another week...

Hi everyone,

so this is another week... and how does it start? With me staying at home. Basically, it sucks. My week-end was great. Was able to read, ate good and went out with a friend. Everything went perfectly... until 1am this morning. I woke up and wasn't able to fall back asleep till 3am. Basically, I woke up with a lot of pain in my shoulders. Now, my shoulders are probably the weakest part of me... when I was young, my school bag was soo heavy, must have done something to my shoulders. Also, when I'm stressed, the burden sets there, on my shoulders... and for the couple past years, my left shoulder has been weird. Basically, whenever I rotate my shoulder, you can always HEAR the bones cracking and even feel it.

anyway, went to a clinic this morning and the doctor thinks it's just muscle pain. Tylenol or advil should do the trick. Well I hope so, sir... cos I really couldn't sleep last night. Just lying down in bed hurt. So I'm staying home today... trying to catch up on the sleep. It kind of sucks too, because now shouldn't be the time I take a sick day. See, my contract ends this Friday and still no word about renewal... sigh. Most probably, it'll happen, but I'd like to know for sure... but then, I don't think taking a sick day today is going to change anything to their decision. Anyway, if my contract is renewed, I'm on vacation next week :P YAY! if my contract is not renewed, I'm on extended vacation LOL :P

I'm going to go rest a little now, but I should be back with some reviews later today :D

Desktop meme...

So this has been going around since yesterday on blogland... Hard not to be tagged ^^;

Here is my home desktop:


It's a characters from the manga called Naruto :P that's usually what I have as my desktop - wallpapers made from manga :)

So here is how you play:

A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun. You can do a screen capture by going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key). Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.

B. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.

C. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

DC, Jennie, Casee, Renée and Kat

D. Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants.

The list of Free Viewers so far is:

* iRonnie - I Set No Corner
* Thess - Thesserie
* Rebecca - Skippy Heart
* Knoizki - A Dialogue With K
* Beng - Kauderwelch
* Tina- My Good Finds
* Rachel - Heart of Rachel
* Alice - Hello, My Name Is Alice
* Julia - Julia's Books Corner!
* Darla - Nichtszusagen
* Marg - Reading Adventures
* Holly - What Were You Expecting
* Ames - Thrifty Reader
* Cindy - Nocturnal Wonderings
* Devonna - Good Reads
* Isabel - All About Me
* Kristie - Ramblings on Romance, etc., etc.
* Rosie - Nobody asked me...
* Wendy - Super Librarian
* Nath - natuschan - books, books and more books

Guest blogging over at...

Hey everyone :D

I don't have much to say... having read only short story this month - how sad is that? Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that it's my turn to be guest blogging this week over at Book Binge :D My topic is Foreign Languages in Novels and I'd like to know what you think of it :D

Have a nice day all :)

My poor long week-end...

Seriously, this is the last time I'm making plans for the week-end... because when you go back to work and you look back at your week-end, you just feel empty. I really wanted to blog, but I had nothing to say... and also, my energy level was sooo low... On a scale from 1 to 10, I think I was at 1 :(

My week-end turned out to be more busy than I thought, less relaxing and with a lot of food. See, it was my sis' b-day on Saturday, so after work on Friday, I rushed out to buy her gifts. I bought her Police Academy movies collection - those are really so silly and hilarious, 7th Heaven season 4 and another tv show boxset. My sister sure loves her tv shows. It's a bit like me with my books.

