Catching Up (Kinda/Sorta?)

I've been reading like crazy, and I can't keep up with myself.

Re-reading Tessa Dare's Any Duchess Will Do prompted me to re-read the other book I obtained by her at the 2014 ALA Annual Convention (that I had read but not posted about), Romancing the Duke (1st in the Castles Ever After series).

Then I went back to catch up some with the earlier Spindle Cove books that I had never read.  So I got on OverDrive and read A Night to Surrender. But the library didn't already have the rest on ebook yet, so while I was waiting for my request to go through, I read the Stud Club books...
     1. One Dance with a Duke
     2. Twice Tempted by a Rogue
     3. Three Nights with a Scoundrel

     Then I read Once Upon a Winter's Eve, A Week to Be Wicked, and A Lady By Midnight in ebook format.

Mix in some ILL print books by Annie Bellet that I intend to go over in a different post (Pack of Lies and Hunting Season)

And a slew of Seanan McGuire books...

     From the InCryptid series (all in ebook format):
     1. Discount Armageddon 
     2. Midnight Blue-Light Special 
     3. Half-Off Ragnarok 
     4. Pocket Apocalypse

     And a print copy of Indexing that the library already owned.

     (Note: I've read all titles currently available in the October Daye series in 2015.  Apparently I never posted them, because "Seanan McGuire" is a new tag.)

I'm waiting for the library to get in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress:  Justice Calling; Murder of Crows; Pack of Lies; Hunting Season; Heartache; Thicker Than Blood; Magic to the Bone which I guess is supposed to come out in June and to purchase Reflections (next in the Indexing series and released this month) so I went on to read (and just finished) Jennifer Estep's Cold Burn of Magic (ebook).

While I wait for my request for the ebook Dark Heart of Magic to be approved and become available, I'll be catching up with Estep's Mythos books, beginning with where I left off, Crimson Frost.  I don't remember all the story line, but I'm sure I'll recall over the 4 books remaining in the series.

My Apologies and The Curse of Jacob Tracy

Well I've been a poor blogger again.  I have some posts that have been sitting at various stages of completion and a stack of books waiting to be added before they can be put back on my shelves.  I just don't know when that will actually happen.

I suppose my blogging days may  be at an end; that would be a shame.  My blog served a purpose, but it can't fulfill that purpose if I forget what the books I read are even about in the time it takes me to post about them.  And some of my more recent reads get lost in the long line of books to be posted on.

So I'll try to post as I read, and not worry about the backlog.  Maybe I can do better.

And that being said, I am currently reading The Curse of Jacob Tracy by Holly Messinger (published by Thomas Dunne books).  I'm enjoying it.  Set in parts that feel like a serial (suiting its historical nature), it makes a historical/western/paranormal fantasy/mystery blend.

I like the primary characters, Trace (Jacob Tracy), Boz (John Bosley), and Miss Sabine Fairweather, though I do not always agree with their actions.  Trace tends to shy away where I feel he should step up.  Boz doesn't fully support the way I'd like him to, letting occasional bitterness (perhaps valid considering he's black American in the 1880) get in the way.  And Miss Fairweather (as Trace points out) is too secretive and holds back too much (though Boz has the same issue with Trace).

Because of the serial aspect, Trace (and fellows) face multiple evils connected by an overall evil master.  This along with the action and scenes had me thinking this would make for an excellent graphic novel.  Seems to me, the images presented, the dialogue, the flow of the story... even the good versus evil with some occasional blurring gray areas would all do well in that format.

Anyway, I haven't reached the end (I'm on page 272 of 308), but so far I'm very glad I requested it after reading a review in a professional journal (can't remember which one).  And I'm very glad I didn't wait to pick it up and start reading.   Which I should be getting back to now.  The tension is building...

Help! I need advice about too many mystery books...

I'm trying to clear out books again.  But this time I need to break down and give up on some of the cozies I've been collecting but not reading.  I have boxes.  I'd like to try them, but I'm simply not going to have the chance.  I mean there are BOXES of them.  They are scattered, so books by one author may be in multiple boxes. 

