2010 100+ Reading Challenge

I'm taking part in the 2010 100+ Reading Challenge hosted by J Kaye's Book Blog. The goal is to read 100 or more books in 2010. I will list my books here as I read them.

January

1. "Breathless" by Dean Koontz 337 pages
2. "Back Roads" by Tawni O'Dell 338 pages
3. "The Tenth Circle" by Jodi Picoult 387 pages
4. "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold 328 pages
5. "Sandcastles" by Luanne Rice 336 pages
6. "Intoducing Jung" by Maggie Hyde and Michael McGuinness 171 pages
7. "Scarpetta" by Patricia Cornwell 579 pages
8. "Promise Me" by Harlan Coben 487 pages
9. "The Scarpetta Factor" by Patricia Cornwell 492 pages
10. "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer 629 pages
11. "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer 754 pages
12. "Evermore" by Alyson Noel 306 pages
13. "Relentless" by Dean Koontz 356 pages
14. "Marked" by PC Cast & Kristin Cast 306 pages
15. "Four to Score" by Janet Evanovich 338 pages
16. "High Five" by Janet Evanovich 317 pages
17. "Betrayed" by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast 310 pages
18. "Dead and Gone" by Charlaine Harris 312 pages
19. "Wake" by Lisa McMann 210 pages
20. "Wings" by Aprilynne Pike 294 pages
21. "Pretty Dead" by Francesca Lia Block 195 pages
22. "Ink Exchange" by Melissa Marr 325 pages
23. "Blue Moon" by Alyson Noel 289 pages
24. "Chosen" by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast 307 pages
25. "Dark Angel" by L.J. Smith 240 pages
26. "The Chosen" by L.J. Smith 224 pages
27. "Soulmate by L.J. Smith 240 pages
28. "Wicked Lovely" by Melissa Marr 328 pages
29. "Uninvited" by Amanda Marrone 204 pages
30. "The Summoning" by Kelley Armstrong 390 pages
31. "Wondrous Strange" by Lesley Livingston 327 pages
32. "Evernight" by Claudia Gray 327 pages
33. "Beautiful Creatures" by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 563 pages
34. "Need" by Carrie Jones 306 pages
35. "Divine Misdemeanors" by Laurell K. Hamilton 333 pages
36. "Huntress" by L.J. Smith 240 pages
37. "Black Dawn" by L.J. Smith 240 pages
38. "Bite Me" by Christopher Moore 309 pages
39. "Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold" by Francesca Lia Block 229 pages
40. "The Gum Thief" by Douglas Coupland 275 pages
41. "Darklight" by Lesley Livingston 310 pages
42. "Untamed" by P.C Cast & Kristin Cast 338 pages
43. "Shadowland" by Alyson Noel 339 pages
44. "Flirt" by Anita Blake 171 pages
45. "Stargazer" by Claudia Gray 329 pages
46. "The Awakening" by Kelley Armstrong 358 pages
47. "The Hanged Man" by Francesca Lia Block 137 pages
48. "Wasteland" by Francesca Lia Block 150 pages
49. "Guarding the Moon" by Francesca Lia Block 182 pages
50. "Violet & Claire" by Francesca Lia Block 169 pages
51. "The Waters & The Wild" by Francesca Lia Block 113 pages
52. "Ruined" by Paula Morris 309 pages
53. "Fade" by Lisa McMann 248 pages
54. "RV There Yet?" Diann Hunt 309 pages
55. "Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony" by Eoin Colfer 385 pages
56. "Most Love Black" Kelly McClymer 167 pages
57. "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List" by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan 256 pages
58. "Hunted" by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast 323 pages
59. "Bullet" by Laurell K. Hamilton 368 pages
60. "Oh, My Gods" by Tera Lynn Childs 264 pages
61. "Tell All" by Chuck Palahniuk 179 pages
62. "Maximum Ride: Schools Out Forever" by James Patterson 412 pages
63. "Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment" by James Patterson 440 pages
64. "Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson " by Mitch Albom 224 pages
65. "Fragile Eternity" by Melissa Marr 389 pages
66. "You Say Tomato I Say Shut Up" by Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn 261 pages
67. "Tithe" by Holly Black 320 pages
68. "Valient" by Holly Black 313 pages
69. "Tantalize" by Cynthia Leitich Smith 311 pages
70. "Ironside" by Holly Black 323 pages
71. "Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger 401 pages
72. "Grave Surprise" by Charlaine Harris 295
73. "She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders" by Jennifer Finney Boylan 300 pages
74. "Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson 405 pages
75. "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater 392 pages
76. "Hourglass" by Claudia Gray 339 pages

2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge

Starting January 1st I will be taking place in the 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge hosted by
J Kaye's Book Blog. My goal is to read 25 young adult books. I will post my finished books here as I read them.