On Saturday, she had friends over... and I "helped" her cleaning. Actually, not really. I figure when I have my friends over, I do all the cleaning... so she could do the same ^^; Seriously, the past couple of week-ends, all I've been wanting to do is stay in bed and read. So didn't feel like helping her cleaning... and then, gosh, I had to drive her to the grocery so she could get some bread, chips and juice. Did I mention me not wanting to get out of bed? Then, once I got from home from work, well her friends were all there. I hung out with them a little, but in the end, went to bed and slept. Since she had her friends on Saturday, we were going to eat out as a family to celebrate her b-day on Sunday... the thing is, this week-end is also the week-end when my grandfather passed away 6 years ago - well according to the lunar calendar. According to regular calendar, i.e. Oct.15, is next week. Long story short, we commemorate that day each year... so that meant that on Sunday, we had to go to the temple to pray. Now, my parents do a lot of volunteering work for the temple and so every week-end, they cart bags of food to the temple... My sister and me? we only go when there are big celebrations or on commemoration days. Even then, we only show up and then go home... However, surprise, surprise, my uncle from Quebec city showed up. So at 9h45, we head out to go grocery shopping with him (chinese/vietnamese ingredients are way cheaper where I live than where he lives, so he always stock up when he comes visit). While we're shopping, my mom calls... she forgot the rice at home. This is the 2nd week-end in a row where she forgets something at home. I swear, next week, she's making a list and she'll have to check out every item before leaving. So we go back home, get the rice and finally get to the temple... where we have to help out. No slipping away this week. At least, we didn't have to stay and eat (yeah, we eat at the temple... vegetarian food)... Later that evening, we went out to the chinese restaurant. Great as usual... except everyone seemed down or low on energy. As usual, we ordered too much food and went home with 5 boxes ^^; (my uncle took back the last box containing the bbq duck).

Then, yesterday, my mom made lots of food to pray to my grandfather. Can I say I spent the day eating? Sigh. And there's still a lot more left. So I'll be eating left-overs for the next coming days.

What annoys me the most however is that I haven't read much :( Sure, I re-read Warprize, Slave to Sensation and Caressed by Ice, but I didn't get the chance to read any "new" books. It's also my mood :( I've started Demon's Kiss by Eve Silver and put it down... just couldn't get into it... and I've also started a new book, but I can't remember the title. It definitively sucks when you're not into the mood of reading. It took me a week to finish You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister. Sigh.

hopefully, this week will be better.

Review: Beat of Temptation by Nalini Singh

Okay, so I got An Enchanted Season on Monday... and we all know or can guess why I got this anthology right? Nalini Singh. So far, I've only read her story, Beat of Temptation, and thought I'd reviewed it :D


Beat of Temptation by Nalini Singh
published as part of the anthology An Enchanted Season, by Berkley in October 2007

Young Tamsyn has always held a special place in her heart for her powerful fellow pack-member Nate. But as a dominant male leopard in the pack, the more experienced Nate doesn’t want to trap Tamsyn into the fierce demands of the mating bond—a bond driven by the animal within—when she’s hardly had the chance to grow into a woman. But Tamsyn knows what she wants for Christmas, and she’s going to get it...

Genre: paranormal romance, shapeshifters
Series: Psy/Changeling world, Book #0.5

We've all complained at one point or another how we find novella/short story unsatisfying, because they are too short... However, this sure is not the case with Beat of Temptation. Ms Singh took a clever approach when writing this novella. Instead of writing the story of new characters that need to fall in love, she went back and explored how it all begin between Tamsyn and Nathan. I say clever because 1) we all know what/how they are in the future and so, Ms Singh doesn't have to wrap it up and 2) those who won't read this novella won't miss anything needed for the further development of the series.

Those who have read Slave to Sensation all know and remember Tamsyn, the Dark River healer, and her mate Nathan, who's also a sentinel. Nathan is 10 years older than Tamsyn and has been holding off from completing the mating dance, because he wants Tamsyn to enjoy her freedom. He also doesn't want to suffocate her in this demanding relationship, because he's seen what can happen... and it's not always HEA. However, completing the mating dance is what Tamsyn wants and needs. As a result, she takes the matter into her hands... Okay, I almost just repeated the book blurb :P

Anyway, I really enjoyed the story :D Yes, it was short, but everything was covered - Tamsyn's feelings, Nathan's reasoning - and I can't really think of what Ms Singh could have added to the story. The story focused on Tamsyn and Nathan and their relationship and there was nothing really complicated. I personally enjoyed seeing young Tamsyn and Nathan, not that they are much different from the ones we know already... With this novella, you really see the effects of a fullfilling mate bond have on two persons. It also shed some lights on the mating bond... it's not automatic (as in recognizable at first sight) and although you feel attracted to each other or lust for each other, it doesn't guarantee happiness.

