All Good Choices...Love When That Happens

I love when all of the books I choose are can't-wait-to-get-back-to-them good. Stonhenge Bernard Cornwell, BOT in the car, took a little getting used to, but now I am truly enjoying the story as it spends time with each character. Witch Way to Murder Shirley Damsgaard (bedside book)is another winner and I was able to loll around in bed yesterday after my pre-mid shift nap and read for over an hour. I could finish it today or tomorrow. My absolute favorite of the three, though, is Shadow Man Cody McFadyen. WOW! Thank you, SuziQ, for recommending it. When I get closer to the ending, I will get the next in series, Face of Death and have it ready to go. I'll have to take a break after this one, but the second in series will definitely be soon and I want to have it handy.

Love Hearing From Authors and Changes to the Line-up

I was pleasantly surprised to see a comment from Bruce Golden, author of Better Than Chocolate, my first Unread Author Challenge book. I was so glad it was as good as all of the hassle I had just trying to obtain it. Not that hassle is good, but I had my wish fulfilled that the book didn't disappoint as I was worried it would do after all of the hooey I had to do to get it. .....babbling, -V-, stop now.... I have it on my keeper shelf, needless to say.

I posted last night that I was trying to read Corpse, but it wasn't doin' it for me. I changed out to Shadow Man Cody McFadyen instead. Here's a little blurb and you'll see why I chose it:

from B&N preview:

Once, Special Agent Smoky Barrett hunted serial killers for the FBI. She was one of the best-until a madman terrorized her family, killed her husband and daughter, and left her face scarred and her soul brutalized. Turning the tables on the killer, Smoky shot him dead-but her life was shattered forever. Now Smoky dreams about picking up her weapon again. She dreams about placing the cold steel between her lips and pulling the trigger one last time. Because for a woman who's lost everything, what is there left to lose? She's about to find out.In all her years at the Bureau, Smoky has never encountered anyone like him-a new and fascinating kind of monster, a twisted genius who defies profilers' attempts to understand him. And he's issued Smoky a direct challenge, coaxing her back from the brink with the only thing that could convince her to live.The killer videotaped his latest crime-an act of horror that left a child motherless-then sent a message addressed to Agent Smoky Barrett. The message is enough to shock Smoky back to work, back to her FBI team. And that child awakens something in Smoky she thought was gone forever.Suddenly the stakes are raised. The game has changed. For as this deranged monster embarks on an unspeakable spree of perversion and murder, Smoky is coming alive again-and she's about to face her greatest fears as a cop, a woman, a mother...and a merciless killer's next victim.

And I looked up my package from B&N and a box o' books will be waiting for me when I get home tonight. Oh boy!!! Just in time for the start of my 12 hour shifts!!! I plan to do as much reading as possible. Lord knows, Mt Git'r'Read could use some thinning....

Dry, dry, dry....

So I am trying to read and absorb my next purse book (supposedly), Corpse, and it is sort of grabbing my attention, but not completely. I am truly hoping UPS delivers my package of books from B&N as there are some doozies in that and I can change out purse books. I am thinking I am going to change it out anyway....I have to be able to carry in my small purse and this one is a TPB.

Banner Reading Completion Day

Had a rather good day of completion for three books. I finished my bedside book Ghost of a Chance Yasmine Galenorn instead of napping before swing shift. Finished Dearly Devoted Dexter Jeff Lindsey on my way in to my swing shift. And just now finished purse book The Chick and the Dead Casey Daniels while on swing shift and nothing is going on to pay much attention to except my book. All good in each their own way. I think of the three, I liked Dearly Devoted Dexter best.
And now I am ready to move on to three new books. I have my audiobook started already. I chose Stonehenge Bernard Cornwell and narrated by George Guidall. I have my next purse book Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death by Jessica Snyder Sachs. This one is non-fiction, but still in my interest level of forensics used to solve crimes. Not sure yet what I will choose for my next bedside book.

First Unread Authors Challenge Book Finished!!

Better Than Chocolate - Bruce Golden is the first out of the shute for the Unread Authors Challenge and I am so glad I made it my first one to start out this fun challenge! WOW! It was a pretty cool mix of sci-fi, mystery, and sex. I love the way with words, especially the term pow-whammy! You will have to read the book to know.....I had it figured out whodunnit, but it didn't piss me off like M J Rose did in The Halo Effect, I won't read more of that series, but I will definitely read more if Bruce Golden has more. He did recommend two other authors that I have in my little black book. I posted those two authors in a previous post.