Any cozy mystery authors or series you definitely recommend I keep?  Do you have any ideas about how I could handle them?  Because I simply can't read or keep them all...  Can you help?  I'm desperate!


Bookshelves by Piotr Siedlecki

Box 1:

Sarah Atwell
Sandra Balzo
Miranda Bliss
Nora Charles
Laura Childs
Jeffrey Cohen
Casey Daniels
Jo Dereske
Yasmine Galenorn
Melissa Glazer
Parnell Hall
Laura Levine
Kathryn Lilley
Hailey Lind
Sheila Lowe
Nancy Martin
D.R. Meridith
Tim Myers
Leslie O'Kane
Suzanne Price
Sandra Robbins
Wendy Roberts
Michele Scott
Mary Stanton
Leann Sweeney

That's just one box!  I have more.

I'm considering bundle giveaways if there's an interest, but first I have to figure out what to keep and what to give away.

A Place and Time for Reading (a discussion on time-management)

I've mentioned before my recent step up to a full-time librarian position.  This has been goal for some time.  I'm thrilled, no doubt. 

But who knew it would be so difficult to get any reading or blogging in?  Others may have, but it's been a reality check for me.  I guess this happened before.  I've had other jobs that were just short of "full time."  But I didn't notice it as much.  Or, more likely, I conveniently forgot.  Whatever the case, here's my thoughts/revelations...

I used to say, when I was a student (even in grad school), that people who said they didn't have time to read just didn't MAKE the time.  I still believe that, but in a whole new way.  I now understand that you may need to schedule reading in.  Like set aside specific times.  And that sometimes you may have the actual time to slip some reading in, but not the energy.

So how do you manage your reading (and blogging if applicable)?  Do you have a set time you read (blog)?  Do you grab every chance you get?  Or do you not get much quantity reading in, but focus on quality reading (blogging)?  What do you juggle in your schedule ... family, illness, school, work, activities/hobbies...?

Please, let me know.  I'd love to get some new perspective.

And if you're interested, I have some VERY guesstimated number-crunching...

Once upon a time I read between 300 - 400 books a year.  Some thin ones, some bulky ones.
That number has decreased over time.  I'd say last year I was around 150-200? Give or take? 

So far in 2013, I've read about 28-30 books based on the number of MG through Adult books I've blogged about.  ::sigh::  I miss reading.

Argh! In which I'm overrun by audiobooks!

I have recently obtained from the library several all at once.  And I have more holds that came in.  And I have a more coming in soon.  But perhaps you think I'm exaggerating?  Being a drama queen?  Over the top?  I think not.

Checked out...

• Speaking From Among the Bones by Alan Bradley; Read by Jayne Entwistle (8 discs ; 10.03 hours)
• The Brutal Telling by Louise Penny; Read by Ralph Cosham (11 discs ; 13.5 hours)
• The Diviners by Libba Bray; Read by January LaVoy (15 discs ; 18.25 hours)

On hold (will be checked out tomorrow)...

• The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan; Read by Jesse Bernstein (7 discs ; 7.93 hours)
• Inside Seal Team Six: My Life and Missions with America's Elite Warriors by Don Mann; Read by Peter Ganim (8 discs ; around 9 hours)

I'll be getting very soon (because they just came from the vendors and holds are rushed through)...

• A Brew To Kill by Cleo Coyle; Read by Rebecca Gibel (9 discs ; 10.46 hours)
• The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M. Valente; Read by S.J. Tucker (7 discs ; 8.35 hours)

I listen to audiobooks one at a time and my schedule has to work just so to move through one at a decent pace.  How am I supposed to handle 5-7 all at once?!

