Finished a Hottie MJD!!!

While on our trip, I was able to start and finish Dead and Loving It MaryJanice Davidson. It took about two days to read. All paranormal hottie sex (whispering). YOWZAH!!! I could have read it in one sitting if allowed, but I had to pay attention to my DH and Lady K from time to time. We went to a very nifty botanic garden in Steamboat Springs, went up in our first gondola up the side of a ski mountain. I am fairly sure DH has been up many of them, but it was the first for Lady K and myself. We hiked up a nice trail to see a pretty magnificent waterfall. Went fishing, but only succeeded in drowning a few worms. But it was all fun. I brought home driftwood and rocks as my souvenirs from our hikes.

I will get back to Bubbles Betrothed Sarah Strohmeyer in the morning on my get back to reality drive to work. sigh....I have I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason Susan Kandel in my purse. I started it after MJD paranormal frolic. I think I will read Seduced by Moonlight Laurell K Hamilton as my next bedside book. Talk about your paranormal frolics!! This is from her Meredith Gentry series.

Dammit...lost a post!!! I finished Three Books This Week

ARGH!!!! I accidentally wiped my post!
I finished three books this week, one of them (best of the three) just a few minutes ago. I finished Betrayal at Cross Creek: An American Girl History Mystery Kathleen Ernst. It was a nice short three tape story and it was a very interesting tale. I also finished Murder of a Barbie and Ken: A Scumble River Mystery Denise Swanson. Another good story and a very good addition to this cozy series. This will be making its way a friend in DesMoines IA next week. The book I finished a few minutes ago is the best of the bunch, The Hundredth Man Jack Kerley. Wowzah!! This was a super fast, intense, interesting read. I will get everything Jack Kerley writes and is made available.

I am now listening to Bubbles Betrothed Sarah Strohmeyer in the car. Just love this series. Bubbles is my kinda dame, brave and a fearless fashion statement maker. Takes not much in the way of crapola. My next purse book, bought yesterday morning, Already Dead Charlie Huston. This one will qualify for Summer Mystery Challenge as new to me author of mysteries. Review:
The vampire mythos gets a healthy dose of attitude à la Raymond Chandler in Charlie Huston's singularly cool Already Dead, a savage and sardonic novel that blends blood-sucking fantasy and horror elements with the hard-boiled style of noir thrillers.Joe Pitt is a vampyre living in post-9/11 New York City. On an island ruled by all-powerful and very politically diverse vampyre clans -- the Coalition, the Society, the Enclave, et al. -- Pitt is a loner, surviving by doing various odd jobs for clan bosses. When he becomes indebted to the Coalition and is strong-armed into finding the runaway daughter of a biotech magnate, the undead amateur detective begins a treacherous mission that will lead him through the dark underbelly of Manhattan and pit him against brain-eating zombies, drug-addicted squatters, warring vampyre factions, and his most base desire: the need to feed. Huston, who has already wowed mystery and mainstream fiction readers with his breakout novels, Caught Stealing and Six Bad Things (down-and-dirty suspense thrillers featuring ill-fated bartender-turned-outlaw Henry "Hank" Thompson), is primed to blow the socks off of yet another genre audience with Already Dead, a novel that introduces a rousing new twist on one of literature's oldest and most popular myths. Simply put, this is an absolute must-read for dark fantasy, horror, and mystery aficionados, as well as mainstream fiction fans looking for something a little off the beaten path. All categorization aside, Huston's genre-transcending, pedal-to-the-metal novel is a thrill ride of the highest order -- gloriously nasty!

Only A Few Good Things About Monday Mornings....

Only a few things about the first day of six day rotation that actually starts on a Monday morning that are good. Earning money in the bank and getting back to my car book. I don't get to listen too much on break as I have Lady K or DH in the car with and they have their own tastes which don't really run to listening to a book. Getting up at 0300 to be at work early so that I don't have to stay all afternoon is a bit difficult, but it is at least quiet on the roads. I have my story to listen to, which currently is the dulcet voice of Davina Porter narrating Betrayal at Cross Creek: An American Girl History Mystery written by Kathleen Ernst.

I finished The Jasmine Moon Murder Laura Childs yesterday morning, thanks to my not being able to sleep well and Lady K sleeping late again. This is a very good cozy series. Laura Childs is on my good list, so I will keep looking for her and adding her to Mt Git'r'Read.
I decided to begin The Hundredth Man Jack Kerley as next bedside book, but I believe I will trade with my purse book Murder of a Barbie and Ken: A Scumble River Mystery Denise Swanson. Review of The Hundredth Man and you will see why I should....

Publishers Weekly
First-time author Kerley debuts with a classically constructed, psychotic-killer-with-a-horrendous-childhood thriller featuring young detective Carson Ryder, himself troubled by a problematic past. Carson and partner Harry Nautilus are the newly formed two-man Psychopathological and Sociopathological Investigative Team, referred to as Piss-it by the other members of the Mobile, Ala., police force. While Piss-it's official mandate is the investigation of murders committed by particularly horrendous killers, the formation of the team is actually a public relations scheme. Nevertheless, when a headless body turns up in a local park, Piss-it has its first real case. At the autopsy, Carson meets new hire Dr. Ava Davenelle, who is handling corpse-cutting duties. "She was dour, abrupt, and projected the femininity of a hammer-yet her motions verged on symphonic." Of course he's immediately smitten, though his polite advances are rejected. Turns out she has her own life as well as a job-threatening problem, which Carson must solve while simultaneously identifying the killer who has meanwhile added several more headless victims to his growing list. Carson's secret weapon of detection is his brother, an insane mass-murderer who feeds him clues on the nature of madmen from an asylum, la Hannibal Lecter. Kerley has certainly mastered the form, and the nail-biter takedown scene is as exciting as any in the business. This is a solid addition to the genre, and a series to look forward to.

Finishing more....

I finished two more books. Both are challenges worthy as they are either or both medical and new to me mystery authors. BOT in the car, Michael Connelly City of Bones (new to me mystery author challenge) and Deadly Advice Roberta Isleib (new to me author and medical mystery). Both very good. Deadly Advice was recommended on the Summer Mystery Reading Challenge, those are to get folks to read new to them authors of the mystery genre. It was a fast read, smooth and sort of surprising in its ending.

I began Cross Creek Betrayal: American Girl History Mystery Kathleen Ernst and narrated by the lovely Davina Porter as my next car book. It will be super quick as it is three tapes. My next purse book is Denise Swanson Murder of a Ken and Barbie: A Scumble River Mystery. Looking forward to both.

Another Challenge Book Finished, Another one Started

I finished Carved in Bone Jefferson Bass (Jon Jefferson and Dr Bill Bass) last night on shift. It was SUPER!!!! I am already listing Flesh and Bone, next in the series, when it comes out in pbk and Death's Acre, a nonfiction by the authors.
From the Publisher:
Dr. Bill Bass, one of the world's leading forensic anthropologists, gained international attention when he built a forensic lab like no other: The Body Farm. Now, this master scientist unlocks the gates of his lab to reveal his most intriguing cases-and to revisit the Lindbergh kidnapping and murder, fifty years after the fact.
Author Biography: Dr. Bill Bass created the world's first and only laboratory devoted to the study of human decomposition: The Body Farm. Bass has written or co-written more than 200 scientific publications, many based on mysteries he helped solve. Jon Jefferson is a veteran journalist, science writer, and documentary filmmaker. His productions have been broadcast on such networks as The History Channel, A&E, and the National Geographic Channel, and his articles have appeared in the New York Times, Newsweek, and USA Today.

I gotta tell ya, I cannot wait to find Death's Acre. I so would not be a good forensic pathologist (ick threshold is pretty low), but I love to read about them and the work that they do.

I began a book recommended on RBL Summer Mystery Reading Challenge, Deadly Advice Roberta Isleib. It is very good starting out. It was given me by a fellow mystery buddy at work. I was glad to see it so soon after adding it to my wishlist. We trade books, she is mostly cozies, so she doesn't dig all of what I read. Those tend to go to my sister once I am finished or to my favorite mystery bookstore, High Crimes, for discount points.
I should finish Deadly Advice this evening on shift as long as it stays quiet. I will finish my car book, City of Bones Michael Connelly on my way home in the morning. It's my first Connelly book and very definitely won't be my last.

June Books

Books read in June:
Quilter's Legacy - Jennifer Chiaverini, BOT, just love this series

Stolen - Kelley Armstrong, pbk, OMG GOOD

One Grave Too Many - Beverly Connor, pbk, one of my new favorite authors

A Vision of Murder: A Psychic Eye Mystery - Victoria Laurie, pbk, Super!

Blindsighted - Karin Slaughter, pbk, HUMDINGAH!

Mum's the Word - Kate Collins, pbk. Cute, but I think I am done with this series

Darwin's Radio - Greg Bear, BOT, good story

Carpe Demon: Secrets of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom - Julie Kenner, pbk. So flippin' funny & I will be looking for more of her

Another Challenge.....

