Do you know...

WHO LOVES YA BABY?

It's here my peeps. Autumn and the merry month of October. I love the Fall don't you? This year is going to be full of lots of changes and surprises.

Things are changing at work as I continue to learn lots of new stuff about a whole new job. My goddaughter and niece is getting married in a few weeks. My brother is getting ready for the arrival of a new baby really any day now... Just lots to think about and look forward to.

Not the least of which is my lack of time to read posts. I'm up to 380 in my Google Reader these days. I'm only reading about 5-10 a day. I just haven't had a good block of time to go through them all...yet. I'm being stubborn again and refusing to just press delete and move on. Don't judge, just love me. Okey dokey?

I did take my handy dandy book list and do some shopping tonight. Normally Tuesday is a swimming night, but I worked late and GG had a horrible day at work so we decided to give ourselves a break. Of course for me it's Tuesday and a break means the bookstore. Good thing I have a man who doesn't mind stuff like that huh?

Anyway, here's my loot:

COME THE NIGHT by Susan Krinard

KING OF SWORD AND SKY by CL Wilson (I can't wait!)

SEDUCE ME AT SUNRISE by Lisa Kleypas (if she writes it I will buy it!)

SECRET DESIRES OF A GENTLEMAN by Laura Lee Guhrke

NIGHT FALL by Cherry Adair

What you may ask am I reading right now? Actually I'm doing a re-read. Yes, it is an insane thing to do with so many books in my TBR. But, but, but... I felt I HAD to re-read LION'S BRIDE by Iris Johansen because after more than 10 years she is going to be releasing a brand spanking new historical in December. This new historical is linked to LION'S BRIDE. So you see I really did HAVE to re-read LION'S BRIDE. I've barely cracked it and am anxious to see if it stands the test of time. More on that later.

Hopefully, tomorrow I'll put up my pitiful September reading list. It's not pretty people, not pretty at all.

The TBB List

Acrylics on Canvas 16x20, 2007 Private Collection

Just about every reader I know has some version of a list for books they'd like to have. This list can be books they are searching for or books they want to buy as soon as it is released. Or, if the reader is like me, both.

I used to be a subscriber of ROMANTIC TIMES magazine. Each month I would read the synopsis and reviews of books and make my list. You can still sort of do this from their web site, however as much as I love the e-world, it's just not the same. I loved flipping back and forth through the pages in RT and looking at those reviews and ratings.

RT also had a great feature in the back of the magazine. There was a future releases section that listed books by publisher and then by author. The feature usually listed books for the future release two months ahead of the magazine date. Very nifty for the obsessive list maker.

When I quit RT (Lady Barrow got on my nerves) I didn't realize what a vacuum it would leave in my book buying and list making. The past year or so I've been dissatisfied with my by hook or crook method of blog news or browsing sites trying to keep some sort of list.

All you non-list makers can go ahead and mock now. But I can think of nothing worse than missing a book in a series or a favorite author's release...and it's happened. There was the time I completely missed Linda Howard's DROP DEAD GORGEOUS. ::GASP!:: I know. Tragedy in the making. I can barely bring myself to talk about it even now. (You know I'm kidding...right? Although it WAS tragic, I did eventually get the book. Eventually being the key word there.)

Anyway, I was lamenting about having no good place to look for upcoming books in a convo with the roomies in SF. Kristie mentioned a site on-line that was supposed to be fabulous for finding future releases. Of course I got home and couldn't remember it and had to email her. Yay for Kristie because sent me the info right away.

So I told you all of THAT just so I could share this awesome link to FictionDB with you. There are so many ways to look up books. You can look up releases by author, genre or month. This, my friends is why EVERYBODY loves Kristie. She knows the coolest stuff.

Thanks KJ! You've made me very happy. Now I gotta go and beef up the TBB list.

Books and Sonic

So we were coming home from a shopping trip two weeks ago and I glance across from our freeway exit only to have my eyes bug out of my head. I do my famous Linda Blair impression and squeal out, "We have a Sonic?!"

After flinching from the shriek GG glances over and nods, "I guess so". My hunny bunny is a commuter. Technically since it takes me 30 minutes most mornings to get to work, I am too. However, since my commute is half the distance, in the opposite direction, and is through town, I don't get on the freeway.

In other words for the last several months as the very large SONIC was constructed, my beloved who drove by it 5 days a week for about three months, did not mention a very large new eating establishment going up smack in the middle of our 'restaurant row'.

It's not that I'm a huge Sonic fan. I haven't even been to a Sonic in years. However, I can't believe a huge new building and development went up and he drove by it almost every day without mentioning it. Even once. I'm just sayin'...

Anyway said new Sonic opened today. Shmoo wanted to eat there.
Yeah, had we waited in the car line we might expect to get in long about Christmas. We decided to skip it and went to In-n-Out Burger instead. Yeah, so not on the diet plan. I even ate some french fries. Not many, but still.

In other news...

I got all the books I was looking for today. Well except for the Linda Howard which apparently didn't release today. I don't think. I scoured that store and couldn't find it anywhere. The line at Customer Service was too long for me to wait in since the line to check out was very long also. After a long day at work I couldn't bear dealing with both of those lines.

Besides I was still on a high having found SAM'S CREED by Sarah McCarty. Yippee skippy doo-dah day! Can't wait to read that one.

Here's the other books I bought.

Pretty cool, huh? Anybody else have a happy book buying day?

Voracious

vo·ra·cious (vô-rā'shəs, və-) adj.

1. Consuming or eager to consume great amounts of food; ravenous.
2. Having or marked by an insatiable appetite for an activity or pursuit; greedy: a voracious reader.

I know that compared to women who have to get up each day and walk miles for water my life is a piece of cake. And in all seriousness, those women are never far from my thoughts because I know my life here in the United States is pretty darn peachy.

