Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews (Kate Daniels #7)

 

Synopsis (from BN.com) :

No matter how much the paranormal politics of Atlanta change, one thing always remains the same: if there’s trouble, Kate Daniels will be in the middle of it…

As the mate of the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than it seems possible to juggle. Not only is she still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers. Since Kate’s connection to Roland has come out into the open, no one is safe—especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland’s long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta. When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she’ll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear…

My Thoughts:

This is one of my most favorite urban fantasy series. One thing that I love about this series is that this is book seven in the series, and the story continues to grow and build with each book, and the characters continue to develop. I find with some series with numerous books in them, the story and characters seem to go stagnant and don't move anywhere after a certain point. 

Another thing I love about this series is the world that Ilona Andrews has created. I am always interested to see how authors are going to put a different spin on the paranormal genre, and this series is definitely an original!

This is a series I recommend to anyone who has any interest in this genre!

Rating: A

Booking Through Thursday

...the Friday edition.

So over at Booking Through Thursday they ask a bookish question every Thursday, that you can link up with. Since I LOOOOOOVE books so much, I am participating.

The question this week is: 

Any books or authors you hate? Why? Is it the writing? The stories? The author’s personality? And—would you read their work anyway?

Twilight's Stupid

Yeeeaahh...anybody who knows me knows I loath Twilight with a burning passion of a million fires! The main reason I hate these books/movies is that I think Bella is The.Worst.Character.Ever! For some reason, I felt like Bella was written by a 13 year old girl in the midst of puberty.

There are so many other "paranormal" stories out there (and I've read quite a few) with more interesting, involved plots and kick ass heroines that I would recommend to my friends.

Friends don't let friends read Twilight.....

Inferno by Dan Brown

 

Synopsis (From BN.com)

Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon awakens in an Italian hospital, disoriented and with no recollection of the past thirty-six hours, including the origin of the macabre object hidden in his belongings. With a relentless female assassin trailing them through Florence, he and his resourceful doctor, Sienna Brooks, are forced to flee. Embarking on a harrowing journey, they must unravel a series of codes, which are the work of a brilliant scientist whose obsession with the end of the world is matched only by his passion for one of the most influential masterpieces ever written, Dante Alighieri's The Inferno.

Dan Brown has raised the bar yet again, combining classical Italian art, history, and literature with cutting-edge science in this sumptuously entertaining thriller. 

My Thoughts:

I absolutely loved The Da Vinci Code and Angel & Demons, and then was disappointed in the Lost Symbol, so I was a bit hesitant to read this book. I actually did enjoy this book - much better than the Lost Symbol - so that's always a positive. 

I am always so fascinated by the way the author combines historical facts, art, architecture, and mystery all into one suspenseful story! I was on the edge of my seat for almost the entire story - I felt the ending was a bit anti-climactic, but still enjoyable. 

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who has read and enjoyed another Robert Langdon book, or to anyone that likes a good suspense. 

Rating: B

The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld

 

 Synopsis (from Amazon.com):
 

A wondrous and redemptive debut novel, set in a stark world where evil and magic coincide, The Enchanted combines the empathy and lyricism of Alice Sebold with the dark, imaginative power of Stephen King.
"This is an enchanted place. Others don’t see it, but I do." The enchanted place is an ancient stone prison, viewed through the eyes of a death row inmate who finds escape in his books and in re-imagining life around him, weaving a fantastical story of the people he observes and the world he inhabits. Fearful and reclusive, he senses what others cannot. Though bars confine him every minute of every day, he marries visions of golden horses running beneath the prison, heat flowing like molten metal from their backs with the devastating violence of prison life.
Two outsiders venture here: a fallen priest and the Lady, an investigator who searches for buried information from prisoners’ pasts that can save those soon-to-be-executed. Digging into the background of a killer named York, she uncovers wrenching truths that challenge familiar notions of victim and criminal, innocence and guilt, honesty and corruption—ultimately revealing shocking secrets of her own.
Beautiful and transcendent, The Enchanted reminds us of how our humanity connects us all, and how beauty and love exist even amidst the most nightmarish reality.

My Thoughts:

First off, if that description doesn't get you, I don't know what will! The way this story was told was so interesting. I think it was a mixture of the story itself the absolutely beautiful writing!

While the book is set in a prison and tells about the people and the things that happen there, it is unlike anything I've ever read. A good friend of mine (the one who recommended the book) said something to the effect of: "It's a prison story - it's sad and horrendous, but it's also so beautiful."

It's a really short book, about 200 pages or so, and the way that it is written and the way the story flows makes for a really quick read. I loved the story, but the writing alone is worth reading this book!


Currently Reading/Upcoming Reviews:

Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

Black Magic Sanction (Rachel Morgan #8) - Kim Harrison

Overview from BN.com:

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter—and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind . . . until now.

Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment—her worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom. But trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and a lowlife ex-boyfriend-turned-thief.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely love this series and the cast of characters (especially Jenks, the tough, foul-mouthed pixie). The plot continues to build and grow with each book, and the characters continue to develop, especially the main character, Rachel Morgan. The last couple of books have been developing the story behind Rachel's special powers and how they stem from her childhood, as well as bringing in some of the history between witches, elves, and demons. This current book continues to build on that a bit, which in my opinion, is definitely one of the more interesting sub-plots - I'm really excited to read and see where and what that will lead to.

The Rachel Morgan series is definitely in my top 5 favorite series. Rachel is a confident, strong heroine, while also being a little clumsy and insecure. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves strong female characters and urban fantasy.

Rating: A

Why I Will Not Weigh Myself Anymore...

Originally Posted 7/20/14

I've decided I'm not going to weigh myself for the time being.I'm trying to get my head tin the right place to really do this weight loss thing, and I think the scale is playing too big a part in how I feel about myself, rather than looking at all the good things I did during the week.

Part of the problem for this particular last week is we have gotten down to the 2 month mark for the wedding, and even though it is a fun and exciting time, it's been a little stressful, and I've been feeling really sad and depressed not having my parents here. I knew I was starting to fall into depression, because I would just sit all night and think 'I should go do this' (whatever "this" is), but it felt like such a drain to get up and do anything, so I would continue to sit and do nothing. As my therapist would say, I'm shoulding on myself, and I need to stop it. :) Also, while I was sitting, no doing anything, I proceeded to eat out of a bag of Oreos. Typically I would grab 2 or 3 cookies for a quick treat and go on about my day, but I got a glass a milk and brought the whole package to my desk.

Wednesday I had a major break down. I was so mad at myself for letting myself get like this. I was mad at myself for making excuses and just not getting my butt up and moving. I'm trying to figure out what I can do that is going to work best for me, and I feel like that is going to be focusing on the good things, trying to track my food more consistently, and trying to get some sort of exercise during the day.

So what did I do after I had my emotional breakdown on Wednesday night? I went to the gym three damn days in a row!! No, my eating wasn't great, but I feel good because I DID go exercise. There is something about going to the gym in the morning - I just feel so productive, even if I don't do much of anything during the rest of the day, and even though I might be tired during the day, I still feel energized (if that makes sense).

Yes, weight loss is calories in calories out, but everyone has different motivation, and so I have to find what will keep me going. I'm not committing to anything at this moment, but I think I may have found something to motivate me:

Memories...

Originally Posted 6/26/14

Today I was sitting in my car at lunch, listening to the radio and Fleetwood Mac came on (Dreams for those of you who like the little details) and I instantly went back into time. I was about 12 or 13 and my dad took me to Yesterday Disc, which is a local used music store (I think they are still around, but not for sure) and I bought Fleetwood Mac's The Dance. There was nothing particularly special about that trip or that cd, but it just made me think of my dad and just miss that father daughter time we spent together.

I definitely got my love of music from my dad, and I find myself scrolling through radio stations hoping to hear something that will spark a memory that I have of him. Don't get me wrong, I have no lack of memories, or have trouble remembering, but with it only being 5 months without him, it's nice to just have the radio pick one or two for me.