1. "Eclipse" by Stephenie Meyer 629 pages
2. "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer 754 pages
3. "Evermore" by Alyson Noel 306 pages
4. "Marked" by PC Cast & Kristin Cast 306 pages
5. "Betrayed" by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast 310 pages
6. "Wake" by Lisa McMann 210 pages
7. "Wings" by Aprilynne Pike 294 pages
8. "Pretty Dead" by Francesca Lia Block 195 pages
9. "Ink Exchange" by Melissa Marr 325 pages
10. "Blue Moon" by Alyson Noel 289 pages
11. "Chosen" by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast 307 pages
12. "Dark Angel" by L.J. Smith 240 pages
13. "The Chosen" by L.J. Smith 224 pages
14. "Soulmate by L.J. Smith 240 pages
15. "Wicked Lovely" by Melissa Marr 328 pages
16. "Uninvited" by Amanda Marrone 204 pages
17. "The Summoning" by Kelley Armstrong 390 pages
18. "Wondrous Strange" by Lesley Livingston 327 pages
19. "Evernight" by Claudia Gray 327 pages
20. "Beautiful Creatures" by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 563 pages
21. "Need" by Carrie Jones 306 pages
22. "Huntress" by L.J. Smith 240 pages
23. "Black Dawn" by L.J. Smith 240 pages
24. "Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold" by Francesca Lia Block 229 pages
25. "Darklight" by Lesley Livingston 310 pages
26. "Untamed" by P.C Cast & Kristin Cast 338 pages
27. "Shadowland" by Alyson Noel 339 pages
28. "Stargazer" by Claudia Gray 329 pages
29. "The Awakening" by Kelley Armstrong 358 pages
30. "The Hanged Man" by Francesca Lia Block 137 pages
31. "Wasteland" by Francesca Lia Block 150 pages
32. "Violet & Claire" by Francesca Lia Block 169 pages
33. "The Waters & The Wild" by Francesca Lia Block 113 pages
34. "Ruined" by Paula Morris 309 pages
35. "Fade" by Lisa McMann 248 pages
36. "Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony" by Eoin Colfer 385 pages
37. "Most Love Black" Kelly McClymer 167 pages
38. "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List" by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan 256 pages
39. "Hunted" by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast 323 pages
40. "Oh, My Gods" by Tera Lynn Childs 264 pages
41. "Maximum Ride: Schools Out Forever" by James Patterson 412 pages
42. "Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment" by James Patterson 440 pages
43. "Fragile Eternity" by Melissa Marr 389 pages
44. "Tithe" by Holly Black 320 pages
45. "Valient" by Holly Black 313 pages
46. "Tantalize" by Cynthia Leitich Smith 311 pages
47. "Ironside" by Holly Black 323 pages
48. "Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson 405 pages
49. "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater 392 pages
50. "Hourglass" by Claudia Gray 339 pages

2009 Young Adult Reading Challenge Completed

I have finished the
2009 Young Adult Reading Challenge hosted by J Kaye's Book Blog. The goal was to read 12 young adult books.

My completed list can be found here.

I will be taking part again in 2010.

2010 New Author Reading Challenge

Once again, I am joining the New Author Challenge hosted by Literary Escapism. The goal is to read books by authors that you have never read before. I'm setting my goal for the year at 15. I will post here as I read book. The challenge starts January 1st.

1. "Back Roads" by Tawni O'Dell 338 pages
2. "The Tenth Circle" by Jodi Picoult 387 pages
3. "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold 328 pages
4. "Sandcastles" by Luanne Rice 336 pages
5. "Intoducing Jung" by Maggie Hyde and Michael McGuinness 171 pages
6. "Promise Me" by Harlan Coben 487 pages
7. "Evermore" by Alyson Noel 306 pages
8. "Marked" by PC Cast & Kristin Cast 306 pages
9. "Wake" by Lisa McMann 210 pages
10. "Wings" by Aprilynne Pike 294 pages
11. "Ink Exchange" by Melissa Marr 325 pages
12. "Uninvited" by Amanda Marrone 204 pages
13. "The Summoning" by Kelley Armstrong 390 pages
14. "Wondrous Strange" by Lesley Livingston 327 pages
15. "Evernight" by Claudia Gray 327 pages
16. "Beautiful Creatures" by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 563 pages
17. "Need" by Carrie Jones 30 pages
18. "Ruined" by Paula Morris 309 pages
19. "RV There Yet?" Diann Hunt 309 pages
20. "Most Love Black" Kelly McClymer 167 pages
21. "Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List" by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan 256 pages
22. "Oh, My Gods" by Tera Lynn Childs 264 pages
23. "Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson " by Mitch Albom 224 pages
24. "You Say Tomato I Say Shut Up" by Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn 261 pages
25. "Tithe" by Holly Black 320 pages
26. "Tantalize" by Cynthia Leitich Smith 311 pages
27. "She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders" by Jennifer Finney Boylan 300 pages
28.  "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater 392 page

2009 New Author Challenge Complete

I finished the 2009 New Author Challenge hosted by Literary Escapism. The goal was to read at least 15 books by authors that I had never read before.

The blog post containing my list is here.

I will be joining the challenge again in 2010.

Series Challenge Complete

I finished the Series Challenge Season 3 book Challenge hosted by Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic . The goal was to read books that would finish a series you had been reading. The goal was 4 books. I have read way more than 4 and my books are as follows:

The Final Friends Series by Christopher Pike
"Final Friends: The Party" by Christopher Pike 212 pages
"Final Friends: The Dance" by Christopher Pike 226 pages
"Final Friends: The Graduation" by Christopher Pike 238 pages

The Last Vampire Series
"The Last Vampire" by Christopher Pike 193 pages
"The Last Vampire 2: Black Blood" by Christopher Pike 196 pages
"The Last Vampire 3: Red Dice" by Christopher Pike 193 pages
"The Last Vampire 4: Phantom" by Christopher Pike 179 pages
"The Last Vampire 5: Evil Thirst" by Christopher Pike 179 pages
"The Last Vampire 6: Creatures of Forever" by Christopher Pike 181 pages