As peachy and great as my life is I still get a yen to indulge in some pretty decadent and indulgent behavior. Like I did this weekend for instance. I had a perfectly good rationalization too. Week before last I was busy getting sick and getting ready for Shmoo's 18th birthday party and that pretty much shot that week AND last weekend. I sure didn't get to read very much.

Yeah, I know you are probably thinking about those two books I posted about. In my defense I read those two books over a week. I think. Or, maybe even 10 days. That's slow reading for me. Besides I'm counting on all of you to be on my side here.

Anyway, this past week I was busy recovering, catching up with work and complaining on my blog. A busy and full week, no? *tongue firmly in cheek* Still not too much reading getting done. No book buying getting done for sure. Then the weekend rolled around again.

GG and I did our swimming, our grocery shopping, I made, as you know, quite a few book purchases, and we came home and did most of the rest of our weekend chores. We were busy little worker bees. So much so that I felt completely comfortable rewarding myself on Sunday with a little reading. Of course, there is no such thing is there? A little reading?

So here's my confession. I finished three books this weekend. I finished the Kresley Cole book Saturday night and then knocked out both the Anne Stuart FIRE AND ICE and the third O'Sullivan brother book by Kathleen O'Reilly NIGHTCAP on Sunday. Decadent AND voracious wasn't it?

I ask you though, how could I resist the temptation? First, I had all those lovely new books I'd just purchased. Then Beanie was working at the final matinee of GUYS AND DOLLS, which GG and I caught Saturday night btw, Shmoo was making the world a happy place by serving up Big Macs, and GG went out for his last long run in preparation of his half marathon on Mother's Day weekend. You know what that means right? A quiet and empty house.

What was I to do left home alone with all that lovely sunshine and silence? Shmoo's scrapbook? I did what any red-blooded book lover would do. I curled up in my bed with my books. There was actually a three hour period of no men, no phone, no tv, no music, no drums, NO noise. Just Emily snoozing in the sun and me reading. My bad? It was bliss. I hated to break for lunch.

Man, I was spoiled. Mother's Day is in two weeks, but I had the best day ever. After lunch and a chat with GG it was back to reading.

As a result I was patient and listened to Shmoo's woes at work when he got home. Beanie came home and had to tell me all about the final performance of Gs&Ds and the cast party. And GG, well he went to bed with a smile on his face. Yep, it was a very good day.

Shhhhhhh...don't tell my guys though. They think the turkey sausage and scrambled egg whites and dry english muffin they will be preparing for me in a couple of weeks is what is going to float my boat. I don't have the heart to tell them that "Silence is golden" had to be coined by a Mother who loved to read.

Why I'm Happy Today...

Books. That's why I'm happy. Books.

Thanks to the ever excellent Ames and Nath I found out that a couple of books I mentioned in my previous post were out in the stores early. Blogger buddies rock that way. Thanks guys.

Anyway, big surprise that my local Barnes and Noble only had the Kresley Cole book, DARK NEEDS AT NIGHTS EDGE. Believe me when I tell you I knew that Anne Stuart's book should have been out on the shelves. As Nath pointed in the comments Ms. Stuart's books are released by MIRA Books and you can usually find them early.

But, ooooooh nooooooo... not at my book store. I was really irritated. Really. Irritated. I'd gone to the AS website and read the truly excellent excerpt of FIRE AND ICE and I wanted that book. Now.

But then, dear friends, the wonderful fabulous lovely man I'm married to reminded me it was time to go to our favorite health food grocery store TRADER JOE'S. Why was I so happy and excited? TJ's is only a few miles from my favorite BORDERS store.

I knew Borders would have the AS book shelved because they are just the ab-so-lute best when it comes to getting books out as soon as possible. Talk about an adrenalin rush...whew! As you know, I had all that pent up book buying energy from three weeks of almost no purchases. You can do the math. Money in pocket. Books to buy. Yes, it all exploded came together today at Borders.

Here's what I got:

FIRE AND ICE by Anne Stuart

LAST WOLF WATCHING by Rhyannon Byrd (3rd in a 'meh series, but I have to finish the series don't I?)

A LADY'S SECRET by Jo Beverley

NIGHTCAP by Kathleen O'Reilly (3rd of series I've been enjoying. I could have gotten the ebook earlier, but I have the other two in print and wanted this one to match them because I'm probably going to keep the series.)

TO TASTE TEMPTATION by Elizabeth Hoyt (May 1st release date. Score!)

FALLEN by Erin McCarthy

PLAYING WITH FIRE by Katie MacAlister (off shoot of Aisling Grey series. This is about the Silver dragons)

BADDEST BAD BOYS anthology with Shannon McKenna, EC Sheedy and Cate Noble

THE COURTESAN'S SECRET by Claudia Dain

So I definitely made up for the rest of the month today. And I'm happy, very, very, happy we had to go grocery shopping.

The Weekend that Was

I had the best reading weekend I've had in a long, long time. It was great because all I did the whole weekend long was READ!! Okay, I did shower, do a couple of loads of laundry, and prepared a very nice Sunday night dinner, but other than that it was read, read, read. I didn't even go for my Saturday swim. Can you believe that?

I read four books this weekend. The bonanza was that while varied, I really enjoyed them all. First up was MIDNIGHT RISING (excerpt) by Lara Adrian. This is the latest installment in her Midnight Breed series. It's an interesting take on vampires. In Ms. Adrian's world vamps originate from aliens who landed and were stranded here centuries ago. The castaways mate with humans and create a race of Breeds, or vampires. This particular book was Rio's story and was a competent continuance of the world building and characters.

Then I read the third book in the Guys and Daughters series (April 08 SSE #1893) by Karen Templeton called BABY I'M YOURS (excerpt) . If you've circled the neighborhood recently you know that lots of people like Holly and SL Wendy have really liked this series. While I can't say I'm as over the moon for the books as they are, I have enjoyed them. However, this particular book was excellent. I think it was Holly who said Ms. Templeton tells a lot of story in this little category romance. She wasn't kidding.