When I hear Def Leppard, I think about the time I took him to that concert as a father's day gift. It was a year after mom had died and it was just the two of us.

When I hear Van Halen, I laugh because Dad joked that he was pretty sure he was switched at birth because he has the same exact birthday as Eddie Van Halen. Had he grown up with that family, he would be a huge rock star.

When I hear ZZ Top, I remember him and mom taking me to see them for my very first concert. I remember how dad had all of their CD's (or records, if you will). I remember one time dad winning something off the radio for correctly guessing a ZZ Top song - I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide - but I don't remember what he won.

When I hear Eric Clapton, I think about how I was so excited to get you those tickets for Christmas, and we went up a day earlier than we had originally planned so we could go see B.B. King as well. I remember at the Clapton concert he was sicker than a dog.

When I hear Sugar Ray, I remember how the person I was supposed to go with flaked out on me and I was so upset because I bought these tickets and didn't have anyone to go with - so my dad took me. I'm pretty sure he did not enjoy himself very much, but it made me happy.

One of our favorites, Jonny Lang, was coming to town at the end of February with Buddy Guy and I know dad really wanted to go, but neither of us had a lot of money to go. I remember sitting at his hospital bed when he was in a coma and intubated trying to bribe him to get better. I told him he had to wake up because WHEN he did I would buy both of our tickets to go see them.

Whenever I go to a concert, or am even jamming out to a song I think about him. He passed this appreciation and love of music to me, and now I  hold that as a very special gift that not everyone has. At this point in time, it can make me upset and sad, but I am truly glad that I can just turn on the radio, and be transported back to a time that we spent together.

What I'm Listening To

Originally posted 6/21/14

I love me some good music! I thought I would share the few songs that I'm totally obsessed with right now...they're country ya'll!

I don't know about you, but when I hear a song that I LOVE, I will put that bad boy on repeat and listen to it all stinkin' day.

So I've got 4 songs for ya:

1. Cold One - Eric Church - I heard this on the radio at lunch on Friday, and as I write this my iTunes tells me I have listened to this song 56 times (Don't judge me!)

2. Drunk on a Plane - Dierks Bentley - Yet another one I heard and immediately bought when I got home. It's just a fun/funny song.

3. River Bank - Brad Paisley - I love Brad Paisley, and I love this song. He has the most fun songs, in my opinion. Plus, there's a water skiing squirrel in this video!!

4. Something Bad - Miranda Lambert & Carrie Underwood - I cannot express my girl crush love for Miranda Lambert. She is my favorite female artist right now. I also love Carrie Underwood and all her "man-hatin'" songs, so when I saw that these two were teaming up, I knew I would LOVE IT!

Hope you enjoy!! What are some songs you're obsessed with right now?

Books I've Read in 2013

Going back through my Goodreads shelf, and making the list for 2013.

1. A Fistful Of Charms - Kim Harrison
2. Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews
3. The Total Money Makeover - Dave Ramsey
4. Magic Slays - Ilona Andrews
5. Dying Bites - D. D. Barant
6. 48 Days to the Work You Love - Dan Miller
7. City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
8. For A Few Demons More - Kim Harrison
9. Deadly Sting - Jennifer Estep
10. House Rules - Chloe Neill
11. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership - John C. Maxwell
12. Grave Witch - Kalayna Price
13. Start: Punch Fear in the Face and Do Work That Matters - Jon Acuff
14. Gunmetal Magic - Ilona Andrews
15. Working Stiff - Rachel Caine
16. Get Rich Lucky Bitch - Denise Duffield-Thomas
17. In a Fix - Linda Grimes
18. Rogue Descendent - Jenna Black
19. Hounded - Kevin Hearne
20. Divergent - Veronica Roth
21. The Reluctant Reaper - Gina X. Grant
22. The Outlaw Demon Wails - Kim Harrison
23. Magic Rises - Ilona Andrews
24. Confessions of an Ex-Girlfriend - Lynda Curnyn
25. White Witch, Black Curse - Kim Harrison
26. Heart of Venom - Jennifer Estep
27. Insurgent - Veronica Roth
28. Allegiant - Veronica Roth
29. Heartburn - Nora Ephron
30. Fool Moon - Jim Butcher
31. Biting Bad - Chloe Neill
32. The Stupidest Angel - Christopher Moore (Re-read)



Updated: 6-3-14

New Books!

Originally Posted 5/30/14

I've just bough a bunch of books (HOORAY!) and I'm super excited about it. Granted, most are books in a series, but purchasing any book makes me happy!

So in case you can't see, the books I got are:

Weight Watchers 50th Anniversary Cookbook - EJ and I are back on WW and are trying to find some easy yummy recipes to help us stay on track.

Inferno by Dan Brown - I've read all the other Robert Langdon books, and found them very intriguing. I was a bit disappointed in The Lost Symbol, so I'm hoping this one is better.

Wild Things by Chloe Neill - The latest (#9) in the Chicagoland Vampire Series. I love this series, and I love the heroine, Merit. I am feeling like things are starting to slow down a bit, but obviously not enough for me to stop reading!

A Perfect Blood & Ever After by Kim Harrison - #10 and #11 in the Rachel Morgan/Hollows series. I am in love with this series and the characters. Book #13 comes out in September, and it's the final one in the series, so I'm definitely wanting to get caught up and find out what happens!

Hexed & Hammered by Kevin Hearne - #2 and #3 in the Iron Druid Chronicles. A century old Druid living in Arizona in the body of a 21 year old. Atticus O'Sullivan has a vampire and werewolf team of lawyers as well as a talking Irish wolfhound. I read the first book last year (I know I jump around a lot) and thought it was really new and interesting. Can't wait to continue on with the series.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn - I read Gone Girl and LOVED it! Everyone keeps telling me that her other books are even better so I couldn't resist.

EJ bought the newest Jim Butcher book, Skin Game. I've only read the first 2 in the series, but again, definitely want to continue with the series. I'm just waaaaayy behind since this is the 15th book in the series. EJ's read them all, though...yay for him!

He also got the Volume 1 in the Malloreon series by David Eddings. I've not read any of Davind Eddings' books, but my good friend Georgette highly recommends it (she also recommended the Kevin Hearne books) and we usually like the same books. EJ really enjoyed the Belgariad series, and is contining to read his books.

If you're paying any attention to the picture, there is also a Metal Earth model kit of WWII tanks. Those are also EJ's. He has been really enjoying working on those models, and they are super cool when they are all put together.

So upcoming posts - I'm going to try and go back through my goodreads page and see if I can't complete that list of books I read in 2012, as well as make one for 2013 and 2014.

What are you all reading? Any good recommendations?

Goals for the Last half 2014

Originally Posted 6/8/14


I was looking back, and almost exactly 6 months ago, I made a post about my goals for the new year. Needless to say, when my dad passed away 9 days later, I definitely wasn't thinking about them, or trying to achieve them.

Now 6 months later, I started thinking again about goals I have set for myself, and how they just kind of fall by the wayside. I think I need to be S.M.A.R.T. about my goals, instead of just generally stating them (i.e. I want to lose weight). Whatever my/your goal is, it needs to be:

S. - Specific! Instead of just wanting to lose weight, think of how much weight you want to lose: "I  want to lose 30 pounds.

M. - Measurable! - Again, instead of "I want to lose weight" you say "I want to lose 30 pounds" Once you get to a 30 pound weight loss, you've accomplished that goal. If you're trying to achieve a goal, you have to know when you get there.

A. - Attainable! - What are the small steps you can take to achieve this goal? For instance, I'm going to drink 64 oz. of water a day and exercise 3 times a week. They have to be small, realistic steps that you can implement to get you to your goal....which brings me to ' R.

