Bone Crossed by: Patricia Briggs (4th in series)

An absolutely awesome series!!! I think this is my new favorite series!

As a shapeshifter with some unique talents, ace car mechanic Mercy has had to maintain a tenuous harmony between the human and the not so human within the Tri-Cities of Eastern Washington on more than one occasion. But this time she may be in over her head.

Marsilia, the local Vampire Queen, has learned that Mercy crossed her by slaying a member of her clan. Now she's out for blood. But since Mercy is protected from the vampire's direct reprisal by the werewolf pack--and her close relationship with its sexy Alpha--it's not Mercy's blood Marsilia is after...

It's her friends'.

Iron Kissed by: Patricia Briggs (3rd in series)

Another great book in an awesome series!

I could smell her fear, and it satisfied something deep inside me that had been writhing under her cool, superior gaze. I curled my upper lip so she could get a good look at my sharp teeth. I might only weight thirty or so pounds in my coyote shape, but I was a predator...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson can shift her shape--but not her loyalty. When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to Mercy to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not.

Mercy's loyalty is under pressure from other directions, too. Werewolves are not known for their patience, and if Mercy can't decide between the two she cares for, Sam and Adam may make the choice for her...

Blood Bound by: Patricia Briggs (2nd in series)

I really like this series, it's great!

Under the rule of science, there are no witch burnings allowed, no water trials or public lynchings. In return, the average law-abiding, solid citizen has little to worry about from the things that go bump in the night. Sometimes I wish I was an average citizen...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson has friends in low places--and in dark ones. And now she owes one of them a favor. Since she can shapeshift at will, she agrees to act as some extra muscle when her vampire friend Stefan goes to deliver a message to another of his kind.

But this new vampire is hardly ordinary--and neither is the demon inside of him...

Moon Called by: Patricia Briggs (1st in series)

This is a great book, I really liked it.

Werewolves can be dangerous if you get in their way, but they'll leave you alone if you are careful. They are very good at hiding their natures from the human population, but I'm not human. I know them when I meet them, and they know me, too.

Mercy Thompson's sexy next-door neighbor is a werewolf.

She's tinkering with a VW bus at her mechanic shop that happens to belong to a vampire.

But then, Mercy Thompson is not exactly normal herself...and her connection to the world of things that go bump in the night is about to get her into a whole lot of trouble.

Bridal Shower Pictures

I had a lot of fun at my Bridal Shower. It was great seeing everybody again after so long. I got so many great gifts, I don't have pictures of them, but I definitely appreciate them all.So here are the pictures from my Bridal Shower. Finally got them on here.

Here is Shanna, Nan, Lynda, and Shaela.
Nan, Lynda, Shaela, and Nikki.
Kim, Shanna, Nan, Lynda, and Delva.
Kim, Shanna, Nan, Lynda, and Delva.
Shanna, Nan, and Lynda.
Here is Nelda, Jen, Me, and Alex.
Nelda, Jen, Me and Alex again.
Here is Delva, Jen, Me, Alex, and Kim.
Here is part of Lynda, Shaela, Nikki, Sherri, Norma, part of Nelda, Delva, and part of Kim.
Here is Shanna, Nan and Lynda.
Nelda, Jen, Me and Alex.
Nelda, Jen, Me and Alex.

"Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter" series by: Laurell K. Hamilton

So in case people are interested in reading the "Anita Blake" series, I figured I should put the reading list on here.

1. Guilty Pleasures
2. The Laughing Corpse
3. Circus of the Damned
4. The Lunatic Cafe
5. Bloody Bones
6. The Killing Dance
7. Burnt Offerings
8. Blue Moon
9. Obsidian Butterfly
10. Narcissus in Chains
11. Cerulean Sins
12. Incubus Dreams
13. Micah
14. Danse Macabre
15. The Harlequin
16. Blood Noir
17. Skin Trade
18. Flirt
19. Bullet

Now to warn, at some point during the series, I don't remember what book exactly, it does go X-rated unfortunately, but you can skip the naughty scenes fairly easily and not miss anything vital.

Enjoy!

Flirt by: Laurell K. Hamilton (18th in series)

OH!!! MY!!! GOSH!!! This book was sooooo good!!! I devoured this book in about 2 hours. I could not put this down! If you have not started reading the Anita Blake series and, you like paranormal thrillers, then you are seriously missing out. I totally recommend this series to everybody!

