It's So Wet... and I'm SO Tired

Well, it's 2 days after Christmas... Merry Christmas!.... and the rain is just bucketing down.  It's been raining for the last 2 weeks, with only 2 days where it didn't rain.  The other night we ended up with 4 inches!  I think I should have asked Santa for a snorkel set this year - I could sure use it now.

Last night I had the worst nights sleep.  There was a party down the road (teenagers) and they were out wandering the street until nearly 1.30am!  I had hoped that the rain would just bucket down and douse their alcohol infused Boxing Day cheer, but alas it only sprinkled.  Still it was enough to make them head indoors.  Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to drown out the dance music.  Pity one of the people living next door didn't call the police.  So here I sit, trying to put two words together, with only about 4 hours sleep.  I shudder to think what they'll do on New Years Eve!

But today, the rain is just streaming down.  The ex-cyclone has now down-graded into a depression, and is heading down the Queensland coast.  So it looks like I'm housebound until Thursday at the earliest.  It's a good thing I was planning a quiet night in this New Years.  Maybe I'll just cuddle up with my Christmas pressie, a copy of Jane Eyre.

On top of that, I'll be studying for the foreseeable future.  No rest for the wicked is there :D

Waking up to this!

Well, it's one of the stranger ways to be woken up in the morning.  The other day, the first truly sunny day we've had in quite a while, there was some weird birds calling during the night... all night.  Then at about 6am, blurry eyed and with the hair from hell, a knock on the door and a barely caught "... come out and have a look at what's out back!" had me struggling to untangle myself from the covers. 

This was what greeted me...

Who would have thought not one, but 4 of these crested mooks would be wandering the streets?  They wandered down towards the shed at the back of the yard, jumping the neighbours fence.  I lured them back with little pieces of toast crust... ole blue above liked it.  The others were stuffing their faces on Nasturtium leaves.  Then, just when I tried to get some more pics of them (they are skittish and totally idiotic) the female flew off across the street, landing on the 2 storey house across the road.  She gave a honking cry... et, voila.  All 3 of her handsome men took off like a shot.

Just another day at the zoo here :D

O Happy Day. I've got books, books.... more books

They're all here... my precious books.  Okay, enough channelling of Gollum :D, but yes, my new order of books from oversea's arrived yesterday.  I'd been told about a great UK site Book Depository and decided to give it a go.  And I'll do it again as soon as I finish reading these.

• Styx's Storm
• The Darkest Hour
• Twice Bitten
• Cast in Chaos
• Midnight Crystal

I've already ploughed through Midnight Crystal (only so-so... read from library first), and Twice Bitten - Go Merit!.  Today I'll tackle Styx's Storm, you've gotta love those Breeds, and Cast in Chaos is already a work in progress.

So, as I've finished reading Midnight Crystal, I've gotta say that I was disappointed with it.  It's the final of an Arcane Society trilogy, and is listed under the Arcane Society series.  What I really wanted was a good olde fashioned dust bunny of a good time.  It was all set within the futuristic J&J (Jones & Jones for the uninitiated) and Arcane society.  The council was mentioned, and a little bit of the previous Ghost Hunter story has been included, you meet Lyra and Cruz, and find out what happened to Gloria Ray and her Guild Hunter squease and his co-baddies.  But all in all, it wasn't up to the same standard as the usual 'Harmony' titles.   My advice to you... if you choose to accept it, is to read it from your local library.

Okay, now onto something a bit more fun... Twice Bitten.

Now, I've been following the Chicagoland Vampires since the beginning.  I love the character of Merit, and how she's not just some kick-ass woman who doesn't care what's going on around her and manages to sleep with her guy before the first 4 chapters are up.  Merit was a scholar until she got attacked in the park at night while heading home from the Uni library... I know, it gives libraries a bad rep doesn't it ;) Now she's one of the most powerful vamps in her house, and she's half in lust with her Master.  Add some shapeshifter politics and you've got a good read that will keep you thoroughly entertained.

I've found some more upcoming titles that I want... you know, to ask Santa for :P

• Archangel's Consort - Nalini Singh
• Blood Challenge - Eileen Wilks
• Cast in Ruins - Michelle Sagara
• Magic Bleeds - Ilona Andrews
• Navarro's Promise - Lora Leigh
• Twilight's Dawn - Anne Bishop
• Silver Zombie - Carole Nelson Douglas

Well I think if Santa can arrange for these in the future I'll be a happy camper indeed.