The Sookie Stackhouse Books
"Living Dead in Dallas" by Charlaine Harris 291 pages
"Dead to the World" by Charlaine Harris 291 pages (I know this is book 3 or 4 in the series, but I read them out of order and this is the last one I needed to read)

The Bones Series
"Devil Bones" by Kathy Reichs 320 pages
"206 Bones" by Kathy Reichs 308 pages

The Anita Blake Series
"Skin Trade" by Laurell K. Hamilton 486 pages

The Stephanie Plum Series
"One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich 334 pages
"Two for the Dough" by Janet Evanovich 352 pages

The Remember Me Series
"Remember Me" by Christopher Pike 230 pages
"Remember Me 2: The Return" by Christopher Pike 210 pages
"Remember Me 3: The Last Story" by Christopher Pike 244 pages

2010 Anita Blake Reading Challenge

I love the Anita Blake series by Laurell K. Hamilton. I actually just finished reading the latest book in the series Skin Trade. I was actually thinking about rereading the series when I saw on J Kaye's Boog Blog that Book Chick City is hosting an Anita Blake Reading Challenge. How could I resist joining?

The books in the series are as follows:

1. Guilty Pleasures
2. The Laughing Corpse
3. Circus of the Damned
4. The Lunatic Cafe
5. Bloody Bones
6. The Killing Dance
7. Burnt Offerings
8. Blue Moon
9. Obsidian Butterfly
10. Narcissus in Chains
11. Cerulean
12. Incubus Dreams
13. Micah
14. Danse Macabre
15. The Harlequinn
16. Blood Noir
17. Skin Trade
18. Flirt (Jan 2010) - June
19. Bullet (June 2010)  - August

The contest starts January 1st, and I will update as I read the books.

Demeter Giveaway Winner

Congrats to the winner of the Demeter Giveaway: Heather!

After putting all entrants that followed the giveaway rules into a spreadsheet in entry order, Heather is entry number 117, which is the number chosen by random number generator.

"Heather said...
Have you read any of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire books? I noticed you did the vampire reading challenge and didn't see any of those in there."

November 14, 2009 9:50 PM

"Here are your random numbers:

117
Timestamp: 2009-11-16 03:54:58 UTC

Heather has one week to contact me - after which a new winner will be selected. "

Fall Into Reading 2009 Reading Challenge

I'm taking part in the Fall Into Reading Challenge. I'm starting late in the game, so my list is a little shorter than would be had I started in September. I will add more as I complete these.

My Friend Leonard by James Frey
The Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
Three to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich
Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
Quakeland by Francesca Lia Block

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I will update as I finish the books.

Finished The Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton 286 pages

Giveaway reminder

You have until tomorrow night to enter my Demeter Fragrance Giveaway. Please check it out. Winner is drawn tomorrow night.

October Book Log

51. "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey 432 pages
52. "Two for the Dough" by Janet Evanovich 352 pages
53. "Killer Pancake" Diane Mott Davidson 368 pages
54. "Bad Love" by Jonathan Kellerman 483 pages
55. "How to (un)Cage a Girl by Francesca Lia Block 119 pages
56. "The Giver" by Lois Lowery 180 pages
57. "The Immortal" by Christopher Pike 213 pages
58. "The Te of Piglet" by Bejamin Hoff 257 pages
59. "Little Alters Everywhere" by Rebecca Wells 224 pages

I loved A Million Little Pieces and I can't wait to read My Friend Leonard also by James Frey. I was a little disappointed that there were parts of the story that were fictionalized (if you will remember this is the book that caused all the controversy with Oprah), but it was still an intriguing read, that I couldn't put down.

Janet Evanovich books are a fun, quick read, as are Diane Mott Davidson. The Jonathan Kellerman books are a little hard to get into, but they don't usually disappoint by the time you get to the end.

I wasn't that thrilled with the Francesca Lia Block book of poetry... but it did give some wonderful insight into the author herself. The Giver had been on my to-be-read list forever, and while I liked the story, I do feel that the end was a bit rushed. The Immortal was another re-read in order to get off my shelf. Pike wove in Greek mythology which is one of my favorite subjects to read about.

I was disappointed in The Te of Piglet as well. I think that Taoism is a fascinating topic... and though the author was attempting to break it down so people could understand it he came off as preachy and trite.

I enjoyed Little Alters Everywhere, which is the book before The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

It's Monday! What Are you Reading?

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Books I Completed This Week:

206 Bones by Kathy Reichs – The latest installment in the Dr. Brennan series.

For This Week:

I started:

Chopping Spree by Diane Mott Davidson

Life on the Color Line by Gregory Howard Williams

Still working on:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

The Web by Jonathan Kellerman

Giveaway Reminder

Don't forget to enter my Demeter giveaway.

It's Monday! What are you Reading?

It’s Monday! What are you reading?

Books I Completed This Week:

"How to (un)Cage a Girl” by Francesca Lia Block 119 pages – Francesca Lia Block has been one of my favorite writers since I was a teenager and first read Dangerous Angels. This particular book is a book of poetry, and the first non prose writing I’ve read by Block. Some of it I liked a great deal. Some didn’t really move me. Overall though, it was interesting to get some incite into the author, her life, and what makes her who she is.

"The Giver" by Lois Lowery 180 pages – I have had this on my to-be-read pile for a while. I like the meaning behind the book, but I think the author rushed through the ending of the book.

"The Immortal" by Christopher Pike 213 pages – Another reread from my teen years.

"The Te of Piglet" by Bejamin Hoff 257 pages – I wasn’t really impressed with this one, it seemed trite and very preachy to me – something that I don’t expect out of Taoism.

