The Bookworm News & Reviews

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

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

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.

Friday, December 02, 2005

November Book Review

I sure hope that in 2006, my reading totals go up...It's a little disheartening to see that my favorite hobby has taken a downward spiral this year...

6 books for the month but most of them were really good, so that's a positive. (smile)

Shopgirl by Steve Martin - 5/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3313754

Stolen by Kelley Armstrong - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3136466

Rosie Dunne by Cecelia Ahern - 10/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2480877

The Givenchy Code by Julie Kenner - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3045093

Dating Without Novocaine by Lisa Cach - 7/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/991597

The Ex-Factor by Andrea Semple - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2490387

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Manners

Have people in general forgotten what having manners mean? Or have people become oblivious to saying thank you or please? Or do they just not care?

When I was growing up, I was raised to say please and thank you when asking for or receiving something. It's become a part of who I am today. Now, however, I look around me and see gratitude sorely lacking in people. It's sad to think this is what society has become.

Maybe I will just chalk it up to one more disappointment this year as this has been the year for me in disappointments. Maybe next year will bring out the manners in people. Maybe next year will find me being more reluctant in the area of gift giving.

Post Holiday Ramblings

Survived the holiday in one piece. Went to TX to see my parents. Had a good time but I really need to rethink the whole staying at their house next time. All of the cigarette smoke got to me and now I'm coming down with a sinus or upper respiratory infection, which is so NOT what I need.

Picked up some Zicam cough mist which seems to be helping the scratchy throat and cough and congestion. It's supposed to cut the life and symptoms of a cold in half. It's also supposed to reduce the severity of the cold.

I've reinjured my back today. Getting out of my bed this morning, I didn't have a light on and tripped on a footstool so I am back in pain but am taking the drugs left over from the last time. I am tired of this already. I've been using heat and ice alternately hoping that will help too and doing the exercises. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. If I still have pain, I will call Dr. White to get adjusted.

I bought a portable DVD player to use in the bedroom and also take with me on the plane when I go to Alabama in January. On the flight from Dallas to Phoenix last week, I was sitting next to a woman using a laptop to watch movies and thought it was a great idea to pass the time during the flight. Usually, I read, but sometimes feel nauseous after reading for too long on the plane. Happens all the time, especially if I try to read in the car. It's a Polaroid brand and has a 10" screen which is a pretty good size.

Friday, November 11, 2005

October Book Review

Here is my October reading review:

Conspiracy In Death by J.D. Robb - 10/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1014140

Kill The Competition by Stephanie Bond - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1192289

Alone by Lisa Gardner - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2461899

Wedding Season by Darcy Cosper - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1915992

The Austere Academy by Lemony Snicket - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2971660

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Oh my gosh, I cannot believe it is November and it's nearly half over already! Let's recap:

October was pretty good. Divorce was finalized on the 13th. Rob and I had been talking about going to counseling to see if we can rebuild our relationship. Decorated my apartment for Halloween and it looked fabulous! Had a tarot reading party on the Friday before Halloween and that was a lot of fun with some friends. Looking forward to doing that again in about 6 months.

November didn't start out too well. By the 4th, I discovered that Rob betrayed me YET AGAIN! How do I fall for this shit over and over? Apparently, while he was making promises to me about wanting to be together and working out our problems, he was exploring his feelings for someone else! A different someone else, I might add, than the first skank he ran off with. He really is the most selfish bastard I have ever had the misfortune to meet. So, now, not only are we not going to reconcile, there will not be a friendship thanks to his lies. I would rather be friends with Charles Manson....

I also finished physical therapy for my back. Hopefully, there will not be any recurrences. With my back injury, there is usually an 80% chance, which frightens me somewhat because I never want to go through that again. I will be looking into taking some Pillates classes which come highly recommended to me from the therapist and doctor and chiropractor.

Now, here we are on the 11th. Happy Veteran's Day to all our brave armed forces personnel currently serving our country and to those who gave their lives to serve that didn't make it home and to those who have served in the past and are deserving of this day.

This weekend, I am going to a Harry Potter marathon with friends where we will engorge ourselves on food and watch the three Harry Potter movies to prepare for next Friday when the new edition comes out in the theaters, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

More later....

Saturday, October 29, 2005

All done

Got the final divorce decree in the mail signed by the judge on October 13. So, now it really is all done and over with.

Not sure if I am happy about it or not. Maybe a little happy and sad and still pissed off that it all came to this in the first place. If he would have just opened his damn mouth and started communicating, maybe none of this would be happening...

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Red Wine

Numerous people have recently told me that one glass of red wine each evening has wonderful health benefits. OK, I'll sip....

The problem is I am in no way, shape or form a wine drinker so I have no idea what is good. I tried a bottle of imported Sangria that wasn't bad. I believe the brand was Carlos Real Garcia or something along those lines. Then another person told me to try Yellow Tail Shiraz which is an Australian wine. Don't care for that. It's too bitter. I think I am definitely favoring a sweet fruity tasting wine.

Where do I begin?

Saturday, October 08, 2005

September's Reads

I'm sad and embarrassed to report that I only read 5 books in the month of September and all of them were audiobooks so does that count? I say it does...the upside is that they were all really good so it's definitely time well spent.

Sense Of Evil by Kay Hooper - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1822893

Puppet by Joy Fielding - 7/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3206939

Honeymoon by James Patterson - 10/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2569156

4th Of July by James Patterson - 10/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2832002

Ready Or Not by Meg Cabot - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3206935

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Can you believe it?

On my way out this afternoon to run a few errands and join up with friends for a BBQ. Stopped at the dumpster to drop off my household trash. Nothing unusual there. Noticed the dumpsters were closed which is usually a sign that they were recently emptied and saw several bags of trash lying in front. Still, I didn't think anything unusual as they probably fell out when the trash truck picked up the dumpster, right? When I got closer, I saw a bag and there was a book sticking out of the top. Upon closer inspection, I see the bag is full of books! Was someone going to throw out these books like they were trash?!? Seems like blasphemy to me to actually throw away a book! What else could I do but rescue those poor books and bring them home where I will register them at www.bookcrossing.com and find them homes where hopefully someone will appreciate them!

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Books read in August

Didn't do too badly in August with my reading...the links will take you to the book on my virtual bookshelf so you can read comments about it.

