2004 in Review

Happy New Year! In looking back, I've decided to review my year of reading and share what I loved and what I didn't. Here we go...

In 2004, I read 110 books. Quite an increase from 2003 where I only read 89 books. I feel really proud of that but still wonder where the time went and how come my to be read pile is still monstrous.

The best books I read in 2004 are:

P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern - This book deals with one woman's journey through losing her husband to cancer. After his death, a box of letters is delivered. She is to read one a month and do what they instruct. The book made me laugh and cry.

Love With The Proper Husband by Victoria Alexander - Historical romance about a group of women who are distressed over the disinterest in matrimony by their children and decide to take matters into their own hands by marrying off their offspring. Their first challenge is the Earl of Pennington. I really enjoy this author's work. The heroine is keeping a secret from her betrothed and I enjoyed the way it all played out.

All-American Girl by Meg Cabot - This is a young adult romance about a girl who inadvertently saves the President of the United States from an assassination attempt. She is appointed teen ambassador to the UN and has caught the eye of the First Son. I really enjoyed the humor and angst of the lead character, Samantha Madison. She doesn't think she did anything heroic and would much rather draw.

Boy Meets Girl by Meg Cabot - This is the sequel to The Boy Next Door. This book is written in memo and email format which I found entertaining. It's about a woman who works for the worst boss at the NY Journal. After she is forced to fire an employee, she finds herself being sued and has to give a deposition to a lawyer with a killer bod. The story was sharp, witty and full of humorous dialogue that this author does so well.

The Last Arrow by Marsha Canham - Historical romance about the daughter of the legendary Black Wolf who catches a mysterious knight trespassing on her family's lands. When she discovers he isn't just any ordinary mercenary, she fears he may have been hired to kill her brother, Robin. This book is part of Canham's Robin Hood series. I also recommend the first two books in this series, Through A Dark Mist and In The Shadow Of Midnight.

Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie - Contemporary romance about what happens when a relationship is started on a bet. This book was a lot of fun and I laughed quite a bit throughout the story.

Undead And Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson - Contemporary romance about the pitfalls of life and how it doesn't end when you die. The heroine Betsy Taylor is having a bad week including being laid off and being at war with her stepmother. As if that weren't bad enough, she dies. Worse, she doesn't stay dead. She's one of the undead and rises each night in search of sustenance and designer footwear. This book was a riot. I laughed throughout the story.

Wild Highland Rose by Dee Davis - Time travel romance. The heroine, Marjory MacPherson is happy for the first time since her parents were brutally murdered at the hands of the rival Cameron clan. But now, the man she was forced to marry, the son of her enemy has died in a rockslide and Marjory rejoices. When she goes to retrieve his body, she finds instead a living breathing man talking strangely and covered in blood. Though he wears her husband's face and kilt, he claims to be from the future and isn't at all like her husband. He's kinder and gentler. This was a beautifully written tale of second chances and redemption.

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich - This is book #10 in the Stephanie Plum series. It begins as an innocent trip to the deli-mart, on a quest for nachos. But Stephanie Plum and her partner, Lula, are clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. A robbery leads to an explosion, which leads to the destruction of yet another car. It would be just another day in the life of Stephanie Plum, except that she becomes the target of a gang---and of an even scarier, more dangerous force that comes to Trenton. With super bounty hunter Ranger acting more mysteriously than ever (and the tension with vice cop Joe Morelli getting hotter), she finds herself with a decision to make: how to protect herself and where to hide while on the hunt for a killer known as the Junkman. There's only one safe place, and it has Ranger's name all over it---if she can find it. And if the Junkman doesn't find her first. With Lula riding shotgun and Grandma Mazur on the loose, Stephanie Plum is racing against the clock in her most suspenseful novel yet. Loved this and can't wait for #11.

Dead To The World by Charlaine Harris - This is the fourth book in Harris' Southern Vampire Mystery series where vampires and witches and shapeshifters walk among us out in the open. Sookie Stackhouse is a small-town cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. She's pretty. She does her job well. She keeps to herself and has only a few close friends because not everyone appreciates Sookie's gift. She can read minds. Not exactly every man's idea of date bait. Unless they're undead. Vampires and the like can be tough to read---just the kind of guy Sookie's been looking for. Maybe that's why, when she comes across a naked vampire on the road home from work, she doesn't just drive on by. Turns out he hasn't a clue as to who he is, but Sookie does. It's Eric, still as scary and sexy---and dead---as the day she first met him. But now that he has amnesia, Eric is sweet, vulnerable, and in need of Sookie's help---because whoever took his memory now wants his life. Sookie's investigation into why leads straight into a dangerous battle among witches, vampires, and werewolves. But there could be a greater danger to Sookie's heart---because the kinder, gentler Eric is very difficult to resist....I have enjoyed the whole series and recommend the other books in the series, Dead Until Dark, Living Dead In Dallas, and Club Dead.

Kiss Me While I Sleep by Linda Howard - Suspense novel and probably one of her best since Mr. Perfect. It's about a woman named Lily who is an assassin working as a contract agent for the CIA. When she makes an unsanctioned hit out of vengeance, the agency sends in a field officer to bring her in or take her down. This story was full of intrigue, suspense and high octane action with an explosive twist near the end that shocked me. Loved it and look forward to reading more by Linda Howard.