"Little Alters Everywhere" by Rebecca Wells 224 pages – This is the prequel to Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood. The stories were sometimes sad, sometimes funny. It gives a little incite into why Sidda is the way she is in Divine (though I haven’t read that book, only seen the movie).

For This Week:

Still working on:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio

The Web by Jonathan Kellerman

206 Bones by Kathy Reichs

Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge

I just signed up for the Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge held over at J Kaye's Book Blog. The challenge started July 23rd, so only the books read after that date count for the challenge.



My books are:

*Two for the Dough by Janet Evanovich 352 pages
*"Three to Get Deadly" by Janet Evanovich 344 pages
*"Four to Score" by Janet Evanovich 338 pages
*"High Five" by Janet Evanovich 317 pages

It's Monday, What are you reading?

Books I Completed This Week:

Last week I only finished one book, but I finished a bunch the week before while I was on vacation. My one for this week is:

Bad Love by Jonathan Kellerman 483 pages

For This Week:

Still working on:

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Cunt: A Declaration of Independence by Inga Muscio

Also started on :

The Web by Jonathan Kellerman

The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

It’s midterms this week, so I’m expecting the reading for pleasure to be at a low.

My Book Wishlist

I borrowed this idea from J Kaye's Book Blog. In order to help me remember the books that I would like to read, I’m making a Reading Wishlist. I also have a wishlist here but it has not been edited in some time. I’m hoping this list will help me stay focused for my Book Challenges.

Fool: A Novel by Christopher Moore
Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
Comic Book Tattoo Tales Inspired by Tori Amos - Rantz A. Hoseley
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen by Susan Gregg Gilmore
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Beastly by Alex Flinn
Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly
Ruined: A Ghost Story by Paula Morris
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Tall, Dark & Fangsome by Michelle Rowen
Dying to meet You: 43 Old Cemetery Road by Kate Klise and M. Sarah Klise
Another Faust by Daniel and Dina Nayeri
Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman
Ginger High by Melissa Burmester

August & September Book Log

September brought me to 50/100 for my year reading goal.

August
47. "Hey, Nostradomus" by Douglas Coupland 244 pages

September
48. "Strangers" by Dean Koontz 681 pages
49. "Magical Thinking" by Augusten Burroughs 268 pages
50. "The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club" by Laurie Notaro 225 pages

I enjoyed the Coupland book, more than some of his others (ie Generation X) and less than others (ie All Families are Psychotic). Strangers was a reread, and it wasn't as good as I remembered it being, but it was still some of Koontz's better books. Magical Thinking has sat half finished on my bookshelf for several years. I don't know why I put it down. I was really into Burroughs for a while. I started over, and enjoyed this installment in Burrough's strange life. Notaro has been on my reading list for a long time, and I finally got my hands on a copy. Her short stories about her life were brutally honest and funny.

Demeter Giveaway!

In an effort to get get more traffic to my blog, and make it better, I'm hosting a Demeter Fragrance Library giveaway. I have a set of four fragrances: 2 Pick Me up Sprays in Wet Garden and Honeysuckle and 2 fragrance splashes in Chocolate Chip Cookie and Rye Bread. All are the 1/2 oz size. They are all new, and have never been used. I haven't opened the Wet Garden or the Honeysuckle as I don't do flower scents, but the Chocolate Chip Cookie smells amazing and the Rye Bread smells just like fresh baked rye bread.

Winner will be selected by random number generator on November 15th. Winner will have 1 week to respond to my winner notification and then an alternate will be chosen. Winner will also be announced in a blog post after prize is accepted. This giveaway is not being sponsered or supported by Demeter in any way.

**Due to the cost of shipping, this contest is only open to residents of the United States.

There will be multiple ways to enter, and each entry should be left in a seperate comment so that random number generator works correctly.

IMPORTANT: First Entry: In order to enter please look around my blog and tell me something that I can do to improve it. I haven't spent much time blogging lately and I know I could use some work. Please be constructive - not mean (Keep in mind I work a full time job, go to school full time, and am a part time mom, with limited knowledge of html). I will be reading each and every comment, and I really would like to improve. This entry must be done for any other entry to count. Anyone that doesn't first do this step will be deleted.

Additional entries:

1 entry - add me to blogger favorites
1 entry - follow me on twitter
1 entry - tweet about my givewaway then come back and post the link
2 entrys - add my contest to a contest site or mr linky and leave me the link to the entry
2 entrys - read one of my other blog entries and leave a meaningful comment on the entry then come back here and tell me which entry you commented on.
3 entrys - Blog about this contest and post a comment with the link to your post.
1 entry - suggest a bath and body company not listed for me to try
1 entry - suggest a handmade site or company that you think I might like
1 entry - suggest a book for me to read, and tell me why you think I would like it
2 entry - I like baking, so email me your favorite cookie or cupcake recipe to rasberryswrlgirl@ hotmail.com then come back here and tell me you did it. Be creative - no chocolate chip or peanut butter unless there is something extra special about them.
1 entry - go to the Demeter site and tell me what your favorite scent is from their library
1 entry - suggest a scent that you would like to see Demeter make that they don't already make.

Daily entry - Tweet about the contest Daily or Come back daily to suggest a book for me to read or a handmade/indie site for me to try

Any questions, send me an email and I will be happy to answer. Thanks for reading and entering!

The coolest candles ever!

