Recap 2008

I read 136 books, countless magazines and trade journals, not to mention the local paper. Geesh. It’s a wonder I did anything else.

Eve by Elissa Elliott

Thanks to my membership at Bookbrowse, I got an advanced reading copy of Eve. I loved, loved,loved it.
Here’s the basic premise: What was Eve’s life like after Eden?
The story goes back and forth in time and is told in 4 voices: Eve’s and her daughters, Naava, Dara and Aya. Oddly, Naava’s is [...]

Ill Wind by Rachel Caine 12/16/08

I’ve decided that it’s time I read all the books that I have around here and stop a) buying more, b) borrowing them from others and c) getting new ones from the library.  At least for a little while.  I have tons of books.  Probably at least 60 and I’m not exaggerating.  So, I finally [...]

Chocolate Dipped Death by Sammi Carter 12/14/08

Abby Shaw is an attorney turned candy store owner who has a talent for getting involved in things she shouldn’t.  This turns out to be the second of the series and I *hate* starting at the second.  This was an excellent story.  Like any good mystery there is more going on than the murder at [...]

The Dead Cat Bounce by Sarah Graves 12/13/08

I keep saying I’m not going to start on any more series til I read all the books in the ones I’ve gotten started.
I lie.
To begin with, The Dead Cat Bounce was confusing.   It’s the author’s first book, though, so I give her a little leeway.  A few times I had to re-read a passage [...]

The Mercifully Brief Real World Guide to Raising More Money with Newsletters Than You Ever Thought Possible by Tom Ahern 12/10/08

If you write newsletters for your organization, this is a great book to read.  It’s a quick & dirty breakdown of how you can improve your newsletters, without a lot of extraneous information.  I found several things that I can incorporate into my next newsletter. Wanna see it?  The next one goes out 3/15/09 and [...]

Apartment Therapy Presents by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan 12/7/08

I have the Apartment Therapy book which I read briefly but since I still don’t live by myself, I haven’t really needed.  I picked this book up at the libary the other day.
Apartment Therapy Presents is a beautiful book with 40 small apartments and homes that have been designed by AT.  Each chapter has an [...]

The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee 12/7/08

I started this book on audio but my truck’s CD player kept telling me it was a bad CD, so eventually I got sick of it and just picked up the book.
So, The Fabulous Frede Were is annoying at first.  Still, surprisingly interesting.  Generally speaking, self-absorbed, oh-so-proper, Junior League of Willow Creek sorts are not [...]

French Pressed by Cleo Coyle 12/6/08

It’s nasty outside, there was nothing I needed to do today so after going out to breakfast and being distracted by a girl, I read a book.  This book. 
It’s not enough that Joy is having an affair with a man old enough to be her father.  He’s also married.  And her boss.  Could it be [...]

Decaffeinated Corpse by Cleo Coyle 11/30/08

In the last Coffeehouse Mystery, Clare and Joy were in the Hamptons. Now, they’re back in Manhattan, Joy at school, Clare at the Village Blend.
One of Matt’s oldest friends has discovered a new plant – a naturally caffeine free coffee plant. Needless to say with the demand for decaf rising, this is a [...]