What else to say? I really liked Tamsyn and Nathan... Tamsyn is strong and has a backbone. She's also young and vulnerable and inexperiment. She's still young in many ways, but that didn't make her stupid. Nathan was just very alpha :D I also liked reading about a younger version of Lucas and Dorian and also, at a time when Dark River pack wasn't as strong. It actually would be very interesting to learn how Dark River got some prominent in such a short time.

There is a light storyline with a Psy, but it wasn't developed too much. The way it was handled though, didn't make it seem too superfluous. I'm even wondering if this Psy wouldn't appear again in the future.

In the end, I was very satisfied with this novella :D However, it did raise 2 questiosn: 1) How many shapeshifter races are there and if they all live as a pack? So far, I'm aware of wolves, leopards, wild cats, deers, hyenas, horses, eagles... are there marine species... Although, in the ideal world, Ms Singh shouldn't explore all of them too much (like Ms Marjorie M. Liu)... and 2) how long do these shapeshifters live?

Despite those two questions, I'm giving this book a B+ :)


Also, a little more book pimping for Ms Singh... Many have read Caressed by Ice and enjoyed it greatly. So here's some info about the next book, Mine to Posess:

Clay Bennett is a powerful DarkRiver sentinel, but he grew up in the slums with his human mother, never knowing his changeling father. As a young boy without the bonds of Pack, he tried to stifle his animal nature. He failed...and committed the most extreme act of violence, killing a man and losing his best friend, Talin, in the bloody aftermath. Everything good in him died the day he was told that she, too, was dead.

Talin McKade barely survived a childhood drenched in bloodshed and terror. Now a new nightmare is stalking her life--the street children she works to protect are disappearing and turning up dead. Determined to keep them safe, she unlocks the darkest secret in her heart and returns to ask the help of the strongest man she knows...

Clay lost Talin once. He will not let her go again, his hunger to possess her, a clawing need born of the leopard within. As they race to save the innocent, Clay and Talin must face the violent truths of their past...or lose everything that ever mattered.

This book comes out in February and already, I can't wait!! It sounds awesome :D

Slave to Sensation
Visions of Heat
Caressed by Ice

Historical romances binge

September has gone and looking back, to my great surprise, I've read a huge number of historical romances... Hmmm, ppl knowing me know that historical is not my favorite genre... so that's why I'm soo surprised LOL. Although I read many, I haven't reviewed any ^^; That's why I decided to review them all in this post... Beware, this might be long :P


The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs

published by Mira in 2001

In one catastrophic night, unconventional debutante Lucy Hathaway meets and propositions powerful banker Randolph Higgins, risks her life to save a baby girl, then loses her father and the family fortune in the chaos of the great Chicago fire. Five years later, she's older, wiser, and the proud owner of The Firebrand, a bookstore that caters to suffragettes and free thinkers. Fate throws her once again into the path of Randolph Higgins when she must apply to his bank for an extension on the loan that financed her bookstore. She discovers that Randolph is now a scarred, bitter, divorced man, and that he believes his daughter died in the fire. One glance at the photo on his desk tells her that Maggie, the child she saved and adopted that terrible night, is his lost daughter.

Lucy's strong sense of honor drives her to tell Randolph the truth. Now the conservative banker and the fiercely independent Lucy must deal with each other for Maggie's sake. Despite the resulting clash of wills and differing political views, the powerful attraction that drew them together five years earlier still exists. Can these two stubborn, opinionated people find a way to nurture a life together, for the sake of Maggie and their own battered hearts?