Breakfast at Stephanie's by Sue Margolis - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/1931431

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben - 9/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2810901

Seize The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 10/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2335376

Undead And Unappreciated by MaryJanice Davidson - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/3141595

Turning Thirty by Mike Gayle - 8/10
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/2258605

Gimpy

I don't know what I did but I have thrown out my back. Since last Sunday (Aug. 28), I have been in excruciating pain. I was sitting at my new computer desk and stood up to get ready for work when I felt a cramp in my right shoulder. Didn't think anything of it and started rotating arm and shoulder around thinking to work out the cramp when I feel a very sharp pain radiate from my shoulder down my back. Went to the doctor on Tuesday, August 30. He told me I had strained a muscle or pinched a nerve in my neck! My neck! What the hell medical school did he go to? Yeah, I know everything is connected but I have full range of motion in my neck and no pain there! It's my frickin back that hurts. He gives me a prescription for Soma which does absolutely NOTHING for me other than to make me feel loopy. So, on Friday, September 2, I go to a chiropractor. I am a complete and total chicken and have avoided going to such places because of the horror stories I have heard about them. I am surprised and amazed that this chiropractor is different and uses different methods. After the treatment, I feel pretty good. Really good as a matter of fact. I'm thinking, "Great! I'm healed!" That was probably my first mistake. On Saturday, it was starting to tighten up again. I went for a pedicure because they let you sit in a massage chair and that felt good but by Saturday night, the pain was getting intense so much so that I was taking Soma about every 4 hours. Nothing was helping. Not the Soma, not ice, not heat, not massage. By Sunday morning, the spasms were so intense and painful that I couldn't stand upright and I was in tears. My friend MaryAnn and her daughter Samantha were staying over for a girl's night so they called her husband Lee to come and take me to the emergency room. Rob was with Lee so he came along to help. We were at the ER for 6 1/2 hours. They gave me an injection of Demerol which helped, but I had a bad reaction to it and ended up passing out. They gave me 3 prescriptions (Percoset, Skelaxin, and Motrin) and the drugs seem to be helping much more than the Soma ever began to.

Monday was a holiday so I ended up sleeping most of the day and taking the pills. I was able to get a doctor's appointment for Tuesday. Rob took the day off and drove me around to the doctor and to get xrayed. I'm going back to the chiropractor on Thursday. My doctor told me to continue going to the chiropractor and depending on what the xray tells him, I may have to get an MRI done. So, needless to say, it's been a rough few days that I will be glad to be done with.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

Finally!

Today is 6 weeks from the day I ordered my living room and office furniture. When I placed the order in the showroom, I was told 4-6 weeks. Rob, the soon to be ex, tells me that his living room furniture was delivered just over 4 weeks from his order. So, for the last two weeks, I'm wondering where the hell my furniture is! I am sick to death of sitting on this piece of shit futon that has served as my bed and couch since March. Thank God the bedroom furniture came last month and I have had a real bed to sleep in or I would have taken hostages already.

So, here we are at the 6 week mark and my furniture is FINALLY in. I am going down there today to pay off the balance and schedule delivery. It will be so nice to have a real couch and chairs in the living room (though I have discovered that Rob and I have bought the same couch) and the room will actually take on the shape of a living room instead of a studio/dorm room look. I will also be able to FINALLY unpack the last several boxes of office stuff.

It's the little things that mean so much...

Monday, August 01, 2005

Bad Blogger...

I've been a very bad blogger, it seems. So much has happened since the last time I posted, I hardly know where to begin...

OK, where was I? House sold late June and I stayed with some wonderful friends who were so gracious to open their house to me while I was waiting for my apartment to become available. I moved into the apartment officially on July 1 and have spent virtually the entire month of July just acclimating to having my own place and being physically on my own for the first time in my life. Still not completely unpacked, though I am getting there. I've been buying new furniture and have received the bedroom set so now the bedroom looks like a bedroom. Still waiting on the living room and office. I found the most awesome rolltop computer desk at Ashley Furniture and had to have it. So I decided to scrap the dining room and use that space as an office instead. Unfortunately, if the rest of the furniture is anything like the bedroom, my next move will be a real chore. I am still amazed at the size of the furniture, though it fills up the space quite nicely.

Haven't gotten as much reading done as I usually do but I am hopeful that will change. In the month of June, I read:

Truth Or Dare by Jayne Ann Krentz - 5/10. The story was OK. It is the sequel to Light In Shadow and I enjoyed that one better.

Body Double by Tess Gerritsen - 8/10. Very good story featuring Boston PD Detective Jane Rizzoli. I really like this character and look forward to more books with her in them.

The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket - 9/10. I'm quite enjoying this series about the trials and tribulations of the Baudelaire orphans as they try to find some happiness while eluding the clutches of the evil Count Olaf.

Bitten by Kelley Armstrong - 9/10. First time read by this author and I was very impressed. This book is the first in her Women of the Otherworld series. Bitten features a woman who happens to be the only female werewolf in existence. She's trying to make a life for herself in Toronto when she is summoned back to the Pack to help them track down a rogue werewolf who is attacking humans. I will definitely be looking for the sequel.

Every Boy's Got One by Meg Cabot - 9/10. Very good story. I really enjoy this author. This book is written entirely in emails and journal entry format, which made the book easy to read. It's about a cartoonist who accompanies her best friend to Italy to help out with her elopement. Along the way, she meets and hates the best man...but not for long.

July was an even slower month for me in terms of reading:

Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich - 9/10. Another action packed adventure for Stephanie Plum. Still no decision on whether she wants Ranger or Joe.

Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison - 9/10. Another new to me author. This book reminds me of the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton. Rachel is a witch who is also a bounty hunter who teams up with a vampire to go into their own business. Only problem is, the company they work for don't react too kindly to paranormals wanting to branch out on their own. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Dead As A Doornail by Charlaine Harris - 9/10. Another good installment in the series of Sookie Stackhouse. This book finds Sookie trying to deal with the aftermath of discovering her brother had been bitten by a Were-Panther and will change with the next full moon. To make matters worse, someone is attacking and killing shapeshifters. Could it be her brother Jason? Sookie has to find out the truth before her brother is next or worse...her.

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling - 10/10. Fans of the Harry Potter series will not want to miss this sixth book. I found the story to not be a happy one so I am hoping that book 7 will tie up all of the loose ends and resolve the unhappiness.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Going, going, gone!