"I've earned my reputation, but if you really did your research on me then you also know that I don't raise zombies for kicks, or thrill seekers, or tormented relatives unless they have a plan"

When Anita Blake meets with prospective client Tony Bennington, who is desperate to have her reanimate his recently deceased wife, she is full of sympathy for his loss. Anita knows something about love, and she knows everything there is to know about loss. But what she also knows, though Tony Bennington seems unwilling to be convinced, is that the thing she can do as a necromancer isn't the miracle he thinks he needs. The creature that Anita could coerce to step out of the late Mrs. Bennington's grave would not be the lovely Mrs. Bennington. Not really. And not for long.

Anita has been relaxing just a bit with the men in her own life. The affectionate warmth of being with them brings out something softer in her, a sense of safety she can almost trust. They do love her; that part is forever and for sure. But flirting with feeling safe is a dangerous thing...

Total Slacker

Ok, so I am a total slacker, I know. I hate getting behind on this because I never want to catch back up because there is so much to do. I don't think I'm going to blog on all of the books I've read since I posted last time because I don't remember what I have read or when I read them. So I'll get back up on that from now on.

Let's see here, what has happened since January?

BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUTS!

First things first: 1/10/10-HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! You turned the big 39, hehe. I love you so much Mom and I am so grateful for all that you do for me!

Next: 1/18/10-HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX AND JEN!!! I miss you guys so much! It was great seeing you at Spring Break! I have so many great memories from you guys throughout high school and I wish we lived closer, oh well.

Next: 3/6/10-HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD AND GRANDMA KENNEDY!!! Dad turned the big 41 and Grandma never gets old, hehehe. I love you Dad for all that you do for me and all the support you have given me since I have left the nest. I love you so much Grandma and I miss seeing you. Hopefully I'll be able to see you at my wedding!

Last: 4/4/10-HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR!!! I CANNOT believe that you are 12 years old now! Where has all the time gone? I remember holding you as a baby and changing your diaper. When you broke your arm, you learned real quick what a weapon that cast made. I really wish I could have been there for your birthday, especially your birthday party! You're so lucky that you get to go play laser tag! That is so much fun! I love you so much Connor and I bet you will be taller than me by the time I see you at my wedding.

SPRING BREAK

For Spring Break, my Mom came up to Utah and helped me plan my wedding. Mom thought I had more done than I did and was a little annoyed that it wasn't, but everything turned out fine. We got all of my center pieces together, got my shoes for the wedding day, got my photographer and makeup/hair taken care of and more than I can remember now. We got to go back to Fallon, NV for a day or two for my bridal shower that was being thrown. Unfortunately, Mom killed my car right when we got to Fallon. She ran my car out of gas (Which I have NEVER done before in my life) and it killed my fuel pump. So she spent all day Saturday, the day of my bridal shower (before my party though) trying to get it fixed. She managed to get a guy to come out and fix my car and still make it to my party, so that was great. I had so much fun at my party and it was great seeing so many people from church. I miss everybody so much and it was so great seeing Mom for a week. I definitely can't wait to see you again in July, I love you so much Mom! I do have some pictures from my bridal shower that I will get on here.

Proposal Pictures

I don't have pictures personally from when Spencer proposed to me, but the guy that took the pictures for us has a website that the pictures are on. If you are interested in seeing the pictures, click here. The pictures are copyrighted, which is why I didn't just put them on here.

Anything else?

I can't think of anything else in particular to blog about, I think I am caught up for the most part. All I have been doing lately is go to school, work and finalize on wedding plans. I spend a lot of my spare time, when I actually remember too at least, getting the paper for my invitations cut out. Once I get that finished I can actually start putting them together, which will be nice, they are so cute! All I know is that I can't wait for July! That means that school will be over (Thank Goodness!) and it means all of my wedding planning will be done and I will be happily married!

Oh!

Oh I just remembered, so I do have this crazy story to tell.

Spencer and I are on this waiting list to get into an apartment once we are married. We decided to check in on them and see where we were on the list. We go in there and she asks for our name, so Spencer gives his name first. She types in his last name and it pops up "Eric Hickenlooper", which is his brother. We tell her that's not us and give her my name, which brings up us. We find that we are like #175 for a two-bedroom apartment and number #145 for a one-bedroom apartment. She asks us if Eric was still looking for an apartment, we tell her that he moved to Arizona and so, no, he wasn't. She tells us that Eric is #1 on the waiting list because he signed up in 2008 and that if he called in and asks them to replace our name with his that she could get us an apartment tomorrow! How cool is that? So instead of not knowing when we would be getting an apartment, we now know that when we are ready to move in, we can move in immediately. Totally awesome!