The key word in here, "stubborn." I like my heroine strong with a mind of their own; however, I don't like them irrationally stubborn... which is often a problem with heroines who are reporters (the whole, "the public has a right to know") or, unfortunately, suffragettes. Seriously, I would not have liked to live at the time era where we had to fight for our rights. Anyway, Lucy skirts the line here with being irrationally stubborn, but she saves herself with all the sacrifices she makes for Maggie and Rand. It also helps that Rand is as stubborn as her and due to his own divorce, is very reluctant to listen to her. So the hero and heroine balance each other well. Otherwise, I like the plot as this is one of my favorite kind (two persons marrying each other for the sake of a child and falling in love) and this is, as usual, very well written. A B from me.

Nobody's Darling by Teresa Medeiros
published by Bantam Books in April 1998

Dear Reader,

I never enjoyed being a wanted man until the day Miss Esmerelda Fine marched into the Tumbleweed Saloon and pointed her derringer straight at my heart. Who would have guessed some duke's granddaughter--an awfully pretty one at that--would come gunning for the likes of me, a notorious bounty hunter with a taste for whiskey and a fondness for peach pie? Lucky for me, she was a mighty poor shot. Instead of killing me, she hired me to find her runaway brother. Little did she know she was about to make the acquaintance of a flea-bitten basset hound named Sadie, the infamous Darling Gang, and my shotgun-toting kinfolk. And little did I know she was about to lead me on a merry chase that would take us from a bungled bank robbery to the very first Wild West show to tour London, England.

I should have turned down her offer. I should have resisted her charms. But I didn''t.

Because there comes a time in every man''s life when he''s got nothing left to lose...but his heart.

Yours,
Billy Darling

I got this book back in June when I was in Toronto on Kristie and Cindy's recommendation. However, it's Isabel's review at Book Binge that made me pick it up and finally read it. Also, the back blurb is awesome. I really loved Billy Darling, I thought he was a great hero... however, I thought Esme was a bit typical - hard working woman who raised her younger sibling. I was not attracted to her and thought she didn't match Billy well. Also, mid-way through the book, I started losing interest in the story. Wasn't interested at all when Esme went to England... However, the ending as well as the epilogue saved the book. I especially like the epilogue and wish Ms Medeiros would do something with it. So because of Billy, the beginning and epilogue, I still give this book a B.


Madame's Deception by Renee Bernard

published by Pocket Books in 2007

When an innocent takes over a bordello, can her seduction be far behind?

Jocelyn Tolliver believes that her mother's couture business financed her European boarding school education. Imagine her shock when she discovers that her dying mother is the infamous Madame of London's elite Crimson Belle. Promising to care for the bordello and its ladies, Jocelyn, a virginal bookworm, transforms herself and is soon known as the reclusive Madame DeBourcier.

Rakish Alex Randall, Lord Colwick, is determined to win admittance to the intriguing Madame's bed. His outrageous attempts to garner her favor cannot go unnoticed for long. . . When danger threatens the elegant women of the Belle, Jocelyn strikes a bargain with Alex, hoping he can provide some protection. But Jocelyn's deception forces her and Alex into a passionate battle of wills in which all illusions will be shattered . . . and all desires fulfilled.

I got this one after reading Ames' review. I thought the back blurb sounded good and I was looking for something a bit different. This book is no.2 in the series, but it stands alone quite well. As Ames said, this was a light and fluffy read, and I did enjoyed it while reading it. The problem comes afterwards... When you think back of it, you wonder what you've read... I have to say, it's as if there was no plot... there's a mystery, but it isn't the focus, Alex and Jocelyn fall in bed rather quickly, and the conflict seemed easily resolved. I think the problem with this book is I thought it was too passive and I didn't get suck in it enough. I give it a B- because it was light and enjoyable, but it's easily a skippable book. And yes, Ames, the cover is very pretty.


It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn
published by Avon Romance in 2005

MEET OUR HERO… Gareth St. Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St. Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth’s sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past… and the key to his future. The problem is--it’s written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.

MEET OUR HEROINE… All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She’s fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there’s something about her--something charming and vexing--that grabs him and won’t quite let go…

MEET POOR MR. MOZART… Or don’t. But rest assured, he’s spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual--an annually discordant--Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth’s every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other… and that there is nothing as simple--or as complicated--as a single, perfect kiss.

