My how time flies when you don't know what you're doing!

I have still been trying to keep up with life here. I'm reading enough, just haven't had time to be online and post what I'm reading. So, gonna play catch up and keep it short and sweet.

Die In Plain Sight - Elizabeth Lowell This is another of the Rarities Unlimited series and as usual is a great read.

Coastliners - Joanne Harris Her books are great. This one was not as good as Holy Fools, but it was an enjoyable read.

Ain't She Sweet - Susan Elizabeth Phillips I LOVED this book. Sugar Beth and all of the other characters draw you in to their world and makes you laugh and want to cry along with them.

Something Real - J.J. Murray This book went back unread. I don't know if it was just the mood I was in or I didn't like the writing style, or the character or what.

Whew

Today has been kah-ray-zee! That's what I get for being gone for a week. So, quick run down of these books I got piled here so I can get them back to the library and pick up my other holds!

P S, I Love You - Cecelia Ahern
This book is SOOO good! I've lucked out lately and have been getting some goodies. This one was both heart-wrenching and funny. Very moving. I can't believe that the author is the 22-year-old daughter of the Prime Minister of Ireland. Very mature writing. I guess that is the mark of a true novelist, when you can't define them by age. Anyway, go get this book and read it! Now!

What She Wants - Cathy Kelly Another excellent read. And another Irish read. I really enjoyed this one and in a way it was surprising because of the way the point of view keeps switching from one character to another. Normally I can't stand that because with most authors you aren't ever clear for a bit who is doing the story telling unless it is explicitly noted. I can't recall if she noted or not who was doing said chapter or whatnot, but I immediately knew which character it was from the tone. It's a fairly thick book, but moves along quickly.

Ahh.. must take break.

And now that I've had a break I am dead tired.
Quick list so I can take them back tomorrow.

The Goddesses of Kitchen Avenue - Barbara Samuel
Excellent

Wurst Case Scenario and Frozen Rodeo - Catherine Clark
I was in the Young Adult section looking for some Judy Blume to re-read and found these two and liked the titles so I thought what the heck. Very cute books that really portray teen angst. Takes me back a few!

We'll Always Have Parrots - Donna Andrews
I could NOT finish this book. Maybe if I had nothing at all left to read I would, but otherwise it hasn't held my interest and I've been trying for over a week. It's going back unfinished.

Spitting Feathers - Kelly Harte
Cute enough book. Don't know that it was worth the $11 I paid for it, so either get it at the library or get it second-hand.

Lucy's Launderette - Betsy Burke
Very much worth the $11! Outstanding book. It's great because I've always wanted to open up something similiar to what they have done, except with books. I'll keep on dreamin'.

The Feng Shui Detective - Nury Vittachi
I haven't got past page 9 on this one, but I suspect it's going back unread. I'm not liking it at all.

Pretending the Bed is a Raft - Nanci Kincaid
So-so. I sent it back without finishing it. Most short story books don't interest me.

Oh, and I read through Trading Spaces: Color! and Martha's Vineyard Houses and Gardens. The Trading Spaces one was ok, was kind of complicated and some of the pictures weren't that great. The Martha's Vineyard one was beautiful and very informative. I've always wanted to go there.

Long time no blog

I've been out of town for the last week and haven't had internet access so I am way behind on my posting! I've got a stack of books sitting here that I've read, a stack waiting to be read and I just picked up 3 more out of the mailbox on the way in! So, tomorrow I will get busy and get them put up here.

Dance With Me - Luanne Rice

Luanne Rice is another author who I have read every single novel she has written, and I am never disappointed. Dance With Me is no exception.

Bet Me - Jennifer Crusie

I absolutely LOVE Jennifer Crusie. I've read all of her books. And I think this one has been my favorite so far. I did not want this book to end. I literally want to live the book! How insane is that? But seriously this book rocks.

Min Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man like Cal Morrisey, who asked her to dinner to win a bet. Cal Morrisey knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But Fate has other plans, and it'’s not long before Min and Cal are dealing with meddling friends, wedding cake, a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kremes, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a frantic bride, Chicken Marsala, a mutant cat, snow globes, two Mothers-from-Hell, great shoes, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of including the biggest gamble of all--unconditional love.
(synopsis from Jennifer Crusie's awesome website)

Phooey

So, remember the jackpot? Well, most of them are going back. I read Lost & Found, Cooking for Harry, and am slogging through We'll Always Have Parrots. I started Jackie by Josie and couldn't get into it. Come to find out I have already read Lucy Crocker 2.0 and it wasn't that great the first time. The others I just don't have interest in now. I hate it when this happens. Ah well, c'est la vie. Of course, a lot of it probably has to do with the fact that I did get some new books I had on hold in. And they were SO GOOD that they spoiled me. I finished both of them in hours. I tend to gobble the good ones up. I'll post their reviews next. And hope the library has some goodies in for me soon!

Cooking for Harry: a low carbohydrate novel - Kay-Marie James

In Cooking for Harry, fabulous cook Harry learns that he is going to have to lose the weight he has put on over the years of learning to be the gourmand he is. His wife, Francie, convinces him to let her take over the cooking and for him to join a weight-loss club. Soon, Harry is on the road to a slimmer self but between taking more initiative at work and spending more time working out and with his weight loss group, not only is he no longer in the kitchen, he is never home! Francie is confused by the dynamics of this new relationship, and is worried about the attention her newly svelte husband is getting. Were they ever truly in love or did they just become comfortable in their routine? Is the Atkins diet going to ruin their relationship? This novel brings up some real-life issues in a heartwarming way.

