Books I Love

One of the things that has been keeping me from blogging is reading.  Reading actual books.
Books are a funny thing, aren't they?  I sit down and watch a good movie and it leaves me the next minute, hour or day. I read a good book and it sticks with me forever.  I love books.

Here are a few of those good books I've read....

Swallow  by Tonya Plank

At first glance I didn't know if I would like this book.  No gimmicks, no mystery.  Just a woman facing big change in her life.  Those changes and past hurts manifests themselves into a physical aliment, the inability to Swallow.
I loved the main character and all her flaws. So many women character's, in modern day literature, come across as very weak and although the main character had issues you always felt an underlying strength.


The Dirty Parts of the Bible: A Novel  by Sammy Conner

I couldn't resist the title and cover.  Who could?  You know what they say, you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, and it's true: this book was so much more than it's cover.  So much better then I expected.
Once you get over catchy title and cover, deep within the pages of this book is a wonderful, funny story.


The Overnight Socialite: A Novel by Birdie Clark

A modern day Pygmalion, aka My Fair Lady, set in the social scene of New York City.  A fun weekend read or, as the weather gets warmer, a fun beach read. 
I love this new breed of smart "chick-lit". 


How I Learned to Love the Walrus  by Beth Orsoff

Another smart chick-lit book, and one that will inspire you to take a chance, that leap of faith.  I loved LOVED the main character in this book, she was beautifully, wonderfully flawed and strong.  Do you see a theme here?

And I saved the best for last...

The Last Block In Harlem by Christopher Herz

I don't think I can put into words here how GREAT this book is.  I mean SUPER great. This is on my list of favorite all-time books, somewhere around The Red Tent and To Kill a Mockingbird.
I know this is a big claim I am making here.  I rarely go all out for a book.  It's been years since I had the urge to buy every one I know a copy of  a book- but I do, I do, I so do wanna buy everyone I know a copy of this book.  
But alas I can not- you should have seen the husbands face when he saw all the Amazon digital charges on our statement last month.  Not good.

What is my favorite book you ask?

The Outsiders  by SE Hinton

This is the book that started by love of reading.  For that I am forever grateful.

What is your favorite book of all-time?
and If you have any book suggestions?  Let me know.


 

Vampire Lover

There I said it.  I like vampire.  Vampires.  Vampires.  Vampires.
Twilight.
Sookie I love you Sookie.
Sparkly.
Swedish.
Viking.
Civil War fighting.
True Blood drinkin'.
Animal blood suckin'.
Vampires.
Sometimes you just need an escape and those creatures of the night can be an entertaining bunch.  Add in werewolves and fairies and witches and you got a PAR-TEE.

It all started a few years back, I was on a short vacation, I picked up a paperback copy of "Twilight" to see what all the crazy talk was about.
Two weeks later I finished the series.
Not high-brow literature mind you, but fun and funny and an escape.
The one thing I didn't like about that series is that Bella was a bit of a whiny thing.  I get deep-true love but man get a job.

Then my sister turned me onto The Sookie Stackhouse series.
I devoured all the books in the series and I am patiently (?) awaiting the next book to come out this summer.  I loved that Sookie was strong and independent.  She embraced love but didn't take shiz from anyone.

 So in other news, and still related to this vampire-otherworldly creature-orgy-love fest, I got my...
KINDLE!!!!!!!
It is awesome.  I almost kissed the UPS man. Granted the men in trademarked brown are usually hawt, and this one was, the fact that he held my hearts desired, well made me love him. 
I opened that sweet little box and the angels sang. I swear I heard Ode' to Joy.
I held the Kindle in my hands above my head and proclaimed "I HAVE A NEW GOD NOW!"
Okay I am a tad dramatic.  But it is totally awesome although I am convinced they will add a verse in Genesis that states "And on the one billionty day the earth was made God, with the help of Jeff Bezos, created the KINDLE"

So I got down to downloading many free books and I read like crazy.  Then I thought I'd one up myself and go for some great $.99 Kindle books.
And I found this....

 

I know they say never judge a book by it's cover.  But I do.  It's like food.  You eat with your eyes first.  

Well of course you read with your eyes first.  Whatever.  How could I resist that cute cover?

And it was $.99!  And truly I'd pay more if I had to.
So I got down to reading and I fell in love.
So the next day I downloaded the next book in the series....

and devoured it in a day.
The Jolie Wilkins books are a perfect mix of fantasy, romance and cute manipulative vampires that don't sparkle.
Wait it gets better.
So I was on Amazon and I happen to see the author's, H.P. Mallory, web site linked so I followed it. I read her blog and just had to email her and she responded back.  Guess what?  She is super cool and awesome and loves her readers!
She loves her readers so much that she makes them characters in her book!
I highly recommend both Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble, and Toil and Trouble for a fun weekend read!

*Disclosure:  I was neither paid nor asked by the author or publishing company to write this post.  Both books were purchased with my own money.  and really why are you sitting here reading this boring disclosure when you could be reading those two great books I just linked.  Go.  NOW! 
Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble was $.99 on the date this blog post was published and price is subject to change.