Still raining... raining... raining....

The last few day has seen us just about washed out by a torrential downpour here.  The BOM (Bureau of Meteorology) has advised of Severe Storms... yeah, the actually got it right for once.  We had over 4 inches in 12 hours, and it's been raining heavily on and off since Saturday.

Monday was the first day that I'd been able to get to the car, let alone get out... not that this didn't present troubles of it's own.  It's been so wet that the driveway is now boggy and the car slips and slides around - not for the faint of heart!  So to take advantage of my moment of freedom, or just being able to go outside, I took some photo from the jetty about 800m down the road from us.
 

looking towards Bribie Island

This has actually been great reading weather.  I've managed to plough through my Anne Bishop "Black Jewels" again, and indulged in some guilty pleasures like Archangel's Consort (#2 Guild Hunters) and one of my favourites, the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.  You just can't go past a good Alpha can you :P

Although, I have been distracted by the Commonwealth Games coverage on TV.... we're kickin butt! :D

Aussie!, Aussie!, Aussie!

But today, miracle of miracles, there is actually sunshine!  It may only last for half an hour, but I'm going to enjoy it while it's here.  I'll have to check out my roses after getting off the computer.  My ferns were just about flooded out of the greenhouse... I tipped out the large concrete dish twice and put my more fragile ferns up on bricks to keep their feet out of the cold water... hopefully they won't turn up their toes.  There are one or two of them that have actually sent up new fronds!

 

What the....!

Yesterday a bloody great big B double tanker comes down our quiet little street.  It then tried to reverse into the cul-de-sac that veers off in front of our house.  It didn't work.  So he tried again and as he turned his funky truck and dogs to back up the street he turned and dug up the bituman in front of our driveway.

Just look what he did!.....

 

That's what you get for having the local council insist that everyone use the sewerage that they are putting in town.... stupid council

Look out! Is it a bird? A plane? No, it's...

SUPER LIBRARIAN!

This is the blog that I found while trolling the net.  I just had to giggle at the great banner she's got.  It's great to see some fantastic, funny, witty librarian blogs on the net.  Now everyone can see that we're not mouldy old seniors with fuzzy hair in a bun! :P

So head on over to view the complete Misadventures of... Super Librarian, you won't regret it.

Election 2010: The morning after...

Well, Election 2010 has come and gone.  Unfortunately, the people of this electorate have decided to back a guy that looks like he should still be in high school (he's 20 for goodness sakes!), and the country has a hung parliament for the first time in 70 years.

There is talk about maybe having another-go-round, but seriously, if you wasted your vote the first time, why should you deserve another shot?  If they do decide to have another ballot it should be as simple as:

Which party do vote for

LABOUR   LIBERAL

tick a box

That way there would be no second guessing, no preferentials, no anything else.  It would be done and dusted.  Now, I'm not too fanatical about a faction.  I'm not a hard-core Labour follower, or a terminal Liberal.  All I want is a person who can do their job competently and look after the people in their electorate.  Is that too much to ask for?

I'm just worried that a 20 year old won't have the experience, knowledge or leadership to fulfill the job requirements.  How will he manage an office, as well as everything else?  Will people really listen to a kid?  There should be a minimum job requirement attached to these things.  Yes, you can toss your tiara into the ring if you've....
a) been working for a council for a minimum of ? years,
b) taken local government or political science courses, or
c) if you can demonstrate an excellent understanding of government and have demonstrated leadership qualities.

I don't know what the future holds (I wish), but I can tell you now that I'm not at all confident that this will have a happy ending.  Only time will tell, but keep you're fingers crossed for us... our future is in the hands of a 20 year old!

Searching...

Well.  It's been one of those weeks so far.  My desktop's new modem is acting up so I'm back on the laptop... God bless the laptop, and have decided that I'm not going to stress out about it.  Instead, I bought myself a copy of the newest offering by Nora Roberts, made myself a nest in my comfy bed, and blocked out the world for a few hours.

Okay, back again after checking what the postie had brought me.  Nothing of great interest.  We've be inundated with Election 2010 crap.  I can't wait for this Saturday.  We'll vote and then it'll be done except for the obligatory gloating by the winner.  Watching them on the campaign trail, during question time, etc., I just can't get over the fact that these back-biting, schoolyard taunting 'adults' - and I use the term adults loosely, are helping to shape this country.  If a high school student council meeting ran in the same way as our country's leaders run theirs, then we would have been repremanded and given a 'time out' by the teachers!

