Twice Dead (Haven No.2) by Kalayna Price

Title: Twice Dead (Haven No.2)
Author: Kalayna Price
Pages: 256
Published: February 12th, 2010 by Bell Bridge Books
ISBN: 0984325670 (ISBN13: 9780984325672)

Summary: Newly undead shifter-turned-vampire Kita Nekai is coming to grips with the reality that her cat has not awakened since her change.

What she needs is a little time to adjust to her new liquid diet and the increasingly complex attraction to her sire, Nathanial. What she gets is a headless harlequin. With the body count rising, Kita is dragged into a dangerous game of vampire politics. Her involvement draws the attention of an ancient vampire known as the Collector who has a penchant for acquiring the unusual - like a pureblood shifter-turned vampire.

Kita still has unfinished business of her own and finds herself deeper in magical debt.

It's a bad time to be a kitten who can't slip her skin. (from Goodreads.com)

As all of my readers know, I've become an avid fan of Kalayna Price's writing (if not, see my reviews of Once Bitten HERE and Grave Witch HERE). This second book in the Haven series, Twice Dead, is no exception. This book was brilliant and exactly what I'd needed to make my reading worthwhile and exhilarating.

In this second book, our little kitty, Kita is on the hot list of vampires. Not because she wants to be, but because of some jealousy and want for power. Isn't that just always the way. Why oh why people can't just be happy with what they have *tsk tsk tsk*. Oh well, guess that would be flouncing upon human and vampire nature. Plus, it makes for an interesting story.

A story with our vampire master Nathanial in a war for the little kitty against the ancient, merciless vampire that rules the city. It just so happens there is also a twist in there which really, believe it or not, surprised me.

We still have the same awesome characters, including Kita who - although a shifter turned vampire and is still trying to learn the ropes - is strong and unrelenting. She still doesn't take the crap the homicidal vamps throw her way, she just pushes it back in their face. Don't get me wrong, as a 6 pound kitty among lions she knows how to stay alive and it's not always with a fight. Plus, she takes stubbornness to an all time high. I'm always at a loss between wanting to cheer her on or wanting to slap her upside the head.

Then, there is Nathanial. I'd say we get an even better side of him in this book, not that we didn't get a good character development of him the first. But in this one, we get to see his feelings for Kita slink through the lines and absorb into our skin. I felt like the pulses of his emotions were being pushed off the electronic pages of my Kindle directly into my nerve endings. And, to top it off, there is a particularly delicious shower scene that involves a blood covered Kita and a similar looking Nathanial. I think it gives a better description to my mind of what exactly Nathanial looks like. *prrrr*

In addition to them, there are also cities of vampires everywhere, mages in abundance and a couple shifters on the prowl. (I fully enjoy Gil, the apprentice mage scholar who follows her around to study her - cracks me up!) I enjoyed this book even more than the first and I can't wait to get my hands on book three. I highly recommend Kalayna Price's Haven series to anyone who is looking for adult fantasy fiction with vampires and intrigue. You won't be disappointed.

Rating: 5/5

I received this book free of charge from Bell Bridge Books in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain [Audiobook] {narrated by Elijah Wood}

Title: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Author: Mark Twain
Audiobook
Narrated by: Elijah Wood
Downloaded to Kindle from: Audible.com

Summary: "You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter," declares Huck at the start of one of the greatest books in American literature. Filled with all the humor, suspense, and sheer excitement of its predecessor, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the more profound and accomplished creation. The tale of two outcasts' journey down the Mississippi River, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a nostalgic portrayal of a world Twain knew intimately, and the moving story of a boy who must make his own way in an often cruel society that counts it a sin to help a runaway slave.(from goodreads.com)

I'm sure you all remember from your youthful days of yore (always wanted to say that) the colorful story of Mark Twain's, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I thought I remembered it, albeit I was a bit rusty on the story. My current memories mostly brought on by the clips in Easy A where Olive discusses how it's not truly relevant to our time period because she can't remember any white guy running off with some "huge honking black guy". However, at the end of said movie, Olive apologizes to our dearest Mark Twain because that is precisely what happens which is where I laughed hysterically.

Now, although this really has nothing to do with my review, I still found it funny. However, to get back on topic, I was asked to review this audiobook in exchange for my honest review, so here is what I've got.

