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Series Wrap Up

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So, for June I decided to read only books from series I already enjoy.  I will probably not do this again!  You can click here to see the page where I’m keeping track of all that.

I read 3 Lincoln Rhyme novels (by Deaver), 3 Women’s Murder Club books (by Patterson), 2 Baily Weggins novels (by White), and 1 Milan Jacovich mystery (by Roberts).  I also read the first of the FBI series by Coulter. 

So I am caught up on the Bailey Weggins series and am 1 away on 2 more.  This is a good thing. 

My big complaint about this trial was the fact that all of these series are mysteries and I had a little mystery overload.  That’s why I tried the FBI series – was looking for a little romance 🙂

I asked you for suggestions and I appreciate those of you who gave me recommendations.  Here are the ones I received-

Maisie Dobbs series by Jacqueline Winspear

Paige Turner series by Amanda Matetsky

Thomas Lynley series by Elizabeth George

Gaslight mysteries by Victoria Thompson

WWI series by Anne Perry

Mary Russell/ Sherlock Holmes series

Harmony series by Philip Gulley

Pink Carnation series

I’m going to take a look and try one.  Probably not this month, but in August.  Here are the ones I recommend-

Harlan Coben’s Myron Bolitar series – start with Deal Breaker

Jeffrey Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme series – start with The Bone Collector

Dinaa Gabaldon’s Outlander series – start with Outlander

Brenda Joyce’s Deadly series – start with Deadly Love

John Sandford’s Prey series – start with Rules of Prey

See you on Tuesday!

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See full size imageI’m off to the DC area to visit friends in a few hours, some of which I haven’t seen in over five years!  As many of you know from my bio, I don’t have kids.   On my trek I will be staying with four different girlfriends WHO ALL HAVE THREE YEAR OLDS 🙂  Weird, huh?  Two of these friends also have a second, younger child.  I am very much looking forward to my trip to see some wonderful friends and family and to see these gals in their role as mother.  Be back Tuesday night, with lots of fun baby stories I’m sure.

Please sign up for my giveaway of The Triumph of Deborah here.  I will have a few things posting while I’m gone.

June is Series Month

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Cheryl is participating in the Read Your Own Books challenge with me and she read only series books in the month of May. 

I thought this was such a great idea to catch up on all of the series I am so far behind on, because I refuse to start another one until I’m current on the ones I read already.  So, I took a few minutes to organize it on a page (at the top or HERE).  The starred series are the ones I’ve read every book in the series.  I’d like to recommend Brenda Joyce’s Deadly series for anyone who liked mysteries and historical romances.  I love this series – must be read in order!

So, my goal for June is to read the latest Stephanie Plum, Finger Lickin Fifteen, the 2 Bailey Weggins books I missed (by Kate White), and to catch up on Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhymes series (I’ve only got 3 to go).  I’d also like to catch up with Patterson’s Womens Murder Club, still have 4 to go.

Maybe if I catch up on a few I can start a few new ones that I have waiting for me on my shelves.  Or I could start a recommended series from you.  Take a minutes to comment and let me know what series I MUST read next!  When I get back from New York on Wednesday I’ll choose one from the recommendations!

Oh, please don’t recommend the Twilight series.  I read the first one and probably won’t finish the series.

Happy Easter

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Happy Easter from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!! We are here at the Grand Mayan living it up 🙂 I’m reading all your comments, although I won’t have time to respond or blog surf while I’m here. Hope your Easter is wonderful!

Go Spartans!

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UPDATE – That was tough to watch. 

Although I’m a Buckeye, my husband is a Spartan.  Tonight Michigan State plays for the NCAA Championship 🙂  I hope Detroit and the whole state of Michigan (excluding Ann Arbor) gets to celebrate tonight! 

Baron Thinks Dogs are People Too! by Laurie Dean, an Aunt Betty review

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Baron Thinks Dogs Are People Too!by Laurie Dean, Illustrator Kevin Collier, published 2008, 24 pages

Product Description
Cute and lovable Baron wants a best friend but in an effort to get his family’s attention, Baron’s lively antics take him in the wrong direction. After being whisked away to doggie school, Baron learns important lessons about behaving himself. But will he ever find the friendship his furry heart longs for?