 

"It's been a few years since Fiona Bristow has moved to Orcas Island. Within the small, tight-knit island community she's built up her business, a canine rescue centre that trains dogs to track missing persons. Whether they are lonely travellers on a hiking trip gone wrong or disappearances of a more sinister nature, more than once Fiona has been the last hope for those lost in Washington's vast wilderness. Other than her work, Fiona doesn't ask for much: the peace of the landscape, the companionship of her dogs, the safe haven of friends and family. Romantic entanglements are very far down on her list - and certainly not with Simon Doyle, an artist newly arrived from the mainland. Impossible rude, and impossibly handsome, he suddenly seems to be around an awful lot. But he doesn't know that Fiona harbours a terrible secret, and as her past unexpectedly catches up with her, she has to decide whether past grief will keep her from ever loving again..."

Anyway, back to "The Search" by Nora Roberts.  This book is a little different from her usual fare.  Fiona, a leggy ex-athlete, is a dog trainer on small Island.  She is tough, smart, troubled and has a past that pops up to haunt her.  Simon on the other hand is a wood-artist who moves to Orcas Island from Seattle.  He's stubborn, arrogant, intelligent, driven, selfish.... I could go on.  They don't sizzle up the pages when they first meet, but are more reluctantly drawn to each other.  They are both proud people, who are able to stand alone and take care of themselves.

It took a little while to get used to these characters as they are more stand-offish to each other than other books by Ms Roberts, but there is just something compelling about them.  The baddie doesn't really get a look in, and seems to be for plot more than anything else.  It's not her absolute best work, but it's an enjoyable read with Fiona and Simon's characters drawing you into their story.  While not in Eve Dallas' league, I found it as enjoyable as "Black Hills", and looking back, the males in these stories are almost cut from the same mold.

If you're looking for a way to pass a few hours - or even days :D, then I would recommend this title.

Going Potty

Had a great time yesterday scoping out the plants at our local Bunnings Warehouse.  Found the most gorgeous Camellia (R.L Wheeler) that had a single flower the size of a bread and butter plate!  It was a dark pinky red, and blew my mother away.  She desperately wanted one, but with all her other plants, she couldn't afford it then and there.  I think I'll be sneaking back to Bunnings later to get it for her.... aren't I a good daughter :P

All I managed to buy was potting mix, and more potting mix.  Mostly to repot my ferns, but my new roses were in want of bigger pots.  So I spent about 2 hours yesterday mixing potting mix, sand, and other stuff to get the right type of consistency.  We get a huge amount of rain here at times and just plain potting mixture can kill off my ferns quite easily.  I find that cutting it with just plain old white sand helps immensely.  So now all my leafy babies are snug in their new beds, and have been rearranged to get the maximum sunlight available in the courtyard.

Then I chatted with my mum while she was re-potting some of her African Violets and other cuttings she's got growing.  We were interrupted when her chocolate Burmese decided to help.  I couldn't help it, I had to run in and get the camera.  He decided his contribution would be to quality control officer for the potting mix.  He's such a dag!

On a happy note - I finally got my computer back yesterday from the repair guy.  I nearly had 2 fits this morning when I went to get online because it didn't even register that I had a modem!  After much searching and frustration, I seem to have stumbled upon the device.  I was actually able to get online using this computer for the first time in a month!  Thank God!  Maybe now I can get some studying done... but am seriously considering a laptop with wi-fi for study use.

So I will say goodbye for now.  Much to do.  Still more re-potting to do this afternoon.  Wish me luck

Rainy Day Scones

Its one of those days.  Rainy and cold, and all I wanted for brunch was my mum's hot scones covered with lashings of jam and whipped cream.  Thankfully she was in a caring, sharing mood - plus she wanted them as well :P

While I slaved over the computer, mum whipped up a batch of her lighter than air scones.  Actually it's a miracle that they turn out as well as they do.  I have been told that when she was first learning to make them... many moons ago, she made great golf balls.  Then after getting a lesson and some good advice from an elderly neighbour, Nanna Rene, she started to make the scones I've known and loved all my life.

After 3 beautiful, scrumptious, delicious scones covered in strawberry jam and a dollop of whipped cream I am officially stuffed.  So here I sit, in front of the computer again.  Sipping a cup of hot tea and dreaming of the arrival of spring and warm weather.