Next, I read BLUE EYED DEVIL (excerpt) by Lisa Kleypas. This book is a contemporary romance. However I noted two striking things. For one, it's in first person, not everyone's cuppa because normally, speaking for myself, I like being in everyone's head not just one person. In Blue Eyed Devil first person didn't bother me at all. It was Haven's story to tell. Which brings me to the second thing that was a bit different for me. I was fascinated and riveted by the internal journey that Haven made in this book. I was every bit as fascinated with Haven's thoughts and choices as I was the romance. Haven's struggles aren't easy ones. I really liked that there were no pat and easy answers for her. I'm anxious to go back and read other people's reviews that I only skimmed before I read the book. I seem to remember a few people liked the book but had some problems. I'm curious to compare notes.

My final book of the weekend was PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS (excerpt) by Sherry Thomas. I had to read this book after reading and hearing so much about it. I have to admit I was skeptical. Not because I don't read good books after there's been a lot of buzz. Nope, my worry was that I wouldn't like it because the plot involved a couple that had been married and separated for 10 years. This is not a story line I'd normally be interested in.

I'm glad I went ahead and read it. Ms. Thomas presents a unique point of view and very interesting characters. One of the things I really liked was the self-awareness the characters had about themselves. It also read like a dream. Smooth. Easy. Flowing. Frankly, I was surprised how much I liked it.

My cup runneth over when I read so many different and good books in a short period of time. It was quite the adventure this past weekend.

Now I'm in the process of deciding what I'm going to pull out of the tbr for Keishon's TBR Day this month. I'm thinking maybe an old Maureen McKade that I recently found, OUTLAW BRIDE.

Hey, what are all you guys reading for the TBR Day this month?

Contemporary you say?

March has turned out to be a bit of a throwback month for me in terms of the sorts of books I've read and the broad spectrum they've covered. I'll go into it more when I do my month end list, but I sure have read the gamut of real winners to real stinkers this month.

I was on an erotic/menage bender for a couple of days. Most of those books were a disappointment. I think I'm developing higher standards. If I'm going to read erotic romance, I want it to be (very) good erotic romance. Anyway I was mostly disappointed with everything I tried with one huge exception.

So a huge MWHAH to Lisabea for rhapsodizing about the Brothers in Arms series by Samantha Kane. I read and thoroughly enjoyed, AT LOVE'S COMMAND (excerpt). I finally get all the Derek references. (And how!) It was also my first Ellora's Cave purchase in what seems like forever.

At pretty much the other end of the spectrum, steam wise, is the very superior writing and story telling, of Jenna Kernan. I've already mentioned her a few times. I've read three of Ms. Kernan's books in the last month and each of them was very, very good. Lots of heart and soul in her books.

I've been reading more category romances lately too. Which brings me to what prompted this post. Who recommended Kathleen O'Reilly? SL was it you? Book Binge ladies? I wish I'd write down who makes the rec when I write down the book titles, because I almost never remember. *sigh* Anyway, I don't remember who it was, but whoever said go read about Those Sexy O'Sullivans really knew what they were talking about.

The trilogy is being released in successive months by Harlequin Blaze. The first two are already out with the third one due out late April/early May.

Don't be distracted by the titles. Don't be discouraged by the blurbs. These books are good. If you are in the mood for a good contemporary that doesn't sacrifice story or great characters to it's shorter format, these books are perfect for you. The trilogy focuses on three Irish brothers trying to figure out their lives in the Big Apple. The O'Sullivan brothers also co-own a bar in Manhattan that has been in the family since before Prohibition.

The first book of the trilogy is about the youngest brother Gabe, who's primary owner of the bar in the March 08 Blaze SHAKEN AND STIRRED (excerpt). It's not just about keeping a good employee when Gabe wants to help out college student and part time bartender, Tessa, when yet another roommate leaves her in the lurch. This book's not fancy. It doesn't put on airs. It's not about the rich and famous.

There's also no big rescues here. It's just a little story about two people trying to figure out life. Can't we all relate to that? I sure (still) can. I calls 'em likes I sees 'em. This was a well balanced and realistic contemporary romance.

In the second book, the oldest O'Sullivan brother, Daniel, has his story in the April 08 Blaze SEX, STRAIGHT UP (excerpt). Oh, this book. What to say. Whew! I had actual heart pain. This book was very well written. Here's the best I can come up with. Soul deep. Grief. Loss. Fear. Commitment. Love. Redemption.

I can't say too much more without giving away the story. I do think Daniel's story has to unfold in chronological order. This book can stand alone, but will have much more of an impact if you read the first book of the trilogy. I don't know what else to say, except it's so worth reading.

Next month, the sexy and wild middle brother, Sean, has his story in the May 08 Blaze NIGHTCAP (excerpt). You can believe I'll be reading it. While I do think the trilogy had a huge arc in Daniel's book, it seems likely from the excerpt that Sean's book is a bit fluffier than the other two. However, I don't count Ms. O'Reilly out. This is some good writing and with a good writer, well, anything can happen.

Book Release Day

I've been reading from my tbr pile. While I'm hardly putting a dent in it I have severely curtailed my book shopping. For instance when I went into the UBS on Saturday, I went looking for a specific book. I did happen to pick up a second category book I'd been looking for, but that was it. Two books.

Today, March 25th I have the longest new book list for a single release day that I have had in eons. Yeah, I'm not so sure about the Kenyon, but I'm pretty certain I'm getting all the others.

Sherry Thomas - Private Arrangements

Sherrilyn Kenyon - Phantom in the Night

Lisa Kleypas - Blue Eyed Devil

Lara Adrian - Midnight Rising

Meredith Duran - Duke of Shadows

Are you book shopping today? What are you buying? Am I missing out on something good?

Rapture

Can't believe my last post was on Wednesday. This past week is a blur. But not to worry. Today was aces.