Joy inadvertantly talked me into another challenge. Hers is called 2nds Challenge and it begins in October and runs through December. Premise is to read three books by authors who you have only read one book by and you really want to read another.
Now if I can figure out how to do her little link or sticky note, I'll be in bidness. Well, that and choosing three books by people I have read and can wait until the challenge begins to read a second helping.

I Find Myself Making Another Amendment....

I find myself very much liking Carved in Bone Jefferson Bass. I was right in continuing and now I know why the main character is doing as he is with the female students. The story is strong and I will be adding more of this duo's work to Mt Git'r'Read in the near future. Thank goodness for the challenges of new to me authors as well as self challenging with same new to me authors of medical mysteries. Not sure how long it would have taken me to get to Beverly Connor or to Jefferson Bass.

Whatcha Readin'??

I began Jasmine Moon Murder: A Tea Shop Mystery Laura Childs as my next bedside book. I am on chapter 3 as of last night. It's a very good 'cozy' series with the owner, Theodosia Browning (love the books if only for the main character's name) of a tea shop in Charleston SC who finds herself solving murders. This one occurs after a 'Ghost Crawl' through Jasmine Cemetery to the uncle of Theodosia's sweetie, Jory. He asks her to help, because she is good at this thing, even though she has promised the sheriff to butt out. What we won't do for luh-huv.
I am very much diggin' on City of Bones Michael Connelly as my BOT in the car for my commute listening and sanity keeping pleasure. It is my first Michael Connelly even though I have many in Mt Git'r'Read. I think I could fall for Harry Bosch. I will be utilizing this as one of my 'new-to-me' authors for the Summer Mystery Reading Challenge.
My other challenge book is in my purse. Carved in Bone Jefferson Bass is a bit scratchy, but I like it enough to keep reading. The main character is a forensic anthropologist who built up The Body Farm in Tennessee and is a professor at UT. The 'scratchy' part is that now there are two of his students diggin' on him. I hope this bit doesn't drag the story down. The series is written by two authors, one of whom is the founder of the Body Farm, Dr William Bass. It is said to write what you know.

Amending the Last Post

Carpe Demon: The Secret Life of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom - Julie Kenner.

Carpe Demon - Julie Kenner

I finished Carpe Demon - Julie Kenner last night. I stayed up to finish it as I was just soooo close and it was soooo much fun to read. Julie Kenner is funny and I will be reading more of her work. I have California Demon on my shelf as well as a chick-lit mystery book I found at B&N on sale of her other series of with shoes in the title. I did flip through to see if I would like it as much and it promises to be as good if not better.
I tried Kate Collins Dearly Depotted as my next bedside book, but I am a little bit tired of that gang. I love some of those characters, but there are others who do not inspire much empathy. I have promised this series to a friend who sent me the Wine Mystery series she was reading, so I now have incentive to move Abby and the gang on South. I also have thousands more waiting to be tried on Mt Git'r'Read....another incentive.....

I Won a Book!!!!

Woo-HOOO!!! I checked email a few hours ago before coming in to work and found an email from Liz on ReviewedbyLiz for the Summer Mystery Reading Challenge and I won a book drawing. I had several to choose from. I looked each selection over in reviews and chose 'Crimson Snow' by Jeanne M Dams. I like winning, cuz, it's like better than losing, ya know??
= )

ARGGHH!!! Lost a post!!!

Not sure what just happened, but I lost a post. Okay, try this again.

I gave up on Great Catherine Carolly Ericksen in the car. It is about Catherine the Great of Russia and the narrator is Davina Porter, who I adore. I was on tape 4 of 11 and just got to the point of not caring about all of the court intrigue and carrying on. I put it back in the box and tried Imperium Robert Harris. I listened to Pompeii a few years ago and enjoyed it. Imperium did not grab my attention at all. Moved on to City of Bones Michael Connelly. That did the trick.

I am on a late shift and it is quiet, so hoping to get in some quality reading time in my purse book Carved in Bone Jefferson Bass. I am a little over halfway through my bedside book Carpe Demon Julie Kenner. I should finish it in the next couple of days and get it back to the box of book donations here at work. I will bring in some extra donations to compensate.

Mowed through 2 x Audiobooks...blech on both...

I tried listening to more of Great Catherine Carolly Ericksen in the car tonight on the way in to work....I was on tape 4, side 1 and I realized I just didn't want to listen to any more of it. I love the narrator, Davina Porter, but the subject matter was just pissing me off. It is about Catherine the Great of Russia and I just did not care any more about any of the people in her life. Not sure if it was the way the story was being told or what, but I used my 'life is too short' rule and let it go.
I then decided to try Imperium Robert Harris. I'd loved listening to Pompeii a few years ago and thought this one would be as interesting. It didn't grab me right away, so moved on to Michael Connelly City of Bones. That did the trick. Happily on tape 1, side 1 now and will send the other two back to Recordedbooks.
I hope to get in some good reading time this evening in my purse book Carved in Bone Jefferson Bass. It started out pretty well and I am hoping that it keeps up that way.
Just a little over halfway through Carpe Demon Julie Kenner as bedside reading. The great thing about mid shift is the fact that I seem to get in more reading time in all of my books.

Sittin' in the Parking Lot....

I sat in my car in the parking lot at work this morning, not 10 minutes ago, to finish a wonderful audiobook, Darwin's Radio Greg Bear. It is not one of my usual mystery reads as I really can't call it a mystery, more like suspense/sci-fi. It was a little difficult to get into at first with the medical/biological/other-icals that I had to wrap my brain around. The story kept me interested, though. And it is a wonderful story. Kay is a scientist and Mitch is an anthropologist and they find each other. NOOOOO, it is NOT a romance! A retro-virus has been biding its time. It's been making its appearance every once in a while and it is up to guided and many misguided folks in the sciences to find out and disseminate the word of what exactly is going on. Greg Bear's story and George Guidall's fab voice tugged me along and there were mornings or afternoons from my commute where I did not want to get out of the car, rather stay in and listen. And you should, too!

Finished Bedside Book...

Yesterday was a banner book finishing day. I finished Mum's The Word Kate Collins. It's the first in her Flower Shop Mystery series and it's a good start. I've read two others in the series. I've not sure I've ever felt compelled to read any series in order.
I chose Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom Julie Kenner. I totally dig it. It is what would have happened if Buffy the Vampire Slayer had got married and had kids.
from B&N review:
Kate Connor used to be a demon hunter: Now she's a stay-at-home mom, a "glorified chauffeur for pep squad practice and Gymboree play dates." But when a demonic assassin shows up at her suburban home minutes before an important dinner party, the retired Hunter is forced back into action to save her town -- and her freshly baked mini-quiches -- from the invading fiend and his army of the undead.
Kate's husband and her two kids don't know anything about her demon-killing past -- and she wants to keep it that way. So while doing what supermoms do -- raising an inquisitive two-year old, dealing with a teenage girl's myriad of social issues, supporting an overworked husband running for county attorney, etc. -- Kate also finds time to unravel the mystery behind the sudden ghoulish invasion. It seems a master demon named Goramesh has come to town in search of an invaluable religious artifact secreted in a much-storied cathedral. But in order to obtain the relic, Goramesh must first find a suitable human subordinate…
The character of Kate Connor is an appealing mélange of Laurell K. Hamilton's sexy, butt-kicking vampire executioner Anita Blake, Sex and the City's super-cool column writer Carrie Bradshaw, and the women of ABC's Desperate Housewives, whose lives revolve around domestic intrigues like potty training, teenage curfews, PTA meetings, bake sales, neighborhood gossip -- and scandalous secrets. Fast-paced and strikingly clever, this lighthearted romp through suburbia will appeal to romance, mystery, and fantasy fans alike.

Okay, Let's Try This Again....Karin Slaughter...HOLEY SHMOKES!!

Yowzah!!! I just finished my very first Karin Slaughter book, Blindsighted. I can't wait to get the rest of the series. So many superb characters and back stories and what's to come stories.

Karin Slaughter...HOLEY SCHM!!

Just About Done.....

I am on tape 10 of 12, side 1 Darwin's Radio Greg Bear in the car. I will be glad to have it end. I like it, but I am not sure I will read many more Greg Bear books. I will try them to see, I reckon. He writes well, but gets into the weeds with the med speak. I know it's necessary to the story, but I don't dig it.
I am looking forward to something mellower for my audiobook time. Lord knows, I have a stack of them in the car to choose from.

I am halfway through both purse book Blindsighted Karin Slaughter and bedside book Mum's the Word Kate Collins. Diggin' on both of them for different reasons. Kate Collins writes a good cozy and Karin Slaughter writes a fab thriller. I am looking forward to everything they write.

Progress...