This is the book before last of the Bridgerton series and perhaps not the best book to start the series, but what is done is done and what is read is read ^^; I don't know much about the Bridgertons and this book does well in not bringing the past heroines and heroes back; however, I don't have a sense of the family dynamics and I thought it was unfortunate. I mean, when you have such a huge family, it's fun to see the dynamics of it. This book was enjoyable, but quite typical no? I mean, there was nothing very original... I didn't dislike the hero or heroine, but at the same time, I didn't love them either... my favorite character was probably Gareth's grandmother LOL :) All in all, a B- for this book. It was enjoyable, but lack originality and didn't make me want to go and read more about the rest of the Bridgertons.

Just Wicked Enough by Lorraine Heath
published by Avon Romance in August 2007

Michael Tremayne, Marquess of Falconride, needs money and lots of it. So he does what any sensible Englishman with a title would do––he approaches the fathers of wealthy heiresses and auctions himself off! But this marriage of convenience is turning out to be anything but.

Michael’s new wife, Katherine Rose, decided a long time ago never to accept anything less than true love. And if she can’t have that, her marriage will be strictly a business relationship. Michael finds the situation unacceptable, but at the same time finds himself admiring his wife’s quick wit and determination. So he set about doing the one thing he never imagined––wooing his wife.

This was an interesting one :D I read the review at Sybil's and then rushed to the bookstore later that afternoon. The premise is quite different... Michael is in need of money and instead of wooing an heiress with the possibility of it not working out at the end, he decides to auction himself. His reasons behind was quite noble and his reasoning, quite logic actually. I really liked Michael and how he put aside his pride and dignity for his mother... the scenes with his mother was also quite heart-breaking. Then you had Kate Rose who was married at the age of 17, but her parents had the marriage annulled. She's still in love with her ex-husband and heart-broken, because he has just married. She refuses to let Michael in their marriage bed, because he doesn't know and love her. Also, just to make things worse, she's the one who holds all the money... I thought all the attempts of Michael were quite sweet and that he really did end up loving her... not just trying to get in bed because of his physical needs. My problems were with Kate though... For half the book, she's still mooning over her previous husband whom she still "love." I thought that in comparison to Michael, she didn't try very hard to get to know him, to love him. And all her attempts to get to know him were pretty callous. She went about it the wrong way... So I give this book a B+... loved the story, I thought it was different, loved Michael... even liked Kate, but thought she should have tried more...


If His Kiss is Wicked by Jo Goodman
published by Zebra/Kensington in September 2007

Shy by nature, Emma Hathaway usually leaves the drama to her rebellious cousin, Marisol. But when Emma agrees to meet with her cousin's secret lover to end the affair, she is pulled into a dangerous game. Now Emma is convinced her involvement in the scandal has put her life in jeopardy. The trouble is none of Emma's confidantes believe anyone is trying to harm her. As whispers of madness begin, Emma turns to the only person who might be able to help... The very handsome, barely respectable Restell Gardner has gained a reputation for helping people out of compromising positions. Never one to turn away a lady in need, Restell agrees to help solve the intrigue. Sensing there is more to the green-eyed beauty than meets the eye, Restell feels himself falling for Emma. But he resists succumbing to his passion...at least until he learns the truth about the danger that is haunting her. For if he gives in to temptation too soon, he could lose Emma forever...

Hmmm, I tried to read Jo Goodman before and I'm not a huge fan... I wasn't going to try this book, but then, caved in after all the good comments about this book. Long story short, I liked the characters and the story. While delivering a message for her cousin, Emma get kidnaps and beaten. Thinking that her cousin might be in danger, Emma gathers all her courage and goes to Restell Gardner to seek his help. Restell agrees and after another incident in which Emma almost drown, Restell proposes to her: marriage and protection. I really liked the characters and enjoyed the story. Restell is kind of enigmatic, there's something to him... He's not a rake, but not totally the gentleman... I guess his mother is right to call him rascal. I don't think that he was in love with Emma when he proposed, although I don't see another explanation. I liked Emma well enough. Very strong and calm... One of the best part I think is when Restell brought Emma to the gaming hall. My only problem with the book was the voice. I don't really like Ms Goodman's voice... I find it too formal and it makes it hard to get into the storyline. It doesn't have the same fluidity as other authors, even with good characters and plot... that's why I'm giving this book a B+ instead of anything higher.