I loved it. I'm not much of an audiobook fan because I feel that it renders the speaking narrator as the permanent voice in my head for the written narrator of the book. This becomes annoying because much of the time I find audiobook narrators to definitely NOT fit the character they are portraying. My first introduction to audiobookism would be my mother playing Twilight in the car as we drove to Las Vegas to see my sister. I must say, that I found the narrator chosen for that book horribly dull and bland with no inflections that gave Bella Swan any good characterization, as in my head, she had always had. Many of you may debate this, as I know so many people to feel Bella is as bland as the chosen narrator made her.

Nonetheless, Elijah Wood, has given me no such qualms, in fact he has done an amazing job at giving credibility to audiobooks everywhere. I do not say this lightly. But, with Elijah Wood at the helm of Mark Twain's adventurous masterpiece, I felt like I was really listening to Huck Finn tell me the story of his exploratory travels on the Mississippi River. Not only did he hit Huck Finn's voice on the dot he also was amazing when it came to Jim, the runaway slave. I really believed there were two different voices participating in the mesmerizing tale.

It made me fall for the characters in an entirely different way than if I would have read it. Mark Twain's English isn't quite the English of today and I felt that Wood gave it a feeling and a loveliness that my own brain probably wouldn't have.

The only complaint I have with the audiobook is not against this audiobook in particular, but the same complaint I have for all audiobooks everywhere...they take so much time to listen to. A book that would normally take me five hours to read (or less) takes a good ten to listen to on audio. However, the magnificence of technology today allowed me to download, from audible.com, directly onto my Kindle. How freaking awesome is that!!!!!!!!! (It needs more exclamation points still!!!)

So, in conclusion, I recommend this audiobook to anyone who wants to feel like they are traveling along the Mississippi with Huckleberry Finn and Jim. The experience for me was overly enjoyable. Elijah Wood definitely gives it the feel it deserves and makes me believe in Huck's antic's over and over again.

(Sidenote: And for all those wondering, I'm fully against the changing of this original manuscript to wipe away words that, today, some may find offensive. I think that it was written as it was to show a time period and to give the book a feeling of what was developing in the plot lines. Those who are offended should simply, not read the book - This is solely my personal feelings concerning this subject)

Rating: 4/5

I was given this audiobook free of charge from Audible.com in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Once Bitten (Haven No.1) by Kalayna Price

Title: Once Bitten (Haven No.1)
Author: Kalayna Price
Pages: 276
Publsihed: January 9th, 2009 by Bell Bridge Books
Read: February 12th, 2011

Synopsis: Vampires and Shapeshifters.
A Fictionwise bestseller: No. 1 on the Fictionwise Dark Fantasy list in Feb. 2009

Kita Nekai, on the run and the smallest of her shifter clan-a calico cat among lions and tigers-is being hunted. She was expected to accept her role as her father's successor whether or not her cat was up to the task of leading the clan. She disagreed. Now she's less than a step ahead of the hunters, bone-tired, cold, and living hand-to-mouth in the city of Haven. And that's the high point of her day. She's also drugged, "accidently" turned into a vampire, and sentenced to death for recklessly creating a rogue shifter who tortures its human prey. She's got seventy-two hours to find the rogue, evade a city full of hunters, prove she's not responsible for the rogue, and keep the vampire council from killing her. All while sorting out an apprentice mage, a married ex-boyfriend shifter-hunter, and the vampire who made her.

This book was freaking awesome. I have grown very fond of all books by Kalayna Price (see review of Grave Witch HERE). I wish there were so many more to read. *sigh* As there are currently only three, I'll be waiting on bended knee for the rest to be released.

Til then, here is my review:

This particular novel is about a shifter turned vampire. Kita (coolest name by the way), had grown up as a calico cat shifter. I was cracking up at that one, nothing like being a six pound kitty to really make you feel as uncomfortable as possible in a world of Lions, Tigers and Bears (oh my!). But, that doesn't stop Kita from pushing for survival and running from the life she'd always known. I don't blame her, to be so confined to a way of life is way too oppressing.

Kita ends up in Haven were she ends up turned into a vampire by the sexy professor, Nathaniel (don't get any ideas, he is way to chaste for this book *wink wink*). Anyhoo, as you can imagine, Kita is pretty pissed by the whole thing and I can't really blame her. I think it's why I love her so much as a character. She is super stubborn and there is no insta-feelings. She doesn't suddenly let go of all the pain in her life and embrace a life of vampirism. I think it makes the whole thing a bit more realistic. The character development invested in Kita by Price is amazing to me. It's tugged me into this world of shifter/vampire making me itch for more.