Reading right along for the month of June. I finished A Vision of Murder: An Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye Mystery Victoria Laurie this morning when I had a trouble going back to sleep after being awakened from the house being too warm. Went downstairs to take a look-see and found the thermostat set at 76 degrees. We don't even set it like that in the winter! I cranked it down a bit and then back to bed and read until I was schleepy again.
Anyway, A Vision of Murder is a good addition to this fun cozy series. Abby Cooper is a professional psychic and finds herself solving mysteries. I believe this is the third in the series I've read and will be glad to read more of the series as well as anything else Ms Laurie releases.
I started Mum's the Word: A Flower Shop Mystery Kate Collins this morning. This is another pretty good cozy series. I've read a couple of others and a friend sent me three more from the series. I've promised some in a trade with another friend, so I figured to get a start on them now. Nice quick reads and very nice to read at night for restful mind soothing storyline.
I am on tape 6 of 12, side 2 Darwin's Radio Greg Bear in the car and chapter 8 in purse book Blindsighted Karin Slaughter. All very good and I look forward to being in the car to listen and making the commute not so bad and having time to read in my purse book.

I Totally Love Beverly Connor!! Well, At Least Her Books....

I finished One Grave Too Many Beverly Connor yesterday. It was SO FREAKIN' GOOD! I am going out and finding everything she has written and add them to my collection. I have Rumor of Bones and Dead Secret. Now to find the other seven books.

I began another in my stack for my challenges. Karin Slaughter Blindsighted. It fits both challenges again as it is a medical thriller mystery and a new-to-me author. I have heard wonderful things about this author, so I am looking forward to getting more into this one. But it will be hard to top One Grave Too Many.....

Time to Choose Another...

I finished Stolen Kelley Armstrong about an hour ago. I have read two others by the author, Dimestore Magic and Bitten. All are, so far, intertwined with the characters, but separate stories that can be stand alone. All wonderful tales and I will be getting everything Kelley Armstrong writes.

What a great way to spend at least part of my first day of break. I woke up from after mid shift nap, read for a bit and dozed off again. I woke at 2pm and read for a wonderful hour to finish my book and now just chilling, thinking about what to read next and posting here, posting on my WW Booktalk and Booklovers boards, and watching Charmed episodes. I really should be out for a walk or a bike ride, but there is always tomorrow.....I can only hope that the cottonwood floof is dissipated. It's driving my eyes nutso.

Challenge Books

Books currently being read or listened to for the two challenges this summer. Both of these are new-to-me authors and they revolve around the medical field and are mystery/thrillers:

Darwin's Radio - Greg Bear (BOT)
A mass grave in Russia that conceals the mummified remains of two women, both with child -- and the conspiracy to keep it secret…a major discovery high in the Alps: the preserved bodies of a prehistoric family -- the newborn infant possessing disturbing characteristics…a mysterious disease that strikes pregnant women, resulting in miscarriage. Three disparate facts that will converge into one science-shattering truth.
Molecular biologist Kaye Lang, a specialist in retroviruses, believe that ancient diseases encoded in the DNA of humans can again come to life. But her theory soon becomes chilling reality. For Christopher Dicken -- a "virus hunter" at the Epidemic Intelligence Service -- has pursued an elusive flu-like disease that strikes down expectant mothers and their offspring. The shocking link: something that has slept in our genes for millions of years is waking up.

One Grave Too Many - Beverly Connor
With spot-on details, a smart new voice, and ingenious plot twists, Beverly Connor has been compared to the hottest crime writers on the scene. Now, she ratchets up the suspense with a brand new series featuring one of today's most cunning and complex sleuths: forensic anthropologist Diane Fallon. Her new job as director of the RiverTrail Museum of Natural History in Georgia takes Diane out of the game-until a former love and a murdered family bring her back in.

Quilter's Legacy

Just a lovely book and series. Jennifer Chiaverini tells a wonderful story with memorable characters. I want to live at Elm Creek Manor and learn to quilt!!

I finished it on the way in to work this evening. I was sad to have it end. I am so glad it is a series and I can keep up with these ladies and their lives.

I immediately began Darwin's Radio Greg Bear with the velvet-gravel voice of George Guidall narrating. As this is a mystery by a new-to-me author, I believe I am going to count this towards my Summer Mystery Challenge. I now have two books going toward the challenges I joined. My purse book One Grave Too Many Beverly Connor can go towards both challenges as the author is new to me and this is a medical thriller mystery. I am enjoying both immensely.

I still have a little bit more to read in Stolen Kelley Armstrong as my bedside book. I can hope to finish it this rotation as I will be on mids and that makes for longer time in bed for reading when I am trying to wind down or wind back up. I will also be able to read quite a bit in my purse book mentioned above.

Books In May I Read/Listened To

Vineyard Prey - Philip R Craig, BOT, Very good series
The Laughing Corpse - Laurell K Hamilton, pbk, Just love that kickass Anita Blake
Bump in the Night - JD Robb, Mary Blayney, Ruth Ryan Langan, Mary Kay McComas, pbk, romance disguised as 'paranormal'. McComas was the best of the bunch.
Sweet and Deadly - Charlaine Harris, pbk, her debut novel and stand alone book. WONDERFUL!
Murder of a Pink Elephant - Denise Swanson, pbk, a very good part of this series
Kill the Messenger - Tami Hoag, BOT, very well written, good characters, good mystery
On What Grounds - Cleo Coyle, pbk, great cozy series, this is first in series
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident - Eoin Colfer, BOCD, good story
Ghost and the Dead Deb - Alice Kimberley, pbk, such a good series and I love Jack (the ghost)
Through the Grinder - Cleo Coyle, pbk, good-good-good!

And another one...

I had the time to read and finish Through the Grinder Cleo Coyle early this morning on the tail end of my shift. Such a good series and this one was a humdinger.
I decided to read Stolen Kelley Armstrong as my purse book and bedside book and see if I can't finish it before the two challenges start on 1 Jun. It's not a biggie dah if I don't. I will have to see how I want to read the books for the challenge. One at a time or one in my purse and one at my bedside. I takes my challenges seriously....even putting forth some effort to my exercise challenge I joined.....too bad one can't burn copious calories while reading.

And another one gone...

The Ghost and the Dead Deb Alice Kimberly is finished as of this afternoon. I woke after 6 straight hours after my mid shift and decided to be a bum for a bit and finished the book. It was a good addition to the series.
I started Stolen: Women of the Otherworld Vol 2 Kelley Armstrong. Bitten is the first in the series and was humdinger good. I expect the same from this one. Armstrong is a fine writer.

I am on tape 4 of 8, side 1 The Quilter's Legacy Jennifer Chiaverini. Such a good story. I look forward to my commutes with this one.

I hope to finish my purse book Through the Grinder Cleo Coyle tonight on shift. It's quiet, except for the TV is tuned to some kind of VH1 Tribute to the Hair Bands....

Only a few more days until the two challenges I joined begin. Looking forward to that.

Dun did red.....

I finished Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident Eoin Colfer BOCD in the car last night on the way home. Very good story and I admire the growing personalities of Artemis and his compatriots. What a wonderful telling of an alternate world underground.

I began Jennifer Chiaverini The Quilt Legacy. A gentle series that sort of is a mystery type, but not exactly. The narrator is Christina Moore and she continues to a fab job with the characterization of each person. I think this is my third one to listen to (not actually read one as yet). I don't read them in any kind of order, I don't think it's absolutely necessary.

I am a little over halfway through The Ghost and the Dead Deb Alice Kimberly. I hope to go upstairs in a bit and read for a while. If I can't actually take a nap, I can at least rest. Two days in my rotation seem to be the most difficult for sleep, the day of my second swing shift due to coming home at midnight and finally sleeping at 1am, to be awakened at 6 or earlier by Lady K. The other day is after my last mid and I only want to sleep for a couple of hours so I can sleep well that night while on break. I know, 'Want some cheese to go with that whine?'

I hope to actually read some more in my purse book Through the Grinder Cleo Coyle. Finding the time is a bit difficult some days. And I think I will be starting up cross-stitch again, so that will likely eat into my reading time as well as my computer time. ***gasp***

Joined another challenge!

AWESOME!! Another challenge to read mysteries! See connector thingy in the sidebar for Summer Mystery Reading Challenge. Just have to read new-to-me mystery authors and that is a cinch as I already challenged myself on the Medical Mystery Madness Challenge starting 1 June. All new-to-me authors and first in series books. WHOO-HOOOOO!!!

Monday Mourning...I mean Morning......