Finally, probably the review everyone's been waiting:


Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas
published by Avon Romance in October 2007

When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the "ton," Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

Wealthy beyond most men’ s dreams, Cam has tired of society’ s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “ uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship— but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter...

I've read many of Ms Kleypas' novels and for the most part, I find them so so. I still don't understand everyone's praise for Devil in Winter which I found again, only so-so... Anyway, wasn't going to buy it, but pretty much everyone went out and bought it... Can't be left behind right?

To my surprise, I quite enjoyed the book... Basically, Amelia is 26 years old and looking over her family, which includes an older brother, Leo, who's the new Lord Ramsey, and 3 younger sisters. Leo has lost the love of his life recently and is heart-broken and therefore, drinks, gambles and whores himself to forget... leaving Amelia to hold the fort. While out searching for her brother, she meets Cam Rohan at Jenner's... both are attracted to each other, but don't believe they'll meet again. Destiny has decided otherwise and reunites them at Westcliff's lands (Ramsey lands and Westcliff's are neighbors)... Meanwhile, Cam's pretty tired of his life and feels restless. Then he meets Amelia and he feels attracted to her... and decided she might be just what he needs...

So yeah, I enjoyed it a lot :D I think Ms Kleypas strength is when the hero is not from nobility. Cam was an interesting hero... he's torn between two cultures and have to make a decision. I really liked him a lot and how he always came through for Amelia. Meanwhile, Amelia wasn't a bad heroine. She was great in fact, except for the fact that she kept repeating she didn't want to marry and would be a spinster. I mean, please, when love comes knocking, just don't push it away. I enjoyed the dynamics of the family and there were quite a number of funny scenes. Three complaints however: 1) Kind of disappointed that Cam always showed up to help Amelia when she needed it... couldn't show how strong Amelia is... 2) there wasn't much of a plot... I mean, event happened one after the other and it made sense, but there wasn't that much of a plot. However, the characters were interesting and the author's voice, great and so it work out good... in which case, the treasure-hunting was superfluous. The Hathaways didn't need the treasure once Cam asked Amelia to marry him... 3) Win and Merripen (Amelia's sister and their surrogate Roma's brother). Does Win love Merripen, are they going to end up together? That was one of the storyline that wasn't tied up and personally, I don't want them to get their own story. If they get their own book, it's just bound to get more complicated and perhaps Win and Merripen won't be together :P Okay, I got carried away... overall, a B+ from me :D

ps- is Hathaway such a popular name? because three of the heroines are Hathaways LOL :)

September Reads. to do list and my craziness continues

Hello everyone!

how was your week-end? :) I know a couple of women who enjoyed themselves in South California... definitively jealous... because my week-end couldn't compare to them at all :( It was quite a relaxed week-end, but a lonely one :(

Okay, where to start? LOL, my craziness also known as my book shopping adventures... So as you can see in the previous post, I went a bit crazy buying books last week... however, there was one I was looking for and couldn't find... Mine Till Midnight... I was going to go buy it at the bookstore closer to my house; however, it's not that close... so when I checked Chapters/Indigo online on Friday and it said the bookstore in downtown had it, I again gave rendez-vous to my sister at the downtown bookstore :P Got there and it wasn't on the shelves... it wasn't on the cart either... so I started eyeing the boxes of new arrivals... hmmm, they weren't opened. So I asked a lady to check and then, she said "The book is only released on October 2, can't do anything, you'll have to come back." Grrr... I hate it when it happens!! You know they have the book, but they just won't get it for you. Fine! So I left... with two books LOL :) I got Light Me Up by Katie MacAlister which is the 3rd book in the Aisling series as well as In the Bleak Midwinter which is a recommendation by Keishon.

