~Death's Excellent Vacation Edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner~

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling authors Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Jeaniene Frost-plus Lilith Saintcrow, Jeff Abbott, and more-send postcards from the edge of the paranormal world to fans who devouredWolfsbane and Mistletoe and Many Bloody Returns. 

With an all-new Sookie Stackhouse story and twelve other original tales, editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner bring together a stellar collection of tour guides who offer vacations that are frightening, funny, and touching for the fanged, the furry, the demonic, and the grotesque. Learn why it really can be an endless summer-for immortals.

photo and synopsis courtesy of goodreads



My thoughts - This book contained thirteen stories from various authors, most of whom I'd never heard of until I picked up this book. Honestly, it was the cover that drew me as I was wandering through the library. I enjoyed most of the stories, and thankfully, the weren't all about vampires! There was a great selection of other 'not of this world' characters and that's what I liked most about it.

The two stories I enjoyed the most were One for the Money by Jeaniene Frost and Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park by Toni L.P. Kelner. Turns out the characters I fell in love with in Jeaniene Frost's offering are from, yes a series. That's always the way. I'll have to check into those when I get caught up on some of my other reading.

I'm giving this book a 3 - I liked all the stories, some more than others. If you need a break from you're regular reading and you like different kinds of paranormal give it a shot!


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

~Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen~ Audiobook

I finished listening to Eight Days to Live by Iris Johansen today. I thought it was pretty good, but a long listen. Maybe because I just get to thinking so much while I'm in the car (you know - what do I need to do next, the budget, stuff like that) but sometimes I found myself thinking "Oh I missed something". Not enough that I couldn't figure it out though.

The narrator got a little annoying with trying to do Scottish accents for almost the whole book. But she did well enough that I could figure out the different people who were talking.

I don't know if I'm sold on audiobooks. I'm still willing to give them a shot though - I started another one today.


I'm giving this one a 2 - it was just ok for me. Mostly because of the length and the annoying Scottish accent thing. The story line I liked.

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Library Thursday Blog Hop

Time for Library Thursday. Hook up with Lazy Girl Reads and visit some other blogs.

This week I went to the "big library". Which just means the main county library! It does have a lot more selection than my normal branch - but I like the people at my branch better!

The reality is I need to stay out of the library. Really. I went to "just return" some things and ended up with:

Audio Version

Um, I needed a 'Z' Title

Because I love Laura Levine

The first in Charlaine Harris' Lily Bard Series

Because I haven't read anything 'Vampireish' in forever

Another one that the online book club is reading in May

And those are just the ones I checked out and have to return! I also hit the sale shelves in the back one day while I was killing time, and walked away with:

So, I've decided - I'm just using the drop box to return books from now on!
There's no stinkin' way  I can come close reading all these!

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

~Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child~

One of my meandering through the library finds I picked up this book because I love the team of Preston & Childs. I wasn't disappointed this time either.

This book moves astoundingly fast, and even when they are discussing highly technical stuff, it's not dry or boring - thanks to Gideon.

Leaving a big cliffhanger at the end this book is the first in a new series by the writing team. I'm looking forward to the rest!

Image courtesy of Goodreads

I'm giving this book a 4. I really loved it.


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

W... W... W... Wednesdays May 4

Time to link up with MizB over at Should be Reading for her WWW Wednesday. It's easy to play - just answer three questions, link up, and visit other WWW'ers. It's a great way to learn about new, or new to you books!

Here are the questions:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?


Easy Peasy, huh?

Currently I'm reading Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I love those guys.

Recently I finished reading Killing Bridezilla by Laura Levine. I just discovered her and she's awesome!

Next I'm probably going to read Death's Excellent Vacation. It's one I checked out from the library and have no renewals left on - so I need to get it read and returned pronto!

What are you're WWW's?


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

I'm a Dork

I got my first request from Paperback Swap today and I was like a kid on Christmas when I opened the mailbox.

I knew the dang thing was coming - I even knew what was in the package - but still, I ripped that thing open like I was expecting a huge surprise!

What did I pick as my first choice?

Missing Marlene by Evan Marshall

I'm a sucker for cozies

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Paperback Swap

Today I want to share a site that was recommended to me by Jill at Strawberry Freckles. It's call Paperback Swap and it's a pretty cool idea.

You can list the books you've finished reading and/or don't want anymore, and you can pick books that you want to read. It works on a credit system, but all you pay is postage to mail the requested books to other members.

When I first joined I didn't do too much with the site. I don't read a lot of paperbacks because I find the print too stinkin' small. Annoying. So I figured really, what good would it do me? Then I listed some books we had used for homeschooling when Zach was in 2nd. Those books flew off my shelves and I had these credits I wasn't sure what to do with.

So, I started looking - and there are not just paperbacks listed. Some people have hardcover and audiobooks listed too. I've found a couple of books that are first or second in a series I'm reading, hardback, and requested them. The postage I paid to mail out those other books is way less than a book would cost.

I'm using paperback swap for my hard to find books. The ones I can't get from any branch of our library. If you've come into a series late, it's a great idea!

Anyway, check it out. The button below will take you to the site. If you use me planetcaddick as a referral I'll get one credit, but no money is involved in any way. Just my piece of honest blogging.





~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown