• Soulless (Gail Carriger) -  I’m glad I got this.  I had a copy, back when it was first publish, but posted it on Paper Back Swap during a book purge, and since regretted it.
• The Iron Duke (Meljean Brook) – So, I’m a fan of Ilona Andrews and recently became a fan of Nalini Singh and Jeaniene Frost.  Other than one short story, I haven’t really given Ms. Brook a fair shot.  I really liked the sound of this series and felt it would be easier than jumping into her Guardian series.  Speaking of Jeaniene. . .
• Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Jeaniene Frost) -  I started the Night Huntress series this year and liked it enough to put the books from the Night Huntress World on my wishlist.  I got the first one earlier this year during a Summer book exchange.

And that leaves Dead Until Dark (Charlaine Harris).  I feel bad about that, as in “Oh, no!  She spent money on something I already had!”  But what makes me feel even worse. . .see my master reading list and scroll to the end of the page.

Thank you, Ovrelia, for the pretty mug and the books.  I’m sorry you didn’t know about my experience with Sookie Stackhouse.

Book Blogger Holiday Swap 2011

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Book Geeks Gift Exchange – I also got my gift from my Book Geeks Secret Santa.  When I signed up for the exchange, I submitted a short list of books instead of creating a separate Amazon Wishlist.  And promptly forgot what I put on the list.  Fortunately, I keep my master wishlist hidden, so I knew I wouldn’t accidentally get the same book from a family member.   In some ways, it really was a surprise when I opened the gift.  But that wasn’t the only mystery.

The package came from Amazon, so there was no return address.  There wasn’t a gift receipt either, so I had no idea who sent the book.  I’m not sure if that was intentional or not — and I say that because, sometimes, when I order books and they come in a big envelope instead of the box, I don’t always get a receipt from Amazon.  I wonder if it has something to with that particular fulfillment center.

My Secret Santa stopped by on the 8th and left a comment on my November Update post.  Her name is Kimberley.  As you can see below, the book she sent me is Under Attack by Hannah Jayne.  It’s the second book in the series.  I haven’t read the first one yet, but I’ve read an excerpt and liked it enough to put the second book on my list (that’s been my way lately).

Thank you, Kimberley.  I hope you have a great holiday season!

Note: Due to the excessive amount of spam, I’ve added a password plugin. Please don’t let that discourage you from commenting.

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What: 2011 The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge
When: 21 November 2011 – 6 January 2012
Who: Michelle (The True Book Addict)
Rules: Read Christmas-themed books.  Michelle made some changes this year to allow for children’s books and holiday films.  Check out the sign-up post for details.

The first personal, blog-based, reading challenge I ever signed up for was a Christmas-themed one, in 2007. Since then, I’ve tried to sign up for  at least one Christmas or holiday-themed challenge a year. Last year was pretty dismal, despite the fact I signed up for two: I read one book and it counted for only one of the challenges.

I’ve made it a tradition — or tried to, anyway — to read the Regency-set, holiday-themed, anthology put out by Harlequin every year.  I meant to read the two others I’d missed as part of last year’s challenge, but as I stated above, it didn’t happen.  I have this year’s, plus those two, to read — and that’s not counting all the other Christmas novels (Harlequin or otherwise) that I’ve collected in the last four years.

Despite the backlog, I’m only going to aim for the Mistletoe level (2-4 books).  I might actually make the Christmas Tree level (5-6 books).  We’ll see.

The books (in no particular order):

• A Regency Christmas (2009) — Lyn stone, Carla Kelly, Gail Ranstrom
• One Candlelit Christmas (2008) — Julia Justiss, Annie Burrows, Terri Brisbin
• A Regency Christmas Carol (Christine Merrill) (2011)
• Gift-Wrapped Governess (2011) – Sophia James, Annie Burrows, Marguerite Kaye

I may have to read a contemporary or paranormal Christmas just to shake things up. That’s a lot of Regency.

Note: Due to the excessive amount of spam, I’ve added a password plugin. Please don’t let that discourage you from commenting.

Gifts!!!

Teresa from Shelf Love sent me:

• A metal bookmark — pink’s my favorite color, and the book mark has pink stones and ribbon
• Song of Scarabaeus by Sara Creasy — a debut SF novel from my Amazon Wishlist
• Georgette Heyer’s Regency World
• a lined journal — the cover is pink

The package arrived Wednesday. When I saw the return address, I had to laugh.

Teresa, for the last ten years, I worked in the Hoffman Buildings on Eisenhower Avenue.

Thank you for the books! Ever since I read the premise of Sara Creasy’s book, I’ve been wanting to read it. And I never realized what a handy reference tool the Heyer book was until I flipped through it. Next time I read her books and I come across something I don’t get, I check the book first before googling it!

Hope you have a happy and safe holiday season!

Today, I got my gifts.  My secret Santa is Heather from Gofita’s Pages.  The thing that brought the biggest smile to my face was the hat.  I recently took up loom knitting and to get a knitted hat was such a kick!  I just finished a dishcloth, over the Thanksgiving holiday, with the same pattern.   I also got a book, Intimations of Austen: Stories Inspired by the Works of Jane Austen by Jane Greensmith; a box of candy canes and assorted chocolate candies (more in the bag).  The gift bag, sadly, received grievous wounds during transport.  I will not be able to reuse it.

Thanks, Heather, for the lovely gifts!!

Below are the pictures (including two of the dishcloth and the project I’m currently working on).

Intimations of Austen

Knitted Pink Ribbed Hat

Candy Canes, Chocolate, gift bag, and card

The dishcloth that matches the hat. . .

Side 1 and

Side 2

. . .and the scarf that doesn’t.

Pink Scarf

It’s that time again. This will be my first time participating in the swap. I enjoyed looking at/reading about the past swaps and I decided, if there was one this year, I would join in. The deadline for sign-up is 12 November.