My Reading Year 2008

Lordy, Lordy, in the process of doing this post I had to go back through the last three months of 2008 quite a bit. How can you stand me? All I did was whine, whine, whine. I actually had a wonderful Christmas. Thanksgiving was great as well. My niece got married, as many of you know, in late October and life has been at mach speed since. Sure, I'm living la vida loca on crack but, you know, it's a very good life so I need to quit complaining already.

I felt compelled to mention these things so you all don't think I'm sitting in the dark in sackcloth and ashes lamenting my life. I've been busy, but I'm good...as are GG, Shmoo and Beanie.

I can't believe how fast some of you got your year end stats up. Wenches. Kudos and much admiration. I'm thrilled to be sitting here doing mine when we are only a week into the new year.

I'm happy to report I finally did my monthly reading lists for October, November and December. Click on the links if you are interested in seeing what I read in those months. They probably popped up as newly published if you have an RSS feed reader so you may have already seen them that way. If you don't have a reader they are dated and buried in the appropriate months. As I said, if you give a rat's patootie you can use the links and it will be quicker.

Here it is chiquitas... *drum roll* In 2008 I read 135 books. Not bad, but quite a shocker especially after I checked to see how many books I read last year. In 2007 I read 244 books. 244. Books.

Conclusion?

Apparently working full time puts a crimp in my reading habits. Well that and a commitment to exercise several times a week. Oops, I almost started a whine there.

Anyway, 135 is the magic number. 109 fewer than last year. I can hardly believe it was that bad. GG reminded me that this is more than 2 books a week. I reminded him that I am used to reading 4-5 books a week. Who knows maybe this is my new normal. Time and 2009 will tell...

Here are some of my 2008 highlights:

While I only had two DNFs, I also only had three 'A' grades as well. I'm a very tough grader just ask my kids. Never mind, don't ask them because they will also tell you I'm crazy. Just trust me. I'm a stingy 'A' giver.

My three 'A' grades went to a re-read of one of my old favorite SHADES OF TWILIGHT by Linda Howard; WINTER WOMAN by Jenna Kernan and MRS. DREW PLAYS HER HAND by Carla Kelly. The title links are to my reviews of those books. Interestingly enough both WINTER WOMAN and MRS. DREW PLAYS HER HAND were TBR day reviews as well. Makes me shiver to wonder what other treasures are in those tubs of mine.

RWA was a highlight for me this year for many reasons. One of them was Jodi Thomas. I hadn't read a one of her books, but I brought back and sent signed copies of her book TWISTED CREEK to a few friends who'd mentioned they liked her. I later discovered I didn't keep one for myself. I bought the book (again!) and loved it. Even though TWISTED CREEK was a contemporary, the writing interested me enough that I went looking for Ms. Thomas's back list which is mostly westerns. I've really enjoyed her books and will be forever grateful to Dev for the original recommend. Jodi Thomas is definitely an auto buy now.

For no apparent reason I can think of it appears that I read more historicals this year. Maybe it's just a lack of decent contemporaries. I don't know.

Another author I fell in love with is Ann Aguirre. It's unusual for me to be so passionate about a female character, but Ms. Aguirre certainly succeeded when she created Sirantha Jax. This is another author I had the pleasure of meeting at RWA. I got to tell her how much I enjoyed Jax and GRIMSPACE. I gave GRIMSPACE a B++. However, the book and characters have really stuck with me and I should probably change that grade to an 'A'. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to reading Ms. Aguirre's new book called BLUE DIABLO that's due out April 7th.

I did more re-reads this year than I have in recent years. In addition to the Howard book, I also re-read a couple of Jennifer Crusie's older books that were re-published. I enjoyed them both. I also re-read an Iris Johansen historical LION'S BRIDE that held up well.

Nalini Singh is still kicking bootie with her Psy-Changling series. She is also an author I was fortuante to meet at RWA and she's just as nice as can be. I enjoyed HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE this past year and am looking foward to the new series starting in March. The first book is called ANGEL'S BLOOD. BTW, she has a contest going right now for an ARC of the new book.

Of course I'm wondering what 2009 will bring. Even after GG looked at my '08 stats he still thinks I'll be back on track with 4-5 books per week this year. Things should settle down at work by the end of March. Hopefully there won't be as many special projects and less working on weekends. That means more time for reading! Right?

What a week!

Still plugging along with my Christmas list. My google reader is up to 488 again. Oy! I'm not even supposed to be writing this post. I'm supposed to be working on Christmas cards. However, I'm not in the mood.

