Sweet Valley High and Me

So I obtained the 12 book collection of the first books in Sweet Valley High series that I read many, many, moons ago. Some books you can read that will hold the test of time, these I'm not so sure. No cell phones, facebook, twitter, or snap chat mentioned in these books. Life lessons still the same I suppose.

Now mind you I've only finished my second book and in each of my reviews I stated how I hate Jessica but still love Elizabeth. I somehow forgot the brother Steven though. I still love the old covers and I'm amazed at how many books were written in the series and how Francine Pascal just continues the story of the twins. I will say that I don't think I got very far in the series, just not sure yet. Been way to long to remember.



They are short reads that I can get done in usually a day. I can't really call it brain candy, it's not along the lines of brain candy to me.

Gray Moon Rising S.M. Reine

It’s been almost a year since Rylie Gresham was bitten by a werewolf on Gray Mountain. Now something is beckoning her back to the place she was attacked, along with every other werewolf in the world. But they aren’t the only ones heeding the call. A group of hunters notices them gathering and sees it as their chance to wipe out the entire species.

Seth is about to graduate high school when he learns of the final hunt. He secretly plans to save Rylie and his werewolf brother even though he has to play along with the hunters to do it. But Rylie doesn’t want to be saved. She’s already decided to solve her problems with a silver bullet if answers aren’t waiting on Gray Mountain.

One way or another, everything is about to end—whether it means Rylie’s liberation or the end of her life…

This is the last book of Seasons of the Moon series. Not the end of Rylie, Able, and Seth's stories though. Love this series about werewolves and their change. Hunters and witches involved in the story also. Rylie has done a lot of growing up since the first book, trying to control herself and the wolf at the same time is a great feat especially during the full moon. Trying come to grips about what she did in the winter and not be a bother to Aunt Gwyn anymore by going to the Sanctuary and learning to control her life. The call to Gray Mountain changes everything for Rylie and if she doesn't get the answers she wants......

Grim Discovery (Aisling Grimlock, #3) by Amanda M. Lee

Aisling Grimlock’s life is a mess.
Her mother might be back from the dead.
Wraiths appear to be after her again.
Her father is definitely up to something.
Michigan’s most calamity-prone grim reaper is in a pickle, and the only one she can trust with a haunting secret is her boyfriend Griffin.
Aisling is determined to find answers before she unloads a heavy dose of truth on her family, but when things become dangerous, Aisling’s life is in jeopardy … again.
The wraiths are back and on the move, and their primary goal appears to be getting their hands on Aisling. They’ve enlisted other supernatural help this time, and when gargoyles literally start dropping from the sky Aisling has no choice but to be honest.
The Grimlocks are at a crossroad. The only thing they know for certain is that they will fight together to make sure they don’t die alone.

I am so glad I found this series, I love Aisling's character and the crazy things she gets herself into. Of course she is faced with a very serious situation and not exactly sure how to deal with it. She can't keep it all bottled up inside although she attempts to. With the help of her family and friends she able to get past her secret and find out what is really going on about why someone is after her.

Grim Offerings Aisling Grimlock #2 by Amanda Lee

Being a grim reaper isn’t easy, but answering to family is even worse.

Between argumentative souls, overbearing older brothers and everyday nonsense, Aisling Grimlock has her hands full.

When a run-of-the-mill job goes awry, Aisling finds herself in a mess. The soul she was supposed to collect is still amongst the living, and the man who wanted to kill him is dead instead.

Detective Griffin Taylor is returning from an undercover assignment, and the first thing he wants to do is reconnect with Aisling. Her brother Aidan is giving him fits, though, and the rest of the family isn’t making things much easier.

When wraiths start showing up again, and a member of the Grimlock family is seriously hurt, it’s all hands on deck for the final showdown. Unfortunately for the Grimlocks, they can never do anything the normal way.

Aisling is chafing under worry and pressure, and her family is circling the wagons. It’s going to take everyone working together to survive – and when the final fight is finally waged, a huge secret is revealed that will change the Grimlocks’ world forever.

I love Aisling so much more now, her quirkiness and attitude make me laugh and laugh. She is a great strong girl that goes through the hard knocks of being a grim reaper. She gets herself in more trouble! The family is once again up to no good and trying to protect their one and only sister and dad's daughter. Aisling trying to be independent only gets her so far. Sometimes I forget she's not a teenager when I read the book. The secret at the end is mind blowing-but I won't spoil it here.