Still out in the cold...

Well, it's been over 2 weeks since I took my computer in to the repair guy.  My hard drive was definitely DOA and had to be replaced.  Okay, fine... but they didn't install the drivers properly, so it kept cutting out and was unable to connect to the internet (darn dial-up is all we can get here) and back it went to have them reinstalled.  A few days later, I went into town and picked it up.  Got home, connected everything booted it up and went to get online and ... drumroll please.......nothing!  Everything else was fine, except for no modem dial-tone.  (grrrrrrr!)

So I called them, they said it was an ISP problem - probably, and to contact them.  So I did.  They were extremely helpful, and very nice, but after re-installing a dial-up connection and not having it work, they said to contact the repair place again and actually get them to test the modem after reinstalling the drivers (in front of me) that way everyone would be satisfied that they were working.  But guess what?  They didn't think they could do that. Bugger.

I mean who has a repair business that specialises in computers, but doesn't even check to make sure the repairs work?!  So until I take it back I'm left with my cousins laptop {mentally kissing their feet} so that I can at least access emails and work on my assignments.  Yeah, this was a good time to have my modem throw a mid-life crisis tantrum wasn't it.

On the other front, since I've had NO computer to play with, I've been getting a lot more reading done.  A good chunk is for my next two units, but I have managed to read the latest Kylie Chan book, Hell to Heaven.  It was fantastic!  I love the mixing of contemporary Hong Kong with ancient gods and demons.  If you haven't read it I would definitely recommend this for people who like a little twist with their paranormal story.  This is the 2nd book of the 2nd trilogy.  Hopefully the 3rd book will be out late December, early Jan 2011.

Don't Adjust Your Screen...

Well, it's finally happened.  The one thing that I have been absolutely terrified would happen one day.  My hard drive crashed.  It is DOA, DNR and OMG!.  Luckily for me I had backed up my Documents/Pictures/Music/Downloads, etc., but I didn't get time to back up nearly 3 years worth of emails!  {bugger!}  Just what I didn't want to happen.

So I will be taking a little while to reorganize my digital self, and will only return once I'm up and running.

Until then, I'll concentrate on other my studies {oh God!  All my emails from my advisor... s*!t} and figure out a way to get all those email addresses again.

See ya soon.

How does your garden grow?

Nothing book related today.  Since I've been freezing my butt off I am grateful for every semi-warm winter's day we get.  It's been quite good to us this year.  I've managed to get my 2 roses to flower well this season.  The first one was just a miniature creamy white rose.  There is a small scent to the flowers, but when I was in Bunnings about 2 months ago, I smelt the most gorgeous rose perfume imaginable.  So off I went in search of this delectible scent.  Turns out that it belonged to a new rose called 'Love Potion'.  Boy, was it potent!  I bought one and every time I went passed the laundry door, you could just smell the perfume waft over from beside the tank.  I mean, it was heavenly.  The flowers were a beautiful lavender colour and it looked stunning.  Then... oh, boy.

After the first 3 buds flowered, I found another one coming up.  "Oh goodie" says I.  I'll have another bud to put in a vase on my dresser.... yeah, a pink one!  Turns out that while it had come with purple tinted blooms, it really has pink ones.  God knows how they worked that, but yes - I have a pink rose.  A very sweet and lovely princess pink rose!  I'd have loved to have taken a photo of it, but sadly, a sudden rainstorm ripped all the petals off.  But still... a pink rose?

My ferns, on the other hand, are just throwing up new fronds.  I have been cursed in the past with a black thumb.  But over the past 12-18 months I've found that that doesn't extend to roses or ferns... go figure?  So, I have been collecting a multitude of ferns to place in the courtyard area off my bedroom door.  They add a lot of lovely green colour to my small room, and make the area seem larger than it is.  I also find it very relaxing just to watch them bob around in the dappled sunlight.

Freezing my freckles off!

God, it's cold here at the moment.  For anyone who lives in QLD, you just know that it's not supposed to get cold like this!  I'm sitting at my computer with a hot water bottle on the way, and I'm contemplating putting on my knitted wrist warmers.  This cold snap really bites :P

On the plus side, I've been able to snuggle up amongst my warm quilts, blankets underneath, to do a little winter reading.  I've been through my crime/mystery/romance kick - loved Karen Rose's books, especially "I'm Watching You" - and have once again returned to the fantasy realm.  I've been re-reading my already battered copy of 'Magic Bleeds', and even dragged out my copy of 'Archangel's Kiss' by Nalini Singh.  I know these books have only been out for months, but I really wish I had the next books in the series in my freezing little hands.