The big-ass TV is now mounted on the wall. The wonderful piece of furniture I ordered to go under it is back ordered. They call 'em TV media consoles. Who knew? I DO know that I looked at about a gazillion before I found one I liked. I also found a dining room table I really liked. However, a dining room table wasn't on the shopping list. Bummer. Very big, very sad bummer. Dining room tables don't grow on trees, especially ones you really, really like.

I'm still lagging on a few Christmas gifts and have about half my wrapping to do yet. All the stuff that had to be shipped is gone baby gone! In fact I've had a couple reports that the recipients already have their packages. Ya-hooey!!!

I have piles of books on my desk to catch up my spreadsheet and October and November reading lists. No worries about December's list. It's dismal. Maybe two books? Although I did buy this book...

THE TREASURE by Iris Johansen. It's a quick read. It's a bit flawed. The dialogue was redundant. All the characters had the same voice and speech patterns. However, I am as fascinated as ever by Kadar. There could have been so much more done there. I don't regret buying it, even in hard cover, cuz, ya know I HAD to read it to see what happened. As you might recall this book is the follow up to LION'S BRIDE which came out in 1996.

I recently re-read LION'S BRIDE in anticipation of THE TREASURE release and was happy to find it held up pretty well. LION'S BRIDE has more layers and detail to it than THE TREASURE, but I did enjoy re-visiting these characters. I just wish the story wasn't stretched so thin. On the other hand, I'd love to see her do Vaden's book and there was enough foreshadowing in this one to believe there might just be one around the corner. One can hope.

So that's my week. Gotta go do my Christmas cards before GG figures out I'm enjoying myself elsewhere. He's a slave driver. (Not really, but I gotta blame somebody and he's handy) I'd rather read or surf my google reader, but alas duty calls. Hope you all aren't too busy and crazy out there. I'm thinking about you...

Zapped by Zeek!

Zeek got me!

This is a meme that is pretty easy to get into and requires very little effort. It's also timely as I just finished the "nearest book".

Here are the rules:
Grab the nearest book. Open the book to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your journal/blog along with these instructions.

Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the closest. Tag five other people to do the same.

"He would have taken an army if you asked him to conquer a town. He could not take one to conquer a mulberry tree. He says he has no honor, but you can see that's not true."

~THE LION'S BRIDE by Iris Johansen

I just finished reading LION'S BRIDE. It's still good. It was originally published in 1996 and holds up well. There was an excerpt of Ms. Johansen's new historical coming out in December 2008 in the back of the re-release of TLB. It looks like THE TREASURE is Kadar and Selene's story. Finally.

I'm not tagging anyone, but I like these kinds of memes because I'm always curious about what everyone is reading. So if you likey, join us AND let me know.

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.

Vegas Baby Vegas...

ARE YOU A TRICKER...
OR A TREATER?HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Well, I caught with all of my blog hopping last night because I probably won't have a chance to get back out here what with Halloween tonight, my sister and her family come tomorrow night and then on Friday we leave for the family birthday party in Las Vegas.

I have to admit that a week ago I was thrilled to bits. Now that I'm in the thick of getting ready and just had a new project dumped on me at work, well let's just say I'm a little less enthused. Shhhhh...don't tell Beanie because he's so excited he can't stand it. There is nothing that kid likes better than a room full of people and a party. In fact even though we have enough rooms and beds for everyone the cousins are already planning to all stay in the same room. God help us all.

I'm reading. My nose is buried in PANDORA'S DAUGHTER by Iris Johansen. No new ground, but I find I still like her books. I found out Deborah Smith's new book A GENTLE RAIN is available for order. Even though the link is to Amazon I think I actually ordered mine from Barnes and Noble. I'm hoping it gets here in time to take to Vegas to read. You can also order direct from Belle Books, Ms. Smith's (with others) very own pub company, but it's slightly more expensive that way.

It's my intention to do some "on the road" posts. If I get a chance to do them just remember I'm typing on my Treo. It's small and typos happen...

The devil made me do it.

See anything new on my sidebar? Does he rock? Yeah...he does! I came close to re-reading DEVIL IN WINTER by Lisa Kleypas and ignoring the tbr, but I was in Barnes and Noble waiting for GG on Tuesday and stuff happened. Which is code for I bought more books. Which means I won't be re-reading DEVIL IN WINTER anytime soon. I don't think...unless I start reading all those excerpts fellow Sebastian lovers are posting on their blogs. Very swoon worthy.

Anyway, my Barnes and Noble, as I've mentioned a time or two, is not the swiftest shelving new releases. So, I was surprised to see ICE STORM by Anne Stuart and BLOOD FEVER by Karen Marie Moning out already since they are technically November releases. Of course I had to pick those up. They weren't the only books I bought either. Since I got an ARC of CAINE'S RECKONING by Sarah McCarty didn't I have to BUY a copy of the book to show my support for Sarah? Of course I did. Then I'm still reading Iris Johansen and her new hardcover PANDORA'S DAUGHTER was out so I picked it up as well.