The house has officially sold! Close of escrow was yesterday and my agent called me yesterday to let me know that title recorded the deed at 4:20 in the afternoon, so it is now official. I am "homeless." LOL

So now, I am waiting for the title company to call me to pick up the check. I can't believe after all the stress of the entire process that it is finally done. Now, we can pay off everything and get focused on filing the divorce and starting over. Feels kind of good and a big relief to have it done now.

Sunday, June 05, 2005

Feelin' Good

Actually have some good things to share...

1. After less than 2 days on the market, the house is under contract for $6000 over list price!
2. If all goes well, the closing will be around June 30.
3. Someone at work thinks I'm pretty special. I was given a beautiful arrangement of roses and baby's breath. The roses are dark pink with yellow blended in. Kind of a hybrid and they are just beautiful and it was so sweet to be thought of.

At this rate, I should acquire the winning Powerball ticket this week...

Friday, June 03, 2005

Books read in May

Read 7 books in the month of May...

THE SINNER by Tess Gerritsen - 8/10 - Another case featuring Detective Jane Rizzoli and Medical Examiner Dr. Maura Isles that involves the murder of two nuns.

THE KILLING HOUR by Lisa Gardner - 9/10 - Another case featuring Pierce Quincy and Rainie Connor and Pierce's daughter, Kimberly. In this book, Kimberly is more of the primary character as she discovers a body on the grounds of the FBI academy.

FASHIONISTAS by Lynn Messina - 7/10 - Interesting story that takes place at a magazine where an associate editor finds herself in the middle of a plot to overthrow the boss from hell. Some interesting characters and a surprise twist at the end.

JUST ONE LOOK by Harlan Coben - 8/10 - First time reading this author and it will not be my last. Centers around a character named Grace and what happens when a photo of her husband taken many years ago with a group of people ends up in a packet of pictures she picks up from having developed. When she asks her husband about it, he denies that it's him and while she is upstairs getting ready for bed, he takes off. This begins a huge chain reaction of events that leaves Grace trying to figure out what is going on and protect herself and her family from sinister people who won't stop at murder to protect their secrets.

THE SWEETEST TABOO by Carole Matthews - 9/10 - Entertaining story about an English woman named Sadie who meets an attractive LA movie producer. They fall in love and she moves to LA to be with him. Despite their best intentions, they can't seem to get together. Enter Tavis, an up and coming actor who Sadie develops feelings for but thinks he is gay. I enjoyed the triangle though I don't think I would have been able to choose between the two men because they both had great qualities mixed in with their faults.

MURDER LIST by Julie Garwood - 5/10 - Unfortunately, not one of Julie Garwood's better books. I struggled through this book and lost focus many times. There were so many sub-plots going on that I had difficulty following them all and trying to figure out what was connected to what. The story centers on Regan who attends a seminar with her friends trying to expose the host as a fraud. During the seminar, the participants are asked to make a list of people that if ceased to exist, the world would be a better place. Regan forgets about the list until the first person on her list turns up dead.

TALES OF A DRAMA QUEEN by Lee Nichols - 8/10 - Another new author to me. This was a light and entertaining story about a woman starting over after her fiancee marries someone else. The main character, Elle, can't seem to get her life on track or hold down a job. She seems to be a flake at times and full of high drama, but very likeable.

Saturday, May 21, 2005

So Surreal

Sometimes, I feel like my life has taken on a sense of the bizarre. I often wonder how it got to be this way with little or no effort on my part; almost as if I have no participation in it. Rob moved out on Thursday as planned. I've taken it a lot better than I thought I would. Maybe that's because he has been spending more and more time away from the house doing his own thing with the skank and less time with me. I have to keep reminding myself that I am better off without his sorry ass. I also have to keep remembering how he has lied and betrayed me. All of the early promises of his support, help and friendship are probably lies too. He knows of the tentative move of June 30 but he's already making excuses of "need to see what is going on" that I can tell he's going to cop out and not help with the move. He's gotten what he wanted. People helped him so when the time comes to return the favor, he won't. I suspected he would do this so I don't know why I am even surprised. Just one more lie and betrayal to add to the list. Now, this is where the bitterness kicks in...I so hope she rips his heart out and stomps it into tiny pieces. I so hope he learns how it feels to be betrayed. I cannot wait to shed his presence from my life.

Because he's already reneging on his earlier promises to help, I had to hook up the DVD player yesterday. In all honesty, if I had taken on a more active participatory role over the last 18 years when it came to the installation of electronics and other things, I probably would have saved a lot of money. In typical Rob fashion (which is giving no thought to cost or logic), he tells me I am going to have to buy a whole new TV because the one I inherited has only one outlet and the splitter as well as the AB switch I bought weren't going to work as the DVD player uses an S video cable. I bought an RF modulator kit and brought it home and hooked it up because he obviously can't spare the time as he said he would. The only snag I ran into was getting audio output during DVD playback. That was easily resolved by changing the audio output selection on the DVD setup menu. A major accomplishment I feel and just in time to watch the new Michael Keaton movie, White Noise, which was very good by the way.

Another sense of the surreal is it is still May and we are already in the triple digits. Today is supposed to get to 111 with heat advisories. God, I hate this state...

Sunday, May 15, 2005

I did it!

I put an apartment on hold with a tentative move in date of June 30. If everything goes well with the sale of the house, I should be in my new place then. I was so excited and nervous and scared to death at the same time. My leg was bouncing up and down, which is strange not only to experience but to see....

Anyway, the apartment is in the same building as the one I was hoping for earlier, but it's diagonally behind the other one. The only drawback is the balcony faces west so I will have to do something to minimize that awful afternoon Arizona summer sun. With every downside, there is always an upside, right? So, the upside is where the first apartment's balcony overlooked the parking lot, the one I have on hold overlooks a grassy courtyard area. Very pretty...another upside....the leasing agent told me that if for some reason, the sale of the house does not go through as anticipated and I can't move in on June 30, they will transfer my deposit to another unit. I won't have to forfeit the deposit as I was afraid I would.

Rob is moving out on Thursday into his own apartment in Scottsdale. Not sure how I feel about it other than it really will be for the best for both of us for him to go ahead and leave. Now, I only pray that everything else will move along smoothly and to my benefit. :o)

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Busy day

Today was a busy day. The pool table is gone! A couple of guys from City Billiards showed up this morning before 0800 to dismantle the table and take it out of here for the new owners. The great room sure looks odd now. But at least we can move around the room easier and there is more room for boxes. Rob took the day off so after the pool table departed, we went to IHOP for breakfast and then to Walmart to pick up a few items for dinner. Came home and packed several more boxes. Found all of my Christmas wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, etc. and couldn't find a box that they would fit in and be waterproof so I ended up with yet another rubbermaid storage box. This one sits really low to the ground and has wheels on it. It's called an "under-bed storage box" though I don't know if it will be going under the bed once I move. Anyway all of the various sized rolls of wrapping paper fit perfectly and there was plenty of room for the other accessories. Much more organized.