I've already ordered a copy of Kylie Chan's new book "Hell to Heaven" which is released on Aug 02 in Australia, sorry to those in the US, but it's not available on Amazon!  Thankfully, she's got the third book of her second trilogy scheduled for release in early 2011.... yes!

Apart from that, the only other reading I've been doing is for my course.  Studying to become a librarian involves a lot of boring reading - don't let anyone tell you that working in a library is only about reading good books all day.  By the time I've gotten my Diploma, and hopefully gone on for the Adv. Dip., I'll be working full time in the library industry, cause I've gotta tell you that studying all the cataloguing techniques while not working in the industry is a right royal pain in the butt!

So, enough about that.  I'll have to leave this entry here because I think my fingers are about to snap off.  For all of you basking in a northern summer.... you lucky sods, you!

Cheers

Books Galore

And I've been so good recently too!  Last week I just dived right in there at the local shopping centre.  I cut a swathe through QBD and Bookworld, sauntered through Big W and meandered in K-Mart.  I bought 7 books on my want list that I really don't need at the moment - seeings how I still have about half a dozen books left from my last little splurge :P  Still, I jumped right into them.  Moon Sworn is the last of Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series.  I found it a little different from the other books, but not a bad read.  A good Aussie author, Ms Arthur has another series in the works that spins off from this one.  It sounds good and I will definitely give it a go.

Master of Fire is the Mageverse story that I know alot of people have been waiting for.  It's about Logan MacRoy, the son of King Arthur and Guinevere.  I've been following this series on and off for the last 5 or 6 years.  Not a bad book, but not as great as Master of Swords.  The next book however, Master of Smoke, sounds like it'll be a cracker of a story.

Dead in the Family is the latest Sookie Stackhouse book out.  After reading the comments on the Amazon website for this book I was a tad apprehensive about reading it.  For me the series has been slightly less enjoyable for each book.   DitF was different.  I enjoyed it much more than I did Dead & Gone.  Sookie is finally finding her feet in the supernatural world, and she is in a stready and loving relationship.  She is able to say NO to people she would have trusted in the first couple of books, and there are some great moments in it.  All in all, a good addition to the series.

My copy of Magic Bleeds arrived in the mail last week too.  It was great.  I devoured it in a couple of hours - yes, I know that's quick, but I just can't help it.  And I also received my Amazon UK stuff as well (yeah Dr Who!).  Then to top it all off, last Friday I went on a day trip with some of the family and ended up in Maleny. 

For those who aren't familiar with it, its a gorgeous little dairy/craft town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.  Absolutely stunning views as you climb the mountain range in the morning and look back over the coastline to see the sun reflecting gold off the water.  Although if you're looking to visit in winter... take a hot water bottle with you! :D  Unfortunately for me, once I got there I found 2 secondhand bookshops as I was wondering around the main street, and a few other little crafty stores that I just had to stop in.  Now, I went up there hoping not to buy anything, but I just found the most delightful looking fern (yes, I am a closet gardener okay!), and a nearby store that sold quilted blankets.  If I had of had a spare $250 dollars there was a beautiful country quilt that would have been accompanying me home.  One place I did indulge in was the handmade sweets shop.  The fudge was to die for!  I tried the Rum & Raisin (mum's favourite), but fell in love with the Cookies 'n' Cream fudge.  It was heavenly!  So we bought a few chunks, and went for a lovely hot coffe at a local bakery.

My one regret of the day was that I didn't buy a book at the secondhand shop that I was drooling over.  My only hope is that it will be there when we next go back... hopefully soon?

Swamped

Wow, over a month has passed since I last wrote anything here.  I'm so slack at this at times.  I get busy, and presto... no blog!