Heart of Darkness by: Gena Showalter, Maggie Shayne, and Susan Krinard

These were really good stories. I absolutely loved "The Darkest Angel", I loved Bianka and Lysander's story. I also thought "Love Me to Death" was pretty crazy. It was really good and I wasn't expecting it to turn out the way it did. "Lady of the Nile" wasn't what I was expecting, but it wasn't that bad. I don't know if would have been something I would have grabbed off the shelf but it was pretty good.

The Darkest Angel by: Gena Showalter
A Lords of the Underworld tale

An iron-willed demon assassin, the angel Lysander has never known lust--until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of Lucifer, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the pure-hearted Lysander into temptation...

Love Me to Death by: Maggie Shayne

Twenty-two years ago four teenage boys were convicted of a young girl's murder. Now, in the form of a beautiful woman, the "victim" is seeking vengeance. And only one man dares dig into the past to uncover its secrets...and set her free.

Lady of the Nile by: Susan Krinard

Lady Tameri believes herself to be the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian princess, and Leo Erskine has set out to prove her wrong...never dreaming that the two of them are about to discover a prophecy that will bind them together forever.

New Wedding Date

So Spencer called the Logan Temple this morning to schedule a room for our wedding and was told that the temple would be closed from about July 5th to about July 27th for cleaning. So we changed our wedding date to Friday, July 2, 2010, this is our new wedding date.

Tainted by: Julie Kenner (1st in series)

This book was absolutely amazing!!! I was amazed at what good a book this was. I can't wait to read the next books.

Lily Carlyle has never been a good girl. She's lied, cheated, and stolen, but she did it all to protect her younger sister. To keep food on the table after their mother died. She'd made a promise, after all. A promise to take care of her sister. To keep the family together. And that's a promise she's determined to keep.

Even to the death...

When her sister is brutally attacked, a vengeful Lily resolves to exact her own justice from the monster responsible. She succeeds--at the cost of her own life. As she lies dying, she is given a second chance: Though what she has done is evil, she can earn her way into paradise by fighting for the forces of good.

Lily agrees...

...and wakes in the body of Alice Purdue--a Boston barmaid who has more than a little familiarity with the battle raging between the light and the darkness. Each side is mustering its forces for all-out war--and Lily is going to become an assassin for the light.

It's a job she believes she can really get into--but she doesn't realize that she may not be able to get out...

Darker Angels by: M.L.N. Hanover (2nd in series)

Another great book. I really enjoy these, it's a new take on fantasy.

In the battle between good and evil, there's no such thing as a fair fight.

When Jayne Heller's uncle Eric died, she inherited a fortune beyond all her expectations--and a dangerous mission in a world she never knew existed. Reining in demons and supernatural foes is a formidable task, but thankfully Jayne has vast resources and loyal allies to rely on. She'll need both to tackle a body-switching serial killer who's taken up residence in New Orleans, a city rich in voodoo lore and dark magic.

Working alongside Karen Black, a highly confident and enigmatic ex-FBI agent, Jayne races to track down the demon's next intended host. But the closer she gets, the more convinced she becomes that nothing in this beautiful, wounded city is exactly as it seems. When shocking secrets come to light, and jealousy and betrayal turn trusted friends into adversaries. Jayne will soon come face-to-face with an enemy that knows her all too well, and won't rest until it has destroyed everything she loves most...

Unclean Spirits by: M.L.N. Hanover (1st in series)

A great book, I recommend this to everybody!

In a world where magic walks and demons ride, you can't always play by the rules.

Jayne Heller thinks of herself as a realist, until she discovers reality isn't quite what she thought. When her uncle Eric is murdered, Jayne travels to Denver to settle his estate, only to learn that it's all hers--and vaster than she ever imagined. And along with properties across the world and an inexhaustible fortune, Eric has left her another legacy: his unfinished business with a cabal of wizards known as the Invisible College.