Kita though, she is so stubborn and even though sometimes I want to slap her upside the head, I can't blame her, I can only move through the story with her feeling her pain. She pushes and pushes because she doesn't want to be hurt and I get that, no matter how sad that is that I get it, I just do. But, I also love that she isn't prone to complaining about it. Life sucks, but what can yah do?! Just try to make it out alive if you're Kita.

Then, there is Nathanial *licks lips*. I've always been into the scholarly type. A guy who can keep up with me, that's my thinking. He's definitely a good guy, with a little bit of sexy bad on the side. Thank heavens he isn't one of those vamps who is like I don't want to be a monster because I don't think I could have handled that. No, he is what he is and he's fine with it. I really enjoyed his character and how we find out little things about him as I kept reading. He just became more and more sexy and lovable. I would also say he was alluring in most senses of the word. *prrrrrrrrrrr*

So, I guess what I'm saying is, Price has created another delectable piece of fiction with Once Bitten. She has thrown me into this crazy world of Haven where vampires are sadistic and fun to read as well as shifters who change into bobcats and still have the ability to take out homicidal vamps. I highly recommend you give this book a read because Kalayna Price has created a brilliant novel with Once Bitten, the first in the Haven series!

Rating: 4.5/5
Quotes:

An hour ago I'd thought a city named Haven would be good luck. Now I wondered who it was supposed to be a haven for--polar bears and penguins?

"I am not threatening you Kita. Honestly, I am worried about you. I want us to be friends, all right?"(Nathanial)

The laugh that escaped my throat wasn't a happy sound. The memory of his astonished voice whispering that I wasn't human echoed in my head. Did he think I was something eh could keep in a cage? Domesticate? "Do you usually make friends by holding them hostage and chaining them in a basement with a mad woman who forces them to drink blood?"

I received this book free of charge from Bell Bridge Books in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcemdi No.1) by Linda Robertson

Title: Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcemdi No.1)
Author: Linda Robertson
Pages: 384
Published: June 30th, 2009

Synopsis:

girl's got to do what a girl's got to do....

Being a witch doesn't pay the bills, but Persephone Alcmedi gets by between reading Tarot cards, writing her syndicated newspaper column, and kenneling werewolves in the basement when the moon is full — even if witches aren't supposed to mingle with wolves. She really reaches the end of her leash, though, when her grandmother gets kicked out of the nursing home and Seph finds herself in the doghouse about some things she's written. Then her werewolf friend Lorrie is murdered...and the high priestess of an important coven offers Seph big money to destroy the killer, a powerful vampire named Goliath Kline. Seph is a tough girl, but this time she bites off more than she can chew. She needs a little help from her friends — werewolf friends. One of those friends, Johnny, the motorcycle-riding lead singer for the techno-metal-Goth band Lycanthropia, has a crush on her. And while Seph has always been on edge around this 6'2" leather-clad hunk, she's starting to realize that although their attraction may be dangerous, nothing could be as lethal as the showdown that awaits them.

This book was pretty good. I mean, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but overall, I'd still say it was good. I think I originally picked up this book because of the cover (it fit with one of my challenges) and because the synopsis sounded fantastic. In my opinion, it didn't live up to the promises of the synopsis, but nonetheless enjoyable.

I keep going over and over my feelings for this book trying to figure out why I felt the way I did. I mean, the storyline was pretty good, so what it really comes down to, for me, was the writing and the main character. The writing wasn't my favorite. Not that it was really bad or anything, but it confused me some of the time. There were so many new terms that were not explained and you had to kind of figure it out along the way, it was frustrating. I think because the terms would pop up and you'd be like did they already tell me what this was? I kept scrolling back in the book to see if I'd missed something. I will say this about the writing though, it got better as I read and I didn't feel the need to put the book down at all which is always a good sign. By the end of the book, the writing felt better to me.

As for the main character, Persephone, she annoyed me. Not all the time mind you, but a lot of the time she just annoyed me. I don't think I could understand her a ton. She seemed so embarrassed of who she was to anyone who was human. It was like she had 2 personalities. Looking back now, I think the author did that on purpose, but throughout the book I kept palming my forehead and thinking really Persephone, are you really that big of a shallow idiot!! Granted, I think a lot of the time she really was *palms forehead* I am a girl, and I don't think I will ever understand my own race...