Then, on Saturday, my parents went to the temple for an association meeting. Before my mom left, she was like: "What am I forgetting?" They left and unfortunately for me, she indeed did forget something... a huge caldron of sweet soup (kind of dessert)... seriously, how did she forget it, I can't imagine... because it was in the middle of the kitchen and it's HUGE! So yep, I had to bring it to her to the temple. Ughhh... I really didn't want to go, it's Saturday morning... But then, I cheered up! Since I was out and it was 10am, I could swing by the bookstore and get Mine Till Midnight.. which I did... and this time, I got myself a nice clerk... because again, it wasn't on the shelves, but she went to the back room and got it for me! Nah! Seriously, I think the rule should be the same everywhere... but then, I'm happy that some bookstores don't mind selling the books early.

So that's about it for book shopping... unless you want to hear about my manga shopping? LOL :) The plan this week is to try to restrain myself and NOT buy any. However, that should be easy, because most of the books I wanted, I already got. Maybe me plan should be NOT to step in a bookstore LOL :)

Okay, about my to do list:

1) Clean my room - it includes vacuuming.
2) Box/shelve my books.^^;) Best would be to purge a little too.
3) Update my blog (the books on the sidebar ^^;) and change the template
4) Work on reviews
5) Work on ________________ (it's a surprise... kind of)
6) Clean my hard drive
7) Catch up on my manga and anime

Everything is halfway done :( I did clean my room and vacuumed yesterday evening... however, it's not sparkling clean... but hey, there's more space to walk around!! and less risk of falling over something. While cleaning, I put all my books in the boxes or somewhere... unfortunately, I didn't have time to go through them... so no purging done. Maybe this week. As for the blog, well yay, I have the sidebar done, but euh, no change in the template... which I knew wasn't going to happen... however, I have some ideas about it :) So as soon as I have time, that's going to be a goal... I always admired ppl who had extra reviews saved so they can post one everyday... definitively not my case... so no reviews ready :( as for no.5, well, it doesn't exist anymore. Ames and I were going to start a new blog for buddy reviews, but then, we decided against :( but I think it's for the best that we're not starting a new blog... cos just maintaining our own takes so much time. As for cleaning my hard drive... well I did try yesterday to back up my files... however, how long is it suppposed to take to back up 30Gig? Cos it kind of stop at 2% :( So I give up and decided to back up my stuff manually. So that's the plan for tonight. Finally, catching up on manga and anime... I decided to give up on last season of anime. The new season seems to be starting this week, so it'll be easier. Only need to download a couple of eps. of Nodame Cantabile, as soon as my hard drive has space, and for manga, I'm pretty much up-to-date...

Now, my new goal is to have my guest blog post for Book Binge ready... still no topic though ^^;

and finally, here are my September reads:

1) Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh: A-
2) Unforgettable by Julie Ortolon: B
3) Fangs for the Memories by Kathy Love: B
4) Nobody's Darling by Teresa Medeiros: B
5) Madame's Deception by Renee Bernard: B-
6) Bloodstone by Gwen Hunter: D
7) Project Date by Kathy Perry: DNF
8) Die For Me by Karen Rose: B+
9) Dead Girls are Easy by Terri Garey: B
10) The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs: B
11) It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn: B-
12) The Wedding Party by Robyn Carr: B
13) Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik: A-
14) Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer: A-
15) Curveball by Kate Angell: B
16) Special of the Day by Elaine Fox: C-
17) Just Wicked Enough by Lorraine Heath: B+
18) Sex and the Single Ghost by Tawny Taylor: D
19) If His Kiss is Wicked by Jo Goodman: B-
20) Mine till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas: B+
21) Sexiest Man Alive by Diane Holquist: C

So the best books were definitively Caressed by Ice, Agnes and the Hitman and Empire of Ivory. Honorable mention goes to Curveball for some reason :P and I've just realized that the number of reviews this month is pathetic... sigh. Okay, I'll definitively try to improve!

So what were your best reads?