Led by the ruthless Randolph Coin, the Invisible College harnesses demon spirits for their own ends of power and domination. Jayne finds it difficult to believe magic and demons can even exist, but Coin sees Eric's heir as a threat to be dominated by any means--magical or mundane--so Jayne had better start believing in something to save her own life. If she hopes to survive, she'll have to learn the new rules fast--or break them completely...

Magic to the Bone by: Devon Monk (1st in series)

A great book, I will have to get the other books for sure!

"Using magic meant it used you back. Forget the fairy-tale, hocus-pocus, wave a wand and bling-o, sparkles, and pixie dust crap. Magic, like booze, sex and drugs, gave as good as it got."

Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user--maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying, and they Offload the cost onto innocents. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster--and Allison Beckstrom's the best there is.

Daughter of a prominent Portland businessman, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune--and the strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magic Offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown into the high-stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic.

Now Allie's out for the truth--and must call upon forces that will challenge everything she knows, change her in ways she could never imagine...and make her capable of things that powerful people will do anything to control.

Street Game by: Christine Feehan (8th in series)

Love these books!

For Mack McKinley and his team of GhostWalker killing machines, urban warfare is an art. But despite a hard-won knowledge of the San Francisco streets, Mack knows from experience that too many things can still go wrong. Danger was just another part of the game—and now he’s come face-to-face with a woman who can play just as tough.

She’s Jaimie, a woman with a sapphire stare so potent it can destroy a man. Years ago she and Mack had a history—volatile, erotic, and electric. Then she vanished. Now she’s walked back into Mack’s life, as a spy with more secrets than are good for her. Against all odds, she’s hooking up with Mack one more time to take on an enemy that could destroy them both, or bring them back together in one hot, no-holds-barred adrenaline rush.

Blood Memories by: Barb Hendee (1st in series)

What an amazing book!!! I could hardly put this book down! I can't wait to read the next book. This is a great series in the making.

For ages, they have lived among mortals, in the shadows, hiding their true selves from the eyes of humanity--until now.

Eleisha Clevon is no angel, although she has the face of one. A vampire, she's far older than she looks--and she makes men yearn to care for her. A few even survive the experience. Eleisha might not like to kill, but she knows self-preservation must come first.

So when an old vampire friend kills himself, Eleisha is shocked. What she finds afterward shows how world-weary he had become--hoarding drained corpses and keeping records of vampires' actual names and addresses. Now the police know who Eleisha is and, more alarmingly, what she is. But she soon realizes that being known may have its pros--even if it puts her and her kind at risk.

Child of a Dead God by: Barb & J.C. Hendee (6th in series)

For many months, Magiere and Leesil have searched for a forgotten artifact, even though its purpose has been shrouded in mystery. All Magiere knows is that she must keep the orb from falling into the hands of a murdering Noble Dead: her half brother. And now dreams of a castle locked in ice lead her south, on a journey that has become nothing less than an obsession...

Accompanying Magiere and Leesil are the sage Wynn; their canine protector, Chap; and two elven assassins-turned-guardians who must fight their distrust of this sister of the dead. For forces more powerful than they--some may even say fate--are rallying around Magiere, arming her for the conflict to come, because finding the orb may be just the beginning of the challenges that await her...

The Pirate King by: R.A. Salvatore (Forgotten Realms)

Another great book about Drizzt, I love these books.

"DRIZZT DO'URDEN...in the black flesh," the portly proprietor said as the drow came up to the bar. "What brings you back to Luskan after these long years?" He extended a hand, which Drizzt grasped and shook warmly.

"Well met, Arumn Gardpeck," the dark elf replied. "Perhaps I have returned merely to see if you continued to ply your trade--I take comfort that some things ever remain the same."

"What else would an old fool lke me do?" Arumn replied. "Have you sailed in with Deudermont, then?"

"Deudermont? Is Sea Sprite in port?"

"Aye, and with a trio of ships of a Waterdhavian lord beside her," Arumn replied.

"And spoiling for a fight..."

The Other Side of Heaven by: John Marsden (7th in series)

Since their home was invaded by enemy soldiers and transformed into a war zone, Ellie and her friends have been fighting for their lives. Thy have learned survival skills out of necessity and taken care of each other through impossibly dark times. Now, with a roar like a train in a tunnel, the war has entered its final days. There's no more sitting around, no more waiting. There are only fast decisions, fast action, fast thinking--and no room to get it wrong. As the enemy forces close in on their hideout in Hell, Ellie, Fi, Homer, Lee and Kevin, and their adopted group of orphaned children, find themselves facing the last chapter of their struggle for freedom. But it may just be the most dangerous yet. And not everyone will survive.