R. - Realistic! - You're goals need to be realistic, or else you just set yourself up for disappointment. For instance it's perfectly acceptable to say "I want to lose 80 pounds". It's definitely a BIG goal, but with reasonable steps, I can get there. However, if I said "I want to lose 80 pounds in 2 months" I'm setting myself up for failure, because no way could I do that, and if I could it would definitely not be healthy.

T. - Timely! - Set a deadline to get your butt in gear! For me, I need a fairly close deadline to get and keep me going. All of these letters kinda tie into each other, in case you haven't noticed...but your deadline needs to be specific and realistic. Once you reach your deadline, you can look back and measure your success - even if you didn't hit your goal right on, you can at least see your progress and how far you've come.

So in trying to keep myself accountable here are my goals from the beginning of the year...using SMART:

1. Lose weight...I want to lose 22 pounds (gets me right at 200) by my wedding day (September 13). I plan on doing this by making healthier choices in my food, and by getting at least 1-1/2 hours of exercise a week (Three 30 minute workouts).

2. Handle Money Better - I want to save a minimum of 5% of each paycheck and put into a savings account. Once I have $1,000 in savings I want to start putting that 5% towards my debt in my debt snowball (Dave Ramsey's baby steps - which I will get into in another post.)

3. Complain less - I got nothin' for this one, yet...I'm working on it :)

4. Take more pictures - I want to take at least 5 pictures a week for the rest of the year.

5. Enjoy (everything) more - I want to participate in the 100 days of happiness (#100happydays). You take a picture of something or someone each day that makes you happy. Plus, it will help with my photo goal! It's a two for one!

6. Blog More - I want to post on my blog AT LEAST once a week from now until the end of the year.

There are mine. What are some goals you guys are trying to achieve this year?

Monday Musings

Originally posted 5/26/14

First off, Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Soooo....a lot has been going on - too much to write about in one post. Mainly want I want to talk about today is weight loss. I have more than struggled with my weight for the last 12 years. Now with the wedding, I'm back to focusing on it. I feel that since the wedding is an actual event happening in the near future (3 months and 18 days!) it's help me be a bit more accountable than in the past.

I began Weight Watchers back in 2009, and did VERY well on it! I lost about 35 pounds on just changing my eating habits. Then things got stressful (i.e. life stuff happened) and I kind of gave up on it. I have gone back to WW on and off for the last 5 years, but I started again right at the beginning of the year. Then in the middle of January, my dad past away unexpectedly. We ate out so much just because we were on the run, finalizing plans and spending time with the family that were in town, and we had what me and EJ deemed the pity food. Not that we did not appreciate all the food we got from friends and family - it made things so simple for us in a very crazy time - it's just that there was soooooo much. And, it took some time to feel like we were back to "normal" after such a sudden tragedy.

So at the beginning of the month, we decided that we both needed to buckle down and help each other, and be accountable. We started doing regular weigh-ins, measured out and tracked our food, and we both started up our Body Bugg subscription again. (For those of you who don't know what a Body Bugg is - it's a little device that you wear around your upper arm, and it tells you how many calories you burn and how many steps you take.)

My weight at the beginning of May was 224 - I kind of hate posting that number for everyone to see, but I feel like I need to be an open book and be completely honest to help myself stay accountable. Today when I weighed in I was at 221.8 (which is up 0.2 pounds from last Monday). I was actually surprised that I did not gain more weight seeing as how I ate way too much food this weekend.

So there is a little background on my previous weight loss journey, and where I'm starting now. I'm hoping to chronicle my struggles and victories, so I can learn from them and continue to do a little bit better each day.

Me & EJ's engagement photo taken early April.

Blech

 Originally posted 1/27/14


Looking at my first post for 2014, I remember how excited I was to get started with 2014, now 3 weeks later I feel like all that hope and excitement is gone. My dad died 11 days ago. He went into the hospital on Sunday the 12th with what the doctors thought was pnumonia and he died on Thursday the 16th. I'm numb, and in shock, and I'm angry, and sad, and am wondering what I did to deserve having both of my parents taken away from me.

I have to go back to work tomorrow, but that seems so stupid. I know going back to my daily routine will be good, but I don't know how I'm supposed to think about anything else but my dad not being around anymore. I felt the same when mom died. I kept thinking 'how can people just go on with their lives, when mine is so shattered and broken'.

People keep asking me how I'm doing - I hate that! I know it's because they don't know what else to say, and that's okay. I'm not doing okay. I don't have parents and I need my them. Even though I have my own life and am 32, I still need my mom and dad from time to time. I know I have family and friends to help me through this, but it's just different without your parents. I feel so alone and by myself without either one of them. I always thought my parents would die in their sleep when they were 105 years old! That was a real shock to me when mom died so young, but I guess I went back to that thinking that dad would die when he was old, or thinking that mom died so at least dad will be here for a long time.

When mom died I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what grief was and how it would stay with me forever. Now I know what to expect and it sucks and I don't want to have to do it again. And I feel like I'm on double duty because not only am I dealing with dad dying, but I'm reliving my mom dying all over again. It's so unfair, and it hurts. I just wish there were a certain number of tears I could cry and the pain would stop for awhile.

I hate this and it hasn't even really completely set in yet. One thing I am happy about - for days I got to sit around with friends and family and share stories of my dad and we laughed and looked at pictures and it made it just a teeny bit better. He will be missed by so many people, most of those people I don't even know and it just exemplifies what a wonderful, caring person he was, and what a wonderful life he did live. I hope that when I go, I can have that many people at my funeral, and have so many people say such wonderful things about me!

Books I've Read in 2012

New year, new list!

1. A Feast for Crows - George R.R. Martin
2. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake - Aimee Bender
3. Bossypants - Tina Fey
4. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
5. Drink Deep - Chloe Niell
6. The Hours - Michael Cunningham
7. By a Thread - Jennifer Estep
8. From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris
9. The Girl Who Played with Fire - Stieg Larson
10. The Sorceress - Michael Scott
11. Dark Descendant - Jenna Black
12. Black Hills - Nora Roberts
13. Let's Pretend This Never Happened - Jenny Lawson
14. The Necromancer - Michael Scott
15. Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris
16. Deadly Descendant - Jenna Black
17. Made in the USA - Billie Letts
18. Dead in the Family - Charlaine Harris
19. Zombies Sold Separately - Cheyenne McCray
20. Harvesting the Heart - Jodi Picoult
21. Dead Reckoning - Charlaine Harris
22. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest - Stieg Larson
23. A Discovery of Witches - Deborah Harkness
24. Vampires Dead Ahead - Cheyenne McCray
25. Sacre Bleu - Christopher Moore
26. Immortal in Death - J.D. Robb
27. Hot Six - Janet Evanovich
28. State of Wonder - Ann Patchett
29. Noah - Jaquelyn Frank
30. Deadlocked - Charlaine Harris
31. Magic Burns - Ilona Andrews
32. Naked Heat - Richard Castle
33. The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
34. Biting Cold - Chloe Neill
35. Widow's Web - Jennifer Estep
36. Precinct 13 - Tate Hallaway
37. Odd Thomas - Dean Koontz
38. The Magicians - Lev Grossman
39. Seven Up - Janet Evanovich
40. The Eyre Affair - Jasper Fforde
41. Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk - David Sedaris
42. Every Wich Way But Dead - Kim Harrison
43. The Gargoyle - Andrew Davidson
44. The Book of Tomorrow - Cecelia Alhern
45. Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society - Amy Hill Hearth
46. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
47. Forever Odd - Dean Koontz
48. Magic Strikes - Ilona Andrews

Updated: May 30, 2014

Going back through my information on Goodreads, these are the books that I have marked as being read in 2012.

Books I've Read in 2011

Here's the 2011 list!

