BTT-Quirky

This week’s question is suggested by (blogless) JMutford:

Sometimes I find eccentric characters quirky and fun, other times I find them too unbelievable and annoying. What are some of the more outrageous characters you’ve read, and how do you feel about them?

The first quirky character that comes to mind is Stephanie Plum who is hilarious and very real but sometimes she can border on annoying but Janet Evanovich always pulls her back from being unbelievable. There are other characters like this too: Anita Blake, Sookie Stackhouse, and Betsy Taylor the Vampire Queen are just a few of very good characters that I adore who also at times can get on my last nerve! I tend not to dislike quirky characters very much but that’s also a deal breaker for me, if the character annoys me too much then I’ll stop reading.

A. A. Milne (January 18, 1882 – January 31, 1956)

January 18th was the author A. A. Milne's birthday who was most famous for that chubby-little cubby Pooh Bear and since I was sick I never got to celebrate on my blog. Since tomorrow is the day that great man died I’d like to commemorate him today. I found this site which has uploaded the entire Winnie the Pooh book and included a few pictures. I actually have this old book and will do a post on it sometime next month.

I found these two videos on YouTube. The first is illustrations by E. H. Shepard set to the song House at Pooh Corner and the second one is a song sung by Gene Kelley that is based on a poem by A. A. Milne called Halfway Down the Stairs.

ToT-10 Things You’d Buy If You Had a Million Dollars

There’s no getting by easy on this one like saying “giving it to charity” or “saving it for my kids’ college”. You’ve got a million dollars, and you’ve got to spend it on yourself. Your list can add up to a million dollars, or each of the items on your list could be huge million dollar splurges. Your choice! Be greedy, spoil yourself!

My million dollar shopping list:

1. A nice house for hubby and me and another for my parents, both of which would be in Georgia.
2. New cars for all immediate family.
3. I'd like to run a used book-store.
4. Monthly spa days for mom and me
5. A ranch house somewhere quiet for vacations (Tennessee perhaps?)
6. A whole new wardrobe
7. Trips to every Disney theme park, including the cruise ship
8. Lots of animals
9. People to help clean up after said animals
10. Books!

Book Meme

Which book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?
For awhile it's been The Book Thief but I'm actually slowly getting into it. The book is still not the easiest to read though. I'd probably have to say A Thousand Splendid Suns

If you could bring three characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?
Stephanie Plum would be fun to have luch with as long as no one blows up her car while we're eating! Jean-Claude could take me to a French opera or ballet and I wouldn't mind visiting Eric's bar (from Sookie's world).

(Borrowing shamelessly from the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde): you are told you can't die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it's past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?
Probably some thick classic with hard-to-understand English.

Come on, we've all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you've read, when in fact you've been nowhere near it?I've said I've finished a book when I'm still reading it before but I've never out-right lied about reading a book before.

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to 'reread' it that you haven't? Which book?
I'm very good at remembering what I have and haven't read. That doesn't mean that when I reread everything is familiar to me, some parts of the book I don't remember so it's like reading it for the first time.

You've been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who's not a big reader). What's the first book you'd recommend and why? (if you feel like you'd have to know the person, go ahead and personalise the VIP)
The first book in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. My husband doesn't read too often but he's read this entire series. It's been a couple of years since the last one was published and he'll still talk about them!

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?
French. I see it in books all the time and it drives me crazy when I have to get up and look it up in an online translator.

A mischievious fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?
It took me awhile to come up with an answer to this question. First I thought about Little Women which I've read four times but then I looked up and realized that either Winnie-the-Pooh or Alice in Wonderland would be a better choice.

I know that the book blogging community, and its various challenges, have pushed reading borders. What's one bookish thing you 'discovered' from book blogging (maybe a new genre, or author, or new appreciation for cover art-anything)?
The Mercy series by Patricia Briggs and the Ice Series by Anne Stuart. Both of these authors have become must-reads for me now.


That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she's granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.
I love books in all shapes and sizes so it doesn't really matter to me what the books look like in my library, I just want the shelves full! I like the library in Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks because it is set up beautifully. The dusting would be a hassle but then I'd probably like that ladder!

New Stuff

Today I did something I haven’t done in almost 10 years! I wore glasses! Not only that but I actually brought a pair home! It’s going to take me awhile to get used to them (I’m already kind of woozy because I’m trying to wear them instead of going to put my contacts in) but I like them.