Well, perhaps to some veteran audio listening I am being a bit of a drama queen, but for me this is a LOT.  But I think I feel better having this out there, so thanks for reading. =)

Ideas I'm considering for Books to the Rescue

I've been wanting to do another giveaway (I meant to do one on my b-day but then everything was going on and it didn't happen).  And I've got all these cozy books that I just don't want to part with without reading.  But I haven't been reading them because lately the only cozies I read are library copies.  So I thought... What if I do a "Cozy Cull"?  Like I'll announce on the "It's Monday!" meme post what the book for that week will be, post my thoughts on it Tuesday, and pick a winner on Wednesday (Schedule flexible to change as this is still mostly in the idea stage).  Of course this depends on me: 1) Reading one of my own cozies every week, and 2) Being able to afford the regular postage.  So any thoughts?  Are there enough cozy readers that also visit this blog?  I think I'm going to try starting with Die Buying by Laura DiSilverio.

I've seen quite a few blogs take up a schedule when it comes to posting.  One day is set for a review and another for something else (a recap, or a discussion post, etc.).  This would help with consistency, that's for sure.  Maybe I'd do the Monday meme and then a review another day.  Would weeks that I read more make up for the weeks I read hardly anything?  (I can't believe I just wrote that.  I used to read a book a day.  Every other day on a bad week.)  What do you think?  Would you like having set days to "stop by" here?

And finally (for now)... I'd like to do some discussion posts but... what hasn't already been covered on some other blog?  Every once and a while I'll get an idea, but it's already dissipated by the time I'm on Blogger and have time to write.  Any suggestions for topics that you think you'd like discussed here?  One I do remember is how books came to the rescue for me and what they mean to you.  Sound interesting?  Or trite?

Absence

I'm going to be gone over the next week - with my ma as she has surgery.  You haven't seen me around much as I dealt with the news and all the prep stuff (getting off work, etc.).  I've posted this morning and scheduled a couple other posts for the week.  I still have a post on kids books to do (I ran out of time), and I'm sure to get reading in this week so I should have plenty to do when I get back.  But I wanted to explain what is going on.  Not only with my posting here, but my commenting, etc. as well.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (7/9/2012)

 

Hosted by: Sheila @ Book Journey

(If you'd like to participate you can go here.)

In the past week I've read and posted: 

How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf (Naked Werewolf, Bk 1) by Molly Harper (personal copy)

Foundation (Collegium Chronicles, Bk 1) by Mercedes Lackey (personal copy)

Gold Digger (Klondike Mystery, bk 1) by Vicki Delany (library ILLed copy)  

Intrigues and Changes (Collegium Chronicles, Bks 2 and 3) by Mercedes Lackey (library copies)

In the past week I've read:

The Fire Rose by Mercedes Lackey (library copy)

Currently reading:

Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By a Relentless God by Francis Chan (library audiobook)

This week's reading possibilities include:

 

More Mercedes Lackey books.  I'm in a groove, and I'll likely be stuck in it for a while.  I plan to re-read The Serpent's Shadow,  The Gates of Sleep, and Phoenix and Ashes, as well as reading The Wizard of London and Reserved for the Cat should time permit (unlikely).  Also, if the 4th Collegium book, Redoubt, comes in I'll read that.

Gold Fever by Vicki Delany should be coming in through ILL at some point, so depending on when, that is a possibility.

And as always, I have plenty of other books - both library copies and my own - that I might decide to start on a whim.

2012 Mid-year Overview

June has ended, and with it, the first half of 2012.  While I've not been doing monthly reports, I thought I could do a bi-annual report.

By my calculations I've read 83 books so far in 2012 not counting short stories or children's books.  One of those was an audiobook.  Two were Mercedes Lackey re-reads that I didn't post.

I've completed the Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2012 and 2012 Cozy Mystery Challenge.

I still need to work on finishing the Harlequin Silhouette 2012 Reading Challenge. I've read 3/6 of the books for that.

And I'm starting Operation: TBR Reduction today, so hopefully the 2nd half of the year will go well.  I'm also hoping to get more audio and e-books in.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (6/25/2012)

 

Hosted by: Sheila @ Book Journey

I haven't done one of these in a LONG time.  But here we go...

(If you'd like to participate you can go here.)