1. Biting Nixie  - Mary Hughes
2. All Together Dead - Charlaine Harris
3. Dreamfever - Karen Marie Moning (re-read)
4. Shadowfever - Karen Marie Moning
5. First Grave on the Right - Darynda Jones
6. Full Moon Rising - Keri Arthur
7. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
8. Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
9. Heat Wave - Richard Castle
10. Secrets of a Former Fat Girl - Lisa Delaney
11. My Horiztonal Life - Chelsea Handler
12. The Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin
13. Magic Bites - Ilona Andrews (re-read)
14. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
15. Lighten Up: Love What You Have, Have What You Need, Be Happier With Less - Peter Walsh
16. Lover Unleashed - J.R. Ward
17. Vampires Not Invited - Cheyenne McCray
18. A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
19. A Clash of Kings - George R.R. Martin
20. Twice Bitten - Chloe Neill
21. Tangled Threads - Jennifer Estep
22. Good Omens - Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman
23. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
24. A Storm of Swords - George R.R. Martin
25. Marked - P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast
26. Two for the Dough - Janet Evanovich
27. Three to Get Deadly - Janet Evanovich
28. American Gods - Neil Gaiman
29. Spider's Revenge - Jennifer Estep



*updated 1/1/2012

Books I've Read in 2010

Yet another list! I try to keep a record of the books I've read over the years. I personally think it's fun to go back and see when I read a book, how my reading tastes have changed and if I can read more books than the previous year. So here we go for 2010:

1. Lover Avenged - J.R. Ward
2. Killing Moon - Rebecca York
3. Dragon Wytch - Yasmine Galenorn
4. Damien - Jacquelyn Frank
5. Queene of Light - Jennifer Armintrout
6. Julia's Chocolates - Cathy Lamb
7. Kiss of Fire - Deborah Cooke
8. Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye - Victoria Laurie
9. The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo - Stieg Larsson
10. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan
11. Frankensten: Prodigal Son - Dean Koontz
12. One for the Money - Janet Evanovich
13. Ecstacy - Jacquelyn Frank
14. Spider's Bite - Jennifer Estep
15. Lover Mine - J.R. Ward
16. Dead as a Doornail - Charlaine Harris
17. Boy's Life - Robert McCammon
18. Faefever - Karen Marie Moning
19. Dreamfever - Karen Marie Moning
20. Definitely Dead - Charlaine Harris
21. Web of Lies - Jennifer Estep
22. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters - Rick Riordan
23. Better Read than Dead - Victoria Laurie
24. Night Huntress - Yasmine Galenorn
25. The Devil Inside - Jenna Black
26. Beyond the Highland Mist - Karen Marie Moning
27. Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs
28. The Sword - Jean Johnson
29. Touch the Dark - Karen Chance
30. A Vision of Murder - Victoria Laurie
31. Women Food and God - Geneen Roth
32. Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman - Elizabeth Buchan
33. Charmed and Dangerous - Toni McGee Causey
34. Knit One Kill Two - Maggie Sefton
35. Some Girls Bite - Chloe Neill
36. The Passage - Justin Cronin
37. Such a Pretty Fat - Jen Lancaster
38. Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
39. Venom - Jennifer Estep
40. Friday Night Bites - Chloe Neill
41. Heir of Night: Wall of Night - Helen Lowe
42. Demons Not Included - Cheyenne McCray
43. Halfway to the Grave - Jeaniene Frost
44. The Good, The Bad, and the Undead - Kim Harrison
45. The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
46. No Werewolves Allowed - Cheyenne McCray

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Originally reviewed 2/3/11

Synopsis: Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else
                                    entirely.

My Thoughts: The first book in what I hope is a long running series. Darynda Jones has put a new twist on the paranormal genre by having her main character, Charley Davidson, as the Grim Reaper. She's sassy and funny with a touch of ADD. At times I did feel that there were too many little sub-plots going on (a LOT happened in this first book!), but I didn't have trouble following along. I'm really excited about this "series" and can't wait to see what kind of trouble Charley can get into next book!

2014...WOOT! WOOT!

Originally Posted 1/7/14

I always feel like the new year brings such hope and promise of things to come and I feel like this year is going to be the best year yet! I have so much to look foward to this year - a wedding (my own...who'd a thunk it?!), and honeymoon trip to Disney World (THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!).

I feel like with these HUGE things to look foward to this year, it's going to help me stay with some of my "new year's resolutions". Here's a list of what I would like to accomplish/do this year (some are pretty generic, some maybe not):

1. Lose weight (DUH - who doesn't have this on their list?)
2. Handle money better (spend less, save more...I have a friggin wedding to pay for!)
3. Complain less (I'm a whiner...I know you all are shocked!)
4. Take more pictures
5. Enjoy (everything) More
6. Blog more


Let's see what I can do with the year ahead.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Sparkly Nook Moment!

Originally Posted 9/26/10


So last week I was working the Nook counter, and I had sold a two nooks within an hour. So I went to one of my co-workers to tell her this and being the snarky, witty person she is said "You're a nook prostitue". Of course my first reaction was 'Hey, that would make an awesome button!' So we start talking about this, and I said I'm gonna make myself a button that says "Hookin' for the Nook" it would be a way better customer conversation starter than my current button I have to wear that says "I'm Nook Smart".

So the next day I was telling my managers about this new button I would be wearing - I just wanted to give them a warning! - and my manager came up with the greatest catchphrase for my new button: Hookin' for the Nook: Get your protection plan and a happy ending at the same time!

I swear this is a true story!!

Ode to Work or Stephanie has too much time on her hands

Originally Posted 9/22/10

So I mentioned earlier on facebook that I was writing a song called I Heart Work. Well during the creative process I've decided that it's more of a poem, although still can be put to music and dance steps if the mood should strike! I've also changed the name, I hope you all enjoy!!

Ode to Work
or Stephanie Has to Much Time on Her Hands
By Stephanie

I'm sittin' in my chair
Just keyin' out the mail
and I wanna go home

My butt is really hurtin
but I can't get up and move
and I wanna go home

Someone walked by that smelled like beer.
It sounds like a good idea...
and I wanna go home

I'm listening to music
and getting a headache
and I wanna go home

There's a rockin song on the ipod
and I want to dance around, but I can't
and I wanna go home

I have to be at my other job at 7:30
and I'd like to be in bed
and I wanna go home

They make announcements on the intercom
but they all sound like Charlie Brown's mom
and I wanna go home

They say I can leave early
but I'm broke
so I can't go home.

The End

Shiny First Post!

Originally posted 9/21/10

So I've decided to start this blog, with the encouragement of some friends, because apparently I have funny random moments (Pink Sparkly Moments!) that people usually think are funny. If you are not familiar with my Pink Sparkly Moments there are a few different kinds: 1. Me reverting back to a 6 year old (which happens more frequently that it should for me being 28); 2. Me having a ditzy or shallow moment (which also happens more frequently than I would like); and 3. Me living in my Stephanie Universe where everything works out the way I want it to (I am the Queen of the Stephanie Universe and I visit often, but not many others do....I wonder why??).

Anywho, that's a little background on the Pink Sparkly Moments. And not to leave you without experiencing one, my 6 year old self would like to share with you my most favorite commercial:

Gideon - Jacquelyn Frank

Synopsis:

For a thousand years, Gideon has healed his people. And as the oldest surviving male of his race, his wisdom has always been respected without question. But Gideon knows that even he is vulnerable to the powerful, primitive desires that befall his kind during Hallowed moons--and nine years ago that truth was hammered home when he found himself claiming Magdalegna, the Demon King's sister, in a wild embrace. Horrified by his lack of control, he left her wanting and furious--and then exiled himself for the better part of a decade. Now, with necromancers threatening his people--and Magdalegna nearly their victim--Gideon must face another truth. He and the beautiful, stubborn Magdalegna are destined to be together, to share a love as deep and old as time itself. But first he needs to regain her trust. Then he'll have to save her life...



My Thoughts:

I thought the story itself was a little slower than Jacob, but it was just as good. I really enjoyed the fact that this book really introduced the rest of the Nightwalkers races - vampires and the lycanthropes...and it seemed to open things up for future books. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites and I hope Frank writes more books in this series!!