Aunt Betty says

A dog truly is a man’s best friend and Billy’s too!  Opening our hearts to these loving animals, sharing warmth and love and our attention is a need of all dogs and this is conveyed well in the story. Baron wanted a best friend and he found one by being one himself. When Baron and Billy bond it gave this story a very happy ending!

Great for K-2nd grade

Do you want to know more about Baron and his human friends?  Visit his website, http://www.baronthinks.com/

My Aunt Betty has been an elementary school librarian for 24 years.  This is not surprising because she loves kids and kids appreciate her enthusiasm.  It is because of her that I enjoy a close relationship with my 7 cousins (later, 9).  She always had all of us over for sleepovers and other outings.  All 9 of us would cram into her Rabbit for trips around town.  You never see that anymore

I asked around for words to describe Aunt Betty and these are the words that came back the most…Happy, Caring, and Thoughtful.  As for me, my top three choices are Fun, Kind, and Full of Life.

Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton, an Aunt Betty review

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Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton: Book CoverPublished March 2009, Hardcover, 32 pages

From the Publishers-

Alice is tall. Not T-Rex or Empire State Building tall. Just four inches taller than the other eight-year-old girls at her school. Her mom says she’s tall. Her dad says she’s tall. But Alice is worried that being tall isn’t okay. She cries and cries and wishes that she was just like everyone else, until her dream takes her to the place where the tall girls live, and she sees, really sees herself for the first time.

Aunt Betty says…
In this story it was refreshing to make Alice and others who feel like they need to “fit in” know that it’s okay to be a little different (whether it’s size, shape, etc.). This book reminds us that we are all unique and special in our own way. We all have our own special gift or talent to do something well. It encourages everyone to discover who they are and to discover your own unique gift or talent that you have to offer. We need more books like “Too Tall Alice” .
Great for ages 8-12.

My Aunt Betty has been an elementary school librarian for 24 years.  This is not surprising because she loves kids and kids appreciate her enthusiasm.  It is because of her that I enjoy a close relationship with my 7 cousins (later, 9).  She always had all of us over for sleepovers and other outings.  All 9 of us would cram into her Rabbit for trips around town.  You never see that anymore

I asked around for words to describe Aunt Betty and these are the words that came back the most…Happy, Caring, and Thoughtful.  As for me, my top three choices are Fun, Kind, and Full of Life.

Musings and looking ahead

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It is my goal every year to read a book a week.  Last year I completed only 40, so I’m hoping this blog will keep me honest.

This was my first blog post last January.  I feel like I’ve come so far since then.  I have become more comfortable in putting myself out there, which was one of my reasons for starting the blog in the first place.  I have a hard time showing my writing to anyone unless it is perfect and complete (you can guess how often this happens!) and this has been a great opportunity for me to write a ‘first draft’ on the fly and send it out to the masses. 

This year has brought some surprises.  I have also learned that it is possible to make friends on the internet.  I ‘see’ some of you more often than I see some of  my best friends.  I did not realize that blogging would be as addicting and as time consuming as it is.  And I found even more book obsessed readers out there than me!  I am not alone 🙂

As for my initial goal of reading a book a week, well, my final count is 96, so obviously, blogging works.  I’ve decided to make my 2009 goal 130 books, at least 30 of those non-fiction.  I did sign up for one challenge and you can keep track of my progress on under 2009 Challenges. 

There are a few things I’m going to try and make happen in 2009 (I’m avoiding the word resolution or goal).  The first thing I’d like to accomplish blogwise and lifewise is getting myself organized.  If I can do this the rest of this will easily follow.  I’d like to host a giveaway and a few author interviews.  I like that you participate in my quizzes, so I might offer prizes here and there just for fun!  I’m going to try an improve the look of my blog-I still haven’t taken the time to figure some of this stuff out.

I think that’s enough.  Thanks for sharing 2008 with me.  I look forward to a great 2009 and hope the year is a great one for you too 🙂