Books, Cats & Crochet

2010-05-30T12:33:00.002-04:00

2010-05-17T16:49:00.000-04:00

2010-05-10T20:33:00.002-04:00

2010-04-19T22:29:00.002-04:00

2010-04-13T02:46:00.002-04:00

Polyvore

2009-06-10T13:07:00.002-04:00

Lately I've become a Polyvore junkie and here are a few of my very first sets created three or so months ago.
Zee first!

Listen to the Rain by faeriemyst (taking a break) featuring Banana Republic accessories

Dreams of a Pisces by faeriemyst (taking a break) featuring Irregular Choice shoes

"Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned /..." by faeriemyst (taking a break) on Polyvore.com

Peaches 'n Cream by faeriemyst (taking a break) featuring Giuseppe Zanotti shoes

Bubbles. Bubbles. My bubbles. by faeriemyst (taking a break) featuring Erickson Beamon jewelry

Musings

2009-03-21T13:50:00.003-04:00

Hmmm.... I've finally come to the conclusion that I'll never really be a blogger. Yes, the occasional note here or there about whatever will pop up, but I just don't have the urge to constantly be witty, original, whatever. And frankly, I don't care. I'm not someone who needs to be recognized (no matter how little the attention), but I am grateful to anyone who happens to visit my little blog; even if it's just one person a year! :P

It hasn't helped that my book blog appears to be falling apart because I haven't the concentration to read. And then my memory and thought processes have deteriorated, seemingly beyond repair. But hey! I did 'read' two graphic novels, the second and third collection of Buffy's exploits in season eight. Oh and also, The BFG by Roald Dahl. At least that's a start back. I hope. I cannot tell you (whoever you might be :D) how horrible it is to be a voracious reader and then something happens, and bam!, you can't read anymore. But I have to look on the bright side (but the darker is so much more interesting! And hey look! They have cookies! :P) or else I'll dry myself out weeping in utter despair. Okay, melodramatic moment over. End of discussion.

Book Review - Feast of Fools by Rachel Caine

2009-02-15T11:39:00.005-05:00

Book Description
The wait is over. dig into the feast...

In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace. Student Claire Danvers has never been convinced, though—especially with the arrival of Mr. Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town’s living and its dead is unthinkably sinister. It’s only at a formal ball, attended by vampires and their human dates, that Claire realizes the elaborately evil trap he’s set for Morganville.

***

February 15

Yet another fast, fun, and easy read featuring Claire, her friends, and the town of Morganville (and all it's vampy inhabitants!). I enjoyed this foray and was pleasantly surprised the 'rental units' weren't in it much at all. The story held my attention and I do look forward to the next installment. However, I am so over the cliff-hanger endings. Does Ms. Caine think teenagers won't read the next book if there isn't that 'to be continued...' aspect of a T.V. show? Because I remember as a teen I did not need that incentive to read the next book in a series, and frankly, it's kind of insulting. There is a way to tie up a book and leave the reader (even a young adult *gasp*) wanting to read the book. I wish the author would realize that.

4 stars

Book Review - Avalon by Anya Seton

2009-02-13T20:18:00.003-05:00

Book Description

This saga of yearning and mystery travels across oceans and continents to Iceland, Greenland, and North America during the time in history when Anglo-Saxons battled Vikings and the Norsemen discovered America. The marked contrasts between powerful royalty, landless peasants, Viking warriors and noble knights are expertly brought to life in this gripping tale of the French prince named Rumon. Shipwrecked off the Cornish coast on his quest to find King Arthur's legendary Avalon, Rumon meets a lonely girl named Merewyn and their lives soon become intertwined. Rumon brings Merewyn to England, but once there he is so dazzled by Queen Alrida's beauty that it makes him a virtual prisoner to her will. In this riveting romance, Anya Seton once again proves her mastery of historical detail and ability to craft a compelling tale that includes real and colorful personalities such as St. Dunstan and Eric the Red.

***

February 13

Most likely I'll write a review later, but right now my brain feels murky. :P

2.5 stars

Two good reviews that I mostly agree with:
http://www.amazon.com/review/R18QZC3AAFL1LJ
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3BEL8UEBYYYRR

Book Review - The Mummy Case (Amelia Peabody, Book Three) by Elizabeth Peters

2009-02-10T16:12:00.005-05:00

Book Description

Radcliffe Emerson, the irascible husband of fellow archaeologist Amelia Peabody, has earned the nickname "Father of Curses"—and in Mazghunah he demonstrates why. Denied permission to dig at the pyramids of Dahshoor, he and Amelia are resigned to excavating mounds of rubble in the middle of nowhere. But before long Amelia, Emerson, and their precocious son, Ramses, find themselves entangled in The Mummy Case

In Cairo, before setting out to the site, Amelia visits an antiquities dealer to inquire about some papyri for her brother-in-law, Walter. At the dealer's shop she interrupts a mysterious-sounding conversation. And then, even more alarmingly, the dealer attempts to refuse to sell her a scrap of papyrus Ramses discovers in the back room. When the dealer is found dead in his shop just a day later, Amelia becomes convinced that foul play is at hand, a suspicion that is further confirmed when she catches sight of the sinister stranger from the crime scene at her own excavation site.

But it takes more than Amelia's keen instincts to convince Emerson of dastardly deeds. When Ramses's scrap of papyrus is stolen from their camp, and a neighboring tourist is relieved of an entire mummy, Emerson concedes that they may be facing something more ominous than a simple grave robber. Aided (to their dismay) by Ramses and his preternaturally intelligent cat, Bastet, Amelia and Emerson turn their detective skills to investigating the neighboring suspects, including a trio of missionaries, a widowed German baroness, and even the head of the Department of Antiquities. But when the Emersons start digging for answers in an ancient tomb, events take a darker and deadlier turn—and there may be no surviving the very modern terrors their efforts reveal.

Filled with spine-tingling suspense, precise archaeological and historical detail, and Amelia Peabody's trademark witty, wry voice, Elizabeth Peters's The Mummy Case is a classic installment in the beloved Amelia Peabody series.

***

February 9

Yet another fun mystery featuring Amelia Peabody. While I have to admit the mystery didn't interest me much, the repartee between the inimitable Amelia and Emerson, and Ms. Peabody's (or Mrs. Emerson's) narration, more than made up for it. Ramses can be amusing also, but he can be a bit too much sometimes. Probably because he is too precocious and smart to be believed. How many languages does this five-year-old know? Although I do think this specific example is the whole point of these books and how they should be seen; a farcical look on adventure books in the Victorian era. But that's just a guess. Also, the book was a bit too long and would have made a better book had thirty or so pages been taken out. However, Amelia and her exploits are still a fast and fun way to pass the time.

4 stars

Book Review - The Mummy Case (Voice of the Nile, No. One) by Dawn Stewardson

2009-02-08T09:38:00.002-05:00

Book Description
Her voice...
...came from beyond the grave. When her ancient jewel-encrusted burial tomb vanished, a long-dead Egyptian princess spoke, demanding its return.

Her voice...
...was sensuous and held secrets of ages and was heard only by rookie investigator Marina Haine. Marina found the missing sarcophagus, but the mummy inside wasn't the princess--she was a modern, murdered woman.

Her voice...
...was not nearly as unnerving or mysterious as Revington York, Marina's raven-haired prime suspect.

Her voice...
...both warned of danger and sang of love. Marina had every reason to believe Rev would land behind bars--but the princess was planning a very different kind of future....

***

February 7

I read this years ago but didn't realize at the time that it was a duet and had a cliff-hanger ending, so I was left bereft. So being in an Egyptology kick lately, and now having the concluding book, I decided to give it a go while waiting for the third Amelia Peabody mystery to come in at the library (which is coincidentally called The Mummy Case).

While The Mummy Case as a whole is highly improbable, it has a certain charm and was a cute read. Even though it is a Harlequin book, I liked that it dealt less with the romance and more with the mystery, probably because it is part of a duo. I've read Dawn Stewardson books before and have been impressed with how well she can develop the plot and characters in so few pages. I look forward to reading the completion the Voice of the Nile. ;P

3.25 stars

Book Review - The Curse of the Pharaohs (Amelia Peabody, Book Two) by Elizabeth Peters

2009-02-06T09:14:00.002-05:00

Book Description

It's 1892, and Amelia and Emerson, who is now her husband, are back in England raising their young son Ramses, when they are approached by a damsel in distress. Lady Baskerville's husband, Sir Henry, has died after uncovering what may have been royal tomb in Luxor. Amid rumors of a curse haunting all those involved with the dig, Amelia and Emerson proceed to Egypt and begin to suspect that Sir Henry did not die a natural death. The accidents plaguing the dig appear to be caused by a sinister human element, not a pharaoh's curse.

***

February 5

The Curse of the Pharaohs is a fast, fun, and humorous second outing with Amelia and her husband Emerson. The first half isn't quite as good as the second, but it quickly picks up and is enjoyable until the end. Amelia's outlook is a joy to read and I love how Elizabeth Peters writes her, which to me, seems like it would be very hard to do in a first person narrative (particularly with a character like Amelia Peabody Emerson!). There are some truly hilarious lines and passages, especially between Amelia and Emerson.

One line I just have to keep for prosperity: "It is impossible for any rational mind to follow the peculiar mental convolutions that pass for logic among the male sex."

That is the genius of Ms. Peters writing and I look forward to the rest of the series.

4 stars

Book Review - Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody, Book One) by Elizabeth Peters

2009-02-04T10:15:00.007-05:00

Book Description

Set in 1884, this is the first installment in what has become a beloved bestselling series. At thirty-two, strong-willed Amelia Peabody, a self-proclaimed spinster, decides to use her ample inheritance to indulge her passion, Egyptology. On her way to Egypt, Amelia encounters a young woman named Evelyn Barton-Forbes. The two become fast friends and travel on together, encountering mysteries, missing mummies, and Radcliffe Emerson, a dashing and opinionated archaeologist who doesn't need a woman's help -- or so he thinks.

***

February 4

Amelia is a great narrator for this tale. She's intrinsically sensible, has a humourous way about her, and is just a pure joy of a protagonist! The Crocodile on the Sandbank was wonderfully witty, fast, and fun read and I can't wait to get to the rest of the series. :D

4.5 stars

Complete Elizabeth Peters Book List

Book Review - The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: A Shocking Murder and the Undoing of a Great Victorian Detective by Kate Summerscale

2009-02-03T06:38:00.005-05:00

Book Description

The dramatic story of the real-life murder that inspired the birth of modern detective fiction.
In June of 1860 three-year-old Saville Kent was found at the bottom of an outdoor privy with his throat slit. The crime horrified all England and led to a national obsession with detection, ironically destroying, in the process, the career of perhaps the greatest detective in the land.

At the time, the detective was a relatively new invention; there were only eight detectives in all of England and rarely were they called out of London, but this crime was so shocking, as Kate Summerscale relates in her scintillating new book, that Scotland Yard sent its best man to investigate, Inspector Jonathan Whicher.

Whicher quickly believed the unbelievable—that someone within the family was responsible for the murder of young Saville Kent. Without sufficient evidence or a confession, though, his case was circumstantial and he returned to London a broken man. Though he would be vindicated five years later, the real legacy of Jonathan Whicher lives on in fiction: the tough, quirky, knowing, and all-seeing detective that we know and love today…from the cryptic Sgt. Cuff in Wilkie Collins’s The Moonstone to Dashiell Hammett’s Sam Spade.

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher is a provocative work of nonfiction that reads like a Victorian thriller, and in it Kate Summerscale has fashioned a brilliant, multilayered narrative that is as cleverly constructed as it is beautifully written.

***

The Disappointing Mr. Whicher...or is it the Wandering Ms. Summerscale? No, I've got it! The Bloated Book of Everything Victorian!

I was looking forward to reading, what I thought was, a true crime book with a bit of a look into Mr. Whicher's professional life too. What I got instead was four, possibly more, books in a 304 page book. These four parts consist of the murder of Saville Kent, Mr. Jonathan Whicher himself, an analysis of detective fiction (especially Poe, Dickens, and Collins), the origin of words and phrases in the detection field, many murder/crime stories of the day, other oddly inserted facts and history, etc., etc.

Now, Ms. Summerscale is a fine writer (and researcher for that matter), but it seems as if she wrote for herself instead of us, the readers. While her odd bits and pieces of history are interesting (usually), they are not essential to the plot (or what I thought was the main story), and I found myself glazing quite a bit. Whenever she rhapsodized poetic about Poe, Dickens or any of the other writers of the early detection mystery, it had the overall feel of a research paper and usually didn't have much to do with the murder in the least. The author wandered off way too many times to her own fancy and whenever she went back to the supposed case, it felt as if she had forgotten that she was supposed to be writing about the murder. This left the plotting of the book oddly pieced together and me discombobulated. Now I won't blame the editor, because for all we know, he/she/they pleaded with her to edit down and she wouldn't budge (some authors are like that, so don't always blame the editor!), but really! All this extraneous information was just filler and added nothing to the book. I cannot believe this actually won anything. Another quibble was that she also had a bit of a problem with her 'sensationalistic' chapter endings; they just didn't go (or flow) with the whole book.

My biggest problem with the whole book is there isn't much on the murder, which you would think there would be by the cover, synopsis, praise, and marketing. Only a little speculation is spared on a few other suspects; no why might they have done it, how the family may have felt - I wish there had been more focused on the murder and less on everything else. That's why I picked up the book, I wanted to know about the crime and consequences, not on the way of Victorian life or how it influenced writers, there are other books for that (which are listed in the notes and select bibliography in the back I might add). Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the subject content, but the overall construction of the book with all the un-necessary passages left me dissatisfied and grumpy.

Here are some other good reviews (who also feel the same as I do LoL):
http://www.amazon.com/review/R8XMV7SINXI6Y
http://www.amazon.com/review/RX6JW98OZ5P33
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1SDJSGICZPXK5
http://www.amazon.com/review/RC12XYW9903WX - minus the comment about editors

2 stars

Book Review - Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

2009-02-01T09:56:00.003-05:00

Book Description
"Let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave."

These ominous words, slashed from the pages of a book of Psalms, are the last threat that the darling of London society, Sir Edward Grey, receives from his killer. Before he can show them to Nicholas Brisbane, the private inquiry agent he has retained for his protection, Sir Edward collapses and dies at his London home, in the presence of his wife, Julia, and a roomful of dinner guests.

Prepared to accept that Edward's death was due to a longstanding physical infirmity, Julia is outraged when Brisbane visits and suggests that Sir Edward has been murdered. It is a reaction she comes to regret when she discovers the damning paper for herself, and realizes the truth.

Determined to bring her husband's murderer to justice, Julia engages the enigmatic Brisbane to help her investigate Edward's demise. Dismissing his warnings that the investigation will be difficult, if not impossible, Julia presses forward, following a trail of clues that lead her to even more unpleasant truths, and ever closer to a killer who waits expectantly for her arrival.

***

February 1

Smartly written, highly engaging, totally unputdownable - I love this book! Seriously, it's not often that a book will so capture my interest in the first page that I don't put it down for seventy pages (regrettably), and when I next pick it up, keep reading until it's finished - at 509 pages too!

Deanna Raybourn did a wonderful job bringing the characters and Victorian setting alive, and in a fairly realistic fashion. The only iffy thing was how easily it was accepted that Portia was a lesbian. I know that the March's are a peculiar and unconventional bunch, but still. All the 'gay' plotting felt too modern to me and that's my only beef with the book, not that I overly minded it (just enough to mention it :P). The way the story unfolded was seamless and fitting with the atmosphere of the mystery. Lady Julia was a wonderful character and it really is amazing how well everything was brought to life using a first-person narrative. I am looking forward to the next installment and know that won't be enough of these characters!

5 stars

Book Review - Dragonwyck by Anya Seton

2009-01-31T04:40:00.005-05:00

Book Description

First published in 1944, Dragonwyck was a national bestseller that was made into a major motion picture starring Gene Tierney and Vincent Price in 1946. A classic gothic romance, the story features an 18-year-old Miranda Wells who falls under the spell of a mysterious old mansion and its equally fascinating master. Tired of churning butter, weeding the garden patch, and receiving the dull young farmers who seek her hand in marriage, Miranda is excited by an invitation from the upstate New York estate of her distant relative, the intriguing Nicholas Van Ryn. Her passion is kindled by the icy fire of Nicholas, the last of the Van Ryns, and the luxury of Dragonwyck, and a way of life of which she has only dreamed. Dressed in satin and lace, she becomes part of Dragonwyck, with its Gothic towers, flowering gardens, acres of tenant farms, and dark, terrible secrets. This compelling novel paints a marvelous portrait of a country torn between freedom and feudal traditions; a country divided between the very wealthy and the very poor. Poor tenant farmers at Dragonwyck, the European royalty who visit, and American icons such as Edgar Allan Poe, Herman Melville, and the Astors are vividly brought to life. This is a heart-stopping story of a remarkable woman, her breathtaking passions, and the mystery and terror that await her in the magnificent hallways of Dragonwyck.

***

January 31

WARNING: Do NOT read the first Editorial Review at Amazon, just titled Review (it says it's a Kirkus review after the fact), it gives away the whole book.
Here's a link to a good review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2N2VZK2COV9LK/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=156849484X

---

I enjoyed this fast and easy Gothic read - my first Anya Seton book! Not much to say, the plot was predictable, yet absorbing, the characters were fine - Miranda was a bit too distant as the heroine, and the little historical tidbits were interesting, although they didn't quite flow with the storyline. However, I'm glad I started with a lesser rated Seton book and am thinking that is the way to go; start with bad (or not so great) and end with the good or better rated books. :P

One of the reasons I read this is because I've seen the film version of Dragonwyck playing on TCM and/or FMC, and I plan to catch it next time! :D

3.5 stars

Quiz - Pure Fun!!!