Rating: A

The Unsung Hero - Suzanne Brockmann

Synopsis:

After a near-fatal head injury, navy SEAL lieutenant Tom Paoletti catches a terrifying glimpse of an international terrorist in his New England hometown. When he calls for help, the navy dismisses the danger as injury-induced imaginings. In a desperate, last-ditch effort to prevent disaster, Tom creates his own makeshift counterterrorist team, assembling his most loyal officers, two elderly war veterans, a couple of misfit teenagers, and Dr. Kelly Ashton-the sweet "girl next door" who has grown into a remarkable woman. The town's infamous bad boy, Tom has always longed for Kelly. Now he has one final chance for happiness, one last chance to win her heart, and one desperate chance to save the day . . .

My Thoughts:

Usually when it comes to books labeled as romance, I tend to stick with the paranormal variety. However, I have a couple of good friends who continually have recommended this author and this series to me, which I would tend to call romantic suspense, so I decided to give it a try.

I absolutely loved this book! I thought the story was pretty interesting, and the characters were wonderful. I really enjoyed how Brockmann had the love story going on with Tom and Kelly, as well as you find out about their fathers' times in the war and a love triangle that was going on there. All this time, there is the story of Tom trying to capture this terrorist in his hometown, and getting the backing from is superior officers.

Rating: A-

Undead and Unwed - Mary Janice Davidson

Synopsis:

First Betsy Taylor loses her job, then she's killed in a car accident. But what really bites is that she can't seem to stay dead. And now her new friends have the ridiculous idea that Betsy is the prophesied vampire queen, and they want her help in overthrowing the most obnoxious power-hungry vampire in five centuries.

My Thoughts:

Poor Betsy! First she is attacked in an alley by some nasty people (if you could call them that) that aren't that familiar with soap and water. Then she gets hit by a truck, thrown into a tree and dies. Then she wakes up only to realize that her horrible stepmother stole all her designer shoes, and oh yeah - she's now the undead.

In my opinion, this is the ultimate humorous chick-lit paranormal! My favorite parts where the times that she continually tried to kill herself and be really dead, instead of undead or in-between. I also loved that fact that to get her involved with overthrowing the bad vampire, her friends bribed her with designer shoes!

I'm looking foward to reading more in this funny series!

Rating: A-

Dark Gold - Christine Feehan

Synopsis:
Alexandria Houton will sacrifice anything--even her life --to protect her orphaned little brother. But when both encounter an unspeakable evil in the swirling San Francisco mists, Alex can only cry to heaven for their deliverance . . . And out of the darkness swoops Aidan Savage, a golden being more powerful, more mysterious, than any other creature of the night. The ageless Carpathian male snatches them from a hideous fate. But is Aidan Alex's salvation . . . or her sin? If she surrenders to Aidan's savage, unearthly seduction, and gives him the color, the light, the family he craves, will Alex truly save her brother? Or sacrifice more than her life?

My Thoughts:
Another strong story in the Carpathian series, this time focusing on Aidan Savage. This is the third in the series, and I'm feeling as if all the stories are all the same in the sense that they are all more character driven than plot driven, the women are turned into Carpathians and have to be shown the way to live by their mates, and there is always an internal struggle with the females of the stories to want to be with their mates. They find they don't want their lives ruled by a man, and want a sense of independence, but in the end all works out well and everybody is madly in love.
Because Dark Gold was so similar to the last two books, I found myself becoming bored with the story. My friends say that as the series goes on the characters and the plot get better. I will probably read one or two more to see, but if this is all there is, I'm probably giving up on the series. It is a really strong romance, but the stories are becoming too repetitive.

Rating: B-

Naked in Death - J.D. Robb

Synopsis:

It is 2058. New York cop Eve Dallas doesn't have to confront gun crime anymore, no one does. Guns are simply relics. She is assisted in detection by instant communications and probability predictions from the all-pervasive computer network. But this latest homicide is an old-fashioned crime in many ways. Sharon DeBlass is a high-class hooker from a wealthy, powerful family. Her brutal, possibly sexually motivated shooting sends shockwaves through her family, the upper echelons of political society and police headquarters. From the note under her body, it seems that a serial killer with a penchant for antique weaponry and a grudge against prostitutes is on the loose. The killer gets uncomfortably close to Eve Dallas as she pieces together his identity, flying in the face of authority and risking her career. Naked in Death introduces the reader to Dallas: a fascinating heroine, complex and vulnerable, a great detective with an aeroplane hold full of baggage. In the course of this murder investigation she meets Roarke, a charming self-made billionaire, and passions are stirred.

My Thoughts:

I really loved this book! I thought it was a solid introduction to Eve Dallas and Roarke, with a good mystery/thriller story line that kept me guessing for most of the book. I thought that Robb did a great job of mixing mystery and crime with a start of a great romance that didn't feel forced, but really moved the story along. I'm looking foward to reading more in this series, and I know I have a lot more ahead of me, considering that there are about 35 books in this series :)

Rating: B+

New Moon - Stephenie Meyer

Synopsis:
All is not well between demon-magnet Bella and Edward Cullen, her vampire Romeo. An innocent papercut at Edward's house puts Bella in grave danger when various members of the Cullen family can barely resist their hunger at the smell of blood. The Cullens promptly leave town, afraid of endangering Edward's beloved, and Bella sinks into an overwhelming depression. Months later, she finally emerges from her funk to rebuild her life, focusing on her friendship with besotted teen Jacob from the reservation. Bella's unhealthy enthrallment to Edward leads her into dangerous and self-destructive behavior despite her new friends, and supernatural complications are bound to reappear. Bella's being hunted by an evil vampire, and Jacob's adolescent male rage turns out to be incipient lycanthropy: It seems many Quileute Indians become werewolves in the presence of vampires, their natural enemies. Psychic miscommunications and angst-ridden dramatic gestures lead to an exciting page-turner of a conclusion drenched in the best of Gothic romantic excess. Despite Bella's flat and obsessive personality, this tale of tortured demon lovers entices.

My Thoughts:
Good news: I liked this book much better than Twilight. There was more going on in the story to keep me entertained, and I'm really glad that Jacob played a much bigger role in this book.
Bad news: I still cannot stand the character of Bella. She is so dramatic and at the same time flat and boring. She is so reckless, with no concerns to the consequences of her actions, as well as no concern for the people around her, except maybe Edward, with whom her life revolves around.
I'm still up in the air about whether or not to read the next book. If I do it will be awile, because I definitely need a break from Bella!

Rating: C+

TBR Shelves

Originally Posted 8/18/09

So here are some pictures of my TBR books, there's alot! And there really is no rhyme or reason to their order....they are just there, and I need to read them :)




This picture is actually my "night stand' in my bedroom. It's got nice storage underneath, so what do I put in it?? Books of course! As you can see, they are double stacked.

Two shelves in a downstairs bookcase. These are also double shelved...you can see it better from the bottom shelf. The other shelves on this bookcase are filled with scrapbook stuff and other knick-knacks 

 

 One of my small bookcases downstairs...also double shelved

My other small bookcase, and like all the others...it's also double shelved.

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

Synopsis:
After having his portrait painted, Dorian Gray is captivated by his own beauty. Tempted by his world-weary friend, decadent friend Lord Henry Wotton, he wished to stay young forever and pledges his very soul to keep his good looks. As Dorian's slide into crime and cruelty progresses, he stays magically youthful, while his beautiful portrait changes, revealing the hideous corruption of moral decay. Set in fin-de-siecle London, the novel traces a path from the studio of painter Basil Howard to the opium dens of the East End.