Dance With The Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon - This is book #4 of the Dark-Hunter series and is about Zarek who has a huge chip on his shoulder and a bad attitude to go with it. He has been exiled to Alaska for 900 years and being alone for that long can make anyone cranky. The Gods send Astrid in to judge Zarek to determine if he should be allowed to live. Awesome story. Zarek is a tortured soul both when he was mortal and now as an immortal. Astrid carries the power to heal him if he will let her. I've read three Dark-Hunter books this year and loved them all. I also recommend the first three in the series, Fantasy Lover, Night Pleasures and Night Embrace.

Kiss Of The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Book #5 of the Dark-Hunter series. This one features Wulf Tryggvasen, an immortal Viking warrior who has to protect the last Apollite, Cassandra from the Daimons. With her death, so does all life. The only problem is that Cassandra is part of a race that Wulf has hunted for centuries. Not as good as Dance With The Devil, but highly recommend it.

Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Book #6 of the Dark-Hunter series. This one is probably my favorite so far. It features Vane Kattalakis and Bride McTierney. Bride McTierney has had it with men. They're cheap, self-centered, and never love her for who she is. But though she prides herself on being independent, deep down she still yearns for a knight in shining armor. She just never expected her knight in shining armor to have a shiny coat of fur....Deadly and tortured, Vane Kattalakis isn't what he seems. Most women lament that their boyfriends are dogs. In Bride's case, hers is a wolf. A Were-Hunter wolf. Wanted dead by his enemies, Vane isn't looking for a mate. But the Fates have marked Bride as his. Now he has three weeks to either convince Bride that the supernatural is real or he will spend the rest of his life neutered -- something no self-respecting wolf can accept....But how does a wolf convince a human to trust him with her life when his enemies are out to end his? In the world of the Were-Hunters, it really is dog-eat-dog. And only one alpha male can win. A true Beauty and the Beast theme and I loved it. I'm hoping that Vane's brothers will get their own story too.

Can You Keep A Secret? by Sophie Kinsella - I really loved this one. A hilarious new novel and an unforgettable new character. Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets:
SECRETS FROM HER MOTHER: * I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching "Ben-Hur." * Sammy the goldfish in my parents' kitchen is not the same goldfish that Mum gave me to look after when she and Dad were in Egypt.
SECRETS FROM HER BOYFRIEND: * I weigh one hundred and twenty-eight pounds. Not one eighteen, like Connor thinks. * I've always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken.
FROM HER COLLEAGUES: * When Artemis really annoys me, I feed her plant orange juice. (Which is pretty much every day.) * It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times.
SECRETS SHE WOULDN'T SHARE WITH ANYONE IN THE WORLD: * My G-string is hurting me. * I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is.
Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.
But come Monday morning, Emma's office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company's elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn't possibly get worse -- Until they do.

Shopaholic And Sister by Sophie Kinsella - Book #4 in the shopaholic series. Newly married Becky Bloomwood Brandon is back from her honeymoon and trying to figure out how to tell Luke about all of the stuff she has bought when she finds out from her parents that she has a sister that she never knew about. Sounds great doesn't it? Finally, Becky has a sister! Someone to share everything with; like shopping. Until she meets her and finds out that Jess hates shopping and just about everything else Becky loves. I recommend the entire series, Confessions Of A Shopaholic, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, and Shopaholic Ties The Knot.

Again The Magic by Lisa Kleypas - Historical romance with a reunited and revenge theme. Lady Aline Marsden was brought up for one reason: to make an advantageous marriage to a member of her own class. Instead, she willingly gave her innocence to John McKenna, a servant on her father's estate. Their passionate transgression was unforgivable -- John was sent away, and Aline was left to live in the countryside... an exile from London society....Now McKenna has made his fortune, and he has returned -- more boldly handsome and more mesmerizing than before. His ruthless plan is to take revenge on the woman who shattered his dreams of love. But the magic between them burns as bright as ever. And now he must decide whether to let vengeance take its toll... or risk everything for his first, and only, love.

Armageddon by Tim LaHaye - The 11th book in the Left Behind series. I enjoyed the whole series but was a little disappointed with the last book only because the series built up such a huge anticipation that it seemed to fall a little flat with the ending, which seemed rushed. I still recommend the entire series, however.

3rd Degree by James Patterson - 3rd book in the Women's Murder Club series. Detective Lindsay Boxer is jogging along a beautiful San Francisco street when a fiery explosion rips through the neighborhood. A town house owned by an Internet millionaire is immediately engulfed in flames, and when Lindsay plunges inside to search for survivors, she finds three people dead. An infant who lived in the house cannot be found --- and a mysterious messge at the scene leaves Lindsay and the San Francisco Police Department completely baffled. Then a prominent businessman is found murdered under bizarre circumstances, with another mysterious message left behind by the killer. Lindsay asks her friends Claire Washburn of the medical examiner's office, Assistant D.A. Jill Bernhardt, and Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas to help her figure out who is committing these murders --- and why they are intent on killing someone every three days. Even more terrifying, the killer has targeted one of the four friends who call themselves the Women's Murder Club. Great story though I was saddened that one of the members of the Women's Murder Club is killed off. I hope Patterson continues this series.