Went up to north Scottsdale this afternoon to look at a couple of the apartment complexes that Rob is considering. I think it comes as a shock somewhat to both of us just what moving into an apartment is going to mean. Not to mention all of the fees and deposits and what not that we will both have to cough up for each place. This whole process has left both of us feeling a little shellshocked. I will be glad when it's done and we can both move on with our lives.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Trouble Concentrating

Been having difficulty concentrating on books. One of the things that ending a marriage reveals to a person is there are no more walls or barriers to hide behind; or a book to hide in. My mind has been so wrapped up in the dissolution of my 18 year marriage, that it has been hard to immerse myself in a book. For the past several weeks, I have been reading the same books:

Dog Handling by Clare Naylor
Getting Over It by Anna Maxted

No, these are not self-help books, but by guessing at the titles, you would think so....

Also listening to Whispers by Lisa Jackson

Hopefully things will settle down soon and I get back into the one true passion in my life and that's reading...

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Answered Prayers by Danielle Steel

This novel about a woman's quest to find herself was published in 2002, so I'm a little behind with this author's work. She publishes them so fast, it's hard to keep up...

Book Description: This novel is about family and friendship, about one woman's struggle to break free from the past -- and the man who helps her triumph. And most of all, it is about daring to believe in... ANSWERED PRAYERS. On the outside, Faith Madison is the very picture of a sophisticated New Yorker. Slim, blonde, stylish, Faith has a life many would envy. Overcoming a childhood marked by tragedy, married to a successful investment banker and having raised two grown daughters, Faith has enjoyed her role as mother and wife, and the good life that emanates from their bustling Manhattan town house. But every step of the way, Faith has carried within her a secret she could divulge to no one. And with it, she has kept an even more painful secret from herself. For Faith, it is the sudden death of her stepfather -- a man who, like her husband, Alex, always remained just beyond her reach -- that will touch off a journey of change and revelation. At the funeral, painful memories flood back -- and an old friend reenters Faith's life. Faith is greeting mourners, when she hears a voice behind her and a single word that brings a quick smile to her face: "Fred." Only one person aside from her older brother, Jack, called her that. Brad Patterson was Jack's best friend, a long, lanky boy who teased, tormented, and protected Faith when they fancied themselves "The Three Musketeers" as kids. When Jack died years later, Faith and Brad came together again in their common, inconsolable grief, then lost touch once more amid the demands of families and busy lives a continent apart. Now a lawyer in California, Brad has reentered Faith's life just as she is making a decision that plunges her marriage into crisis. Determined to fulfill a long-held desire for a career of her own, Faith applies to law school against her husband's wishes, igniting a barrage of anger and recrimination. Faith's only solace is the correspondence she has begun with Brad, a man trapped in an empty marriage of his own, a friend she once lost and has found again. Soon e-mails are flying between them, bridging three thousand miles, sharing much-needed friendship, support, laughter. And as these two childhood friends rediscover each other, something extraordinary is beginning to happen. In the safety of their friendship, Brad will find the courage to make a decision he should have made years before. And Faith, too, is changing, beginning to believe in herself -- and in her right to grab hold of her dreams. Gathering a strength she never knew she had, Faith is finally ready to face the most painful step of all: of sharing the secret that has long been haunting her, and truly opening up her heart for the first time in her life. With unerring insight into the hearts of husbands and wives, lovers and families, Danielle Steel tells a wise and moving story of the secrets that wound and the choices that heal -- and of the second chances that come only once in a lifetime.

Book Rating: 8/10 - Danielle Steel used to be an auto-buy author for me; I couldn't get enough of her books. Over the years, I found myself disappointed many times and the stories seemed to all sound the same. I was afraid this book would follow the same pattern. It starts out a little depressing with the history of Faith's marriage and how Alex treats her but then draws the reader in as Faith's journey to finding herself begins with her decision to go back to school. The reader is given an inside look into not only Faith's life, but her marriage of 26 years and what her quest to have a life does to her marriage. The reader is uplifted at the recollections of Faith's past, her painflul childhood, her brother, and her friend Brad, who reenters Faith's life when she most needs a friend. I thought the author handled the blooming friendship and enventually the romance with style and grace. I also enjoyed being drawn into Brad's life as well. All too often, a story centers around one central character with supporting characters adding flavor throughout. I enjoyed that the reader gets to know Brad and you see his personality come alive on the pages. The author has created characters in this story that the reader will care about. Overall, a very enjoyable story about family and friendship. Ironically, I felt many times while reading this book that my marriage held an eerily similar view as Faith's...

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

New Book Acquisitions

Went to the library to pick up some books today...I picked up:

The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket (Book #4 in the Series of Unfortunate Events)
Honeymoon by James Patterson
and several others that I had to return before due to running out of time.

Went to Waldenbooks to use a 25% coupon I received in the mail. I used it to purchase The Cat's Meow by Emily Carmichael. I have enjoyed this author's previous books featuring paranormal activity and animals and I expect this one will deliver.

Book Description: When a cat plays cupid, it means love with the PURRFECT stranger...

Sparks (and fur!) fly both in and out of the courtroom in this sparkling new novel, second in Emily Carmichael's "Hearts of Gold" trilogy....

When workaholic attorney McKenna Wright returns home from the hospital following a car accident, she has the sinking feeling that her road to recovery is going to be a long one. Her memory has more holes than a piece of swiss cheese; she can barely recall her own name, let alone the details of the big case she's been trying in court. And then there's the fact that her beloved cat, Nefertiti, has suddenly learned how to talk. Or is it that McKenna has suddenly learned how to listen? Not that she wants to hear what Titi is trying to tell her, because it just might turn her world even further upside down. Such as the fact that the music star she's been defending isn't all that innocent. And worse, that the hunky prosecutor McKenna condemned on sight is guilty of nothing more than his criminal good looks.