As you may have noticed, I haven’t really been doing any updating and I’m so far behind but this cold I’ve had has kicked my butt! I’m starting to feel better but still kind of tired. My Cold as Ice by Anne Stuart post will be up before too much longer.

Has anyone ever read The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor? I read a review of it at Rhinoa’s Ramblings and liked the way it sounded so I picked it up from the library today. It looks like I won’t get to read it for a little while though because I need to read The Thirteenth Tale. I know I’ll love it so I don’t know why I keep dragging my heals on this!

This is a picture of my glasses except mine are blue:

BTT-Huh?

What’s your favorite book that nobody else has heard of? You know, not Little Women or Huckleberry Finn, not the latest best-seller . . . whether they’ve read them or not, everybody "knows" those books. I’m talking about the best book that, when you tell people that you love it, they go, "Huh? Never heard of it?"

And, folks–Becca was nice enough to nominate Booking Through Thursday for a Blogger’s Choice Award–while you’re here, why don’t you head over and vote for us, too. Because, a vote for BTT is a vote for all of us who play each week!

Hmmm... the only thing that comes to mind is Kävik the Wolf Dog by Walt Morey and Scruffy by Jack Stoneley. Both are "children’s books" that I read and loved as a kid. I loved them both so much that not only have I kept them all these years but I’ve also blogged about them too! Oh and there was this book I read in high school that I also really liked called Brief Gaudy Hour: A Novel of Anne Boleyn by Margaret Campbell Barnes.

• Scruffy by Jack Stoneley
• Kävik the Wolf Dog by Walt Morey

Linky Love '08

OneLuvGirl Tagged me for this:

I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. (Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!) It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially!

The benefits of Viral Linking:
- One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!

- Increase your Google PageRank fast

- Attract large volume of new traffic to your site

- Build your community

- Make new friends!

The Strategist Notebook, Link Addiction, Ardour of the Heart, When Life Becomes a Book, The Malaysian Life, Yogatta.com, What goes under the sun, Roshidan’s Cyber Station, Sasha says, Arts of Physics, And the legend lives, My View, My Life, A Simple Life, Juliana RW, Mom Knows Everything, What Women REALLY Think, Not Much More Than This, Jayedee, Jenn, Beth, Christie, Marla, Cailin, Simone, FlipFlopMom, Katrina, Gill’s Jottings, Work of the Poet, Wakela, Modern Day Goddess, Livin With Me, Are We There Yet??, Beth & Cory’s Mom, A Mind Forever Voyaging, My Dogs Keep Me Sane, Mama Pajama, Comedy Plus, My So-Called Site, Up Close & Personal with Ladytink

I'd rather not tag anyone is specific because many people won't want to do this and I don't want them to feel obligated. If you would like to copy and paste this on your own blog, please do!

ToT- 10 Things that Were Better "Way Back Then"

As many of you know, I'm a fan of all things that pre-date the last 10-15 years so this was an easy list for me. There are just so many things that were better back then (of course they didn't have the technology we do now so I guess it balances out somehow)!

1. Toys- I've seen toys lately that are cool but I still wish I had some of my old ones!
2. Cartoons- I used to love watching cartoons well into my teens but the stuff on today is just awful!
3. Celebrities- Way back when, celebrities were respected and didn't have to do all the crazy stuff they do nowadays to get attention.
4. Disney movies- I haven't seen a decent animated movie since Tarzan and I don't count that computerized stuff as animated.
5. TV shows- I used to watch TV with my grandmother and we'd both be able to enjoy the shows like Family Matters and Disney's Gummi Bears or even when I was growing up with the X-Files, Buffy, etc.
6. Music to an extent- There are still some good stuff now but I find I listen to a lot of "oldies" too.
7. Cereal- There just seems like there was more variety when I was a kid
8. Doritoes- I've always loved the regular cheese kind until they started putting more pepper or something in and now I can't eat them.
9. Things were cheaper-maybe it's just me but things used to be a whole lot cheaper and I'm not just talking about gas either.
10. Fear- Everyone is more afraid now than they used to be. Some parents won't even let their kids play outside without parental supervision (meaning the parent looms over the kids the entire time) and I mean 7 and up too. We live in such a crazy, scared world now.

***********************
I've got my posts on Hard Day's Knight by Katie MacAlister and the movie Two Weeks Notice up. I hope to get The Lake House up by the end of the day.

Home Meme

I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by to wish me well. It seems to be working! I no longer ache all over but I still have the coughs, sniffles and sneezies.