Ain't She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - Contemporary romance about a woman who returns home after many years away to confront the sins of her past and find forgiveness from the people she wronged and from herself. The girl everybody loves to hate has returned to the town she'd sworn to leave behind forever. As the rich, spoiled princess of Parrish, Mississippi, Sugar Beth Carey had broken hearts, ruined friendships, and destroyed reputations. But fifteen years have passed, and life has taught Sugar Beth its toughest lessons. Now she's come home -- broke, desperate, and too proud to show it. The people of Parrish don't believe in forgive and forget. When the Seawillows, Sugar Beth's former girlfriends, get the chance to turn the tables on her, they don't hesitate. And Winnie Davis, Sugar Beth's most bitter enemy, intends to humiliate her in the worst possible way. Then there's Colin Byrne.... Fifteen years earlier, Sugar Beth had tried to ruin his career. Now he's rich, powerful, and the owner of her old home. Even worse, this modern-day dark prince is planning exactly the sort of revenge best designed to bring a beautiful princess to her knees. But none of them have reckoned on the unexpected strength of a woman who's learned survival the hard way. While Sugar Beth's battered heart struggles to overcome old mistakes, Colin must choose between payback and love. Does the baddest girl in town deserve a second chance, or are some things beyond forgiving? AIN'T SHE SWEET? is a story of courage and redemption... of friendship and laughter... of love and the possibility of happily-ever-after.

The worst books I read in 2004 are:

Impulse by Catherine Coulter - When wealthy, beautiful Rafaella Holland puts her dazzling newspaper career on hold to care for her ailing mother, she learns of a long-held family secret: the true identity of her REAL father, whom she never knew. Wanting to exact revenge upon this notorious, world-famous man who had wronged her mother, Rafaella is determined to find him and face him. Her search takes her to an exclusive Caribbean island, a carefully protected sanctuary for the rich and powerful. There she meets Marcus Devlin, a handsome Irish daredevil who appears to have a secret agenda of his own. As they grow closer, they are drawn into a seductive world that threatens to spin wildly out of control -- imperiling not only their love, but also their very lives. I found the story to be dull and couldn't hold my interest.

Call Waiting by Michelle Cunnah - Emma Taylor knows the phone rules, but now Emma feels like she's been put "on hold." So, what's a girl to do? Make a list of course...If he's going to call, he'll do it by Tuesday to ask you about Saturday...If it works out on Saturday, he'll want to see you Wednesday...And after over eight months of dating bliss, he should at least ask you to move in with him...
1. Do not call lovely, lovely friends to whine incessantly about Claire Palmer, Jack's gorgeous, full-breasted boss. Must develop stiff upper lip.
2. Do something worthwhile and humanitarian to earn rest of inheritance from women's rights pioneering auntie. First part of inheritance: 9 1/2 long strong inches of fence post to which Auntie Alice chained herself ... I know! Join HUSSI - Hoboken United Sisters Suffragette Institution. Perfection!
3. Do impress Jack with worthy, meaningful acts. Don't let on you've seen emerald ring in his top drawer. Do tempt him with new confident, sexy image. He will immediately fall on one knee and propose --- won't he? I had high hopes for this one but it fell flat for me.

The Big Love by Sarah Dunn - Alison Hopkins is firmly, undoubtedly, and undeniably in love. She and Tom live together, they send wedding gifts as a unit, and, most important, they're happy together -- until the evening Tom goes out in the middle of a dinner party to buy some mustard and doesn't come back. He calls Alison to say that he has fallen back in love with his ex-girlfriend Kate, the kind of woman about whom men say rhapsodically, "She's like a drug." How can Alison compete with that? She had always feared that Tom's looks would land her in trouble -- having a handsome boyfriend is like owning a white couch, an invitation to disaster. But if Tom isn't Alison's Big Love, who is? Alison is tempted to take her humiliation and whip it into 700 words for the weekly column she writes about relationships for the local paper. Instead, she decides to treat her newfound freedom as a gift -- a shimmering portal to a whole new life, a whole new her. She risks a fling with her boss and makes the delightful discovery that "movie sex" -- like that scene in "Fatal Attraction," with the water running and the dishes in the sink -- isn't a cinematic fiction. But that is just the beginning of Alison's quest for The Big Love. Applying her restless intelligence to all the questions of the heart in the modern age -- Is love, in fact, enough? Does an undefined-yet-presumably-meaningless amorous encounter always turn out to be a mistake? What on earth do you tell your mother? -- Alison plumbs the depths and takes sight on the heights that love can lead to. Another one with high hopes that fell flat.

Olivia Joules And The Overactive Imagination by Helen Fielding - Move over 007, a stunning, sexy -- and decidedly female -- new player has entered the world of international espionage. Her name is Olivia Joules (that's "J.O.U.L.E.S. the unit of kinetic energy") and she's ready to take America by storm with charm, style, and her infamous Overactive Imagination. How could a girl not be drawn to the alluring, powerful Pierre Ferramo -- he of the hooded eyes, impeccable taste, unimaginable wealth, exotic international homes, and dubious French accent? Could Ferramo really be a major terrorist bent on the Western world's destruction, hiding behind a smokescreen of fine wines, yachts, and actresses slash models? Or is it all just a product of Olivia Joules's overactive imagination? Join Olivia in her heart-stopping, hilarious, nerve-frazzling quest from hip hotel to eco-lodge to underwater cave, by light aircraft, speedboat, helicopter, and horse, in this witty, contemporary, and utterly unputdownable novel deluxe. I kept comparing this character to Bridget Jones and it just didn't work for me.