But after losing her job and her house, and making no progress at finding her memory, McKenna needs all the help she can get to rebuild her life. She's determined to reclaim her fiercely independent former self, even if it means taking advice from her talking cat, listening to her bossy friends, or -- worst of all -- leaning just a little on the man she used to snub. Once her memory returns, she'll finally be able to put chatty felines and a certain entirely-too-handsome lawyer behind her so her life can return to normal. After all, normal is exactly what McKenna wants... isn't it?

Received my Red Dress Ink shipment today. They included a very pretty wineglass and a bookmark with the books. Here's what I got:

A New Lu by Laura Castoro
Book Description: "What was I thinking? Sex for the last time. That's what."

Five-O magazine lifestyle columnist Lu Nichols has led an ordinary life. Marriage. Career. Two kids. Now she's turning fifty, and the wear is showing. The kids are grown. The ink is dry on the divorce papers. Her boss wants to do an extreme makeover feature, starring Lu. And those bad oysters she ate have turned out to be something a little more permanent.

"I'm almost fifty years old, recently divorced. Now I'm about to be an unwed mother. And you thought you had issues."

Her soon-to-be-wed daughter is horrified. Her boss is thrilled; she can turn her delicate condition into a monthly expose. Her ex is AWOL. And the sexy, slightly younger doctor who delivered the news? Well, he hasn't run off screaming yet. And however it all turns out, there's one thing Lu can be sure of --- she's knocked up, but not out. And more than ready for a brand-new Lu...

Mim Warner's Lost Her Cool by Lynn Messina
Book Description: This could mean the end of cool as we know it...

So hip it hurts...

Want to know what'll be hot next season? Just ask Mim Warner, the best coolhunter in the business. But Mim's latest trend predictions ("slut" T-shirts for eight year old girls? Samurai swords for ten year old boys?) are troubling, to say the least.
Fearing that Mim's about to be out like last season's Capri pants and worried about what she'll say next, her staff implements a Mim surveillance mission. With clients fleeing in droves and everyone around her in a tizzy, Meghan Resnick, Mim's protegee, seems to be the only one in control of all her faculties. But watching Mim lose her cool is loosening a few of Meghan's own screws. Suddenly she's not sure of anything --- her career, her future, her ex-boyfriend, even her judgment. When Mim-watching leads to the scene of a murder --- with Mim leaning over the dead body --- Meghan can't help but wonder if her boss will be forecasting her next trend from Sing Sing.

An affectionate satire about the ins and outs of coolhunting, Mim Warner's Lost Her Cool mines the mysterious forces that make a trend come together --- and a woman fall apart.

Had I known I would be getting a copy of Mim Warner's Lost Her Cool, I wouldn't have bought the copy I already had...oh well. Speaking of strangeness...when I got to the mall today (where Waldenbooks is located), I was putting on my glasses and the lens pops out. Somehow the screw on the frames worked itself loose enough that the frames separated and out comes the lens. Luckily there was a Lenscrafters in the mall and they were kind enough to fix it for me. Wonder if it's a full moon...

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

The Wide Window by Lemony Snicket

This is the third book in the Series Of Unfortunate Events...

Book Description: Dear Reader, If you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives, I am sorry to say, are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched, and the one you are holding may be the worst of them all.If you haven't got the stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.I will continue to record these tragic tales, for that is what I do. You, however, should decide for yourself whether you can possibly endure this miserable story.With all due respect, Lemony Snicket

Book Rating: 8/10 - Another good installment of the doom and gloom that is the lives of the Baudelaire orphans. In this episode, we find the orphans now living with their Aunt Josephine, a woman who is afraid of everything. I mean everything. The doorknob, the telephone, the stove, the lake. If you can think of it, she's probably afraid of it. When the dubious Captain Sham comes into their lives, Violet, Klaus and Sunny immediately recognize him as Count Olaf, but, of course, Aunt Josephine doesn't believe them when they try to warn her. When Aunt Josephine suddenly commits suicide, the children are left in further despair to learn that Aunt Josephine leaves instructions that the children are to be cared for by Captain Sham. The children immediately begin looking for clues to find out the truth about Aunt Josephine's disappearance and to avoid having to go live with Captain Sham. Looking forward to the next installment of this story.

Inappropriate Men by Stacey Ballis

Another new to me author...

Book Description: Sidney Stein has come undone, but who's going to pick up the pieces? "Don't get me wrong. There was -- there is -- much love between my husband and me. We aren't miserable, we just aren't happy. And we aren't really together that much -- it didn't used to seem to matter. But it's starting to matter. It's starting to matter very much indeed." With her marriage spiraling toward divorce, sexually confident and unapologetically sized-24 Sidney Stein finds herself drawn into an illicit affair with Geoffrey Fahl -- not only married and twenty years her senior, but also her father's business partner. Perilously close to falling in love with this man who is so very wrong for her and knowing there's no future in the relationship, Sidney decides it's time to turn her life around.Newly separated from her husband, Sidney dives into the dating pool. And after more than a dozen dates, a disastrous transitional guy and reconnecting with a high school crush, she can't help but wonder if it might not just be easier to let herself drown. But just as she stops looking for the ideal man, someone else arrives... and he might just be everything she never knew she always wanted.

Book Rating: 6/10 - I have to admit that, initially, I didn't think I would care for this story at all. Adultery themes really turn me off, usually. I skimmed over the poems, but I did enjoy the story for the most part. I thought Sidney was a realistic character trying to find passion and true love, though I didn't agree with her direction. I did like the author's voice and found her to be very witty, which came through in the character's personalities. The last 1/4 of the book seemed to drag for me while Sidney was waffling about what she was going to do about Geoff and having her email marathon with Joe. I think the author has a lot of potential so I will be looking for more by her to read.

The Ex-Files by Jane Moore

This is the first book I've read by this author and am very happy I did!

Book Description: TAKE ONE WEDDING, ADD SEVERAL EXES, AND STIR...
After five years spent maneuvering for Mr. Right, beautiful, feisty Faye Parker has finally snared a sensitive cutie named Mark. So when he pops the question, Faye is fully prepared to step out of the dating rat-race, call the caterer, and don the veil.

Just as soon as she has one last teensy-weensy little fling.

Then comes the dicey issue of the guest list. First there's Nat, Faye's ex -- a narcissistic fashion model hell-bent on flaunting his substantial charms in Faye's face, his latest Playboy bunny in tow. Next there's Kate, Mark's ex -- a woman so indignant she's not the bride that she's liable to slit Faye's zipper. And, of course, there's Adam, Faye's flamboyant sidekick, milking the chaos for all it's worth while shamelessly ogling Nat's abs. As the rehearsal dinner lurches toward the brink of a spin-the-bottle-fueled imbroglio, Faye must face the fact that marriage means more than a flawlessly executed reception. She's got a serious decision to make -- about Mark, about love, and about her own deepest desires.