It's Monday morning and I am at work, second day of rotation...no sleep to speak of the last few nights due to various issues such as DH snoring, sirens from the fire station down the street. No fan in the 'Sugar Room' as Lady K has named spare room #2, so it was a bit too warm for really good sleep. Ah well. My dad was here visiting this weekend and told us he is moving in the fall. We will help all we can and he has told us he will bring out all the potting soil, terra cotta containers, rocks and handmade cement containers we can handle. Driftwood, too, as we like all manner of garden decoration. Yay! He had a good visit and even stayed an extra day even though I had to work yesterday. So glad he likes DH to hang with him. They put the table saw together and brought in the boxes of wood flooring for DH's project that will start this weekend in our master bedroom. Table saw was my anniversary present to DH last year. Fifth anniversary is wood and steel I think ( that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

I am on CD 4 of 5 in car book Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident. Eoin Colfer has an interesting imagination. It's very good and I love the narrator, Nathaniel Parker. I am almost halfway through my purse book Through the Grinder Cleo Coyle, thanks to some quiet time yesterday. I really like this series. Good characters and descriptions how they make those foo-foo coffee drinks at the lovely places that are not Star$$. I am a little more than halfway through The Ghost and the Dead Deb Alice Kimberly as bedside book. I like this series, but getting a bit tired of every descriptive thing coming out of Jack Shepherd (the ghost) as 'hardboiled'. Ah well, still a good cozy series with not just her issues with the ghost, but with her dead husband's uber-snob family. I'll keep reading it and the rest of the series. And just found another author to look for, Shirley Darmsgaard. She writes the Abby and Ophelia series. Looks to deal with paranormal and that is my favorite, at least well-written paranormal mysteries are my favorite.

And another one....

Just now finished On What Grounds Cleo Coyle. I was able to read for a glorious hour after I woke from post mid shift nap. I immediately gave myself permission to stay in bed and start The Ghost and the Dead Deb Alice Kimberley. In a mood to read cozies for a while, I guess. It's all good.

It's Raining It's Pouring.....and finished another...

It's been raining off and on since yesterday afternoon. Our plants and lawns are looking swell. What a great day for sleeping. Just off a mid shift and ready to wander upstairs and read myself to sleep with nice calm On What Grounds Cleo Coyle. It was my purse book and I decided it would make a great bedside book instead. Tried to make Nightseer, Laurell K Hamilton's debut novel, my next purse book, but it was too paranormal intense, especially for a mid shift. Verbage anyway. So, I set it aside and will try The Venus Fix M.J. Rose. Smoother dialogue that fits better with a late night read.

I finished Kill the Messenger Tami Hoag this morning on the way home from work. I think this is the best of her books that I have read. Very well written characters and a surprise in the whodunnit/s. Just wonderful. I will have a difficult time with a follow up for my car book, but have decided to try Eoin Colfer Artemis Fowl:The Arctic Incident.

Two More Down, Gazillion More to Go (like that's a bad thing)

I finished Sweet and Deadly Charlaine Harris last night on shift and started On What Grounds Cleo Coyle pretty much immediately. Kind of like chain reading.....I finished Murder of a Pink Elephant Denise Swanson this morning, thanks to my reason for being able to celebrate Mother's Day. Got home a little after midnight and had to read to wind down from my swing shift, so didn't really get to sleep until 1am. Wake up from sweet patootie Lady K at a little before 6am, so I read since she really didn't want me to go back to sleep. And DH was getting his sleep-in he treasures on weekends. Our neighbors were (I guess) celebrating the completion of their bricked up supports on their back porch. They were hootin' and hollerin' when I got home and DH said he heard them until he finally got to sleep at 1:30 or so. I reminded him of the earplugs I keep in my nightstand drawer (clean unused ones!!) as well as the fact that there are two other spare rooms in the house and the basement. He said he didn't think of that. If he hadn't been sleeping in, I'd have got out the lawn mower when I woke at 6am and started it up. I'd have left it right on their side of the garden, too. I reckon I am a little pissy like that.
I haven't started a new bedside book as yet. I may bring in some from my order of books I received from my buddy, Pamala, Our Lady of the Books. After a few cozies, I am ready for something a little gritty.

Something to be Said for Early Mornin' Wake-Up...

So DH woke early for work, I woke early cuz he woke early....he got ready for work and I got to read for an hour or so in latest bedside book Murder of a Pink Elephant Denise Swanson. I finished Bump in the Night various authors and was just glad I finished. The first story by JD Robb was passable, but I always like catching up with Eve and Roarke and the gang. The last story, by Mary Kay McComas, was the best of the lot. A woman rediscovers her invisible friend from childhood. It is a very funny and warm story. The other two were mooshy romance and I am not partial to mooshy romance, especially when they are purported to be paranormal. They were vaguely that. Anyway, it's over and done and I can move on to the delightful Murder of a Pink Elephant. I just love Denise Swanson.
I also finished The Laughing Corpse Laurell K Hamilton, my last purse book, and started Sweet and Deadly Charlaine Harris. Another of my absolutely favorite authors and this is book is a very good example of her art.
I am on tape 4, side 1 Kill the Messenger Tami Hoag in the car. When I am not on my way to and from work, I don't get much time to listen to my car books, so going slowly on this one. It's a very good story.
I am about to go upstairs and sort through some books to send out to my sister and some friends and take to Goodwill. Clear the shelves as it were. I have a box of books from my enabler, Pamala. Thanks Pamala!

I Love Those Reading Kind of Nights

I am ploughing through The Laughing Corpse Laurell K Hamilton thanks to a very quiet night. I have a bag full on standby in the car. I paid a visit to my favorite little bookstore, The Bookmark, today and found six. Including one, Blindsighted Karin Slaughter, for the Medical Mystery Challenge.

I finished Vineyard Prey Philip R Craig in the car last night on the way home. I tried to start and enjoy Locked Rooms Laurie R King, but could not for the life of me get into it. Not sure if it's the narrator or I am simply tired of the series. I packed up those two audiobooks to send back to RecordedBooks and started Kill the Messenger Tami Hoag, narrated by Scott Brick.

I hope to get through a couple of books in the next couple of days. I tend to when on mids. Some of it is the drive to and from work, some of it is when I am trying to wind down for sleep or wake up from my nap in prep for work.

April Book Journal Entries

We're Just Like You, Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle - Celia Rivenbark, BOT, omigod snort laugh funny!!! I emailed her with my thanks for writing as she does and she emailed me a response!

Aunt Dimity and the Duke - Nancy Atherton, HB, A wonderful cozy series and good book even though Aunt Dimity really wasn't in this one much

Dead Beat - Jim Butcher, pbk, #7 in the Harry Dresden series. My first and definitely not the last

Hidden Prey - John Sandford, BOT, I think this series has run it's course for me

Reunion in Death - JD Robb, pbk, Don't mess with Eve Dallas, what a humdinger series

The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires - Katie MacAlister, pbk, Whoo-heee, what a ride!!!

Acts of Violets - Kate Collins, pbk, good series, especially the flower shop premises

What the Dead Know - Laura Lippman, BOCD, WOW!!! Thanks to Sarah Stewart Taylor for recommending this book!!!

5 books and 3 audiobooks this month, makes 37 for the year.

1 May and I Forgot My Book Journal ta Home....

I was going to post my April books this morning, but left my book journal on my nightstand in my 'rush' to get to work.

I am on tape 3 of 4, side 1 Vineyard Prey Philip R Craig in the car, pretty interesting story.
Still no significant reading in purse book The Laughing Corpse Laurell K Hamilton. This is one of those that you remember the saying, Never judge a book by its cover.....the female on the cover with her head tilted back in what looks to be rapture does not convey the substance within. It is a gooooood book and I really wish I could get back to it.
I am well into the second story in bedside book Bump in the Night various authors.

Yesterday, I bought (& hid from myself) two of the books for the Medical Thriller Mystery Challenge. I had to hide them because I really would like to read them before the 1 Jun start date of the challenge. I have so many in Mt Git'R'Read, so it's 'easy' to set them aside. I do plan to read Nightseer Laurell K Hamilton's debut novel. I picked that up as well. I had a 15% coupon that was about to expire! That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. I think that's going to be the next purse book. My bedside book is going to have to change up to I, Mona Lisa Jeanne Kalogridis, as it is a Big Ol Book challenge on one of my favorite message boards on Weight Watchers. We post Tues and Fridays and I am already behind the power curve. It started today...I forgot....

Saturday Night and I Ain't Got lalalalalala....

April is quickly getting away from me and it has been diddley for reading according to my book journal. I'll post that on 1 May...ish.
I did manage to finish one more when I finished What the Dead Know Laura Lippman, BOCD, the other day. I had the characters figured out, but that didn't keep me from totally enjoying the listen. I looked forward to driving in the car, even if it was getting to work, just so I could listen some more. I have No Good Deeds, By a Spider's Thread, and To the Power of Three on my wishlist on RecordedBooks.
I tried listening to Just a Corpse at Midnight Janwillem Van De Wettering as a follow up audiobook, but could not get into it and life is too short. So decided on Vineyard Prey Philip R Craig. I am on tape 1 of 4, side 2 and likely won't get back to it until I go back to work on Monday.
I am almost looking forward to getting back to my routine. This four day break has tired my aithe out. Spent Thursday getting the rooms ready for painting on Friday and Saturday and now we have to put everything back and DH plans on doing the faucets in the master sinks tomorrow. That means I have to clear underneath said sinks so that he can get to the fittings.
I will get up in the morning, DH sleeping in to stay rested for his NFL Draft weekend and I will clear under the sinks. After I make my coffee. I have good priorities. I really don't plan on doing much besides getting laundry put away and clearing under the sinks tomorrow. And taking Lady K to the park. With a book for me. I am reading The Laughing Corpse Laurell K Hamilton as the purse book still. I doubt it will make the April log. Be the first entry in May.