Lost by Joy Fielding - It's almost five o'clock. Where the hell are you?
Losing Julia has become a constant in Cindy Carver's life. The first time Julia disappeared, she was five years old and vanished at the playground. That inspired motherly paranoia. The second was when, at age fourteen, Julia decided to move in with her father. That broke Cindy's heart. But when twenty-one-year-old Julia disappears without a trace after a promising audition with one of Hollywood's most powerful and influential directors, Cindy begins a frantic search. Secrets are revealed, lives are forever altered, and Cindy is forced to acknowledge the disturbing truth about the young woman she realizes she never really knew. Sexy, suspenseful, and utterly un-put-downable, Lost takes readers into the heart of a woman overwhelmed by her determination to find the daughter she's lost, and, if at all possible, to reclaim the respect she once had for herself. Every stranger was a possible fiend; every friend a possible foe. How well do we know anybody? How well do we know ourselves? Couldn't hold my interest.

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler - Six Californians join to discuss Jane Austen's novels. Over the six months they meet, marriages are tested, affairs begin, unsuitable arrangements become suitable, and love happens. With her finely sighted eye for the frailties of human behavior and her finely tuned ear for the absurdities of social intercourse, Fowler has never been wittier nor her characters more appealing. The result is a delicious dissection of modern relationships. I had trouble staying focused on the story. It kept jumping from the past to the present too sporadically.

Dumping Billy by Olivia Goldsmith - A modern-day battle of the sexes -- dished up with scathing wit, hilarity, and plenty of attitude.
There's something magical about Billy Nolan. It's not just that the Brooklyn bar owner is wickedly handsome; it's also that any woman he dates and dumps -- and he dumps them all -- immediately goes on to marry the next person she meets. But Kate Jameson is immune to Billy's charms. She left Brooklyn for upward-mobility in Manhattan at the first chance she got, and she's not about to fall for some cad from the old neighborhood. But when her best friend Bina's engagement is broken off, Kate hatches a plan: All she has to do is get Billy to date and dump Bina. Then, they'll wait for Bina's wayward fiancé to return and for the magic to happen. But the one thing Kate hasn't counted on is how Billy feels about the whole plot -- and how she begins to feel about Billy. She may have changed her style, but her roots are showing. Couldn't hold my interest.

A Kiss Of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton - My name is Meredith Gentry, but of course it's not my real name. I dare not even whisper my true name after dark for fear that one hushed word will travel over the night winds to the soft ear of my aunt, the Queen of Air and Darkness. She wants me dead. I don't even know why...I fled the high court of Faerie three years ago and have been in hiding ever since. As Merry Gentry, I am a private investigator for the Grey Detective Agency: Supernatural Problems, Magical Solutions. My magical skills, scorned at the courts of Faerie, are valued in the human world. Even by human standards, my magic isn't flashy, which is fine by me. Flashy attracts attention and I can't afford that. Rumour has it that I am dead. Not quite. I am Princess Meredith NicEssus. To speak that name after dark is to call down a knock upon your door from a hand that can kill you with a touch. I have been careful, but not careful enough. The shadows have found me, and they are going to take me back home, one way or another. So the running is over. But the fighting has just begun... Another one that couldn't hold my interest.

Truly, Madly Viking by Sandra Hill - Jorund Ericcson is a tenth-century Viking warrior who lands in a modern mental hospital.
Maggie McBride is the lucky psychologist who gets to "treat" the gorgeous Norseman, whom she mistakenly calls Joe. Usually, I love Sandra Hill's books, but this one fell flat for me.

No Way Out by Andrea Kane - With a child's life at stake, a woman's deepest fears and desires careen toward an explosive climax where there is no time to hesitate, no going back, and NO WAY OUT!
Something is wrong with teacher Julia Talbot's favorite second-grader, the mayor's son Brian. Seeing the outgoing little boy become increasingly anxious and withdrawn, she suspects problems at home, inside the mansion of a high-profile political family. But even Julia doesn't know the real truth. Venture capitalist Connor Stratford, the boy's powerful uncle, does. Intrigued by Julia, Connor plans a campaign of seduction designed to keep her from snooping - and to get her into his bed. Yet Julia has already learned too much. As danger bears down on her like a runaway freight train, Brian vanishes, and a desperate hunt to find him draws Julia deeper into a family's secrets and an irresistible passion -- and closer to a place where a child's future, and her own fate, hang in the balance. Another one that couldn't hold my interest.

Barely Behaving by Jennifer LaBrecque - The moment veterinarian Niall Fortson spies Tammy Cooper sunbathing in the nude, he knows his new neighbor is naughty -- and a knockout! With a bad reputation and a bad attitude, Tammy has TROUBLE written all over her. And though Niall isn't looking for a scandal, he can't resist her. Luckily Tammy has a solution to cure them of their mutual case of lust -- a two-week secret affair. Tammy soon realizes the boy next door is almost more man than she can handle. And she's enjoying handling him -- a little too much. After all, someone with her track record is all wrong for a guy dreaming of white picket fences. Still, Niall's determined to be more to Tammy than just a boy toy. And with the way he makes her feel, Tammy's inclined to let him convince her....did nothing for me.

Notes On The Windowsill by Jennifer L.B. Leese - Jordan Raven has experienced ghostly encounters since the age of four. When a white pick-up truck causes the early and tragic death of her soon-to-be fiance, Martin, on the evening of their soon-to-be engagement, Jorie watches in horror from the window of their favorite restaurant. Just as she starts to get her life together, it spirals out of control and takes a turn for the worse when she learns that her mother is dying of brain cancer. She wonders how she can go on....Day after day ghostly sightings of her fiance, pacing footsteps in the hall, and voices, grow more intense and more frequent. Can Martin comfort his true love from the afterlife? Will Jorie accept his need to communicate with her? Only after visiting Madame Daluka, a fortuneteller, Jorie begins to realize just how out of sorts her life truly is. She is ready to give up and accept life as it is, until Kelly Spencer enters her life...and she finds herself wondering if Madame Daluka will be able to fill in the blanks for her...I had high hopes for this one but the plot seemed to jump all over the place and not making a lot of sense.