I saw this meme on Literary Feline's blog and had to join in!

What kind of soap is in your shower right now?
Dove Cucumber-Melon and Bath and Bodyworks Moonlight Path

Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator?
No

What would you change about your living room?
Hmm... I don’t really care for my burgundy couches and I’d like more storage.

Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty?
No dishes in the dishwasher

What is in your fridge?
Food and drinks, we go grocery shopping on Fridays.

White or wheat bread?
Oh I like all kinds of bread!

What is on top of your refrigerator?
Nothing

What color or design is on your shower curtain?
It looks like a tiny Paris town

How many plants are in your home?
None. My cat ate my last one and I tend to have a black thumb anyway.

Is your bed made right now?
Nope, Darren is sleeping in it!

Comet or Soft Scrub?
Neither.

Is your closet organized?
To an extent.

Can you describe your flashlight?
It’s some heavy-duty thing my dad got my husband.

Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home?
I tend to like to drink out of plastic cups or my crystal glasses. You can’t be too careful these days.

Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now?
Nope, I don’t like tea (I know *gasp* and me being born in Georgia too!)

If you have a garage, is it cluttered?
No garage.

Curtains or blinds?
Both

How many pillows do you sleep with?
Two although I used to sleep with much more.

Do you sleep with any lights on at night?
No.

How often do you vacuum?
Once or twice a week

Standard toothbrush or electric?
Standard

What color is your toothbrush?
White and pink

Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch?
Yes and it has kittens on it!

What is in your oven right now?
Supper

Is there anything under your bed?
My cat

Chore you hate doing the most?
Cleaning out the litter box

What retro items are in your home?
Umm I have several antiques and quite a few stuffed animals.

Do you have a separate room that you use as an office?
Yes.

How many mirrors are in your home?
I haven’t the slightest idea! One or two per room I guess.

What color are your walls?
Creamy white.

What does your home smell like right now?
Febreeze Spring and renewal

Favorite candle scent?
I do not really have a favorite scent I like a lot of different ones

What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now?
No idea. I can’t eat them so I purposely forget they’re in there.

Ever been on your roof?
Yep, nearly fell off too!

Do you own a stereo?
Yes, it’s actually a record player/CD/radio/tape player but I hardly ever use it.

How many TVs do you have?
Two

How many house phones?
One but I don’t use it.

Do you have a housekeeper?
Unless you count me, then no

What style do you decorate in?
No style. I’m kind of eclectic. I do have a French thing going on in my bathroom

Do you like solid colors or prints in furniture?
Whatever looks good but I lean toward solid colors.

Is there a smoke detector in your home?
Yes, there is.

In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you’d grab if you only could make one quick trip?
My drawer of pictures that also has my baby blanket and other mementos and I’d make sure I had my cat and hubby too.

Sick

Sorry I haven’t been around for the past few days! Hubby got sick and after a few days I did too of course so I’ve spent most of my time sleeping and reading. I had a post planned out today that ties into my Every Month is a Holiday Challenge since today is A. A. Milne’s birthday but I just don’t feel up to it.

ToT-10 Movies That Disappointed You

There are plenty of movies that have recently come out that I didn’t really care for but none that disappointed me too bad. I don’t usually get my hopes up about a film unless it’s something I’ve been looking forward to and most of those come out this year. So here’s 6 movies that I watched and didn’t really like:

1. I Am Legend- I have a post on this on my other blog but I didn’t care for this film. It gave me the willies and there was just something; I can’t put my finger on what, wrong with it.
   
   
2. Knocked Up- So many people seem to love this movie but I don’t really like stupid comedies like this. My husband sat down to watch this but I had to keep getting up because it was getting on my nerves.
   
   
3. Good Luck Chuck- Another stupid and crude comedy when it was really a sweet and funny comedy at heart. They could have dropped a lot of disgusting stuff but then the men wouldn’t have found it so hilarious, now would they?
   
   
4. Shrek the Halls- This was an awful Christmas movie. Even the soundtrack was a disappointment! I never really jumped on the Shrek bandwagon but I’ve seen the first two and they aren’t too bad but this was awful.
   
   
5. Victory Through Air Power- This was a Disney propaganda film made during WW2 and to date it’s the only Disney film I’ve seen that not only hasn’t been able to stand up to the test of time but was incredibly boring was well.
   