I just got an email from Bath and Body Works showcasing their new autumn collection. I love, love, love! the new candle collection. I haven't smelled them yet, but I want one of each of these just for the adorable holders:

The acorn shaped candle in the Leaves scent, The pine cone shaped candle in fresh balsam,

And the Pumpkin shaped one in sweet cinnaomon pumpkin scent.

They are each 3 oz and only cost $12.50 each.

Banned Book Week

September 23rd thru October 3rd is Banned Book Week. Banned Book Week is a yearly event that celebrates the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.

For more information about Banned Book Week check out The American Library Association website. You would be surprised by some of the books that have been banned or challenged including The Kite Runner, Harry Potter, The Great Gatsby, Where's Waldo?, and James and the Giant Peach. Also on the list is one of my favorites, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Every year during banned book week, I try to read a book that has been banned or challenged. I will list books as I read this week, but I'm going to start with A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein and The Giver by Lois Lowrey.

New Books!

This weekend my boyfriend and I took a day-trip to Flagstaff to go to Bookmans. My boyfriend's mom raves about it, and I've been saving all my books up for a year. It was a nice trip, but out of the whole box I brought they only took about 8 books. I was a little disappointed about having to haul them back home but there is always Hastings and some of the privately owned used book stores.

One thing I did like about Bookmans is how much more I got for my used books than other bookstores offer. I was offered $9 in cash or $46.68 in store credit. Obviously, I took the store credit. And then when my books totaled $48, they gave me a discount and I didn't have to pay a dime out-of-pocket.

So, my new treasures are:

Skin Trade (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, Book 17) by Laurell K. Hamilton

The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club: True Tales from a Magnificent and Clumsy Life by Laurie Notaro

206 Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels) by Kathy Reichs

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

Two for the Dough (Stephanie Plum, No. 2) by Janet Evanovich

Three to Get Deadly (Stephanie Plum, No. 3) by Janet Evanovich

It's Monday! What are you Reading?

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Books I Completed This Week:

Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs 268 pages. More autobiographical short stories from the author of Dry and Running With Scissors. I enjoyed reading more of the crazy true life experiences.

For This Week:

The Idiot Girls’ Action-Adventure Club by Laurie Notaro

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Next week will be a good week for books. I’m off to Palm Springs for a week long break from work and school to lounge by the pool and read.

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Books I compled this week:

Hey Nostradamus by Douglas Coupland. This one was read as part of the Read Your Own Books Challenge and the 100 Book Challenge. It's one of Couplands more interesting books. The characters were likable and I enjoyed his interesting perspective on religion and loss.

Strangers by Dean Koontz. This is a reread for me and is also part of the above two challenges as well as the Suspense/Thriller Challenge. I remember loving this book when I was younger and thinking it one of Koontz's best works. While I no longer think of it as his best book, it is still well written and a great story.

Books on the list this week:

Cunt: A Declaration of Independance by Inga Muscio. The book gives the history of the dreaded "C" word and how it fell from it's noble path.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman which will go towards the reading your own books challenge and the 100 books.

Forthcoming Reviews

Drew at Eden Fantasys was nice enough to send me some products to review some months ago. Due to some health problems I wasn't really able "try out" the products in order to give them a fair review. So, coming up soon I'll be posting my review of the Fetish Femme babydoll and the 101 Nights of Grrreat Sex Boardgame. In the meantime head over to Eden Fantasys for all your romantic needs.

I finally broke down and spent the close to $4 on the Yes to Carrots lip balm. Give me a few days to try it out and I'll have a review for that.

My order from Gold Canyon Candles arrived yesterday so I will have something to say about those in the next week or so as I try them all out.

Finally, I have a review on soap rocks coming up as well.

Stay tuned! And I'm back!!!

Free Book Fridays

Check out Free Book Fridays. Every week they give away several books. There is a teen site as well. A few weeks ago I won 1 of 5 signed copies of Sorrow Wood by Ramond Atkins. Look for my review when I finish reading it.

Demeter Home Fragrance Library

I recently won a gift certificate to Demeter Fragrance in a giveaway hosted by
Grocery Price Books. Head on over and check out some of her other giveaways. I used my gift certificate this morning to order the following fragrances: chocolate chip cookies, funeral home, beet root, string bean, and rye bread. I can't wait to get them and start sniffing. I've had funeral home before and I love it. It's a carnationy fragrance. I'm interested to see how the others smell as they are different than your normal perfumes. I love the smell of fresh green beans as I'm cutting off the tops and preparing to cook them. Demeter Fragrance has some normal fragrances such as rose and violet but also some more interesting ones like glue, playdough, paperback books, dirt, crayons, and Hersheys chocolate.



If you'd like to win a fragrance for yourself check out the contest hosted by
Pour Some Sugar on Me. She is giving away a 1 oz cologne spray in one of the following scents: watermelon, Bulgarian rose, fuzzy navel, raspberry jam, gardenia or Kahala coconut.

July Books Log

I only read one book for the month of July, "The Dogs of Babel" by Carolyn Parkhurst, 261 pages. I have to say, it's one of the best books that I have read all year. This brings my year count up to 46, with a total of 11,801 pages to date. I'm way behind on my goal for the year. This year I've been incredibly busier than I thought I would be. Many things have happened and it seems I'm behind on everything.

I'm currently reading "Hyperion" by Dan Simmons, "The Immortal" by Christopher Pike, and "Strangers" by Dean Koontz. All of these are rereads for me. I'm trying to get as many books finished from my bookshelf as possible as we will be taking a trip up north to Bookmans soon.