Sam's Letters To Jennifer by James Patterson - Laced with mystery, SAM's LETTERS TO JENNIFER combines two unforgettable love stories in a novel that's absolutely impossible to put down. Jennifer returns to the resort village where she grew up to help a beloved relative -- and ends up experiencing not one but two of the most amazing love stories she's ever known. The first is completely unexpected. In a series of letters that Jennifer finds, her relative reveals that she has concealed a huge secret for decades: Her great love is not the man she was married to for all those years. As Jennifer reads about this passionate partnership, she learns more about love's imperatives and secrets than she ever dreamed possible. And then comes the biggest surprise of all. At a time when she thought she could never love again, Jennifer lets her guard down for a moment -- and is suddenly caught up in the greatest flight of exhilaration she's ever known. But, just as suddenly, she learns that this new love comes with an unbearable cost. Jennifer doesn't think she can survive the pain -- but the letters she's been reading make her think that love may help her find a way. Too depressing for me.

The Spaniard's Passion by Jane Porter - Sophie is penniless since her late husband's death left her with nothing but a pile of gambling debts. She needs closure on that unfortunate period in her life, and the only way to get it is to travel to South America and put the past behind her. But Sophie cannot forget that she agreed to her loveless marriage to escape her overwhelming attraction to another man, South American millionaire Alonso Galván. And Alonso has never renounced his vow that, one day, Sophie will be his. So, finding her alone, vulnerable and in desperate need of his help is the answer to his prayers. Now he can show her real passion... and that he means to make her his bride! Did absolutely nothing for me.

Bliss by Lynsay Sands - If King Henry receives one more letter from either of two feuding nobles, he'll go mad. Lady Tiernay is a beauty, but whoever marries the nag will truly get a mixed blessing. And Lord Holden -- can all the rumors regarding his cold heart be lies? The man certainly has sobered since the death of his first wife. If he were smart, Henry would force the two to wed, make them fatigue each other with their schemes and complaints. Yes, it is only fitting for them to share the bed they'd made -- 'til death do them part! Perhaps they will even find each other suitable; perhaps Lord Holden will find in his bride the sweet breath of new life. Heaven alone knows what will happen when the two foes are the last things between themselves and the passion they've never known they wanted. It started out really good but started to drag and then totally lost my interest.

To Be Someone by Louise Voss - Helena Nicholls is no ordinary girl. In fact, she's famous. For many years she was the bassist and lyricist for Blue Idea, a band worshiped by adoring fans all over the world throughout the eighties. Following their breakup, Helena switched gears and became the most popular morning DJ in London with her all-request show. Listeners could call her and request songs, but Helena wouldn't play them until the callers gave the details of why they wanted her to play them --- where they were when they first heard the song, what they were wearing, who they were with, and why the song means so much to them. The show's success put Helena back on the map, but now that's all over. After a night of partying ends in a horrible accident, Helena wakes up in a hospital bed. As she groggily opens her eyes, she realizes that her irresponsible behavior, so completely uncharacteristic of her, has left her bruised and battered. The doctors tell her it will take months to recover --- who knows if her wounded ego will ever heal. Couldn't hold my interest.

Good Grief by Lolly Winston - A brilliantly funny and heartwarming debut about a young woman who stumbles,then fights to build a new life after the death of her husband. I found it morbidly depressing. I thought it would have more humor like P.S. I Love You, but this one fell flat.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events

I saw an episode of Oprah a few weeks back where she had Jim Carrey and Meryl Streep on promoting their new movie, A Series Of Unfortunate Events, based on the Lemony Snicket novels. The previews look really good and Jim Carrey's portrayal of the dastardly Count Olaf is sure to be a show stopper. I had heard the movie is really the first 3 (maybe 4) books combined. Never having read the books before, the movie intrigued me. So, I decided to check it out. I listened to the first book, A Bad Beginning on audio. It was narrated by Tim Curry and he did a fabulous job. The book begins with the three Baudelaire children (Violet, Klaus and Sunny) find themselves suddenly orphans and homeless. Taken to the home of a distant relative, Count Olaf, the children quickly discover that all is not right, when they uncover a plot by Count Olaf to steal their fortune. The story was fast paced with an equal blend of suspense and humor. I hope to have most of the books read before I watch the movie.

Awesome Book

I just finished a book called Kiss Me While I Sleep by Linda Howard. All I can say about this book is that it was AWESOME! No, really. It's about a woman who is a contract agent for the CIA paid to kill. She kills a man in vengeance for the murder of her friends so she's persona non grata with the CIA. They send in a field officer to track her down and bring her in. Hopefully before the dead man's family finds her first.
This story kept me on the edge of my seat and it was one major thrill ride. It had humor, action, suspense, hot sex scenes and there is a HUGE twist toward the end of the book that totally blew me away.
Linda Howard has really out-done herself with this one. I hope she continues to write more like this one as I highly recommend KISS ME WHILE I SLEEP to anyone who likes a fast paced read with heart thumping action and blood racing passion.

