i'm not a slacker. honest.

While I’ve been slacking in posting, I have been far from slacking in reading.

Ivy by Julie Hearn – One night I read about half of the book. Was bored by it, but didn’t feel like looking for something else in my house to read. I decided to not finish reading the book because Bloodfever arrived the next day. This is a teen novel.

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning – I finished this in one night. It was excellent! Mac is still in Dublin trying to find revenge for her sister’s murder. Things heat up as she battles Unseelie Fae, tries to figure out just who – and what – Barrons is, and learns more about her past and her gifts. This is an adult novel, but older teens may also enjoy.

Since I had to wait for the third book in the Fever series, I decided to start reading another series, and picked up Beyond the Highland Mist also by Karen Marie Moning – I read this over a day or two, but only because the husband was home (he’s gone most of the week). This is the first book in Moning’s Highlander series, and the first romance book I’ve read in nearly 15 years. While over the years I have read books that have romance in them, I haven’t read books that were specifically marketed as adult romance novels. This series is definitely marketed to adults.

Hawk was a man of legend, not only between the mortals, but also in the faerie realm. When the Seelie Queen remarks positively on his sexual prowess, her Consort and the Fool decide to get revenge.

Five hundred years in the future, Adrienne lives a life of fear. At the core of it is a fear of beautiful men. When the Seelie Fool hears her swear off all beautiful men, he transports her to sixteenth century Scotland to be used as pawn in revenge against the beautiful Hawk. Can Adrienne accept the love of Hawk, or will the faeries’ vengeance destroy the legendary laird?

To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning – Does that title scream ROMANCE NOVEL or what? Another book I finished in one evening, this is the second book in Moning’s Highlander series. I enjoyed this one as well. There were even parts where I laughed out loud.

The letter was short and to the point. “Come for Jillian.” Grimm had longed for Jillian for many years, but knew he could not have her. But now here was his chance…if only he will allow his heart to show his love, and accept who he really is.

Jillian had sworn off marriage, but her parents have other plans. While they are off visiting a son and new grandchild, they request three strong Scottish men to come and woo their beautiful daughter, vowing that when they return, Jillian will have either chosen one, or have been chosen. When Jillian finds out their plan – and realizes that one of the men is her childhood love Grimm – a man she vowed to hate – she must devise a plan to escape her fate. Or will she?

I also listened to both Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little and Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing Thank You Notes by Peggy Gifford; read by Clea Lewis. This is a children’s series of books, geared for tweens. The two books are packaged in one audiobook set titled The Moxy Maxwell Collection. Both tales take place over one day. In the first story, it is the day before the school year begins, and Moxy, a born procrastinator who is great at telling people what to do, has yet to read the assigned book for the summer: Stuart Little. Moxy loves to read, but does not like being forced to read a book. Moxy’s mother send her to her room to read that book, while she runs errands before Moxy’s water ballet show. Moxy devises one reason after another to not start reading Stuart Little – even though she knows there will be consequences.

In the second tale, it is the day after Christmas. Moxy has promised her mother that she will finish all of her Christmas thank you notes before she and her twin brother leave to visit their dad in Hollywood. As usual, Moxy comes up with one crazy idea after another, including using her step-father’s Christmas copier, to keep from writing those notes just then.

Current reads:

• I’m currently listening to the children's book Kenny & the Dragon by Tony Diterlizzi; read by Alan Cumming. I’m not overly enthralled with Cumming’s narration, and am finding that I’m rather annoyed with the characters and how they sound. The story, however, is a fun one. I should finish listening to it tomorrow. It is only 2 discs.
• Faefever by Karen Marie Moning
• The Highlander’s Touch by Karen Marie Moning
• Ironside by Holly Black