2009-01-29T04:01:00.004-05:00

Your result for Name That Tune - TV Edition Test...

Totally Completely Addicted!

Wow! You truly ARE addicted to TV! You watch way too much! You should really get up off that couch (or bed or computer) and get out and live some! Click Here for the answer key.

And please rate this test if you enjoyed it!!

Take Name That Tune - TV Edition Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for Name That Tune - 90's Edition Test...

Child Of The 90's!

Wow! You ARE a child of the 90's! Let me guess, you were born in the mid-late 80's and probably remember all the cool toys, tv shows and music from that era!! I bet you graduated high school within the last 5-8 years, didn't you? Click Here for the answer key.

And please rate this test if you enjoyed it!!

Take Name That Tune - 90's Edition Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for Name That Tune - Movies Edition Test...

Movie King/Queen!

You Rock! You must own just about every movie ever made and have seen them tons of times! I bet you have a room in your home dedicated to your movie collection! I bet you also have every soundtrack ever released! Click Here for the answer key.

And please rate this test if you enjoyed it!!

Take Name That Tune - Movies Edition Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for The Elemental Astrology Test...

Triplet, lack Fire

You scored 10 fire, 31 earth, 55 air, and 72 water!

You express 3 elements strongly and lack expression of another.

The limited presence of the Fire element in your horoscope may suggest the need to experience life more actively. It may benefit you to become more vital, for you may lack the passion and spark that the fire signs afford. This doesn't mean that you don't enjoy life, but merely that you don't seem to know how to insert yourself into the action; pleasure, thrills and glory will be slow coming your way. Your pleasures are apt to be more subtle and sensitive, without the dramatics and flash. Although this void does not guarantee an introvert, you are not likely to be the extrovert. You lack the dare-devil courage of the fire signs, and this includes the utter self-confidence these signs bestow. Because of this, you may like to stand back and let the other person make the first move in an encounter. If anything, you underestimate your abilities and worth. You like to test the water before you jump in, and the fire of competition can hold you back sometimes. By underrating your abilities, you are apt to often end up assisting others whose talents are less than your own, but whose reflection drive and desire is greater. Actually, you don't like having the spotlight on you, and you may prefer such a subordinate role. Self-expression, both emotional and creative, may be difficult for you. In some cases, a person lacking fire in their chart may try to force self-expression and many of the more aggressive fire sign traits in order to compensate for the lack of these traits. Characteristic of this would be the less than talented, over-achiever in a sport who attains a modest level of skill and the ability to win through extreme hard work and long years of perseverance.

You probably actually express one or two elements very strongly, so follow the link(s) to the ones that have the highest percent of expression.

For more on each element, click here for Earth, here for Air, and here for Water.

The other element: Fire

Wanna know more about your astrological chart? Go here

Take The Elemental Astrology Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for The Elemental Astrology Test...

Dual Air & Water

You scored 10 fire, 10 earth, 45 air, and 52 water!

Although you often feel pulled between intellectual and emotional orientations of life, heavy doses of Air and Water elements can make you very much attuned to both realms of experience. Neither the abstract nor the feeling-intuitive world is alien to you, and you are thus able to develop a mode of operation that encompasses both types of perception. This results in your being able to give depth to your ideas and in your ability to gain detachment and perspective on feelings and deeper yearnings. You are physically and psychologically sensitive; a dreamer, an escapist, perhaps a little fantasy-prone. You have an amazingly fertile imagination and specialized skills for dealing with people. You know how to tune in to people, and communicate concisely.

For more on these two elements click here for Air and here for Water

The other elements: Fire and Earth

Wanna know more about your astrological chart? Go here

Take The Elemental Astrology Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Your result for The Elemental Astrology Test...

Water Dominant

You scored 10 fire, 10 earth, 10 air, and 52 water!

The water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. The element of water relates to the emotional and spiritual plane. Water signs operate entirely on the level of feelings -but not just any feelings. The element of water relates to our deepest, most primal emotions, as well as to the needs and longings of our soul. These feelings are buried deep in our unconscious and subconscious minds, and many times we would like to keep them locked up there and even forget they exist because we are frightened by the power and intensity that they carry.
Water is a ï¿½feminineï¿½ energy, receptive, responsive, and fluid. Water sinks, always seeking the lowest and deepest point, and water will continue to flow until it is contained. Water has no shape or structure of its own, and instead takes on the characteristics and form of its container. The element of water is irrational, instinctive, emotional, and entirely right-brained.
Like air signs, water signs seek to make connections; only water seeks to connect on deep transformational levels that air would never consider exploring. Water signs are concerned with healing and with the power of emotional release, and water signs are the most comfortable with any kind of emotion, so long as it is intense. Something that water shares with fire is a tendency to exaggerate and to be overly dramatic.
Water signs are perhaps the most retentive of all the elements. Water remembers each and every emotional experience, no matter how painful. At times, it almost seems that water enjoys exploring the painful memories and emotions the most of all, as they are frequently the most intense experiences. One of the hardest lessons for water signs is learning how to let go, to truly release the pain and negativity and allow the true healing process to complete itself.
Water signs feel the most deeply of any of the elements. They may not always be able to communicate the depth of their feelings, the extent of their pain and joy, because words do not come easily to water signs. Water signs have an ongoing struggle with finding ways of communicating and expressing their feelings that truly encompass the intensity of the experience. Ultimately, words are inadequate; some things can only be communicated through direct emotional, energetic connections.
Because the element of water has no structure of its own and must be contained, water sings tend to have the most difficulty accepting and respecting interpersonal boundaries-particularly emotional ones. Water sings must learn to respect the emotions and the comfort level of others, and that not everybody is able to bare their soul and share their deepest feelings five minutes after being introduced. This can be a very difficult and painful lesson.
Water signs recharge through intense emotional connections, as well as through proximity to water. Individuals with an emphasis in water in their charts can clear their emotional bodies of the accumulated negativity by spending time in and near water: These individuals often find that they are happiest living near lakes rivers, or oceans; otherwise, they may be attracted to rainy climates. Even if easy access to a body of water isnï¿½t available, taking long, hot showers, or soaking in a warm bath can have the same energizing and clearing effect.

The other elements: Fire, Earth, and Air

Wanna know more about your astrological chart? Go

Take The Elemental Astrology Test at HelloQuizzy

***

Loved this test!\l/

Your result for The Choose your next planet Test...

Jupiter

You scored 2% temperature (higher=warmer), 86% gravity(higher=more gravity), and 88% for the size of your planet.

From what I've gathered, you appear to prefer a planet that is colder, large, and has lots of gravity. You are in luck! I have the perfect planet for you. Your new home is Jupiter!

The average temperature of your new home is a frigid -244 F. Don't count on any relief in the summer time, because Jupiter doesn't have any seasons. Time may not fly on Jupiter, but your days certainly will. They only last 10 Earth hours. Of course your years will go much slower. By the time you are 7 years old you will probably be ready for a nursing home.

Make sure you are ready for the tremendous gravity on your new world. It's 250% of Earth's gravity. Expect to be under 4 feet tall by the end of your life with all that force dragging you down. It will take some getting used to.

Since Jupiter is so massive, there will be many smaller communities throughout your world. Perhaps you may wish to live on its famous Great Red Spot. You won't have to worry about any sleazy Jupiter-Mart chains popping up all over your planet because it's too big for that. Even if it did, you could just move away from the mess. Speaking of which, you have some great vacation spots nearby. Jupiter has 63 identified satellites, and one of them, the moon Europa, might even have drinkable water beneath its surface. Enjoy your new home!

Take The Choose your next planet Test at HelloQuizzy

Quiz -The Chakra Test

2009-01-29T03:47:00.001-05:00

Your result for The Chakra Test...

The Visionary

You have scored 65% Imagination - Your dominant Chakra is the "Third Eye or Indigo Chakra"

The "Third Eye or Indigo Chakra" is where our intuitive and visionary energy comes from. It is located on one's forehead. And this is the chakra most developed in you at this time.

Depending on your percentage score, there is always more room for development. When this chakra is under-active, one's may not think clearly, become confused and begin to rely on authoritarian figures. If over-active and out of balance with your other chakras, you may be prone to fantasy. You may even begin to see and believe in things that are not there.

What is most important is to find balance amongst all 7 chakras. Have a look at what percentages you scored on the others and work to increase their power and balance with each other.

Root Chakra: 35% Passion, Sacral(Spleen) Chakra: 0% Desire, Solar Plexus (Navel) Chakra: 18% Purpose, Heart Chakra: 39% Balance, Throat Chakra: 61% Expression, Third Eye Chakra: 65% Imagination and Crown Chakra: 47% Spirituality!

"Third Eye Chakra" Key Words: Intuition, Invention, Psychic Abilities, Self Realization, Perception, Release, Understanding, Memory, Fearlessness

"Third Eye Chakra"Attributes: Color - Indigo Sense - Sixth sense, Higher mind Element - Time Seat -Primordial Power

If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback!

Take The Chakra Test at HelloQuizzy

Quiz - Which Season Colours Emphasize Your Beauty? Pictures Test

2009-01-29T03:25:00.001-05:00

Your result for Which Season Colours Emphasize Your Beauty? Pictures Test...

Summer

You scored 62 percent on Summer!

Summer is a cool tone and like winter complexions, the summers among us have blue or pink undertones. Skin is very pale and pink. Summer colouring usually occurs in natural blondes, and even pale-skinned brunettes with pale eyes. If you’re a trying to discriminate between winter and summer, winters are usually brunettes and summers are mostly natural blondes.

Best Colours for Summer: Summers have a low level of contrast between their hair, eye colour and skin tone. For you to look your best, choose soft neutrals and pastels, as well as muted colours with cool undertones. Powder blue, dusty pink, mauve, lavender, plum, and pale yellow are all great colour choices.

Worst Colours for Summer: Avoid intense, vivid hues because they will look harsh and drown you out. Nor should you wear earth tones. Stay away from black and orange.

Do you agree?

No? Probably you are unique natural beauty - mixed type

Yes? Lets find out more about your personality! Just for fun!

Summers are nurturing, comfortable looking after guests and family, possibly appearing cool to outsiders until they are part of the circle of friends. Highly perceptive they will notice small details that others may not and act as natural peacemakers working in the background to keep harmony. Practicality mixed with a reserved nature means that classic elegance, traditional decorating, antiques, fine china, music and the arts is more comfortable to a Summer than modernity and sophistication. Summers are the perfect host, calm and collected, with everything planned down to the minute details - events at a Summer home will generally be elegant and run smoothly.

Take Which Season Colours Emphasize Your Beauty? Pictures Test at HelloQuizzy

Quiz - The Elemental Beauty Test

2009-01-29T03:04:00.000-05:00

Your result for The Elemental Beauty Test...

Enduring Beauty

33% Earth, 17% Air, 42% Water and 8% Fire!

You have equal parts of Earth and Water.

When people speak of meeting someone that is very deep, they are more than likely talking about someone like you! Many of the people that share Earth and Water elements display a lot of seriousness, are self-protective, and display a lot of depth in everything they do. You tend to be a very hard working because you aren't happy unless you have something to keep you occupied. You aren't afraid to take on emotional burdens either, because it gives you something to do or think about. You need to feel needed and wanted. You enjoy knowing that people can count on you and that you have the resources to see things through. You have a great attachment to money as well, which means that you gyrate toward things such as a secure job. You enjoy possessions, including obtaining and providing for a family.

You are definitely a survivor and can make it through any type of catastrophe. You have a rather traditional sense of values as well, and value community.

The negative side of you may tend to become overly attached to your past and fear what your future will hold. Your challenges may come in the form of being able to be a more positive thinker.

Take The Elemental Beauty Test at HelloQuizzy

Quiz - Which 50's Pin-up Model are you?

2009-01-29T02:53:00.000-05:00

Your result for Which 50's Pin-up Model are you?...

Betty Grable

40% Betty Grable, 20% Sophia Loren, 20% Jayne Mansfield, 20% Marilyn Monroe, 0% Bettie Page, and 0% June Wilkinson!

You are a lusty leggy lady who would have insured her legs for a million bucks, per leg, and who would have been the number 1 pin up girl in WWII. Work it girl!

From www.Wikipedia.com:

Betty Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American dancer, singer, and actress.

Her iconic bathing suit photo made her the number-one pin-up girl of the World War II era. It was later included in the Life magazine project "100 Photos that Changed the World". Grable was particularly noted for having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood and studio publicity widely dispersed photos featuring them. Hosiery specialists of the era often noted the ideal proportions of her legs as: thigh (18.5") calf (12"), and ankle (7.5"). Grable's legs were famously insured by her studio for $1,000,000 with Lloyds of London.

Take Which 50's Pin-up Model are you? at HelloQuizzy

Book Review - Underground (Greywalker, Book Three) by Kat Richardson

2009-01-29T02:30:00.002-05:00

Book Description
Harper Blaine was your average small-time P.I. until she died—for two minutes. Now Harper is a Greywalker—walking the thin line between the living world and the paranormal realm. And she’s discovering that her new abilities are landing her all sorts of “strange” cases.

Pioneer Square’s homeless are turning up dead and mutilated, and zombies have been seen roaming the underground—the city buried beneath modern Seattle. When Harper’s friend Quinton believes he may be implicated in the deaths, he persuades her to investigate. But the killer is no mere murderer—it is a creature of ancient legend. And Harper must deal with both the living and the dead to stop the monster and its master…unless they stop her first.

***

January 29

Underground is a solid third entry back into the grey. Harper is, as always, a protagonist I can relate to and is believable in her thoughts in actions. Although the plot was slow at times, it was still entertaining and usually kept my interest. I love Seattle as a setting, even if there are a few liberties (hey, I've never been there! :P), and will continue to pick up Ms. Richardson's books!

*slight spoilers*
I hope Will is gone for good (what a bore) and Quinton is as intriguing as he's always been.

4 stars

Book Review - Pure Blood (Nocturne City, Book 2) by Caitlin Kittredge

2009-01-24T15:48:00.003-05:00

Book Description

In the shadows of Nocturne City, witches lurk and demons prowl, and homicide detective Luna Wilder must keep the peace—while living life as a werewolf. Now bodies are turning up all over town, the brutal murders linked by a cryptic message: We see with empty eyes…

To make matters worse for Luna, she can’t get wolfishly handsome Dmitri Sandovsky out of her mind. The last time he helped her with a case, Dmitri suffered a demon bite that infected him with a mysterious illness…and now his pack elders have forbidden him from associating with Luna. But she’ll need his help when high-level witches start turning up slaughtered. Because a war is brewing between rival clans of blood witches and caster witches—a magical gang war with the power to burn Nocturne City to the ground.

***

January 24

Fast and fun. Dark and gritty. This is an amazing sequel to Caitlin Kittredge's first Nocturne City book, Night Life.

For the first fifty or so pages, Luna started to get on my nerves with her general b!tchiness, but I soon go back into the groove of Ms. Kittredge's world and her protagonist. I love how different Luna's world is from other Urban Fantasy books and it feels very real. Now I don't always like how Luna acts, but something about her is so true and raw, that I sympathize and root for her all the way.

The storyline was intriguing and I didn't quite know which path it was going to swerve off on (which is a big plus). Pure Blood captured and held my attention all the way through the book and I am very curious to see how the next installment turns out. Luna is a character that will always stick out and I can't wait to see what mess she gets into and chaos she creates in the next book!

5 stars

Book Review - The Twylight Tower (An Elizabeth I Mystery, Book III) by Karen Harper

2009-01-21T16:06:00.004-05:00

Book Description
It is May 1560. As sinister storm clouds gather overhead, twenty-six-year-old Queen Elizabeth dispatches William Cecil, her most trusted adviser, to Scotland for crucial negotiations. Handsome, ambitious Lord Robert Dudley is at her side. But their leisurely midsummer idyll is cut short when the court s master lutenist plunges to his death from a parapet beneath the queen s window. The loyal retainers of Elizabeth s privy council do not accept the official verdict of accidental death. Their fears are borne out when another tragedy rocks the realm, and points the way to a conspiracy to bring down Elizabeth and seize the throne. As ill winds of treachery swirl around the court, and suspicion falls on those within Elizabeth s intimate circle, a vengeful enemy slips from the shadows...a traitorous usurper who would be sovereign.

With The Twylight Tower, Karen Harper brings a legendary era to life, drawing us into an intoxicating world of majesty and mayhem, political intrigue and adventure...where danger is everywhere...and where a young queen journeys to greatness in the long shadow of her bloodstained past.

***

January 19

I had a very hard time getting through this book. First of all, Elizabeth annoyed the heck out of me. She was very wishy-washy; either she was b!tchy or she was on the verge of tears. Seriously, she's a queen and she needed to be somewhere in the middle most of the time, not at two extremes all the time. Secondly, the relationship between Elizabeth and Robert Dudley didn't add anything to the story and I'd rather there were less of it. I know that there is truth to the relationship, but the way it is written in this book, it doesn't make for a good read. Three, the whole book was rather boring. The characters I had liked in the previous two were hardly in this entry much, and the author made Meg do some stupid things. I think I'd like the whole concept of the book if it had been written in someone else's eyes instead of the focus being through the Queen's eyes. Most especially if it were either William Cecil or the fictional Meg, because there would be more of a leeway of how to write Elizabeth and it would be from a distance. Fourth on my list... The same tired old plot is rather redundant. Someone's in a conspiracy to knock Elizabeth off the throne. *yawn* Couldn't there be a normal murder or mystery instead? It's already been used to death (no pun intended) in just three books! Of course the Queen wouldn't be interested because it has nothing to do with her, therefore every book in the series must be about offing her! Ugh-and-a-half!