Now reading The Chick and the Dead: A Pepper Martin Mystery - Casey Daniels as purse book, Dearly Devoted Dexter - Jeff Lindsay BOCD in the car, and Ghost of a Chance: A Chintz and China Mystery - Yasmine Galenorn is my bedside book. All are wonderful in their own way and I am enjoying when I get the time to read/listen to them.

Good Readin'

For all that it felt like I had to go through to get Better Than Chocolate Bruce Golden in my possession, I was beginning to wonder if it was going to be worth it. I couldn't find it at a bookstore, had to pre-pay when I ordered it at B&N, then they lost it. Went with the receipt from UPS yesterday and they finally found it on their shelves! For their own stock! I know mistakes happen, but those are the ones that seem to happen quite a lot to me. sigh....Anyway, I finally had it in my hot little manos, along with Witch Way to Murder Shirley Damsgaard and The Rest Falls Away: The Gardella Vampire Chronicles Colleen Gleason. Dontcha know I had to ensure my trip would be partially worth it....
So I started Better Than Chocolate last night and I am now halfway through it. It is well written and entertaining as all get out. I can only hope that Mr Golden has written others, though he does recommend two other authors, Mike DiCerto and M D Benoit. The last one I have Metered Space on a wishlist. I am a sort of fan of sci-fi books, but some get too into the weeds for my enjoyment. This one is futuristic mystery and dry humor with interesting premises. Detective Dane loses his partner in a shoot-out and is reassigned a new one who/which is a droid in the form of Marilyn Monroe. Apparently a company made celebrity-droids and then they fell out of fashion. The droids had to find other assignments. Jim Morrison is a garbageman, or Shaman of Sanitation as he would prefer. Diggin' it!!

Finishing Books

I finished The Sugar Camp Quilt Jennifer Chiaverini, BOT, yesterday on the way home from work. This is my favorite of hers, so far. It does take place in Elm Creek, but is not part of the series. It is a wonderful story and I highly recommend it. Takes place pre-Civil War and deals with both sides of the coin and is a splendid study in human kindness, bravery, cowardice, and stupidity and lack of depth of soul. I wanted to reach inside the cassette player and alternately hug and slap different characters.

I finished another gut wrencher today. One of my purse books, A Secret Rage Charlaine Harris, was very hard to pick up and very hard to put down. I am most fond of her Southern Vampire series, then her Shakespeare series. Next in line is the Grave series. Charlaine is a prolific and varied author. I wasn't sure I would like her stand alone novels, but I was pleased (if that is a correct term) to find that they are equally attention grabbing.

Emails from Authors!!

Hey, I just had an email, actually two emails, from Stephanie Bond in response to mine to her telling her how much I enjoyed In Deep VooDoo and looking forward to Finding Your Mojo. What a sweetie and I will definitely read all she has written. She is funny and intelligent, a great combo.

Getting Fashion Tips From a 4 Year Old

Lady K just walked in asking if she looked like a real Mother. I told her, 'Yes, because that's how I go out every day, with my little red purse, monkey baby and cape around my shoulders. And I never leave the house without my sparkly tiara.'

Another Cozy Finished

Feint of Art Hailey Lind is another finished cozy thanks to some time in a wonderfully comfy spa pedicure chair. I finished a fun and a well done book and my toes look FAB! I hope there is more to the series from this sister writing team.
I immediately began A Secret Rage Charlaine Harris. It's bee waiting patiently (or as patiently as an inanimate object can wait) in my purse for the right time. It's good so far, but I am partial to Charlaine Harris.
I then went to The BookKeeper and shelved books for two hours and picked out Silent Joe T Jefferson Parker, Walking On Water Gemma O'Connor, Whiskey Sour J A Konrath, Drop Shot Harlan Coben, and The Chick and the Dead Casey Daniels. Whiskey Sour has been on my shopping cart for a long while and The Chick and the Dead is second in a series that I started with Don of the Dead. Pepper Martin bonked her cranium on a tombstone while performing her duties as a tour guide in a cemetary and now can see dead people. I do believe this will be my next bedside book.
I am still looking for a couple of medical thrillers for that challenge and I am looking for or hoping that my Unread Authors Challenge arrives soon. If not, it is a trip to High Crimes tomorrow. Like that is hardship....and another trip to The BookKeeper to earn more books.

First Book for September Finished

I guess I can consider The Trouble with Magic Madelyn Alt as first of 'September is Cozy Month' book completed. I finished it last night and read quite a bit in Feint of Art Hailey Lind. That should be finished this week. It's one of the reasons I dig the cozies, they are quick. Other reasons include the things I learn as the main characters specialize in something other than mystery solving. Herbs, teas, coffees, knitting, sewing, wine, magic......whatever.
Received an email from B&N that Better Than Chocolate Bruce Golden is on its way. That one is on my list for Unread Authors Challenge and I haven't been able to find any of the others. I feel a trip to High Crimes on the agenda this week. I have a small stack on the nightstand in the Candy Room (name Lady K gave one of the spare rooms), so will be choosing something from there in the meantime.

