I honestly have to admit that Laurell K. Hamilton is my favorite female author. I love both of the series she's writing because I love the way she writes. The characters she creates seem more realistic than a lot of those in other books I've read. They seem much more rounded out, or fleshed out rather, to the point where I could actually feel I would know them if they were real.

It's hard to continue writing a series. I have trouble writing a chapter or two, personally. I know it takes a lot of work, a lot of notes, and an editor that is helpful in a way that doesn't hinder the writing process, but enhance it. Seriously, how many things can you throw at one person? I love the Anita Blake series because even though Anita doesn't think she can handle it, she not only finds a way to do so but she always has people backing her up, even if she doesn't expect them to do so.

I haven't gotten a chance to continue the Merry Gentry saga because I've been focused on the Anita Blake one, and so I have not read past book 2 of the Merry Genty books. Also being short on cash at this time, it's hard to set aside money for a book when you need to buy milk. I will find a way!

If you decide to read the Anita Blake series, obviously you'll want to start with the first one, Guilty Pleasures, which you can find at the top of my amazon widget to the right. Also, please don't get agitated with the first couple of chapters. I thought they were a bit slow and drawn out and it took me forever to read them because I was aggravated. If you sit down and read through them quickly, you'll be fine, if you tend to get distracted, try to find a way to at least skim through them and then go back as a reference. I don't know why these chapters made me itch so much but once I got through them I couldn't put the book down. Luckily, I had bought the first two books together so I was able to continue on when I finished it.

I can't remember what books I was buying when I was at Waldenbooks when a stranger walked up to me and looked at what I was buying, told me if I liked that type of author that I would absolutely love Laurell K. Hamilton. I have to admit, I was quite skeptical, but since the first two books were extremely well priced I bought them and took them home. I didn't touch them until I finished reading what I had bought (I can't believe I've forgotten).

When I first started reading Guilty Pleasures it made me itch. I didn't think I could sit there and read it. The first chapter about killed me, but since I have reread it I don't know why. It may have been because this was a completely new author, a different writing style than I'm used to, or something else that I'll never quite realize.

The chapters in Guilty Pleasures aren't long, but they are good. There isn't any formal introduction right away about what's going on or even who the heck Anita Blake is, perhaps that's what I'm used to, being introduced to the characters. You get pulled in slowly, kind of like fishing (you, the reader, are the fish) and the next thing you know the book is over, the case is solved and you are still hungry for more.

This book introduces you to Anita's world full of Vampires, Shapeshifters, Magic and more. The things that occur in this book are what shapes who Anita becomes later on, who she is forced to be. It is a foundation on which the other books have built and you can't just pick up in the middle of the series and expect to know what's going on.

There are several reasons why I like Anita. She seems like a real person. Laurell did something wonderful when she created Anita. I can actually feel as if I went to St. Louis that I could run into this woman on the street. It's absolutely amazing what I feel when I read about her 'life' and the things that are going on. There are times where I felt angry when she was angry because I'd be angry about being woken up by the phone after only two hours of sleep as well. Who wouldn't? That's something normal people would be angry about. I can also see myself relenting to being designated driver for a friend's bachelorette party.

I enjoy Anita's bluntness. She let's you know she has no clue as to what you are trying to tell her, she lets you know what she thinks and what she's going to do about it. There are very few times I have seen her hesitate. If she's going to shoot someone, she shoots them until they are dead. Yes, the books are violent and filled with gore, don't let the kiddies read them.

The first book is a great introduction to Anita's background, her strengths and weaknesses, her personal morality and it gives you an insight into how the series may progress. The first book is also a good length, it's short and to the point. You get introduced, you get hooked and you go buy the second book. I've enjoyed reading it more than once, as I have the others.

Throughout Guilty Pleasures you learn the rules of dealing with Vampires, never look into their eyes or they can enthrall you. There are laws protecting the vampires from the humans and vice versa. There are, of course, loop holes along the way that are exploited.

While becoming familiar with Anita and her life, she's also solving a case and trying to stay alive while doing it. You'll get to go on adventures with her in every book and they will keep you entertained, enthralled, in fear. So if you like horror, romance, thrillers and mysteries, you should enjoy these books. They have sex, violence, blood and magic, again, don't let the kiddies read them. So start your adventure with Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, in book one - Guilty Pleasures.

Technorati Profile - Don't mind this post, I'm simply adding this blog to my others at Technorati. Enjoy!

I wanted to write down my first impressions of this novel. I received it as a christmas gift and I think it's absolutely perfect. The cover shows Sidonie, Dauphine of Terre d'Ange on the cover dressed for the Longest Night as if she were the Sun Prince. For those of you who have kept up on this saga, and have read Kushiel's Scion, you'll know what the outfit is all about. If you don't, reread Scion and you'll understand right away.