First, swimming. Yeah, we all know I like swimming. Then we took care of Shmoo's uniform. He's gotten into a program that preps you for the fire service. Big Surprise! They wear a uniform.

Next was a trip to my favorite Borders. You know what's coming next...right?

Books baby! That's right I scored a couple of books I've been dying to see released. I hardly know which one to announce first. So here they are...

Could you just scream!!!!!

MINE TO POSSESS by Nalini Singh and DEMON NIGHT by Meljean Brook. I'm literally breathless with anticipation because both of these books are on my "most anticipated" releases for 2008. Don't know which one to read first. What a great dilemma to have though, huh?

After the book store we went to see 27 Dresses. Shmoo went with his girlfriend and, of course, I dragged GG along. Beanie's girlfriend is out of town, but he came along stag. Being out altogether always makes me happy.

The movie was cute and engaging. It was light, funny, and that James Marsden is one handsome guy. Katherine Heigl lights up the screen. I think she's got a big career in front of her. Seriously, she can really light up the screen. Have you seen she and Ed Burns on the MovieFone Unscripted interview? Very entertaining.

Despite my crazy week. I did manage to read a book. It took most of the week but that didn't take away from my thorough enjoyment of EXTREME DANGER by Shannon McKenna. Don't ruin for me by talking about what's PC or appropriate. Hey I know people have issues with Shannon McKenna's heroes, but I love the big alpha louts. Certainly some books work better for me than others but this was one of the good ones. It's sexy, moving, a bit over the top and HOT! Seriously hot. I commented on its hotness so much that GG wants to read it. Heh, heh... I'm not stupid ya know. *wink wink*

Anyway, that's my fabulous Saturday. I love days like this.

September Reading List

Here they are in all their glory. September's reads. I'm back on track with 18 reads this month. Although the ebook by Louisa Trent was woefully short to be really called a book. I believe it was something like 45 pages.

I just cut and pasted my list from my spreadsheet because I wanted to review the list here and see what my impressions are now with some distance from the reads. I try to wait to enter the books on the spreadsheet sometimes because I sometimes have a change of heart about a book as I live with it a couple of days. So I thought I'd look at the list here and see what bubbles up.

The Black Lace book by Maya Hess was a DNF for me. It was a sort of time travel where a female air freight pilot finds herself crashed in what was a distinctly primitive, like caveman primitive, culture. Ugh! No pun intended. Well, maybe a little bit...

I enjoyed Maya Banks book which made me happy after purchasing a trade sized books. I've had mixed luck with her ebooks. I've listed the books in the order I read them. You will see I read two by Nalini Singh and two by Leda Swann. I'd read other short Silhouette Desires by Ms. Singh, but this one, SECRETS IN THE MARRIAGE BED while a bit predictable, was good. Of course, I liked CARESSED BY ICE and think she gets better and better in that series. You can tell those psy-changeling books are well thought out and she's soooo consistent with the world she's created.

THE PRICE OF PLEASURE by Leda Swann was a pretty good read. I liked it much more than Ms. Swann's SUGAR AND SPICE which was a sort of anthology about three couples in Victorian England who go to a place called Sugar and Spice to realize some fantasies or help their relationships. It was an okay read is about the most I can say for it. I enjoyed WHITE HEAT by Cherry Adair and she's a hit or miss for me. Sometimes I really like 'em and sometimes not. This was a good one...thank goodness since I bought the hardcover.

Wendy snagged GOSSAMER by Rebecca Hagan Lee off the shelves at UBS when we went to the author tea back in August. It was a great historical set in San Francisco. It's a book that's stuck with me since reading it. The hero was raised in Hong Kong and marries a Chinese woman. While his family isn't thrilled they do all they can to have the couple accepted into society. When his wife dies the man leaves the painful memories of Hong Kong behind and moves to San Francisco where he meets the heroine who has arrived in San Francisco to live with a brother she discovers is dead from an opium overdose. The hero has four daughters who need a governess. Problem solved when the two meet. Good conflict. Good book.

Let's see what else, I've written about FAIRYVILLE, LOVER UNBOUND, and the Hoyt books. I just finished THE COURTESAN'S DAUGHTER today by Claudia Dain. For those of you who frequent Dear Author you know that Jane and her Ned have been doing a clever book trailer for this book.

Since my reading of it is so recent and I'm finding I have mixed emotions about it I really don't have a definitive grade. In fact when I entered it on the spreadsheet earlier I didn't give it a grade yet. I've enjoyed Ms. Dain's books in the past, but I'll have to let this one ferment a bit. I CAN say it wasn't what I was expecting. It was a lighter read than I thought it would be for some reason.

FOR HER PLEASURE by Maya Banks
THE PRICE OF DESIRE by Leda Swann
MY IMMORTAL by Erin McCarthy
BRIGHT FIRE by Maya Hess
CARESSED BY ICE by Nalini Singh
IF HIS KISS IS WICKED by Jo Goodman
THREE ON THE FOURTH by Louisa Trent (ebook)
FAIRYVILLE by Emma Holly
SECRETS IN THE MARRIAGE BED by Nalini Singh
SPYING MAID by Lilith Payne (ebook)
WHITE HEAT by Cherry Adair
KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE by EC Sheedy
GOSSAMER by Rebecca Hagan Lee
THE SERPENT PRINCE by Elizabeth Hoyt
THE LEOPARD PRINCE by Elizabeth Hoyt
SUGAR & SPICE by Leda Swann
LOVER UNBOUND by JR Ward
THE COURTESAN'S DAUGHTER by Claudia Dain

Moo Moooooo...

It's okay I admit it. I'm one of the thundering herd that made their way to a bookstore yesterday and purchased LOVER UNBOUND by JR Ward. I want to read Vishous' story. There I said it. My name is Rosie and I like the BDB books. I almost can't wait to see what I think about this one knowing it's gotten some mixed reviews. I mostly skimmed the few reviews I've seen because I don't want to be influenced by anyone else's take on the book.