Wild Montana Sky by Debra Holland

When her brother announces his marriage, Elizabeth Hamilton suddenly becomes unwanted and unwelcome in the only home she’s ever known. To escape the new mistress of the house, Elizabeth accepts the invitation of her best friend to journey to Montana.

The dirt streets and wooden storefronts of Sweetwater Springs and the hardships of ranch living are worlds away from the refinements of Gilded Age Boston, yet Elizabeth is filled with new hope—and buoyed by a wealthy banker’s attentions. Yet it’s cowboy Nick Sanders who slowly awakens her heart and helps her recognize her strengths. And when a deadly influenza epidemic strikes, Elizabeth will fight for those she loves—and the life she’s ready to claim. (less)

Thanks to kindle unlimited just finished listening/reading Wild Montana Sky by Debra Holland.
Loved this story about romance between a Bostoner and the wild Montana Sky. The story of Elizabeth and her long time friend Pamela who married and moved to Montana, teaches Elizabeth a little bit about life and how society norms in the East doesn't always play well out in the west amoung the cattle, horses, and Indians. It was a great story. Look forward to listen/read the next one.

Grim Tidings (Aisling Grimlock #1) by Amanda M. Lee

Aisling Grimlock is having a bad week. Well, actually, she’s having a bad life -- not that she's complaining. Okay, she's totally complaining.

After being laid off from her secretarial position, she has no choice but to join the family business, and now she’s a full-time grim reaper. That’s right. She collects and transfers souls to the hereafter.

Cool, huh? Not quite.

On the second day of her new job, Aisling (literally!) stumbles over a dead body that’s not on her list and the stakes are suddenly raised because, when a name isn’t on the list, that means someone stole it (and that's never a good thing).

Aisling’s family, which consists of a tempestuous father and four overbearing older brothers, are hot on the case – but the answers they’re coming up with aren’t exactly soothing.

It seems a contingent of wraiths have descended on the area, and they’re not just dangerous for unsuspecting souls and the general populace. The Grimlock family is at risk, too.

If that weren’t bad enough, Aisling finds herself inexplicably drawn to Detective Griffin Taylor – the police officer who considers her a murder suspect. Oh, and she's a wraith-magnet -- although, truth be told, she's more interested in Detective Taylor.

Aisling is determined to prove that she has what it takes to be a great reaper – even if it means risking her life and proving her father and brothers wrong when it comes to her competence level.

When things finally become clear, will Aisling survive long enough to make things right? Or, will she fall prey to the wraiths and the individual controlling them? (less)





Oh my I love Aisling's character, she's snarky and sometimes obnoxious. Her first day on the job and she has 1) a runner 2) trips over a dead body and 3) an encounter with a gorgeous police officer that she cannot get involved in b/c of her family history and profession.
It's not every day that you meet a reaper in real life. It's a lot of drama and romance involved in this little mystery, the end just came to fast and swift. But I look forward to #2.

In the Clearing (Tracy Crosswhite #3) by Robert Dugoni Audiobook

Detective Tracy Crosswhite has a skill, and a soft spot, for tackling unsolved crimes. Having lost her own sister to murder at a young age, Tracy has dedicated her career to bringing justice and closure to the families and friends of victims of crime.

So when Jenny, a former police academy classmate and protégé, asks Tracy to help solve a cold case that involves the suspicious suicide of a Native American high school girl forty years earlier, Tracy agrees. Following up on evidence Jenny’s detective father collected when he was the investigating deputy, Tracy probes one small town’s memory and finds dark, well-concealed secrets hidden within the community’s fabric. Can Tracy uphold the promise she’s made to the dead girl’s family and deliver the truth of what happened to their daughter? Or will she become the next victim?


This is the third book in the series that I was introduced to via kindle unlimited and that I listened to via audible. I love Tracy as a character, she's smart and funny. She's on edge and trying to catch all killers before they catch her. Her background story with her sister is covered in the first book and is referenced to in the second book and this one as well.

It's amazing how technology has advanced to help solve cold cases so old and this updated technology and sleuthing is what helps Tracy solve this 4 decades old crime. Justice will be served.

Alas with Kindle Unlimited, dying Ipod, and books.

Well since I last posted in March, I have added another 2 years to kindle unlimited on Prime Day on July 12, 2016. Yep I'm a glutton for punishment. To which now 7 months later I have over 500 on the list. I currently have the following books as part of my 10 list.

1. Cooking Light Magazine

2. Blood on the Tracks (Sydney Rose Parnell Series Book 1)
by Barbara Nickless (author)

3. A Shade of Vampire 6: A Gate of Night
by Bella Forrest (author)- This is the next to last book about the main characters.