I've been good lately and have resisted the temptation of the written word.  Well, the bound and very expensive word anyway.  I've been study a lot as I have 3 units on the go at the moment.  Who would have thought that studying for Librarian qualifications would be soooo intense?  {grinning as I slave over the keyboard!}

My recent orders have been research based, not recreational so nothing new to report unless you are interested in early nineteenth century/Georgian England.  It's a fascinating period in history, and one that has hard to find resources.  Everything seems to be Victorian this, Edwardian that, or Medieval who... it's enough to drive you potty at times.  Still, once you find the information you've been slaving for hours to locate... :P

I am awaiting the arrival of the last of my earlier orders from Amazon.  They sent me a nice little email last week to tell me that I should have Magic Bleeds in about another 2 weeks.  Now riddle me this - how is it that Amazon in the US takes over 2 weeks to get an item to me, when Amazon in the UK only takes about 3-4 days?  It's still as far away from Australia as you can get, but the Brits still manage to get things here earlier {psst, come closer.... and their DVDs and some books work out cheaper too!}  I find that a majority of my research information can be found there cheaper.  Ordinary fiction titles are not really worth the quibble over, unless the dollar is doing badly.  Hopefully it'll pick up in the next few days so I can order Season 3 of Doctor Who - yes, I know, I know.

So, for the next week or so I'll be haunting my mailbox.  Waiting for the elusive amazon parcel.  Then I have to do so all over again as I pre-ordered Laurell K Hamilton's Bullet!  Oy!  When will I learn? :D

New Arrivals

I know, I haven't written anything for a while now.  Bad bibliophile, no cookie.

I've just been inundated with my latest orders from Amazon that I just don't know where to start.  So I'll just dive right in and use the books closest to me.

Lion Heat by Lora Leigh is a great addition to the Breed series.  This is one of the stories I've been waiting years for.  Finally, it's Jonas Wyatt's turn to deal with the mating heat.  His mate is a little different from all the other mates, and some of the troubles encountered in Mecury's War are finally closed in Lion's Heat.  I can't say too much about it.  If I drop the wrong plot spoiler, well... it could just be the one thing you wanted to find out for yourself.
The characters are well written, and the book itself is fast paced.  There are plenty of storylines to follow, and as I read on Lora Leigh's blog this morning, she still has about 25 characters that she'd like to write books for.  Oh, boy.  That means more shelfspace to find in the future!

One of the other books that I want to put up here today is the fantastic Patricia Briggs book, Silver Borne.  I received it on Wednesday, and by Wednesday afternoon it was all over.  I just can't help myself.  I get a new book, start reading, and a few hours later it's all over!  But this was worth reading through lunch for.  Mercy is back and her relationships with Adam and Samuel are put to the test.  The pack is in turmoil thanks to her inclusion, and Samuel is having a rougher time than anyone knows.  There is a huge dustup at her shop, and Mercy manages once again to get herself caught up in a fae mess.
Silver Borne is a well written, fast paced book that has surprises everywhere.  There is unrequited love, betrayal and jealousy and a certain someone finds their mate.  Fabulous read, and I can't wait for the next installment.

And lastly, the final installment of the Kelley Armstrong series The Darkest Powers.  The Reckoning was a much anticipated book that I was so happy when I got it.  I wanted to know how Chloe and the others finally rid themselves of the Edison Group and the other supernaturals who are forever trying to pick them off.  I was disappointed in this book however.  While the story was fast paced, and the characters were engaging, the ending just ruined it for me.  I was hoping for Jeremy's pack to have a cameo, or one of the other characters like Jaime, who could look out for and possibly guide these supercharged teens.  But alas, I was doomed to disappointment.  They went in, powers blazing and with a few other teasers thrown in regarding a future demonic visit for Chloe, they were captured, the nearly escaped, they got caught and then kicked butt.  Not my ideal ending, but I suppose for most readers, this will be an ending that they expected.

Want a new author?

I've been searching for something new and interesting to read for ages now and I think I've found just the thing.  I happened to read a quick synopsis of "Die for Me" by Karen Rose a few weeks ago.  It's about a Homocide Detective who ends up working with an archaeologist on a grave site.  Since I'm a sucker for archaeology and a good mystery I tried to find it. 

I found Scream for Me instead and bought it.  It was great!  It's part of a trilogy, the Daniel Vartanian trilogy to be precise, and although Daniel is in it briefly, this story sets up the next two books (which include Daniel and his sister, Susannah).  Their family history isn't all that good... in fact it makes the Simpsons look like the Cleavers!