In the past week I've reviewed: 

The Pregnancy Project: A Memoir by Gaby Rodriguez with Jenna Glatzer

In the past week I've read and reviewed: 

50% Off Murder (Good Buy Girls Mystery, Bk 1) by Josie Belle

The Good Buy Girls are a group of women who have gotten together over a shared love of bargains.  They clip coupons together, shop deals in an cool, collected, and organized manner together, and when one of their own is accused of murder, they investigate together.

Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors (Jane Jameson/Nice Girls, Bk 4) by Molly Harper

Jane Jameson is a vampire living in a small town and getting herself into all sorts of trouble, paranormal and otherwise.

In the past week I've read:

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost (poem) and Rick Lieder (photography)

A children's book I read to my 4 year old nephew.  It's a poem about insects.  Brief and the pictures are lovely.

Truck Stuck by Sallie Wolf; Illustrated by Andy Robert Davies

Another children's book read to my nephew.  I picked this out because of the truck thing, but it was actually pretty fun.  The truck gets stuck under a viaduct, causes a major traffic jam, various vehicle and traffic related terms are squeezed in, and finally a solution to getting the truck unstuck (and it isn't a tow truck - those didn't work).

I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff; Illustrated by David Catrow

That's right.  This was is another children's book read to my nephew.  It's set up as letters between a son and his mother as he tries to persuade her to let him take in his friend's iguana once the friend moves and she objects.  I'd say this was for a slightly older age than my nephew, but it was an okay story.  And I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations.

Exile's Honor (one of the many Valdemar books, the first of Alberich's two) by Mercedes Lackey

This is a reread.  I've been wanting to reread it again for awhile, and I needed a break from the mysteries.

I'm currently reading:

Curious Critters by David FitzSimmons

Another children's book.  I started it with my nephew, but it was longer than planned and past his bedtime, so we'll have to finish it later.  I've enjoyed what we've read of it so far.

  

This week's reading possibilities include:

(I have too many choices)

Another Valdemar re-read or two by Mercedes Lackey.  Possibly Exile's Valor, Take a Thief, Arrows of the Queen, or Arrow's Fall

The Next Always and The Last Boyfriend (Boonsboro Inn trilogy, Bks 1 & 2) by Nora Roberts

Faithful Unto Death (Sugar Land Mystery, Bk 1) by Stephanie Jaye Evans

A Fitting End (Magical Dressmaking Mystery, Bk 2) by Melissa Bourbon

The More the Terrier (Pet rescue Mystery, Bk 2) by Linda O. Johnston

Final Sail (Dead-End job Mystery, Bk 11) by Elaine Viets

Dead Man Waltzing (Ballroom Dance Mystery, Bk 2) by Ella Barrick

Murder in a Basket (India Hayes Mystery, Bk 2) by Amanda Flower

The Scarlet Pepper (White House Gardener Mystery, Bk 2) by Dorothy St. James

Dying in the Wool (Katie Shackleton Mystery, Bk 1) by Frances Brody

Night Kill (Zoo Mystery, Bk 1) by Ann Littlewood

Tote Bags and Toe Tags (Haley Randolph Mystery, Bk 5) by Dorothy Howell

Gold Digger (Klondike Mystery, Bk 1)   by Vicki Delany

Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles, Bk 1) by Suzanne Collins

The Hollows Insider by Kim Harrison

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? (6/18/2012)

 

Hosted by: Sheila @ Book Journey

I haven't done one of these in a LONG time.  But here we go...

(If you'd like to participate you can go here.)

In the past week I've read and reviewed: 

Hearse and Buggy (Amish Mystery, Bk 1) by Laura Bradford - 

A cozy mystery set in a small Pennsylvania town where "English" and Amish meet.  Claire tries to solve the murder that took place behind her shop, as well as trying to figure out who might be playing some nasty, not-so-innocent tricks on a neighboring shopkeeper - who also happens to be Amish.

Corpse in the Crystal Ball (Fortune Teller Mystery, Bk 2) by Kari Lee Townsend - 

A cozy mystery set in the small town of Divinity.  The guy Sunny likes-but-it's-complicated 's ex-girlfriend is murdered.  And he's the suspect, never mind that he's a detective himself.  So Sunny's out to help him.  And unlike the detective, she's actually been asked to assist on the case.