Books Read For August

Deal Breaker - Harlen Coben, pbk, I am in love with Myron Bolitar!!

Bubbles A Broad - Sarah Strohmeyer, BOT, Bubbles is indeed a broad in the best possible sense. This is my favorite of the series

Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampires, Vol 1 - Rachel Caine, pbk, super good and getting the rest of series and anything else Rachel writes

Decaffeinated Corpse - Cleo Coyle, pbk, best of series

In Deep VooDoo - Stephanie Bond, pbk, super ride of a book. Getting more.

Denial - Keith Ablow, pbk, WOWOWOWOWOW!!!! Get all of this series and read in order

Anonymous Rex - Eric Garcia, TPB, just so freakin' awesome fun

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling, BOCD, if not for Jim Dale I might have set this aside for later

New Challenges Start Tomorrow!!!

Looking forward to the start of September. Lady K begins pre-K officially, we'll be able to pick two of the pumpkins from the rogue vines that decided our garden was a great place to be and two new challenges begin 1 September. Unread Authors Challenge and September is Cozy Month. I have picked Feint of Art Hailey Lind as the first cozy. She is also a new-to-me author and this is keeping with my choice of first in series from the last two challenges I was in. I will try to keep this up, but I have many cozies on Mt Git'r'Read, so will just go with the flow.

I made a list for Unread Authors Challenge and the plan is to wander B&N after I drop Lady K at school this morning. Maybe pick up one from the list. I'll visit Cynthia at High Crimes for the rest.

I should finish The Trouble With Magic Madelyn Alt this evening. I can start Feint of Art as new bedside book or bring with me as next purse book after A Secret Rage Charlaine Harris.

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows JK Rowling last night on the way home. I am glad for it to be done and moving on. I know that is likely sacrilege to most, but know that I will listen to it again. I own them in hardback and as audio.
I started listening to Murther and Walking Spirits Robertson Davies, but even with George Guidall (who I adore) narrating, I couldn't get past the pretentiousness rearing its ugly cranium. So rewound and put in The Sugar Camp Quilt Jennifer Chiaverini, a known and well loved by me series.

Ahhhh Refreshing!!! Anonymous Rex ROCKED!

I just this very minute finished reading a pretty great rockin' read, Anonymous Rex Eric Garcia. I had it as a bedside book and I wasn't able to get to it often enough or as often as I wanted. I really wanted to stay in bed and read until I finished, but life and family and sleep and all that jazz kept me from it. It was a super private detective mystery and I want people to read it as such and not pigeonhole it as a dinosaur acting as human private investigator mystery. It is that, definitely, but it is not only that. It is funny, sad, intriguing, sexy....I like Vincent Rubio even if he wouldn't like me much since I am a human (honest, I am).
I can't wait to hunt down the second in this series, Casual Rex and number 3 Hot and Sweaty Rex.

Dagnab, Not Enough Time to Read

Makes me nuts when I don't have enough time to read as much as I would like. I am still listening to HP7, though at least I am on CD16 of 17, so nearing the end. It's taken me practically all month. I am almost starting to resent an inanimate object. It wouldn't be so bad except it is just now getting interesting to me and I have six audiobooks waiting on a chair at the breakfast bar at the house. Ones I have been looking forward to listening to and have had much less fanfare than our boy Harry.
I am midway through purse book The Trouble With Magic - Madelyn Alt and about the same with bedside book Anonymous Rex - Eric Garcia. I had hoped to finish the last one before the end of the month for the Summer Mystery Challenge, but I don't think it's going to happen. I do have my six read and then a few more. But I have this weird self-challenge thing I can't seem to shake. I may stay in bed tomorrow and the next day and just read before going into work. Then bring the book with me and finish it when it gets quiet.

OH-MAN-OH-MAN-OH-MAN! Keith Ablow RUSH!!