It's Raining It's Pouring....

It's been raining here since midnight last night. It's a nice steady rain, but it's also coooooold rain. The temp keeps dropping and NOAA is saying raining turning to snow possible tonight. Gotta say, though, it makes for excellent reading in bed. I finished Acts of Violets Kate Collins as my bedside book. This is a pretty good series with a new to me premise for the amateur sleuth. She owns a flower shop called Bloomers. Love that name. This is the second of the series I've read and not necessarily in order. Not sure that it's necessary.
Think I will go paranormal next with Bump in the Night various authors.

I am on CD8 of 9 What the Dead Know Laura Lippman in the car. Just a completely engrossing character study. I can't get over how much I look forward to getting in the car alone so that I can listen to more of these people's lives.

I can only hope to get some reading in my purse book at some point. I still have three to choose from. I actually read a page in The Laughing Corpse Laurell K Hamilton. I was waiting for glorious caffeine fix from DazBog coffee shop. Must have my Turtle foo-foo coffee from time to time. Nectah of da gods.....

Sunday Sunday Sunday!!!!!

I finished Last of the Red-Hot Vampires Katie MacAlister yesterday. What a fuh-hun ride that was! I will be looking for the rest of the series. I picked out two books yesterday to replace, just didn't know which I would start first and I picked two in case I finished the chosen first and needed to chain-read if I had time. I picked Judgement of the Grave Sarah Stewart Taylor and The Venus Fix M.J. Rose. That last one had me looking for the first in the series for the Medical Mystery Challenge I joined. Today I started second guessing myself and gave myself a third choice (you know, just in case) and felt The Laughing Corpse Laurell K Hamilton calling out to me from the shelf. So, I think I have my next three purse books lined up.

I am on CD 6 of 9 What the Dead Know Laura Lippman in the car and a bit more than halfway through bedside book Acts of Violets Kate Collins. The Lippman book surprised me how much I am intrigued by it. I don't like comparing authors, but she does remind me of Jodi Picoult in her character studies and engrossing attention to detail. Dare I say I am enthralled?

Gettin' Some Readin' Done

Heck of a four day break. Back to work tomorrow and maybe some more reading in. I definitely get in more time with What the Dead Know Laura Lippman BOCD in the car. On CD3 of that one. It is way more than just a mystery. There is a ton of back story to go through and it irritated me at first, but this is my first Lippman book, so I endeavored. Besides the fact that Sarah Stewart Taylor recommended it on her blog and I luh-huv her books. I am glad I stuck with the story as it is getting intriguing.
I was able to get in a crapload (technical term) of reading yesterday while DH had his procedure done at the hospital. DH came through the procedure just fine and I am about halfway through purse book Last of the Red Hot Vampires Katie MacAlister. Very much EF-EWE-EHN FUN. Katie had me at Red Hot Vampire.....
And a lot of reading in bedside book Acts of Violets Kate Collins due to my 4 year old coming in with requests a couple of times before midnight. Then once I got her settled for the last time, I couldn't go back to sleep right away (mom aggravation), so I read a couple of chapters. It's a nice cozy, a bit funny and I love the concept of the amateur detective owns a flower shop and loves it. She's having a fling with the owner of the bar a couple of doors down. He is, of course, a hottie. She is a bit insecure and, though I can identify with her, it is still a bit irritating. Letting it flow over me and going for the rest of the story. I love her best friend and roomate, Nikki. Could get a crush on Marco, the hottie hunky bar owner-slash-PI.

And....another one finished!!

I just now finished Dead Beat Jim Butcher, while sweating (I so do not 'glow' as a delicate flower should) on the recumbent bike at 4:00am-ish. I will now begin Last of the Red Hot Vampires Katie MacAlister. Something lighter than what the last few have been. Hot guy on the cover, too. That won't suck. And you don't even have to pardon the pun.
I found some goodies inside the front cover of LRHV, too. A signed by the author bookplate and some other items that are escaping my blonde memory.

Finished one...

I just now finished Hidden Prey John Sandford in the car on the way in to work tonight. It was a realistic ending in that there were loosed ends that would likely never get resolved and that is just the way it is in the 'real world'. Not always happy with everything tied up prettily in a nice bow. Sometimes I need that, this time I was happy with the ending.
I believe I will start Laura Lippman What the Dead Know at the recommendation from one of my favorite authors, Sarah Stewart Taylor off of her blog site. I have one or two of Laura Lippman's books on Mt Git'r'Read, but haven't actually read one. This one is narrated by Linda Emond.
I think tonight might another book finished too. My purse book is nearing the end and it will hopefully be a quiet night so I can read and maybe add one more the book journal for the month. I have less than a hundred pages in both purse book Dead Beat Jim Butcher and bedside book Reunion in Death JD Robb.

And, hey, here's a good place to shop for books, Author Author is a shop in ColoradoSprings and does a great mail order. I placed my order yesterday and it freakin' arrived TODAY! I received Katie MacAlister The Last of the Red Hot Vampires, Even Vampires Get the Blues and a used copy of Ghost Hunter Jayne Castle, which is a pen name for Jayne Ann Krantz.

Quality Reading Time...

Very good reading time this evening. Nothing going on in the lab, so I was able to put a nice dent in my purse book Dead Beat Jim Butcher. I read a bit in bedside book Reunion in Death JD Robb last night and then again when I took my nap to get over being so sleepy. It doesn't seem to be in the cards to get a lot of quality sleep several hours in a row. Something is conspiring against me, I think. I mostly want to make sure I don't get sick and I am tired of feeling tired. No fun.

Would Just Love to Win the Lottery.....

Would just love to win the lottery and indulge my love of book buying and reading. I would, of course, have to have a room filled with bookshelves for all of my books. Have a super comfy chair and good lamp. I would read before and after my workout sessions with my personal trainer, let's call him Sven, who would come get me and make me get on the treadmill, elliptical, bike, balance ball, etc and lift weights and work this fluff off my bawd. Not too much to ask is it????

I am moving right along in Hidden Prey John Sandford in the car. I am on tape 6 of 10, side 2. It ebbs and flows in being interesting or not so much. I will finish it as I have been in a tendency of late to get impatient with a book that is not really too intriguing and move on. The book hasn't pissed me off yet, with character/s or plot or inane dialogue, so I will keep going. It just isn't as good as his earlier ....... Prey series. Richard Ferrone as the narrator is a big plus in finishing the book, too. What a great way to drive to and from work in the dark with his gravelly voice telling me a story.

I still haven't had the time to get back to Mr Dresden and company in my purse book Dead Beat Jim Butcher. That one I am totally diggin' and want to find the time to read.

Spent some time with Eve and Roarke (Reunion in Death) last night just before sleep hit. Made for nice and interesting dreams, gotta tell ya. I think I am on chapter 7 or 8 now.

Back to Work...and Back to Books

Even though it means going to work an extra day...making for a seven day work week and most of those are 10 hour days for the schedule....I silver-lininged it as I was able to get back to Hidden Prey John Sandford on the way in. Got up extra early like a regular day shift to get my dad up and on the road back to Nebraska. I made my fat butt (and the rest of my fluffy self) get down to the building's gym and work out for an hour. Feel better for it, even a little smug. Watched some Buffy the Vampire Slayer and listened to tunes.
It was excellent having my dad here this weekend. He actually stayed longer than normal this time. He loves Lady K to pieces and he sure can make her toe the line. We watched a lot of movies and ate good food in moderate amounts. It was cold and snowy or cold and rainy, so we didn't get to get out and walk like I'd wanted. Next time.
So now I am on tape 4 of 10, side 2 Hidden Prey John Sandford in the car. It is a good story, but I remembered how tired I was getting of the series a while back. Life is too short and all that schtuff...but I will finish this one and move on.
I read for a chapter last night in bedside book Reunion in Death JD Robb. That is a series that I never tire of. Or at least, not yet. I love the relationships as much as I enjoy the puzzles they solve and the sci-fi of it all.
I hope to get in some reading in my purse book Dead Beat Jim Butcher. I am really enjoying this one, too.

Off to a meeting. Must get one more mug'o'foo-foo coffee and then lotsa water.

