Wednesday, May 03, 2006

April Book Review

My reading (or lack thereof) seems to have an all time low. I only read two books in April. At least one was really good and the other one was better than average...

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella - 9/10

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3088180

A Clean Slate by Laura Caldwell - 6/10

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2185520

Saturday, April 08, 2006

Power Tools For Girls...

This girl has evolved into a Tim "The Toolman" Taylor. Grunt....

Bought a new piece of exercise equipment this week and need something with some power to put it together so I am now the proud owner of my very own Black & Decker power drill. Ain't it pretty?

Now, simple household projects won't seem so daunting, right? Once I tackle the assembly on my new Ab-scissor, then I can move on to putting holes in the wall to hang pictures....

Grunt....lookout boys, there's a new power tool out here in the hands of a girl. The world has become my workbench!


If only online dating were this easy....

Saturday, April 01, 2006

March Book Review


Once again, March was another month that I was not able to accomplish a lot of reading. Fortunately, I did read some good ones...

A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur's Court by Marianne Mancusi - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3700886

The Broker by John Grisham - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2434699

The Ersatz Elevator by Lemony Snicket - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3351427

Dark Moon by Lori Handeland - 5/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3700882

Chill Of Fear by Kay Hooper - 6/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3819357

Sunday, March 05, 2006

February Book Review


I read a total of 4 books in February. Overall, pretty average reads but I was surprised at being disappointed with Unleash The Night. This book is part of a series that I usually devour but I had to struggle with it for the first half of the book.

Over Her Dead Body by Kate White - 7/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3136463

You Have To Kiss A Lot Of Frogs by Laurie Graff - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2490371

Unleash The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 6/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3573241

I Is For Innocent by Sue Grafton - 7/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2810897

Monday, February 06, 2006

January's Reading Review




I read 5 books in January. Good variety overall...

HUNTING FEAR by Kay Hooper - 6/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3062991

L.A. WOMAN by Cathy Yardley - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2328805

METRO GIRL by Janet Evanovich - 5/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2232538

CARPE DEMON: ADVENTURES OF A DEMON-HUNTING SOCCER MOM
by Julie Kenner - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3037649

SEE JANE DATE by Melissa Senate - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2385341

Friday, February 03, 2006

An Obstacle On The Road Of Life

So, last Friday, I am in my 2001 Dodge Stratus on my way to MaryAnn's house to pick her up to go to the library. A trip I have made so many times I could probably do it with my eyes closed, right? Which probably explains why what I am about to tell you even happened to begin with. I must have had my eyes closed.

I ran over a branch in the road. By the time I saw it in the road, I couldn't veer around so I went over it hoping it wouldn't hit the tire. It wasn't a huge tree limb but more along the lines of a branch from a bush or some other shrub. I didn't feel the tire hit it so I continued on down the road. After a few minutes I hear a "shhhhhh" noise coming through the vents. Uh-oh. Sounds like a tire is going flat doesn't it? Damn! I pull over, get out and inspect the tires. They're fine. Can't hear the noise anymore either. OK, I'm 40 now so maybe my hearing is going though that's a whole other post! I get back in the car and continue on my journey. After a few minutes, I hear the bloody "shhhhhhh" noise again! This is irritating, let me tell you. I pull over again and get back out of the car. Noise is gone and tires are fine. I figure "what the hell" and lie down in the road and look under my car. There, in all its glory and pride, is the damn branch sticking out from where it got stuck under my car and has been dragging on the road as I was driving! No big deal, right? I reach under the car, a car that I should mention has less than 12 inches of clearance between the car and the road, grab the offending branch and pull. Nothing. I pull again. Still nothing. I begin to cuss while pulling. And still nothing. That damn branch has gotten stuck and won't budge! Now, I'm worried. What if it punctures my oil pan or severs a break line? Having no idea where these items are in proximity to the branch, I began to experience all manner of panic and anxiety.

I get back in the car and head on to MaryAnn's thinking if we could get the car jacked up higher then it would be easier to pull the branch out. I arrive and they aren't home! Not sure of what else to do, I call the dealer and ask for my service advisor. I explain the situation and he says to bring it in and within 20 minutes I am at the dealership. Along the way, I take the freeway, driving at speeds of 65+ when I realize that there is a branch stuck under the car that is dragging on the road. Could the friction be generating sparks under my car? This is not an ideal moment to have a thought such as that. I remained tense anticipating my car to turn into a huge fireball with me inside.

After about a hour at the dealer, I got my car back, branch free and inspected with no damage found. In addition, the dealer did not charge me! They were so sweet!