I really don't know if I'll pick up the fourth in the series or just drop it. I would like to know what happens with Meg, but I'll have to think about it.

2 stars

Book Review - Kilgallen by Lee Israel

2009-01-21T16:05:00.003-05:00

***

January 19

Very well-researched and written. Will write more at a later date.

4.5 stars

Book Review - Dead Until Dark (Southern Vampire Mysteries, No. 1) by Charlaine Harris

2009-01-13T10:09:00.003-05:00

Book Description
Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's quiet, keeps to herself, and doesn't get out much. Not because she's not pretty. She is. It's just that, well, Sookie has this sort of "disability." She can read minds. And that doesn't make her too dateable. And then along comes Bill. He's tall, dark, handsome -- and Sookie can't hear a word he's thinking. He's exactly the type of guy she's been waiting for all her life.

But Bill has a disability of his own: he's a vampire with a bad reputation. He hangs with a seriously creepy crowd, all suspected of — big surprise — murder. And when one of Sookie's coworkers is killed, she fears she's next....

***

January 13

I first read this in 2006 and never got to another Sookie book. Since I want to see True Blood whenever it comes out on DVD, and I don't quite remember too much of the book to get to the rest of the series, I decided to re-read it.

I really don't have anything additional to say to my first review, other than I'm not as picky about the romance this time around. So here's my original review from June 24, 2006:

I've been in a paranormal mood lately so figured I'd pick this one up and see what's different here. While there's nothing original in the vampire front, the story was nonetheless told in a new and fresh way. Although the start seemed slow, I quickly immersed myself into the pace of the book and thought it was quite fitting to it being a southern book. I enjoyed reading about the courtship between a vampire and human, although a slightly different human. It was kind of sweet and though I thought they professed their love to each other too soon, it was still quite lovely in a strange way. The mystery was nice in that I didn't necessarily know who the culprit was. I did have a niggling of who it was a few times but wasn't quite sure. The book also had some interesting characters and I am curious to what direction(s) the author decides to go next.

4.5 stars

Book Review - Midnight Alley (The Morganville Vampires, Book 3) by Rachel Caine

2009-01-10T14:23:00.003-05:00

Book Description
Claire Danvers's college town may be run by vampires but a truce between the living and the dead made things relatively safe. For a while. Now people are turning up dead, a psycho is stalking her, and an ancient bloodsucker has proposed private mentoring. To what end, Claire will find out. And it's giving night school a whole new meaning.

***

January 10, 2009

Another enjoyable and easy entry into Morganville and it's citizens. The plot was very interesting and well done, Claire continues to be a good main character who doesn't act stupid (which happens a lot even if they're supposed to be smart), and I do look forward to reading what happens next. However, I can do without the cliff hangers, the last book didn't really have one, but it's ridiculous. Can't I read a book without it ending like it's unfinished? Not sure about this new recent development in Claire's life...I foresee annoyingness ahead. LoL :P Otherwise, it's a fun, breezy world to spend some time in, and be happy I don't live there!

I do find it hard to believe that Claire and her parents could not find a better school closer to where they live than what seems to be your average run-of-the-mill college. There's no mention of it being a good school, just closer than whatever college she wants to go to (blanking on which school it is right now :P). Of course we need this contrivance, otherwise there'd be no book series, but at least make it a private upscale, high intelligence school!

4 stars

Book Review - Betrayed (House of Night, Book 2) By Kristin Cast

2009-01-10T13:58:00.003-05:00

Book Description

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night. She’s come to terms with the vast powers the vampyre goddess, Nyx, has given her, and is getting a handle on being the new Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, Zoey finally feels like she belongs--like she really fits in. She actually has a boyfriend…or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey’s old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world.

***

December 22

Maybe once upon a time I wouldn't be as picky about this book, but this was a disappointment compared to the first. The little things that bothered me in the first book magnified and expanded in this one. The 'Aww, shucks. Little ol' me?' routine and attitude of Zoey is wearing, to say the least. C'mon, give her some flaws or something, nobody is perfect and the false modesty is cloying.

Now the bane of the book (and series thus far)... the 'Twins.' Ugh, need I go on? The authors repeatedly bash the reader over the head with how alike they are but how different they look and how they grew up. Almost every sentence they utter contains the word twin. Such as, 'Twin, I get what you're saying.' 'Twin' this, 'twin' that! WTF? No one speaks like that. Which brings up a whole different issue with the unrealistic dialogue, but I won't get into that. I think the 'Twins' are supposed to add comedic value, but they don't, they're just annoying and I wish they'd die in the vampire transition (horrible of me I know). They're one-dimensional, don't have any depth, and are pointless to the story except for being part of the elements, which they can be replaced I'm sure. We get that they're twins, but not, we get it! We don't have to be hit over the head time and again!!

Now for the basic plot. Not as interesting as the last, but okay. Hated what happened nearer the end and I don't really get why it was done. I could have offered two other alternatives. ;P The three love interests? Overkill to the nth degree. Are we supposed to like Zoey, or hate her? I think it'll be a while until I pick up the next book, if I even do that, but I do wonder what'll happen to you-know-who. (Don't want to give anything away for those who want to read it.)

2.5 stars

Book Review - The Dead Girls' Dance (Morganville Vampires, Book 2) by Rachel Caine

2008-12-20T22:39:00.004-05:00

Book Description
Claire Danvers has her share of challenges--like being a genius in a school that favors beauty over brains, dealing with the homicidal girls in her dorm, and above all, finding out that her college town is overrun with vampires. On the up side, she has a great roommate (who tends to disappear at sunup) and a new boyfriend named Shane...whose vampire-hunting dad has called in backup: cycle punks who like the idea of kiling just about anything.

Now a fraternity is throwing its annual Dead Girls' Dance and Claire and her equally outcast best friend, Eve, have been invited. When they find out why, all hell is going to break loose...

***

December 20

This is the second entry into the Morganville Vampires series and was an entertaining book. In many ways, there were improvements in the story and characterizations. But, I can't help but feel as if, overall, the first was a better and more well-rounded book (minus the cliff-hanger ending of course). I don't always understand Claire's reasons for doing things and how she goes about them are completely dumb. I can get over that because even though she has a high IQ, she's still only sixteen. Not to mention, many geniuses don't have common sense, or much of it at the very least. However, nitpicking aside, I look forward to reading future books in the series.

3.75 - 4 stars

Note: The title and description are misleading; the fraternity or dance don't have much to do with the whole basic plot. In fact, I don't really get the title at all. They should have saved that for a future book and thought out a new one.

Book Review - The Tidal Poole (Elizabeth I Mysteries, Book 2) by Karen Harper

2008-12-17T18:07:00.006-05:00

Book Description
It is the crowning day of twenty-five-year-old Bess Tudor's life as she returns from exile to become England's queen. But even as her magnificent procession wends its way to Westminster Palace, a shot rings out, muffled by the jostling crowd.

Within moments of becoming England's ruler, Elizabeth learns of the brutal murder of a highborn lady of the court, the sister of one of her dearest friends. Elizabeth cannot refuse her friend's request to find the killer -- especially since the prime suspect is too close to the crown -- and her friends -- to overlook.

Elizabeth must be circumspect. Trust can be deadly. So she summons her small band of loyal retainers and plunges into a cauldron of conflicting loyalties and deadly intrigue.

From the pomp, pageantry, and insidious gossip of the court to the lethal tidal pools swirling under London Bridge, the passionate young queen must seize the reins of her empire -- and find a killer determined to destroy the crown itself....

***

December 17

Not the most plausible series, but it is entertaining and that's why it's called fiction. I did enjoy the first book better, but The Tidal Poole kept me reading and the mystery was well-done. If you're a history buff, better skip it, but if you enjoy reading just for the sake of reading, I recommend the series. :)

3.5 stars

Book Review - House of Whispers (Book One Of The Supernatural Properties Series) by Margaret Lucke

2008-12-08T14:19:00.001-05:00

Book Description
Claire Scanlan is launching a new career in real estate and has a chance to sell a spectacular oceanview home designed by a world-renowned architect. But the home has a problem that frightens off buyers - it was the site of a vicious mass murder. As Ben Grant, the handsome, successful brother of one of the murder victims, shows Claire and a real estate rival the empty house, Claire experiences strange sensations. The unexplainable experiences continue and the idea that the place might be haunted both fascinates and repels her. Claire is also fascinated, and not at all repelled, by Ben Grant. Claire realizes the psychic experiences are real and must solve the mystery of the bloody tragedy - even though Ben seems to be a suspect.

***

December 8

4 stars

Book Review - Marked (House of Night, Book 1) by P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast

2008-12-06T16:59:00.004-05:00

Book Description

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

***

December 6

Admittedly deeper than my last read (Glass Houses by Rachel Caine), it's still in the same basic genre that I felt like reading at this time. Even though Zoey is a bit of a Mary-Sue character (practically perfect in every way), I still liked her, and it probably helped it was written in first person so that I could read her insecurities and such. I loved the basic plot and the side characters, Damien and Stevie Rae (oh, and Nala!) were great. On the other hand, I could probably do without the 'Twins,' but beggars can't be choosers. :P If I had read this as a teenager, I know I would have loved it even more than I do. The book reminded me of Laurie Faria Stolarz's books; it had the same basic feel to it as those do, even if it's totally different in concept.

The book could have done another editing sweep. I had to reread many sentences so they would make sense to me. Now, I don't know if it's because I'm not that up on teenage slang. Now, I'm not that old, but old enough to not know every slang word or phrase. For example, there is a sentence that reads: "Just please with the taking so long." Now what is that supposed to mean? To me it sounds like it's two unfinished sentences stuck together. Hopefully, there won't be too much pop culture thrown into the series, because more often than not, it dates the book and doesn't really add anything. Nitpicking aside, I honestly can't wait to explore more of this world.

4.5 stars

Book Review - Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires, Book 1) by Rachel Caine

2008-12-06T16:52:00.003-05:00

Book Description
From the author of the popular Weather Warden series. Welcome to Morganville, Texas.

Just don't stay out after dark.

College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero.

When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood.

***

December 6

Fast, fun, and thoroughly absorbing. I loved the main characters and thought the story was done well. I have a bit of an issue with the cliff-hanger, but luckily I'll get to the next book soon. This isn't what I'd call a 'deep' book, but I had fun reading it and look forward to the others in the series. :)

4.5 stars

Book Review - Girl in the Mirror by Mary Alice Monroe

2008-11-20T03:11:00.003-05:00

Book Description
Charlotte Godowski was used to the horrified stares she received from strangers. She'd learned to accept her facial deformity, until one cruel incident compelled her to have the surgery that changed her life forever.

Charlotte Godfrey is beautiful beyond compare. In Hollywood, where such beauty is power, her rise is meteoric. Suddenly she has everything she could want: acceptance, a future and a love she believes can see to the true beauty within.

Charlotte Godowski and Charlotte Godfrey are two sides of the same women -- a woman who can trust no one with her secret. But when fate forces Charlotte to deal with the truth -- about her past, about the man she loves, about herself -- she discovers that only love has the power to transform a scarred soul.

***

November 19

"Girl in the Mirror" is one of those Jackie Collins-lite books; a mixture of Lifetime movies, soap operas and Jacqueline Susanne. I occasionally have an urge for such type a book and I have to say that this was an entertaining one! The story was rather engaging, the characters were just about as good as they could be for this type of book (I don't mean that disparagingly in any way), and it was an easy, breezy read. Yes, a lot of it is implausible and the surprises really aren't, but it's pure fun and fluff! :)

3.5 stars

Book Review - Slightly Married by Mary Balogh

2008-11-13T23:31:00.003-05:00

Book Description

Meet the Bedwyns…six brothers and sisters—men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality…Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction…where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal…and where Aidan Bedwyn, the marriage-shy second son, discovers that matrimony may be the most seductive act of all.…

Like all the Bedwyn men, Aidan has a reputation for cool arrogance. But this proud nobleman also possesses a loyal, passionate heart—and it is this fierce loyalty that has brought Colonel Lord Aidan to Ringwood Manor to honor a dying soldier's request. Having promised to comfort and protect the man's sister, Aidan never expected to find a headstrong, fiercely independent woman who wants no part of his protection…nor did he expect the feelings this beguiling creature would ignite in his guarded heart. And when a relative threatens to turn Eve out of her home, Aidan gallantly makes her an offer she can't refuse: marry him…if only to save her home.

And now, as all of London breathlessly awaits the transformation of the new Lady Aidan Bedwyn, the strangest thing happens: With one touch, one searing embrace, Aidan and Eve's “business arrangement” is about to be transformed…into something slightly surprising.

***

November 13

I don't have too much to say about this first (actual) entry into the Bedwyn/Slightly series. The pacing was good, the hero and heroine were nice and likable characters, and their romance was sweet and charming. The only thing I had a problem with were the loves scenes, they just felt 'off' and didn't quite fit into or with the flow of the storyline. Especially the second one, which struck me as odd. Otherwise it was a nice and easy story to read.

I don't dislike Freyja as much in this book, but for setting a series on a whole family of six, why did Ms. Balogh write them so unlikable? Or at least, they don't make me want to read the next book immediately, as I feel it should be. I am interested in Wulfric's intended and how she is able to break through to him. That ought to be something! :P

Now that I've read three in a row in the series (this and the two 'prequels'), I think I'll take a break. I've heard that there is a bit of repetition and it's better to break them up. :)

4/5 stars

Book Review - A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh

2008-11-12T21:42:00.003-05:00

Book Description

"Matchless storyteller"(Romantic Times) Mary Balogh weaves a tantalizing web of wit and seduction in her new novel—an irresistible tale of two unlikely lovers and one unforgettable summer.

A SUMMER TO REMEMBER

Kit Butler is cool, dangerous, one of London's most infamous bachelors — marriage is the last thing on his mind. But Kit's family has other plans. Desperate to thwart his father's matchmaking, Kit needs a bride...fast. Enter Miss Lauren Edgeworth.

A year after being abandoned at the altar, Lauren has determined that marriage is not for her. When these two fiercely independent souls meet, sparks fly — and a deal is hatched. Lauren will masquerade as Kit's intended if he agrees to provide a passionate, adventurous, unforgettable summer. When summer ends, she will break off the engagement, rendering herself unmarriageable and leaving them both free. Everything is going perfectly — until Kit does the unthinkable: He begins to fall in love. A summer to remember is not enough for him. But how can he convince Lauren to be his...for better, for worse, for the rest of their lives?

***

November 12

In a lot of ways I liked A Summer to Remember better than it's predecessor, One Night for Love. Lauren turned out better than I had hoped (or feared, rather :P), and the love story between her and Kit was very sweet, realistic, and lovely. I couldn't ask for more! I loved how Lauren gradually opened herself up and became a whole person - it was just wonderful. Pure magic in this book. That's all I have to say - definitely a keeper for me. :)

Now...I'm not sure how I'll be able to like Freyja with how she is written in this book. I wish her book was the first in the Bedwyn series so I can get it over with. I'll just have to have faith in Ms. Balogh and how she writes her and her story, because I didn't like her in the least here. I'll cautiously go in. :D

5/5 stars

Book Review - One Night for Love by Mary Balogh

2008-11-11T22:32:00.003-05:00

Book Description

One reckless man . . . One passionate woman.

Enter the world of Mary Balogh—the glittering ballrooms and vast country estates of Regency-era England, where romance, with all its mystery, magic, and surprises, comes vibrantly alive.

IT WAS A PERFECT MORNING IN MAY . . .

Neville Wyatt, Earl of Kilbourne, awaited his bride at the altar—when a ragged beggar woman raced down the aisle instead. The cream of the ton saw him stare, shocked, then declare that this was his wife! One night of passion was all he remembered as he beheld Lily, the woman he'd wed, loved, and lost on the battlefield in Portugal. Now he said he'd honor his commitment to her—regardless of the gulf that lay between them.

THEN LILY SPOKE HER MIND . . .

She said she wanted only to start a new life—wanted only a husband who truly loved her. She had to leave him to learn how to meet his world on her terms. So Lily agreed to earn her keep as his aunt's companion and study the genteel arts. Soon she was the toast of the ton, every inch a countess fit for the earl, who vowed to prove to his remarkable wife that what he felt for her was far more than desire, that what he wanted from her was much more than . . .

ONE NIGHT for LOVE

***

November 11

One Night for Love was a lovely book, with a touching love story. Yes, I'll admit the story is a little heavy-handed, but Ms. Balogh did a nice job of anchoring it with believable, and likable, characters. I especially liked how she let the heroine be her own person, had her find herself, and had the hero accept her the way she was before any of it! That in itself is unique in the romance genre, in particular in historical (Regency) romances. I felt for everyone - Lily and Lauren, mostly. I'm not sure how I feel going into A Summer to Remember right after this, but hope Mary Balogh can work her magic and I'll grow to love Lauren as I do Lily...just in a different way. :) I know how Lily felt, never feeling like she was home, so I'm glad she was able to become a whole person with a new and extended family. :D

4.5/5 stars

Book Review - The Return of the Earl by Edith Layton

2008-11-11T13:46:00.002-05:00

Book Description

PASSION COMES HOME
After fifteen years in cruel exile, Christian has finally returned to England to claim his rightful title. The new Earl of Egremont was a mere child when he was banished. Lovely and charming Julianne Lowell, who knew him then, must now determine if this suave and handsome mystery man is who he claims to be.