The next two books in the trilogy are Scream for Me and Kill for Me.  Both are really good.  Intense and have twists and turns that you really don't expect.  These books are then added onto through characters you meet in them, and their siblings.  My favourite so far is I'm Watching You, a wonderful book about Abe Reagan, a Homocide Detective, and Kristen Mayhew, ASA (lawyer), who are thrown together on a case involving Kristen and her 'humble servant'.  You follow Abe as he struggles to deal with his feelings for Kristen (he's a widower), and Kristen trying to overcome her past to grab onto this wonderul man who comes into her life.

In all, there are about 8 or 9 books now.  You can read them in whichever order you like (I started with Scream for Me- Yes, I know, it's book no. 2 - then I'm Watching You, and then on to Die for You).

Daniel Vartanian Trilogy

• Die for Me
• Scream for Me
• Kill for Me

 Others (set before and after trilogy)

• I'm Watching You
• Nothing to Fear
• Count to Ten
• You Can't Hide
• Have You Seen Her?
• I Can See You

If your looking for a great police suspense/mystery then I'd heartily recommend these.  One word of warning though, they do have a lot of physical violence, and the bad guys have done a great deal of harm to their victims (both mental and physical.  There are rape survivors, spousal abuse survivors, etc.).  If you don't mind that, and as I wasn't informed about that it was a shock to find it.  The rapes aren't rehashed or told as part of a backstory, but it isn't hidden either what they have suffered.

So I'm giving Karen Rose's series 2 thumbs up!

Lazy Dayz

I'm having a lazy day today.  Yesterday was a nightmare at the shopping centre.  I spent too much on clothes that I didn't really need... but they were soooo cute, and there were rude people and screaming children everywhere.

So today, I'm going to just lounge around, read a book, maybe play a little bit of AOM (Age of Mythology) and then check out our local deposit library.  Fingers crossed that my parcel is going to be in today's post.  I've been waiting for ages for them.  Still have about 3 or 4 left, but after waiting 2 weeks for them I no longer stalk the postie to see if he puts something in the mailbox :P

I'm going to finish my work on the computer, make up a batch of chilli-con carne and then settle down with either my Kylie Chan series, or start re-reading JD Robb so that when Fantasy in Death hits the shelves, then I'll be up to date.

Thought that I'd add a little pic of my cat.  She's such a pain in the butt about being outside.  Because of all the wildlife around our house, our cats are strictly indoors, unless on their leases.  Yes, you read it right, leashes.  They have an enclosed courtyard to mooch in, but leave a door open accidentally, and this little grey ghost is out the door like a shot, and the rolls around on the bricks outside the back door.  She strops herself along the bricks.  It's kinda cute, but trying to catch her later is not so cute.  It's a good thing that she's a total lap cat :)

Happy Reading

Audio Fix

Okay, I'm now doing something that I never thought I'd do... yep, that's right - I'm listening to audio books!
Since I'm spending part of my days studying, and while I do my vocational placement I end up shelving for quite a while.  So when I suck it up and head out to shelve, I now have my iPod {thank you Santa!} to keep me sane.  I've loaded it up with music, but that can get a bit embarassing in public.  I've been caught more than once either humming away to a song, or quitely singing to myself.  Doh!  The solution was given to me by one of my supervisors.  Sarah told me while we were stocktaking the collection that she listens to audio books.  I thought this was a novel idea, so for the last few weeks I've been hunting for some titles that I think I'd like.

The best ones so far are the Stephanie Plum books read by Lorelai King.  I started with To the Nines, and after the first few sentences I was hooked.  Lula is hysterically funny in audio, and it's a good way to just tune out when doing a boring job.  My only problem was that there wasn't a man doing the Morelli and Ranger voices, but in all, Lorelai does a wonderful job.  I've managed to get my hands on a few of them.  I'm waiting for One for the Money, Two for the Dough and Three to get Deadly (abridged unfortunately) to arrive from Amazon.com - you know I love that place! - and Eleven on Top.  I have Hard Eight, Lean Mean Thirteen and Visions of Sugar Plums already.  I just wish they were in the MP3 CD format.  I'd borrowed a friends copy of A Lick of Frost (LKH), and it was already done.  In chapter form.  It was fabulous.  No mess, no fuss, just load it onto the iPod.  I wish all audio books had the option of being MP3 format.  It would certainly make my life a little easier.

Oh, and if you want to rip an LKH audiobook CD to put onto your iPod, forget it.  There was about 100 tracks just for the first CD of Micah.  That means your either going to have a hell of a lot of tracks on your iPod, or you've got to fiddle around in an audio editor to put them together.  Not really worth it if you have 16 CD's to combine now is it.

