Update on The Greatest Gift

Remember when I posted the story about The Tornado? It turns out, as someone in the comments predicted, she LIED!!!!

She came into our store not terribly long ago, though luckily, I wasn't there. Of course she was returning some stuff. But, I hear she was uncharacteristically pleasant. Hmm, interesting. Maybe she felt bad for how childish and crazy she acted when she was there the last time.

Naw, probably not...

Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tour: Buying Time by

I just finished a great suspenseful novel, the latest from author Pamela Samuels Young called Buying Time. I love suspense, and this one definitely had me hooked throughout the whole thing!! Here's a little about the book:

Buying Time is a scandalous tale of blackmail, murder and betrayal, evoking John Grisham with a dash of Terry McMillan.

Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer. But just when he’s about to hit rock bottom, he stumbles upon a business with the potential to solve all of his problems.

In Waverly’s new line of work, he comes to the aid of people in desperate need of cash. But there’s a catch. His clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they can collect a dime. Waverly then finds investors eager to advance them thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker’s fee for himself—in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath.

The stakes get higher when Waverly brokers the policy of the cancer-stricken wife of Lawrence Erickson, a high-powered lawyer who’s bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General. When Waverly’s clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly and Erickson—who has some skeletons of his own to hide—are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder.

Soon, a determined federal prosecutor is hot on Waverly’s trail. But when the prosecutor’s own life begins to unravel, she finds herself on the run—with Waverly at her side.

This book, like I said, hooked me from the beginning. I had never heard about this kind of business venture before, so I found it really intriguing. But this novel has so much more than that. The stories of all the characters become so entwined together you find yourself just wrapped up in all the drama. I read this in a just a couple of sittings (which is amazing for me these days, since I am working 3 jobs - haha!), because I just didn't want to put it down.

Pamela Samuels Young has a great writing style that will draw you in and keep you interested throughout the whole thing. I haven't read any of her other stuff, but I will definitely be picking up one or two of her other novels now!!

Thanks so much to Tracee from Pump Up Your Book Promotional Book Tours for contacting me about this book!! If you like a good mystery suspense, then this one is for you!!!

Review: Reasons by Tracy Fabre

I am excited to tell you about the latest novel by Tracy Fabre called Reasons!!!

Delphi Brent has been making plans to spend the summer in Colorado with long time family friends, the Laughlin's. She and her parents used to spend summers with them for years, but after one fateful summer when Delphi was 17, they stopped going. Delphi really didn't know why. Once she tells her parents that she has been making these plans, they try to stop her. It then comes out that the reason behind why they stopped visiting the Laughlin's is because the three Laughlin sons were responsible for a hit and run accident that left Delphi in a coma for weeks, and one of the Laughlin boys dead. Delphi decides to go anyway, and is thrust in to the beautiful world of Statler, Colorado. She is determined to find out the truth about the accident.

I really enjoyed this novel. I thought the characters were well developed through both description and conversation. Sometimes dialog can feel a little strained, but I never felt that with this novel and these characters. I loved the interactions between Delphi and Noreen, the fiance' of one of the Laughlin brothers, who has a real problem with Delphi from day one. I also really liked the interactions between Delphi and Tam, another of the Laughlin brothers. It was great seeing their characters develop and also learn about the history of their relationship.

There are definitely some heavy issues in this novel - the hit and run, the business of the Laughlin ranch, the alcoholic tendencies of one of the Laughlin brothers. I felt deeply involved in the novel and each of its characters, but I never felt bogged down with any of it.

Once I got into this story, I didn't want to put it down. It was an easy read that totally kelp my attention and kept me wanting more.

Thank you to Renee for sending me a copy of this book!! This is Tracy Fabre's second novel, and I know she will have continued success!!!

The greatest gift

So, here is a great customer story for you. You might know that I am still working part time in retail while I am working part time at the library. It's kinda nice to still be there (because I love my co-workers, not to mention my discount!), because I still get to deal with people like this...

