Books Read In May

Small Favor by Jim Butcher -- OMG! This series just gets better and better. Geeky yet some how hot hero who battles his baser side in order to fight the good fight against evil. Complex bad guys. Women, and men, in peril. This book has it all! It's really too bad JB only puts out one book a year for this series cuz I don't want to wait for more. I want it and I want it now!

Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips -- This was a reread. I love this book. It's a great, funny love story that focuses around family and forgiveness and trust. Love it!

The Hollow by Nora Roberts -- People are split about this book and this trilogy so far. Personally, I loved it! Fox is my man. One of them anyway. But I think I'm going to love Gage best. He's got a hint of bad boy and Naomi loves her bad boys, lol! Anyway, this is paranormal light, but amazing character development and a great love story.

Don't Hex with Texas by Shanna Swendson -- I'm a huge fan of Shanna Swendson's Enchanted, Inc series and really hope her editor does the smart thing and contracts her for some more books. Magic/fantasy meets chick lit in a refreshing way. Love Shanna's voice and her heroine is not a flighty shopaholic but a smart woman who loves deeply and because of that love is willing to sacrifice. Mix in some of the fantastical and you have a great storyline!

Stars of Mithra Series by Nora Roberts -- (Hidden Star, Captive Star, Secret Star) I enjoyed hte series and I think Captive Star is my favorite with Hidden Star a close second. The series became contrived with the last book, but over all, a fun way to spend a couple of afternoons.

Bikini Season by Sheila Roberts -- What do you get when you have four women who all have body issues but all love food? The Bikini Club. This is a wonderful story of camaraderie and believing in oneself. A great story.

Hunters: Heart and Soul by Shiloh Walker -- Not as good as the previous Shiloh Walker books I've read but still entertaining. I'm looking forward to meeting SW at RAW in September.

Express Male by Elizabeth Bevarly -- A cute book. And a rerelease. It's a fast read and interesting. I found myself wanting more of the secondary storyline than the main characters, but still a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer -- Okay, I like the books. I really do. But I do not understand the fascination with Edward. I feel like I need to reread the books once I finish the last one. LOL.

Without Remorse by Tom Clancy -- I like Tom Clancy. I love this book. John Clark is one of the best and most complex operatives in the history of fictional operatives. And this story shows you why. Even if you don't like political or military intrigue, read this book. Seriously.

1st to Die by James Patterson -- This is the first book in JP's Women's Murder Club series. I really liked the TV Show and wish ABC hadn't axed it. Anyway, the book was good. I'll read the series. They are quick reads, and while not overly gory, had a high enough body count to satisfy my blood lust while also having some great angst and character development that didn't focus solely on the murder investigation.

The Touch of Twilight by Vicki Pettersson -- Another amazing installment of VP's Signs of the Zodiac series. The angst is notched up and the action is sublime. I swear, with each book this alternative Las Vegas becomes more and more real. If you have not started this series and your looking for a paranormal series that has nothing to do with changlings, were-creatures or vampires, this is your series!

2nd Chance by James Patterson -- Not as impressed with the second book in JP's Women's Murder Club series, but it was a solid effort. We learn more about Lindsay's dad and there is more bonding around crime and personal crises. I hear there are some jaw-dropping moments in the third book so I'm looking forward to that.

I also read some non-fiction books in May. It was a nice month for reading. June is looking hot with several new releases of some of my favorite authors. Now, if I could figure out how to make more time for reading...

Updates on my life

1. I'm exhausted. After a long weekend. Go figure. *g*

2. We put Denali's stuff (dog dish, treat canister, leash, grooming tools, etc) in a rubbermaid container yesterday. It was a very hard day. Like saying good-bye all over again.

3. I'm knitting my first real project. A little lap blanket. I'll post pictures as soon as there's enough of the blanket to make interesting pictures.