I'm about half way or perhaps slightly more through the book and I have a very hard time putting it down. I am trying to take my time reading it, forcing myself to do things in between, but it is quite difficult to do so. I've always loved the imagery that Jacqueline Carey creates with her writing. This book is no different.

In this piece of the saga you continue to follow Imriel de la Courcel through his impending marriage, a love affair and magic that is new to him. He may have broken the one precept set forth by Blessed Elua and in doing so he and Sidonie may have to pay for it, how I don't know yet, I haven't gotten far enough.

What I do know is that while there isn't any adventure in first several chapters of the book, there is love and danger, blessings and curses that keep you turning the pages. Phedre and Joscelin accompany Imriel on his trip to Alba. Eamonn and his Skaldic shield-maiden (wife) Brigitta return to the story. Hyacinthe has made a decision regarding the powers he holds as Master of the Straits. Adventure begins as Phedre and Joscelin make there way to their destination to do what they came to decide with Hyacinthe regarding the pages of the Book of Raziel. This book is still about Imriel, though and I am sure it will continue to follow him as he tries to make Alba his home, to try to love his wife and, of course, tries to be good.

I am going back to reading again. I hope you have the courage to read this saga, starting at the beginning of course, with Kushiel's Dart.

Kushiel's Justice prevails, as I predicted it would. Imriel goes through many emotionally wrought travails in this novel. I finished it last night, or rather early this morning, just before 1 am. I couldn't put it down, after what happened when he and Sidonie went against Blessed Elua's precept they were punished, or rather, the Albans were punished in my opinion. I thought it was harsh and cruel and I didn't know what to think. I felt huge amounts of sympathy for the Albans and I wanted to strangle both Imriel and Sidonie.

Imriel has grown and so has Sidonie. Maslin has changed as well and will become a diplomat in a new young country. I wonder how many more crazy and dangerous adventures it takes for people to think they are cursed and Imriel tends to think he is with all the horrible things that have happened to him throughout the past couple of years featured in this novel. He and Phedre suffer from bad luck, being in the wrong place at the right time and a lot of people usually end up dead or exiled. Luckily those who end up dead or exiled usually deserve it. This one the one person I truly liked and thought that would make a difference in the future ended up dead.

I can only tell you so much without ruining the entire story and for this I apologize. I wanted to cry, I wanted to laugh, and at times I wanted to throw the book across the room. That's how I know that this novel is worth reading and the saga is worth my continued devotion. If my reaction had been any less, then I'd have to finish as quickly as possible with the next book to find out what happens next and possibly move on. But I won't. I will continue to read the story of Phedre and Joscelin and now Imriel with his Sun Princess.

I don't know what else to say about this novel. It was obviously a great read if I finished it in the time I did, trying to take my time and do other things in between reading it. I couldn't put it down last night, I had to find out what happened. Imriel had a quest, Phedre and Joscelin were doing something with the Book of Raziel and weren't there to help him. There was a war that was missed by all three of them and that's strange because usually they are in the middle of it somewhere.

Again, if you haven't started this saga, don't read this book or you'll have no clue as to what's going on. Start at the beginning with Kushiel's Dart.

Joie to all and remember to Love As Thou Wilt.

I've decided not to renew my subscription to Marie Claire. Of course, the January issue wasn't bad at all. It was thin and not so chock full of ads I couldn't find anything. With a normal MC issue I would literally go page by page through it instead of looking for page numbers or anything and when I saw something I wanted to read I would read it and then start paging along again. I got fed up with the ads and decided I wasn't going to renew. Now they have a thin issue for January with decent articles. How did that happen? I may reconsider if they continue with this new trend.

I stopped reading Cosmo because of how thick of ads it was and my daughter didn't want to renew her subscription to CosmoGirl because it didn't hold any interest for her anymore. I started feeling that if magazines are so hard up for money that they have to fill them with ads then perhaps they should consider raising the subscription price. And then maybe lower the off the shelf per issue price.

Nonetheless, I most likely won't renew. I just don't have an interest in the magazine itself anymore. I'm sure there is something out there for me, I just don't know what yet. If anyone has any recommendations regarding magazines, give me the top five reasons to check it out and I'll think about it if they are something that clicks with me.

Otherwise I may be 'zine-less for quite awhile. I was thinking of finding a crocheting magazine. I wouldn't mind learning some new things and getting some good patterns, but with my luck I'd choose wrong. I really need to find the local library and talk honey into letting me geta library card. Maybe we can do that this weekend.