I also got about half way through "Act like a woman, Think like a man" by Steve Harvey. My mother insisted I read it, but I personally think that most men don't act as depicted in the book. I lost interested and she needed the book back.

In other book news, "The Time Traveler's Wife" has finally been made into a movie. It's one of my favorite books and I'm interested to see how it turns out. I'm not 100% in love with the actors that were chosen for the roles, but we shall see how they do.

The last few months...

I will be catching up on my posts soon. I'm starting to get my health under control. I'm working full time, going to school full time and playing part-time mommy to my boyfriend's kids. I've really missed blogging and will be back soon.

May and June Books Read

Things have been crazy. Here are my last two months worth of books read. I'm a little behind in meeting my 100 books for the year but hopefully I will be able to read several on my plane trip this month.

May

27. "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman 382 pages
28. "The Visitor" by Christopher Pike 162 pages
29. "The Eternal Enemy" by Christopher Pike 180 pages
30. "Scavenger Hunt" by Christopher Pike 215 pages
31. "The Lost Mind" by Christopher Pike 213 pages
32. "Whisper of Death" by Christopher Pike 180 pages
33. "Die Softly" by Christopher Pike 248 pages
34. "Spellbound" by Christopher Pike 211 pages
35. "See You Later" by Christopher Pike 226 pages
36. "The Midnight club" by Christopher Pike 211 pages
37. "100 Way to Beat the Blues" by Tanya Tucker and Friends 194 pages
38. "Fall Into Darkness" by Christopher Pike 213 pages
39. "Last Act" by Christopher Pike 226 pages
40. "Weekend" by Christopher Pike 230 pages
41. "Bury Me Deep" by Christopher Pike 211 pages

June

42. "Gods Behaving Badly" by Marie Phillips 292 pages
43. "Smack" by Melvin Burgess 288 pages
44. "When the Wind Blows" by James Patterson 402 pages
45. "New Moon" by Stephanie Meyer 608 pages

I have just about finished all my Christopher Pike books, and passed them on to a new owner. "Gods Behaving Badly" was a fun book and I recommend it to anyone. I have to admit that I'm addicted to the "Twilight" series against my better judgement.

April Book Log

1. One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, No. 1) by Janet Evanovich
2. The Undead Next Door (Love at Stake, Book 4) by Kerrelyn Sparks
3. Your Heart Belongs to Me by Dean Koontz
4. Remember Me 2: The Return by Christopher Pike
5. Remember Me 3: The Last Story by Christopher Pike

I am shamefully behind on my reading challenges but hoping to get caught up in the month of May. The first two books were loaned to me by patients. I am definately interested in finishing the rest of Janet Evanovich's series. It was a quick and entertaining read.

The Spark's book was a little too much like a romance novel for me. I may still read more in the series, but they don't hold my interest the same as the Sookie Stackhouse or Anita Blake books.

Dean Koontz again disappoints with his latest book. Lately he has been writing stories about humanity and our good and bad and stepping away from the horror and sci-fi that I had come to love him for.

The last two, Christopher Pike books, are just more in my stack I'm re-reading one last time before getting rid of. I liked the first but the second and third were hard for me to get into.

I'm reading more of my Pike books in May. Also working on Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Loving it so far.

I haven't disappeared...

A few people have been wondering where I've been since I haven't updated in a while. I apologize and promise to be back full swing soon.

I have had two 5 week cram courses going on at the same time as my regular classes and between school and work I'm exhausted.

I'm also not feeling well the last few months. They are doing tests on me and hopefully will be able to figure something out soon. My bloodwork from last week came back with good news. I'm not diabetic, and my iron count has doubled in the last six months. I'm still anemic, but it's good to hear that's improving. More blood was taken today for a whole barage of other tests. I also had two moles biopsied. Later, I'll write a blog about skin cancer.

I hope all my online friends are well and I will see you soon.

February Book Log

12. "When the Emporer was Divine" by Julie Otsuka 144 pages
13. "Secret Vampire" by L.J. Smith 242 pages
14. "Daughters of Darkness" by L.J. Smith 238 pages
15. "Spellbinder" by L.J. Smith 238 pages
16. "The Great Failure: A Bartender, a Monk, and My Unlikely Path to Truth" by Natalie Goldberg 192 pages
17. "Life After God" by Douglas Coupland 360 pages

"When the Emporer Was Divine" was a quick read, but very well written. It's about a Japanese family in the interment camps during World War II. It counts toward my diversity reading challenge.

I read the L.J. Smith series when I was younger. I loved them back then. They are still good teen reads but they aren't as well written as some of the books out there now.

I was really disappointed in Natalie Goldberg's book. I had been wanting to read it for a long time now. I enjoyed some of the section about hedr father, but I really think that she made too big of a deal about some of the things that happened with her teacher. The fact that she felt the need to tell everyone she could about his human failure seemed a little unnecessary to me.

"Life After God" isn't Douglas Coupland's normal witty book. It is a series of short stories about spirituality. Another quick read but some of it was hard for me to get thru.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Books Completed From Last Week

Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs 320 pages

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 305 pages

Choke by Chuck Palahniuk 293 pages

This Weeks Reading List

Coraline by Neil Gaimon

Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life by Maggie Callanan

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan

Up Next

The Luxe by Anna Godbersen

New Classes

I started my first Connection class on Tuesday night. The class is title "AIDs: The Modern Plague" and so far I find it fascinating. There are two instructors, both of which are fun and a little off the wall. One teaches psychology and the other teaches socialogy, human sexuality and anthropology. The class lasts for five weeks. At the begining of class they will put a question on the board called a "quick write" which serves as their way of taking attendance. We have to keep a journal and give an oral presentation at the end of class. The first night we watched a video from back in the 80's when the AID's epidemic first was heard off. Our quick write question was "When and where did you first hear about the AID's virus". For our journal we are supposed to put ourselves back into that time frame. Prentend we are just now learning about AIDs. That we aren't as enlightened as we are now. I really can't wait for next weeks class. I'd love to be able to take more classes with these professors.

