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 Have It

Okay, it's time to rejoice. I now have a copy of LKH's A Lick of Frost in my hot little hands.
I devoured it over a period of 3 hours - yes that's quick, but I just couldn't put it down.

A bookshop assistant told me that alot of the previous books hints and sugguestions would make sense in this book, and boy did they.

Merry Gentry is still coming to terms with her guards presence in her life, and her hearts decision between Frost and Doyle. We finally see the Princess confront Taranis and also have a few words with Andais. No Cel though for all those people wanting a confrontation between Merry and the crazy Prince. Hopefully he and Andais will feature more in the next book.

I enjoyed Merry's growing powers and the way she seems to be uniting faery. (Don't quote me on it, but I wouldn't be surprised if she ends up being the Queen of Everything!) There are a few shocks along the way. Taranis' actions were a huge shock - and NO I'm not telling you what happens - and what happens when Jonty and the Red Caps comes to visit is quite unexpected.

I'd recommend A Lick of Frost to everyone who enjoys a good Paranormal/Supernatural tale. It may get a little graphic (sex scenes) but then, you expect that from LKH. The story just seems to be getting better as it goes on. I for one hope that it doesn't follow Anita Blake's demise into just a pornographic novel, where the storyline fits around the sex.

I'd give it 4½ out of 5.

This week I'm reading Lover Unbound, Dark Celebration, On The Prowl, Touch of Darkness, Bloodfever and Darkfever, Magic Bites. Stay tuned for more reviews.

Crappy week or what?

Hi there,

It's only Wednesday and already I'm ready for the weekend. You see I have this neighbour, he's a senior, but a crusty old guy who keeps to himself. The only problem is that he has his paytv, or stereo, up so loud that the bass just thunders right through your head. Now annoying as that is, it wouldn't be so bad if it was during the day. But no! I have to have a neighbour that can have that going till 3 or 4am!!! Now I'm on the other side of the house - if it's loud for me, then my poor mother doesn't sleep at all.

Some kind soul called the police on him the other night (god bless them), but by the time they arrived - 2.30am - he'd already turned it off. So what did they do you ask (heh, heh...) they saw that his lights were on and they jumped over the padlocked front gate and banged on the door. Since that night, he's had it on louder than ever BUT it hasn't gone on passed midnight yet. Fingers crossed for us.

I've managed to read a few extra books so far this week (thanks to the insomniac neighbour) and I mostly enjoyed 'Deep in the Heart' by Sharon Sala. Not a paranormal I know, but a sentimental read. Every now and then I have to take a walk on the normal side. It just makes going back the weird and wonderful that much better. I've also gone back to some of my series, and rediscovered the joys of The Black Dagger Brotherhood. Dark Lover, is still my favourite. If you enjoy books by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Christime Feehan, or feel like an LKH lite, then JR Ward's vampire series is for you!

I hope to get 'A Lick of Frost' this month. I asked Bookworld about it, and while I could get the hardcover at Rosemary's Romance in Brisbane ($43.95) Bookworld was going to charge me $62!! I couldn't believe it! Stuff that for a joke. I'm now just going to wait for the paperback and in the meantime, reserve it at the library.... $62 grrrrrr

On a much more somber note, we got a phone call from my aunt late last night. It wasn't with good news either. She told us that my old holiday friend, a girl that I used to play with each holidays that I spent at my aunts house, passed away recently. I couldn't believe it - I still can't believe it. She was a lovely person, fun, bubbly and had a real dry sense of humor.

See you next time.

PS - Can anyone let me know if the latest LKH "A Lick of Frost" is good? I've enjoyed the rest of the series, but I don't want it to go off course like the Anita Blake books.