But why would she not remember those eyes that sparkle like flawless gems? Christian is like no man she has ever met - elegant and well-bred, but secretive and quite possibly dangerous, and seething with a sensual fire that steals her breath away. To trust this dashing stranger could place Julianne in grave peril if he is, in fact, playing a game of deception. But with her heart leaping madly at his slightest touch, how can she deny Christian the love and passion they both fervently desire?

***

November 11

The Return of the Earl was an enjoyable book, but I felt that the romance wasn't as developed as it should have been. The first half itself, was incredibly slow and a tad boring, so not until the halfway point was I hooked. I liked both the main characters, but even by the end, I didn't totally believe they were so much in love with each other. If some of the blather and other pointless moments in the first half had been condensed and in it's place some more time with Julianne and Christian, it would have much better. However, I did enjoy the story, even if I did figure out the whole 'scheme' ahead of time, and it was a nice way to pass some time.

3.5/5 stars

Book Review - Even Vampires Get the Blues (The Dark Ones, Book Four) by Katie MacAlister

2008-11-07T18:22:00.003-05:00

Book Description

Paen Scott is a Dark One: a vampire without a soul. And his mother is about to lose hers too if Paen can’t repay a debt to a demon by finding a relic known as the Jilin God in five days.

Half-elf Samantha Cosse may have gotten kicked out of the Order of Diviners, but she’s still good at finding things, which is why she just opened her own private investigation agency.

Paen is one of Sam’s first clients and the only one to set her elf senses tingling, which makes it pretty much impossible to keep their relationship on a professional level. Sam is convinced that she is Paen’s Beloved -- the woman who can give him back his soul...whether he wants it or not.

***

November 7

A good stand alone book in the Dark Ones series, but I felt as if something was missing. The relationship was nice and I liked the two main characters, Sam and Paen. I loved the idea of a Scottish Dark One, and even though some of Paen's dialogue was stilted, I still thought he was a good character. However, Sam's cousin, Clare, was trying and she didn't add any comedic value, she was just a self-absorbed nuisance. The ending was a little dumb, but not the worst I've read. I liked how Katie MacAlister expanded the Dark Ones universe, but wished there had been at least one character from previous entries so it felt as if it were part of the series. Overall, it was a nice way to spend some time, but not much is memorable and not a keeper for me.

4/5 stars

Book Review - Sex, Lies And Vampires (The Dark Ones, Book Three) by Katie MacAlister

2008-11-07T04:23:00.003-05:00

Book Description

CHARM SCHOOL 101

Instructors: Nell Harris, Charmer
Adrian Tomas, Dark One

Class Desc.: Are you responsible for lifting a centuries-old curse from the sexiest vampire you've ever seen? Does a demon lord want to destroy you? Have you somehow inadvertently bound several mummies to your soul? If you answered yes ... well, you're in big trouble. Let us show you how the power of love can salvage even the worst of situations ... not to mention the most tormented of men.

Duration: A lifetime

***

November 7

Definitely my favorite of the series thus far. Nell was a practical, yet stubborn and light-hearted match for the tortured (and nummy LoL) Adrian. Sex, Lies, and Vampires is a slightly more serious entry into The Dark Ones series. Seems to me that Katie MacAlister's writing has gotten better through the years (as one would hope) and I hope to see more Dark Ones in the future! She's the only one that could have thought up Mummy followers. LoL :P I love the zaniness and cheesiness, along with more serious moments within the romance. The only gripe I have is that I have no clue what Nell looks like. Besides her left side being either weak or slackened, the only other clue is that she's tall(ish). I do like to have a picture in my head as I read. Oh well, I'll live. :)

5/5 stars

Book Review - I Went to Vassar for This? by Naomi Neale

2008-07-05T21:45:00.003-04:00

Book Description

How exactly did a microwave mishap blast a hip and sassy modern-day Manhattanite back to 1959? Cathy Voorhees has no idea. But even without her trusty PalmPilot, she can still manage to sort through any trouble with a list.

Reasons to Stay Reasons to Go

These clothes give me a killer figure. ----> Two words: granny panties.
I can change history - save JFK, end racism, break the glass ceiling! ----> The only history you know is from VH1.
At least here I don't have to work for a short-sighted fuddy-duddy anymore. ----> Yes, now you have a boss who thinks goosing is appropriate office behavior.
I wish our landlord would goose me. He's dreamy. ----> Maybe if you wow him with predictions of the future, he'll at least ask you out.
Or commit me to an institution. ----> Oooh, padded walls could be fun...

***

July 5

My mind is dead right now so I'll just note that I enjoyed the book, didn't quite like the ending, and thought overall it was a fun ride through time. I'll write more (and more intelligently [I hope!]) at a later date. :)

July 22
Let's see... I'll start at the end, which was way too rushed and I thought that there was another opening for a specific time travel element, something to do with being lost. I know nobody will get what I mean w/o reading the book but hopefully it'll be clear after it's read. Otherwise, just comment and ask what the #$%! I mean. :P I just don't want to give anything away. Suffice it to say that the ending was abrupt and it should have been better.

I didn't mind Cathy at first, but then she began to grate on my nerves at times. What the heck does she think she's doing? Like she's really going to help end segregation and racial issues with her stupid actions? Just act normal for goodness sakes! And what did she think (man I sound like a broken record) with sending letters to JFK and Martin Luther King, Jr.? What an idiot, I swear!

On the second Cathy... You would think she might have learned something being in present times. It would seem from her letters that she did not.

Seeing as I read this over two weeks ago, that's about all I can remember about it. I can't even remember the things I liked, although there were probably some to give it a decent rating. Sorry this is a piss poor review, but that's the way it is. :P

3. 5 stars

On What Grounds (Coffeehouse Mysteries, Book One) by Cleo Coyle

2008-06-30T06:31:00.007-04:00

Book Description

Clare Cosi used to manage the historic Village Blend coffeehouse . . . until she opted for quieter pastures and a more suburban life. But after ten years and a little friendly cajoling from the owner (a fresh pot of Jamaican Blue Mountain was all it took), she's back to the grind, serving coffee and solving crime - one cup at a time . . .

With a sprawling rent-free apartment directly above The Village Blend, her cat Java by her side, and plenty of coffeehouse redecorating ideas, Clare is thrilled to return to work. Until she discovers the assistant manager unconscious in the back of the store, coffee grounds strewn everywhere. Police arrive on the scene to investigate. But when they find no sign of forced entry or foul play, they deem it an accident. Case closed. But Clare is not convinced. And after the police leave, there are a few things she just can't get out of her mind . . . Why was the trash bin in the wrong place? If this wasn't an accident, is Clare in danger? And . . . are all detectives this handsome?

***

June 30

On What Grounds is a good start to this series, but not great by any means. The mystery was lacking and there weren't enough clues for the reader to even get close to figuring out whodunnit or why. The explanations about the different types of coffee are very interesting, but come close to taking over the storyline. Some of the things I did not like about the writing style, were that, at times, the writing could be condescending, such as a Tanya Harding example that didn't sound natural and seemed to imply that the reader has been living in a cave for the last twenty or so years, then there's the backtracking into past events for around twenty pages and then returning to the cliffhanger which is where we left off of and then trying to remember where that was exactly (ugh! Sorry, but doing that three or four times is unnecessary and annoying), and the end was way to preachy about Anabelle's life and choices - this isn't an after school special or a Lifetime movie, get over yourselves (the authors that is :P). Another thing (yes there's more!), I don't like the love triangle aspect. For the most part, an ex should stay an ex (I know there are some exceptions, but that's just my preference in this case), and I much prefer Quinn, who I really hope isn't married.

Oh, and one more thing... I took a little offense to the disdain of decaf drinkers. I just don't handle caffeine that well - yes, I might be an anxious person, but I don't have imagined allergies or neuroses or whatever else she describes most decaf drinkers as. Not to mention, it makes me very shaky, in a bad way, and I cannot fathom drinking as much coffee as she does all the time - I need sleep! LoL Yes, I'll imbibe in coffee that isn't decaf, but for the most part, I'd rather have decaf. Gotta problem with that?! :P

What I did like...
Clare - some other reviews I've read have been iffy about her, but I blame how the authors wrote the book.
Java - I know it's a cozy mystery cliche, but I love cats in books. :)
Learning about coffee - it's really rather interesting.
Recipes - gotta love those!
The promise of a good series - the writing overall is good and I hope that now that most of the history has been written about, the next books will flow better.

4 stars

Book Review - Stay With Me by Beverly Long

2008-06-23T16:14:00.001-04:00

Book Description

Something strange has happened to Sarah Jane Tremont...

One moment, she was walking along a beach outside Los Angeles, contemplating her future. The next, she was wandering through an unfamiliar wilderness...

Confused and exhausted, she stumbles upon a small farmstead, where she's taken in by a handsome, rugged man who behaves as if he knows her - and isn't exactly her number one fan. Soon Sarah learns not only where she is, but also when she is: Wyoming Territory, 1888. Her host's name is John Beckett. He's an authentic cowboy - but there's clearly a case of mistaken identity going on, because even though he's agreed to help her, he's holding on to one mighty big grudge.

Sarah believes that the reason she was sent back in time is to heal John's wounded heart. But first she much convince him to see her for who she truly is...

***

June 23

Stay With Me was a lovely romance, with a likable hero and heroine. And also a nice secondary romance that almost rivals the main romance. I don't understand exactly why Sarah became the 'first' Sarah, and why she didn't just say that she's a different person entirely, but it doesn't matter much. I liked the reason why she was sent back and thought that was a nice touch. The story as a whole was very well executed and I can't wait to read the next. :)

4 stars

Book Review - Silver Tomorrows by Susan Plunkett

2008-06-23T03:12:00.003-04:00

Book Description

Colorado, 1882. Royal Tremaine's family had been torn apart by the Civil War. But he'd vowed to restore their place within Virginia's elite society -- and he wouldn't let anyone alter his plan.

COLORADO, 1996.
A wealthy socialite, Emily Fergeson never felt like she fit in. But when an earthquake thrust her back in time, she knew she'd landed right where she belonged...

Emily Fergeson had spent her life trying to please others. But the day she decided to start living life for herself, an earthquake sent her back to a simpler time. Trapped near a Colorado silver mine, she was forced to rely on a total stranger for her survival. Handsome Royle Tremaine could be arrogant and stubborn, but Emily felt at home in his rustic cabin -- and in his life. Like Emily, Royle battled demons from his past -- a past that seemed destined to keep them apart.

Royle had his whole future ahead of him.
But for Emily, true happiness lived in the past.

***

June 23

Silver Tomorrows was a beautiful romance with wonderful characters. Emily is a modern day woman who's never felt at home in her time and is sent back to 1882 Colorado. She meets two men, Teigue and his nephew, Royle. While Teigue adopts her as his daughter and believes she's a good person, Royle refuses to see the good in her and is suspect.

I picked this up after reading a Civil War time-travel and wanted another set in the same era. Even though I'm somewhat organized, I still have books scattered around and the only time-travel romance I could find was set in post-war time, so it would have to do. I am so glad that I had this around to read!

The story unfolds marvelously and I love how logical Emily is, it's really refreshing change from a lot of romances. She doesn't try to convince them she's from the future, and really, the time-travel plays a very little part in the book. Royle is pigheaded in ignoring his feelings for what he thinks he has to do, but of course he can't fight forever (although it might seem so at times) and the chemistry between him and Emily is sizzling. I loved what Teigue added to plot and the direction the story went. I don't want to give too much away but I loved every second of it - a lot was covered, from mining in Colorado to a bit of society in post-war Williamsburg, Virginia over the course of six or so months.

For some reason I'm holding back on a perfect rating, the only thing I can think of is that I didn't get to read it in one sitting. The more I think about it though, the more I appreciate the book and how the author brought everything to life. Even if you don't like time-travel, I would recommend this because it's not an issue in the book, except for Emily finding a home and her logic. The romance is just lovely and that's why romance lovers should read it.

4.5 stars

Book Review - The Last Cavalier by Heather Graham (Pozzessere)

2008-06-22T07:46:00.002-04:00

Book Description

Silhouette Shadows #1 - The Last Cavalier
by New York Times Bestselling Author Heather Graham Pozzessere

From the back cover:

Timeless...

The battle was raging, the air hot with smoke, loud with rifle fire. Then the air turned dim with an eerie mist, and for Jason Tarkenton, captain in the Confederate cavalry, the true nightmare began.

Vickie Knox was today's woman dressed like yesterday's, wearing Yankee garb to play a part. But playacting ended when a Reb stepped out of the mist and took her prisoner - for real.

They never should have met, never should have battled - never should have loved. But something had gone wrong with time itself, weaving together past and present like torn threads of a tattered tapestry. Something had gone wrong, and in mending such shredded silk, their loves - and their lives - might be the final sacrifice.

***

What a lovely book! I started this a few hours ago and couldn't put it down. I always love to read a time-travel and the romance is lovely between Vickie and Jason. So I thought the love scene came a bit early on, but I must not be in a picky mood so I won't quibble about it. I really didn't know what the outcome was going to be exactly, except the typical HEA, so that kept me turning the pages. All in all, it was a wonderful book to pass the time.

4 stars

Book Review - Dark Defender (Paladins of Darkness, Book 2) by Alexis Morgan

2008-06-22T01:49:00.003-04:00

Book Description

Alexis Morgan continues her dazzling paranormal series about larger-than-life warriors and the women they love....

As a Paladin warrior, Blake Trahern fights and dies again and again to keep mankind safe from the Others. Sensing his humanity slipping away with each battle, he retreats from the world...until the one person who still has a claim on his soul needs his help. It's been twelve years since Blake vanished from Brenna Nichols's life, years that have turned her from a love-struck teen into a headstrong, sensual woman. He'll fearlessly give his life to protect her -- yet he dare not risk his heart.

Brenna is stunned by Blake's reappearance, and by a shocking discovery about her father. Everything she has ever believed is thrown into question -- everything except the desire that Blake still ignites. But as they search together for a traitor among the Paladins, danger looms: the next battle could tip Blake into madness, destroying his life, his soul...and the only woman he has ever loved.

***

June 21

I enjoyed this book even more than the last in the Paladin series. Everything was fleshed out more and there weren't as many spots that needed some editing.

I loved Blake, he was wonderful, and I liked Brenna too, after she got over her having to argue over every little thing in the beginning of the book. I get that people grieve differently and it took her a time for the death of her father to hit her, but I do not like romances where the heroine argues against everything the hero asks (or sometimes demands) she do, especially when it's for her own good - you know like living. I actually felt their love for each other in the book, where Dark Protector was lacking, and I liked how there was more background on the Paladins, so the book was wholly enjoyable.

The end was nicely done without being too sappy, and I ended up reading the excerpt at the back for the next book, which I cannot wait to read! I hadn't looked up the books at all and didn't know Barak was getting his own book (and then Cullen, yay!). It's going to be hard for me to wait, but I don't have the money to get either of those books (poor me :P) right now. I guess I'll just have to impatiently wait with other paranormal romances.

4.5 stars

Some of my first crochet projects...March '08

2008-06-19T23:45:00.003-04:00

My best friend, Jodi, taught me how to crochet in March and here are a few of my first accomplishments.

No pattern for the hat; I just learned how to make it from a video on youtube.

Asked Jodi for advise on how to make fingerless gloves (after she made some) since I couldn't find a good pattern online. They turned out pretty good, but since I know more now, I'd do a better job at this time. Oh well, they're good for a beginner I guess.

My mom wanted a pair for when she drives and shovels snow in the winter. That won't be for a while yet. :P

Book Review - Dark Protector (Paladins of Darkness, Book 1) by Alexis Morgan

2008-06-18T23:08:00.003-04:00

Book Description

Devlin Bane: Born a Paladin, he is a member of an ancient band of warriors locked in a centuries-old war against evil.

His destiny: To die over and over again to protect mankind from the Others, only to be revived each time by his mortal Handler.

But his fierce strength and courage cannot save him from gradually becoming one of the monsters he was born to destroy.

Dr. Laurel Young, who has spent years training to become a Handler, must remain detached from her patients. But each time she revives the darkly compelling Devlin Bane, he claims a little more of her soul and incites in her desires that grow wilder and wilder -- even as he inches closer to losing his humanity. As the war against the Others grows more desperate, Laurel and Devlin can't help but give in to the fierce hunger that's sizzled between them for so long. Now they'll face the ultimate battle together -- to save a dark, passionate love that goes against every rule as they join forces to fight an enemy who is closer than they ever imagined....

***

June 18

Dark Protector introduces an interesting new concept in the paranormal romance field. If there are other books that deal with something like a paladin and this sort of plot, I don't know about them and haven't ever come across anything similar.

Laurel and Devlin were nice characters but that was about it; there wasn't much depth to them or back story. I would have liked to know more about Devlin and how he came to be a paladin exactly (at least I don't think it was mentioned). I mean he was about three times Laurel's age, so he had to have lived some outside the paladin world. You don't just start fighting in diapers. What is the whole history of the paladins and how do they come back? Also, I'd love to know more about the Others, which I suspect is to come, but they sound so intriguing! Why do they cause chaos to the human world? Why are they on the other side? What are they like? Were they really humans long ago but were sent/punished/whatever to be on the other side?(My hypothesis) I hope Ms. Morgan answers these questions in the future!