YOWZAH!!! What a huge rush Keith Ablow is! At least Denial was that. I mowed through it as quickly as I could. If given the chance, I'd have sat and read the entire book in one sitting. Mug of coffee or just an IV drip would work so that I only had to get up to go to the bathroom and I could still take the book with. Perhaps that was a bit too much sharing.
I have to admit that it took a little while to get used to the book, but Frank Clevenger is so damaged to be intriguing. He is a forensic psychiatrist and has issues of his own that he is dealing with by snorting coke and participating in various other activities. He does care about his charges, perhaps too much. That was what made him intriguing to me. He should have been a narcissistic asswipe, but he is just damaged and trying to redeem himself somehow. Or maybe I misinterpreted. I am not sure I would like Frank all the time, but I would want him to be my therapist. He is empathetic.
This is another new to me author I will be reading more of and a series that I will really try to read in order. And I highly recommend reading this author and starting with this book.

Another Challenge Book Completed

I finished In Deep VooDoo Stephanie Bond this morning. I knew I'd like it, but was really surprised at how much I liked it even more. Other books can be aggravating when the book continues on even after all the loose ends are tied up. This one did not aggravate and really startled me. I will look for more of this if it's a series and definitely will look for more Stephanie Bond. This is a Summer Mystery Challenge book for me as Stephanie Bond is a new to me author.
Next bedside book is probably going to be another challenge book, Anonymous Rex Eric Garcia. I hope I haven't built it up too much in my cranium. I have been looking forward to it.

OMG! Thank You for the SCI-FI Channel!!!

Lord have mercy! I just read that the Sci-Fi Channel, in all its wisdom, did a made for TV movie of the book Anonymous Rex !!!! AND IT'S AVAILABLE ON DVD!!!! I have not read the book or any of the series, but it was on my wishlist for the longest time after reading a brief bit on the premise of the storyline. I posted last week that I'd found the book and picked it up to add to Mt Git'r'Read. Now I find that there is a DVD! (Cue William Shatner voiceover) Must... have.... that.... D....V...D!!!

Finished another purse book

I completely forgot that I finished another book, Decaffeinated Corpse Cleo Coyle, the other day. This is fifth in the Coffeehouse Mystery series and it's my favorite of the bunch (maybe klatsch??)It's good to see characters not necessarily develop but get on with their lives as each book in a series progresses the action. Cleo Coyle is a husband and wife writing team who also write under the name of Alice Kimberley, writing another favorite cozy series, Haunted Bookshop series.
I immediately began next purse book Denial Keith Ablow. I haven't read very far, but there has already been a murder, sex, and drugs and I am still in in the first chapter. Main character Dr Frank Clevenger, is flawed flawed flawed......kind of makes me like him. This is my first Keith Ablow. And I really get the feeling that it will not be my last.

Summer Mystery Challenge - What I Have Read So Far

Deal Breaker - Harlen Coben (I am in LOVE)

The Halo Effect - M J Rose (eeehhh)

Gallows View - Peter Robinson (wow)

Deadly Advice - Roberta Isleib (super)

City of Bones - Michael Connelly

Carved in Bone - Jefferson Bass (Yowzah)

Blindsighted - Karin Slaughter (HUMDINGER)

One Grave Too Many - Beverly Connor (WHOOEE)

And Another Challenge Shows Its Face!! Whoo-Hoo!!

Thanks, Suzi, for posting this challenge announcement and thank you, Sycorax Pine/Pour of Tor, for hosting it.
My choices:
Whoever Fights Monsters - Iryna Bennett
The DollMaker - Amanda Stevens
The Tunnels - Michele Gagnon
Better Than Chocolate - Bruce Golden
Bad Monkeys - Matt Ruff
Chinatown Death Cloud Peril - Paul Malmont
When the Devil Holds a Candle - Karin Fossum

Found My Next Challenge Book!!!

Books picked up today at The BookKeeper:

Harlen Coben-Tell No One and The Innocent
Isabel Allende- Zorro (been on my wishlist for a while)
Eric Garcia - Anonymous Rex: A Detective Story (Totally been on my wishlist for the longest time!)

Review of 'Anonymous Rex':
Vincent Rubio, a Los Angeles private investigator, is down on his luck: He's out of work. His car's been repossessed. His partner has died under mysterious circumstances. And his tail just won't stay put. Vincent is a dinosaur - a Velociraptor, to be precise. It seems the dinosaurs faked their extinction 65 million years ago and still roam the earth, disguised in convincing latex costumes that help them blend perfectly into human society. A heightened sense of smell allows the dinos to detect one another - Vincent's got an odor like a tasty Cuban cigar.. "When Vincent is called to investigate a two-bit case of arson at a hip dino nightclub, he discovers something much more sinister, which lures him back to New York City - the scene of his partner's death and a dangerous nexus of dinosaur and human intermingling.. "Will Vincent solve the mystery of his partner's death? Will a gorgeous blond chanteuse discover his true identity, jeopardizing both their lives? Will Vincent be able to conquer his dangerous addiction to basil, or will he wind up in Herbaholics Anonymous? Will he find true love, or resort to crumpled issues of Stegolicious?.