Book Rating: 8/10 - I really liked this story! I laughed myself silly through quite a bit of the book. Though Faye comes across as a very shallow and selfish female, I found it hard to not like her. Of course, you had to know what was going to happen once Tony showed up in France, so that wasn't a surprise, but I was surprised she gave in as quickly as she did. Of course, if she had called Tony's bluff, who is to say how the story would have turned out. I also liked how the author takes the reader back in time to illustrate both Faye and Mark's previous relationships as well as giving us some background on Faye's mother. I thought Adam was a riot and think he would be a lot of fun to hang out with. I look forward to reading more from this author.

The Key Of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

This is the second book in the "key" trilogy and I've really enjoyed this series so far.

Book Description: Following hot on the heels of the first installment in Roberts's Key trilogy, this second book (following Key of Light) continues the story of three contemporary female friends chosen to free the souls of ancient demigoddesses called the Daughters of Glass. This time, the heroine is Dana Steele, a librarian who is sure that the key she's seeking lies in a book. As she begins her search, Dana renovates Indulgence, the gallery-cum-salon-cum-bookstore she is opening with her friends Malory Price and Zoe McCourt. She also spends sometimes passionate, sometimes vexing time with Jordan Hawke, the thriller writer who broke her heart years earlier when he abandoned her and their small Pennsylvania town of Pleasant Valley to seek fame in New York. Dana slowly realizes that the love they once felt for each other has not died-and that Jordan's writing is inextricably entwined with her supernatural quest. In the end, Jordan must join with Dana to fight the spells of the sorcerer Kane and fulfill the terms of her quest.

Rating: 8/10 - Very enjoyable. I loved the interaction between all of the characters, including Moe. I can't decide which couple I like the best. I definitely felt a kinship with Dana, since she is the booklover of the trio and Jordan is an author. Nora Roberts weaves a wonderful tale of romance, passion and magic around the reader in such a way that you feel like you are part of the story; experiencing and seeing everything the characters do. Kane was definitely more menacing and evil in this book, which tells me he will be even more sinister in the next book

Saturday, March 05, 2005

Bad Day

Can't seem to get my shit together today. Rob left yesterday to go to Payson...so he says. For a man who is supposedly going to help a friend clear downed trees from his property, why does he need $200 cash and acne medication? Maybe I'm just a suspicious person, but something doesn't ring true here....

After work, went to Diana's to check on Tommy Kitty and wasn't watching my step (probably because I'm thinking about the above) and took a header on the sidewalk. One of the sections of sidewalk is raised and my shoe caught it just right and down I went. White jeans and mud definitely don't go together. My left knee is swollen, but fortunately I didn't scrape it up. Just sore...

Started reading Love Overbord by Janet Evanovich. Maybe it's just my mood (and probably this anti-social song I'm listening to...Hate Everything About You by Ugly Kid Joe), but this book isn't grabbing me. This book was published before her Stephanie Plum series, but the characters in this book all sound like the ones from that series.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Books Read in February

Here is what I managed to read in February:

BAIT - Karen Robards. I rated this book 8 stars out of 10. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this story that revolves around a woman who is the target of a hitman and the FBI agent assigned to protect her. The level of suspense kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. Great supporting characters give the story balance and the chemistry between Maddie and Sam was fantastic, as well. There were multiple plots occurring that confused me, especially Maddie's past and her connection to the mob and just who the villain was, but the author tied up all of the loose ends nicely. I look forward to more by this author.

HEIST AND SEEK - Amy Sandrin. Never have read anything by this author before, so I was intrigued as to how it would turn out. Unfortunately, it only rated 5 stars out of 10. The story revolves around a woman who, while working as a janitor in a bank one night, interrupts a robbery in progress and is subsequently taken hostage along with an FBI agent who was in the bank trying to catch the guy in the act. A lot of running in the woods, and hiding from the killer ensues and they end up being rescued, but it isn't over as the killer is killed by someone and now is after Robyn and Killian. The story was so-so, I felt. There were some good scenes, especially the one where Robyn adopts a stray kitten and tells Killian she named the kitten SAM (for Secret Agent Man).

AS SEEN ON TV - Sarah Mlynowski. I could only muster up 4 stars out of 10 for this one. Initially, I thought the premise of the story sounded really good and one that I would enjoy. Woman gives up her job, apartment, etc. to move to NYC to live with her boyfriend. When the job she was expecting falls through, she finds herself on a reality TV show called "Party Girls" where, with 3 other women, they go to bars, get pissed and pick up men. Now, I'll admit, I've never had much of an interest in some of the reality TV shows going around, like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but I thought it would be interesting. Unfortunately, the story quickly lost its appeal as I couldn't find anything entertaining in getting drunk, pretending to be unattached and picking up strange men. Hoping I will have better luck with this author down the road.

THE REPTILE ROOM - Lemony Snicket. I'm trying to prepare myself for when I watch the movie as to what this story is all about. This is actually the second story in the Series Of Unfortunate Events. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and gave it a 9 stars out of 10 rating. In this installment, the Baudelaire orphans go to live with their Uncle Monty and assist him in his reptile room caring for the many reptiles. Unfortunately, Count Olaf soon makes an appearance and the orphans are again dealing with tragedy. This installment takes on a darker twist that I wonder if it will continue in future books. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to them next and how they outwit Count Olaf.

KILL THE MESSENGER - Tami Hoag. Undoubtedly, the best book of the month. I rated it a 10. The story centers around a bike messenger who goes to make a last delivery one evening for a lawyer. When he arrives at the address to make the delivery, someone tries to kill him. Jace manages to escape, barely, and decides to go back to the lawyer's office to find out what is going on. Unfortunately, someone has gotten to the lawyer first and has killed him and now the police and the killer are looking for Jace. Totally awesome story with a surprise twist at the ending that really packs a punch.

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE - Lynn Michaels. Another new to me author whose story about the trials and tribulations of a wedding got an 8 stars out of 10 rating. There were several moments in this story that I laughed out loud and I really enjoyed the characters. After seeing what a wedding does to people, I'm glad I opted for the Justice of the Peace route.