The Night is for Hunting by: John Marsden (6th in series)

We had a good run with radio calls lately...I began our report, which was really just a matter of saying that we had nothing to report, when suddenly Homer lifted slightly beside me and leaned forward, quivering like he was made of brand-new fencing wire. I stopped tlking and gazed anxiously at him.

"Shut down," he hissed, without looking around.

I should have turned the set off straightaway, but if there was danger I wanted New Zealand to know, only because I couldn't bear facing it on our own. Sure they were a long way away, safe and sound, but it might be some consolation to know they were thinking of us.

So I whispered into the radio,"We're in trouble," then slammed off the switch.

Hell's a big place, but it gets crowded when Ellie and her friends take an uncooperative crew of orphans under their wing and into their hidden refuge. It's not easy to keep four young children busy and happy in the bush, and things only get worse when Ellie and Homer find evidence that mysterious visitors have discovered their sanctuary. Could it be a patrol of enemy soldiers sent on a search and destroy mission? They find out all too soon.

In a time and place where war robs your identity, makes you forget your past and fear your future, it seems impossible for Ellie to make sense of a world that is quickly falling apart. And after a peaceful food raid turns into a nightmarish fight for survival, escape back to Hell seems hopeless.

Ellie, Fi, Homer, Lee, and Kevin brave the worst in this electrifying continuation of their battle to stay alive and sane in a war zone that was once their home.

Burning For Revenge by: John Marsden (5th in series)

So the moment had come. All those careful plans Colonel Finley and Ursula had made, so carefully, so long ago, so far away--they came to nothing. Now it was up to us, using a plan we'd made up on the spur of the moment, using our own brains and initiative, and a lot of luck. Funny, the Kiwis had only wanted us to come on this trip as guides; they thought because we were young we wouldn't be much use. Even though we'd done so much already, they thought it was all a fluke. You could tell by the way they looked at us, and the way they talked. Like they knew so much more than us.

Well, here we were, inside the airfield, about to inflict major damage. I just hoped they'd build a big memorial to us after this was over.

We reached the entrance of the lane. Going into it I felt the strongest sense of danger I'd had since the war started. I don't know why I didn't stop right there. I could have called out but it would have been noisy. I could have stopped where I was but I didn't want to be separated from them. I could have...

From Hell to Stratton isn't an easy trip, especially when the enemy's headquarters lie somewhere in between. And that's exactly where Ellie and her friends unwittingly find themselves--smack in the middle of the Wirrawee Airfield. With only five of them against hundreds of armed soldiers, escape seems like a suicide mission. The odds aren't good, and Kevin's nervous breakdown isn't helping matters.

Darkness Be My Friend by: John Marsden (4th in series)

We were getting pretty good at this stuff, hiding out, living rough and tough. It seemed a funny skill to be proud of, but it was a skill. I admired the fox his craftiness, the way he could get into the chookyard and out again, leaving nothing but blood behind. Blood and feathers and a few squawks from the chooks. We were getting mroe like foxes all the time.

If they hadn't been there, if they'd been safe in New Zealand, for example, would I still have agreed to goback? It was a horrible question and one I'm glad I didn't have to answer. But all the same, I think I knew deep down what the answer would be. Sometimes there's really only one answer.

Ellie and her friends had been rescued, airlifted out of their own country to the safe haven of New Zealand. They'd arrived burnt and injured and shocked, with broken bones, and scars inside and out.

They did not want to go back.

But five months later the war is not over, the nightmares continue, and there are two compelling reasons for them to return to Australia: A planned sabotage of the air base in Wirrawee, and most important, the families they left behind.

I'M ENGAGED!!!

So Spencer finally popped the question on Friday, November 2o, 2009. I said, "Yes!" I like this picture, I had put my finger over the flash, and it makes the ring look pretty.

So the question everybody has on their mind is: How did he propose? Well, Spencer was coaching a Trappers game on Friday. The Trappers are the traveling mens' league team based in Logan, UT. Because Spencer still isn't fully recovered from breaking his ankle and so he was offered a coaching spot on the time. Well the game was a slow game, not much happened. So I was thinking that I might get up and get something from the concessions stand or go to the bathroom during the break between the second and third period. So I was getting my motivation to get up and get moving when I noticed that only the opposing team had gotten off the ice. The Trappers were still on the ice.

