Grave Sight - Review

Title:  Grave Sight

Author:  Charlaine Harris

Series:  Harper Connelly Mysteries Book 1

Synopsis:  “Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver are experts at getting in, getting paid, and then getting out of town fast, because the people who hire Harper have a funny habit of not really wanting to know what she has to tell them.  At first, the little Ozarks town of Sarne seems like no exception.  A teenage girl has gone missing, and Harper knows almost immediately that this girl is dead.  But the secrets of her death, and the secrets of the town, are deep enough that even Harper’s special ability can’t uncover them.  With hostility welling up all around them, she and Tolliver would like nothing better than to be on their way.  But then another woman is murdered.  And the killer’s not finished yet…”

Review:  I feel silly.  I had no idea that Charlaine Harris had written anything other than the Sookie Stackhouse series.  I found this gem by chance while perusing the shelves of a local used bookstore.  I snatched it right up!  Grave Sight was a really good book.  It wasn't a "stop everything and read until it’s done" kind of book that sucks you in and doesn't let go, but it was enjoyable.  Harper’s connection with the dead and her codependent relationship with Tolliver was well thought out and interesting.  The personal relationships that complicated things in Sarne, while rather predictable, were intriguing and kept me reading.  I recommend this light read and will be seeking out the rest of the series on my next trip to the used bookstore. 

Publisher:  Berkley Crime

ISBN:  078-0425212899

If you like this book you may want to read: 

Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse Book 1) by Charlaine Harris

Don of the Dead (Pepper Martin Mysteries Book 1) by Casey Daniels

New Habits

BookGirl is trying to make some changes.  As part of my new life, post-graduation, I am trying to develop some new habits.  These habits include:
                                           1. More Exercise
                                           2. More Reading/Writing
                                           3. Less TV/Video Games
                                           4. Being less of a clutter bug and more of a clean freak.
                                           5.  Eat healthier
                                           6.  Less Worrying About Things I Cannot Change

  As we all know, old habits are hard to break and new habits are hard to fall into.  I'm not really an exercise for fun kind of person, I'm more of a lay on the couch watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer while eating cheetos and drinking soda kind of person.  But let's face it, I'm not getting any younger or thinner doing that. And then I feel bad later because I'm not making an headway toward my ultimate life goal of being a bestselling author.  I'm sick of feeling bad.  I'm sick of not being productive with my free time.  So that means it's time for a change.

  In my search for motivation I came across several blogs that I wanted to share with everyone.  No matter what you need motivation or inspiration for I'm reasonably sure you will find something useful here.  So here they are:

1.  Zen Habits
     Posts That Made an Impact On Me:
          Get Off Your Butt: 16 Ways to Get Motivated When You're in a Slump
          The Zen of Doing
          4 Simple Steps to Start the Exercise Habit

2.  Active is Attractive: An Ambitious Journey from Flab to Fab
     This is a new blog that I discovered.  The post that caught my primary attention so far is:
          Starting Fresh... Again

3. Pick the Brain
     Posts That Made an Impact On Me:
          8 Steps to Breaking Your Procrastination Habit
          10 Ways to Starting Living a Meaningful Life Right Now
          Can You Sacrifice Temporary Pleasure for Longterm Gain

4. Personal Excellence
     Posts That Made an Impact On Me:
          How Can I Stop Worrying About Things I Cannot Control?
          Top 10 Reasons You Should Stop Watching TV
  **Note: I am not saying that I am going to stop watching TV.  Merely that I am going to watch less of it.**
          Cultivate Life Transforming Habits in 21 Days

5.  LifeHack
     Posts That Made an Impact On Me:
          Thirteen Tricks to Motivate Yourself
          Claim Your Day of Rest for Improved Health and Productivity

6.  SimplyEnough
     Posts That Made an Impact On Me:
          How Do You Use Your Little Gifts and Talents?
          Why Is Healthy Eating So Hard?
          Be Still

The Warded Man - Review

Title: The Warded Man

Author: Peter V. Brett

Series: The Demon Cycle Book 1

Synopsis: “As darkness falls after sunset, the corelings rise – demons who possess supernatural powers and burn with a consuming hatred of humanity.  For hundreds of years the demons have terrorized the night, slowly culling the human herd that shelters behind magical wards – symbols of power whose origins are lost in myth and whose protection is terrifyingly fragile.  It was not always this way.  Once, men and women battled the corelings on equal terms, but those days are gone.  Night by night the demons grow stronger, while human numbers dwindling under their relentless assault.  Now, with hope for the future fading, three young survivors of vicious demon attacks will dare the impossible, stepping beyond the crumbling safety of the wards to risk everything in a desperate quest to regain the secrets of the past.  Together, they will stand against the night.”

Review:  Every once in awhile a book comes along that I don’t want to end.  I just want to keep reading forever about the characters in stay in the author’s make-believe world forever.  Peter V. Brett’s The Warded Man was one of those novels.  I bought this novel on a whim during my birthday shopping spree (decribed here).  I saw the cover of the third book in this series first and picked it up.  

Isn’t it pretty?  I put it back down when I realized that it was the third book in a series I had not read.  But I kept thinking about it, so I went looking for the first book.  Luckily Barnes and Noble had it.  Has anyone else noticed that they are notorious for not having a full series in stock?  Anyway, they had it.  I picked it up.  I almost purchased the whole series that day but didn't.  Now I am angry with myself.  I’m glad I bought The Warded Man, and upset that I talked myself out of the whole series.  Now I have to wait until I save up some more book shopping money before I can read the second and third books in this awesome series!  Brett sucked me into his world and will do the same for you.  Go read this book!

Publisher: Del Rey

ISBN: 978-0345518705

If you like this book you may want to read:

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Hounded (Iron Druid Chronicles Book 1) by Kevin Hearne (See my review here)

Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy Book 1) by Robin Hobb