Brownies and Broomsticks (Magical Bakery Mystery, Bk 1) by Bailey Cates - 

A cozy mystery in which Katie has relocated to Savannah - which manages to have a small town attitude despite being one of Georgia's largest cities.  She's leaving a bad relationship and going to work in a bakery, along with her aunt and uncle.  Only she's also learning that there's a bit more going into the baked good than just ingredients.  Like maybe a little magic.  And besides all that, the lady that just threatened to ruin them before they've even opened?  She's been murdered. 

My thoughts for all three of these can be found in the post "More cozies. And some more magic."

I also read: 

The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez with Jenna Glatzer - 

A memoir about a girl who faked a pregnancy for her Senior project... all in the name of questioning and fighting stereotypes.  The story was also made into a Lifetime movie.  Review post to come.

I'm currently between books.

This coming week's reading possibilities include:

Faithful Unto Death (Sugar Land Mystery, Bk 1) by Stephanie Jaye Evans

A Fitting End (Magical Dressmaking Mystery, Bk 2) by Melissa Bourbon

50% Off Murder (Good Buy Girls Mystery, Bk 1) by Josie Belle

The More the Terrier (Pet rescue Mystery, Bk 2) by Linda O. Johnston

Final Sail (Dead-End job Mystery, Bk 11) by Elaine Viets

Dead Man Waltzing (Ballroom Dance Mystery, Bk 2) by Ella Barrick

Murder in a Basket (India Hayes Mystery, Bk 2) by Amanda Flower

The Scarlet Pepper (White House Gardener Mystery, Bk 2) by Dorothy St. James

Dying in the Wool (Katie Shackleton Mystery, Bk 1) by Frances Brody

Night Kill (Zoo Mystery, Bk 1) by Ann Littlewood

Tote Bags and Toe Tags (Haley Randolph Mystery, Bk 5) by Dorothy Howell

Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles, Bk 1) by Suzanne Collins

Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors (Jane Jameson, Bk 4) by Molly Harper

The Hollows Insider by Kim Harrison

...and those are just the current library books I have out.

Printer's Row LitFest 2012

This past Saturday brought the opportunity to go to the Printer's Row LitFest.  I found out about it through a newsletter by Julie Hyzy.  Of course, I had to go.  It's free, manageable as far as travel goes, and I had enough notice to schedule the day off.

I found out the day before that Julie was going to be part of a panel on a discussion titled "Sex & Violence: The do and don'ts of the Modern Cozy" along with Laura Bradford, Sharon Fiffer, Mary Vermillion, and moderator and author Clare O'Donohue.  Just the topic was exciting.  I didn't pay any mind to who the other authors were until I got there and heard them speak.  By the end I managed to get my copy of Grace Among Thieves autographed and bought and had autographed Hearse and Buggy (though I had a library copy via purchase suggestion sitting at home) by Laura Bradford aka Elizabeth Lynn Casey of the Southern Sewing Mystery series.

After the panel discussion I explored the remainder of the festival.  I was a lot more like a giant book sale than I expected.  Unfortunate because I could not afford to buy any more books (I already bought the one named above and the Hyzy book the night before) ... I'm supposed to be cutting back.  Nevertheless I enjoyed myself.  I caught a few minutes of the "Young Adult Fiction: Dark Days" with Veronica Roth, Aprilynne Pike, Elizabeth Norris, and Bethany Griffin moderated by Claire Zulkey.  If I'd planned better I would have caught the whole thing.  As it was it was already started, standing room only, and horribly hot by the time I peeked in at the back of the tent.

At 2 I saw Rachel Ray speak.  Don't ask why.  I don't cook.  And I don't watch any of the televisions shows she appears on.  But she's a big name and I thought various members of my family might appreciate hearing about the experience (seeing as they are completely baffled by my interest in the authors of books otherwise).  It was actually interesting and entertaining, albeit brief.  It would have been cool to get her autograph too, but you had to purchase The Book of Burger at $27 first.  I don't cook, remember?  And I don't have money.  I had to repeat that to myself more times than I can count.