Besides LU I also purchased:

LESSONS OF DESIRE by Madeline Hunter
AIN'T MYTH BEHAVING by Katie MacAlister
DEMON'S KISS by Eve Silver
DEVILS ON HORSEBACK:NATE by Beth Williamson (ebook from Samhain)

MacAlister is hit or miss with me, but when she's on I really enjoy her books especially the dragon series. HOLY SMOKES is due out in November and I'll be purchasing that one for sure. I've liked most of Madeline Hunter's books and was sort of excited about this release because I've been on a historical kick. I've also been in the mood for a western, so I decided to try Beth Williamson after looking at her westerns at Samhain for about a year now.

I still haven't read the ARC of the Lynn Viehl book EVERMORE yet. If you are a fan, as I am, you probably think I'm crazy. I actually think I'll crack LU first. EVERMORE is my ace in the hole. Knowing it's there waiting for me (personally signed no less) makes me feel warm and fuzzy. A little kooky maybe? Cuz, I'm not taunting...really I'm not.

Back to Basics

Off and on I note that people post what they've read during the month. I've toyed with posting my monthly reads. I waver all the time. After all, if I post everything then you'll know all my secrets! You'd know all the politically incorrect reading I do. Scary that. I'd feel so...so...exposed! So, have to give more thought to whether or not this will be a regular thing. Of course you'd never know if I disclosed all my reads ...now would you? ;-)

As I've wailed and lamented over the past month I didn't read much, 6 books in August. There were also 3 e-books I'm too lazy to go look up. So really 9 books total. When you compare that to the 39 I read in January it seems positively shocking. Well it was to me anyway. I like to stay in the 15 to 20 book range. I feel nice and balanced in my life when I do that and it also means I didn't stay up too many nights and got too little sleep.

Odd assortment this past month. Without further ado...here's August 2007:

Dangerous Lover by Lisa Marie Rice
Tied to the Tracks by Rosina Lippi
A Reason to Believe by Maureen McKade
The Northern Devil by Diane Whiteside
Tanner's Scheme by Lora Leigh
Coming Undone by Susan Andersen

In case you were wondering, I had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. I did make it out of my jammies and even made a trek to my favorite BORDERS. As many of you have probably read and heard we are having extremely warm and humid weather here in SoCal. It was 111 degrees when we were at the book store. I've never been so grateful to walk into an air-conditioned room in my life. Anyway I found just about everything I was looking for.

Here's my haul:

Driven by Eve Kenin
Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh
The Price of Desire by Leda Swann
My Immortal by Erin McCarthy
For Her Pleasure by Maya Banks
White Heat by Cherry Adair
Me & Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
Fairyville by Emma Holly
If His Kiss is Wicked by Jo Goodman

Yes, I purchased more books than I read the whole month of September. Well if you don't count the ebooks. I'm happy to report though that I read four books over the weekend. Isn't that absolutely fabulous? I'm soooo happy to be reading again.

Now if I'm really getting back to basics I should get a review or two up this week. One can hope.

The Good Stuff - Part 2

I'm sort of blissed out right now. The house is clean. The laundry is caught up. Beanie has a car. (I know I said that one yesterday, but it's such a relief it bears repeating.) There's a three-day weekend coming up AND I've actually been doing some reading. Not a lot mind you. Things have still been sort of hectic, but reading is reading people and I'm one happy little camper with the 60 pages I've gotten in the last 24 hours. I've made some purchases the last couple of days. Three books I was happy to bring home.





SERPENT PRINCE by Elizabeth Hoyt. (Excerpt)
This is the book I'm reading now. I'm only about 60 pages in and it's just getting good.





SILVER MASTER by Jayne Castle. (Excerpt) This is part of her Ghost Hunter series which she writes as Jayne Castle. These are the only Krentz books I'm still buying and reading. I've enjoyed the futurist world Ms. Castle has created and was very happy when I learned there was to be another installment. These books are truly stand alones. While the world is one Ms. Castle has already created, each story has it's own characters and plot.





Dark Possession by Christine Feehan. (Excerpt) Part of me can't believe I bought this let alone paid for it in hardcover. I just keep hoping for just one more good 'dark' book from Ms. Feehan because I'm still enjoying her Ghostwalker series and the Drake sisters series. So there you have it an admission of my addiction.


I've already informed GG that I intend to veg and read, read, read this weekend. I can hardly wait. At one point we had some plans to go see my brother up in San Francisco area because his actual birthday (even though we will be celebrating it in Vegas with Beanie's 21st birthday) is on September 5th. However, we decided to stick close to home and not travel over the holiday weekend.

Who knows? I might even get back to talking about and reviewing books around here. Could happen.

Can we talk about books?

Books in Winter by Jessie Wilcox Smith

I've been tagged for a book meme by KristieJ and I decided what the heck I'll give it a whirl. Although I have to confess I did some estimating with my book count because I didn't take them all off the shelves to count. There are just too damn many to move. K? But if I erred it was on the conservative side I didn't round up.

1. Total number of books I own: Just me? Uh, 2302. Guess I don't have to worry about having something to read when I'm old...right?