I still can't help but feel that there was something missing (besides my before mentioned questions :P) - I'm not sure what it was, maybe because the whole book was an introduction to the paladins and the rest of the series, but I don't know. Or it could be the relationship itself, which wasn't quite believable - nice but not something I'll remember. Still, I will read more in the series, especially Trahern's and Cullen's books, and hope they progress nicely in the future.

*note
Excuse me if I've missed things mentioned in the actual book but I had started it a couple months ago, couldn't concentrate on reading at all, and just picked it back up yesterday.

4/5 stars

Update (Taken from my MySpace Blog)

2008-06-05T12:06:00.001-04:00

Some of you may have noticed how anti-social I've been lately. Or not. That's perfectly fine too. :) My mom and I have recently found out that we have a very high rating of mold in our apartment. The landlord has been pretty much ignoring it but finally said that they'll replace the carpet in the living room and fix under the sink where it's the worst. However that's not going to get rid of the mold. It's a temporary fix and unless they do something to the subflooring too, we'll still have mold and it'll come back. But until we can move and get legal aid involved, it'll have to do. We don't have the money to move and there aren't many places available around here right now either. Mom just found out she has an immune deficiency, which isn't helping, and since it's genetic, I'm going to have a blood test to determine if I have the same thing.

We've lived here for almost nine years and I don't know how long we've had the mold exactly, an area in the living room has been mildewy smelling for probably five or six years. I've never had much energy and always thought it was allergies, but since I've been having shots, it really hasn't helped and I am allergic to the two molds we do have. So no wonder. Then I was diagnosed with depression and now my instinct is that I don't have depression, which would explain why Cymbalta hasn't been working for me and if I take a higher dose, it gives me side effects.

In the last year, year and a half, my attention has deteriorated, I find it hard to concentrate on stupid television shows it's so bad, I can't read (which is a nightmare since I've always been a bookworm), I can't remember words, phrases, what I was going to say a second ago, what I was going to do a second ago, even my long-term memory has been affected, I'm tired all the time, have lack of energy, sleep problems where I stay up for long periods of time, sleep for a couple hours, stay up for hours again and then after a few days just crash for close to a day. I've had other things too but I can't remember them either. All these can be caused by many things, so it's no wonder I was diagnosed depressed. But my gut tells me it's the mold. Right now I'm dizzy and that's happened a few times these past few days. Has to be the mold because there's nothing else it could be. The sad thing is I'm too tired to go out and by staying in I'm getting worse and worse. It's a lose-lose situation. I think it's also affected my trichotillomania too. Ugh.

It's just so sad how it's caused so much trouble in my life. I had to drop so many classes that my financial aid was almost taken away. So I have to be sure that I'm up to taking classes when I finally get better because I'm going to be watched closely, which is close to how they put it. My education has been put on hold indefinitely for now. Gosh, I'm twenty-five and I feel like I'm never going to get anywhere in my life. It makes me wonder if we had lived somewhere else in the last few years if I would be done with college by now and have a job. Or at least be close to it. Sometimes I just want to lie and say I'm nineteen when someone asks. lol Then I won't feel so bad about where I am in life. My best friend is going through a mid-twenties crisis, and I think I am too. Although I've felt this way since I was twenty, although it wasn't as bad then. I felt I still had time, now I don't know.

I wonder if it has anything to do with my two cats' deaths. Who knows? Nothing I can prove or even do anything about. I do feel guilty though. It's not only affecting our lives, but also our cats. I want to move so badly. I hate it here. It's a low-income apartment complex and the people moving in have been getting worse and worse. Not to mention there have been more kids too, and no offense to those with children, but I really dislike them. At least the loud, obnoxious, nosy kids. I know if I live long enough, I'm going to be that scary, witchy, cat lady that the children dare each other to go and knock on the door. lol I'm serious though, they are really nosy, but so is everybody here. Mind your own d@mn business will you? Like I want or need to be watched taking out my darned trash?! Drives me nuts.

On a completely different note, I've been really interested in crafty things. Crochet is one of the only things that can keep my attention and it does keep me from pulling my hair out. Not that I've stopped doing that since the top of my head is almost completely bald but I know I'd be even worse without yarn and a hook. So anyway, I've wanted to expand doing other things too and have been finding some really interesting projects. The only problem is with the ones I most want to do, I don't have the money to buy things for 'em. Luckily I do have some things to do other crafts and I'm really enjoying looking at recycling crafts people have done. They are so creative and it reminds me how I used to be. I used to love to draw, write poetry, make crafty things, and all this other stuff I haven't done for years, (and back to the mold again), makes me think that the mold has zapped my creativity too. Arglebargle, what a nightmare. At least I think by looking at what others have done, that it'll help my creative juices maybe not flow, but trickle a little. :P One can only hope!

Okay, well I guess that's all I really have to say right now. Hope everyone else's life is better than mine, I really do.

Flowers!

2008-06-04T07:06:00.002-04:00

I don't know why it says guest, I logged in. Isn't my arrangement purty?

Random

2008-05-30T01:01:00.000-04:00

Book Review - Irish Lore and Legends Selected and Edited by S.M.W. Dunnit

2008-05-16T09:52:00.002-04:00

Book Description

Readers ...will marvel at the variety of characters, some familiar and archetypal, others mysterious and provacative, who inhabit the Irish imagination. In these seventeen tales, nobility mingle with simple folk; princess change into swans; and giants and fairies (known as Little People) are ubiquitous -- helpful in some takes, menacing in others.

...Each of the stories in this collection fairly glistens with wisdom, wit, or some wonderous happening.

We learn of fairy castles deep inside mountains, of quaking bogs, and burning forests. We watch the men of Ulset overcome a curse to rise victorious in battle. In two different tales, we see a hero and heroine suffer trials that lead to transformation and love. The story of Owain belongs to the King Arthur cycle and reminds us of Lancelot. There are dragons, of course, along with druids, monks, and nuns.

***

May 16

I've read this off and on for the last year and finally finished it today. The tales are wonderful and I enjoyed most of them thoroughly. I love reading myths, legends, and the like and haven't read too many from Ireland, so it was really entertaining to me. I highly recommend this small selection of tales!

5 stars

Book Review - A Witch Alone by Margaret Higgins

2008-05-12T18:19:00.003-04:00

Book Description

There is evil abroad in the sleepy East Anglian village of Talbot Magna - an evil that transcends rationality, that reaches back to preChristian times, that feeds on the Power of Darkness....

Kate Hargreaves, visiting her sister and brother-in-law in Talbot Magna, cannot believe that the 20th century would lend itself to indiscriminate cabalistic malevolence, or that anyone in the drowsy, centuries-old village would be involved in the eerie charade that was taking place.

But when Kate, trying to save the life of the man she loves, finds herself drawn into a vortex of violence, she finally faces an invidious evil that even her 20th century rationality cannot dispell.

***

May 12

An interesting anthropological look into small town life in England, which also has a coven of witches who appear to rule the place. The book felt pretty timeless and kept my interest throughout. I'm glad I read it but don't really have much else to say about it. :)

4 stars

Book Reviews - Miscellaneous Astrology Books

2008-05-11T21:56:00.007-04:00

Book Description
In this wickedly funny guide, professional astrologer Hazel Dixon-Cooper casts off sugar-coated astrology in favor of exploring the maladjusted side of the universe. If you want the inside scoop, the real deal, the lowdown on each sun sign, then look no further.

It's time to forget those traditional astrology books where Sagittarians are gregarious, Capricorns are ambitious, and Pisceans are dreamers. Instead, enter a world where Archers are loud-mouthed bores, Goats are pompous social climbers, and Fish are chronically helpless. Dixon-Cooper debunks the myths, reveals the flaws, and examines the dubious virtues of each sun sign. Discover how to use your own inner brat to outwit bullies, outmaneuver manipulators, and win those endless games that lovers play. Learn how to deal with those dysfunctional people you encounter every day, including how to:

contain a Ram's oversized ego
calm a raging Bull
keep a fickle Twin faithful

Irreverent, biting, and laugh-out-loud funny, Born on a Rotten Day exaggerates the bad, exorcises the good, and puts a new spin on the age-old question -- what's your sign?

***

Fun and funny, this is a good little book that will interest and entertain astrology novices to the advanced. While I don't think Pisces totally describes me, I also read Virgo (which is where my Moon sign is) and think that a combination of the two is fairly accurate. So I'd recommend reading not only your sun sign, but also your moon sign and rising sign (ascendant) too.

4 stars

***

Book Description
It’s about time for Friends on a Rotten Day, the first astrology book to focus entirely on friendships. After all, lovers come and go, but our girlfriends sustain, nurture, and protect us from cradle to grave. Friends on a Rotten Day explores the supportive, uproarious, and sometimes complex, relationships between girlfriends through an in-depth astrological analysis of each Sun sign. Dixon-Cooper shows readers what makes their friend tick on a soul level, revealing each friend’s inner character, friendship style, love style (including what to do or not do if a pal picks a loser), and party style. She offers suggestions on the best gifts to buy your friend, how to calm her down, cheer her up, and return the unconditional support and love that she gives you. Readers will discover why their Gemini buddy changes her mind so often, why the Virgo gal pal sweats the small stuff, why a Scorpio girlfriend sometimes seems distant, and why the Leo chum needs frequent headpats. They’ll also learn why a Pisces pal should never be forced to make a snap decision, why a Capricorn girlfriend might seem too serious for her own good, the truth about a Taurus friend’s hidden anxieties, the competitive side of an Aries chum, what causes Cancer pal’s emotional train wrecks, why the Aquarius buddy has a rebellious side, and why the Sagittarius girlfriend has occasional angry outbursts. "Dixon-Cooper reveals what every astrologer knows but none has dared say. (She) takes us on a seriously humorous ride through the land of truth and consequences. I highly recommend it." (Suzanne White)

***

Overall, I thought this was even better than Born on a Rotten Day. Pisces in this book described me better than in Born on... and I liked that the author included Moon signs, guy friends, and Venus signs (although I've never had luck with Venus sign descriptions, they never describe me). Although not as funny as Born, it seems far more accurate and I thought that the other signs sounded like my friends and family also. I'd highly recommend this book.

5 stars

***

Book Description
Colorstrology is a fascinating blend of astrology, numerology, and color theory that offers exciting new insights about our lives and relationships. Written by renowned astrologer Michele Bernhardt with the artists at Pantone, Inc., the global authority on color, the system features 366 "birthday colors" that illustrate who we are and how we behave.

For example, people born on January 29 (like Oprah Winfrey) share the color Keepsake Lilac; they are "ambitious" and "tender" and "born to make a difference . . . it is not uncommon to find [them] in front of an audience." People born on May 11 (like Salvador Dal ) share the color Green Tea. They "have a vivid imagination and can see new ideas and concepts more readily than others."

Using Colorstrology, you'll quickly understand how to enhance your best personality traits with your birthday color. This full-color book features detailed profiles of everyone you know plus 366 perforated swatches so you can take your birthday color wherever you go.

PANTONE , COLORSTROLOGY , and other Pantone, Inc. trademarks are the property of Pantone, Inc.

***

Colorstrology really doesn't say all that much about 'what your birthday color says about you.' But it is a great book to look at what colors you are most attracted to and what they might mean about you. The whole birthday aspect of it is a general description and the book is best used for figuring out what you might need in your life by what colors speak to you the most. Not to mention it could really help you out if you're thinking of redecorating. :)

5 stars

***

Book Description
Any name is magickal if it's the right name for the person, animal, character, object, group, or event. How do you know if it is the "right" name? By examining the elements it's composed of: number value, astrological correspondences, mythological associations, historical significance, spiritual implications, origin, and meaning. Each of these components contributes its own energy and vibrations to a name.

Your Magickal Name is an indispensable guide that covers all the naming basics, including: * Reasons for choosing a magickal name.

Customs and rituals associated with naming.
The folklore of the mysterious powers attributed to names.
How to create original names.
Methods for discovering the most appropriate name.
How to use the science of numerology, the art of astrology, and the mythology associated with the names of popular goddesses and gods to help you find the perfect name every time.
And much more.

***

I was really disappointed in this book and was hoping for something way more helpful. Everything in this book you can find on the Internet easily and didn't cover anything new. Yes, the naming rituals were interesting, but this book didn't help me out at all. It's basically a beginner's guide to astrology, numerology, a little mythology, and has a decent list of male and female names, and that's it. Nothing that could help me with a magickal name in the least. It's more for finding a name for fictional books or a baby or something, and NOT anything magickal.

1.5 stars

Book Review - Night Life (Nocturne City, Book One) by Caitlin Kittredge

2008-05-11T21:18:00.003-04:00

Book Description

The first book in a thrilling, addictive new series by a talented new voice in dark fantasy. Welcome to Nocturne City, where werewolves, black magicians, and witches prowl the streets at night…

Among them is Luna Wilder, a tough-as-nails police officer whose job is to keep the peace. As an Insoli werewolf, Luna travels without a pack and must rely on instinct alone. And she’s just been assigned to find the ruthless killer behind a string of ritualistic murders—a killer with ties to an escaped demon found only in legend…until now.

But when she investigates prime suspect Dmitri Sandovsky, she can’t resist his wolfish charms. Pack leader of a dangerous clan of Redbacks, Dimitri sends her animal instincts into overdrive and threatens her fiercely-guarded independence. But Luna and Dimiri will need to rely on each other as they’re plunged into an ancient demon underworld and pitted against an expert black magician with the power to enslave them for eternity…

***

May 11

After skimming some mixed reviews at Amazon, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Night Life. I thought that Luna was a great character; she had the perfect blend of good and bad personality traits, without being a complete b!tch or too perfect, as some urban fantasy heroines can be. Of course there will be some who find her b!tchy, but I didn't and she's what I think Chris Marie Green and Kit Whitfield were each trying for with their heroines in their respective books, The Night Babylon Series and Benighted. The other characters: Sunny, Dmitri, and Mac all added to the story and were great also, especially Dmitri.

The plot held my interest and moved at a swift pace without too much action or getting too bogged down with details. I cannot wait until the next book comes out to read what happens with Luna next!

5 stars

Book Review - The Vision by Heather Graham

2008-05-05T20:16:00.003-04:00

Book Description
The gift of sight comes at a dangerous price

When Deep Down Salvage begins the hunt for the Josephine Marie, it seems like any other dive . . . until Genevieve Wallace sees the vision of a dead woman in the water, her vacant eyes boring into Genevieve's very soul.

Terrified and confused by what she saw, Genevieve is haunted by the memory, but no one -- including her diving partner Thor Thompson -- believes her. When a dead woman washes up on shore, everyone assumes this is Genevieve's "vision," but Genevieve knows the truth: the dead woman is not the ghost she saw but another victim of the same brutal killer.

Sensing that the threat of death is coming closer, she and Thor are forced to acknowledge that some things can't be explained, but simply are. Somehow they have to link a violent past with a present-day mystery or risk losing themselves in an abyss of terror.

***

May 5

While at the beginning I wasn't too sure I would like Thor - he was too arrogant and jerky - and then I wasn't too sure about Gen - can you say prickly? - I ended up liking them and their story all the same. Actually the plot and mystery is what really kept me reading. I liked that it was harder to figure out whodunnit then the others in this 'series,' but I did have it narrowed down to two suspects and did pick the right one. Although I'm still not sure exactly why they did it, but then again, when you're a serial killer, do you really need a reason?

The only thing that really bothered me was everyone's outlook on Gen. She's a frickin' Mary-Sue when it goes to someone else's point-of-view or if they're talking about her when she's not around, and I really got sick of hearing how sensual she is, how perfect, how tall and slim, how her smile is perfect - gag me. When it was through her eyes, everything was fine and I liked her, but really, I can only take so much of hearing how perfect she is. At one point, a local musician said something to the affect that she's Key West's 'jewel' (or gem, something like that) and it was like come on, give me a break. Talk about overkill. There was nothing in the book to even get the impression that she's that well known about the island.

Anyways, aside from my rant, I liked it and thought that the mystery aspect was the best part of the book and it kept me guessing and hooked until the end.

4 stars

Book Review - Haunted by Heather Graham

2008-05-04T14:15:00.003-04:00

Book Description
Love is everywhere. . .

When does a gift become a curse?

Matt Stone doesn't believe in ghosts. But there are those who are convinced his home, a historic Virginia estate that dates back to the Revolutionary War, is haunted. Pressured to get at the truth about some strange happenings at Melody House, he agrees to let Harrison Investigations explore the house. But he isn't ready for beautiful, intriguing Darcy Tremayne.

As a paranormal investigator, Darcy has learned to believe in the unbelievable. And she's given Matt fair warning: sometimes people don't like the skeletons she finds. She never dreamed that the warning would apply to herself. For she's about to discover that Melody House holds much more than a simple mystery form the distant past. What it holds is a very real and lethal danger, one that will cast her into a struggle against the worlds of both the living and the dead.

***

May 4

I picked up Haunted after I had finished The Seance, and I was unaware that they both feature Adam and Harrison Investigations. I'm all set to read The Vision that I just picked up from the library. Even though I've completely juggled around the order of when they were written, it's lucky for me that they are standalones. In the prologue it gave background information about Adam's son, Josh, who was mentioned just briefly in The Seance, and he plays a big part in this book, so I was happy to find out all that information before I get to next book that features Harrison Investigations.