Happy Easter Sunday

So what did the Easter Bunny (EB) bring to you this morning? I was hoping for books, but received a bag of Ritazza's Jamaican coffee. That'll work too. It's brewing as I type.
As the Mommie, I am on Easter Bunny duty this morning. I was entrusted by EB to get up honkin' early and put out the Hello Kitty basket he likes to use each year, filled with a bear in a bunny suit from the Post Office, purple bunny ears, three DVDs (Max and Ruby Easter, recently released Charlotte's Web, and Vol 5 of NickJr Favorites), two shirts, one dress, Lindt chocolate bunny and a teenytiny bucket of Japanese Hello Kitty brand chocolate covered pretzel sticks. Also found a couple of additions to the Cars character collection we have going, Buzz Lightyear as a car and Woody the Cowboy as a car. I have started a sort of Pez dispenser collection for Lady K, too. She now has an Easter chick in the basket. Next to the basket is a Dora the Explorer ball and bat kit and plate with a thank you note from EB for the snack of lettuce leaves we left last night.

We decorated eggs yesterday afternoon. Kept the dye damage fairly well under control. Gave up on the little wire holders pretty soon and ended up using the fingers for the most part. If the weather holds, we'll hide them in the yard. It sort of snowed last night and not sure how warm it's going to get today. I did fill three Hello Kitty eggs with some $$ of various degrees and they are hidden in plain sight in the family room.

I hope JB is feeling better today. His stomach has been acting funky the last few days. He's been able to do stuff like go to work and drive down to Sedalia yesterday. He eats okay, just not as much. He's been testing out beer and wine as well. He was off work for a day on Thursday. Laying (lying?) in bed all day and night. Thankfully, he doesn't get sick as often once he had his tonsils out and his deviated septum fixed. He is not a fun sick person.

My dad is here. He wasn't sure he'd be up to going to the usual places for the holiday. Too many reminders of his wife's passing in late November. So he asked if he could come out. Absolutely. Lady K loves him to pieces and he is the best guest and nicest Dad in the world.
We will have standing ribeye roast off the grill, asparagus, and mashed Yukon Gold potatoes for dinner. Likely eat fairly early and have a mellow day. Dad will go back to Nebraska tomorrow and JB and I both have to go to work. I am not on shift until Tuesday, but have to go in for a mandatory meeting tomorrow. At least I get paid, but now will be working seven days in a row and that makes for a looong week, especially when some of those days are 10 hours long.

Lady K is up. She at least waited until 0530 before seeing what EB brought. = ) Glad I am an early bird....

And, hey, this is theoretically a Daily Read kind of blog, so...
I haven't been able to read too much in the last couple of days what with having company and Easter prep and all. I am on tape 4 of 10, side 2 Hidden Prey John Sandford in the car, several chapters into Reunion in Death JD Robb as bedside book, and a little over halfway through Dead Beat Jim Butcher as my purse book. I won't get back the car book or the purse book until tomorrow as the work week begins again. sigh.....

Another Book Down....

I finished Aunt Dimity and the Duke Nancy Atherton yesterday after waking from my prep for mids nap. This is such a good series, cozy or otherwise. Aunt Dimity makes only teeny tiny 'appearances' in this one.
Still not sure what I will start next as my bedside book. I am halfway through Dead Beat Jim Butcher thanks to a quiet shift and it being a good book and all.

etsy.com

What an addicting site!! If you like to shop that is. All hand created everything! I highly recommend this site, for what that's worth....

back to etsy...

Well, Hey! It's Almost Daily Now!!!

This is two days in a row!!! I finished the snort-laugh funny We're Just Like You, Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle Celia Rivenbark on the way in to work this afternoon. I will be getting this and Bless Your Heart, Tramp and sending them to Deb, my sister-in-law. I know she, of all people, will appreciate the humor. Even after living in Minnesota( lo, these many years) the hillbilly won't have rubbed off her. I'm only hillbilly by marriage and I totally fer shure got the humor.
Now will be listening to yummo Richard Ferrone narrate John Sandford's Hidden Prey.
I have about 60 pages left to read in bedside book Aunt Dimity and the Duke Nancy Atherton, so that should be finished tomorrow. I get the lovely process of choosing my next book. I do have American Gods Neil Gaiman out and bookmarked. Hmmmm, maybe. I just had three light books going at once, now it could be three darker books going as I have Dead Beat Jim Butcher in the purse. Not sure I can do three dark at the same time. We'll see.

Cruisin' Right Along

I am so glad to find the time to read. I am almost a third of the way through Dead Beat Jim Butcher as purse book. I am going to have to get the first one of the series, Storm Front, and read it soon. I am kind of starting in the middle of the series. I will likely read for a bit before sleep when I get home in bedside book Aunt Dimity and the Duke Nancy Atherton. This is such a sweet 'cozy' series. I am on tape 4 of 5, side 2 We're Just Like You, Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle Celia Rivenbark. I emailed her the other day, thanking her for making me snort laugh on the way in to work that morning. She emailed me back almost immediately. Very cool! Love her website http://www.celiarivenbark.com/

Time to pack up and wander my aith home to bed and book.

Well, Since It's End of the Month....

Books I Read in March (and some comments, cuz I gotta)

Hermit of Eyton Forest Ellis Peters, BOT. Lost my concentration, but finished and I love Ellis Peters!
Who Let That Killer in the House? Patricia Sprinkle, pbk. Getting more of this author and series!!!
I, Richard Elizabeth George, HB. Good short stories and I just love this amazing author
Sleeping With the Fishes MaryJanice Davidson, pbk, Yummy-Funny-GOOD
Sunshine and Shadow Earlene Fowler, BOT, good story-good series
How To Marry a Murderer Amanda Matetsky, pbk, good-but distracting use of parentheses to a teense extreme
A Charmed Death Madelyn Alt, pbk, This was good-looks to be a good series
Death of a Charming Man M C Beaton, BOT, such a good series
Better Read Than Dead Victoria Laurie, pbk, I just love this series
Shakespeare's Champion Charlaine Harris, pbk, I just love this author and this is such a goooood series!
High Heels are Murder Elaine Viets, pbk, funny well written 'other' series. This is my first of the mystery-shopper series and won't be my last (I finished today in time to make the March list)

BOTs I gave up on:
The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield, just depressed the crap out of me
The Holy Thief Ellis Peters, too many medievals in a row I guess....
Dark Demon Christine Feehan, just yucky

Tough to Give Up, but.....

I had to give up on The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield. I was listening to it in the car and got to tape 7 of 13, side 1 and I just could not go on with it. Intriguing as it was, it depressed me no end. And I can't explain why.
My philosophy is that life is too short to continue with bad books or books that aren't keeping me sparked for whatever reason. This one was losing the spark.
I am moving on to We're Just Like You Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle Celia Rivenbark. I think it will be like a sorbet between courses, cleanse my palate.
My other book choices are banner. I am moving right along in bedside book Aunt Dimity and the Duke Nancy Atherton and hope to get more reading soon in purse book High Heels are Murder Elaine Viets.
Because I couldn't help myself, while I was B&N picking up gift cards for two teachers who are favorites of Lady K and are leaving the school she attends, I meandered the stacks and found Jim Butcher Dead Beat a Dresden File book. I enjoy the series, but haven't read any of the books yet. Figured Mt Git'r'Read could stand an addition.....
Okay, back to cleaning the floors like I am supposed to be....then the afternoon is mine.

Banner Reading Days for Me

Very good reading days for me the last two or so...I finished Better Read than Dead Victoria Laurie last night and I finished Shakespeare's Champion Charlaine Harris today when I woke from my nap. Both outstanding books in my own opinion. Well written and enjoyable each in their own right. I haven't really started anything yet to replace them as purse book or bedside book. I do have Aunt Dimity and the Duke Nancy Atherton for bedside possibility and I sort of started High Heels are Murder Elaine Viets. It's a Mystery Shopper mystery. I've not read anything from this series yet, but I enjoy the Dead End Job series. Gotta say that cozies are the way to go for me while on mid shifts.
I have a visit planned to my favorite mystery bookstore in Boulder, 'High Crimes', this break. I have two signed books I must pick up and then browse for some Larry J Hillhouse and something from Mo Hayder. I am about ready to read something in the non-cozy and those would fit the yen.

Finished Another....

Finished another audiobook yesterday. A quick M C Beaton Death of a Charming Man. Just love this series. I tried starting The Knocker on Death's Door Ellis Peters, but couldn't get drawn in and mailed it back to RecordedBooks with Death of a Charming Man. Started The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield. It took me a bit to get into it, but I think I will like it.

I am almost done with bedside book Shakespeare's Champion Charlaine Harris and I read quite a bit today in my purse book Better Read Than Dead Victoria Laurie. I hope this author is a prolific writer as I just love her work. Funny and tense and good dialogue. My favorite for dialogue is still MaryJanice Davidson as she writes how I think and sometimes use in my outside voice.