New Computer

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Rob built a new computer. He is so amazing. He read books and did TONS of research on the hardware he needed to buy. I don't know he does it.
Unfortunately, when we tried to load SIMS2, we had major graphics problems. Bought a new video card thinking that would resolve everything. Was able to play for about 10 minutes and then the computer started to self-reboot. What the hell is going on? This amazing guy I'm married to starts researching and talking to people who know computers and he figures it out! Personally, I would have pitched the thing out the window. Patient, I'm not.
Rob figured out that there were multiple problems. First, when he downloaded a service pack for the operating system, there seems to be a corruption problem. So, when he reinstalled the operating system software, he left the service pack off until Microsoft fixes it. Then he discovered that there is a conflict between the Norton software and the Adobe program so we bought new Norton software and that was resolved. Now, onto the game. He scanned the disks that came with the game (how does he know to do that????) and found several damaged files on the game so we got another copy from Walmart.
Last Wednesday night, he began game installation. When I came home Thursday morning, I gave it a try and IT WORKED!!!! Yay! . If you haven't tried SIMS2 yet, go get it! It's amazing! There is so much more the SIMS can do in this version and the graphics are TONS better than the last version. The kids actually grow up!
Good books I've read recently (when the computer acts up, I get more reading done. Go figure) are:
Teen Idol by Meg Cabot - This is classified as young adult. It was a very cute story about a high school student named Jenny who has to show the new guy around the school. Only the whole school doesn't know that the new guy is actually one of Hollywood's hottest stars who is there undercover posing as a student researching an upcoming role. I really enjoyed the story and think the author does a fantastic job of capturing the teenage personality.
'Til Death Do Us Part by Kate White - This is the third story in a mystery series that features a true crime writer named Bailey Weggins who writes for GLOSS magazine and finds herself in the center of murder investigations in her spare time. This story centers around Greewich, Connecticut when Bailey is asked to check into some deaths that seem suspicious. Bailey isn't sure there is anything going on at first. The first two victims were bridesmaids along with Bailey in a wedding several month prior. After the third bridesmaid dies, Bailey begins to think she may be next. This was a good story with a lot of twists and turns in the plot that kept me guessing all the way to the end.
The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen - This is the second story in a mystery series that features Boston PD detective Jane Rizzoli. Now that The Surgeon (the killer in the first book) is in prison, Jane is ready to move on to her next case. When sadistic murders occur, the pattern suggests that The Surgeon is somehow behind it. Rizzoli thinks the madman is basing his attacks on the twisted techniques of The Surgeon and ultimately Rizzoli has to face her greatest fears when he manages to escape from prison. Very intense story and a lot of graphic detail. I especially liked the final showdown scene between Rizzoli and The Surgeon. The next book in the series, The Sinner, sounds good and I look forward to reading it soon.
I have read 105 books this year so far. The year is almost over and I hope to get that number up to 110. Happy Reading and SIMming!

Turkey & All The Trimmings

Happy Thanksgiving! Today, we give thanks for the blessings we have in life and celebrate the harvest with a feast. It's just Rob and I for the holiday and Rob is cooking a 10lb bird with all the trimmings. I have fruit salad duty and yams. There will be cranberry sauce, granny green beans and biscuits to go with the turkey, stuffing, taters and gravy. For dessert, we have a pumpkin pie.
I have been sick for the past week with a sinus infection and bronchitis. Not much of an appetite since everything tastes like dirt because of the congestion and mucus. I went to the doctor yesterday and got some antibiotics so hopefully I will be back to normal soon.
We bought the new Harry Potter DVD last night. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban. Loved it! I sure hope all of the books are made into movies. The fourth book is currently in filming now. I love this series.
Reading a really good book called DEADLY LOVE by Brenda Joyce. It's a historical mystery series that takes place in New York City in 1902. The heroine is a woman named Francesca Cahill who is a bit of a reformist. She is going to college, which is something that isn't common in that day and is solving crimes alongside the new police commissioner, Rick Bragg. There's a hint of a romance, but so far nothing has developed too far. This story deals with the kidnapping of a toddler and Francesca is the one who discovers the kidnapping note. I highly recommend the series and look forward to reading the other books.

Another Month Bites The Dust...

Do I really want to go here? No, but I will. There are only 3 weeks left until Thanksgiving! And then you know what that means ... Christmas shopping! Yuck. When did Christmas get so commercialized? Is this something we are teaching our kids? Lord, I hope not, but more and more I am witnessing this fact. "What are you getting me?" "Gimme this; Gimme that." Whatever happened to the joy of the holiday; of getting together with the people who mean the most to you in your life; sharing good food, good company, laughter and joy. Counting your blessings and rejoicing in the spirit of the holiday. Why does the holiday equate with Visa, Mastercard and malls now?
At work, my Supervisor asked me and my co-shift supervisors if we wanted to have a Christmas party and a gift exchange. I said no. I think I offended some of the others. Why they don't go ahead and do something amongst themselves, I don't know. Instead, I would much rather as a group just get together for dinner and enjoy each other's company and get to know each other better.
Bah Humbug? I don't think so, but if that's all Christmas is to people now instead of the spirit, joy and happiness, then I guess you can call me Ebenezer. It's not even December yet and I'm already dreading it.
I don't look forward to decorating either. Mainly because I lack creativity and it feels like a chore to decorate. I know there are a lot of people that really go all out to decorate the inside and outside of their homes and, don't get me wrong....they look nice, but it's that commercialism thing again. So many people have to have the newest decorations and lots of 'em, so cha-ching! Someone is making money off of the holiday. My parents never went out and bought a new tree and all the trimmings every year but that seems to be the trend.
As much as I would like to hide under my bed until it's over, I can't. The Holidays are quickly approaching and it seems like it comes around faster with each year. So, as with years gone by, I will try to make the best of it, keep smiling and pray the radio station plays a variety of Christmas songs instead of the same ones over and over. One of my favorites is "The Twelve Pains of Christmas" by Bob Rivers Comedy Group. So, at least if I can't avoid the whole holiday thing, I can at least laugh my ass off.

