August Wrap-Up (It's a doozy!)

Ever since I came back from vacation, I've been feeling like I'm behind in my reading. I don't know why, I just feel off. I did get some great reads in though:

1. Alpha - Rachel Vincent (5 stars!) - will be posting this review soon :)
2. Awakened by a Kiss - Lila DiPasqua (3.5 stars)
3. White Heat - Brenda Novak (3 stars)
4. Georgia's Kitchen - Jenny Nelson (3 stars)
5. Bring on the Night - Jeri Smith-Ready (5 stars!)
6. Deceived by Desire - Larissa Lyons (3 stars)
7. Comfort Food - Kitty Thomas (5 stars!)
8. Ecstasy Unveiled - Larissa Ione (4 stars)
9. Sin Undone - Larissa Ione (5 stars!)
10. Dangerous Desires - Dee Davis (4 stars)
11. Seduced by a Highlander (4 stars)
12. The Satin Sash - Red Garnier (2 1/2 stars)
13. Never a Bride - Ava Grey ( 2 1/2 stars)

I'd say I had a pretty eclectic month!

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I had a personal milestone this month - my baby started Big Girl School: Pre-K 4, next year is Kindergarten. She's been so excited all summer to start school where her big sister goes. Another milestone, my oldest is a senior in high school this year (he didn't want his picture taken). Here's the Littlest Book Addict in her school uniform:

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August 29 marks the 5-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. As much as I don't want to think about it, it seeps into my mind this time of year. I couldn't figure out why I was thinking so much about it recently and then I looked at a calendar and realized why. I wasn't going to write a post about Katrina this year, I want to forget. I purposely did not write about it on my personal blog either. But I started thinking, and couldn't stop. If you're interested - here's my post about my survivor's guilt.

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This weekend is the Writers for New Orleans author event and multi-author book signing - a few of us are getting together Sat night for drinks and Sunday for brunch at The Court of Two Sisters for brunch before the signing. If you think you'd be interested in either, contact me at bookaddictpatti at cox dot net - we'd love to meet you!!!

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And, totally random but I love it so much I have to show it off - my new purse and wallet:

I did buy it in August so technically it can go with this post :) I love Mexican sugar skull and Dia de los Muertos art, so when I saw this in a shop in the French Quarter I had to have it. It's a small messenger bag - holds my kindle or a book (not both), wallet, checkbook and sunglasses - not too big at all...

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Blogiversary Day 5: Giveaway - SIGNED copy of Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

About a month ago, I had the great fortune to send my kids off to Houston for a weekend with my parents. The first night they were gone, Sherrilyn Kenyon was in New Orleans for a book signing, so I was able to go! She was so, so sweet, and I love that she loves New Orleans! I am a big Dark Hunter/Were Hunter fan, and although I confess I haven't read this book YET, I am planning to do so soon. While I was at the book signing I picked up an extra copy of Infinity and had her sign it for my Blogiversary celebration!

From the author's site:
At 14, Nick Gautier is an average kid who runs with the wrong crowd. But on the night he decides to go straight and refuses to mug an innocent tourist, his crew turns on him and just as he thinks his life is over... a new one begins.

Kyrian of Thrace isn't just a vampire slayer, he's a Dark-Hunter and he introduces Nick to a world that he never imagined.

With new enemies who make his old ones look like wimps, Nick must either measure up or get sized for a body bag. It's kill or be killed and this kid who was born on the wrong side finds a strength inside him that he never knew existed.

Now if he can only find someone to help battle the demons that don't reside inside him.

**Note to Dark-Hunter fans
The Chronicles of Nick *is* Nick’s real and true past. There is a huge surprise (several actually) in the book that I don’t want to spoil, but when you read the book, everything you think is an inconsistency will make perfect sense to you. More than that, you will understand exactly why Nick is the way he is and why he continues to hate Acheron the way he does. But you have to be patient. All will be clear on May 25, 2010.

Nick’s series will run until it intersects with Night Pleasures and then Nick will have his own novel in the Dark-Hunter world.

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Want to win a SIGNED copy of Infinity?

Here's the deets:
Open to all but you MUST follow this blog.

Answer this question: If you were a vampire, what city would you chose to live in and why?

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Ends July 2 at midnight central time.

Blogiversary Day 4: Fangirl squees and a SIGNED copy of Crux by Moira Rogers

I think you all know I have a weakness for shapeshifters and books set in New Orleans. When I stumbled across Moira Rogers' Crux, Book 1 of their Southern Arcana series, I was thrilled - this book had both! I read it (devoured it is probably more accurate) and have been hooked on Moira Rogers' books ever since. I also love their Red Rock Pass series, and read two of their unrelated short stories -Last Call-Kamikazee and Under the Magnolia - both were great. Something about their wolves draws me in, and their Southern Arcana wolves especially appeal to me. Maybe the fact that they live in New Orleans makes them seem a bit more "real". Do I imagine running into them during the course of my day? I'll never tell. These hot, sexy wolves are interesting to read and it's so easy to get lost in their magical world.

When I heard Crux was going to be available in print version, I was thrilled! I confess I don't usually re-read books on my kindle - I don't know why. Crux is a book I want to re-read, and now I have a copy on my shelf next to my bed :)

From the Author's website:
Jackson Holt makes a decent living as a private investigator in New Orleans, home of one of the largest underground supernatural populations in the United States. He and his partners have never met a case they couldn't crack...until a local bar owner asks him to do a little digging on her newest hire.

New Orleans is the fourth destination in as many months for Mackenzie Brooks, a woman on the run from a deranged stalker. After all, any man who shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her destined lover has more than a few screws loose. But crazy doesn't explain why he always finds her no matter how far she runs.

When her well-meaning boss puts a PI on her case, Mackenzie comes face to face with the incredible truth: magic is real, and whatever spell has kept her hidden and separate from the paranormal world is rapidly deteriorating.

With time running out, she has no choice but to trust Jackson as he struggles to uncover the truth of her past-and her destiny.

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Want to win a SIGNED copy of Crux, Book 1 in the Southern Arcana Series?

Here's the deets:
Open to all but you MUST follow this blog.

Answer this question/statement: Name an author you "discovered" through blogging!

+1 tweet (leave link)
+1 post or sidebar mention (leave link)
+3 put my button on your blog (It's cute!)

Ends July 1 at midnight central time.