Plucky kick-ass heroines both, Stephanie Plum and Aisling Grey. I have just one problem with them. They kind of fumble around, get involved in things they shouldn’t and make decisions without garnering hardly ANY information. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to think if I was gonna be a kick-ass heroine I’d also want to be smart. Smooth even. In Janet Evanovich’s latest number, 11 if you’re counting, Stephanie decides to quit the bail bond business because someone from her past has threatened to kill her. Granted, she kills a car in all her books, but she has gotten sort of used to that. This new threat forces her to become more introspective and question where her life is going. Marriage, kids, learning to play the cello… Wait!! We cannot have Stephanie Plum decide between Morelli and Ranger. If she did, there would be no more reason to read the series! Speaking of decision making difficulty, Aisling, that’s ASh-ling to you peons not yet corrected by the author herself, is in Budapest this time and still can’t commit to becoming a Wyvern’s immortal mate. Jim, the demon-dog is back, and a good thing since he has become one…

I apparently hit a few nerves on my URBAN SHAMAN report. Other readers report that they really liked it. I’m still trying to figure out where it went wrong for me, but even reflecting on my read, I’m convinced it’s not a book that jumps out and does the hoops for me. However, if you like “urban fantasy,” the new catch term for fantasy sent in a contemporary alternate city universe, you might give URBAN SHAMAN a try. Hmm, do you think it is just because I’m not convinced I like this shaman stuff? Although, I did re read INDUSTRIAL MAGIC this weekend; Dennis is a shaman and I liked his bit part. In fact I need to get my copy of HAUNTED to re read. I really like Kelley Armstrong’s work, everything but DIME STORE MAGIC was top notch reading, unlike Kim Harrison who started out strong then wimped on the new book. ::sigh:: so picky. But I still have Harrison on my auto buy list, which is saying I have HIGH hopes for future works. Speaking of books, and putting off doing “real” work, paranormal has been a topic of conversation recently. Most of my buds have joined…

A sad note to those of us who either grew up on Winnie the Pooh, or grew to appreciate it with our children. John Fiedler, 80, Stage Actor and Film Voice of Pooh’s Piglet, Dies – New York Times. Ah, we love the Pooh so much, it is still one of our favorite movies / shows. Speaking of cartoon movies, how many besides us collect the DVDs and videos of old favorites? I noticed our cleaning crew’s daughter and a visitor last week were eyeing the “fun” section of our DVDs. Gwen’s been collecting each Disney one as it comes out — first in video and now in DVD. She didn’t get to see many of them in the theatre but she sure loves to have Disney marathons now. Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

I stumbled across Sigrid Estrada Photography when I should have been working this weekend and was reminded of all the great back cover photos I’ve seen in past years with the copyright of Sigrid Estrada. And check out the great travel photos! Wow, I wouldn’t mind the ones with flowers on my walls. I’ve got to find out if she sells her prints. Ah, well. Also follow the link to the Salon article — the fact she irons his shirt is just astonishing. Since it was from 2000, I wonder if she still does it? Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Sorry about the delay, but I wanted to get the books finished before I posted and I’ve had a hellacious (good ole southern term I’ve picked up) week. So without further ado — our pictures from last week’s Naughty Girl tour… Back row (from left): Kelley, Sandi and Jackie Charnier (manager of Vista Ridge Waldenbooks, Front row (from left): Julie Leto, Julie Kenner, Shari Shattuck, Gena Showalter. The “Naughty Girls” were touring courtesy of Downtown Press — and each book was contemporary but with a “chick lit” flair. For those readers loving mysteries, LETHAL by Shari Shattuck is the second in her Hollywood series. Hollywood socialite Callie Wilde is on jury duty and stumbles on more than just great shopping during her break. With the help of her lover, Detective Evan Paley, Callie manages to uncover murder in a drug smugglers ring and geisha girls triangle. Gena Showalter has burst on the scene with a plethora of books in her first year of publishing. With AWAKEN ME DARKLY, her paranormal bent glows through. Definitely a book for those who love a bit of romance with their paranormal reading. Julie Leto lends the Hispanic flair with her story set in Tampa…