I Found It! Earth to Hell is here

I can't believe that after nearly 18 months of waiting, and waiting, and waiting, that I only found Earth to Hell (Book 4) by total accident!  Here's what happened.... I'd been out shopping with my mother, and we'd been cruising through Big W - as you do, and we had decided to meet in the book section.  I was just browsing the shelves and had just about lost interest, when there, on the top shelf, was the book.  It's been soooo long in the works that I'd completely forgotten to check the author's website to find out when it was being released.  So I snapped it up (2nd last copy to :P) and proceeded directly home.  Do not stop, do not collect $200.

I got myself comfy in a little nest... drink... check, nibblies... check.  Now, when I opened up the book I realised something.  It had been so long since I'd read the darn series that I wasn't making instant connections to the names printed.  So I had to down tools, drag out the first trilogy and re-read them.  Not a chore, since as the character were being refreshed in my mind I just sailed into the 4th book, et voila, finis.

Earth to Hell picks up 8 years after Blue Dragon.  Emma Donahoe is now nearing 40, still as scruffy as ever, and is trying her best to look after the Northern Heavens for her love.  Simone is now 16, and a powerful creature.  She and Emma are holding on until Xuan Wu pulls himself together and comes back to them.  But the Demon King still has a few tricks up his sleeve.  His demon children are again causing havoc for Emma and her friends, and they are desperately trying to find the missing Black Lion.

I won't tell you anymore because to do that would be to give the story away.  Rest assured that all your old friends are there, and you will see Emma's snake in action, you may catch a glimpse of Xuan Wu's snake, the White Tiger is still an ass, and there may be one or two little surprises :P

Now, being the complete obsessive compulsive person I am about these sorts of things, I went onto Kylie Chan's website and found out that the other 2 books in the second trilogy - The Journey to Wudang, will be out mid and late 2010.  Wuhooo!

The series works best if you read them in order....

The Dark Heavens Trilogy
White Tiger
Red Phoenix
Blue Dragon

The Journey to Wudang
Earth to Hell (out now in Australia, April everywhere else... sorry)
Hell to Heaven (out mid 2010 in Australia)
Heaven to Wudang (out late 2010 in Australia)

There will be a final trilogy to this series, and I can't wait to see what it will be.  I'm hoping that there will still be enough of a storyline, but knowing the series so far I don't think that'll be too much of a drama.

So I'm finally over my Regency Rut, and thank you Kylie Chan for that.  I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for the rest of the series this year, oh, and there is a small prequel coming out late 2010.  It's Gold's story.  Details are on Kylie Chan's website www.kyliechan.com

Cricket, Rain & Regency

Wow, it's already the 3rd of January!  How did that happen?  It seems the older I get, the quicker the days pass.  Gotta do something about that :P

Well, today is the first day of the 2nd test match between Australia (Go Aussie Go!) and Pakistan in their 5 game series.  Personally, I will be avoiding it as much as possible, but the rest of the household is glued to the couch for the next 5 days.  I don't get it?

So I'll be happily surfing the net, studying (not so happily) and waiting for the rain to cool things off here.  We've had so much rain recently that anytime the sun pokes it's head out from behind the clouds... instant sauna.  Thank god I have my trusty hand fan nearby.  Who doesn't!?

Now while I am waiting for the rain - and ignoring the cricket fueled calls from the lounge room - I'll be relaxing with a few books.  I have found a new paranormal romance author, Terry Spear, and have read her Destiny of the Wolf.  This is a good general lycanthrope romp, but not as involved or compelling as the Anita Blake series lycanthropes.  Not something that I would pre-order-and-pray-that-it-gets-here-soon list, but okay for the bus or train ride.

However, on the other end of the scale, due to my recent purchase of Temptation and Surrender (see Tea & Scandal blog), I had to rummage through the historical section of my bookcase(s) to find the other Bar Cynster books.  I even pulled out the Bastion Club series for good measure.  And of course, when reading any historical/Regency series, I have to get out some of my reference/great costume books to start drooling over.  This of course led to a Regency madness fuelled trip to Amazon.com where again I bought too much.  I did however, get 2 books that mum was wanting so... yeah me!

Now I get to sit back, make a cup of tea in my fine bone china english teacup, and kick back and get into the Regency vibe.

Happy New Years