There is a woman who comes into our store. I like to call her The Tornado, because she leaves a wake of destruction wherever she goes. She also leaves a pile of clothes inside out on the floor of the dressing room. She also "spends a lot of money in this store," so she thinks she deserves the royal treatment. She also treats the employees at the store like we are her servants, and like she KNOWS she is better than us. Oh, and did I mention she used to work for the company???

Well, the Tornado comes in and walks straight up to me, knowing that I am a manager and can do whatever she needs. She has multiple returns, two of which she doesn't have receipts for, and one of which is a big ol' mess. So, she comes in knowing that this is going to take a hot minute. I start in on the first return, which happens to be the one that's the big ol' mess, and get caught up in something that I had not ever dealt with before. I go back to talk to my manager to get it all figured out, come out to ask her a question, at which point, she starts to get really snippy. This is when I figure out (and the receipts we looked up confirmed it) that The Tornado is trying to pull something over on us and get more money back that she paid for the items. Because it's always the ones who get loud and belligerent who are trying to scam you.

Anyway, while I am looking up her receipts, she starts snapping at my employees because I am taking so long. She demands that I just "figure it out and call her," but when my employee asked if I had her number, she screeched "UGH, Attitude!!" (Um, it seems like a perfectly logical question to me!)

Anyway, I come back out to tell her that we were still finding her receipts.

The Tornado: Can't you just figure it out and call me?
Real Librarian: Well, we're just finding out (technical receipt issues too dull to explain), so it'll be just a minute.
TT: *practically yelling* What I am TRYING to TELL you, is that I have my FAMILY in the CAR, and I can't WAIT for you.
RL: *in the least bitchy tone I can manage, which was pretty good, I might add. I have witnesses* Please don't snap at me, we're just trying to figure out what we can do for you.
TT: *throwing her hands up and walking away snickering* Ohhh, you're right, I'm wrong, you're right, I'm wrong.
RL: Um, okay.

Well, needless to say, I was not sad to see her leave my store. Come to find out she went to another store to do her returns. She complained about me to hell and back, and said "when I find out who that girl was who was so rude to me, I'm going to come back and complain." And then she gave us the greatest gift of all...

TT: I will NEVER go back to that store.

Thank you, Tornado. Thank you.

2009 Book List

I can't believe 2009 is over!!!! I've kept a list of all the books I read last year, and thought I would share it with you. I read a couple more than I read in 2008, so I am excited about that. I kinda slacked off towards the end of the year, but am really happy about my list. There are some good books on here - you should check them out!!

Thanks to everyone for reading my blog!! I plan to have lots of new posts and reviews up in 2010!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


1. All Men are Cremated Equal: My 77 Blind Dates by Elizabeth Fournier (My Review)
2. The Beach House by Jane Green
3. The Laws of Harmony by Judith R. Hendricks (My Review)
4. The Mind of a Genius by David Snowdon (My Review)
5. The Monster of Florence by David Preston and Mario Spezi
6. Babe in Ghostland by Lisa Cach
7. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
8. Quiver by Peter Leonard
9. The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a life through the pages of a lost journal by Lily Koppel (My Review)
10. Willing Spirits by Phyllis Schieber (My Review)
11. Do I Dare Disturb the Universe: From the Projects to Prep School by Charlise Lyles (My Review)
12. Cross Country by James Patterson
13. The Ballad of West Tenth Street by Marjorie Kernan (My Review)
14. Things I Want My Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble (My Review)
15. Sunnyside Blues by Mary Carter
16. Best Intentions by Emily Listfield (My Review)
17. Mercury in Retrograde by Paula Froelich (My Review)
18. Sunday at Tiffany’s by James Patterson
19. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
20. Who Do You Think You Are by Alyse Myers (My Review)
21. Pregnant Pause by Carrie Friedman (My Review)
22. Vanishing Acts by Jodi Piccoult
23. The Chris Farley Show by Tom Farley and Tanner Colby (My Review)
24. The House on Fortune Street by Margot Livesey (My Review)
25. The Mad Ones: Crazy Joe Gallo and the Revolution at the Edge of the Underworld by Tom Folsom (My Review)
26. The Agency by Ally O'Brien
27. The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark (My Review)
28. Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single by Heather McElhatton (My Review)
29. Journal According to John by Sheryl A. Keen (My Review)
30. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K Rowling
31. The Sky Isn’t Visible From Here by Felicia C. Sullivan (My Review)
32. Finger Lickin’ Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
33. A Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi (My Review)
34. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult
35. Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish
36. Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos
37. Tomato Rhapsody: A Fable of Love, Lust and Forbidden Fruit by Adam Schell
38. Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone
39. Bundle of Trouble: A Maternal Instincts Mystery by Diana Orgain (My Review)
40. The Shimmer by David Morrell (My Review)
41. Sail by James Patterson
42. The Girl She Used to Be by David Cristofano
43. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
44. Legacy by Cayla Kluver (My Review)
45. The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale
46. The Ice Chorus by Sarah Stonich (My Review)
47. Totally Killer by Greg Olear (My Review)
48. A Note From an Old Acquaintance by Bill Walker (My Review)
49. Foul Play by Janet Evanovich (audio book)
50. Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich (audio book)
51. Ripley's Believe It or Not: Seeing is Believing (My Review)
52. Purged by Darkness by Michael Estepa (My Review)
53. Now & Then by Jacqueline Sheehan (My Review)
54. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (audio book)
55. The Go Getter Girls Guide by Debra Shigley (My Review)
56. This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper
57. Heat Wave by Richard Castle (from the TV show Castle)