THE NEXT ACCIDENT - Lisa Gardner. This book is a sequel, of sorts, to The Third Victim. Old characters are revisited and new ones are introduced. This one picks up with the plot of Quincy's daughter's death that was briefly touched on in The Third Victim. Rainie Conner, now a private investigator, is hired by Quincy to look into the circumstances of his daughter, Amanda's accident to determine if it really was an accident. I rated this story 8 stars out of 10. This author never fails to surprise me with the twists and turns and surprises she throws into her books. I'm looking forward to the next book, which features Quincy's other daughter, Kimberly.

IT TAKES A HERO - Elizabeth Boyle. This is a historical romance set in 1800s England. The heroine is an author whose books have made the daughters of the ton turn their backs on the marriage mart, which is completely unacceptable to their mothers. The hero is hired by one of the mothers to ferret out the author's identity and make her stop writing. Along the way, mysteries are solved, murderers are caught and love blooms. I gave this book a 7 stars out of 10 rating. The story had great characters and the heroine's Uncle deserved an Oscar for his pretense of being insane...

Happy Reading!

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

VNSA Booksale

This weekend was the 49th annual VNSA charity booksale. This organizations hosts a booksale every year on the second weekend in February in downtown Phoenix. You can see more about this worthwhile organization and the charities they sponsor by visiting their web page at http://www.vnsabooksale.org

I try to go every year and I try to tell as many people about it so they can enjoy it as well. This year, I came home with quite a few books, I am happy to report and even some for Rob...

Here are the books I brought home for me:
BUNDLE OF JOY? - Ariella Papa
LOST AND FOUND - Jane Sigaloff
MY LEGENDARY GIRLFRIEND - Mike Gayle
YOU HAVE TO KISS A LOT OF FROGS - Laure Graff
PUSHING THIRTY - Whitney Gaskell
MIM WARNER'S LOST HER COOL - Lynn Messina
THE SOLOMON SISTERS WISE UP - Melissa Senate
THE EX-FACTOR - Andrea Semple
A CLEAN SLATE - Laura Caldwell
MR. MAYBE - Jane Green
A LITTLE HELP FROM ABOVE - Saralee Rosenberg
BOMBSHELL - Lynda Curnyn
STRAIGHT TALKING - Jane Green
LUCY'S LAUNDERETTE - Betsy Burke
MIKE, MIKE & ME - Wendy Markham
THE MORNING AFTER - Lisa Jackson
MILKRUN - Sarah Mlynowski
RETURN ENGAGEMENT - Lynn Michaels
THE NIGHT BEFORE - Lisa Jackson
THE SPY WHO LOVES ME - Julie Kenner
THE CLUB - Jane Heller
PRACTICAL DEMONKEEPING - Christopher Moore
THE AWAKENING - Shannon Drake
KISSCUT - Karin Slaughter
MAKING MINTY MALONE - Isabel Wolff
THE NINE MONTH PLAN - Wendy Markham
ONCE UPON A BLIND DATE - Wendy Markham
DEATH DU JOUR - Kathy Reichs

And for Rob, I picked up these:
THE WINNER - David Baldacci
THE TESTAMENT - John Grisham
THE PARTNER - John Grisham
THE FIRM - John Grisham
THE SUMMONS - John Grisham
THE STREET LAWYER - John Grisham
THE KING OF TORTS - John Grisham
THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN - David Baldacci

And if this wasn't enough, on the way home, we made a pit stop at a Barnes & Noble where I bought the following new:
THE WEDDING DATE - Elizabeth Young (previously published as ASKING FOR TROUBLE)
THE LAST JUROR - John Grisham (for Rob)

Now, I just need to find shelving space for everyone...

Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Books read in January, 2005

Didn't read as many books in January as I hoped, but for the most part they were enjoyable:

Andrews, Mary Kay. HISSY FIT. 9/2004. B. [Rom/C] - I really enjoyed the Southern flair and sass the characters bring to this story. The lead character, Keeley is someone you can see yourself being friends with. The light mystery and romance really round out this book for enjoyable reading. I recommend this book.

Brown, Sandra. WHITE HOT. 9/2004. A. [Mys/Rom/C] - I loved the suspense in this story and the surprise twists the author takes the reader on. Sandra Brown is one of those authors that easily draws the reader so deep into the story, you wonder if you are there; especially with her descriptions of the sultry summer days. I also love animals that have a supporting role in a book. This one has a golden retriever named Frito who I think stole several scenes. I highly recommend this book.

Dyer, Chris. WANDERLUST: A Novel Of Sex And Sensibility. 2/2003. B. [Gen Fiction] - This is a new to me author and after reading this book, I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author. This book follows the life and travels of a writer who writes travel articles for a magazine. The book is written completely in email format, which I enjoyed and follows our frequent flyer, Kate Bogart (affectionately known as Bogie by her close friends) as she traipses all over the world finding romance. I recommend this book.

Gardner, Lisa. THE THIRD VICTIM. 1/2001. B. [Mys/S] - Lisa Gardner delivers another satisfying mystery/suspense novel that is reminiscient of the headlines we so often see today. The story centers around a sheriff's deputy named Rainie Conner who is investigating a school shooting that has left two little girls and a teacher dead. Unfortunately, their confessed shooter is the sheriff's son. Several sub-plots add to the detail and richness of this story and I am happy to see that Rainie and FBI profiler Quincy will be back in a quasi sequel called The Next Accident. I recommend this book.

Lissner, Caren. CARRIE PILBY. 6/2003. B. [General Fiction/Rom/C] - I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this one or not when I started it. Another new to me author, Lissner weaves a tale around a young 19 year old prodigy named Carrie Pilby who has graduated from Harvard at age 18 and is trying to make sense of the world, find her place and be accepted for herself. Along the way, her therapist is trying to get her to leave her apartment more often, make friends, go out for New Years, go on a date and tell someone you care about them. I ended up enjoying this and watching Carrie learn to accept herself as well as others. I recommend this book.

Matthews, Carole. LET's MEET ON PLATFORM 8. 8/2004. F. [Rom/C] - Unfortunately, this book totally turned me off. Adultery, adultery, adultery. I couldn't plug in to any of the characters and their behavior left me cold. I think the author's intention in writing this book is to show how love comes upon us when we least expect it and from some unlikely places and that we don't always get to choose who we love. Having said that, we still are in control of ourselves and choosing to conduct a relationship with a married individual is wrong. That's just me. I would have been more accepting of this story if the leading man had perhaps been physically separated from his wife instead of still living with her...also the leading lady uses poor judgment in continuing to see him even after she finds out that he's married! Yuck. This was the first book by this author I've read, so I will try another in the hopes it gets better.