After hearing Rachel talk I went on a 15 minute architecture "tour" of Printer's Row... interesting (really, I was repeating what I'd learned to everybody) but we didn't actually move much of anywhere because of the congestion.

Once I'd done all the exploring I was going to do at the LitFest I retreated to the Chicago Public Library: Harold Washington Library Center.  The Rachel Ray discussion had been my first time there, and I wanted to explore.  Besides, I had time to kill while I waited for my brother and his friends to get in town for the Blues Festival that evening.

Oh my.  That place is huge; I was so impressed.  I ended up at my own table in a nook on the 4th floor, looking out at another building and down on the busy street.  I also read of course.  The Big Kitty if you were wondering what.  I'd include a pic of me reading there (I took one of myself because I am weird, obviously), but it would require more editing than I believe I'm capable of to put my avatar over my real face.

ANYWAY, that was the book related portion of my day.  Hopefully, I'll manage to go again next year.

Kate Collins and the Flower Shop Mysteries

Mid April (I am very behind), I had the opportunity to see Kate Collins aka Linda Tsoutsouris speak at a fund-raiser for my library.  I was SO excited.  In preparation for the event, I started reading Kate's Flower Shop mysteries, which I've been collecting for awhile but had yet to read.  I managed to read the first two and get a start of the third before hearing her.  I finished the third afterwards.  Continuing the series is a given (I still have several more waiting), but I took a break to read some other books, genres, and authors.  In the meantime, these are my belated impressions of the first three...

Mum's the Word (Flower Shop Mystery, Bk 1) by Kate Collins (personal copy - ex-library copy from a library local to a former residence) -

I have to say my biggest impression of these is influenced by the setting.  I'm familiar with the town this was set in and could picture it when it was described.  In fact, that familiarity game me a little thrill.  Beyond that, I enjoyed it for what it is... a light cozy mystery.  Abby Knight gets involved in murders because she's a meddler.  If you've followed my blog you may know meddling is not one of my favorite traits in characters.  Nevertheless, I still liked Abby.

Slay It with Flowers (Flower Shop Mystery, Bk 2) by Kate Collins (library ebook) -

A co-worker noted that these books pick up where the previous book left of (as opposed to say, a year has passed) which I suspect makes it easier to read together than with great pauses while waiting for the next to be published... put that's a bridge I'll cross when I come to it.  What it means for now is that Abby is running into a lot of dead bodies in a short amount of time.

Dearly Depotted (Flower Shop Mystery, Bk 3) by Kate Collins (personal copy - purchased used) -

Abby is at her annoying cousin Jillian's wedding reception when she (or rather Jillian's new grandmother-in-law that Abby's supposed to be keeping track of) finds someone who's been murdered.  By this point, Jillian has managed to completely annoy the local police with her meddling in their affairs.  But she's been asked to help - again.  This time by her proper employee, Grace, who has previously discouraged her involvement in these investigations.  Funny how that works.  Anyway, the next book in the series is Snipped in the Bud.  My aforementioned co-worker skipped straight from the 1st book to the 4th so I had a spoiler about how it starts off, and there's no question that I need to read it and find out the deets.

Cleaning Out, Part II ... A story in pictures

You may have been waiting for the (semi)-promised pics of my clean out attempt, so here we go...

[Note: Please ignore the shelves in the background.  Those aren't mine.]

Before (I'd started but hadn't gotten far)

Before, Angle 2

During ... Books were sorted in boxes on a folding table

And now, what we've ALL been waiting for ... THE RESULTS

Books to be sold in rummage sale this summer

Being picked up by Amvets mid-April

What I kept (ignore the cooler)

I also had 3 boxes that were going to a local nursing home and ended up going to ReadingTree.org (no pics, sorry). 

As you can see, I still have work to do.  It took 3 nights (about 9 hrs).  The AmVets boxes still need lugged upstairs, I still have more books in my room, etc., and there's still quite a bit left.  But I parted with books I didn't think I would, and I'm happy with my progress.