Hate Giving Up on A Book

I did it, I finally gave up on The Givenchy Code Julie Kenner. I was at the midway point and could not get the ha-cha-cha up to read any more of it. And what is reading without the ha-cha-cha. This didn't even give me the ha. I will still give Julie a chance in a book I picked up the other day while working for books, Cat's Fancy. It's paranormal, so will likely be pretty good. She proved to me that she can write that with Carpe Demon:Adventures of a Demon Hunting Soccer Mom. I loved that one and I will absolutely read the rest of the series.

As replacement for bedside reading, I picked In Deep VooDoo Stephanie Bond. It's good so far.

Rachel Caine Added to Favorite Author List

WOW! Am I glad I listened to Alita and picked up a Rachel Caine book! Alita had suggested The Weather Warden series, but I found Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampires-Vol 1 first. Definite edges of gray in the whole good is white and evil is black. There are those in this book, but I like the 'ishee' ones who are a little of both. Claire is introduced first and she gets the crap beat out of her, but she keeps on. She is 16 and on her own at college her parents picked so that she would keep safely close to home. The college is in Morganville, home to some shady characters, so not so safe. She meets Shane, Michael and Eve when she answers an ad for a roommate needed. The action just keeps building from there. Good character development and leaves just enough out to make the anticipation for the next in the series a tingle in anticipation. I love anticipation.
I finished Glass Houses quickly and am looking forward to a trip to the bookstore for more Rachel Caine.

Bubbles A Broad...Yes Indeedy!

I see Bubbles Yablonskey in pink, so will pay tribute in text color. Bubbles A Broad is my favorite in this Sarah Strohmeyer series. Bubbles is naive, not dumb. She is smart in her own way. I loved how she followed through on all of her leads, even the ones that led her astray. Stiletto is a lucky man. Bubbles is a lucky woman, too, in that Stiletto is quite the sweetie stud and loves her for who she is. Would that I could be as nifty as Bubbles.

I finished the Bubbles BOT today on the way in to work. I immediately began Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows JK Rowling. I have all of the series in hardback, well except this last volume and I have almost all of the series in audio as BOCD. I am working on completing the collection. I love Jim Dale. I have not actually 'read' the series, rather I've listened to Jim Dale tell me the story.
I am halfway through a fab book Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampires-Book One Rachel Caine. Rachel was recommended to me by Alita when she suggested I would likely enjoy The Weather Warden series by Rachel. I found Glass Houses first. I loves my vampire stories, especially the well written ones. This is definitely one of those! This is now my purse book, but I don't think it will remain so for long. I believe I could easily finish it tonight if I pry myself away from the computer for long enough.
Bedside book remains The Givenchy Code Julie Kenner. I am a little over halfway through this one. I have the book following this on Mt Git'r'Read, but if this one doesn't improve, I think both will go to High Crimes or BookKeeper in trade. I won't read ehhh books. I love Julie Kenner, but this one isn't a lot of interest. But because I like her and I am over halfway through, I will finish it. And hope it gets better. I truly cannot wait to get back to her Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series.

Tuesday was a FAB Day-Karin Slaughter is Groovy!

It started with a good night's sleep, which I wasn't counting on. The night before, I'd had a repeat bout of fist sized knot action in my upper abdomen like I'd had up in Steamboat a couple of weeks ago. Woke at 3am and could not get comfy. Anyway, Monday was fun enough for Chickie Day with Lady K and I seeing 'Underdog' and hitting a plant sale at our favorite nursery. I fixed dinner early that night and ate less than normal. I think it all helped, if only for a re-start on my weight loss journey.
Anyway, Tuesday....woke early to the little tap-tap-tapping of Lady K's little fingers on my shoulder. She crawled up in bed with me and we both dozed off again. We had a nice morning between waking and drop-off at school. I cleaned floors and dusted (bleck) and got myself tidied up for a trip to Boulder and my favorite mystery bookstore, High Crimes. Karin Slaughter was there to talk and sign her newest book Beyond Reach. She is someone I could be friends with. I don't get along well with women as a rule, too many hidden agendas that I can't decode and cattiness as a rule. I am very particular with my women friends. Karin seems easy to be with, intelligent and is very well-spoken. And funny. I dig that part the most.
It was great listening to her describe her writing process, who some of her favorite authors are (who are some of mine, too): Mo Hayder, Denise Mina, Sara Paretsky, Michael Connelly. She laughed when recounting her surprise at seeing how well and appropriate her name was for her books when she actually saw it on the cover the first time. She hadn't realized until then. And that it was a good thing that she hadn't chosen medicine as her profession.
She was super gracious signing books and immediately said yes to a photo op. She asked if I'd like it of her alone or with me. I was thrilled to say the least. She congratulated me on joining Weight Watchers and thought it was pretty neat that her first book was such a hit to several of us on the Booklovers thread.
I did wander around to find more books for Mt Git'r'Read as well as get my signed books that Cynthia has been so great about holding for me.