Tonight I start my second Connection class, "End of Life Issues". I hope that it is as interesting as my Tuesday class.

Stayed Tuned!

Between now and next Wednesday stay tuned for the follow:

1. Eden Fantasys review.

2. Savor Soap review.

3. Introduction to the Biographer's Club.

4. Craft updates.

5. Several book reviews.

This Weeks Reading Pile

This week I'd like to finish the following books:








This layout isn't exactly what I had in mind, but I can't get the plain image links to work.

Wordless Wednesday

Prehistoric Squirrel at the Smithsonian Museum

999 Reading Challenge

I'm taking part in the 999 Book Challenge. Details can be found at J Kaye's Book Blog or the 999 Book Challenge Blog.

I will be reading 9 books each in 9 different categories.

My 9 Categories:

1. Nonfiction
a. "The Action Heroine's Handbook" by Jennifer Worick & Joe Borgenicht 185 pages
b. "The Tao of Willie" by Willie Nelson & Turk Pipken 184 pages
c. "The Great Failure: A Bartender, a Monk, and My Unlikely Path to Truth" by Natalie Goldberg 192 pages
d. "100 Way to Beat the Blues" by Tanya Tucker and Friends 194 pages
e. "Magical Thinking" by Augusten Burroughs 268 pages
f. "The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club" by Laurie Notaro 225 pages
g. "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey 432 pages
h. "The Te of Piglet" by Bejamin Hoff 257 pages
i. "Life on the Color Line" by Gregory Howard Williams 285

2. Vampire
a. "The Last Vampire 6: Creatures of Forever" by Christopher Pike 181 pages
b. "Dead to the World" by Charlaine Harris 291 pages
c. "Secret Vampire" by L.J. Smith 242 pages
d. "Daughters of Darkness" by L.J. Smith 238 pages
e. "The Undead Next Door" by Kerrelyn Sparks 369 pages"
f. "New Moon" by Stephanie Meyer 608 pages
g. "Skin Trade" by Laurell K. Hamilton 486 pages

3. YA Fiction
a. "Final Friends: The Party" by Christopher Pike 212 pages
b. "Final Friends: The Dance" by Christopher Pike 226 pages
c. "Final Friends: The Graduation" by Christopher Pike 238 pages
d. "Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception" by Eoin Colfer 342 pages
e. "Remember Me" by Christopher Pike 230 pages
f. "Spellbinder" by L.J. Smith 238 pages
g. "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman 162 pages
h. "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaimon 305 pages
i. "Remember Me 2: The Return" by Christopher Pike 210 pages

4. 1001 Books to Read Before Your Die
a. "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" by Marina Lewycka 324 pages

5. Mystery
a. "One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich 334 pages
b. "Devil Bones" by Kathy Reichs 320 pages
c. "One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich 334 pages
d. "Your Heart Belongs to Me" by Dean Koontz 337 pages
e. "When the Wind Blows" by James Patterson 402 pages
f. "Strangers" by Dean Koontz 681 pages
g. "Killer Pancake" Diane Mott Davidson 368 pages
h. "Bad Love" by Jonathan Kellerman 483 pages
i. "Two for the Dough" by Janet Evanovich 352 pages

6. New to Me Authors
a. "When the Emporer was Divine" by Julie Otsuka 144 pages
b. "Gods Behaving Badly" by Marie Phillips 292 pages
c. "Smack" by Melvin Burgess 288 pages
d. "The Dogs of Babel" by Carolyn Parkhurst 261 pages
e. "The Idiot Girls' Action-Adventure Club" by Laurie Notaro 225 pages
f. "The Undead Next Door" by Kerrelyn Sparks 369 pages
g. "A Million Little Pieces" by James Frey 432 pages
h. "Killer Pancake" Diane Mott Davidson 368 pages
i. "Little Alters Everywhere" by Rebecca Wells 224 pages

7. Books I Own
a. "The Midnight club" by Christopher Pike 211 pages
b. "Fall Into Darkness" by Christopher Pike 213 pages
c. "Last Act" by Christopher Pike 226 pages
d. "Weekend" by Christopher Pike 230 pages
e. "Bury Me Deep" by Christopher Pike 211 pages
f. "When the Wind Blows" by James Patterson 402 pages
g. "New Moon" by Stephanie Meyer 608 pages
h. "Hey, Nostradomus" by Douglas Coupland 244 pages
i. "The Giver" by Lois Lowery 180 pages

8. Books from the Library
a. "Life After God" by Douglas Coupland 360 pages
b. "Choke" by Chuck Palahniuk 293 pages"

9. Re-reads
a. "Remember Me 3: The Last Story" by Christopher Pike 244 pages
b. "The Visitor" by Christopher Pike 162 pages
c. "The Eternal Enemy" by Christopher Pike 180 pages
d. "Scavenger Hunt" by Christopher Pike 215 pages
e. "The Lost Mind" by Christopher Pike 213 pages
f. "Whisper of Death" by Christopher Pike 180 pages
g. "Die Softly" by Christopher Pike 248 pages
h. "Spellbound" by Christopher Pike 211 pages
i. "See You Later" by Christopher Pike 226 pages

Spiritual Reading Challenge

I'm taking part in the spiritual reading challenge hosted by Reading Extravaganza. Between January 1st and June 30th I will read 6 or more books in the spiritual category. They can be fiction, nonfiction, spiritual, metaphysical or self-help.