4. I like knitting, even if it makes my hands hurt a bit. I think I hold on to the yarn and needles a tad tight. *shrugs* I'll learn to unclench. *g*

5. No writing this weekend because I was sealing grout in the bathroom. I think I did something wrong. I did a test and sprayed water on the grout. In some places it beaded off like it's supposed to. In other places the grout absorbed the water. Not supposed to happen. *sighs*

6. Still waiting for the counter top/ sink we ordered three weeks ago. They said it would be done in two weeks. Yeah, right. For every day you delay, I'm going to demand money off my bill. Like that's going to make a difference.

7. Watched Firefly this weekend while grouting. I never get tired of that show. I hear that Fox is going to release a newly packaged box set with new extra features and crap. Cuz I need another copy of the show on DVD. *snort* Still, you know I'll buy it. I'm such a sucker.

8. Starting this week I get to work from home on Fridays. You have no idea how huge a deal this is. Finally, a day where I can sleep in a little and make it to work on time. And I don't have to get all dolled up for the office. I'm so excited!

Good Reads - April

Rogue by Rachel Vincent -- Book two of her Werecats series. Wow. The world building is excellent, the main character grows in this book and the plot threads bring more urgency to the world of the werecats. A very good read!

No Control by Shannon K. Butcher -- I liked No Regrets. Didn't love it, but liked it. No Control I loved. SB's storytelling was spot on and her characters were delightfully flawed and yet somehow made me care about what happened to them. The villain was wicked and needy. Loved it!

Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian -- I have had this book in my to-be-read mountain for some time. But I didn't want to start yet another vampire series. I'm not sorry I read the book, but it didn't wow me. I'm going to read the next book in the series because the first book of a series is always the set up book and that means it's usually not the best book in the series. We'll see.

Smart & Sexy by Jill Shalvis -- reread

Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie -- reread

Thigh High by Christina Dodd -- I've read all of CD's contemporaries. They were all good. I've read some of CD's historicals. None of them grabbed me. I haven't read CD's paranormal series. I have to say that Thigh High is the best book I have read by CD ever! Great plotting. Excellent characterization. And the setting - you can't go wrong with New Orleans!

In Twilight's Shadow by Patti O'Shea -- O.M.G! This was an amazing story. Seriously. I loved it. Everything about it. The characters, the paranormal world, the plot, the action. Everything! This is the second book in Patti's Light Warriors series and it is just amazing. No vamps. LOL. Magic (dark and light), demons, politics, redemption and trust are all themes and they weave through the story in amazing, and surprising ways. Patti is a must read!

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer -- I have put off reading this series because I buck following the trends. I was 4 books late with Harry Potter. Three books late for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I'm late again with Twilight and I'm just fine with that. This young adult series is all the rage, and while I enjoyed the first book, I'm not sure what the rage is about. I'm waiting for the library to let me know the second book is available for me to read. Maybe I'll figure it out when I read more of the series.

The Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne -- I wish Joanna Bourne had a website. She has a blog, but I can't find it. Anyway, if you like historical novels and you like something a little different in your stories, run and get this book! There are amazing twists and turns and characters that leap off the page. The Napoleonic wars never looked so good. *g*

Mouth to Mouth by Erin McCarthy -- There are uses for candy in this book that I never thought possible. S'all I'm sayin'! LOL

You've Got Male by Elizabeth Bevarly -- This is a rerelease of EB's Opus series. This was a fun read and I'm looking forward to the library alerting me to the next two books being available for check out.

Raine by Elizabeth Amber -- If you thought Nicholas was freaky strange for an historical erotica, then Raine is well beyond freaky strange. Interesting, but, well, wow. So not sure what I think, but I don't recommend this for the weak of heart.

Fast & Loose by Elizabeth Bevarly -- This was a sweet and funny romance that does but doesn't center around the Kentucky Derby. I was expecting more about racing and horses in this book, but they were rarely mentioned. That didn't detract from the two love stories the book contains or the great characters that EB created to entertain us all. A fun read!