   
6. An American Tale- I’ve always liked An American Tale: Fievel Does West but I had never seen the original until last year and it wasn’t really all that bad but I was disappointed and felt like the one I grew up with was much better.
   
   ...Sorry but I really didn’t watch too many bad movies in 2007.

Book Buying & Updates

I always feel so guilty when I buy books lately because I have over 100 books in my TBR pile (seriously, and I’m not counting the five or so library books I seem to check out every week either) but I couldn’t help it when I found out that Janet Evanovich’s Plum Lucky had come out and again yesterday when I picked up the anthology My Big Fat Supernatural Honeymoon because it has short stories by two of my favorite authors Kelley Armstrong and Katie MacAlister as well as 7 others.

Speaking of Mrs. MacAlister, I finally got my post of her book Ain’t Myth-Behaving up and now I’m only 8 posts behind again. I also finally got my hands on Patricia Briggs’ Moon Called that Darla D recommended a while back. I loved it! Hubby is supposed to be picking up Blood Bound and some anthology with another one of her stories in it for me from the library today.

I’m supposed to be getting the fourth book in Anne Stuart’s Ice series in the mail today too. Thanks again to J. Kaye’s book raffles, I won the third book in the series, Ice Blue from which I plan on starting soon (after I won the book I read the first two). They’re wonderful!!!

If you enjoy William Butler Yeats’ poetry as much as I do, look for a post later this week over on my other blog!

Photo Hunters-Skinny

Today’s Theme is Skinny!

Here’s a picture of me on a family vacation a few years ago. I’ve always been really skinny my whole life but this was probably when I was the tiniest during my teenage years.

There are tons more people participating. Go check them out!

Shelfari/ New Rating System

I did something I never thought I would do... I joined Shelfari! After all the crud I went through with Library Thing I decided I would keep up with what I'd read and hadn't read in a text document on the computer (which I'm still doing). A fellow blogger convinced me to try it out and so far I like looking up the books I own and adding them to my virtual shelf. I am having qualms about adding library books even though I don’t click the “I Own” button.

Another thing I was thinking about doing is rating the books I read. I generally don’t do this because something I adore might not appeal to someone else and I try to give my honest opinion of the book anyway but if I do decide to start rating books here is how I’ll do it:

• 5 stars- A book I absolutely could not put down and/or stayed up to an ungodly hour finishing it.
• 4 stars- A book I really liked but was still able to put down eve if I couldn't stop thinking about it (I usually finish books like these within a few days).
• 3 stars- A good book but I found myself getting up and doing things (like checking emails, etc.) instead of reading it.
• 2 stars- The book was alright but there was something I didn’t like about it
• 1 star- A book that I not only put down a couple of times but actually had to make myself finish (there won’t be too many of these)

Sound good?

Oh and I'm not at all artistic but Kimbooktu is having an art contest on her site! (see above to enter)

FF-Names, Fashion, Chores, Etc.

Appetizer,
What is your middle name? Would you change any of your names if you could? If so, what would you like to be called?

My middle name is Ann and I actually like my names. I do wish Ann was spelled with an "e" on the end though.

Soup
If you were a fashion designer, which fabrics, colors, and styles would you probably use the most?

I like a bunch of retro styles but I wear a lot of blues, whites, greens, and browns. My favorite thing however is soft, and comfortable clothes like my blue jeans!

Salad
What is your least favorite chore, and why?

I hate cleaning out the litter box because not only is it gross but the smell of the clean litter dust bothers me. I’m not allerigic to it but it still makes me gag!

Main Course
What is something that really frightens you, and can you trace it back to an event in your life?

Cars scare the snot right out of me. I don’t like to drive and I’m kind of a passenger seat driver because I can’t help but freak out when hubby gets a little too close to someone or when I have to ride somewhere with my sister-in-law who likes to text while she drives. I’ve been in a few car accidents when I was younger and four people I knew, one of which I was pretty good friends with died in accidents while I was in high school.

Dessert
Where are you sitting right now? Name 3 things you can see at this moment.

I'd sitting at my desk and I can see a bag of Special Edition Lindor Truffles, a Sonic cherry-watermelon slush, and a stack of books

BTT-May I Introduce

1. How did you come across your favorite author(s)? Recommended by a friend? Stumbled across at a bookstore? A book given to you as a gift?

Most of my favorite authors were recommended to me by friends and family, sometimes even book groups! I have however stumbled across one or two in book stores.

2. Was it love at first sight? Or did the love affair evolve over a long acquaintance?

It was always love-at-first read!