My Thoughts: (Orginally Reviewed August 5, 2003)
This story was really good. It's about Dorian Gray who is about 18 at the time his friend Basil paints a portrait of him. Gray prays that his portrait would age and he himself would remain young, and of course his prayer is answered.
Having been written in the late 1800's, it's hard to get past some of the vocabulary in this book, and also there are endnotes which makes it hard to read because you have to flip to the back and find what that part meant and then go back to reading. Another thing that I didn't like was when the author went on and on about jewels and embroidery - it was so hard to follow and it wasn't necessary the story at all.
Overall I liked the story, but it was a tough read, and although it's not a very long book (a little over 200 pages) it is not a light read. I think you should read this book if you're into classic literature, but otherwise I would pick something else.

Rating: C

In The Woods - Tana French

Synopsis:
When he was twelve years old, Adam Ryan went playing in the woods one sunny day with his two best friends. He never saw them again. Their bodies were never found, and Adam himself was discovered with his back pressed against an oak tree and his shoes filled with blood. He had no memory of what had happened. Twenty years later Adam -- now using his middle name of Rob -- is a detective with the Dublin police force. His colleagues don't know about his past. He works as a team with Cassie Maddox, a smart, tough cookie; they are best friends as well as partners. When the body of a young girl is found at the site of an archaeological dig, Rob and Cassie get the case. And when they reach the crime scene, Rob realises it is the exact site of his childhood trauma. They also find a hairclip that he recognises as having belonged to his friend. Could there be a connection between that old, unsolved crime and this? Knowing that he would be thrown off the case if his past were revealed, Rob takes a fateful decision to keep quiet. Rob and Cassie are investigating the murder of Katy Devlin, but they both hope that they might also solve the twenty-year-old mystery of the woods.



My Thoughts:

A solid murder mystery. I thought the character development was great, and the story was very interesting. I was a bit disappointed with a turn of events in a sub-plot, but I think that was because of a personal expectation of what I wanted to happen. I thought the writing style was fantastic and beautiful - French does a wonderful job of expressing feelings and thoughts in a way that is so wonderful. She really draws you in and you can really sympathize with the main character. I'm really looking foward to reading her second book, The Likeness.

Rating: B+

Lover Eternal - J.R. Ward

Synopsis:
Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...

My Thoughts:
I love this series! This second installment picks up right where the first one left off. This time, however, we learn more about Rhage and all of his inner demons (figuratively and mostly literally). I love this series because of the characters, and how with each book the plot becomes more complex and more of the pieces fit together.
It's a series I believe you don't have to absolutely read in order, but to get the most out of the books, I would recommend it :)

Rating: A

Club Dead - Charlaine Harris

Synopsis:
Sookie Stackhouse is having man trouble. Her vampire boyfriend, Bill, has been distant and inattentive lately. Then he announces that he is going on a business trip, which clearly is more than it seems. After a werewolf tries to abduct Sookie at work, Bill's boss, Eric, tells her that Bill fell under the sway of his--Bill's, that is--ex, a sexy vamp named Lorena, and has been kidnapped. Eric wants Sookie's help in getting Bill back, and despite her hurt over Bill's betrayal, Sookie agrees to go to Jackson, Mississippi, to find her wayward lover. Eric has persuaded Alcide, a dashing werewolf, to get Sookie access to Josephine's, aka Club Dead, the local hangout of Jackson's supernatural element. In between dodging kidnappers, the advances of amorous Eric, and her growing feelings for Alcide, Sookie has to find out who kidnapped Bill and figure out a way to rescue him.

My Thoughts:
Yet another great addition to the Sookie Stackhouse story. She's back at it again, this time Bill has been kidnapped, and she must go search for him and his kidnappers in Alabama. Some great new characters, as well as the characters we've met before. In my opinion, this series keeps getting better with each book.

Rating: B+

Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Jennifer Rardin

Synopsis:
I'm Jaz Parks. My boss is Vayl, born in Romania in 1744. Died there too, at the hand of his vampire wife, Liliana. But that's ancient history. For the moment Vayl works for the C.I.A. doing what he does best--assassination. And I help. You could say I'm an Assistant Assassin. But then I'd have to kick your ass. Our current assignment seemed easy. Get close to a Miami plastic surgeon named Assan, a charmer with ties to terrorism that run deeper than a buried body. Find out what he's meeting with that can help him and his comrades bring America to her knees. And then close his beady little eyes forever. Why is it that nothing's ever as easy as it seems?

My Thoughts:
I absolutely love Jaz Parks! She's a no-nonsense smart ass :) The characters were well developed, the story line was good and kept me interested through the whole thing. There's a lot of action, a conspiracy, and some humor. I always say this, but I'm really looking foward to reading more in this series to see what happens with Jaz and Vayl!

Rating: A-

Changeling - Yasmine Galenorn

Synopsis:

Delilah, a were tabby cat by a twist of genetic fate, and her half-Fae, half-human sisters are on the front lines of a brewing war. Just recovering from a battle, and adjusting to a relationship with human cop Chase, Delilah is drawn into investigating the mysterious, gruesome deaths of the Rainier Were Puma Clan and becomes attracted to their leader, Zachary. As she fears, a new threat emerges, manipulated by an old enemy, and it will take all of their efforts, and acceptance of her fate, to bring them down.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the series, and even more bad things are happening to the D'Artigo sisters! I like how Galenorn mixes in a bunch of genres in this series: a little bit of humor, some mystery, some romance, a lot of paranormal and fantasy! I did find myself being a little frazzled at how much stuff was going on in this story, but it didn't make me enjoy it any less. I'm really enjoying the series so far, but they definitely need to be read in order to understand everything that is going on.

Rating: B+

Fantasy Lover - Sherrilyn Kenyon

 

Synopsis:
Dear Reader, Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day. As a love-slave, I knew everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She, alone, bothered to take me out of the bedroom and into the world. She taught me to love again. But I was not born to know love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace-the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two thousand year old curse? Julian of Macedon

My Thoughts:
I really thought this was a nice introduction into Sherrilyn Kenyon's series. Personally, I felt the story started a little slow, and was more of a romance than a paranormal that everyone was telling me this series is. Luckily about halfway through, it really picked up for me. That's where Kenyon really started to mix the Greek Mythology in with the present day, and started to get really interesting. Having read the second book in this series, I can say that it definitely picks up from this one and is more entertaining. Fantasy Lover was a nice, but not great, introduction to this series.

Rating: B-

Dark Desire - Christine Feehan

 

Synopsis:
The stranger silently summoned her from across the continents, across the seas. He whispered of eternal torment, of endless hunger . . . of dark, dangerous desires. And somehow American surgeon Shea O'Halloran could feel his anguish. Drawn to the far Carpathian mountains, Shea found a ravaged, raging man, and recognized the beloved stranger who'd already become part of her. But was she to be his healer . . . or his prey?

My Thoughts:
I found this book more enjoyable than the first, and it seemed to move at a faster pace. The story takes place 25 years after Dark Prince, and we are met again with human vampire hunters, hunting the Carpathians. These vampire hunters are hunting and torturing any vampires they can find, including Jacques, a Carpathian male, who is the center of this story. Jacques is buried alive, obviously left for dead, for seven years, until he is able to reach out and call someone near through his mind. Our leading lady of the story, Shea, is called to Jacques and rescues him.
Like I said, I did enjoy this story much more than Dark Prince, I think because it kind of jumps right into the story and there's not much explaining and world building as there was in the first book. I'm currently reading the third in the series and am still loving where Feehan is going with this :)

Rating: A-

HUGE list!!