On the way home, I realized I still had plenty of time before picking up Lady K at school, so stopped by The Book Keeper, my favorite little used bookstore. They have signs in the window asking for volunteers to shelve books for them. You get $12 in books for each hour you work. I earned my books and found that Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon are considered romance writers as opposed to horror or mystery. And they are very popular. There are whole shelves just for them in the romance section. Well, huh!

I picked up Lady K at school and she wanted to go to the 'lake park'. She played for a bit and then wanted to go for a walk. She actually ran and I walked as fast as my Born sandals would let me. AND, we went alllll the way around the lake, some 3/4 of a mile. She wants to go again tonight, if I pick her up early enough. I will have to remember to bring my walking shoes from work. I am wearing the same sandals today....

I Am IN LUH-HUV!!!

I gotta say it loud! I AM IN LOVE WITH MYRON BOLITAR!!! I just finished my first Harlen Coben book and it was the first in the Myron Bolitar series Deal Breaker. Myron is my kinda guy: a smartass in the best possible way, smart, funny, quite the smooth talkin' devil (a tad tongue in cheek) and he takes care of his people whether he loves them or not. I admire Esperanza and I adore Win. I cannot wait to read more of this series!!!
I am on tape 4 of 7 Bubbles A Broad Sarah Strohmeyer in the car and I am moving right along with The Givenchy Code Julie Kenner. For my next purse book, I started Rachel Caine Glass Houses: The Morganville Vampire Series Vol 1.

Saturday and Hope to Get More Reading than the last few days....

Been having a heckuva time getting in my reading time these last few days. My car book is Bubbles A Broad Sarah Strohmeyer and it is a joy. It is my favorite of the few of this series I have read so far. Bubbles is one awesome chickie.
My bedside book, The Givenchy Code Julie Kenner, is another winner. I have read several chapters in this one before I pass out for the night. No, not drunk, just tired. And a little AlkaSeltzer Cold meds to help me not hack and hurk with this damn cold that won't let go. I needs my rest!!!
Purse book, Deal Breaker Harlen Coben, is the one that's been the most neglected. It's been busy and I just can't get to it. And I WANT TO!!! It's got the nice smartass, Myron Bolitar and death and mayhem on the horizon......

Choosing something to listen to....

I choose audiobooks on RecordedBooks for my wishlist, sometimes because the author, intriguing title, or because I like the narrator. I don't have control over what they send when, so this last group was a whole lotta Bubbles Yablonskey. And I love Bubbles, don't get me wrong, but I like a little space between my series or characters or authors. And the last group didn't have good choices due to narrators for the most part and I discovered I'd already read one of them, Bubbles Unbound. So, four BOT are going back today or tomorrow.

The narrator can make or break an audiobook. It may be shallow of me, but there it is. I wanted to like Nail Biter, but the narrator irritated me. Same with 1776, it is narrated by the author David McCullough and I wasn't happy with it. Life is too freakin' short for anything to be bad about a book. I love McCullough as an author, so will definitely get 1776 in handheld format.

Went to B&N and picked up Rachel Caine Glass Houses: The MorganVille Vampires #1 as well as CD version of HP 7. That is one series and one narrator I will listen to over and over and in a row. I break for Harry Potter.

July Books Imbibed

Carved In Bone - Jefferson Bass, pbk, WHHOOOOOEEEEEEEE Guh-hood!!! I cannot wait to read more of this team

City of Bones - Michael Connelly, BOT, my first and definitely not my last Connelly!

Deadly Advice - Roberta Isleib, pbk, recommended on Summer Mystery Challenge and so glad I took Liz up on it, super!!

The Jasmine Moon Murder - Laura Childs, pbk, just love this series

Betrayal at Cross Creek - Kathleen Ernst, BOT, good sad story

Murder of a Barbie and Ken - Denise Swanson, pbk, very good series, strong characters

The Hundredth Man - Jack Kerley, pbk, HOLEY SCHMOKES GOOD!!! Thanks again Suzie for the recommend!

Dead and Loving It - MaryJanice Davidson, TPB, typical snort laugh funny MJD!