What Is That I See Outside My Window?

It's RAIN! Woo Hoo! Yes, it does rain in Arizona. Sometimes, it goes so long between rain's that people completely forget how to drive in it or even forget what it looks like. It has rained all day long and I would guess we got quite a few inches. I'm really hoping we have a wet winter. The high country up north can sure use the snow to minimize the wildfire danger in the summer.
Tonight is Survivor night. I may go into work tonight for a few hours of OT. I found an older Gwyneth Paltrow movie on TV that TIVO is recording. It's called A PERFECT MURDER and co-stars Michael Douglas. I haven't seen it in a very long time so I look forward to watching it sometime this weekend. God, I love my TIVO. :o)
I'm off until Sunday and Sunday is Halloween. No candy for the kiddies since I have to work and Rob isn't in to that stuff. My squad is dressing up and we are having a potluck party with the overlapping squad. We are all going as witches. I found some purple and black striped stockings to wear which will match my hat wonderfully and I found witch hair to wear. It's black and gray streaked. The only thing left is maybe some dark purple lipstick or black lipstick. I'm going to wear my black pleated skirt and a purple top and my black chunky tread shoes. Kind of a funky witch. I have to make fruit salad Sunday before I go in and take with me. Hope nobody chickens out and I'm the only one dressed up. That would suck.

Pretty sure I mentioned this already...

I am the Queen of Proscrastination and not only with blogging, it seems. I have been neglecting my reading to play with my SIMS. In case you have been living in a cave for the past, say 5 years, then you won't know what SIMS is. It's a computer game where you create simulated people and either give them assistance in having healthy, happy and productive lives or screw them over royally and watch them get fired, go broke, starve and even die. I haven't played with my SIM family Robinson in a while because my computer has been acting wonky, but over the past week, the addiction has resurfaced! I found cheat codes last year to max out the money (called Simoleans in the SIM world) so the Robinson's (Stephen and Vicky) have the best money can buy, beginning with an 11,000 square foot house (but only 1 bedroom). Then they went and had a son, whom I named David (no, he isn't a basketball player...ha ha) so I had to call in Rob the architect to add on a second bedroom for David once he left infancy and became a child. For the past week, I've been debating whether or not I want Stephen and Vicky to be parents, so I've been deliberately keeping David home from school and letting his grades drop in the hopes that he will get shipped off to military school and never be seen or heard from again. Well, I must be getting sentimental in my old age, because David did get shipped off and it was very bizarre watching him "leave" the game. Remorse set in and I exited the game without saving, thereby putting him back in. Why did I do this? When the Knosby family (my first SIM family) had their first child, I screwed up when naming her and she ended up drowning in a horrific swimming pool tragedy (with my help of course) and I felt zero remorse....if I really wanted to be sadistic, I could leave the game running and see how long it takes the Robinson family to all get fired, kicked out of school and set the house on fire...but I don't trust the computer to remain running non-stop.
I did manage to read a good book recently. It's called Shopaholic & Sister by Sophie Kinsella. This is actually the fourth book in the Shopaholic series. The other titles are Confessions Of A Shopaholic, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan and Shopaholic Ties The Knot. I highly recommend the entire series. It's a definite escape to read about someone else who cannot control their spending and the trouble she gets into and the creative and inventive ways she finds to extricate herself. The newest installment features our Shopaholic, Becky, just back from her honeymoon only to discover she has a half-sister she never knew about and what's worse, the new half-sister hates shopping.
Last night, we watched The Day After Tomorrow starring Dennis Quaid. A little frightening but filled with "the big message" about what global warming is going to do to our planet. Great special effects. We also watched Welcome To Mooseport starring Gene Hackman and Ray Romano. Gene Hackman plays the ex-President of the US and the newest resident of Mooseport, Maine, where he decides to run for Mayor. The movie was filmed around the Port Perry, Ontario area and I just have to visit. It was beautiful! I can see myself retiring there! If being a resident of Canada means I have to learn the game of hockey, I am there!

Working the Powerball

Here it is on a Sunday morning nearly 2 AM. I can't sleep and tomorrow I have to work at 4:30 PM. Would rather not go to work. Would rather call into work and tell them, "I'm not coming in ever again. I have to pick up my Powerball winnings." The $200 million plus jackpot was won by some lucky schlub in Delaware, so I will be going to work . Don't get me wrong. I love my job. I feel like it's rewarding for the most part. The pay and benefits package is the best I've ever had the opportunity to receive from any other job. I would just rather not work. Not work without creating a financial hardship or drastically have to alter my lifestyle in order to stay home. Some people ask me why I want to stay home. I have no children, so why stay home? I would just be bored. Unlike a lot of women I know, I've never wanted a career. I've always felt like my "career" was taking care of Rob (which, if some of you knew him, would agree that in itself is a full-time job --- ha ha ha). Not long after we got married, I was "educated" that if we ever wanted anything of substance or value (i.e. a house), we would both have to work. Why? Why does owning a house mean you both have to sacrifice your time together and both work? Especially when most mortgage payments are CHEAPER than an apartment? I just don't get it. I want to stay home. I want to take care of Rob, take care of our home, be a better wife. I want to spend my time taking better care of our home (I hate cleaning and it's probably due in a large part to the feeling of never having the time nor the energy) and I want to be a better cook (I also hate cooking probably for the same reasons I hate cleaning). But, I can't. Now I have to work to help pay the bills. So, I go to work (against my will) and dream of what it would be like to not HAVE to work. What it would be like to be the next "lucky schlub" to win the Powerball.