But, there were a lot of redeeming qualities in the book. For one, it had a twisted plot. I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next all the way up until the end. Also, I really liked Persephone's Nana and the male werewolf hottie, Johnny. Now, as all you readers know, I'm a victim of The Bad Boy Complex and Johnny really fits into that. I think, maybe a lot of that was the tattoos and piercings and his genius at innuendos (I've got a knack for those), but he kept me reading and I wanted to get in as much of him as possible. As for Nana, I always like an old woman who may appear weak but can bust out the moves when necessary. I believe, wholeheartedly, that Nana fit that picture. Yeah, she was pesky and sneaky at times, but it fit her character terribly well.

All that being said, I will definitely be reading the sequel for a couple reasons. First of all, I think that Robertson's writing is going to be so much better in the next book, I could just feel it (I'm a dork...). Plus, now that I know all the jacked up terms from the first book, I shouldn't be so confused. Secondly (or is that thirdly?), at the end of book one, Persephone has a kind of epiphany so I think I've grown to understand her a lot better. I'm hoping that she won't annoy me as much anymore. Last of all (which kind of nicks the "couple" statement), I want some more Johnny and I'm very curious to see what happens with the vampires I met towards the end of the book.

So, I guess what I'm saying, is that this may not be the best book I've read, but I'd say it was worth it and I'm hankering for the sequel soon which I think will be way better than the first. *crosses fingers* I'll keep ya posted!

Rating: 3.5/5

Grave Witch (Alex Craft No.1) by Kalayna Price

Title: Grave Witch (Alex Craft)
Author: Kalayna Price
Pages: 325
Published: October 5th, 2010
Read: January 29th, 2011

Synopsis: Not even death can save her now.

As a grave witch, Alex Craft can speak to the dead-she's even on good terms with Death himself. As a consultant for the police, she's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. When she's raising a "shade" involved in a high profile murder, it attacks her, and then someone makes an attempt on her life. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why...

This book was freaking amazing!

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, this book was exactly what I was looking for, it was the book that definitely gave a fun twist to the boredom that had become my reading as of late.

Alex Craft is a grave witch, a witch who can raise shades (memories of the dead) and see the random ghost (that is if the ghost is on the right level of reality). Most of all and my favorite part about Alex, she can see Death. You know, the soul collector Death. He is like WOW....grrrrrrrr.....mmmmmm....Death. Who knew Death could be so lovely?! Okay, so he may not be the main character or even the main male interest in the book, but oh boy, he was an original character, plus, I think he will become more of a main character in the next book.

I've decided that I may have quite a demented mind if I've decided that Death is now intriguing and quite beguiling (in the charming sense of the word mind you). But, I've gotten ahead of myself.

Cause you see, Alex, she isn't the only grave witch. She isn't the only grave witch who can see Death. She is just the only grave witch who can see Death on the living realm. She doesn't have to use her crazy cool grave sight to see him like all the others do. She can see him on the living realm and he looks like some hot smokin' guy who is always dressing in jeans and a black t-shirt. She can also interact with him which is something that no other witch can do.

This also kind of tells what the book is about. Alex, our freaking awesome grave witch (how does one become a grave witch, I'd like to know?) raises shades for a living. Kind of like an investigator for the dead. She, basically, gives the dead a voice. In this first, brilliant, book in the series, Alex comes across things that shouldn't be possible, like memories that won't do anything but scream and bodies with evil impossible glyphs. She is the only one who can really see them and to top it off, someone is out to kill her. Isn't that just always the way? But let me tell you, this book, I just loved it. The writing was fabulous, witty when necessary and serious at the other times. I totally could relate with her (even though I am about as magical as a lamp) and her personality. She was smart and strong, but not insanely so. Her character is a lovely mix of imperfection, reality and fantasy and makes me want to go back and read it all over again.

As for the actual main male of the book, Falin was the officer she ends up sneaking/working with on the case and it's an interesting mix. Although, I don't really know how I feel about him. I'm really confused because for about half of the book he is kind of a jack a$$, so I'm not sure about when he suddenly...isn't. I think the author did it on purpose. I think she was trying to make a point about his actual identity and why he was so coarse. I also think that Kalayna Price wanted to draw the reader's attention to Death.

