description:
The book's young hero, Bink, is without magical powers in a world ruled entirely by magic. Worse still, if he doesn't discover his own magical talent soon, he will be forever banished from his homeland. Naturally, it takes an epic quest for Bink to learn what his unique talent truly is--and perhaps to win the girl of his dreams as well.

My Thoughts:A fun fantasy read which focuses on Bink and his journey to find the Good Magician Humphrey to find out what his magic is. This book is jammed pack with almost any kind of magic and magical beings you can think of. The story has a little bit of everything really: humor, adventure, fantasy, coming of age story. I'm really looking foward to reading the next in this long series.

Rating: B+

Books I've Read in 2009

2009-05-14T19:35:00.000-07:00

Thought I would start by keeping track of the books I've read this year. So here is the list so far.

1. Bright Lights, Big Ass - Jen Lancaster
2. Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir - Jeannette Fulda
3. Fantasy Lover - Sherrilyn Kenyon
4. Dragonswan - Sherrilyn Kenyon
5. The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters - Elisabeth Robinson
6. My Stroke of Insight (Audiobook) - Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph. D
7. A Quick Bite - Lynsay Sands
8. Lover Revealed (re-read) - J.R. Ward
9. Lover Unbound - J.R. Ward
10. Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story - Carolyn Turgeon
11. Club Dead - Charlaine Harris
12. Stolen - Kelley Armstrong
13. Guilty Pleasures - Laurell K. Hamilton
14. Dark Prince - Christine Feehan (Reviewed)
15. The Laughing Corpse - Laurell K. Hamilton
16. Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
17. Dark Desire - Christine Feehan
18. Child of My Heart - Alice McDermott (Reviewed)
19. Jacob - Jacquelyn Frank
20. A Spell for Chameleon - Piers Anthony (Reviewed)
21. Naked in Death - J.D. Robb
22. Dies the Fire - S.M. Stirling (Reviewed)
23. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
24. Gideon - Jacquelyn Frank
25. Nineteen Minutes - Jodi Picoult (Reviewed)
26. Night Pleasures - Sherrilyn Kenyon
27. Blue Moon - Lori Handeland (Reviewed)
28. Dead to the World - Charlaine Harris (Reviewed)
29. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Men I've Dated - Shane Bolks (Reviewed)
30. Tempting the Beast - Lora Leigh (Reviewed)
31. Fire Me Up - Katie MacAlister
32. Where the Heart Is - Billie Letts (re-read)
33. Elijah - Jaquelyn Frank
34. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
35. Witchling - Yasmine Galenorn
36. Crocodile on the Sandbank - Elizabeth Peters
37. Love Bites - Lynsay Sands
38. Changeling - Yasmine Galenorn
39. Mr. Maybe - Jane Green (Reviewed)
40. Tempting Danger - Eileen Wilks (Reviewed)
41. Dime Store Magic - Kelley Armstrong
42. Dead Witch Walking - Kim Harrison
43. Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Jennifer Rardin
44. In the Woods - Tana French
45. Dark Gold - Christine Feehan
46. Unsung Hero - Suzanne Brockmann
47. Darkling - Yasmine Galenorn
48. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
49. Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane
50. Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews
51. Post Mortem - Patricia Cornwell
52. Storm Front - Jim Butcher
53. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
54. Covet - J.R. Ward
55. Ill Wind - Rachel Caine
56. All The Kings Men - Robert Penn Warren
57. Darkfever - Karen Marie Moning
58. Bloodfever - Karen Marie Moning
59. Moon Called - Patricia Briggs
60. Glory in Death - J.D. Robb
61. Auntie Mame - Patrick Dennis
62. The Gift - Deb Stover
63. Kitty and the Midnight Hour - Carrie Vaughn
64. Lover Enshrined - J.R. Ward

(Complete List)

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

2009-05-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

Description: Elena is a werewolf the only female werewolf in the world. Betrayed by Clay, her former lover, who bit her while in his werewolf form, she is now resigned to a life of secret changes while attempting to remain in human society. Meanwhile, the power of the Pack and her deep-seated ties to Clay continually press on her, preventing a true commitment to her human lover. When the Pack Alpha calls her to help rout a band of murderous "mutts" (werewolves not affiliated with the Pack), Elena reluctantly becomes the animal she has fought so long to suppress. First novelist Armstrong presents true werewolves as those who follow Pack law and don't kill for pleasure. Changing into a werewolf becomes an act of nature, as does ripping mutts to shreds for threatening the Pack. Elena's struggle with her wolf nature and her love for two men is caught up in the werewolves' fight for dominance and territory.

My Thoughts:
I really got into this book! It's full of action and some love scenes. I love Armstrong's take on werewolves, and how they take care of each other in the pack. The mutts are causing problems in this book, and Elena Michaels must come back to her old home to help her pack and stop the mutts from killing more people. Awesome book, and I can't wait to read more in this series.

Rating: A

Child of My Heart by Alice McDermott

2009-05-12T13:25:00.001-07:00

Description: Fifteen is a year of clarity; you're still one of the kids, but you're finally beginning to unlock the mysteries of adult behavior. In her luminous novel Child of My Heart, Alice McDermott's narrator is a 15-year-old girl who has two qualities that give her access to the secret lives of adults: she's beautiful, and she looks after their children. Her beauty has already shaped her life. Her parents have moved the family to the east end of Long Island in hopes of finding her a wealthy husband, or at least a fancy crowd to run with. Here she babysits the children of the rich, whose fathers demonstrate their relative decency by making passes at her, or not. The novel spans a dreamy summer as our heroine spends her days with her various charges at the beach, happily leading her crew on home-grown, rather sweet adventures. Among the kids she looks after is a toddler whose father is a famous, aging artist. Child of My Heart is a pretty straightforward coming-of-age novel, but it's marked throughout by this beautifully honed, wry, knowing tone. McDermott's narrator reminds us that our lost innocence might not have been so innocent after all.

