March was pretty abysmal as far as reading count goes. I read a good deal of poetry last month (a whopper of a book actually) and was busier than usual with my day job and freelance so I didn’t read as much as in February or January. I’ve been working on it this month actually, however, I’m hoping my April list will be much longer.

1. Jonas (The Beautiful Dead, #1) by Eden Maguire (288 pgs) [ my review ]
2. 100% Wolf by Jayne Lyons (256 pgs)
3. Anthology of Irish Verse, compiled by Padraic Colum (429 pgs)
4. Ireland: Her Wit, Peculiarities and Popular Superstitions by Distinguished Irish Writers, Sir William Wilde (144 pgs)
5. A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism by John Michael Greer (224 pgs)

Month Total: 5 books and 1,341 pages read
Year Total: 21 books and 5,384 pages read
Previous Months: January, February

My nightstand abounds with new books!

Lucifer Rising and Vampyre Darcy's Desire

First, yesterday, I received two books for review over at Read All Over: 1) Vampyre Darcy’s Desire by Regina Jeffers from Ulysses Press and 2) Lucifer Rising by Barbara Fifield from the author herself, which she was so nice as to autograph for me. Thanks so much Barbara! I can’t wait to dive into your book.

Everyone may roll their eyes at the first book,  but I had to request it. It’s two of my favourite things rolled into one: Jane Austen and vampires. The temptation was too much lol. I myself am even guilty of writing a short story about a vampire during the Regency/Georgian era ;) ‘Tis only natural that I would read someone’s story of the same. Purists would probably gank me though.

Holiday Swap Goodies!

Second, today while eating lunch, I had a parcel arrive. It was addressed from “Book Bloggers Holiday Swap”.

I tried hard to contain the little kid within and to do the proper adult thing of finishing my lunch before ripping into it, but boy was it hard lol. Once my plate was clean, I tore into it! I just have to say, that I had THE BEST Secret Santa ever! *huggles this magnanimous and anonymous person from Houston, Texas*

So what did I get? An adorable ceramic mug with a darling snowman on it (complete with two packets of cocoa, YUM!), a deliciously scented candle (kitchen spice, mmmm), a wonderful card, and two heavenly books: Irish Cooking by Clare Connery and The Wild Sight by Loucinda McGary. I am SO ecstatic right now! Already thinking of things I can make from this cookbook for Christmas :)

I’m a little late on sending mine, sadly. So much has been going on, which I cannot talk about on a public forum such as this. But as soon as I’m done posting this, it’s off to the post office I go. I’m sending priority so the gifts will get there in a timely manner.

Ah, all this brings such smiles to my face and brightens my dim mood more than you guys know!

Thank you Secret Santa, whomever you are, and thank you Holiday Swap!!

• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzgerald
• Queene of Light by Jennifer Armintrout
• Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
• A Kiss Before the Apocalypse by Thomas E. Sneigoski
• Fallen by Claire Delacroix
• Witch’s Canyon (Supernatural) by Jeff Mariotte

Can anyone tell that my normal vampire obsession is taking a break for fallen angels? lol. Only two of those books listed don’t have angels in them. God damn Supernatural and it making me want angels 24/7 these days. I mean, I’ve liked the non-douchey (aka non-touched by an angel) variety for a long ass time, but Supernatural is making it worse. I really wanted Dawn McClure’s Fallen Angels series (Azazel and Asmodeus) but found out they were ebook only so bah … I will wait for later to get those when I feel like staring at a screen to read.

I am happy, however, that I saved over $10 in shipping with their Cyber Monday Free Shipping Offer. Effing love Powell’s. Suck it Amazon. I also sold five more books to them. Ka-chow!Okay, I’m off to curl up with Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand by Carrie Vaughn, so I can be caught up when the publishers send me the new book in the series (and the one before) later this month for review.