I've been a-slackin' but I'm back with a vengeance....A current reading Frenzy and a backlog of books I've already read and have to review!!!

So I've been slacking on the reviews...life gets busy and priorities come first so doing what you love gets put on the back burner. But I have reading goals so I have to find the time..the kids can wait...I hope. YAY to no more annoying holiday events for awhile and no more sick family members puking all over me.  I've read quite a few books and I want to get some reviews put out. Some books I received free via giveaway, some I received via Christmas gift card shopping and some obtained book hauling at my local Goodwill. 

Let's see...first up and one I started and finished a few weeks ago: A Ghoul's Guide to Love and Murder(Ghost Hunter Mystery #10) by Victoria Laurie. I didn't even know there was a #1-9...so I def need to get on that ASAP!! The title called to me. Who wouldn't be intrigued by A Ghoul's Guide To Love And Murder??!! It's sounds genius..and amazing..and totally right up the Dalai Momma's Alley!!

The book arrived for me and my first thoughts: Aaaaaawwwwwwwwwww. Just like the book Daisies for Innocence Cozy Mystery, this one came in the form of a totally cute little mass market paperback pocket book size. Typically I don't like that but for anticipated cozy mysteries I make an exception. It's too adorable looking not to but also super useful to tote along for appointments or road trips...or anywhere else you don't want to lug a full size book around to. So cute size...cute cover...let's hope the story has just the right amount of flair and amazing-ness that the title seems to capture. 

Again, I had no idea that there was a #1-9 so I guess reading what I hear is the last book in the entire series is not the best idea. I might have totally ruined the entire thing for myself. I should have read all the details...but I didn't. I don't think all hope is lost. Actually, I am looking forward to purchasing all the others and do a reading marathon until I get right back to the last one to which I will just have to re-read...there!! problem solved!! and yet another reading goal!! And I know just when to do it....duh, Spring Break is fast approaching. Now I'll have something to keep me sane while dealing with 4 bratty screaming, always fighting kids for an entire freakin' week. But until then....I have read the book and what I get from it I like...even if it is the very last one in the entire series. 

So I kinda consider this something like a preview to what is to come. Yes backwards...but even though I figured out it was the last book I did not want to not read it..and I refused to wait. I wanted to dive in because it intrigued me so much. I love a good cozy mystery!! I'm giving nothing away because of this though...I can't even begin to say what I think of the book because I have not read all the others. I will say this...I loved the writing style...I love the characters. I loved the story line. It's a Kooky fun and quick read and I absolutely look forward to reading all the others!!! (and starting all over again with this one)

Other reviewers praise the entire series...and from what I get from this book I would more than likely agree. I consider my mistake of reading the last book in an entire series as just a preview of what I should be expecting. I am on a reading mission to get all the others...and come right back and review the entire lot of them. In the meantime I completely recommend this book. Not in the way that I read it...(get the other books first) but still I can assure you if they are anything like this one then it is worth it to get all the others. A great well written book...a quick read. My only regret is that I was not a part of the exciting loyal Ghost Hunter Mystery bandwagon...I had no clue these amazing books were out there for me to enjoy!!

A super huge thanks to the always wonderful peeps over at goodreads and Victoria Laurie for making my win possible...received this lovely in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave!!

Harables by Haidji

I have been slacking. I thought the holidays were gonna give me more time to read read read and then throw in a review or two......NOPE!! Too busy with holiday drama...financial crap...screaming kids...house cleaning...screaming kids...being sick with a cough for the second time in a month..gift shopping and then wrapping....oh and did I mention screaming kids??!! I pop open a book only to have to stop and close it again 2 pages in. I am ready for the holidays to be over with so I can go back to being the lazy reading bum that I am while the kids are in school. But I'm here because I have a review...not a vent. Moving on to the review...I managed to breeze through this read that took about a day to get through.

so that's the book....but what do you think of my random house penguin my daughter made me??!!

A couple of months ago I read the book Life Into Mist by Haidji and I loved it. Beautiful and poetic..unlike anything I had ever read. Then I had the opportunity to read another book by the very artistic and unique Haidji..Harables: Short Stories 1. I am glad that I did. True to Haidji form this book is odd and beautiful and poetic...I think I kinda enjoy reading her work even though at the moment I am not the biggest fan of poetry (I totally use to be when I was younger...lately nothing seems to stick). Again this is unlike anything I typically read and I think that is what intrigues me so much about Haidji and the beautiful stories that she puts out for the world.

A collection of short stories each one so poetically written..each one odd in such a beautiful way. I won't even begin to get into any synopsis or summaries of them because it's difficult to really describe her stories in a way that would do them justice. I will say this..it's refreshing to read something from someone that is not afraid to be different. There is no drag to her work..no overly descriptive unnecessary paragraphs...she does not get deep into character description. Sometimes that is what is needed in other books but not in Haidji's. She makes each collection of stories into a piece of poetry...sentences flowing gracefully...and the reading time in them is quick but perfectly so. It feels like you just read lyrics to a song and not a book.

Again, just like in Life into Mist, Harables delivers in that same way. If you love poetry...if you love abstract...heck, even if you don't but are not afraid to try something different then I recommend this book. I don't typically buy poetry books although I do enjoy some poetry from time to time...so I am never sure what to attempt to read...Haidji's books are the perfect fit because I am reading fiction.. great stories, but I also feel like I am getting my poetry fix. Get the book...and HAPPY READINGS!!(at least you should be happy when you are reading..if you're not then I don't know what the hell is wrong with you and your reading skills)

Oh yeah...I received my free copy of this book thanks to Haidji and giveaway in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave!!