2. Last book I bought: COMING UNDONE by Susan Andersen


3. Last book I read: AGNES AND THE HITMAN by Bob Mayer and Jennifer Crusie


4. Five books that mean a lot to me: This one is hard. The most I can say is that just for today these are the five books I'd choose. Tomorrow I might choose a different five books.

a. FAREWELL THE STRANGER by Saliee O'Brien. My first romance. A book found in my grandparents basement. I talked all about it here.

b. OVER THE EDGE by Suzanne Brockmann. This is special for a weird reason. In the book terrorists take over a plane. I finished this book the night of September 10, 2001. Just two weeks before we'd seen a repeat on 60 minutes about this guy Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. When 9/11 happened the first thing I said to GG was it was terrorists and I bet it was that Bin Laden guy. The primary love story isn't what resonated with me it was that Suzanne Brockmann had probably written the book a year (or more) earlier and captured the political times of the world we live in and the men and women who fight against terrorism.

c. SHADES OF TWILIGHT by Linda Howard. I just love the characters Roanna Davenport and Webb Tallant. It's about family, betrayal, dynastys. It's one of the few books I own that I've re-read more than once. I could name a couple of other of Howard's books, but I picked this one to represent them all.

d. JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte. I remember reading this and thinking that everyone deserves to be loved.

e. EXODUS and MILA 18 by Leon Uris. I mentioned MILA 18 before in a meme because this book was very powerful when I read it. These books were written about Jews after the WWII when they were trying to establish a home and country in Israel (Exodus) and about the Polish Jews resistance in the Warsaw ghetto (MILA 18). The books gave history a human face and made it real to me. I cried my eyes out.


5. Tag 5 people. I hate tagging people. I never know who to pick...but I always like reading what other people write. So if you read this and want to do it...please do. How's that?

A Day Late...

...and a dollar short. I had hoped to do this post last night but I had the worst mother of a migraine headache yesterday. Probably the worst I've had in about three years. I don't know if it's the recent posts by Holly and Jenster about their headaches or just what, but Lord-a-mercy the headache I had yesterday made me sick as a dog. I'm much better now, but also a bit exhausted. So, I'm off to bed as soon as I get this posted.

Here's the latest list of books to be added to my TBR. BTW, today I bought FORCE OF NATURE by Suzanne Brockmann. It was 40% off at Barnes and Noble if you have a membership. I had an additional 15% off coupon so I walked out with the book for just $14.47. That's cheaper than most trade sized paperbacks. If anyone needs the 15% off coupon just click here. You have to be a B&N member to use it, but it's good until August 19th, so have at it.

Books I bought Saturday from the wonderful Toni's New and Recycled Romances:

1. SECRETS - Volume 9. I confess I bought this one new. Even though it's my first volume of SECRETS and even though Rosario gave a recent less than stellar review of Volume 4. I confess I couldn't resist with two of the four authors being familiar to me. This one contains stories by Bonnie Hamre, Kimberly Dean, Lisa Marie Rice and Kathryn Anne Dubois.

2. FORGET ME NOT - Marliss Melton. I've got two of her books now because I heard good things about her. I haven't read either one yet.

3. Sil Sp Ed #1732 HIS COMFORT & JOY by Jessica Bird

4. Sil Sp Ed #1750 FROM THE FIRST by Jessica Bird

5. HEART OF GOLD by Jessica Bird. What can I say? I read one SSE and decided I need to read more of Jessica Bird aka JR Ward. Apparently I'm the very last romance reader on the planet to know these are the same person.

6. GOSSAMER by Rebecca Hagan Lee. Rec from SL Wendy

7. MIDNIGHT RAIN by Holly Lisle. Rec from SL Wendy. Don't worry Wendy, I've heard good things about both these authors and they are both new to me, so new is good. Wendy, bless her, thinks she influences me to the dark side by recommending books that I snatch up and buy. Heh, heh, like I ever need help buying books. I'm just grateful for the recs.

8. CODE OF HONOR by Catherine Mann. Actually her category romances were recommended to me by Lori at Let's Gab. I didn't find any of those at Toni's place but this sounded interesting so I scooped it up.

9. EMBRACED BY DARKNESS by Keri Arthur. I just keep buying the books in this series. I haven't started reading it yet. Although I must admit I like when I have four books in a series to start with then the next one doesn't seem so far away by the time I get them read AND I can read them all in a row.

Next are the pictures of my TBR which is now stored in rubbermaid tubs. There are only about 3-4 books on my bedside stand and I now can live TBR anxiety free. Take a look at the new tubs o' TBR.




Top two tubs most likely to be broken into. Already these are both full.




What else would be next? Although the Regency tub is a broad term for really all British historicals whatever the time period.




Last but certainly not least are all other Historicals.




Here they are all five of them in their glory messing up what once was a nicely organized office.




This is my now messy office. See all the scrapbooking stuff that has been out since my project since last Christmas? I'm still working on the last two heritage scrapbooks for my two sons. Since Shmoo is graduating next June I need to get his scrapbook done.





The scrapbooking table that never ends. Note the neat piles of even more scrapbooking paper under the table. Does it look like there's much room between this table and the TBR tubs? There isn't!


***ETA***
Don't forget when you comment your name will be added to the drawing for the Sylvia Day book, book bag and poster.

A Thinking Problem and Nora Roberts

I have loved reading for what seems like forever. I can remember Weekly Reader when I was in grade school and being able to order books. I'll never forget being handed my very own copy of the latest Encyclopedia Brown or Beezus and Ramona. Being a military brat and moving often we didn't accumulate books. There was always a weight restriction (still is) when you move in the military. And, books, well books add weight. It wasn't a travesty as a kid. We moved, with very few exceptions, our books didn't. But you never forget the feelings. The joy of ownership.

One good thing was always the library. I always found good books at the library. That and X-Men and Spiderman comics. Yeah, my brothers liked Superman and Batman. Me? I was all about X-Men. X-Men had girls. Girls with powers. Spidey had MJ. She was no clueless Lois Lane who couldn't figure out who Superman was. Peter Parker didn't think his girl was too fragile to handle his super hero life. MJ was a woman to be reckoned with.

Anyway, all my early reading and frankly most of my reading now is and was to escape. An adventure, a new place. In a book anything is possible, any world, any circumstance. Escape from the mundane, the difficult, the real.