Now to get to the main story in Haunted...
Even though with the way Darcy was written you would think she was a Mary-Sue, she wasn't and I liked her just fine. Now Matt on the other hand, well he was a jerk, plain and simple. I never could like him much and that detracted a lot from the book. It seems that Heather Graham must make the male lead a hard-core skeptic that just will not believe (until the end of course) in anything paranormal and thinks the female lead is crazy or delusional or something. It would be nice if it was reversed or if maybe, just maybe, the hero is open-minded enough to say, well maybe there is 'something' out there that cannot be proven. *gasp* Is that even possible? Can a hero ever truly be open-minded? Not in these books. He has to be so narrow-minded that his thought-blocks must fit neatly into their right-shaped holes (e.g. triangle block into triangle hole, etc.).

I really enjoyed the whole Darcy/Josh/Adam/Ghost hunting thing. I thought the author did a good job describing how Darcy went about finding out about the ghosts and that's what made this book good. I really did like Darcy a lot and she was a sympathetic character who stood up for herself and acted like an adult with poise and class (unlike some other character I could mention). The mystery did keep me guessing because I was never quite sure who the ghost was or what had happened, although I had narrowed down who was behind everything to two people, leaning more on the actual culprit (yay me!), for lack of suspects. So overall, the mystery was very good, though I wish Ms. Graham would bring in more people so it isn't as easy to figure out. All in all, not as good as The Seance, but a good and entertaining read.

3.5 stars

I forgot to mention that there were tons of editing problems, which seem to be a mainstay in H.G.'s books. Once Clint's name is changed to Cliff and Josh was referred to as Matt, plus numerous other things that cropped up everywhere.

Book Review - To Die For by Linda Howard

2008-05-04T13:53:00.002-04:00

Book Description
Blair Mallory lives the good life. She’s pretty, confident, and the owner of a thriving up-scale fitness center. But in the shadow of success, a troubled member of the club develops a strange fixation on Blair, imitating her style and dress. Matters take a darker turn when the look-alike is shot dead–and Blair witnesses the horror.

As the media speculates on the tawdry details of the homicide and pushes Blair into the harsh spotlight, she locks horns with police lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth. He wants to lead an investigation without interference, while Blair is determined to probe the dead woman’s life on her own. But when someone begins to menace Blair with mounting threats, Wyatt takes notice: Was this murder indeed a lethal case of mistaken identity–and was Blair the intended victim?

***

May 2

Hmm, I'm having a hard time describing how I feel about this book. I liked it enough, Blair was a decent character, but there was something (or things) missing. I'm not one of those who hate first person narratives (I really have no preference - both first and third person narratives are fine with me, as long as they work for the book), but for some reason it felt weird in this book and didn't quite work for me. Also, I don't know how I feel about Wyatt. His reason for leaving Blair two years ago was lame and I can't believe she let him off the hook so easily; not to mention he was rather one-dimensional. The mystery was hardly that and it seemed as if the author forgot all about someone trying to kill Blair until the end, deadline was near, and just added some cockamamie, loony-tune ending that was a total let down and came from left field. Not to mention, the whole someone-wants-to-kill-Blair thing was pushed aside for all the petty arguing and sex. Now I liked Blair giving Wyatt a hard time and all, but some of the stuff she said or did was overkill and the editor needed to trim a good fifty or so pages of it out of the book. It didn't help that going into the book, I thought it was a more serious romantic suspense, which is what I really wanted to read at the time.

Some of my petty annoyances with the book came fairly early on: I don't get why Blair (and/or the author) thought Jason Carson or Jenni Mallory rhymed. Now if his name was Jason Cayson, I'd understand, or Jenni Menni, but just because Jason and Carson both end with 'son,' it doesn't rhyme because it's the same thing. I don't know if I'm saying that right but oh well. My other thing was that Blair couldn't wear some underwear because the bra got ruined. Uh, okay. Now I like my undies to match but that wouldn't mean I'd never wear the underwear again because the bra that matched got ruined. That's just snobby and stupid. Yeah, I know, ridiculous things to find annoying in the book, but we all have something. LoL

After I finished the book and went to Amazon I saw that there's a sequel. I'm not sure if I'm up for another trip into Blair's mind or not, but if I come across it real cheap or someone gives it to me, I might read it. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book, I did, but I liked Blair up to a point, but when it got to around page 250, she was just a bit too much for a 378 page book. Maybe if we weren't in her head the whole time, or the book was shorter, I would have liked the book better.

3.25 stars

***

Here's part of an Amazon review I liked:

'Wyatt had stayed away from his soul mate for two years and only came running with an engagement ring when he thought she had been murdered. How long would he have stayed away if nothing had happened to Blair? Also, Blair was supposedly only a 'dumb blonde' when it suited her. But I question the intelligence of anyone who thinks someone who cuts her brake line is just stupid and someone who shoots her with intent to kill is just a nitwit. I wonder if these things bothered anyone else. Still, these problems did not take too much away from my enjoyment of the book.'

Book Review - Night Rising (Vampire Babylon, Book One) by Chris Marie Green

2008-04-27T06:22:00.001-04:00

Book Description
In this first book of an all-new trilogy, life proves stranger than the movies when a Hollywood underground coven of vampires comes to light-and gets targeted by the tough-as-nails daughter of a sexy screen siren.

Stuntwoman Dawn Madison hasn't been on the best of terms with her father since her movie star mother died. Still, he is her dad, and when he vanishes while investigating the bizarre sighting-caught on film-of a supposedly long-dead child star, she comes home to Tinseltown to join the search for him. Working with his odd colleagues, she discovers an erotic and bloody underground society made up of creatures she thought existed only on the screen.

***

April 26

I'm having a hard time coming up with my thoughts on this book. I did like it and will read the next one, but there was just something off about the whole thing. Maybe because there were a bunch of loose ends at the end of the book than was necessary, but who knows. I didn't get the whole promiscuous thing, mostly because it didn't feel like it belonged in the book. Yes, I am a bit of a prude, but since it's fiction that doesn't come into play much. In this book, I just didn't get it and felt like it was added for the whole "sex sells" thing. I mean that thing with "the Voice" was just plain weird and creepy. Quite few times I thought Dawn needed to get over herself and quit whining about her mother. She's twenty-four, she needs to act like it, not like some angsty teenager. I get it - it's hard to grow up with a beautiful mother who died too young and being compared to her when you're only average looking is hard (Although the cover model is above average looking. Marketing? I think so. :P), but deal with it already. I really didn't care about her and thought overall that Kiko was the best character of the bunch. Hopefully in the next book they are all developed better and Dawn grows up.

You can tell the author has taken some things from other medias: The Crow, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, especially with Dawn being the "key" and probably from other things I haven't seen or read so can't compare. I think that detracted from the book because I don't want to compare the stories; I'd rather the book stood alone as it is.

Nearer the end it had me wondering about a certain character and if that was a hint to what's to come in future books. That's probably the main reason I'll read on, although there are some interesting concepts in the book too, especially the vampire world. It is very interesting and they don't appear to be only good or only evil, as most other books make them, there are some of varying degrees of good and evil - like humans - and they're just trying to survive without being found out - at least that's how I took it. All in all it was a decent read, just slightly better than the average urban fantasy book.

3.5 stars

***

Here is part of an Amazon review that I agree with:

3.0 out of 5 stars I'd like to read her second book perhaps, February 19, 2007
By R. Kyle (Knoxville, TN)
"Meanwhile, a rash of current stars are starting to die mysteriously. The Vampire Underground is investigating Limpet. Dawn is feeling attraction both to her boss and Matt Lonigan.

"Night Rising" had a lot of promise for a first novel. Ms. Green introduced some interesting and quirky elements, but the blend of fantasy-mystery-thriller didn't quite come off.

For starters, there wasn't enough procedural knowledge doing both the PI and crime scene work to actually qualify it as a mystery.

Additionally, I didn't feel that Ms. Green's world was as fully realized as it could be.

While Green's characters were interesting, they were more 'paper tigers' than real people. She needed to work on depth and motivation of the characters instead of just giving them toss-off lines, etc.

Pacing was also slow--for a book with thriller elements, this was a slow read. Action scenes needed to be shortened. Better hooks needed to be planted to keep the reader moving forward.

I did not feel that the world was as complete as it could be. The hierarchy of vampires was interesting as well as the interaction of their human servants. I'd like to see a little more developed world in a published book. I have hopes that Green will do more work on this aspect in future works.

Finally, Ms. Green did not fully sum up any of the plotlines. While I am very willing to buy serial fiction, I prefer at least one major line of the story being resolved with a few teasers added to bring me back to the author's world. The summation felt like just an invite to buy the next book."

Book Review - Hatfield and McCoy (Part of the Destined for Love Antholoy) by Heather Graham (Pozzessere)

2008-04-24T09:27:00.004-04:00

Book Description
The search for a missing child brought psychic Julie Hatfield and FBI agent Robert McCoy together. But was the powerful, sensual attraction between them enough to stop their feuding and join them forever?

***

April 24

The first book, Hatfield and McCoy, by Heather Graham was a nice, fast-paced read. While Julie and McCoy's bickering might annoy some, I felt that there wasn't too much to irritate me. The story was interesting and just light enough that I had an easy time reading it, which is great since my concentration hasn't been the best lately.

4 stars

Book Review - Rising Darkness (Dark Enchantments, Book 2) by Cynthia Cooke

2008-04-24T05:55:00.002-04:00

Book Description
CAN TRUE LOVE TRIUMPH OVER EVIL?

Demon hunter, vampire and member of the Cadre, Damien Hancock has come to Wolvesrain to help Emma McGovern defend herself against a powerful demon. For if Emma finds love - and consummates that love - the demon Asmos will fulfill a generations-old curse and claim her soul. Damien knows just how powerful the ancient demon is, but he never anticipated the all-consuming effect courageous Emma would have on him.

Having led a sheltered life within the walls of her ancestral estate, Emma senses that Damien, like her, carries too much pain and loneliness in his heart. But as their attraction proves impossible to resist, Emma fears it is the curse that is drawing them together. Can the love she has found in Damien's strong arms now help her fight the rising darkness?

***

April 24

I'm having trouble forming sentences from my thoughts so I'm just going to list them instead. :)

Emma and Damien were likable enough characters, even if their 'woe is me' routines got a bit annoying, luckily that got progressively better as the book went on. My main problem was that their romance took a bit of a backseat to the curse and vampires and I didn't quite buy it at the end.
The concept of the Cadre was interesting and I'd like to read the other Dark Enchantment books for an expansion on the organization.
Some scenes were rather graphic and took me a bit by surprise because I don't usually find those things in a Silhouette book, but they weren't such a big deal.
The writing was very good, even if some spots were a tad boring, and I'll be sure to look for more Cynthia Cooke books in the future.
Overall it's not the best paranormal romance I've read, but it kept my interest and entertained me all the same.

3.5 stars

Book Review - The Seance by Heather Graham

2008-04-21T16:43:00.005-04:00

Book Description
A chill falls over Christina Hardy's housewarming party when talk turns to a recent murder that has all the hallmarks of the so-called 'Interstate Killer' murders from fifteen years before. To lighten the mood, the guests drag out an old Ouija board for a little spooky fun—and that's when things become truly terrifying.

Summoned by the Ouija board, the restless spirit of Beau Kidd, the lead detective—and chief suspect—on the original case, seeks Christina's help: the latest killing isn't a copycat crime, and he wants his name cleared. Back in the real world, cop-turned-writer Jed Braden is skeptical of Christina's ghostly encounters, but his police sources confirm all the intimate details of the case—her otherworldly source is reliable, and the body count is growing. The spirits are right. The Interstate Killer is still out there, and Christina's life is hanging in the balance between this world and the next.

***

April 21

The Seance was one of those books that I just could not put down! Addictive, fast-paced, thrilling, and thoroughly fun, it had everything I wanted to read - mystery/suspense, romance, paranormal - and reminded me of R.L. Stine for adults. Of course it's not 'serious' fiction, who wants that when picking up a book that looks like this? It's fun brain candy, plain and simple, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I haven't had an easy time finding books to read because my concentration level has taken a nosedive, but this book had me hooked from the back synopsis - and kept me hooked throughout. Yes, there are some editing issues, coincidences, red-heads seem to be the main population, redundancies (e.g. victims are attractive red-heads, beautiful red-heads, gorgeous red-heads, and did I mention Christina's a beautiful, attractive, gorgeous red-head also? Argh, it was annoying! I got it the first time; I don't need it repeated ten million times.),and I figured out who was behind everything in the first-seventh of the book, and who could have used more of an explanation for the why at the end, but my problems are eclipsed by the engaging plot.

After Christina called Gen, I wondered if there was a previous book with her, Thor, and Adam, and there is called The Vision, and I've already ordered it from the library - I can't wait to read it! I'm thinking Heather Graham's romantic suspense novels might just be the key that'll keep me reading all the way to the end of a book, while keeping my attention along the way. :) So, overall, I liked the characters, the story was great, and even though it isn't even close to Hallowe'en, I would still recommend it for a thrilling good read.

5 stars

Book Review - The Good Girl's Guide to Murder (A Debutante Dropout Mystery, Book Two) by Susan McBride

2008-04-20T15:53:00.001-04:00

Book Description
Website designer and high society rebel Andrea Kendricks would never have gotten involved with ego-in-pumps lifestyle hostess Marilee Mabry if it weren't for the underhanded machinations of Andy's upper crust mama. But thanks to Mother Cissy, Andy's donning designer duds to attend a launch party at the intolerable domestic diva's new Dallas TV studio - and she's on hand to witness the celebration site go up in flames! Then a body turns up in the rubble, the victim, apparently, of some very foul play. Even though iron-willed Cissy isn't about to let her social calendar be upset by a little inconvenience like murder, her sometime-sleuthing daughter's got a more pressing engagement - namely, hunting down a killer. But there are more than a few nasty messes tucked away in the Mabry closet - and a craven assassin who has the Big D elite quaking in their cowboy boots may soon be burying Andy in hers!

***

April 20

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first in the series, Blue Blood. The mystery was okay, but it was a very slow start and took over one-hundred pages for the book to actually get anywhere, and I began to get bored and wondered if I could continue. This could have been accomplished in maybe twenty or thirty pages. Luckily for the author, I persevered. Also some research and editing could have been done. For example, if Andy had ever been interested in animal rights, which she was, she would know that Iams tests on animals and wouldn't buy any to donate. The author should have just said bags of cat/dog food instead. Another thing, I've never heard of knitting a crocheted throw blanket - there's crocheting and there's knitting - they're two different things. I should know since I crochet myself and am into animal rights. Just little things that should have been edited. Otherwise, the mystery was, again, easy to figure out, and the book ended almost the same as the last one. I sincerely hope the others don't follow in the same pattern. Still, after I got to the meat of the story, it was light, fast, and easy to read, but ended up a disappointment after the debut of this series.

3.5 stars

Book Review - Blue Blood (A Debutante Dropout Mystery, Book One) by Susan McBride

2008-04-19T00:18:00.003-04:00

Book Description

To the dismay of her high society mother Cissy, Dallas heiress Andy Kendricks wants no part of the Junior League life -- opting instead for a job as a website designer and a passel of unpedigreed pals. Now her good friend Molly O'Brien is in bad trouble, accused of killing her boss at the local restaurant "Jugs." Though no proper deb would ever set foot in such a sleazy dive, Andy's soon slipping into skintight hot pants and a stuffed triple-D bra to gain employment there and somehow help clear Molly's name. But Andy's undercover lark is soon bringing her into too-close contact with all manner of dangerous adversaries -- including a shady TV preacher, a fanatical Mothers Against Porn activist ... and a killer who is none too keen on meddling rich girls.

***

April 18

A great start to the Debutante Drop-out series. Fast moving, fun, and with a thoroughly likable protagonist in Andy. The characters that needed to be were well-developed, the plot interesting - so the mystery is easily figured out for lack of suspects, but I didn't notice any plot holes! - and overall, the book was just plain good. I'm looking forward to reading the others and am so glad that I have the next one right here. :)
4.5 stars

Book Review - Fortune's Fool (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 3) by Mercedes Lackey

2008-04-13T21:09:00.003-04:00

Product Description
The seventh daughter of the Sea King, Ekaterina is more than a pampered princess—she's also the family spy. Which makes her the perfect emissary to check out interesting happenings in the neighboring kingdom…and nothing interests her more than Sasha, the seventh son of the king of Belrus. Ekaterina suspects he's far from the fool people think him. But before she can find out what lies beneath his facade, she is kidnapped!

Trapped in a castle at the mercy of a possessive Jinn, Ekaterina knows her chances of being found are slim. Now fortune, a fool and a paper bird are the only things she can count on—along with her own clever mind and intrepid heart.…

***

April 13

As much as I enjoyed the previous two books, I think that this is my favorite of the three. But maybe if I read the others again, I'd change my mind - each time I read one of them! :P Again the book is much better than the synopsis on the book has you believe - they're always a bit misleading or incorrect.

The characters and settings just came to life and the love story was lovely between Katya and Sasha. Yes, the love scene didn't seem like it fit into the book, but the rest was so great I'll forgive that part. The secondary characters just added to the whole story, and I wish that I could visit with them again, even though I know it'll be a different kingdom in the next book. Oh well, I'm sure I'll love any book that Ms. Lackey writes in the Five Hundred Kingdoms Series. :)

5/5 stars

Book Review - The Black Lyon by Jude Deveraux

2008-04-13T15:29:00.005-04:00

Book Description
Darkly handsome and rich beyond imagining, Ranulf de Warbrooke was the bold conqueror they called the Black Lyon. Feared by men and women alike, he had no match -- until he met Lady Lyonene, the green-eyed beauty whose fiery spirit matched his own. And she dared to love the man no woman could tame...