What's in a Name? Meme

I found this cute meme on kookiejar's blog:

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & first car) Sadie-Mae Cougar

2. YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Century Sundae Chocolate Chip (The sundae is a Blue Belle ice cream)

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) JLal

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Blue Tiger

5. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) -Lalje

6. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) The Green Mt. Dew

7. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Dwight Ronald

8. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Higgs Hamilton

9. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, favorite flower) Autum Rose

10. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) - Cherry Topie

11. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) Oatmeal Willow

12. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) The Reading Cloudy Tour

13. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) Ann Cobb

14. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Lee Wayne

Book Videos

Kimbooktu found these:





I thought the first one was really well done but the second one was horribly depressing. It made me want to cry!

Christmas Pressies!

I know I promised these photos the other day but I’m just now getting them all uploaded to the computer. Darren and I are both so grateful to everyone who thought of us this Christmas!

Online Reading Group: January's Books

As I've mentioned a few times, I'm in a couple of online reading groups. Here's what we're reading this month:

The Chick Lit Cafe- Enchanted Inc. by Shanna Swendson
Children's Books of Yesterday- The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit
Book Crossing Reading Group- Enchantment by Donald Spoto & Naked in Death by JD Robb
Witch Novels-The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud
The Reading Loft- The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Cafe Libri- The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak & Visitors from Oz: The Wild Adventures of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman by Martin Gardner

All of the groups are friendly and always happy to have new members so if any of the books above sound like fun please come and join in our discussion! Look for my posts on these coming soon to my Movieholic & Bibliophile Blog.

Photo Hunters-Delicious

Today's Theme is Delicious!

I don't know about you but when I think of the word delicious I always think about fresh baked cookies, brownies, or cake! Yummmmm.......

The recipe for this particular cookie is from Lemon Meringue Murder by Joanne Fluke:

Cinnamon Crisps

Preheat the oven to 325°F

2 cups melted butter
2 cups brown sugar (loosely packed)
1 cup white sugar (granulated)
2 beaten eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar (critical!)
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/4 cups white flour (not sifted)

Dough-ball rolling mixture:
½ cup white sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Melt the butter. Add the sugars and mix. Let the mixture cool to room temperature while you beat the eggs, and then stir them in. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Mix well. Add flour in increments, mixing after each addition.

2. Use your hands to roll the dough in to walnut-sized balls. (If the dough is too sticky, chill for an hour before rolling)

3. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl to make the dough-ball rolling mixture. Roll the dough balls in the mixture, then place them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. Flatten the dough balls with a greased or floured spatula.

4. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 10-15 minutes. (They should have a touch of gold around the edges) Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove the cookies to a rack to finish cooling.

Yield: App. 8 dozen, depending on cookie size.

I'm Home/ All My 2007 Reads

Hello everyone! You have no idea how good it feels to be back home in my own little space again. I just got back from a two week vacation in Georgia where my parents and my husband’s mom lives and although I’ve had internet access and still visited everyone as well as tried to keep updated I’ve pretty much been neglectful. Well I’m back! It was a wonderful visit although I’m still a little peeved that we arrived on my birthday and came home on hubby and mine’s first wedding anniversary :o(

Since I’m carrying everything into the house today I’m planning on taking a picture of all our Christmas presents (something I meant to do... honestly!) and I’ll put that picture up sometime today or tomorrow.

So how is 2008 treating everyone so far? Besides that godawful six hour car trip I just came out of, it’s been pretty good to me. I’ve noticed that people have been posting everything they read or a “best of” list from their 2007 reads and I’ve been keeping up with mine too for the past year and a half so I have a complete list of my 2007 reads. Let me tally up how many I read first (seriously, I’ve got to add the books I read while on vacation first and count up a total)..... oh I’m so ashamed! I only read 97 books in ‘07! In 2006 I managed 164 so although 97 seems like a big number it’s not really my finest effort. I’ll just have to do better this year won’t I?