I did actually hesitate to buy all of them since one was a trade sized book and two were hard covers. That's actually biting into my November book budget. GG, darling man that he is told me to "just get them". Maybe his reading some of my books is influencing him? Nah. Truth be told he's always been pretty indulgent with my book purchases. Helps to have met and married a guy who likes to read too.

You'd think those books would be enough. But nooooooo! After somewhat of a dry spell from ebooks, I actually purchased a couple of books from Loose Id this week too. Those are in addition to a lovely gift from author TL Schaefer of the ebook BROTHERHOOD which she so kindly sent to me when I had my big fat whiner day last week.

Could I be any happier to have these lovely books? No! Now I just have to carve out the reading time. Who needs food or clean clothes? Or a clean house, or the bills paid, or swimming, or blogging, or...

Clang, Clang, Clang went the trolley...

Yeah, I don't know why I titled this post that...I was trying to think of something that would sum up the crazy busy I've been lately and that's what popped into my mind. Posting is going to be intermittent the rest of this month, June is just a beehive!!

Here's a couple of quickies about some books I've read.


Jory Strong - ROPING SAVANNAH I'm a big fan of Ms. Strong's books. They are usually fast paced and intense. She has a couple of different series going on. This particular book is part of the FALLON MATES series. It is futuristic and the least of my favorites. This book was only okay for me. I didn't really like Savannah that much. I couldn't figure out why these two guys would like her either...DNA matched mate or not. This book gets a 'MEH' from me.

The new Sherrilyn Kenyon - THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON which is her hard cover debut for the Dark Hunters I believe. Okay, I'm a fan and was soooo looking forward to this book. My biggest interest in this book was the information Ms. Kenyon gave us that progressed the Dark Hunter lore. Changing locations to Seattle did nothing for the story line, IMHO.

I was not invested in Ravyn or his story much at all. For such a hard ass who is supposed to be so mean and difficult to get along with he seemed pretty tame to me. He was a sort of "metro" DH if you will. This would have been okay, not all DH's have to be the same, but Ravyn just seemed sort of confused and without focus. I do have to say I am curious to read Nick's story, which has been set up with bits and pieces in three different books now and also, Savitar looks like he would make an interesting book. We already know he just kills the people who irritate him. How do you make that guy redeemable?

Lynn Viehl - DARK NEED. Now this book I loved! I couldn't put it down. While I must admit it took me the first couple of chapters to get reacquainted with the Darkyn world, I still enjoyed every page. I'm already a big fan of the series and I think this is the best book yet. I was hooked trying to figure Lucan out. We know he has a story, but Ms. Viehl, without frustrating the reader, slowly unveils his past as the current day story progresses.

There is a whole Darkyn world that has been created with these books which touches on the dark side of the Catholic Church. This book differs dramatically from the Kenyon book because we are not only interested in the progression of the story of the Darkyn kind, but get engrossed in this individual story of Samantha and Lucan. Ms. Viehl does well here with the characters creating in-depth people we care about. Both Samantha Brown, homicide cop and Lucan the Darkyn assassin are flawed, misunderstood, and lonely individuals. I found this to be a tightly written and compact story that moves briskly and takes for granted the reader's intelligence to keep up with the interwoven story lines and characters. I love that there is an overall continuing saga here while you can easily read each of the three books in the series as stand alones. Kudos, this is a standout book in an already interesting series. I can't wait to see what she does next.

Iris Johnsen - KILLER DREAMS This is another long-time favorite author. I've been reading her books since she wrote for Bantam and did little serial Loveswepts. Her books are somewhat formulaic but I just can't seem to resist them. I really like her writing voice. One of the other things I've always admired about her is that while she frequently has children in her books as pivotal characters she doesn't dumb down the conversation or the child's intelligence.

This particular story has to do with what would happen if sleep research and the power of the sleep therapist were corrupted to give "suggestions" to people while they are sleeping. Let me just say...some really bad stuff could happen! Duh!

I guess most people would call Ms. Johansen's books romantic suspense. That doesn't quite describe them to me because they always have that touch of mystery and espionage in them as well. Characters from previous books such as COUNTDOWN and the Eve Duncan books also appear in this novel. This is a hard cover, but large print and is a very quick read. I mention it because spending the money for a hardcover and getting a "quickie" sort of book may turn some people off.

While my work days have been long and busy, it's been nice to escape into a book and relax in the evenings. I'm looking forward to a summer filled with good books.