The Day After

The day after tax day, that is. Usually we get our tax information in by the beginning of March, especially if we get a refund. This year, we were finished figuring things out by March 18th. And, uh, I forgot to mail it until the 14th. But hey, I still made it in before the deadline, right?

Today is the day after Tax Day. April 16th. It was as though everyone around me breathed a huge sigh of relief. Well, except those people who forgot to submit their information. Those people are contemplating the quickest route to a country where they can't be extradited for tax evasion and where they will never have to be income tax again. Part of me wants to join them. But the responsible part of me will stay right here for now. I hate it when responsible wins. *sigh*

Yay for Bones

Bones is back! I love this show and it's been a long, long wait for new episodes, thanks to the writer's strike. Not that I begrudge the writers for striking. They had their reasons.

Anyway, today is the first new episode of Bones for the rest of the season. I think there are 6 new episodes in total. Yay! 5 more weeks of Bones! I'm too excited for words. LOL!

I own Season 1 and Season 2 on DVD and have been watching them to help bide the time. That and Seasons 1-3 of Gilmore Girls. I have the best friends ever! They pooled resources and bought me The. Entire. Series. How cool is that?

But watching DVDs is not the same as new episodes of Bones. And right now, I need to go watch. *squee*

More Than You Wanted to Know...

About the day I was born, lol! I snagged this from April's blog, and am so glad I did. I had no idea was born on the same day, many, many, many years after Albert Einstein. Amazing! You, too can find all sorts of trivia and useless information about the day you were born by clicking here. Hours of endless entertainment, I promise!

You were born on a Sunday under the astrological sign Pisces.

Your fortune cookie reads:
There is a true and sincere friendship between you and your friends.

The year 1971 was not a leap year.

Your birthday falls into the Chinese year beginning 1/27/1971 and ending 2/14/1972.
You were born in the Chinese year of the Pig.

The date of Easter on your birth year was Sunday, 11 April 1971.
The date of Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent) on your birth year was Wednesday 24 February 1971.
The date of Mardi Gras on your birth year was Tuesday 23 February 1971.

As of 4/9/2008 1:38:53 PM EDT
You are 37 years old.
You are 445 months old.
You are 1,934 weeks old.
You are 13,541 days old.
You are 324,997 hours old.
You are 19,499,858 minutes old.
You are 1,169,991,533 seconds old.

Celebrities who share your birthday:
Taylor Hanson (1983) Kirby Puckett (1961) Billy Crystal (1947)
Michael Caine (1933) Quincy Jones (1933) Frank Borman (1928)
Hank Ketcham (1920) Les Brown (1912) Albert Einstein (1879)

Top songs of 1971

Joy to the World by Three Dog Night
Maggie May by Rod Stewart
It's Too Late by Carole King
One Bad Apple by Osmonds
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart by Bee Gees
Knock Three Times by Dawn
Brand New Key by Melanie
Go Away Little Girl by Donny Osmond
Family Affair by Sly & the Family Stone
Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves by Cher

Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 5.29980430528376 years old. (You're still chasing cats!)

There are 339 days till your next birthday on which your cake will have 38 candles.

Those 38 candles produce 38 BTUs,
or 9,576 calories of heat (that's only 9.5760 food Calories!) .
You can boil 4.34 US ounces of water with that many candles.

In 1971 there were approximately 3.7 million births in the US.

Your birthstone is Aquamarine

Your birth tree is Lime Tree

There are 260 days till Christmas 2008!

From Courtney's Blog

I consider a lot of scenarios in which I would have to defend my home or my family. I think it's the creative writer in me. And the fact that I watched way too many woman-in-peril movies growing up. And I so don't want to be that woman. LOL

But in all my musings, I never once considered having to protect myself and my family from zombies. If this quiz is any indication, I'm far too nice and I need to figure out how to be less nice and learn where all the safe places to hide are. Oh, and take up target practice. LOL! Here's hoping the world doesn't end due to zombies. *g*


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