Then the guys on the team all knelt down on the edges of the big face-off circle in the middle of the ice. As I was trying to figure out what was happening, the captain, Shimmell, got a microphone and said, "Will Makayla Schmelter please come down to the ice." I sat there shocked, wondering if he really said my name because he did sound a little garbled. Then he said again, "Is Makayla Schmelter here?" Spencer's roommate, Mike, said that they were asking for me. By this time I knew what was going to happen. So I stood up, Shimmell asked if I was Makayla Schmelter, and then he motioned me down to the ice. So I get down to the door, someone opens it for me, and Shimmell and Paul, a defenseman, offered me their arms so I wouldn't fall. They escorted me to the middle of the ice and Spencer was standing there. He kneels down on one knee, pulls out a beautiful box, and Shimmell hands him the microphone. He says into the microphone, "Makayla, will you marry me?" and opens the box and shows my beautiful ring. Of course I said, "Yes" and put the ring on my finger. We got the loudest cheering and whistling and horn blowing of the entire game. It was embarrassing but sweet. Before we left the ice, Spencer had Scott, the guy who takes all of the pictures for the hockey games, take some pictures of us. I don't know when he started snapping pictures, hopefully he took one of Spencer proposing, we will find out in a couple of days.

So here is my beautiful ring. I picked it out myself. Spencer had no idea which one to get me when we went ring browsing. This picture has both the engagement ring and the wedding band with it. The wedding band goes underneath the diamond. I think it looks prettiest with both the wedding band and engagement ring together, so I wear them both. So, here is the romantic story of how Spencer proposed to me.

A Killing Frost by: John Marsden (3rd in series)

These books are really good. This book shocked me. I was totally unprepared for the ending of this book, it ended in a way I never would have seen.

When we had passed through that gate we found ouselves in our new home. This was E Wing, the maximum-security section of the maximum-security prison. In peacetime it was the home of serial killers. Well, maybe that's what we had become. Whether we deserved to be there or not, our lives were now ot of our control. Whether we lived or died would be decided by others.

It's nearly six months since our country was invaded. We've lived in a war zone since January and now it's July. So short a time, so long a time...I'm an expert on fear now. I think I've felt every strong feeling there is: love, hate, jealousy, rage. But fear's the greatest of them all. Nothing reaches inside and grabs you by the guts the way fear does. Nothing else possesses you like that. It's a kind of illness, a fever, that takes you over.

Ellie and her friends return from a camping trip to find their country at war. Learning together, they fight back--battling fear, rage, and the invading army that has stolen their land, seized their homes, taken their families, and destroyed their future.

The Dead of Night by: John Marsden (2nd in series)

"Ellie! Don't shoot me!


I lowered it.


"Where'd you get that thing?"


"Over there," I said, pointing, getting the shakes a bit, but putting the rifle down carefully. Robyn seemed so controlled, and I felt like I was on the brink of completely losing control.


Robyn lost her smile suddenly; she ran to the soldier and knelt beside him.


"What happened. Did you shoot him?"


"Hit him. With a rock. And a branch."


"God, I think he's pretty bad."


"He has to die, Robyn," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "If he doesn't, he'll get his friends and they'll come looking for us. And the first thing they'll do is to climb that tree. They could track us right home, into Hell."

Let no stranger intrude here, no invader trespass. This was ours, and this we defend.

Australia has been invaded. Nothing is as it was. Six teenagers are living out their nightmare in the sanctuary of a hidden valley called Hell. Alone, they make their own rules, protect what is theirs, and struggle for courage and hope in a world changed forever.

Seeking supplies, allies, and information the friends make forays into enemy territory drawing on nerve and resourcefulness they never even knew they had. As the risks bcome even greater, so too do the sacrifices they must make.

Tomorrow, When the War Began by: John Marsden (1st in series)

In the house nothing was wrong, and that was what was wrong. There was no sign of life at all. Everything was neat and tidy. At that time of day there should have been food spread out on the kitchen table, there should have been dishes in the sink, the TV should have been chattering in the background. But all was silent. Corrie opened the door behind me and came in quietly. "Jesus, what's happened," she said, not as a question. The tone of her voice terrified me even more. I just stood there.