Happy October!

I cannot believe it's October already! Mount St. Helens erupted today. Nothing like the massive eruption back in 1980, but then she may yet blow her top again. Something I did not know was that the last time she erupted was back in 1986. Thank God, no deaths with this eruption. It amazes me continuously how close people choose to live near nature's disasters. Washington state is gorgeous but I am too much of a chicken to live there. Florida either with their horrible hurricane season this year. Wouldn't live in California even if you paid me with all of the earthquakes either. I guess that people get used to it and take it in stride and don't let it affect them. I don't know if I would get used to it.
Had a training class at work today to go over the new version of FrontPage for creating webpages. Not sure I needed to be there since they weren't covering things I am responsible for....
I finished Book #11 of the Left Behind series. This one is titled Armageddon. One more book to go in the series. I've really enjoyed the entire series and I think most anyone would, regardless of their religious beliefs and backgrounds. A lot of the major characters died in this installment, but the series promises a happy ending and all of the believers in Christ will be reunited in the last book. The library only has ONE copy of the unabridged audio (what's up with that, anyway?) and I'm number 29 in line! Sheesh! I'm afraid that by the time I get it, it will be warped....or worn out somehow. On the way home from class, I stopped at the library to drop off Armageddon and have started another audiobook titled All-American Girl by Meg Cabot. It's classified as a young-adult book. So far, it's good.
A lady I work with told me about the most amazing thing for cleaning. It's called Magic Eraser and it's made by Mr. Clean. She told me to try it for the really hard ground in dirty areas after I told her how much I hate to clean the bathroom because I can't find anything that seems to work. It looks like a sponge. You wet it and wipe, as if you were "erasing" and voila, it works! I tried it on the floor of the shower stall in the master bath. Usually, Rob has to use bleach and an SOS pad to get the thing clean. This magic eraser did it with no heavy scrubbing and in less than 5 minutes, it looked 1000% better. I don't know what it's made of, and all you have to do is wet the thing and it cleans fabulously.
More later....

Sunday Already?

Time sure does fly anymore, doesn't it? I have to work tonight so it's hard for me to fully enjoy the experience that is Sunday Tailgating. We subscribe to the NFL Sunday Ticket on DIRECTV. This enables us to watch up to 16 games each Sunday and Rob really goes all out in the kitchen making food for us to enjoy for our own little tailgate party at home. Today, he is making hot wings (honey barbecue for me) and potato salad. I don't mind working odd hours, holidays and weekends for the most part. In my job, I feel I'm doing an important thing for the community so it pays off. It is hard sometimes though not to be on the same schedule that Rob is with the same days off. I never thought I would enjoy working the graveyard shift, but it's not too bad. It would be alot harder if Rob had a problem with my schedule, but he has been so understanding for the last 8 years that I've worked for the PD.

Last night after Rob got the TIVO installed (required a new dish, so it was like a whole new satellite system) and Rob played around with it for a little while, we watched a DVD. This one was MAN ON FIRE starring Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken and Dakota Fanning. Denzel plays a man hired as a bodyguard to a little girl in Mexico. He tries very hard to keep from caring about her outside the job, but she manages to wrap herself around his heart. She is kidnapped and presumed dead and Denzel's character is left bullet-ridden and recovering in a hospital. When he recovers, he begins hunting down everyone responsible and killing them. The ending was a surprise and the action was very intense. I gave it a 4 star rating out of 5 only because I felt the ending could have been different. I recommend it, though.

Technology Rules!

Today, Rob took the day off of work and we went shopping! We subscribe to satellite TV and today we acquired a new DVR receiver with TIVO. This will enable us to record programs without using a VCR. We will also be able to record on one channel while watching a different one and (this is what sold me) you can pause a program in case you get interrupted or you have to go to the bathroom. The DVR will record at the point you leave off and you can come back and pick it up there. Too bad Friends went off the air because I sure could have used this last season on Thursday nights when both Friends and Survivor were on at the same time. I also found a DVD of THE GOONIES at Walmart. I love this movie and am ecstatic to see it out on DVD now. I heard that a sequel is coming. Wonder if it will have the original kids, now all grown up....

Is Summer Really Over?

Here in the pit of Hell, also known as Arizona, it's hard to tell most of the time. Our hot season usually begins in June, though in the nearly 18 years I have lived here, it has hit triple digits as early as March some years. The debilitating heat usually lasts well into October and sometimes into November. I have discovered that it has gotten very hard for me to get into the spirit of the holidays when it's in the 70s or 80s in December. It just doesn't feel like Christmas to me. I miss the four seasons and look forward to the day when I will be able to leave this hell-hole for some green grass, trees, seasons and, hopefully, white Christmases.

Queen of Procrastination

I have heard so much about blogging that I have finally gotten off my butt and decided to check it out. I must say that I have always loved to journal and remember keeping a diary as a teenager. Unfortunately, I have developed some very bad habits and procrastination is one of them. I don't journal daily but I will try to visit here often (or as often as I am able) and post my thoughts about anything and everything.

I read a lot so I will post what I am reading and I love to watch movies so I will post some comments about recent movies that I have enjoyed. My husband and I love to camp and I hope to share our camping experiences here as well.

Until next time....