Bubbles Betrothed - Sarah Strohmeyer, BOT, funny cozy. I love Bubbles, she ROCKS!

I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason - Susan Kandel, pbk, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed the characters in this series

Gallows View - Peter Robinson, HB, a very good intro to this Inspector Banks series. Can't wait to read more.

The Halo Effect - M J Rose, pbk, sex scenes disguised as a medical mystery thriller. I liked most of it, so will read more in the series, but I wasn't pleased to know whodunnit so early in the book.

The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts - Lilian Jackson Braun, BOT, early in the series so still super interesting and fun

9 books, 3 audiobooks = 68 total so far this year

Sooooo Close To Being Done

I am just soooooo close to finishing The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts Lilian Jackson Braun, BOT, in the car. I really should finish it on the way home from work tonight. I have either Bubbles Unbound Sarah Strohmeyer or Nail Biter: A Home Repair is Homicide Mystery Sarah Graves. I left 1776 David McCullough at home. It is narrated by the author and I am not always fond of those. Unless it is Jill Conner Browne or Celia Rivenbark. They absolutely need to narrate their own work.

Tomorrow the July books I read or listened to will be listed here. Oh boy, I know you are waiting with worms on your tongue.....(baited breath).

Verdict....ehhhhhh...so-so

Just now ended The Halo Effect MJ Rose and it was just so-so. It was an up and down kind of ride, mostly well written. I knew whodunnit almost from the very meeting of the bad guy. I don't like when that happens. That this was mostly well-written is making me give MJ Rose another chance. I will read The Delilah Complex. I know I would not be a good therapist, sex as Dr Morgan Snow is or otherwise, I'd never be able to distance myself from the patient. I'd be more likely to pop some of them upside the cranium. See? Not very compassionate.

Challenge Books...

Another challenge book was finished this morning. Just did not want to get out of bed just yet, so finished the last few pages I couldn't last night in bedside book Gallows View-The First Inspector Banks Mystery - Peter Robinson. Poor Alan Banks left London to still be a copper, but wanted more peaceful surroundings. Nuh-uh. I believe I will be looking for his next in series, A Dedicated Man.
I am on tape 4 of 5, side 1 The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts Lilian Jackson Braun in the car and I hope to finish my purse book The Halo Effect M J Rose today. Not sure what I will choose for my next purse book. The choices in my bookbag/purse: The Devil's Redhead David Corbett, Perfectly Pure and Good Frances Fyfield, and Already Dead Charlie Huston. I have already started this last one, so may just go back to it. Somehow, I was sidetracked. I think I was going on mids and wasn't sure the dialogue in Already Dead would be condusive to wakefulness. Not what is being said, just how it appears on the page. The premise is way cool. Vampire private investigator....

Silver Lining for a Book-Chippie

So, I have to work an extraordinarily long day this Wednesday. I have training that starts at 0800 and lasts 'til noon. I am on swing shift that evening from 2-11. Someone do the math.....
Anyway, silver lining to this particular book-chippie: There is a book sale in our building from 11-1300 (1pm to you non-defense worker type), so I will defnitely be here for at least part of that now. Trying to be half full type chickie!!!

I am on tape 3 of 5, side 2 The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts Lilian Jackson Braun in the car. It's an older one, so it is super fun to listen to. It's George Guidall, anyway, so that's even more spiff. I am hoping to read some more in purse book The Halo Effect M J Rose this afternoon. It should be quiet here, another silver lining kind of thing for working on a Sunday. I am just about finished with bedside book Gallows View Peter Robinson as of last night's reading before the AlkaSeltzer cold meds kicked in again. Ideally, I will finish one if not all of these before end of month to make my journal extra puffy for July. I could skim, but I won't. These are all too good to cheat like that.

Found several from my wishlist for the Medical Mystery challenge on Amazon.com. May be doing some ordering in the next few minutes. I can also order a box of my BubbleYum Sugarfree Peppermint Bubblegum, a Twirly-top stovetop popcorn popper, and four or five books all at the same time. What a deal!

A Book Lover's Dream Volunteer Job

Well, at least this book lover....I went to The BookKeeper to see what from my list I could find. I found four:
Shadow Man - Cody McFadyen as highly recommended by my buddy Joy
Dead Guilty - Beverly Connor, one of my new favorite authors, number 2 in Diane Fallon Forensic anthropologist series
The Givenchy Code - Julie Kenner, she of the Demon Hunting Soccer Mom fame
The Delilah Complex - M J Rose, second in the Butterfield Institute series, now have all three

I also found out that I can volunteer at the BookKeeper to shelve books and they will pay me in books. $12 in books for each hour I work. Woo-Hoo!!! I am there, next break.