Busy Book Filled Week

I guess busy wouldn't be the best word, but I did finish quite a few more than I thought I would. Finished Sunshine and Shadow Earlene Fowler BOT in the car and tried starting The Holy Thief Ellis Peters. That one didn't catch my interest, so sent it back to RecordedBooks and started (and liking) Death of a Charming Man MC Beaton. I finished A Charmed Death Madelyn Alt as bedside book when I woke from my nap to prep for this mid shift. First I've read of the series and I will be getting more. I will now go back to Charlaine Harris' Shakespeare series I was reading while DD was taking her bath....Not sure yet what book I will choose for next purse book. I finished How To Marry a Murderer Amanda Matetsky. Good first of this series I've read as well and will be looking for more of this Paige Turner series. Not a play on words, it's the name of the character. Set in the 50s and makes me glad I wasn't born back then. Chicks can biotch how bad it is now to be a chick, back then it was the pits.
I will now go choose my next purse book. Have two in the lab. If it stays quiet again tonight, I can put a goodly dent in whatever one I choose.

Wednesday Morning-ish...

Found a follow on purse book after the deeee-lightful Sleeping With the Fishes MaryJanice Davidson. I tried reading Winter Rose Patricia A McKillip, but it didn't grab my interest. A good chickie buddy sent a box of books my way a week or so ago (which contained the above mentioned SWTF) and I found another fun one, How To Marry a Murderer Amanda Patetsky. Takes place in the early 50s. Fun fun fun already.
On tape 6 of 7, side 1 Sunshine and Shadow Earlene Fowler in the car. No significant reading lately in bedside books. It's late and the titles escape me. The books are at home and I am at work.

Finished a Book....

Finished Sleeping With the Fishes MaryJanice Davidson about an hour ago. Funny and quick. Just right for what I needed today. Thank you MaryJanice for all of your series. I will always be partial to Betsy and Sinclair, but this new one is a pip!

Happy Early Daylight Savings Time....sigh...and they do this WHY?!

Please to note the sarcasm...I, and many others, wonder why this country still does this godawful thing to people each and every year. And this year, hey let's do it earlier and cause havoc with computers, schedules, etc, not just mess with sleep patterns. I am a shift worker with an almost 4 year old daughter....nuf said.....at least for me.....

I did get my quality time with Sunshine and Shadow Earlene Fowler this morning on the way in to work. I stayed up last night with my bedside book A Charmed Death Madelyn Alt. I am halfway through that one and hope to get a lot of reading accomplished in purse book Sleeping With the Fishes MaryJanice Davidson. All great choices I made this time around. Sometimes one of the three will be good enough to finish, but not great to pay attention to. Some I just stop reading completely. Of that group, I will bookmark and put back on Mt Git'r'Read OR I will give up on it and put it in the giveaway pile. Thankfully, all three of these are worth paying attention to as well as keep on keepin' on. I think this is my favorite Earlene Fowler so far. And I absolutely adore MaryJanice Davidson. She could write the phone book funny. (bad grammar...yeah, yeah, yeah)

January and February Books Read/Listened To

January 2007 Books from my Journal:

Morrigan's Cross - Nora Roberts, pbk, bk 1 of trilogy. Good start.
The Ghost and Mrs McClure - Alice Kimberly, pbk, very fun cozy series..will be looking for more
The Search - Iris Johansen, BOT, good spinoff from Eve Duncan series
Broken Dishes - Earlene Fowler, BOT, love this wonderful quilting mystery series
O Artful Death - Sarah Stewart Taylor, pbk, really good book 1 of a very good series, very intriguing premise
Candy Apple Dead - Sammi Carter, pbk, mostly finished and did not dig at all. Main character pissed me off
Skeleton Man - Tony Hillerman, BOT, okay, not great. Loved the past work of Hillerman. Now going through the motions...
In Over Your Head: A Cody Bryan Mystery - Larry Hillhouse, TPB, GOOD GOOD GOOD!! Looking for more (the author posted a response on this blog and emailed in response to my whoo-hoo email to him)
The Ice Queen - Alice Hoffman, BOCD, what a fetchingly sad book
Sex, Lies and Vampires - Katie MacAlister, pbk, just love this author and this book met my expectations


February Books from my Journal:

The Only Good Yankee - Jeff Abbott, pbk, good book and will get more of this author.. have Panic on Mt Git'r'Read....
Mephisto Club - Tess Gerritsen, BOCD, scary good
Death of a Snob - MC Beaton, BOT, just love this series
Biggie and the Quincy Ghost - Nancy Bell, BOT, pretty decent funny cozy series
Death of a Darklord - Laurell K Hamilton, TPB, like Anita Blake/Meredith Gentry series better
Break No Bones - Kathy Reichs, BOCD, SUPER!!
Size 12 is Not Fat! - Meg Cabot, TPB, OMG funny book!! More of this author!
Last Scene Alive - Charlaine Harris, pbk, very good Aurora Teagarden mystery series

Saturday and I Yam at Woik

So, my last mid this rotation and hoping to kick the crap out of this cold the pros from Shriever brought with. I bought and started taking Cinnamon Flavored Zicam this morning. It doesn't taste too great, but it's doing the trick. I found if I hold it under my tongue for a bit, it chews up mo' bettah and isn't as yuck tasting.

I finished Break No Bones Kathy Reichs BOCD this morning. It was a long wrap-up, but seemed necessary for closure. This one redeemed Dr Reichs in my sites again. The last book or two, she seemed to be heading down the same crap path Patricia Cornwell has in her series. Break No Bones is well written and had me going back and forth and showed Tempe as a human with mistakes. She's eased up on the scientific descriptions that caused me to skim until the action began again. Minutae (sp?) was a drag. Now it's integral and minimal.
Started tape 1 of 12 of Christine Feehan Dark Demon. Richard Ferrone is the narrator and is perfect for this. All dark and gravelly voiced. Perfect for my night drive in for mids. Yum.

Gotta say, I am listening to the soundtrack of Flushed Away and Tina Turner is rockin' on Proud Mary. I love my CCR, but Ms Turner is JAMMIN' and no one does this song better. do-do-do-do, oh yeah!!!

An Author Read and Posted on my Blog!!

Gotta say, I am still quite stunned that Larry J Hillhouse commented on my blog site! Very thrilled and stunned. A good way to get me to look for more of his books more quickly than I'd planned. Mt Git'r'Read is hewgah anyway, but a few more can slide in there I reckon.

I have two purse books going now, Charlaine Harris Last Scene Alive-Aurora Teagarden Mystery and The Templar Legacy Steve Berry. Not as crazy about the Aurora Teagarden series as I am the Southern Vampire series or the Grave....series or the Shakespeare series, but Aurora is spunky and sad and funny and they are fast reads. I wouldn't collect them like I seem to be collecting the Southern Vampire series.

Bedside book is Size 12 is Not Fat Meg Cabot. Super book! Granted, my own humble opinion, but there it is. Nice fast story with interesting characters that I like or intensely dislike. Some books I find myself just gliding through and other, more memorable ones, stick with me. In Over Your Head was one of those. (see above guh post on Larry J Hillhouse).

Car audio book is Break No Bones Kathy Reichs. She is back in my good graces with this one. Not too crazy about the last one or two, but Tempe is back well in BNB.

Okie-doke. Back in the hole I go. At least I can read for a while.

Monthly Postings.....

Alrighty then.....and I'm back...and front.....I'll have to post another day on my January books. The journal is at home on my nightstand and I am here at work...or at least occupying space for money. I went to the library to fill my need of audio books as I was in a drought from RecordedBooks. Timing is everything dontcha know. Snow storms and slow mail kept my returns from getting back to the company and they won't send anything out until some start returning. They sent out and more snow storms ensued, so no audio pleasure from them for over a month or more. Library hooked me up for a bit and then the deluge started showing up on my doorstep. I have 8 or 9 audiobooks to listen to now. I ended up using my coupon from them to buy The Stolen Child by Keith Donahue. That one is on standby in case anything like the nature caused mail delay happens again. I am listening to Biggie and the Quincy Ghost Nancy Bell now and have Break No Bones Kathy Reichs, Dark Demon Christine Feehan, Villa of Mysteries David Hewson, Hermit of Eyton Forest Ellis Peters, The Holy Thief Ellis Peters, The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield, and Sunshine and Shadow Earlene Fowler all waiting in the back seat. Just finished Death of a Snob MC Beaton.

I didn't read very much last night as I had to be up and at work early this morning. Tomorrow is swing shift, but I know Lady K will wake early as it will be me home and up with her. DH can sleep in....dagnabbit. So I will be up early with Lady K and a fargin' huge pot of coffee. Chocolate Velvet is the flavor this week. Yummo.
Blogging of coffee...a book bud on WW Booktalk turned our message thread chickies onto a great coffee roasting place in her hometown. They have a website and dontcha know I just placed a hewgah order with them. Can't wait to try them and try to pick a favorite. Maybe I'll keep the box in my clothes closet and I can smell yummo all the time. http://www.greencastlecoffee.com/ is the site.

And it's time to go HOME!!