Cleaning Out

I have the next five days off of work.  The idea was to spend time with family, rest, and get going with some projects that had been on hold.  The primary project being that of going though my stash of books in the basement.  Weeding out, organizing, etc.

You might remember my post about book hoarding back in '09.  Well I've managed to let go of some of those with my decluttering challenge in early '11.

The rest (the bulk, plus those I've picked up since '09) now reside in my parents' basement.  I'll be trying to clear them out further (with the help of my mother and possibly my grandmother - a family effort).  I hope to get them to a manageable number.  I'd like to be able to find the books I'm looking for when I look while also not feeling overwhelmed by something that's supposed to be my pleasure.

I intend post pics (I'm bad about that though, so no guarantees) to keep you all up-to-date.

Reviews - More discussion on how to improve my blog

I hope you don't mind reading yet another post on this topic, but I'm the type of person that has to pick at my work (work meaning effort - and this blog does take effort) before I'm satisfied. 

Anyway, I've been looking back at my "reviews" and mini-"reviews" and have come to the conclusion that I use some of the same phrases way too much.  Over and over I read: "I enjoyed this" "Another enjoyable read" "I'll have to read more" "I look forward to reading more" etc.  This is on top of reading some of the talk around the blogosphere about reviews all being positive and honesty and trustworthiness, etc. So... 

Can you tell when I like a book or not?  Should I resort to the ranking system I've avoided for so long? Am I believable as a blogger?

White House Chef and Manor House Mysteries + Book Launch Experience

State of the Onion by Julie Hyzy (personal copy obtained through Paperbackswap years ago) - I really enjoyed this.  My first thought once I read it was, "What took so long? No wonder it won awards."

Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy (personal copy obtained through Paperbackswap) - I enjoyed this one too.  I was glad to find that Ollie was still such a great character.

Eggsecutive Orders  by Julie Hyzy (purchased during Borders closing sale) - Gasp! She wasn't in the kitchen half the book!  It's nice getting some more detail on Bucky, I feel so/so about Ollie's mom, and Tom has become annoying.  If you can't tell by the title and cover this one takes place around Easter.  Overall, I enjoyed the story.

Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy (purchased at B&N with gift card from Christmas) - Go Ollie! You stick to our guns.  Really enjoying this series and eager to meet Julie Hyzy.

Affairs of Steak by Julie Hyzy (purchased at book launch) - It was interesting to see Ollie work with someone she didn't care for.  She seems to have developed her tact.  And I have to say, I'm happy for how things seem to be moving in her personal life, even as her professional life still has some bumps.

Grace Under Pressure by Julie Hyzy (autographed gift from author with  2010 Halloween giveaway prize) - I actually started this before Buffalo West Wing and finished after he launch Saturday.  It took me longer to get into than the White House Chef series, but I still enjoyed it once I did get into it.  Grace seems to have a calmer pace than Ollie.

Grace Interrupted by Julie Hyzy (purchased at B&N with gift card from Christmas) - I liked Grace better once I was out of the Ollie craze.  The look into Civil War re-enacting was interesting.  I have to say I like Grace's assistant, Frances, even if she can be difficult.

Reading Mania and a Book Launch Party...

Over a week and a half I went on a bit of a Julie Hyzy reading spree.  I wanted to go to her book launch/chat this past Saturday, but I had only read her Artistic License before.  Fortunately, I already had most of the White House Chef and the first Manor book on hand.  So I got busy. The night before the signing I realized I didn't own Buffalo West Wing so I rushed out to B&N and bought that and Grace Interrupted.  I managed to have books 1 through 4 of the White House Chef mysteries  read and Grace Under Pressure started before the launch.  I've only been to one signing/author thing before for Sherrilyn Kenyon, so I didn't know what to expect.  It was this little bookstore crowded with people.  I brought my mother with me and she was nervous because she knew nothing about this author or her books.  It was interesting; I enjoyed hearing the talk, especially the bits about the white house.   Plus, without having to ask for myself, I managed to get a couple questions answered .  I had my newest book signed and got a picture with Julie Hyzy (which I will post to my Facebook account once I get it off my ma's cell).  It was just a fun whirl of a week (and a half).  I look forward to reading more of these series.