4. In the Clearing (The Tracy Crosswhite Series Book 3)-Listening to the audible version via my phone.

5. Borderlines (Joe Gunther Mysteries Book 2)
by Archer Mayor (author)

6. Murder at Jade Cove (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series Book 2)
by Dianne Harman (author)

7. The Dragon Guard Series Box Set: (Books 1-7)
by Julia Mills (author), Linda Boulanger (illustrator), Lisa Miller (editor), Alicia Carmichal (editor), Maxine Bringenberg (editor)

8. Detective Jack Stratton Mystery Thriller Collection
by Christopher Greyson (author)-Book 3

9. Grim Tidings (Aisling Grimlock Book 1)
by Amanda M. Lee (author), Norman Dixon (illustrator)- I should really start this since it's almost Halloween.

10. Small Towns, Fairy Tales, And Nora Roberts Land: Dare Valley Boxed Set 1-3
by Ava Miles (author)-Nora Roberts Land is the first of the series and I loved it!


Meanwhile my Ipod 4th generation is not updateable therefore I cannot get the most recent update for Audible. Sucks and I hate Apple right now. So instead of listening on my ipod I use my non apple phone. I just still hate having to bump up the media volume to play through my stereo but I really don't want to get another ipod.

Books-I'm behind on my goal for goodreads challenge. Life just gets in the way sometimes. And I feel this way ever year that I really need to blog these books more. Yeah Yeah.

Kindle Unlimited and Me

So for Cyber Monday (the Monday after Black Friday) amazon had their Kindle Unlimited on sale, so I got it for 2 years. I now have a kindle unlimited wishlist that I add books to every day. I have discovered some fantastic books on there also. My wish list is about 300 books. Now the question is when am I ever going to read them all? Amazon allows you to have 10 "borrowed" at at time and I have already met my quota there.

Now on to the books I have read so far with the service:

1. My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni, which with one of the kindle unlimited perks I was able to listen to the narration for this book. Loved the story and the characters and it is a series so I am currently reading the second book.

2. Kelly's Coffee Shop by Dianne Harmon, another series but a cozy mystery which helps keep my genres all nice and tidy.

3. A Shade of Vampire-Oh my what a series, little bit of Anne Rice with a little Twilight thrown in and you have a great vampire series (to which I could have killed myself after I found out how many there were).
4. A Shade of Blood-book 2 of the Shade of Vampire Series, um yeah it's a fast read have them lined up and ready to go. It's a permanent spot on the list.
5. A Castle of Sand-book 3 of the Shade of Vampire Series...do I need to say more??

6. The Christmas Letters by Lee Smith- a story written about a woman writing letters to her family back home about her life struggles. Quick and short read.

To currently reading on the list.....

7. A Shadow of Light-book 4

8. Her Final Breath by Robert Dugoni-book 2

9. Detective Jack Stratton Mystery by Christopher Greyson-a 3 book set having finished the first one and currently reading the second one.

10. Small Towns, Fairy Tales, and Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles, I had already read Nora Roberts Land so I snatched the other two right up.


To those holding a spot until I am ready....

11. Grim Tidings by Amanda Lee and Norman Dixon
12. Shifters in the Snow-15 Paranormal stories
13. The Music Box by Andrea Kane
14. Christmas in Good Hope by Cindy Kirk
15. Murder at Jade Cove by Dianne Harmon- book 2.


Along with all the others that I read depending on what I feel like. On audio I am currently listening to S.E.C.R.E.T. by L. Marie Adeline borrowing from my public library with the synopsis of 50 shades meets Sylvia Day series. Oooh goody goody and I am liking it so far. And Yes another series.

So I wanted to make this blog a little bit about my kindle unlimited experience but hadn't had the time to sit down a write about it with all the insane reading I have done.

My Goodreads 2016 goal is 60 books, I have 11 under my belt.

The Girl in The Box by Robert J. Crane (Books 1-3)

The Girl in the Box Series by Robert J. Crane

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


WOW I loved reading the first 3 of this series. First introduction to Robert Crane and a great introduction. Had this on my kindle and started reading last weekend before my trip to Orlando and finished yesterday (Halloween) on my way back. I love Sierra's story and how she is going through life learning how and who she is. I hate the beginning circumstances of her life but she has learned to be strong in the decisions she makes.