"What's wrong with the dogs?" she asked.


"They're all dead except Millie, and she's nearly dead."



I was looking around for a note, a note to me, but there was nothing.

"The dogs were dead. That was my first thought. They didn't jump around and bark when we drove in, or moan with joy when I ran over to them, like they have always done."

When Ellie and six of her friends return from a camping trip deep in the bush, they find things hideously wrong. Their families are gone, houses empty and abandoned, pets and stock dead. Gradually they begin to comprehend that their country has been invaded and everyone in their town has been taken prisoner. As the horrible reality of the situation hits them, they have to make a life-and-death decision: run back into the bush and hide, give themselves up to be with their families, or stay and try to fight.

Living with the Dead by: Kelley Armstrong (9th in series)

Such a great book. I love this series. Unfortunately, I don't own this book yet, I had to borrow it from the library. I can't wait to read the next book, but there is a waiting list of, like, 108 days. Definitely recommend this series to everybody.

They're smart, sexy, and supernatural. They're the men and women of the Otherworld--a realm of witches, ghosts, and werewolves who live unseen among us. Only now a reckless killer has torn down the wall, trapping one very human woman in the supernatural cross fire.

Robyn Peltier moved to Los Angeles after her young husband's sudden death, trying to put some distance between herself and her memories. Though she's still grieving, the challenges of her new life as the PR consultant to Portia Kane--the word's most famous celebutante wannabe--can sometimes be amusing, even distracting. But when her client is gunned down in the back room of a nightclub, Robyn is suddenly on the run as the prime suspect in the murder. And as more bodies pile up around her, it seems like only Hope Adams, Robyn's best friend, and Hope's somewhat spooky boyfriend Karl are on Robyn's side.

Hope Adams follows the kinds of stories whose headlines scream from supermarket checkout lines. But the difference is that Hope's stories are even weirder--and they're all true. Though determined to help Robyn, Hope knows it's only a matter of time before her friend is caught. But it's not the police Hope is worried about. For Robyn has gotten herself in the middle of a turf war between two powerful Otherworld cabals who'll spill any amount of blood--human and inhuman--to protect what they consider theirs for all eternity. And the only way Hope can keep her friend alive is by letting her enter a world she's safer knowing nothing about.

Prince of Swords by: Linda Winstead Jones (6th in series)

These were great books, I'm glad I grabbed them from the library. I wouldn't mind owning these books, they were great!

As the forces of good and evil clash in an pic battle, the firstborn children of the Fyne witches have finally come into their own, each with a special gift that will shape destiny...

For months, Rayne has been imprisoned in the cellar of secluded house, afraid of the day when the demon-possessed Ciro--the man who has declared himself her future husband--will return to claim her. He believes that the linking of her pure soul to his lost one will produce the perfect child--one who will serve his ultimate purpose.

The Prophecy of the Firstborn spells out that Lyr Hern is to wield the crystal dagger. But his search for it is sidetracked by the beautiful prisoner he encounters. Despite his attraction to Rayne, Lyr is none too happy about taking her along once he has freed her.

Especially when--to foil Ciro's plans--Rayne decides that Lyr is just the man to corrupt her...

Prince of Fire by: Linda Winstead Jones (5th in series)

The firstborn children of the Fyne witches have finally come into their own, each with a special gift...

Despite the prophesies, Keelia, Queen of the Anwyn, would never let a wild Caradon, a man who can shape-shift into a mountain cat, touch her. But when one kidnaps her, mistaking her for the caster of a spell on his people, Keelia realizes she has never been more wrong: Her Caradon captor is the very same lover as in her torrid, recurring dream...

No man alive, Caradon or not, can resist a sensuous Anwyn queen. When Joryn, the Queen's kidnapper, realizes his mistake, the two must work together to undo the wicked spell. Neither can deny the crackling chemistry between them, nor can they deny the ever-looming Prophecy of the Firstborn: She will betray love in the name of victory...

Prince of Magic by: Linda Winstead Jones (4th in series)

The firstborn children of the Fyne witches have finally come into their own, each with a special gift...

Independent Ariana Kane Varden, daughter of the Sun Witch, has never let family duty keep her from reaching her dreams. She learned the practice of her gift, the power to heal others, at her mother's knee. And now she is the palace healer, tending to her emperor...