This may be of no interest to anyone but myself, but I’m going to share it anyway. We’ve talked many times as a group about ISBN numbers, Wal-Mart’s involvement of the evolution of UPCs and copyright pages and what info you can glean from the bits listed there. While researching an unrelated matter on the web (isn’t that always how the most interesting things are discovered) I found the following: Q. I would like to know what the numbers on the copyright page represent that are written:14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 1 2 3 4 5, for example. A. Impression Line. The first group of numbers refers to years (2014 to 2005), and the second group indicates the impression number. The line tells the reader that this is the first impression, printed in 2005. If the next impression were printed in 2007, the printers would mask the numbers 05 and 06 in the first group and the number 1 in the second group, so the following line would appear: 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 2 3 4 5 This would tell readers that it was the book’s second impression, printed in 2007,…

I really think I’m insulted by this — or at least it has definitely put me off buying Brawny towels. Have you SEEN the “innocent escapes” from Brawynman.com? Good grief, it’s enough to make you barf. The shirt has to go and his sensitivity? And they spent TWO years researching what women really want? I’d just take a man using a brawny towel to do the cleanup!! Okay, enough with the ranting….enjoy the innocence!!! ~sara Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Let’s see, what have I read this past week? I had a really busy week so didn’t get as much reading in as I usually do. In audio, I’m still working on Left Behind book 3: Nicolae in the car. I’m about halfway through it so far. At work, I’m listening to lake in the Clouds by Sara Donati. I had been listening to LitC in the car and N at work but I had to swap them out. There’s something wrong with the tapes for LitC which I borrowed form the library and the sound is messed up, so it can barely be heard, even at full volume. But with earphones I can hear it just fine. Go figure. LOL So now it’s my work book. In paper, I finished up Madeline Hunter’s Lord of Sin this weekend. In spite of the minimal reading time I’ve had lately, I still finished this one up in a week, which was quick considering. I took it with me to the gym for my exercising and read while I biked. LOL This book was great and I can’t wait for the next one. I love how she worked so much into the…

Today I’m sorta babysitting my husband, the pain shot/ mini surgery didn’t go so well yesterday so we’re taking turns watching for any loss of movement, etc. Or, in other words, I really can’t concentrate on anything other than doing my hourly checkups on him. Plus being a good wife, I keep him company watching old movies. But I digress… I was musing on my bookaholic habits; I have a book or two for the odd and ends readings in both cars, one in each handbag, one in the bathroom, a few on end tables in the living room, bedroom and any other room I might just land for a minute. Thinking about these books as I straightened up for Book Club this week, I realized all were either “comfort reads” or “marginal reads.” Descriptions so we can continue on the same page. A “comfort read” is an old friend book, one I read repeatedly because the read makes me feel good, or represents a place to take me away from reality, is a good cry book, or I just really really love the voice of the author. A “marginal read” is a book that isn’t bad, but it isn’t…

Had a great time at the cookout Wednesday evening. As always the food was plentiful and delicious, and the discussion lively. Thank you for always being willing to open your home to us. I came home and decided to stay awake a little bit longer and finished First Date by Karen Kendall. It was a light hearted read, without a lot of different characters and settings. It would make a great read for a harried person who didn’t have a lot of time and energy to devote to reading. As the dinner discussion included having to suspend belief in the realities of life I’d like to say to read First Date you don’t have to do that. However don’t go into this expecting the next great American Novel either, because you’ll be disappointed for sure. As I’ve mentioned previously I’m slowly working my way through the In Death books. I read the novella Midnight In Death after I finished Riggs Park. I almost wish that there had been a previous book about the villian in Midnight In Death, and that it had been a follow up story. Midnight In Death can be found in the anthology Silent Night. Anthology…that brings…