I've really said enough about him, but I really really did love him. I really think it's the fact that Death is you know....death, but in the book he isn't so bad. Don't get me wrong, it's not the hey, I don't want to be bad kind of thing. It's the hey, I'm Death and I kill people for a living and yah, I might get some jollies from it, but that's the way of Life, doesn't make me evil, kind of thing. I think I may have a bad boy complex. Anyone who isn't sure about The Bad Boy Complex, leave me a comment and I'll elaborate.

So, I'm leaving it at that. I loved this book. It was brilliant and lovely and just what I needed. I think that Kalayna Price has created an original piece of fiction with a unique world of witches and fey that nobody has ever quite seen. I am jumping up and down for the release of book two, Grave Dance. Anyone who'd like to jump up and down with me, hurry up and read book one because you won't be disappointed!

Rating: 5/5

Quotes:

The first time I encountered Death, I hurled my mother's medical chart at him. As far as impressions went, I blew it, but I was five at the time, so he eventually forgave me. Some days I wished he hadn't--particularly when we crossed paths on the job.

I shoved my hand in my purse and fished along the bottom. I ignored the billfold--I knew it was empty. Under the tube of chalk for casting my circle, a ceramic ritual knife, my cell phone, and my license, I discovered three pennies, a dime, a crumpled foil wrapper, and a paper clip.

Death glanced at the treasure spread over my palm. "Planning on buying a gumball?"

My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers No.1) by Rachel Vincent

Title: My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers No.1)
Author: Rachel Vincent
Pages: 279
Published: August 1st 2009 by Harlequin
Read: January 26, 2011
Challenges: Cover Love (January: Red Cover)

Synopsis: She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next(from goodreads.com)

Originally I picked up this book because I was looking for an adult novel to read that was different...original. As I said, last post, I've been in a rut and it seemed that every book I had recently picked up didn't really grab me. This is never usually the case. Most of the time I can read an entire book even if I'm not really into it at first, so I was getting frustrated.

Needless to say, this book is NOT an adult book, it's YA. Normally, that really wouldn't bother me, this time though, it did.

I think I was just looking for something super specific and this book didn't give it to me. All this in mind, I think that's why I didn't care for it as much as some I've read. Yah, the story line is more original as far as the topic matter is concerned (topic being a specific species of fey), but I was still bored. I thought the relationship happened too fast and I didn't really get it ("it" being the relationship). I mean, yah, personality wise they were meshable as boyfriend/girlfriend, but it was kind of weird and almost impersonal. There just wasn't enough development of the relationship for me to feel it, I guess is what I'm trying to say.

Also, I've never fully understood, on the part of the main character, when they feel the need to confide their deepest darkest secrets into men/boys they've just met because they can just feel something. Come on people, I feel all sorts of things on a regular basis, doesn't mean I want to divulge my darkest secrets all of the sudden. I'm sure maybe if magic was added into the mix I'd just expel My Life Story and the world would then flip off its axis and we would all grow wings and fly, but as of right now, the magic in the world is staying out of my life (much to my chagrin), so I'm stuck as is and My Life Story is stayin' with me.

Now that I've ranted a little bit, I will say this, I still enjoyed the book. I thought that the soul screamer aspect was pretty cool and not something covered in a lot of books today. Although, I would have liked to see a lot more screaming (due to my current fascination with dark fantasy), but it was fun and enjoyable. I actually read the thing in about 2 days which is slow for that many pages, but shows that I still enjoyed it.

Mostly though, the characters were kind of boring and forgettable albeit, I liked them when I was reading them. My favorite character and the one I can remember was the soul collector Todd. I think I enjoy Death as a funny humanish character. It intrigues me.

Overall, I thought the book to be well written and enjoyable and although I'm not too excited currently to bust out with the sequel, the first was pretty cool. I'm not sure that if I would have been in a better mood or possibly on the look out for a YA book if my taste would have ran a little higher, but as it stands now, this book doesn't reach amazing status. However, it's still worthy of a read.

Rating: 3.5/5

I'm sure You've noticed

I'm sure as You, all my valiant and dedicated readers, have noticed, my blog writing has been MIA for almost three weeks. Well, in all honesty, I'm not exactly sure how the whole Not Writing started. I mean, I do love my blog, as it's kind of like my emotional outlet of all things that I'm Officially Not Allowed to Talk About (yes, I have a list going) around my house or other places. And yes, before you ask, I have been reading and have an immense amount of reviews of my delicate sleeves, but where oh where did the Not Writing come into the picture?