My Thoughts:
I thought the story was nice and well written, and I liked the characters. The plot, I thought, was very anti-climactic, and left so much unsaid. The two major events that happen to the main character both happen with at the very end of the book, and there was no talk afterwards as to what effects they had on the character. Overall it was just an average read, and I was a bit disappointed.

Rating: C

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

2009-05-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

Originally reviewed February 10th, 2006:

Description: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series tells the story of the delightfully cunning and enormously engaging Precious Ramotswe, who is drawn to her profession to "help people with the problems in their lives." Immediately upon setting up shop in a small storefront in Gaborone, she is hired to track down a missing husband, uncover a con man, and follow a wayward daughter. But the case that tugs at her heart, and lands her in danger, is that of a missing eleven-year-old boy, who may have been snatched by witch doctors.

A nice story about the only lady detective in the town and the cases that she gets, along with what is going on in her own life. Each case that Mma Ramotswe takes on is usally solved within the chapter, which is usually about 5 or 6 pages on average. I liked the story and the writing, but I felt that there could have been more in the sense of her cases. I do look foward to reading the rest of the series in the future.

May 8th, 2009:

This series is on my to be read list (along with a million others), but unfortunately I have not read anything else by Smith as of yet.

Rating: B-

The Wisdom of Big Bird (and the Dark Genius of Oscar the Grouch): Lessons from a Life in Feathers by Caroll Spinney

2009-05-08T12:29:00.000-07:00

Reviewed June 11 2003:

This book is more of an autobiography rather than "The Wisdoms of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch". I feel that some chapters really had nothing to do with their title. The book was also somewhat repetitive, and I thought the ending was good, but a big cliche.

However, I grew up watching Seasame Street and really enjoyed hearing behind the scene facts about the show, puppets, and the people who worked on it. There were also some very heart-warming moments in the chapters. It's a pretty easy read with short chapters. This is definitely a read for any Seasame Street or Jim Henson fan, but don't expect a lot of actual "wisdom", just fun stories about the show and the puppets!

Rating: C+

The Sweet Potato Queens' Book of Love by Jill Conner Browne

2009-05-05T17:56:00.000-07:00

Orinially reviewed June 11th, 2003:

I had heard this book was very funny, and it looked like it would be a fun book to read. My first opinion after I started reading this book was that Ms. Browne was obviously not in with the popular crowd in her school days. Throughout the book she goes on about how her and the "Tammys" are superior and the "Wannabes" have to wait on them hand and foot and will never be an actual "Queen"....PUH-LEASE!!! Get over yourself! I should have stopped, but no...i pressed on and finished the book.
Sure there were some humorous parts and some good recipes, but for the most part it was repetitive and sad rather than funny. I do give the Sweet Potato Queens credit for having lots of fun, (even though our definitions of fun are two totally different things)because having fun in life is so important! However, my lasting impression of the Sweet Potato Queens is that they are 30 and 40-somethings that are really 20-something wannabes, and act like trailer trash in the process.
If you want a real fun book (although dark at times) about true friendship, read "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" by Rebecca Wells. The Ya-Ya's have fun too, but, unlike the Queens, they have class!

May 5th, 2009:

Needless to say that I have not re-read this book or read any others by this author as of yet.

Rating: D

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

2009-05-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

Originally reviewed June 9th, 2003:

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" is another great hit in the Harry Potter series! I loved this book just as much as the first one. There are some new characters added, another mystery for Harry to solve, and some unexpected twists in the book.

"The Chamber of Secrets" kept my attention throughout the whole book, as did the last one. I couldn't put it down. I also found that Ms. Rowling gave enough details in the 2nd book to where one could read it without reading the 1st book and still be able to follow along; and it also wasn't too repetitive for the readers who have read the 1st one. Yet another great book for readers of all ages!

May 4th, 2009:

This is actually probably my least favorite of the series, but not at all saying it was bad. I love it just as much as the other books. While reading it, you can tell its a bit darker than the first book, but picks up nicely where the first one left off.

Rating: A

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

2009-05-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

Original review June 6, 2003:

I finally decided to read the 1st Harry Potter book because of all of the hype of the 5th book being released. I had heard this book was great, but I wasn't too excited about reading it because i'm not into science fiction involving wizards and magic and such. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a fun, light-hearted read, and I think that is because the Harry Potter books are typically children's books. Of course there were dark moments in this book, but I loved every word of it! The characters were so realistic and believable. This is one of the best books I've ever read, and I can't wait to read the others! I would recommend this book to ANYBODY! :) I couldn't put this book down! It kept my attention the whole way through, and the ending was amazing!

May 4, 2009:

I've re-read this book a few times now, and I love it just as much as I did the first time I read it. J.K. Rowling has done such an amazing job of creating this magical world and these amazing characters.

Rating: A+

New Blog

2009-05-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

So I've created this blog to post all my book, movies, and music reviews in. I was going to do that in my other journal, but decided I want to keep that one just for everyday stuff, even though I don't update it much.