Moore, Christopher. BLOODSUCKING FIENDS. 1995. B. [Rom/V] - You would think by the title of the book that this is a horror novel. I labeled it as a romance because the cover says "a love story". The story centers around Jody, a woman with a problem. She certainly never asked to become a vampire but one night after work, she is attacked while waiting for the bus. She wakes up under a dumpster with strength she didn't know she had and a huge thirst. Along the way, she meets Tommy, an aspiring Kerouac writer who spends his evenings frozen-turkey bowling in a Safeway grocery store. They end up moving in together and falling in love while trying to catch the vampire who sired Jody and stop the vampire killings in the city. This was a wacky and off-beat story by another new to me author, that I enjoyed quite a bit. The ending leaves it wide open for another Jody and Tommy adventure. I recommend this book.

Friday, January 28, 2005

Bargain Books @ Amazon.com

Not sure how I ended up at Amazon's web site, but I was there this morning and to my delight, discovered they have a bargain book section. I got 6 trade paperbacks for $26 that had I paid full cover would have cost over $60. Here's what I am getting:

A Girl's Best Friend by Elizabeth Young
Dogs Are Better Than Men
1. They never brag about their ex's stunning cleavage.
2. They don't moan or sulk if you're a half-hour late.
3. They never tell you a Brazilian would really turn them on.
After her most recent disaster with the King of the Unrepentant Jerks, Isabel "Izzy" Palmer is finally convinced that the only male she truly needs in her life is Henry, her lovable part wolfhound, part who-knows-what. Henry's faithful, he adores her madly, and he's great fun to sleep with. So who needs the additional heartache?
But even armed with powerful knowledge and a new resolve, Izzy starts to feel that familiar itch ... and it's all because of Nick. He's a vet for goodness sake -- confident, handsome and compassionate -- if a bit rough around the edges. After teasing her about Henry's unusual looks and questioning her most recent choice in men, Nick then has the gall to turn halfway charming. But he doesn't stop at halfway, and though she already has a best friend, Izzy realizes it doesn't preclude her from having a perfect match, too.

Does She Or Doesn't She? by Alisa Kwitney
Passion. The kind of tear-your-clothes off, scream-your-lungs-out, crash-into-the-furniture passion that changes lives.
It's what Delilah wants. It's what she craves. It's what she fantasizes about whenever her disinterested husband's not around. Okay, so it occasionally makes her late for the school run and distracts her from the fact there's no food in the fridge, but an elaborate fantasy life is a basic requirement for a fledgling soap opera writer. Lately, though, the oddest things have been happening in Delilah's real life. First, she discovers a couple of skeletons rattling around in her husband's closet. Then, she learns that the insolently sexy plumber who's been fixing her pipes and starring in her daydreams is really an undercover FBI agent. And now all the clues seem to point to the conclusion that she's the only person in New York City not carrying on a torrid affair. Which she intends to do something about. Or does she? Because there's nothing more dangerous than acting on your secret desire.

The Accidental Virgin by Valerie Frankel
There ARE no accidents...
FROM: Venus, Goddess of Love, 120 Main, Mt. Olympus
TO: Stacy Temple, lapsed temptress
Stacy, Stacy, Stacy.
You were so promising at the beginning: Sexy, smart, personable and funny. Great on dates and really great afterward -- if you know what I mean. But this is a sad state of affairs; or, in your case, non-affairs! It's been nearly an entire year and you haven't had your way with even ONE eligible male. You've been working so hard concocting sexy lingerie for Thongs.com -- and really, Stacy, if that little pink velvet bustier didn't put you in the mood, I don't know what to say! -- that you haven't even tried to be coaxed out of your own thong.com! Are you listening, Stacy? Seven days to find the perfect man -- or else!
Happy hunting!

32AA by Michelle Cunnah
Emma Taylor wanted an engagement ring and a job promotion for her thirtieth birthday.What she got instead was the boot from herboyfriend, the heave-ho from his Manhattan loft -- and the indignity of having to work for the weenie who stole her position. Her pals only add insult to injury by giving her the "perfect" birthday gift: a bottle ofbreast-enhancing pills. It would be enough to defeat even a well-endowed woman, but Emma's not about to let such twists of fate get her down, even as she sets out on the most grueling task known to humankind: apartment hunting in New York City. But sleeping in the backseat of her car provides an unexpected bonus -- she meets Jack, who's kind enough to invite Emma into his home ... in a strictly landlord/tenant-type of arrangement, of course. Perhaps things are looking up -- since honestly they couldn't get much worse. Emma may not be able to fill a bikini, but she's going to do that "life and love" thing right this time. Because no matter what else destiny throws in her face, she's determined to come out where she never has before ... on top!

The Dominant Blonde by Alisa Kwitney
The search for the perfect boyfriend AND the perfect hair color. Lydia Gold has a new body (size 10 at last!), a new hair color (medium ash), and a new boyfriend (not too sexy but -- she thinks -- secure). She's certain Abe is about to propose. Then he shocks her down to her roots by going missing with about three million dollars of her family's hardearned cash... leaving behind nothing but some lukewarm memories and a ring she's sure is a fake! Distressed, depressed, and dumped, Lydia turns to Liam MacNally for help. From the moment he sees her there is something about "Blondie" that he can't resist. So the ex-cop turned scuba instructor decides to help her get back her money -- and her pride. It's time for Lydia to start having more fun!

On The Couch by Alisa Kwitney
After going for more than a year without a date -- a record in New York City -- Marlowe Riddle has finally met a broodingly sexy, sharply intelligent man who is clearly interested in making more than polite conversation. The only problem: Joseph Kain is an NYPD detective clearly under the mistaken impression that Marlowe is a call girl. But while Marlowe does take money for spending time with strangers in her expensive Upper West Side apartment, she's a psychologist -- not Manhattan's answer to the Mayflower Madam! A fact she has no intention of telling Joe ... at least not until she finishes her research project on the "Behavioral Effects of Disguising Identity." But Marlowe's not the only one trying to secretively gain information ... and it's becoming increasingly unclear who is seducing whom. Because sometimes the only way to learn what a man really wants ... is to get him on the couch.

A day that involves the acquiring of more books is a great day, don't you think?