Well, being that You are, of course, my dedicated and valiant readers (like how I switched up those two words?), I'm going to give you The Full Story. Most likely, the hinting of my not writing probably began about 4 weeks ago when I was brutally rebuffed by a client I dearly liked. Not because I had some kind of working crush upon that client, but because they were a good client, a client who always paid their bill. Being that this client has been my client since 2007, you can imagine my melancholy at being rejected. (Given, that The Full Story, includes details that are indubitably not necessary, you get are going to receive even more information than maybe you wanted.)

So, even though this lovely client of so many years has told me over and over that it is not me, but a matter of being unhappy with their CPA and money, it still didn't seem to penetrate the thick skull sitting atop my fabulous alabaster shoulders. No. It's just that, I cannot stand to fail, AT ANYTHING! It's definitely one of my greatest PITA (pain in the ass), character qualities (the second being that I hate being wrong and feel that most often I'm probably not).

No matter how many times I was asked to finish out the year, or how many times I was told how wonderful I am and how they will "miss me," I still feel like I've failed. Like nothing was really worth doing because I was sure to fail at everything. Yes, I know, pretty dismal eh?

After that lovely dis to my now deprecated soul, I had to finish out the year for said client and transfer just under 4 years of my work over to someone else. It was a bit heartbreaking for me, but also, very busy. Hence, the following week(s) where my blog writing suffered.

Following the date of The Giveover, I was too dejected to really care about my non-writing. I mean, even my reading, sadly to say, suffered. I just didn't feel like it. This is really and truly sad. No, I don't think I'd go so far as to say I was that down, I just HATE TO FAIL. I can't explain it, so I won't try, but sufficeth to say, It (never wanting to fail) and chocolate ice cream are my downfalls.

Anyhow, eventually I pulled out of that funk and into a new one. One of not being really interested in reading. *gasp* Yes, I know, this is a horrific conundrum that I thought I would never cross paths with. But it happened. Lucky for me, the answer to this conundrum came in the form of a package from my dear BDF and some great messages on GR. Lyssa, my really good Wisconsinite friend sent me my Christmas/New Years/Valentines day gift and it perked me up. Made me realize that outside of my little deranged mind, things were still kicking. Plus, I had this good friend of mine from Goodreads who recommended a series to me. Not because she thought it would help me, just because she thought I'd like it.

The following couple of days proceeded as such:

1. Put all books in Jessica Darling series on HOLD at the Library
2. Put Anna and The French Kiss on HOLD at the Library
3. Find adult paranormal fiction book for Kindle whilst I wait for books to be AVAILABLE at library
4. Found Alex Craft book for Kindle
5. Bought Alex Craft book one for Kindle
6. Read (past tense) entire Alex Craft book in a ridiculously fast amount of time (on my Kindle)
7. Amazingly enjoyed Alex Craft book one (on my Kindle) in ways I cannot express including falling in love with Alex and Death (dismal I already know)
   
8. Thanked my lucky stars I found Alex Craft (for my Kindle)
9. Started (and finished) the Jessica Darling book one and fell in love with J.D. and Marcus Flutie
10. Started (and finished) Anna and the French Kiss and fell in love with Anna and St. Claire (and boarding schools in France for that matter)
11. Started (and finished) Jessica Darling book 2 and fell in more love with J.D. and M.F.
12. Started (Today) Jessica Darling book 3

So, as you can see, I've pulled out of my Client Funk as well as my Reading Slump. With this post, I've also (hopefully) pulled out of my Blog Post Slacking.

Now, you are all probably wondering why I felt the need to go on and on AND ON about this. I didn't do it so I would receive any kind of sympathy and the funniest part about the whole thing is that out of my family (1 Hubby, 10 siblings, 5 brother/sister-in-laws, 16(ish) neices/nephews and my 2 parentals) with whom I'm close with, only 4 people know what's happened and one is my Hubby. So, why, in all honesty, did I feel the need to blither on forever. Was it because I needed to talk, or maybe because I just wanted to write. Why??? Who the hell knows!!!

All I know is I feel better for getting it out. Which is funny because in all reality, The Full Story, wasn't that grand and You, my dedicated and valiant readers, are perfect strangers. But, still...

Thanks for listening.