View all my reviews

Go Set A Watchman-Know Who You Are

So I finished listening to it today. If the rumor is true about Harper Lee writing this first and the publisher saying no. I can see why. If the rumor isn't true.....well we'll just go with it. Jean Louise is all grown up in this book and we learn a few life lessons about Scout, Hank, and Jim as they were growing up in little bursts along the story. I don't want to say too much about the book because I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I do want to leave the statement from Uncle Jack when he is talking to Jean Louise to "Know who you are". I think this is the most profound statement Harper Lee could have ever made to a generation she was writing to and about in the lower south. And I have to say lower south b/c if you weren't raised in it you really don't understand how much this phrase hits home. This statement meant so much to me in where I am in life.

If you know me well you know I'm a Christian and if you don't know me well--the cat is out of the bag. I know who I am and what I believe in a time when so many people and actions make you think you may know yourself and sometimes you aren't too sure. Knowing who you are, are you willing to stand up for what you believe and are you willing to stand up for other people who may not have the voice in the situation you are in. Don't put people on a pedestal b/c they will fall off.


That's all I am going to say. And again I listened to it via audible and really enjoyed Reese Witherspoon's narration.

Spartan Bakery

So yesterday was Stephanie's birthday and she took the day off. So today she got her cake from Spartan Bakery that we got for her. She loves the colors purple and pink so here is what her cake looked like.

Today was day 2 of customer appreciation week that had snacks and sweets to which I got none of b/c I knew I was getting some really good cake. I also started the morning off with a nutritious breakfast of a bacon, egg, and cheese burrito from Cribbs Kitchen.

# of pieces of candy corn in a quart jar=160. I was off. Not way off but better than the smart ass who guessed 1738 pieces. Drawings today for stuff, not sure who won. Tomorrow is ice cream day.

Still listening to Go Set A Watchman and still enjoying the listen to. I love how Reese has interpreted how Scout should sound all grown up. Back story is great but ready to get to the meat of the book.

Customer Service Appreciation Week, Wii-Bowling, and getting a Flu shot

So my job is having customer service appreciation this week with food, sweets, and games. We started the day off well with bagels and donuts. I was bad and had a bagel this morning and a donut this afternoon (with chocolate icing and sprinkles). We are to have a wii-bowling tourney this week also-had to get my practice on. I did ok but I'll probably choke when it's time for me to play. Oh well that's life. I believe it's sweets tomorrow. Yummy. Ice cream on Wed, lunch on Thursday and jeans on Friday. Yippee!! Supposed to have awesome prizes raffled off as well. Today's guess the # of candy corn and candy pumpkins in a quart jar. Can't wait for the results of that. I guessed 105 pieces. Last year I guessed money in a jar and got that.

So about 2 weeks ago I got a really nasty stomach bug. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy of what I went through. I went through 4 pairs of underwear in one day. Thank God I do not wear thongs-that string wouldn't have held anything in. It was the worst, my stomach muscles would cramp and just when I would about to fall asleep, off to the toilet I would go. Next time I'm just going to stay awake and binge watch something on netflix. To which in deciding after that spectacle, I am breaking down and getting a flu shot. I know a flu shot doesn't protect against a stomach bug, but people at work have already been out because of it. It's different working conditions than before and I am no spring chicken either. I just can't handle throwing up with that hot mess I had before. I don't want to hurt either.

Finally getting down to some book business. So I started Go Set A Watchman today via audible with Reese Witherspoon narrating it. I love her sweet southern accent and she is a true Southern Lady. She bring Scouts' voice so well to life. I am only on Chapter 3, but I am loving it and especially after listening to Marja Mills The Mocking Bird Next Door earlier this year despite all the controversy. I look forward to thoughts and comments.

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

My favorite of Sarah's is Garden Spells because of course it was the first one I read and the first one I fell in love with. Lost Lake now has become my favorite the magic in it is wonderful and it was unpredictable. I loved all the characters and wished the story didn't have to end. I read this in two days, which is a bit unusual for me cause it can take me a while. I just love, love, loved it!!!

February 1st D.C. Dead by Stuart Woods

Book #22 of the Stone Barrington series. I enjoy this series very much from Stuart Woods and have loved his characters. As the series goes along some writers lose their touch in keeping their characters real and not boring. I think some authors just get plain lazy at cranking them out. Not Mr. Woods. Stone is awesome and so is Dino. I always love when Holly Barker comes to town or in Stone and Dino's case come to Washington DC. It's up to Stone and Dino to solve a case that is considered closed and hush hush by the FBI and CIA. Sadly I had the murderer figured out, just didn't know if Stone or Dino was ever going to, but I guess I got lucky on this one. But it is on to the next!