I didn’t start my first blog here until last July so you won’t find reviews on books before then at my Movieholic and Bibliophile Blog but you’re more than welcome to leave comments on some of my first posts. Here’s my complete list:

2007= 97 books
December
Blow Me Down by Katie MacAlister
Black Ice by Anne Stuart
The Burning Times by Jeanne Kalogridis
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia by C. S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
November
Sounder by W.H. Armstrong
After Tex by Sherryl Woods
Scruffy by Jack Stoneley
The Art of Animation: From Mickey Mouse to Beauty and the Beast by Bob Thomas
Lady of Conquest by Teresa Medeiros
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton
October
Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Springwater Wedding by Linda Lael Miller
For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison
A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
Undead and Uneasy by MaryJanice Davidson
The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury
Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner
A Springwater Christmas by Linda Lael Miller
September
Dates from Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Kelley Armstrong, & Lori Handeland
Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison
Kavik the Wolf Dog by Walt Morey
Death on Demand by Carolyn G. Hart
Jessica by Linda Lael Miller
Miranda by Linda Lael Miller
Savannah by Linda Lael Miller
Rachel by Linda Lael Miller
One Night of Scandal by Teresa Medeiros
Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris
A Kiss to Remember by Teresa Medeiros
August
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
The Masquerade by Brenda Joyce
Shadows and Lace by Teresa Medeiros
The Harlequin by Laurell K. Hamilton
On the Street Where You Live by Mary Higgins Clark
The Animated Films of Don Bluth by John Cawley
Lean Mean Thriteen by Janet Evanovich
No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong
Broken by Kelley Armstrong
Haunted by Kelley Armstrong
Industrial Magic by Kelley Armstrong
All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
Second Chance by Jane Green
Key Lime Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
July
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Hollywood Cartoons: American Animation In Its Golden Age by Michael Barrier
Keepsake Crimes by Laura Childs
Springwater by Linda Lael Miller
A Damned Serious Business by Rex Harrison
Yours Until Dawn by Teresa Medeiros
June
Dating Dead Men by Harley Jane Kozak
May
Cross My Heart by Carly Phillips
Second Sight by Amanda Quick
April
Hot Item by Carly Phillips
White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz
Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong
The Quiet Game by Greg Iles
March
Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson
Passion, Betrayal, and Killer Highlights by Kyra Davis
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich
Plum Lovin by Janet Evanovich
Stolen by Kelley Armstrong
No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews
Mistral's Kiss by Laurell K. Hamilton
Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
Witch by Barbara Michaels
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
February
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
Deadly Kisses by Brenda Joyce
Deadly Promise by Brenda Joyce
Deadly Caress by Brenda Joyce
Owls Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews
We'll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews
Tight as a Tick by Toni L.P. Kelner
Deadly Memories by Joanne Fluke
Sex, Murder, and a Double Latte by Kyra Davis
Death at Bishops Keep by Robin Paige
Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber
January
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Wicked by Gregory Maguire
Dolly by Alanna Nash
The Bride and the Beast by Teresa Medeiros
Touch of Enchantment by Teresa Medeiros
Secrets by Brenda Joyce
Deadly Desire by Brenda Joyce
Deadly Affairs by Brenda Joyce
Deadly Pleasure by Brenda Joyce
Eternity by Maggie Shayne
Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner
Strange Candy by Laurell K. Hamilton
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts
Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts
Silent Prey by John Sandford

BTT-Anticipation

Last week we talked about the books you liked best from 2007. So this week, what with it being a new year, and all, we’re looking forward….

What new books are you looking forward to most in 2008? Something new being published this year? Something you got as a gift for the holidays? Anything in particular that you’re planning to read in 2008 that you’re looking forward to? A classic, or maybe a best-seller from 2007 that you’re waiting to appear in paperback?

I'm of course looking forward to Laurell K. Hamilton's books coming out this year, Blood Noir and the un-named Merry book, From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (the 8th Sookie book), Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong, and The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison are my must haves this year along with Janet Evanovich's Fearless Fourteen and Deep Dish by Mary Kay Andrews.

ToT-10 Predictions for the New Year

Happy 2008 Everybody!!!


Today is Ten on Tuesday. These are my 10 Predictions for the New Year:

1. I'll have a fabulous reading year and actively particpate in my online book groups (something I didn't do near the end of 2007 very much).
2. I will get all of my mom's photos scanned!
3. Some Hollywood celebrity is going to do something stupid and "shocking"
4. We'll finish paying off a few bills
5. I'll get addicted to another show because hubby got three different first seasons for three different shows.
6. I will love every fantasy movie based on a book that is coming out this year (especially Prince Caspian!)
7. My cat will become even more spoiled
8. My husband will break down and buy that stupid GPS thing he wants.
9. I'll meet new bloggers that enjoy books and movies like I do!
10. I'll get caught up on my blog posts and stay caught up!