Thank Goodness for Nap Time

I finished I Dreamed I Married Perry Mason Susan Kandel today after waking from my post mid shift nap. I don't like to sleep all day after my last mid shift or I'll be up all night and my schedule is thrown off. So I slept a couple of super nice hours, woke and read to finish my bedside book. This is a very enjoyable cozy series. I love CeCe's sense of adventurous style in clothing, her family and friends, her choice of writing career, her men, her house, everything is fab (apparently my new favorite word).
I began Gallows View: An Inspector Banks Mystery Peter Robinson. It's the first in the series (challenge books!) and I am already looking forward to the rest of the books.
From the Publisher (thank you B&N):
Former London policeman Alan Banks relocated to Yorkshire seeking some small measuer of peace. But depravity and violence are unfortunately not unique to large cities. His new venue, the quaint little village of Eastvale, seems to have more than its fair share of malefactors--among them a brazen Peeping Tom who hides in night's shadows spying on attractrive, unsuspecting ladies as they prepare for bed. And when an elderly woman is found brutally slain in her home, Chief Inspector Banks wonders if the voyeur has increased the awful intensity of his criminal activities. But whether relatied or not, perverse local acts and murderous ones are combining to profoundly touch Banks's suddenly vulnerable perosonal life, forcing a dedicated law officer to make hard choices he'd dearly hoped would never be necessary.

Bubbles is the Broad!!!

Bubbles Yablonsky is awesome! Just finished Bubbles Betrothed Sarah Strohmeyer and I loved it. This was my third from this series and it was fab. Bubbles is funny, strong, family oriented and has a keep sense of what works for her fashion-sense wise. I love the character working to be all that she can be by going back to school, finding her niche and going after the career she wants. The storylines are mostly believable, though Bubbles plays the dumb blonde card, she can be very savvy in the human puh-sychee. I can't wait to listen to more of this series. Bring 'em!!


I am now listening to The Cat Who Spoke to Ghosts Lillian Jackson Braun narrated by George Guidall. This will go quickly as it is five tapes and it is George Guidall, who I adore listening to. There will likely be unnecessary trips out and about and some sitting in parking lots or driveways to get more of his voice.

The Halo Effect is super!

MJ Rose begins this book just the way I had rather hoped it would, with someone dead on the floor. A little blech of me, maybe, but there it is....violent beginning and now the characters are being drawn and bringing me into the story. I can only hope it continues to do so. I have a feeling I won't have anything to worry about.

Next Purse/Bedside Book....

The Halo Effect - M J Rose
At the Butterfield Institute Dr. Morgan Snow, one of New York's top sex therapists, sees everything from the abused to the depraved, from couples grappling with sexual boredom to twisted sociopaths with dark, erotic fetishes.
Cleo Thane is one of those special patients Morgan connects with immediately. A high-priced prostitute, Cleo is desperate to reconcile her successful professional life with her neglected personal one. When she asks Morgan to read her unpublished tell-all book about her exclusive clientele, Morgan realizes that what she has in her hands could be explosive.
Then Cleo Disappears
Detective Noah Jordan is trying to stay one step ahead of a serial killer who has been targeting prostitutes, killing them with ritualistic precision. When a missing person's report is filed on Cleo Thane, Noah wonders if she, too, has fallen prey to the psycho's wrath. He approaches Dr. Morgan Snow for insight, but Morgan refuses to breach patient confidentiality. Instead, she begins her own investigation into Cleo's disappearance and is shocked by how much the intimate sexual details of another woman's life affect her own. Too late she realizes she's ventured into dangerous — even deadly — territory.

Okay, Enough of the Princess Merry and her court schtuff....

Okay, I believe I am done with the Meredith Gentry series. Rather than grab my attention with some conversation and character building, Ms Hamilton assumes I have already read the first two books in the series and jumps right in with the nekkid and hotties (possible name for new soap opera on CBS???). I love the Anita Blake series Laurell K Hamilton writes and the Meredith Gentry series started with good intentions, but it's devolved into all sex all the time. By no stretch of the imagination am I a prude, I love a good sex scene, but I was thrust (pardon the pun) immediately into two men and one woman naked and frolicking for the purpose of letting a helicoptored photographer take pictures. And that might work for other readers, but not what I had in mind when I started reading it last night.
I will continue to read the adventures of Anita Blake, vampire hunter and necromancer, but not Princess Meredith Gentry of the Unseelie Court of the Sidhe. Life is way too short and there are other books on Mt Git'r'Read.

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....