The last prophecy of magician Sin Chamblyn's late grandfather points to Ariana as the one to save Columbyana from a growing evil. Sian has hightailed it from lands afar to deliver the message. While he prepares her for the fight of her life, Sian intends to remain undistraced by his sensuously beautiful protege. But in the heat of battle--and passion--diligence might be his downfall...

Car Trade

So Spencer, his parents, and I all made the 4 1/2 hour drive to Rawlins, WY to switch cars. Spencer's dad, Gary, traded in Spencer's Jeep for the Cash-for-Clunkers deal in September, I think, and got a 2009 or 2010 Hyundai Accent. So Spencer has been driving the Accent around since then. Gary was fixing up an old Toyota 4Runner for Spencer. All the repairs are finally finished and so today we made the switch. Spencer now has the 4Runner and Gary has the Accent. Unfortunately we had to leave town at 7 am this morning. That sucked! Spencer drove the first half of the trip because I don't completely trust myself with a stick-shift. We arrived in Rawlins at about 11:15 am and beat Gary and Debbie by about 20 minutes, and they left before we did. But that is because we had the new Accent that could go 90 mph and they had the 4Runner that could go 80 mph max. The truck is a beast, and it will be even more of a beast once Spencer puts the lift on it that he wants. We got back into Logan at about 6 pm, I think. So that was our fun, adventurous day we had today.

The Star Witch by: Linda Winstead Jones (3rd in series)

Three "different ad engrossing" wiches coming into their own. Here, the eldest wonders how she can remain chaste with a sensuous enemy tempting her...

Some say the Circle of Bacwyr is a myth--and practical Isadoa, a young, widowed attendant to the Empress, numbers among them. But for Captain Lucan Hern, the powerful Circle is as real as the daggers he hids under his clothing. The warrior was raised solely to find--and capture--the elusive Star of Bacwyr. But his teachers never told him exactly what it was. They only made one thing clear: Stay away from witches...

Sounds easy enough. Then Lucan meets Isadora, a decidedly different kind of beauty. She is oblivious to his attraction while he is equally oblivious to the fact that she's a witch. And he believes her ring is the Star he's been searching for.

Isadora has slept in a cold bed these long years--but the arrival of this gorgeous creature sets her body afire. And after a lifetime of searching for the Star, Lucan all but forgets it, waiting for Isadora to give herself to him freely, when he will take her beyond her wildest dreams...

The Moon Witch by: Linda Winstead Jones (2nd in series)

In "The Sun Witch," the Fyne sistes come to terms with their sorcery. Now, one must decide how far she is willing to go to stay true to herself...

Blessed--and cursed--with the ability to see the past and future of anyone she touches, middle sister Juliet yearns to use her gift upon herself, if only to understand the terrifying nightmares that plague her. But her fears mean nothing when she is kidnapped by the Emperor's men.

All his life, Ryn has dreamed of a woman with flame-red hair and haunting beauty. He draws extraordinary strength and senses from the wolf-beast within him--and after years of hunting, he has found his life mate. Defeating Juliet's captors, Ryn whisks her away to his home, where his wild desire leads him to defy an ancient prophecy--and only Juliet's untapped powers can stave off the dark forces that threaten to destroy them both.

The Sun Witch by: Linda Winstead Jones (1st in series)

Saw this cover while browsing the library and decided I wanted to read it. Sometimes you can judge a book by it's cover, this is a good book.

For three hundred years, the Fyne women have called their cottage on the mountain home. The villagers stay away from the Fyne sisters, fearing their witchery. But Isadora, Juliet, and Sophie use their sorcery for good--most of the time...

A curse put on their family long ago makes true love unattainable for the Fyne women. Sophie's two elder sisters, both skilled witches, have accepted this and have vowed a lifetime of chastity. But young Sophie has yet to find her own power. With more luscious curves than her sisters, Sophie wonders if the fire coursing through her body might be an indication of her true strength. She dreams of a green-eyed stranger, and when she finally does meet the man of her dreams, Sophie knows her power: Nature has gifted her with fertility.

Although groggy from war wounds, Kane could have sworn that an angel came to him, healed him, and made love to him. Now, after a year of searching for the girl who may or may not have been a dream, Kane is stunned to find Sophie--with his child at her breast. But when a scorned suitor captures their infant daughter, they must call on all their strengths, both earthly and supernatural, to fight the curse that promises to end their happiness.