My books are:

1. "The Great Failure: A Bartender, a Monk, and My Unlikely Path to Truth" by Natalie Goldberg 192 pages
2. "Life After God" by Douglas Coupland 360 pages
3. "The Te of Piglet" by Bejamin Hoff 257 pages
4. "The Tao of Pooh" Benjamin Hoff 158 pages

Series Challenge 3 Book Challenge

This challenge is hosted by Secret Dreamworld of A Bookaholic and is perfect for me, because unlike the other series challenge I'm involved in, this one is to finish series, and you don't have to read all the books in the series to complete it.

The Final Friends Series:
"Final Friends: The Party" by Christopher Pike 212 pages
"Final Friends: The Dance" by Christopher Pike 226 pages
"Final Friends: The Graduation" by Christopher Pike 238 pages

The Last Vampire Series
"The Last Vampire" by Christopher Pike 193 pages
"The Last Vampire 2: Black Blood" by Christopher Pike 196 pages
"The Last Vampire 3: Red Dice" by Christopher Pike 193 pages
"The Last Vampire 4: Phantom" by Christopher Pike 179 pages
"The Last Vampire 5: Evil Thirst" by Christopher Pike 179 pages
"The Last Vampire 6: Creatures of Forever" by Christopher Pike 181 pages

The Sookie Stackhouse Books
"Living Dead in Dallas" by Charlaine Harris 291 pages
"Dead to the World" by Charlaine Harris 291 pages (I know this is book 3 or 4 in the series, but I read them out of order and this is the last one I needed to read)

The Bones Series
"Devil Bones" by Kathy Reichs 320 pages
"206 Bones" by Kathy Reichs 308 pages

The Anita Blake Series
"Skin Trade" by Laurell K. Hamilton 486 pages

The Stephanie Plum Series
"One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich 334 pages
"Two for the Dough" by Janet Evanovich 352 pages

The Remember Me Series
"Remember Me" by Christopher Pike 230 pages
"Remember Me 2: The Return" by Christopher Pike 210 pages
"Remember Me 3: The Last Story" by Christopher Pike 244 pages

Broken Teepee Designs

In October Weird Stuff In My Desk hosted a bloggy carnival. I was fortunate enough to win a $50 gift certificate to Broken Teepee Designs. I used my gift certificate to get these gorgeous Rainforest Fantasy earrings.





The earrings feature faceted amethyst kisses and AAA quality Russian Chrome Diospide.

The listing states "Sparkling 7mm rich purple Amethyst kisses are handwrapped to sterling silver "v" hooks. Falling from the "flower" are AAA rich emerald green faceted rondelles of Chrome Diopside. A smooth,clear AAA 7mmm teardrop of the same glorious stone falls at the bottom. All are wrapped with sterling silver to sterling silver chain. These one of a kind lovlies will fall 2" from your lobes."

These earrings are handmade and of the most amazing quality. I love wearring them and have received so many compliments. The stones are very clear and great quality. The light hits them and they have amazing sparkle.

Check out her shop for some wonderful handmade peices of the finest quality. You won't be disappointed. The owner is incredibly friendly and easy to work with.

2009 Reading Challenges Quick Links

Links to all of my 2009 Reading Challenges.

1. New Author Challenge
2. Science Book Challenge
3. Read Your Own Books Challenge
4. Diversity Reading Challenge
5. Vampire Reading Challenge
6. Serial Reading Challenge
7. Horror Book Reading Challenge
8. Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge
9. Young Adult Book Challenge
10. 2nd's Book Challenge
11. 1st in a Series Reading Challenge
12. The 100 Book Reading Challenge
13. Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge
14. Series Challenge 3
15. 999 Reading Challenge
16. Spiritual Reading Challenge
17. Stephanie Plum Reading Challenge

New Author Challenge

I am participating in the new author challenge hosted by Literary Escapism. The purpose of the challenge is to read authors that I have not read before. I will read at least 15 books by authors I haven't read before.

My books are:

1. "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" by Marina Lewycka 324 pages
2. "Lolly Willowes : Or the Loving Huntsman (New York Review Books Classics)" by Sylvia Townsend Warner 247 pages
3. "The Action Heroine's Handbook" by Jennifer Worick & Joe Borgenicht 185 pages
4. "The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart" by Willie Nelson & Turk Pipken 184 pages
5. "When the Emperor Was Divine" by Julie Otsuka 144 pages
6. "The Great Failure: A Bartender, a Monk, and My Unlikely Path to Truth" by Natalie Goldberg 192 pages
7. "One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich 334 pages
8. "The Undead Next Door" by Kerrelyn Sparks 369 pages
9. "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman 382 pages
10. "Gods Behaving Badly" by Marie Phillips 292 pages
11. "Smack" by Melvin Burgess 288 pages
12. "The Dogs of Babel" by Carolyn Parkhurst 261 pages
13. "The Te of Piglet" by Bejamin Hoff 257 pages
14. "Little Alters Everywhere" by Rebecca Wells 224 pages
15. "Killer Pancake" Diane Mott Davidson 368 pages
16. "The Te of Piglet" by Bejamin Hoff 257 pages