So, I decided to make a list of all the series that I've read or am currently reading. The ones I've read are in red...get it read=red....I know I'm lame :) I do have a bit of what I call "Author A.D.D." and I even though I like to read series in order, I skip around from series to series. I'll try and update this about every month or so :) Believe me, this list does not even include the series that I WANT to read and haven't read any of the books yet :)

The Kate Daniels Series by Ilona Andrews:
1. Magic Bites
2. Magic Burns
3. Magic Strikes
4. Magic Bleeds
5. Magic Slays
6. Gun Metal Magic
7. Magic Rises

The Xanth Series by Piers Anthony:
1. A Spell for Chameleon - Reviewed
2. Source of Magic
3. Castle Roogna
4. Centaur Aisle
5. Ogre, Ogre
6. Night Mare
7. Dragon on a Pedestal
8. Crewel Lye
9. Golem in the Gears
10. Vale of the Vole
11. Heaven Cent
12. Man from Mundania
13. Isle of View
14. Question Quest
15. The Color of her Panties
16. Demons Don't Dream
17. Harpy Thyme
18. Geis of the Gargoyle
19. Roc and a Hard Place
20. Yon Ill Wind
21. Faun & Games
22. Zombie Lover
23. Xone of Contention
24. The Dastard
25. Up in Heaval
26. Swell Foop
27. Cube Route
28. Currant Events
29. Pet Peeve
30. Stork Naked
31. Air Apparent
32. Two to the Fifth

The Lightworld/Darkworld Series by Jennifer Armintrout:
1. Queene of Light
2. Child of Darkness
3. Veil of Shadows

The Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong:
1. Bitten - Reviewed
2. Stolen - Reviewed
3. Dime Store Magic - Reviewed
4. Industrial Magic
5. Haunted
6. Broken
7. No Humans Involved
8. Personal Demon
9. Living with the Dead
10. Frostbitten
11. Walking the Witch
12. Spellbound

The Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist Series by Jenna Black
1. The Devil Inside
2. The Devil You Know
3. The Devil's Due
4. Speak of the Devil
5. The Devil's Playground

The Mercy Thompson Series by Patricia Briggs:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Crossed
4. Silver Borne
5. River Marked

The Troubleshooter Series by Susanne Brockmann:
1. The Unsung Hero
2. The Defiant Hero
3. Over the Edge
4. Out of Control
5. Into the Night
6. Gone Too Far
7. Flashpoint
8. Hot Target
9. Breaking Point
10. Into the Storm
11. Force of Nature
12. All Through the Night
13. Into the Fire
14. Dark of Night
15. Hot Pursuit
16. Breaking the Rules

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher:
1. Storm Front
2. Fool Moon
3. Grave Peril
4. Summer Knight
5. Death Masks
6. Blood Rites
7. Dead Beat
8. Proven Guilty
9. White Night
10. Small Favor
11. Turn Coat
12. Changes
13. Ghost Story

The Revivalist Series by Rachel Caine:
1. Working Stiff
2. Two Weeks Notice
3. Terminated

The Weather Warden Series by Rachel Caine:
1. Ill Wind
2. Heat Stroke
3. Chill Factor
4. Windfall
5. Firestorm
6. Thin Air
7. Gale Force
8. Cape Storm
9. Total Eclipse

The Cassandra Palmer Series by Karen Chance:
1. Touch the Dark
2. Claimed by Shadow
3. Embrace the Night
4. Curse the Dawn
5. Hunt the Moon

The Dragonfire Series by Deborah Cooke:
1. Kiss of Fire
2. Kiss of Fury
3. Kiss of Fate
4. Winter Kiss
5. Whisper Kiss
6. Darkfire Kiss

The Kay Scarpetta Series by Patricia Cornwell:
1. Postmordem
2. Body of Evidence
3. All That Remains
4. Cruel and Unusual
5. The Body Farm
6. From Potter's Field
7. Cause of Death
8. Unnatural Exposure
9. Point of Origin
10. Black Notice
11. The Last Precinct
12. Blow Fly
13. Trace
14. Predator
15. Book of the Dead
16. Scarpetta
17. The Scarpetta Factor
18. Port Mortuary

The Queen Betsy Series (aka The Undead Series) by Mary Janice Davidson:
1. Undead and Unwed
2. Undead and Unemployed
3. Undead and Unappreciated
4. Undead and Unreturnable
5. Undead and Unpopular
6. Undead and Uneasy
7. Undead and Unworthy
8. Undead and Unwelcome

The Elemental Assassin Series by Jennifer Estep:
1. Spider's Bite
2. Web of Lies
3. Venom
4. Tangled Threads
5. Spider's Revenge
6. By a Thread
7. Widow's Web
8. Deadly Sting
9. Heart of Venom
10. The Spider
11. Poison Promise
12. Black Widow

The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich
1. One for the Money
2. Two for the Dough
3. Three to Get Deadly
4. Four to Score
5. High Five
6. Hot Six
7. Seven Up
8. Hard Eight
9. To the Nines
10. Ten Big Ons
11. Eleven on Top
12. Twelve Sharp
13. Lean Mean Thirteen
14. Fearless Fourteen
15. Finger Lickin' Fifteen
16. Sizzling Sixteen
17. Smoking Seventeen

The Carpathian Series (aka the Dark Series) by Christine Feehan:
1. Dark Prince - Reviewed
2. Dark Desire
3. Dark Gold
4. Dark Magic
5. Dark Challenge
6. Dark Fire
7.Dark Dreamers
8. Dark Legend
9. Dark Guardian
10. Dark Symphony
11. Dark Descent
12. Dark Melody
13. Dark Destiny
14. Dark Secret
15. Dark Demon
16. Dark Celebration
17. Dark Possession
18. Dark Curse

The Drake Sisters Series by Christine Feehan:
1. Magic in the Wind
2. Twilight before Christmas
3. Oceans of Fire
4. Dangerous Tides
5. Safe Harbor
6. Turbulent Sea
7. Hidden Currents

The Nightwalkers Series by Jacquelyn Frank:
1. Jacob - Reviewed
2. Gideon
3. Elijah
4. Damien
5. Noah

The Shadowdwellers Series by Jacquelyn Frank
1. Ecstacy
2. Rapture
3. Pleasure

The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost:
1. Halfway to the Grave
2. One Foot in the Grave
3. At Grave's End
4. Destined for an Early Grave
5. This Side of the Grave

The Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke:
1. Inkheart
2. Inkspell
3. Inkdeath

The Sisters of Moon Series by Yasmine Galenorn:
1. Witchling - Reviewed
2. Changeling - Reviewed
3. Darkling
4. Dragon Wytch
5. Night Huntress
6. Demon Mistress
7. Bone Magic
8. Harvest Hunting
9. Blood Wyne

The Anita Blake Series by Laurell K. Hamilton:
1. Guilty Pleasures - Reviewed
2. The Laughing Corpse
3. Circus of the Damned
4. Lunatic Cafe
5. Bloody Bones
6. The Killing Dance
7. Burnt Offerings
8. Blue Moon
9. Obsidian Butterfly
10. Narcissus in Chains
11. Cerulean Sins
12. Incubus Dreams
13. Micah
14. Danse Macabre
15. The Harlequin
16. Blood Noir
17. Skin Trade

The Nightcreature Series by Lori Handeland:
1. Blue Moon - Reviewed
2. Hunter's Moon
3. Dark Moon
4. Crescent Moon
5. Midnight Moon
6. Rising Moon
7. Hidden Moon
8. Thunder Moon

The Southern Vampire Mysteries (aka Sookie Stackhouse Series) by Charlaine Harris:
1. Dead Until Dark - Reviewed
2. Living Dead in Dallas - Reviewed
3. Club Dead - Reviewed
4. Dead to the World - Reviewed
5. Dead as a Doornail
6. Definitely Dead
7. All Together Dead
8. From Dead to Worse
9. Dead and Gone
10. Dead in the Family
11. Dead Reckoning
12. Deadlocked
13. Dead Ever After

The Rachel Morgan Series by Kim Harrison:
1. Dead Witch Walking - Reviewed
2. The Good, The Bad, and the Undead
3. Every Which Way but Dead
4. A Fistful of Charms
5. For a Few Demons More
6. The Outlaw Demon Wails
7. White Witch, Black Curse
8. Black Magic Sanction
9. Pale Demon
10. A Perfect Blood
11. Into the Woods
12. Ever After
13.The Undead Pool
14. The Witch with No Name