THE GREEN-EYED LYONENE

Through a whirlwind romance and stormy marriage, she endured every peril to be by his side. And when jealousy and vicious lies drove her across the Irish Sea and into grave danger, only one man could save her -- the Black Lyon. He alone could destroy the ruthless plot that had driven them apart, and renew the bond of love they had vowed would never be broken.
Darkly handsome and rich beyond imagining, Ranulf de Warbrooke was the bold conqueror they called the Black Lyon. Feared by men and women alike, he had no match -- until he met Lady Lyonene, the green-eyed beauty whose fiery spirit matched his own. And she dared to love the man no woman could tame...

***

April 11

The Black Lyon was a nice, fast-paced read with likable main characters. The story moved briskly and had a lot of events happening, but it ended up working. Lyonene was a strong character who had her faults, as was Ranulf, and they were wonderful together. I loved the scenes when they first met and the last half of the book the best. So some of the writing was flowery and maybe a bit dated to when it was written, but I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more in the Montgomery series.

Note: This does contain what today would be considered rape, twice. They're early on, they happen really fast, aren't described in much detail, and the hero doesn't even realize he does it the second time and he does show remorse. Maybe not what 'modern women' would like to see, but I didn't have much of a problem with it, and rape isn't something I take lightly. The heroine doesn't see herself as a victim, but as a wife just doing her duty. Sounds horrible to my 21st Century sensibilities, but somehow it made me not dwell on the rape and move on to the rest of the book. Other authors have done worse in books written in this time period (70s/80s), and having Lyonene react that way added a touch of realism to the Medieval time period.

4/5 stars

Book Review - Tombs of Endearment (Pepper Martin Mystery, Book Three) by Casey Daniels

2008-04-08T01:21:00.003-04:00

Book Description
Cemetery tour guide Pepper Martin never imagined she'd get to meet rock legend Damon Curtis, the bad boy poet who made millions of teenage girls scream. After all, he kicked the bucket years before she was born. But thanks to her newfound ability to chat up the dead, Pepper's got a front row seat perfect for swooning over the still-sexy Damon's latest lyrics. He's convinced that his former bandmate Vinnie Pallucci murdered him back in ‘71, and he's promised Pepper she won't get any rest or peace until she helps him prove it.

But when Pepper goes behind the music, she finds Vinnie with a knife in his heart and the rest of the band members running for their lives. And if Pepper doesn't snare the killer soon, Damon's next hit from the great beyond might be her swan song.

***

April 7

Another fun Pepper Martin mystery that's as good as the first and better than the second in the series. Again, the ghost is the best character, this time a 60s rocker who possibly died of an overdose forty years ago. I couldn't help but think he was a Jim Morrison prototype, especially with some of the lyrics.

Pepper was thankfully brighter in this book and figured things out at a good pace. Unfortunately, I have a tendency to figure out whodunnit early on in this series, for lack of suspects, but I liked how the author had Pepper go about it anyway.

I could do without the constant who-wears-what, how Pepper's hair or nails are done, everything she wears at every given moment, and most of all, I get annoyed at her overactive libido every time a hot guy - dead or alive - comes into contact with her. Get it together girl! What's your problem. Luckily, it looks as if she might (finally) get her act together for the fourth book. Hopefully it is not Quinn, because he is a boring, cut-out character that adds nothing to this series. However, I still look forward to the next book and hope it continues to get better.

4/5 stars

Book Review - Stolen (Women of the Underworld, Book Two) by Kelley Armstrong

2008-04-06T18:52:00.007-04:00

Book Description
In Bitten, thirty-year-old Elena Michaels came to terms with her feral appetites and claimed the proud identity of a beautiful, successful woman — and the only living female werewolf.

In Stolen, on a mission for her own elite pack, she is lured into the net of ruthless Internet billionaire Tyrone Winsloe, who has funded a bogus scientific investigation of the “other races” and their supernatural powers. Kidnapped and studied in his underground lab deep in the Maine woods, these paranormals — witches, vampires, shamans, werewolves — are then released and hunted to the death in a real-world video game. But when Winsloe captures Elena, he finally meets his match.

***

April 5

Stolen was violent, bloody, twisted, and I loved it! Elena is a great character and the book is written with an easy style and some dry humor thrown in for good measure. Sure, it was slow-starting and there were some parts that were drawn out too long, but I enjoyed the ride when it picked up. I can't wait to get to Kelley Armstrong's other books.

4.25/5 stars

***

Book Description
Elena Michaels seems like the typically strong and sexy modern woman. She lives with her architect boyfriend, writes for a popular newspaper, and works out at the gym. She's also a werewolf.

Elena has done all she can to assimilate to the human world, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must reckon with who, and what, she is in this passionate, page-turning novel.

***

May 22, 2007

I was fully thinking of giving this book a rating of 4 until the last hundred or so pages, so I upped it to 4 1/2. For most of the book, I thought the writing and pacing were both well-done, the characters interesting, and overall it was an enjoyable read. I didn’t realize that the romance was such a big part of the book, but I wouldn’t classify this as paranormal romance in the usual sense of the genre, it’s much more than that.

The reason I’m not giving this a ten is because of some things that bothered me: (1) the constant bickering between Elena and Clay was irritating, (2) all Elena wanted was a home but she already had it with the pack, and (3) Elena changing her personality to be “normal.” I can forgive number two because Elena would be the last person to figure that out since she’s the one who has the problem. I can also forgive number three because people do want to fit in and will change to do that. Just because I forgive doesn’t mean I can’t have a slight problem with them though. :P Another thing was that while I liked and sympathized with Elena, I didn’t exactly feel for her until around the two-thirds point.

I did think this was a very good and well thought-out werewolf tale, especially with the politics of a pack combined with the real world. Actually, I thought it was realistic and liked how the members had a bit of freedom. This was unlike some other books such as Kitty and the Midnight Hour, which I hated the way the pack was portrayed in that book. Also, there were threads of dry humor thrown in so seamlessly that they could be missed, especially because I didn’t notice them until about one-third of the way in; I liked that because they were almost exactly what I would have said/thought. I haven’t read too many werewolf books but thought this was an excellent interpretation and look forward to the next book.

4.5/5 stars

Book Review - Sex and the Single Vampire (Dark Ones, Book Two) by Katie MacAlister

2008-04-04T17:19:00.004-04:00

Book Description
Allegra's Dictionary of the Paranormal

Dark One n. [Origin Czech, also known as vampires.] A Moravian Dark One is doomed to spend his lifetime cruising the singles' scene in search of the one woman who can redeem his soul. You think dating is hard? Try it when you're nine hundred years old and you've used every pick-up line in the book. Forming a lasting relationship is even more difficult when the woman who makes your heart sing sees dead people and likes to play with demons.

Summoner n. [Origin English.] Someone who summons ghosts, poltergeists, and demon lords. Summoners tend to hang around cities like London that are filled with portals to Hell, haunted inns, and other locations dishy vampires might be found lurking. Most Summoners are female, which makes for difficulties when it comes to explaining to the man who haunts your dreams and fills your soul with love why your pet ghosts can be found hovering around even in the most romantic of circumstances.

***

April 4

I enjoyed Sex and the Single Vampire much more than A Girl's Guide to Vampires. Allie was a refreshing change from Katie MacAlister's usual heroines - she was smart, not hyperactive, and an interesting person. And of course Christian was just as intriguing as he was in the previous book of the series; he made the perfect hero ('nuff said). The plot was very well-done, as was the pace. Unfortunately, Roxy was still an annoying, hyperactive puppy, but at least she wasn't in this book as much. The only reason I'm not giving this a five, is that I'm not quite sure if it's a keeper or not. Still, I think I'll hold on to it for a little longer.

4.5/5 stars

Book Review - Night's Edge Anthology

2008-04-04T17:14:00.006-04:00

Book Description
Three new stories in one delicious volume of horror and romance

Her Best Enemy by USA TODAY bestselling author Maggie Shayne

Kiley Brigham refuses to believe there's a ghost in her house, but when an unseen hand leaves a bloody message on her bathroom mirror, she's forced to turn to local psychic Jack McCain. As the two work to uncover a long-buried secret, Kiley finds that she's haunted not by spirits, but by thoughts of Jack. . .

Someone Else's Shadow by Nebula Award-nominated author Barbara Hambly

Maddie Laveau worries about her young roommate, Tessa, when she stays late to practice ballet in the old Glendower Building. . .and when Tessa goes missing, Maddie enlists mysterious tenant Phil Anderson to help. But is Phil the white knight she needs, or the predator she fears?

Dancers in the Dark by Anthony Award-winning author Charlaine Harris

Layla Rue Le May is no ordinary dancer-her partner, Sean McClendon, is a three-hundred-year-old redheaded vampire. So when Layla Rue acquires a stalker, she's forced to face the music. . .and wonder if this will finally be her last dance.

***

April 1

I just finished Maggie Shayne's short story, Her Best Enemy, and enjoyed it a lot. Yes, the plot is rushed and I didn't believe they could love each other that soon at the end, but it was a really fun story! I would have liked it better if Ms. Shayne had left them just starting out in their promising relationship and not dropping the L-bomb at the end - it felt too forced and cheesy. But as I said before, it was very fun, and an easy and fast read too! :)
4/5 stars

Someone Else's Shadow was another very good story. I really liked Maddie, and while the love angle was again very fast, but at the end I appreciated that the author addresses how fast they fell in love. As with the first story, the ghost angle was creepy and made the whole atmosphere of the story come alive. The chemistry between Maddie and Phil was palpable and it did make me feel like they could in fact fall in love that fast. A great short story!
4.5/5 stars

Dancers in the Dark was yet another good tale in this anthology. Rue was a likable protagonist who had a horrible past, and while Sean could have been brought to life (ha!) more, he was still a good hero for her. The plot was well-done and I never got annoyed at Rue for feeling sorry for herself or anything, which can happen in stories similar to this. All-in-all it was a fascinating tale.
4/5 stars

Book Review - Shadows at Sunset by Anne Stuart

2008-04-04T17:09:00.006-04:00

Book Description

House of Shadows

The house on Sunset Boulevard has witnessed everything: from the infamous murder-suicide of a '50s starlet and her lover, to the drug-fueled commune in the '60s, to the anguish of its present owner, Jilly Meyer, who is struggling to preserve the house and what's left of her wounded family.

Man of Shadows

Coltrane is a liar, a con man and a threat to everything Jilly holds dear. He is also her hated father's right-hand man, a gorgeous, loathsome snake who doesn't care whom he uses to get what he wants. And he's made it clear he wants Jilly. But the question is, what does he want her for?

Shadows at Sunset

Somehow Jilly has to stop Coltrane from destroying everything she cherishes. Including her own vulnerable heart. And the only way to do that is to uncover what Coltrane is really up to, and that could mean upsetting the explosive secrets of the past.

***

March 30

I picked this up looking for a romantic suspense novel, sadly it was lacking in both aspects. I did find it an entertaining book that was a nice, light escape, but I really was looking for more suspense. This was more light mystery, and even that was easy to figure out early on. I think Ms. Stuart took too much time in the beginning with Coltrane and Jilly, and I never felt they liked each other much, let alone loved each other by the end. I liked them well enough but wished for more romance with less arguing and lust. I never completely got the point of the ghosts but thought it was cute all the same. Too bad there wasn't another book with Rachel-Ann and Rico, that sounds like it would have made for a good book. As I said before, a nice and easy read, but nothing I'd remember too much down the road.

2.5/5 stars

Book Review - Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book Three) by Patricia Briggs

2008-04-04T16:57:00.008-04:00

Book Description
When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not.

***

March 24

Iron Kissed was just as good as the previous books in the Mercy Thompson series, if not better. Since I've been reading a lot of urban fantasy-type books lately, I have to admit to a bit of confusion at the beginning in remembering this world and the characters. Luckily most of it came back and I was able clear everything up. I was worried going into Iron Kissed, with the love triangle and was so happy when Mercy finally chose someone, as opposed to dilly-dallying for the next few books. I don't mind the romance angle, but I can get sick of everyone falling in love/lust/or whatever with the main character (even if Mercy kicks-major-youknowwhat!) in this genre of book(s). If only I could be so lucky. LoL Only in fiction. Anyways, the ending did disturb me and turn my stomach, which is a credit to the author, but it really added an element of realism to the book and especially to Mercy's character. I hope to see Mercy stronger than ever in the next book. Can't wait for it!

5/5 stars

***

Book Description
Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places-and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary-and neither is the demon inside of him.

***

September 9, 2007

For some reason I didn't review Blood Bound, but I know I loved it, as I have the other two.

5/5 stars

***

Book Description
Mercy Thompson's life is not exactly normal. Her next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a VW bus for a vampire. But then, Mercy isn't exactly normal herself.

***

September 1, 2007

What a great, great book! I loved this from start to finish, even if I was confused in the beginning, what with all the species and their codes of conduct and all. Mercy was a very put together character; not too weak and not too strong to be unbelieveable. While I do wish that authors in this genre would quit with the multiple love interests, I do think Patricia Briggs managed it quite well, and I look forward to those developments (although I'm partial to Adam myself :P). I've already ordered Blood Bound from the library, and I just can't wait to get my greedy little hands on it and other future installments! :)

5/5 stars

Book Review - A Girl's Guide to Vampires (Dark Ones, Book One) by Katie MacAlister

2008-04-04T16:47:00.004-04:00

Book Description
Joy Randall's Top 5 Tips for Vampire Hunters

1. Location, location, location. Remember, if you wouldn't be there, neither would a bloodsucker. They won't be found dead (ha!) in places like discos, ten-minute lube shops, or Switzerland. Check the Czech Republic.

2. Trust your eyes. You know the handsome, annoyingly arrogant, self-assured man in the shadows with long hair and a cleft in his chin? He's your vampire.

3. No matter how tempting it might be, DO NOT "ACCIDENTALLY" ACQUIRE A PAPER CUT AND SUGGEST YOUR VAMPIRE KISS YOUR FINGER TO MAKE IT BETTER. What you offer as a snack, he might take for a four-course meal.

4. From here on out, play it cool. Don't offer to accompany your prince of the night on the talk show circuit and WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T OFFER HIM YOUR HEART.

5. And most of all, remember - being a vampire is nothing to laugh about.

***

March 14

A Girl's Guide to Vampires was a nice and pleasant surprise. While I do get tired of Katie MacAlister's same heroine in every book I read, I could tolerate Joy more that most others. But lord can they be moronic, and not in a good way. I do wish she could expand her female leads to be different in both of their physical and mental aspects, and not be the same old monotonous ones over and over again. Always my gripe.

Now on to the rest of the book...
The storyline was interesting, there was some hilarious moments, and overall I enjoyed it better than most of the contemporary romances Ms. MacAlister has written. I am very intrigued by Christian and can't wait to read his book in this series. Roxy, on the other hand, reminded me of a little, annoying, rabid yappy dog. Yes, she could provide entertainment, but if I knew someone like that, I'd go insane, or else commit homicide. Otherwise the book was fine entertainment but not a keeper for me. Probably the main reason I read the whole book was because of the intriguing Christian and wondering about his fate.

3.75/5 stars

Book Review - Kiss Me Forever (Walk in Moonlight) by Rosemary Laurey

2008-04-04T16:26:00.007-04:00

Book Description
HE'S HOT. HE'S SEXY. HE'S ROMANTIC. HE'S IMMORTAL.

If there is one thing Dixie LePage does not need in her life, it's complications. And the man sitting across the table from her in a crowded English pub, the one offering to buy the library of her inherited estate in a small English village, is a major complication. For starters, there's the broad shoulders. The slightly amused smirk. That smoldering look that makes it impossible to concentrate. And that infuriating, old-fashioned, and well, okay, incredibly appealing sense of chivalry. No doubt about it, the guy is hot and sexy.

Of course, there is one wee little problem: He claims to be a vampire named Christopher Marlowe, as in THE Christophe Marlowe, famous playwright, contemporary of Will Shakespeare. Right. Amend that to hot, sexy, and totally insane. Please see "no more complications." So why can't Dixie seem to resist the warmth of Christopher's charm, the protective feel of his strong hands, or the tempting pull of his full mouth when the sun goes down . . . ?

***

March 7
(This review is only for the first romance)

Kiss Me Forever
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Being as I am fascinated by the mystery of Christopher Marlowe and love vampires, it was the perfect book for me. Kit was to die for and is now one of my fave vamps of all time. Dixie was a smart heroine, which was nice, without being a Mary Sue. The humor was right up my alley and I just loved almost everything about it.

I only have a few minor quibbles - some editing, a bit of the plot seemed to change around the 290 page mark (but it kinda makes sense), and the remark that Ohio doesn't have that much sun. Seeing how the author lives in Ohio, I don't get how she could write that. We have some killer sunlight, especially in the summer, and it makes no sense to me whatsoever. No biggie, but it boggled my mind anyway, and gave me a bit of a chuckle. LoL

Still, overall it was a great, intelligent paranormal romance that while keeping 'typical' vampire characteristics, still made them fresh and innovative. A wonderful read with terrific characters! I cannot wait to get to Tom and Justin's stories.