All of which is off topic from what I set out to write about tonight. I wanted to come here and talk about a new twist in my reading. Books aren't just means to escape the reality of life with all it's ups and downs. Reading , when I have a good book in my hands, has become a journey that lets me see different people and perspectives of life. Books don't just make me look at my own life differently. The best ones make me think. Think of things I've never thought about before. Think on a grander and broader scale than the me I was before I read the book. Megan Hart's books have done that recently. So has Maureen McKade and Deborah Smith.

Tonight it was Nora Roberts. As I was finishing HIGH NOON (excerpt) I really wanted to sit down with a drink and have a conversation with her, the grand Nora Roberts. I wanted to talk to her about being a woman with responsibilities. About meeting men. About commitment. I'd like to tell her how amazing it was to feel my own burdens in life lightened by something one of her characters said. I have new thoughts to mull over because of this book. Thoughts about family and responsibilities.

I'd tell her this isn't about reviewing the book. Don't get me wrong. HIGH NOON is a good book. No, this is more than that. This is about reading a story that gives you a fresh perspective on your own life. Makes the bitter medicine of life a little easier to swallow. I'd ask her if she doesn't sometimes feel like life is an endless 'To Do' list. Always with the chores and the responsibilities. Responsibilities are okay they come with life. That simple, that easy. A character in HIGH NOON, Duncan Swift reminded me about that. Responsibilities go with life, with relationships. Reading what Duncan said got me thinking. Gave me a new perspective on how lucky I am to have some of those responsibilities. They mean I have special people and love in my life.

I'd tell Nora that I'm not anything like police Lieutenant Phoebe McNamara. No big past traumas in my life. No resemblance to her or my life at all. But I'd also tell her that Phoebe's story made me think about things as monumental as not giving up, and the importance of persevering through adversity to something as mundane as making an effort to exercise more. That's pretty amazing. You know what else? It makes things a little lighter to carry. When a book does that, makes you think and feel those things. That's true empowerment. That's joy. That's grace. That's a good book.

So that's what I'd tell Nora. That, and thank you. I'd even pick up the bar tab.

Too Pooped to Post

That's me! Too pooped to post. The new job is great. The people in my department are all very nice and welcoming. I'm working at one of our area fire protection districts in the Fire Prevention department. It's an admin support job, but our offices are attached to one of the larger and fully operational fire stations. Yes, it's way cool and already looks like it will be a fun and interesting place to work.

Since I'm only working part-time the job isn't what has me dragging my bootie. My nephew is staying with us for the week while his parents are on a cruise. See these beautiful tan and happy people? I know them. They are related to me. This is what they looked like BEFORE the cruise. Imagine how happy they will be when they come home.




So the nevvie isn't the reason I'm tired because he is, after all, 14 and doesn't require a lot of hands-on care. Nope, I made enchilada casserole last night and BAKED IT which means I turned on my oven when it was over 100 degrees outside and humid as all get out. The end result is that I feel like I was in a sauna for the entire time the casserole baked. Why would I do that one might ask. Well, for one thing my nephew really, really wanted enchiladas. For another I was parked in the kitchen for most of the cooking time prepping stuff for today's dinner and cleaning and slicing fresh fruit for last night's meal. Nephew lurved the enchiladas so except for me sweating off a couple of pounds and frying myself it's all good even if I did end up pooped.

Reading is good too when I get a chance to do some. I recently finished WIRED by Liz Maverick. Innovative and different. I liked it and will checking out more books in the Shomi line in the months ahead. Right now I'm reading HOT WHEELS AND HIGH HEELS by Jane Graves. I'm enjoying it, but am only a few pages into it. I've got so many books and no time to read right now. I'm sure I'll get into some sort of rhythm once I get going in the new job, but for now I seem to be running full tilt and the summer is just speeding by.

Harry Potter movie comes out tomorrow. I don't think we will be able to see it until the weekend. We've always gone to the HP movies as a family and want to do so again...probably with the boys' girlfriends too. However, when that many people are involved who all work it becomes challenging. So we'll see what happens. I can't wait to see it.

Books I Read and Books I Bought

Reading has been creeping along this past week for a couple of reasons. First there's been lots to do around the house. The outside is more work during the summer months, and, of course, we had the FIREFLY weekend so no reading for two whole days.

I did get through a couple of books though. After picking it up to read parts of it in the store I ended up purchasing the second Silhouette Nocture RAINTREE book by Linda Winstead Jones. (BTW, Ms. Jones your website desperately needs to be updated.) You may remember that last month I gave a less than stellar review of Linda Howard's contribution to the trilogy and had no intention of purchasing the second book. That, however, was before I got curious in the bookstore and started reading it. It was good enough to pique my interest and like I already said, I ended up buying RAINTREE: Haunted. You can read an excerpt here.

This second installment was very good. Ms Winstead fleshed out the back story and gave us full characters. I enjoyed this book much more than the first one and as a result was less concerned about how it was all going to be wrapped up in the third book. My only lingering criticism is that there is a decent enough plot here, but with the talent of these writers I guess I had higher expectations. I think the story line is a bit predictable, but I did enjoy Gideon and Hope's story quite a bit.

BTW, Gideon's interaction and conversations with the dead were well done and left me wishing (hoping?) that it could really be like that for our dearly departed. So, do I have to say that I've already purchased the third book in the RAINTREE trilogy? You know me too well. Beverly Barton's installment, RAINTREE: Sanctuary is in the TBR.

Another book I just finished is THE STRANGER by Elizabeth Lane. This is a Harlequin Historical that I purchased after I was intrigued by teasers Sybil had posted. For an excerpt go here. THE STRANGER takes place in 1881 New Mexico territory. The story set up and characters were good and I was settling into the read quite nicely when a couple of things began to irritate me.

Ms. Lane certainly seems to have well researched this time period which is always a plus, but her dialogue and the misunderstandings and miscommunications between Caleb McCurdy, the drifter who comes to help the widowed Laura Shafton with her ranch are stretched very thin and didn't make sense to me. Also, Laura's little boy Robbie's speech alters between being either too young or too old for his age, IMO. It bugged. But all that was nothing compared to page 229.