Wizard of Oz Broadway Show

So every year my sister and I pick which Broadway show we want to see for our birthday and then the other buys the tickets and chauffeurs the other around. So my pick was Wizard of Oz and that's where we went today. I LOVED IT. It was awesome how they did the scenes, for instance in the movie version it starts in black and white and then when Dorothy lands in OZ it's all color. Well in the production they were wearing white and brown. So the brown blended in very well with the rest of the scenery, so when the bright colors-neon blacklight colors in fact it just looked brighter in the OZ scene. Of course it didn't have all of the same songs from the movie and not all of the same scenes. But they did use a real live dog for Toto and that was great. It also was a very clean language show, so that works well for the kids. They do use strobe lights and smoke and I think I heard one kid cry during a Wizard scene. I finished my first book of the new year, 2% into my 50 books to read this year. It was Mary Mary by James Patterson. So it will fulfill at least one other challenge the Pike's Peak challenge I signed up for. Yay!

A New Year and setting New Records

So for the 2014 Goodreads Reading Challenge I signed up to read 50 books in the 2014 year. I have a few other challenges that I'm doing. Crusin' Through Cozies I'm trying for Level 4 Sleuth Extraordinaire reading 20 or more Cozies. Mount TBR Level 1 Pike's Peak willing to work my way up that mountain so it will be 12 books. The Book Addicts group on goodreads (BTW all of these are on goodreads) pick 12 with 4 alternates. Goodreads Choice Awards group to read 12 books. And then with the rest of my time audiobooks as I drive to work and anything else that strikes my fancy. Which I do have to say that I am doing very well with Alex Cross-I'm on Mary Mary currently. I am glad that I decided to revisit him before trying to pick up where I left off. It's been great. The other thing I am going to try to do better is get back to the gym. I have a membership through work and it's within walking distance. I think I am going to check out the app Couch to 5K. Our preacher did that and he lost 40 lbs. I would be ecstatic if I could lose that much! As I sit here eating my lunch at work with leftovers from New Year's day. And I'm back at work from being a week off and I'm so freakin' tired. It's not hard today going through emails but I was so used to sleeping in. Oh well. And listening to Justin Timberlake who I was really not a huge fan of before, I really like his 20/20 Experience album--got it on repeat. Well that's it for now.

Archie Comics

So I am looking in one of my groups on www.goodreads.com Book Addicts and we have a list of 12 books that we want to read in 2014 as well as 4 alternates in case we get stuck. So I was looking at one person's list and someone had made the remark that their list looked like "Archie Comics" compared to this poster's list. I agree that majority of the time I feel I read stuff rather than enlightening books. But isn't it really to what we enjoy in reading that makes us happy? Why should we feel like we aren't reading the right material and who is it to say that it is the "right" material. I had a friend tell me that as she was going to college to become a writer that I read junk, mind you she read the same as I did before had. What gives you the right to decide that since you are to become a writer that I read junk? It still burns me up and that was years ago. If I didn't read junk I would have missed out on the Hunger Games and the Allegiant series too. Alas I'm listening to Emma on audio book. What a long audio, but I wanted to try "listening" to the classics a bit more and I am going to be better at attacking that 1001 Books to read before you Die list. I got that app on my i-pad. It's really nice and worth the money too.

Monday Blues

Monday has started out fabulously. Dropped my bare mineral warmth makeup this morning and the bottom broke out of the container all over the floor. Had to vacuum that up. What a waste. Had to open a new container, thank goodness to my friend Ashley who had given me her un-opened one a while back. Then I get to work to talk to crazy people who want to talk my ear off. I'm not ready for that in the morning, but I'm the only one here today and tomorrow to take the calls so that's what I'll do. I just had to post this on my blog-see how good I am? I realized that I should be able to rant and rave if I want to about ordinary life. I started playing a game on my ipad last night that I think is going to be very addicting. It's called Hill Climber Racing.

Another year almost gone............

And goodreads emailed me to tell me I've read 30 books this year. What a shame. But as you can tell with a little tweaking that I've done I'm getting myself ready for some more challenges ahead. 2014 Crusin' Through the Cozies, 2014 Book Addicts Reading Challenge, Goodreads Choice Book Awards group. As well as hopefully adding a 24 credit audible membership on by the end of the year. I always try to listen to an audio book driving back and forth to work. 1 hr a day is not bad. Plus I plan on getting my exercise groove back too. Gotta lose some weight. I really don't know how people do it blogging. But as always I am going to try harder.