Happy Wednesday!!

It’s crazy town. PURE CRAZY TOWN here I tell you! GAHHHH!! No excuses. No whining… it’s just… wow. Ok. I took a moment to let my eyes bug out, now I’m ready to move on.

School article #2 is up at Scrapbook Update! http://www.scrapbookupdate.com/2010/08/31/cool-for-school/

Having SO MUCH FUN – and in fact I have more to blog about later today… but first if you’re a non-book lover, stop here. The rest is about books, no crafts. I got some book + craft posting to do (kid books too!) but since it’s in my head and not yet out of my mental idea queue, today I want to just share a few “in the meantime” books I’ve not talked about but read and enjoyed over the last few weeks.

Title: Burning Up
If you are: wanting a contemporary romance that features the ‘I hate you… wait I love you’ plot, small town, and misunderstood heroine with heart of gold.
What: Small town fire chief + alleged ‘wild’ girl returning to small town & mixing it up. Can they make it work? Find out in Susan Andersen’s latest offering.
Why: It has it’s funny moments and it was a fast, easy, entertaining read. Not for everyone, but I enjoyed it.

Title: Nalini Singh’s psy-changeling series and probably the guild hunters too
If you are: Into series with in-depth world building, plot twists, action, a future world, pure awesome.
What: She has two series, I’m reading the psy-changeling one right now. It’s a future world based here in Northern CA (love that) where there are changelings (animal/human shifters), humans, and the psy (have psychic powers). All different, yet same too, you know? Anyhow- her imagination has created this very rocky and vivid world full of amazing characters.
Why: I’ve only read through book #6 of her Psy-Changeling series and they just keep getting better. I’m always amazed at how she artfully packs so much into each novel without it feeling overwhelming AND without it being super long. You’d think that something so far out there would be cheesy… but she manages to make it serious. She’s climbing list of my favorite authors, quickly.

Title: The Luckiest Girl
If you are: a teenage girl, mother of a teen, or just like walking down memory lane/being glad you’re no longer a teen.
What: It’s one of Beverly Cleary’s “first love” quartet of books. Her book Fifteen is one of my all time favorites (and is the book that first got me obsessed with finding books with romances…), and although this doesn’t measure up quite as high, the tale of a high school girl going to spend a school year in the “far away” southern California with her mom’s friend is a lot of fun.
Why: It’s old fashioned, in all good ways. No swearing, no drugs or over the top stunts… just a good girl learning life lessons and having adventures and funny moments along the way. GREAT pick for any tween/early teen girl – no worries about her getting ideas! ha!

Title: Divorced, desperate, and Dating
If you are: needing a solid romantic comedy with a bit of mystery/adventure thrown in.
What: This is a part of a series, but I read it without having read the others just fine. Basically – the woman is a mystery writer, gets a threat, the man she likes (but that dissed her) ends up having to help & protect her.
Why: Christie Craig is another quickly rising star in my go-to authors. She cracks me up and I just totally enjoy her style. I would suggest reading excerpts and such on her website before choosing a book of hers – I think she’s a “love her or hate her” type author.

Now that September is upon us I feel giddy. A new Shopaholic novel and lots more (though I can’t think of titles) book-y goodness!!