Ms. Lane created two possible plot conflicts in the story. You read most of the book knowing that one of two things or both are going to happen to foil this couple's happiness. She deals with one of the plot conflicts with a note. Yes a note. A note that was not true to the character who sent it or the build up she had given the circumstance. It too bugged. A LOT.

While I see possibilities for reading another book by Ms. Lane, I will carefully consider the plot first. So all in all, I was bummed by this one.

Last, but certainly not least, are the new purchases. Wow! There were a lot of books to chose from and buy this past Tuesday! At one point I had about 10 books in my arms, but some of them just have to wait a week.

New books purchased:
SAFE HARBOR by Christine Feehan
THE UNFORTUNATE MISS FORTUNES by Anne Stuart, Jennifer Crusie and Eileen Dreyer
HIDDEN AGENDA by Lora Leigh
VIRGIN RIVER by Robyn Carr
THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS MIRANDA CHEEVER by Julia Quinn


I was supposed to buy:
FIREFLY graphic novel (sticky note fell off list or I would've gotten this one)
HOT WHEELS & HIGH HEELS by Jane Graves
IN DARKNESS RETURN by Alexis Morgan (3rd in Paladin series)

We're on vacation next week and not going out of town so I'll probably pick up those I missed and Joey Hill's VAMPIRE QUEEN'S SERVANT and Liz Maverick's WIRED as well.

Tomorrow I hope to have up my review of SOUL SONG by Marjorie Liu. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from Dorchester, a first for me, and I want to do my part to promote this book and Ms. Liu, a new favorite of mine.

Books, UBS, & Other Stuff

Books. The reason I decided to start this blog in the first place. Books. Although you wouldn't know it as I get so caught up in my own life and meanderings sometimes.

Anyway, as many of you know, I recently found a new UBS thanks to Wendy. Halleluia, virgin book territory to explore! I found some great books there, and then a couple of days ago on the way to an appointment I found that the "other" UBS in my area has new management and decided to check it out. It's still a little dark and dank, but the organization of books has improved and she has a huge back inventory of older historicals. Particularly Harlequin Historicals. Since I've been on a western binge lately that was absolutely sterling news. ::batting lashes:: Long story short, between two trips to the UBS and new purchases I've gotten quite a haul of books lately. For instance...

FROM WENDY'S UBS
Cheryl St. John
JOE'S WIFE (which I've already read and really liked)
SAINT OR SINNER

Cheryl Reavis
THE BRIDE FAIR
THE FORBIDDEN BRIDE (Already read this one too)

Candice Proctor (SCORE!)
WHISPERS OF HEAVEN (Kristie isn't this your fave Proctor? Or was it Cindy?)
BEYOND SUNRISE

Terri Brisbin (Tara Marie review interested me in these)
THE EARL'S SECRET
THE NORMAN'S BRIDE
THE COUNTESS BRIDE

Mary Burton
THE UNEXPECTED WIFE (Read on the beach in Georgia)

Jenna Kernan
WINTER WOMAN

Ruth Wind
IN THE MIDNIGHT RAIN


FROM MY NEW UBS
Cheryl St. John (damn you Wendy...I'm hooked on her books!)
DOCTOR'S WIFE (Hooray! Finally, I've been looking for awhile now)
THE GUNSLINGER'S BRIDE (Montana Mavericks)

Cheryl Reavis
HARRIGAN'S BRIDE (Already read this one. Civil War story. Pretty good.)

Mary Burton
THE PERFECT WIFE

S.L. Viehl
STAR DOC

Barbara Samuel
LUCIEN'S FALL

Linnea Sinclair
GABRIEL'S GHOST

Candace Camp
SO WILD A HEART

Linda Castillo
DEAD RECKONING


NEW BOOKS PURCHASED
Lara Adrian
KISS OF MIDNIGHT
KISS OF CRIMSON
I've read both of these already while on vacation in Georgia. They were good. I agree with comments I've seen else where that there is a similarity to J.R. Wards' series, but no name dropping and no M/M innuendo. I liked 'em.

Meljean Brook
DEMON MOONThis is an amazing book. MB writes so smart! You can go to this post on her blog for a list of places that have already done reviews. I was going to review this book, but Janet at Dear Author put my thoughts to words more eloquently than I ever could. If you only have a minute, read the first paragraph of her review, she sums up the reading experience of DEMON MOON perfectly.

Cheryl St. John
PREACHER'S DAUGHTER

Eloisa James
DESPERATE DUCHESSES

Jacquelyn Frank
GIDEON

Linnea Sinclair
GAMES OF COMMAND

Kelley Armstrong
BITTEN

Reading this over it is obvious I have a serious addiction. I soothe myself by remembering how fast I read. I have to keep myself supplied with a wide variety of things to read don't I? Who needs food when you have books?

Okay so this is a long ass post, but it clears stuff off my to-do list and here at NOBODY ASKED ME...we're all about crossing off the to-do list. Speaking of lists, one last thing -- isn't Romantic Advances the coolest? Sure helps with ye olde book shopping list doesn't it? If you haven't been by, go check it out.

If you were wondering that is 29 books in all. I've already read 7 of them.
Adrian 2
Brisbin 3
Burton 2
Proctor 2
Reavis 3
Sinclair 2
St John 5
Wind/Samuels 2
Armstrong, Brook, Camp, Castillo, James, Frank, Kernan, and Viehl with 1 each

The BEE Movie

If you've been in the children's section of the bookstore in recent years you know that Jerry Seinfeld wrote a book about HALLOWEEN. It's cute and entertaining for both kids and adults. I figured he has ventured into the children's realm because he is now a father of three. Maybe. Ya think?

Have you heard about The Bee Movie? I hadn't. Beanie clued me in yesterday morning by showing me this trailer.

Yeah, I can't believe it either. YouTube the third time in less than a week.