Light on the reading...

Since the last post, I've read:

Sealed with a Kill by Lucy Lawrence (library copy) - I enjoyed it, not as much as the 1st 2 books, but still.  And this series has lead to more, if you continue to read into my post...

Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier - I liked this one better than the last few Leslie Meier books I read, so I'm happy.  Hoping the next book is as enjoyable.

Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck - Kind of had a slow start with this one, but it picked up part way in.  I'll have to see where the series goes from here.

So I haven't been reading as much.  It's mostly the usual ... life.  But I noticed part of it was because of books.  Sounds like a contradiction - but it isn't.

I've mentioned before that after reading Monica Ferris's Needlecraft Mysteries I took a crochet class.  Well now that I've read Lucy Lawrence (Jenn McKinlay)'s Decoupage Mysteries, I've been trying (it's more difficult than I thought) to do decoupage.  My sister and I have been been practicing and working on little projects together for the past 4 weeks.

    I did something similar to this - different color scheme - for my ma's birthday gift.  My sister became interested when I brought my finished project over to show her.  

Anyway, this is good because it means we're spending more time together.  But it also contributes to my decline in time spent reading.   So do your books influence your life, beyond the time spent actually reading them? (or the physical space they consume)?

Update:

My first decoupage project.  It hasn't been hung on the wall yet. 

To all the eBook lovers out there....

How do you do it?

I have a lovely Sony Reader.  It ranks as one of my top 5 Christmas gifts ever.  But I cannot for the life of me keep it charged.  (I have the same problem with my MP3 player and to a lesser extent, my cell phone.)

I've only read 1 e-book this year (despite being determined to read more) in large part due to just not keeping it charged.  Then I leave it at home, because I can't turn it on anyway, then I just don't read anything on it, etc.

So how do you manage?  And why does such a stupid little thing have to make me so technologically behind and challenged?

The End? + Cozy Challenge

I hate to even suggest the possibility.  But I have gone, once again, over a month without blogging.  I didn't feel like posting on the books I was reading so I ended up not posting at all.  I had this big giveaway planned, and I'm thinking I might still have it.  As a last hurrah before closing this down.  But I don't really want to lose everything I've found here, either.  It makes me sick really, to contemplate such a thing.  As you can see, I'm rather torn over the matter... I don't know what I'll end up deciding, but at least you have a heads up.

In the meantime, I've been participating in this cozy challenge (the first week was a little long since not everyone was ready) for eight weeks.  Since July 2nd or 3rd I have read...

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat ; Sophie Kelly ; Magical Cats Mystery, Bk 1 ; Minnesota ; Librarian

A Tisket, a Tasket, a Fancy Stolen Casket ; Fran Rizer ; Callie Parrish Mystery, Bk 1 ; South Carolina ; Cosmetician (Mortuary Cosmetologist)

Hey Diddle Diddle, the Corpse and the Fiddle ; Fran Rizer ; Callie Parrish Mystery, Bk 2 ; South Carolina ; Cosmetician (Mortuary Cosmetologist)

Casket Case ; Fran Rizer ; Callie Parrish Mystery, Bk 3 ; South Carolina ; Cosmetician (Mortuary Cosmetologist)

I Scream, You Scream ; Wendy Lyn Watson ; Mystery à la Mode, Bk 1 ; Texas ; Proprietor of an Ice Cream Parlor

Scoop to Kill ; Wendy Lyn Watson ; Mystery à la Mode, Bk 2 ; Texas ; Proprietor of an Ice Cream Parlor

--------------------------End of Week 1------------------------------------------------------------------

A Parfait Murder ; Wendy Lyn Watson ; Mystery à la Mode, Bk 3 ; Texas ; Proprietor of an Ice Cream Parlor

Roast Mortem ; Cleo Coyle ; Coffeehouse Mystery, Bk 9 ; New York ; Manager/Partner of/in Coffeehouse