Sweet library patrons

I just got off the phone with the sweetest library patron. It always amazes me how much patrons want to tell you about...well, anything and everything. It doesn't bother me, cuz I'm a talker, too, and the stories are usually pretty amusing. And, when you get to talking to people, you get to know them, and I think that's fun, too.

Anyway, this sweet older woman called the library today.

A Real Librarian: Fabulous Library, this is A Real Librarian, how may I help you?

Sweet Older Lady: Hi, my name is Sweet Older Lady, and I have to apologize and tell you why I haven't been in to pick up my book!

RL: Oh, well there is no need to apologize!!

SOL: Well, I fell the other day and hurt my leg, and the doctor said I need to be off of it, and my daughter won't let me come to the library!!

RL: Oh, no! Well, I am so sorry to hear that!! Let me just look you up here...it looks like this book will be on the holdshelf for another week, so you can just take care of your leg, and come pick it up then!

SOL: Oh, wonderful! Maybe my daughter can come get it for me!

RL: As long as she has your card, she would definitely be able to do that for you!

SOL: Oh, thank you sweetheart!! Have a merry Christmas!! Love you!!!

So, I wished her a happy holidays, but didn't return her "love" wishes... Maybe I should have... "love you too, sweet older lady!!" I don't believe I've met her yet, but I gotta say, I hope to.

Happy Holidays everyone!!!!!!

Review: The Go Getter Girls Guide by Debra Shigley

When I got an email from Debra Shigley asking me to read her book, The Go-Getter Girl’s Guide, I was intrigued. She also sent me a link to an interview she did on CNN (check it out here!). After watching the interview, I couldn’t wait to read the book!! Debra is so animated and passionate about what she’s talking about, you could just feel her excitement and her drive to help women to get ahead in their careers.

This book is obviously a non-fiction guide, but it truly doesn’t read like that. It is full of stories from women who have made their way up the ladder and how they got there. It talks about so many different topics from networking and office politics and office gossip (Don’t Do IT!!), to wardrobe building and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. All of these things are important in helping the GGG (Go-Getter Girl) build self confidence, and move her way up the ladder.

This book is also filled with GGG Gems, Nuggets of Wisdom and Pearls. It really does cover everything a woman needs to know about stepping into the workplace, whether she is a new graduate beginning her career, or a woman who is either switching careers or looking to move up. I think that this would make a perfect graduation gift (Or Christmas gift for that matter!) for any girl!!

Thanks so much to Debra for sending me her book. I have definitely taken lots of the info from your book and am applying it to my own personal situation. I loved the guide, and hope that it spreads around like wildfire!