It feels wonderful to be able to post that phrase. It's been a loooong six day rotation and mids can be the most difficult. I did read quite a bit this shift as nothing much going on and made it to about the halfway point of O Artful Death Sarah Stewart Taylor. I may take this one upstairs for my bedside reading this morning. I have In Over Your Head - A Cody J Bryan Mystery Larry Hillhouse as a standby purse book. Not like I don't have many many mucho many more on standby on Mt Git'r'Read, but this particular one is actually in my purse.

We have made up for the weird warm weather we were having in December and have had three snowstorms in as many weeks. Approximately 3 feet of snow just in our suburb. Every area has received varying amounts. Good moisture and great for Lady K to go sledding. We will be doing that when I wake from today's little nap. Should be perfect for it.

Time to get out there and try not to slip slide home.

It's 0416....I Don't Care Where You're From....That's EARLY

Schnikees!!! Will this mid shift never end??!!! I have hit my wall and I can't enjoy even my purse book O Artful Death by Sarah Stewart Taylor. Hot tea, ice cold Diet Pepsi....nothing is working. Maybe a trip out in the snow and balmy 8 degree morning chill. Went to the gym earlier and read while on recumbent bike and it's still difficult to stay awake. I have the serious church nods goin'.....and I still have to friggin drive home. Have Broken Dishes Earlene Fowler to listen to on the way.
Time for walkabout to wakeupabout.

Sleepy Reading...Does it Count??

It is December now, though you wouldn't know it when you go outside here in Colorado. It's going to be 60 degrees again today. We had a sad end to our November. My stepmom lost her battle with mesothelioma on 30 November. My dad will miss her with every fiber in his being, but knows that she is now out of pain and is with God and helping him organize Heaven's computer systems.

OOOOOO....Almost Daily Posting....

Wowsa! Almost a daily blog.....I am already unenamoured of Queen's Play Dorothy Dunnett, so that is going back to recordedbooks later today or sometime tomorrow after my shift. It's a huge return mail container, so will likely actually have to take it inside to a mail carrier. Oh well, I have books to mail out to friends and family, two birds with one stone and all that...

So very close to being done with Bethlehem Road Murder Batya Gur and I am so very ready to start something easier on the brain to decipher. I am meandering through the last two chapters and hope to finish it this week.

Have been moseying through Laura Child Death by Darjeeling and hoping to finish it tonight or tomorrow night. Ready to move on to a new purse book as well. December is soon here and I am thinking I may be reading only holiday themed books for the month. We'll see how long that lasts. I know it won't be in the audio book department.

Happy Day After Turkey Day

I hope all had a good Thanksgiving, or a close facsimile thereof. I spent mine at work, which means holiday pay as well as regular shift work pay. More $$ for Christmas presents and books. Good thing to have the extra $$ as the husband is digging on some expensive gifts. His will be few and costly where I prefer many and inexpensive. Don't like the word cheap....Quality does not have to cost so much, at least for me to enjoy. I am looooow maintenance.

I finished Definitely Dead Charlaine Harris BOCD on the way in to work this afternoon. I started BOT Queen's Play Dorothy Dunnett and I hope I can keep up with it. It is very large in characters and language. 1600s and a lot of time spent at sea so far. If there is something from RecordedBooks when I get home, this one might be going back tomorrow......Life is too short for convolution. I do love the narrator's voice and accent. Maybe leaning more to the accent as it is Scots. Yummy.

Hoping for time to read this shift.

Jan: You asked what I bought for my birthday books, I didn't. Buy anything that is. I do have an order in to B&N and the next Jacquline Winspear book with Maisie Dobbs series is in that order.

Possible Renaming of Blog to WEEEKLLEEEE Reads

What in the world? I never get to post when I want to. I am reading new books now, except I am still making my way through Bethlehem Road Murder Batya Gur. It is taking me a while to read it and get used to the different politics of this mystery. It is getting better the more I read it, thank goodness. I am halfway through it and hope to finish it by the end of the month. I am now listening to Definitely Dead Charlaine Harris, one of my most favorite authors. I may have to do a blog one day on those ladies and gents, favorite authors I mean. I am reading a new purse book The Bohemian Murders Dianne Day, another mystery coming of age set in the early 1900's. Very good and it is part of a series, so will likely be looking for more of Dianne Day. I have some fall back books on standby in case I actually get the time to finish this current purse book. Can't recall the titles offhand, they are in the car and I am in here nice and toasty warm. It's my birthday today and I feel the need to go shopping for books to gift myself.

3AM and I am Reading

Darkly Dreaming Dexter Jeff Lindsey is a well written book and the reader, or at least this one, feels for the serial killer. This is a difficult task for writer and for the reader without feeling guilty for feeling this way....how many times can I write feeling, feel, etc....
Dexter admits to being a sociopath and is content, as much as he can have this, with putting on a human mask and working with feeling humans. His need to kill has been channeled in a productive way and I think this is how we are allowed to be okay with his habits.
To offset this book, I am not reading anything of the cozy ilk. I am reading three fairly disturbing books at the same time. I usually try to balance them against the other, something light, something disturbing and one sort of tie-breaker. Right now I have Batya Gur Bethlehem Road Murder as bedside book, Darkly Dreaming Dexter Jeff Lindsey as my purse book and Aftermath Peter Robinson as my audiobook in the car. All disturbing in their own way, DDD is actually the lightest of the three with comic relief bits.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear is WONDERFUL!!

Maisie Dobbs is a great book. Granted, this is only my own opinion, but I am keeping this book and getting the rest of the series. I seldom if ever keep books. I read and move on, give them to the used bookstore for trade for more books or to Goodwill for tax receipts. Won't do that with this one. Plan to get the series for my sister if she doesn't already have it. ,......note to self....must email or call sister......
Now moving on to Elaine Viets Just Murdered, A Dead End Job Mystery. A nice little cozy and will be a quick read. Must remember to pack another book in purse just in case......

October Books

Books for October:
~Death of a Prankster - MC Beaton, BOT,typical good cozy...Davina Porter is the narrator and love her!!!
~The Wave-Walter Mosley, BOCD,really good
~Locked Doors-Blake Crouch, pbk, scary good
~Map of Bones-James Rollins, pbk, only half credit for this one...not so enjoyable (phhhhhhtttt)
~Anansi Boys-Neil Gaiman, BOCD, GREAT!
~Birdman-Mo Hayder, pbk, OMG GREAT!
~Grave Sight-Charlaine Harris, pbk, very good new series for one of my favorite authors
~Hangman's Root-Susan Wittig Albert, pbk, good cozy series
~Winter's Child-Margaret Maron, HB, one of my favorite authors and series and this didn't disappoint
~Bead on Trouble-Barbara Burnett Smith-BOCD, decent...but won't get more..a little disjointed in the telling

Mid Shift and the Readin' is FINE!!

I finally get some time to read on shift. I bring books in with the thought that it will be quiet and I can read. Tonight is the first time in a looong while that it's been possible. So what do I do? I come in here and post that I have time to read instead of using the valuable time actually flippin' readin'!! I have the awesome Maisie Dobbs Jacqueline Winspear in the works now. It is very good and I will post a review, I hope, when I finish it. I am listening to the last CD, thank God, of Bead on Trouble Barbara Burnett Smith. Decent cozy, but I am ready to kick these women in the head for their stupidity. The timeline is aimless and a bit longer than one's average 24 hour day. I don't care about anyone, except getting it finished so I can add it to my book journal. I've already quit on one book this month Map of Bones James Rollins as it was just too much action in too little time. I just wanted everyone to take a nap. No one functions on that little sleep and miss that many bullets, bombs, strangling attempts.....so, anyway, I didn't want to give up on two book in one month just on principals. I did finish Winter's Child Margaret Maron Thursday afternoon upon waking from my prep for mid shift nap. I really enjoy this series and this book didn't disappoint. I also finished Hangman's Root Susan Wittig Albert the other day. Another very good series, even if I've only read three of them. I have more in the closet version of Mt Git'r'Read. Next up for the bedside book is Abby Cooper - Pyschic Eye Victoria Laurie. I've heard really good things about this series and I am looking forward to a quick read of this. More books in my journal is better.

A loong looooong time ago.......

Lordy, where did the time go? Went on shift work, found more time to read, but no time to post here. Got a talkin' to from my bloggin buddies and now will try to be more bloggy myself. I'll log in from home with my book journal for all that I've read the last month or so. For now, I am listening to Anansi Boys by the absolutely wonderful Neil Gaiman. That one is in the car for my monumentally calm commutes for work (6 on 4 off, thank you very much) and I have bedside book as Winter's Child Margaret Maron, her latest in the Deborah Knott series. Purse book is a recommendation from my bud Suzi, Birdman by a very talented Mo Hayder. She needs to write more more more! An outstanding debut novel.

I will definitely make more time to log in here. It feels good to write in any way shape or form.
later gaters!