Booking Through Thursday

What was the last book you bought?

Playing Dead by Allison Brennan

Name a book you have read MORE than once
I have too many books to re-read anything.

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
I can't think of anything.

How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews
It's a combination of things for me. I base it on recommendations, the synopsis of the book and sometimes the author. I have a few author auto-buys. I rarely ever base my decision on the cover design or reviews (unless the reviewer is someone who usually shares the same interests in books that I do).

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
Fiction

What’s more important in a novel - beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
A gripping plot.

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
I guess it would be Stephanie Plum from Janet Evanovich's series.

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
Back to Life by Kristin Billerbeck (Book #2 of The Trophy Wives series)

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
The Bachelor's Cat by L.F. Hoffman - just a couple of days ago.

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
I've wanted to, but I force myself to finish ever book I start. It wastes time, I know, but it's what I do.

Sunday Salon - Fall is Really Here!

Well, I have to let go of summer...it really is fall...the leaves are starting to be on the ground and there is a chill in the air. I can't wear shorts anymore. It was bound to happen :) Although I must admit, fall is really is a beautiful time of the year. I love all the pretty colors.

I discovered a new-to-me TV show this week, Dirty Sexy Money and I'm hooked. I have the season 1 DVDs and watched a couple of episodes today. I'm addicted! It reminds me of the old TV show Dallas, one of my all-time favorite TV shows ever, except it's not set in Texas. Peter Krause is so handsome!

Now down to books...I listened to my second audio book, Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews, the review is already in my blog. I'm still not 100% used to listening to audio books, but I'm getting the hang of it. Now I've started Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot. It starts off pretty funny.

I joined the Libray Thing Early Reviewers and read/reviewed my first book - Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland. It's been a long time since I read a book in the paranormal genre. It was good, although some of the characters didn't appeal to me. I'll read the book #2, though. My review is already up on LT and on my blog.

I received another book from Avon to review - Back to Life by Kristin Billerbeck. It's the second book in her "A Trophy Wives Club" series. I enjoyed the first one and I've been anxious to read the second. Hopefully my Sunday will allow some reading time.

Enjoy your week!

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland

Genre: Paranormal

Former cop, Elizabeth Phoenix, lost everything that mattered to her – a great job, her partner and the man she loved. The reason for all her loss seems to stem from her psychic powers. She accepts a bartending job at the bar belonging to her partner’s widow, Megan. Megan has no ill feelings toward Elizabeth and counts her as a dear friend.

Elizabeth’s losses mount when she finds her foster mother, Ruthie, dead. Something attacks Elizabeth and she’s found unconscious next to the body. When she awakens, she learns the number one suspect in Ruthie’s murder is Elizabeth’s one true love, Jimmy Sanducci. To add to Elizabeth’s concerns, she learns the end of the world is near and she’s the only one that can save it.

Besides her psychic powers, Elizabeth begins to inherit supernatural powers from many different places. She goes through a brief training program with the sexy Sawyer to learn how to use these powers for the greater good.

The story leads to one huge battle as Elizabeth struggles to save, not only herself, but the world.

It’s been a long time since I read a paranormal and this was a good one. The story kept me hooked. It was a fast-paced story filled with demons, adventure, a touch of humor, and lots of sex. Parts of it were on the campy side, but it didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the book. My only problem was the two men in Elizabeth’s life – Jimmy and Sawyer. I didn’t find either one of them particularly lovable and both pretty much raped her in their own way. I couldn’t understand why she’d care about either one of them as the story moved along. That aside, I’m definitely interested in reading more of this series and will pick up book #2 when it’s released.

Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews

Genre: Chick Lit

As Keely Murdock celebrates her upcoming nuptials at her rehearsal dinner with her family and friends all in attendance, she stumbles upon her fiancé and maid-of-honor having sex. Keely has an honest to goodness hissy fit and cancels the wedding, becoming the outcast in her small hometown of Madison, Georgia.

Her ex-fiance’s family takes their revenge by undermining her interior design company, which she owns with her aunt. Desperate for business, she accepts a job from Madison’s newest citizen, Will Mahoney. The millionaire recently bought the local bra factory and an old mansion. Keely’s job was to furnish the mansion and put it back into shape in only six months. Keely and her aunt needed the work and had no choice but to agree to his unfair demands. If he wasn’t such a difficult man to work for, Keely was sure she could fall in love with him or had she already fallen in love?

All of this leads to Keely stumbling upon a mystery which is dear to her heart – the sudden disappearance of her mother twenty years ago. Keely couldn’t imagine her mother walking out on her only child. Now, her father was ready to move on with his life and never was the truth more important then right now. It was a secret that could rock the grounds of Madison.

This book has it all – mystery, romance and tons of laughter. I listened to the audio book version and I had a hard time not laughing in my car. The cast of characters were quirky and downright funny. This is the second book I’ve read (listened to) by this author and it won’t be my last.

Friday Fill-Ins #92

1. October makes me think winter is on the way.

2. Politics and the current state of the economy scare me!

3. Leaves are falling all around, it's almost Halloween.

4. My favorite horror movie is Psycho because nobody does horror as good as Hitchock.

5. Vacations = good memories.

6. It was a dark and stormy night and I was reading a thriller.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching TV, tomorrow my plans include getting my hair done and Sunday, I want to sleep late!