The Dark-Hunter/Dream-Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon:
1. Fantasy Lover - Reviewed
2. The Beginning
3. Dragonswan
4. Night Pleasures
5. Night Embrace
6. Phantom Lover
7. Dance with the Devil
8. Dark Hunter Christmas
9. Kiss of the Night
10. Night Play
11. Winter Born
12. Seize the Night
13. Sins of the Night
14. Second Chances
15. Unleash the Night
16. Dark Side of the Moon
17. Hard Days Night-Searcher
18. Until Death We Do Part
19. Fear the Darkness
20. The Dream-Hunter
21. Devil May Cry
22. Upon the Midnight Clear
23. Dark Hunter Companion
24. Dream Chaser
25. Acheron
26. One Silent Night
27. Dream Warrior
28. Bad Moon Rising
29. No Mercy
30. Retribution

The Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye Series by Victoria Laurie:
1. Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye
2. Better Read than Dead
3. A Vision of Murder
4. Killer Insight
5. Crime Seen
6. Death Perception
7. Doom With a View
8. A Glimpse of Evil
9. Vision Impossible

The Breeds Series by Lora Leigh:
1. Tempting the Beast - Reviewed
2. The Man Within
3. Elizabeth's Wolf
4. Kiss of Heat
5. Soul Deep
6. Hot Spell
7. Megan's Mark
8. Harmony's Way
9. Tanner's Scheme
10. Primal Heat
11. Jacob's Faith
12. Aiden's Charity
13. Beyond the Dark
14. Dawn's Awakening
15. Shifter
16. Mercy's War
17. The Magical Christmas Cat
18. Coyote's Mate
19. Bengal's Heart

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis:
1. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Voyage of the Dawn4. The Silver Chair
5. The Magician's Nephew
6. A Horse and his Boy
7. The Last Battle

The Aisling Grey Series by Katie MacAlister:
1. You Slay Me
2. Fire Me Up
3. Light My Fire
4. Holy Smokes

The Night Tracker Series by Cheyenne McCray:
1. Demons Not Included
2. No Werewolves Allowed
3. Vampires Not Invited
4. Zombies Sold Separately
5. Vampires Dead Ahead

The Fever Series by Karen Marie Moning:
1. Darkfever
2. Bloodfever
3. Faefever
4. Dreamfever
5. Shadowfever
6. Iced
7. Burned

The Chicagoland Vampire Series by Chloe Neill:
1. Some Girls Bite
2. Friday Night Bites
3. Twice Bitten
4. Hard Bitten
5. Drink Deep
6. Biting Cold
7. House Rules
8. Biting Bad
9. Wild Things
10. Blood Games
11. Dark Debt

The Inheritence Series by Christopher Paolini:
1. Eragon
2. Eldest
3. Brisingr

The Alex Cross Series by James Patterson:
1. Along Came a Spider
2. Kiss the Girls
3. Jack & Jill
4. Cat & Mouse
5. Pop Goes the Weasel
6. Roses are Red
7. Violets are Blue
8. Four Blind Mice
9. Big Bad Wolf
10. London Bridges
11. Mary Mary
12. Cross
13. Double Cross
14. Cross Country

The Women's Murder Club Series by James Patterson:
1. 1st to Die
2. 2nd Chance
3. 3rd Degree
4. 4th of July
5. 5th Horseman
6. 6th Target
7. 7th Heaven
8. 8th Confession

The Amelia Peabody Series by Elizabeth Peters:
1. The Crocodile on the Sandbank
2. The Curse of the Pharohs
3. The Mummy Case
4. Lion in the Valley
5. The Deeds of the Disturber
6. The Last Camel Died at Noon
7. The Snake, The Crocodile and the Dog
8. The Hippopotamus Pool
9. Seeing a Large Cat
10. The Ape Who Guards the Balance
11. The Falcon at the Portal
12. Thunder in the Sky
13. Lord of the Silent
14. The Golden One
15. Children of the Storm
16. Guardian on the Horizon
17. The Serpent on the Crown
18. Tomb of the Golden Bird
19. A River in the Sky

The Jaz Parks Series by Jennifer Rardin:
1. Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Reviewed
2. Another One Bites the Dust
3. Biting the Bullet
4. Bitten to Death
5. One More Bite

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series by Rick Riordan
1. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
2. Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters
3. Percy Jackson and the Titan's Curse
4. Percy Jackson and The Battle of Labrynth
5. Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian

The In Death Series by J.D. Robb:
1. Naked in Death
2. Glory in Death
3. Immortal in Death
4. Rapture in Death
5. Ceremony in Death
6. Vengence in Death
7. Holiday in Death
8. Conspiracy in Death
9. Loyalty in Death
10. Witness in Death
11. Judgement in Death
12. Betrayal in Death
13. Seduction in Death
14. Reunion in Death
15. Purity in Death
16. Portrait in Death
17. Imitation in Death
18. Divided in Death
19. Visions in Death
20. Survivor in Death
21. Origin in Death
22. Memory in Death
23. Born in Death
24. Innocent in Death
25. Creation in Death
26. Strangers in Death
27. Salvation in Death
28. Ritual in Death
29. Promises in Death
30. Kindred in Death

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - Reviewed
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Reviewed
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

The Argeneau Series by Lynsay Sands:
1. A Quick Bite
2. Love Bites
3. Single, White Vampire
4. Tall Dark and Hungry
5. A Bite to Remember
6. Bite Me If You Can
7. The Accidental Vampire
8. Vampires are Forever
9. Vampires, Interrupted
10. The Rogue Hunter
11. The Immortal Hunter

The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flemel Series by Michael Scott:
1. The Alchemyst
2. The Magician
3. The Sorceress
4. The Necromancer
5. The Warlock

The Knitting Mystery Series by Maggie Sefton:
1. Knit One, Kill Two
2. Needled to Death
3. A Deadly Yarn
4. A Killer Stitch
5. Dyer Consequences
6. Fleece Navidad
7. Dropped Dead Stitch
8. Skein of the Crime
9. Unraveled

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith:
1. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - Reviewed
2. Tears of the Giraffe
3. Morality for Beautiful Girls
4. The Kalahari Typing School for Men
5. The Full Cupboard of Life
6. In the Company of Cheerful Ladies
7. Blue Shoes and Happiness
8. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive
9. The Miracle at Speedy Motors
10. Tea Time for the Traditionally Built
11. The Double Comfort Safari Club
12. The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Pary

Dies the Fire Series by S.M. Stirling:
1. Dies the Fire - Reviewed
2. The Protector's War
3. A Meeting at Corvallis

The Kitty Norville Series by Carrie Vaughn:
1.Kitty and the Midnight Hour
2. Kitty Goes to Washington
3. Kitty Takes a Holiday
4. Kitty and the Silver Bullet
5. Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand
6. Kitty Raises Hell
7. Kitty's House of Horrors
8. Kitty Goes to War
9. Kitty's Big Trouble

Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J.R. Ward:
1. Dark Lover - Reviewed
2. Lover Eternal - Reviewed
3. Lover Awakened
4. Lover Revealed
5. Lover Unbound
6. Lover Enshrined
7. Lover Avenged
8. Lover Mine
9. Lover Unleashed
10. Lover Reborn
11. Lover at Last
12. The King
13. The Shadows

The Fallen Angel Series by J.R. Ward
1. Covet
2. Crave
3. Envy

The World of the Lupi Series by Eileen Wilkes:
1. Tempting Danger - Reviewed
2. Mortal Danger
3. Blood Lines
4. Night Season
5. Mortal Sins

The Moon Series by Rebecca York:
1. Killing Moon
2. Edge of the Moon
3. Witching Moon
4. Crimson Moon
5. Shadow of the Moon
6. New Moon
7. Ghost Moon
8. Eternal Moon
9. Dragon Moon


Last Updated 5/31/14