Unfortunately, this incident became the final straw for me to stop procrastinating and get rid of the car. Ever since I injured my back last year, I have noticed that having to step down to get in the car aggravates my back so I knew I would need to buy something that sits up higher (small SUV or mini-van). Having it sit up higher will avoid future branch incidents in the road as well.

Last night, I became the proud new owner of a 2006 Honda CRV. Here's to a less bumpy road of life.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

A Year Of Reading

In 2005, I managed to read a measly 69 books, a depressing number compared to previous years. Here is a compilation of the best books I read and the worst.

Best:
Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2151607

Carrie Pilby by Caren Lissner
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/776154

White Hot by Sandra Brown
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2191641

Blood Sucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2184908

The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2299513

Wanderlust by Chris Dyer
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1750776

Bait by Karen Robards
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2434701

The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2452171

Kill The Messenger by Tami Hoag
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2311675

Mother Of The Bride by Lynn Michaels
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1667144

The Next Accident by Lisa Gardner
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2299535

Key Of Knowledge by Nora Roberts
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1358916

The Ex Files by Jane Moore
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1931417

The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2461911

Answered Prayers by Danielle Steel
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2476039

Every Move She Makes by Robin Burcell
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2418724

If Only It Were True by Marc Levy
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2532499

Light In Shadow by Jayne Ann Krentz
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1512701

The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2270514

Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1209045

The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2418737

The Killing Hour by Lisa Gardner
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2186462

Just One Look by Harlan Coben
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2725008

The Sweetest Taboo by Carole Matthews
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1931412

Tales Of A Drama Queen by Lee Nichols
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2171528

Body Double by Tess Gerritsen
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2786836

The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2569121

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1626397

Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2402182

Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2988729

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2831995

Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2831991

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3045087

Breakfast At Stephanie's by Sue Margolis
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1931431

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2810901

Seize The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2335376

Undead And Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3141595

Turning Thirty by Mike Gayle
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2258605

Sense Of Evil by Kay Hooper
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1822893

Honeymoon by James Patterson
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2569156

4th Of July by James Patterson
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2832002

Ready Or Not by Meg Cabot
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3206935

The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2971660

Wedding Season by Darcy Cosper
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1915992

Alone by Lisa Gardner
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2461899

Kill The Competition by Stephanie Bond
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1192289

Conspiracy In Death by J.D. Robb
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1014140

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3136466

Rosie Dunne by Cecelia Ahern
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2480877

The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3045093

The Ex Factor by Andrea Semple
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2490387

Sins Of The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2971664

Superstition by Karen Robards
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2855217

The Other Woman by Jane Green
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2840332

Worst:
Let's Meet On Platform 8 by Carole Matthews
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1086272

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

December's Book Review

In December as with the majority of 2005, my reading was sorely diminished. I read 4 books for the month. Wait a minute! That can't be right! 4???? Just 4??? How can that be? Sadly, it is just 4.

Sins Of The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 10/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2971664

Superstition by Karen Robards - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2855217

The Other Woman by Jane Green - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2840332

The Trials Of Tiffany Trott by Isabel Wolff - 6/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2333531

Happy New Year!

Another year over and a new one beginning and once again, I'm starting the new year off sick. Every flipping year at this time, I am sick. Is it a cold? Is it allergies? Is it valley fever? Who the hell knows! After living in Arizona for over 18 years, the damn doctors sure as hell don't know. It really is a "medical practice." Home treatments do very little for the symptoms so I will be making my trek to the doctor to pay out the big bucks for an office visit and probably an antibiotic that doesn't work either. Most colds are viral and antibiotics are useless with viral infections.

Don't mind me...I'm usually bitchy and cranky when I don't feel good. Anyway, despite the getting sick part, 2006 made its arrival very quietly in my life. I spent it with Lee and MaryAnn watching movies and eating "New Years Food" which is nothing more than snacks and finger foods.

The upside to the New Year is that 2005 is FINALLY over! That year has gone down in the record book as the worst year of my life and I have been so ready for it to be over and to begin a new and hopefully much improved year.

Followers

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
I am not a professional reviewer, but I love to read and share my opinions on my reading with others who are interested. I work full time but my ideal perfect day would be to curl up with a good book. The majority of the books I review here are from my private collection and my reviews are provided purely for entertainment purposes. I receive no compensation whatsoever for sharing my thoughts and review on any book. If you would like me to review your book, please email me at sharalsbooks@yahoo.com Happy Reading! :o)