4.5/5 stars

Book Review - Winter Moon Anthology

2008-04-04T16:24:00.004-04:00

Book Description
Mercedes Lackey
"She'll keep you up long past your bedtime." --New York Times bestselling author Stephen King

In an isolated land where the lure of the "Moontide" leads to shipwrecks, a woman is torn between obeying her father or her king. When she chooses to follow a Fool, she discovers magic she'd never expected . . . at a price that might be too high . . .

Tanith Lee
"Few writers today can match the sheer beauty and inventiveness of Tanith Lee's writing." --Millennium Science Fiction and Fantasy

Struggling under the curse of a dead comrade, Clirando, a warrior priestess unready to face the powers trapped within her, must face "The Heart of the Moon" to reveal what has been hidden . . .

C.E. Murphy
"A swift pace, a good mystery, a likeable protagonist, magic, danger -- Urban Shaman has them in spades." --Jim Butcher, author of the bestselling series The Dresden Files

In "Banshee Cries," ritual murders under a full moon lead Jo Walker to confront a Harbinger of Death. Maybe this "gift" she has is one she shouldn't ignore -- because the next life she has to save might be her own!

***

March 3

I've only read the second story by Tanith Lee so far because I wanted to read at least one of the books in Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdom series before I got to that one. For the first fifty pages, The Heart of the Moon was slow going, but after that it got progressively better and interesting. I think it would be nice to read about Cliro's burgeoning powers. I'd give it a four out of five.

Moontide by Mercedes Lackey was an absolutely wonderful story! After reading The Fairy Godmother, I went on to read this short story before I read the next two in the series. Moira was a great character, as was Kedric in as much as he could be with his small role. I was very sorry after I finished it and would have loved to read more with these characters. A great short story!
5/5

I was a little disappointed in C.E. Murphy's story, Banshee Cries, but it did have it's moments. Joanne is a great character who I can't help but to relate to - she's so realistic - and I love Gary, he's priceless. The plot was fairly interesting but it faltered and could be a bit slow at times. It was still good though and I can't wait to read the others in the series.
4/5

Book Review - Vamps and the City (Love at Stake, Book Two) by Kerrelyn Sparks

2008-04-04T16:17:00.005-04:00

Book Description
Who says a vamp can't have it all?

Darcy Newhart thought it was a stroke of genius – the first–ever reality TV show where mortals vie with vampires for the title of The Sexiest Man on Earth. As the show's director, Darcy's career would be on track again. And she can finally have a life apart from the vampire harem. Okay, so she's still technically dead, but two out of three's not bad. Now she just has to make sure that a mortal doesn't win. If only she wasn't so distracted by a super–sexy and live contestant named Austin...

But Darcy doesn't know the worst of it. Austin Erickson is actually a vampire slayer! And he's got his eye on the show's leggy blond director. Only problem is, he's never wanted any woman – living or dead – as badly. But if he wins her heart, will he lose his soul? And if it means an eternity of hot, passionate loving with Darcy, does that really matter anyway?

***

February 26

I enjoyed Vamps & the City more than the first book in the series, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire. Only a few things bothered me in this book; one being that Austin was being a judgmental jerk about vamps, (2) how easily Darcy forgave him, and (3) the whole vamps don't have a shadow thing. I know that last one has been used in other medias, but I have never gotten it - that or no reflections. Especially because I'm sure if you hold a corpse up to a mirror, you'd see their reflection. How can something solid not have a shadow anyway? In the book they are technically alive at night so they could have a shadow and reflection. Illogical, but I guess so are vampires (or are they? LoL), but I'm just nitpicking. :P

I did think that the whole flow to this book was so much better than in the first. So overall, I thought it was a fast, fun, and interesting read.

4/5 stars

***

And here's my review for the first in the series, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire.

Book Description
So what if he's a bit older and usually regards a human female as dinner, not a dinner date? Yes, Roman Draganesti is a vampire, but a vampire who lost one of his fangs sinking his teeth into something he shouldn't have. Now he has one night to find a dentist before his natural healing abilities close the wound, leaving him a lop–sided eater for all eternity.

Things aren't going well for Shanna Whelan either...After witnessing a gruesome murder by the Russian mafia, she's next on their hit list. And her career as a dentist appears to be on a downward spiral because she's afraid of blood. When Roman rescues her from an assassination attempt, she wonders if she's found the one man who can keep her alive. Though the attraction between them is immediate and hot, can Shanna conquer her fear of blood to fix Roman's fang? And if she does, what will prevent Roman from using his fangs on her...

***

December 23, 2007

A fast and fun vampire romance read. While it's not very original, it has its own charm, all the characters are likable enough, if slightly undeveloped (but the Highlanders are great!), and the plot moves along nicely, although the Stake-Out groups addition to the story was weird and unnecessary to the plot. I do feel that the title and cover misrepresent the book, but luckily, it looks as though the next three covers are better. One small quibble: since Shanna had brown hair (dyed or not), it would be impossible for her to go platinum blonde w/o first stripping the color out. Like I said, not a biggie, but faulty nonetheless. There were some interesting aspects: mainly the science part, but unfortunately there wasn't anything overly special about the book. Oh, and two scenes in particular were very funny; they were the blood shuffling one and when Shanna wakes up. Those two were about the only times I laughed out loud, but there were a few other amusing things too. Overall, the book was light, easy to read, and a nice diversion. I look forward to Be Still My Vampire Heart with Angus - I do love me some Highlanders! ;P

3.5/5 stars

Book Review - One Good Knight (A Tale of the Five Hundred, Book Two) by Mercedes Lackey

2008-04-04T16:14:00.003-04:00

Book Description
When a dragon storms the castle, what should a (virgin) princess do?

Why, turn to her studies, of course! But nothing practical-minded Princess Andromeda of Acadia finds gives a definitive solution. The only Traditional answer, though, is soothing the marauding dragon by a virgin sacrifice. Things are going fairly smoothly with the lottery -- except for the women chosen, of course -- until Princess Andromeda herself is picked!

But facing down the dragon doesn't go quite as planned, and now, with the help of her Champion, Sir George, Andromeda searches for the dragon's lair. But even -- especially -- in the Five Hundred Kingdoms, bucking Tradition isn't easy. It takes the strongest of wills, knowledge, quick wits and a refusal to give up, no matter what happens along the way . . .

***

February 23

Another wonderful book in this series! Andie was truly a great character and I loved the outcome. My only quibble is that I feel the epilogue could have been longer and had more info on Andie and her paramour. Also, the title is misleading, but that's all I'm going to say. ;P A fast, fun, and thoroughly entertaining way to pass the time. Ms. Lackey created a world where I feel like I'm in it as an invisible watcher - quite a feat. :)

5/5 stars

Book Review - Fairy Godmother (A Tale of the Five Hundred, Book One) by Mercedes Lackey

2008-04-04T16:10:00.003-04:00

Book Description
From the bestselling author of the Heralds of Valdemar series comes an enchanting novel.

In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale. . .

Elena Klovis was supposedto be her kingdom's Cinderella--until fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince! So she set out to make a new life for herself. But breaking with "The Tradition" was no easy matter--until she got a little help from her own fairy godmother. Who promptly offered Elena a most unexpected job. . .

Now, instead of sleeping in the chimney. She has to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who keep trying to rise above their place in the tale. And there's one in particular who needs to be dealt with. . .

Sometimes a fairy godmother's work is never done. . . .

***

February 23

I love, love, loved this book! This is my first Mercedes Lackey book and it most definitely won't be my last! If all - or even most - of her other books are as good as this one, I'll be a fan for life! I do think the synopsis is a bit misleading, it's not exactly how everything happened, especially since the prince doesn't enter the picture until halfway through the book. Maybe hardcore fantasy readers won't enjoy it as much as those who love both fantasy and romance, but I thought it was a very smart and interesting twist on the usual fairy tales. I loved the epilogue and thought that added to the whole 'moral' of the story. I can't wait to get to the others in the series. :)

5/5 stars

Book Review - Saying Good-Bye to the Pet You Love by Lorri A. Greene, Jacquelyn Landis

2008-04-04T16:04:00.003-04:00

Book Description
Written by a psychologist who is a leader in the field of pet bereavement, this practical but sympathetic guide validates the survivor’s often misunderstood feelings, explains the importance of the human-animal bond, and offers strategies for working through the grieving process. Some of the coping techniques include memorializing the pet, recognizing problematic thinking, and finding support. The book also covers dealing with guilt and explaining the pet’s death to a child.

From the Publisher
This is a book for loving pet owners who have lost a pet. Often friends and family downplay the sorrow one experiences over the loss of the pet, but this new book helps pet lovers of all sorts, including those with working animals, deal with all levels of grief. It not only includes cognitive self-help tools to help readers truly understand and work through their grief, it is is also written by a psychologist who is a leader in the filed of pet bereavement.

From the Inside Flap
No matter what your friends and family might think or say, you know that the sorrow you feel about your pet’s death is real and very painful.

Until now, not much help has been available for those who have lost a pet. Saying Goodbye to the Pet You Love, written by a psychologist with twenty years of experience as a pet-bereavement specialist, helps you understand the very special human-animal bond, which, in turn, can help you deal with your terrible loss.

You will find solid psychological bereavement techniques here that will support you in your grieving process and help you find your own unique path to recovery. This book includes chapters on coping skills for easing a child through pet loss, and for those who accidentally killed, or witnessed the death of, their pets. The special needs of the guardians of working animals are also addressed, as are self-help resources for the elderly.

***

February 9

This was a good and interesting book about dealing with the loss of your pet. I didn't want a religious view of pet loss, which there seems to be a number of, so this was ideal for me. While I didn't need to read every chapter because they didn't apply to me, I still thought the rest was well-written and helped me. I thought it interesting that there are three kind of grievers, and it gave me insight into how some people can say the things they do to those who are feeling the loss more. I think it's sad how it's not 'ok' to grieve for a pet in our society. Why is it any different than a human? I'm so glad there are books out there like this that can help me and others know that we are allowed feel the way we do when we lose a dear pet.

4/5 stars

Book Review - Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder

2008-04-04T15:56:00.006-04:00

Book Description
YOU KNOW YOUR LIFE IS BAD WHEN YOU MISS YOUR DAYS AS A POISON TASTER. (STUDY BOOK 2)
Yelena is on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago. Although she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways, and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better. Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magical training. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince, and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians. If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with her new enemies.

***

February 8

As much as I loved the first book, Poison Study, I loved this one even more! Somehow it just clicked more with me than with the last. Ms. Snyder seems to be developing her world and characters more solidly. For some reason I found Valek a little more unnerving and frightening in this, maybe because he's not in it as much and I took off my rose-colored glasses and actually saw his role as assassin. Who knows? I did miss the 'Power Twins', Janco and Ari and wished they could have been in it more, but overall it was a great book that I could not put down. I'm so glad the next book is only a month away, as I cannot wait to get to it!

5/5 stars

Book Review - Urban Shaman by C. E. Murphy

2008-04-04T15:51:00.006-04:00

Book Description
Joanne Walker has three days to learn to use her shamanic powers and save the world from the unleashed Wild Hunt.

No worries. No pressure. Nevermind the lack of sleep, the perplexing new talent for healing from fatal wounds, or the cryptic, talking coyote who appears in her dreams.

And if all that's not bad enough, in the three years Joanne's been a cop, she's never seen a dead body -- but she's just come across her second in three days.

It's been a bitch of a week. And it isn't over yet.

***

February 6

I loved this book! Fast, fun, and spirited (in more ways than one!), it was a great, interesting, and unique read with a wonderful heroine. I liked that it deals with both Celtic and American Indian ways, which is really different in the urban fantasy scene. Joanne was very realistic, the plot fascinating, and her sidekick, Gary, was a nice change of pace. While everyone won't like this, I highly recommend reading it anyway. I can't wait to get to get to the sequels, this is definitely one of my favorite new urban fantasy series!

5/5 stars

Book Review - Silhouette Shadows Anthology

2008-04-04T15:48:00.007-04:00

Book Description
Three romantic stories from the dark side of love...
ANNE STUART
HELEN R. MYERS
HEATHER GRAHAM POZZESSERE

From the back cover:

THE MONSTER IN THE CLOSET by Anne Stuart

It was Sebastian Brand's job to terrify people, and he did it very well - but only on the screen. Or so Emma Milsom hoped. Because someone was stalking her, someone who wanted her dead, and it was her heart's deepest desire to cast dangerously appealing Sebastian in the role of savior - and spend forever in his arms.

SEAWITCH by Helen R. Myers

Psychic, siren... or witch? The townsfolk of Cliff Point, Maine, spoke in whispers about Roanna Douglas, the beautiful, mysterious woman who haunted the local seashore. Some people said she'd killed her husband. But that didn't stop Hunter Thorne from loving her... as though his very life depended on it.

WILDE IMAGININGS by Heather Graham Pozzessere

Rising out of the murky English moors, Fairfaven Castle housed dark secrets... and handsome, brooding Brian Wilde. But even as Brian's touch filled lovely Alyssa Evans with fire, his enigmatic manner chilled her with fear. Could she discover the castle's secrets before it was too late?

***

February 5

The Monster in the Closet by Anne Stuart
Besides being a Heather Graham fan, I'm also an Anne Stuart fan so I was glad to see this included in the anthology. I absolutely loved it! Both Sebastian and Emma were great and while it was easy to figure out who was behind everything, for lack of suspects, the reason was fresh and interesting. The whole atmosphere of this story, along with the romance, made this my favorite of the book.
10/10

Seawitch by Helen R. Myers
While this had a good plot, I felt there was something off. There were two big problems for me: (1) too much was going on for the length of a short story, some things needed to be taken out and (2), Hunter. I just could not like him, he was a bully and he didn't seem much better than Roanne's husband.
4/10

Wilde Imaginings by Heather Graham Pozzessere
I thought this was a fairly interesting story. Both Alyssa and Brian were interesting characters, but for some reason the story fell a bit flat. They seemed to fall in love awfully fast, and I know that happens in short stories and usually it doesn't bother me, but for some reason it did in this story. It must be because of how it's written. I think some of it is because they're related, however distant it might be. Maybe if they hadn't, even though the author says a couple times that they could be more related to a stranger on the street than to each other, I would have felt easier about it, especially in the epilogue when Alyssa sees the portrait and all is revealed to the reader. Something about it just turns me off the story. I'm not going to go into a whole anthropological study into how and why, but that's the main thing that bugged me.
7/10

Book Review - A Snowflake in My Hand by Samantha Mooney

2008-04-04T15:40:00.006-04:00

Book Description
A miracle of a book--a joyous celebration of the unspoken but deeply felt bond between animals and people and, in Roger Caras's words, "a celebration of life in the face of death".

***

January 27

A heartwarming (and breaking) book about many of the cats that went through Sam Mooney's life. Ms. Mooney certainly knows cats and she takes you into brief sections of their lives so you get to know and love them too, even though you've never met them. I loved this book (even if I wished it had been longer so I could have spent more time with it!) and it's helped me a bit since the sudden loss of two of my cats. The author's beautiful writing shows us, the reader, that life does go on and their memory will always stay with you. Every cat is special and has an integral part of their owner's life, and anyone who's ever known them. Excellent book.

5/5 stars

Book Review - Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

2008-04-04T15:26:00.008-04:00

Book Description
CHOOSE: A QUICK DEATH OR SLOW POISON. (STUDY BOOK 1)
About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered a reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace, and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia. And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust, and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and she develops magical powers she can't control. Her life’s at stake again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren’t so clear!

***

Read January 24

I haven't read many books, if any, that deal with a poison tester, so I found the premise in Poison Study very interesting. The plot, the characters, everything was so well-done and fascinating that I became immersed into the story so much that I didn't notice anything that went on around me. Ms. Snyder has a lovely, uninterrupted, and smooth style of writing that is very easy to read. I can't wait to get to Magic Study next! :)

4.5 stars

Introduction: How do you do?

2008-04-02T15:11:00.001-04:00

I just thought I should introduce myself a little bit before I start blogging away.

I am a voracious reader, but lately it has been really hard to concentrate on much more than a fast-paced show. It has really put a damper on my life. Not just because I can't read, but because I've had to drop so many classes and finally I just had to take some time off from college to get everything under control. I've gone to doctors and have pretty much ruled out everything except allergies and depression. I've been taking allergy drops for about six months now and have an appointment to see the doc in just a little over a week to see if everything is working alright. They said it could take up to a year. Also I'm just starting medicine for depression. It's too early to tell right now if it's working but I haven't had any side effects yet, which is a great sign. Especially because the medicine I tried right before it did not work whatsoever and left me with several serious side effects. Unfortunately I've had problems concentrating for about a year now and didn't get diagnosed until January. It's the kind of depression where I don't feel depressed. I've never had that before so it was kind of a downer. Literally. LoL

I can be sarcastic, witty, moody, snarky, nice, fun, boring and all of that. Which, now that I think of it, is pretty much like most people.

I love my cats and the two closest to me passed away on September 15 and December 15, 2007. They were mother and daughter. Sati (pronounced Say-tee) was a stray who came to the back deck pregnant. Of course she didn't show at the time and two months later she had her kittens. I think she might have been nine or ten when she died, but that's just a guess. B'Elanna (Buh-lanna) was only seven when she followed her mother to Rainbow Bridge. She died in the midst of playing of a coronary embellism (sp?). Both were very unexpected deaths and hit me hard. I still miss them and it is very hard at times to know they're gone.

Sati is the Tuxedo cutie and Lanna is the black beauty