Lost & Found - Jane Sigaloff

Lost & Found was well worth the wait. I really enjoyed it. But then I love all of the Red Dress Ink books. In this novel by Jane Sigaloff, Sam Washington is a control freak lawyer. On a business trip to New York, her precious diary somehow gets left behind. What follows is the story of the angst Sam goes through until it is returned, the angst caused by who returns it and the chaos that ensues and how she learns to let go of some of that control.

To Die For

Several weeks ago, I read both Savannah Blues and Little Bitty Lies by Mary Kay Andrews. Both books were excellent. I recommended them to my Mom and she loved them as well. We were both commenting on the Beyond the Grave Chicken Salad that features in the plot of Little Bitty Lies. It sounded really good. So, she was here last week and we decided to whip up a batch. Oh my goodness, it is soooooo good. I couldn't stop eating it. It was bar none the best chicken salad I've ever had. And I've had a lot! So, first chance you get go get both of the books and the make you up some of that chicken salad! (Tip: We only used 4 pounds of chicken and I thought it could use more dressing. So, next time I will either use 3 pounds of chicken or if I am making it for a crowd make up some more dressing. We also left out the nuts and stuff, and divided the salad and only put water chestnuts in half since there is no way I am puttin those nasty things in my mouth!)

Library Jackpot

That's what I hit yesterday evening when I went to get some new books to read. Some days I go in and am lucky to walk out with one or two books. Some days it's 10 or 12. And when it's one or two it really sucks because I read fast, like a book a day (sometimes two or three if they are short and I am bored). I am really thankful for the new online access to the card catalog that our library has because it enables me to seek out books before I even step foot in the library. That and the hold function allows me to get on the list for new books and not have to wait eons for them. Yesterday I was able to go to the library all by me onesies since Mom was here to watch the kiddos so I got to do it the old-fashioned way. I do love wandering the rows. So, yay me, I have books to read for a while. I hope they are all good. I hate when I get books and end up tossing it after a few pages or the first chapter. At any rate, here is the list:

Lost and Found - Jane Sigaloff (I have been waiting months for this one, I had to get it through the interlibrary loan system and it went through 15 before it found it. They usually come from Dallas since it is the closest "big" library. This one is from Phoenix. Maybe I should move there. Great climate and great books!)

We'll Always Have Parrots - Donna Andrews (This is a cute series.)

The Good Wife Strikes Back - Elizabeth Buchan (From the author of Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman, which I loved.)


Jackie by Josie and Lucy Crocker 2.0 - Caroline Preston (These just sounded good, don't know anything about them.)

Lilies That Fester and Reap a Wicked Harvest - Janis Harrison (I saw Reap a Wicked Harvest in the new book section and it caught my eye as I LOVE mysteries and gardening and unfortunately the library only had one other of the series. I prefer to read the entire series in order.)

Cooking for Harry: a low-carbohydrate novel - Kay-Marie James (I saw this one online somewhere and thought it sounded funny. Everything is low-carb now, even our books!)

And Now You Can Go - Vendela Vida (another one on the new book shelves that sounded good)

Lunch at the Piccadilly - Clyde Edgerton (Know nothing, the jacket caught my eye)

A Love Noire - Erica Simone Turnipseed (Another new one that I had seen something about online and thought I would check out. Don't know anything yet except the pages I scanned sounded good.)

Murder Walks the Plank - Carolyn Hart

I had stopped reading the Death on Demand Mysteries because after the first few they got so ungodly boring I couldn't finish them. But, the title of this 15th installment and the plot caught my eye (and I didn't have anything else to read today) so I thought I'd give it a whirl. And I finished it and I actually liked it. I won't go into details but it was a good book.

High Country - Nevada Barr

High Country is the 12th Anna Pigeon novel. Anna is pulled from her current station in Mississippi to go undercover in Yosemite National Park's historic Ahwahnee Hotel. Four young seasonal park workers have turned up missing and extensive searching has returned nothing and Anna is brought in undercover to see what she can learn from her fellow employees. She finds plenty to be suspicious about from her twenty-something roommates and the irritable head chef in the restaurant where Anna is waitressing in the place of one of the missing girls. An overheard conversation leads her on an expedition alone into the high country where she finds the source of the mystery and almost loses her life to some city-slicker goons. But, her will to live and to obtain justice lead her back to the main part of the park where she finds more clues and more trouble and her survival skills are pushed to the limits. Once again, Nevada Barr has delivered a suspenseful, thought-provoking novel set among beautiful scenery and corrupted people.

Don't Tempt Me - Julie Ortolon

Don't Tempt Me is the final book in the Pearl Island Trilogy, and I am kind of sad to see it come to an end. The characters are all distinct and the setting and the history are great. Adrian St. Claire is the sexy chef at the Pearl Island B&B, which he and his sisters run. He is the descendent of the woman whose husband owned the house and her and her lover's ghost can't go on until the treasure that was lost in the cove is recovered. But, to find the treasure they need help. Jackie Taylor is the descendent of the lover. She owns her own "pirate" ship and is more interested in running cruises along the Texas coast than chasing lost booty. That and she would rather her past not be dredged up. Finally, Jackie is enticed into helping and soon not only do they have something other than treasure hunts and casual flirtation in mind, but they learn the most important lesson of all.

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

The Time Traveler's Wife was an incredibly thick book, yet the story was so compelling that I read it in one day. It moved so smoothly, and the concept and characters were so interesting that I could not put it down. Henry is a Chrono-Displaced Person (CDP), who travels through time involuntarily, usually when very stressed. Clare first meets him when she is six and he is 36. He returns regularly throughout her childhood from different times in their shared future. At last, when Clare is twenty and Henry twenty-eight, they meet in his present, and the relationship begins in earnest. His constant disappearing and reappearing is hard on both of them, yet they are destined to be together and they persevere.