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Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

28 April 2013

Socks and books


I've knitted two pairs of socks for Mirja with this yarn.
It's Novita Nalle Kukkaketo (flower meadow) and this
colour combo is called Kirsikkapuu (cherry tree).

I had to read something else after all the fantasy books 
I read so I picked up some mystery books.


Camilla Läckberg's series about detective Patrik
Hedström and his wife, author Erica Falck, is
being translated to English. They're worth
picking up if you can find them. 
Find out more about Camilla and her books here.




Viveca Sten's Sandhamn series isn't available in
English yet. Read more about Viveca and her
books here (in English). 


I don't usually read graphic novels, but I've
made an exception for some of my
favorite authors. I do enjoy the pretty artwork.

14 April 2013

Socks and books


I've knitted two pairs of socks for Ronja with this yarn.
The yarn is Novita Nalle Kukkaketo (flower meadow)
and this colour combo is called Kesäkimppu (summer bouquet).

I've read a lot. Here are two series
that are must reads for me:


I've had the Nightside books by Simon R. Green
in my to be read pile for a long time. I finally
read books four to eleven and I loved them!
Fun, fast paced and great characters.
You can find out more about his books here.



The Anna Strong books by Jeanne C. Stein
have also been in my to be read pile for ages.
Anna is a bounty hunter who is attacked
one night and wakes up a vampire.
Read more about Anna's adventures here.


I've done some spring cleaning this weekend.
I've packed up some clothes and
some books we don't need anymore.
I'm also going to give some magazines
to my girls old day care center.
They're always in need of things to craft with.
I hope you've all had a productive weekend.

09 March 2012

Knitting and reading


I've been knitting a lot all winter.
There's only a little left on both sleeves of this cardigan.


Here are some of the books I've read:



“Hexed” is a collection of stories about women, who know how to handle a hex or two. Ilona Andrews’ story is set in the Kate Daniels universe (shapeshifting tigress Dali must best a magical monster slowly devouring the man she loves). Yasmine Galenorn’s story is a part of her Otherworld series (house sprite Iris Kuusi must face the demons from her past and break a curse to be able to marry the man she loves). Both series are favorites of mine. I really liked the Stormwalker story by Allyson James and I ordered the three Stormwalker novels. The last story is an Anna Strong story by Jeanne C. Stein. I have several of her novels in my TBR pile too. Romance, fantasy, magic and mayhem – a great read!

“Magic Slays” by Ilona Andrews is a Kate Daniels novel. Kate is struggling to get her business up and running. She gets hired to investigate the disappearance of an inventor and a very dangerous weapon and of course the case turns out to be more complicated than anyone had thought. As if that wasn’t enough, Kate’s ward has gone missing from her school. That Kate’s mate is the Beast Lord doesn’t necessarily help either. Fast paced and lots of action, a fun read.

In “Hunt the Moon” by Karen Chance, the new Pythia Cassie Palmer is trying to learn to use her new powers and avoid getting killed as well as figure out her complicated relationship with Mircea, a very old and powerful vampire. Patricia Briggs said: “A grab-you-by-the-throat-and-suck-you-in sort of book” and I have to agree with that!

“Waking the Witch” by Kelley Armstrong is another book in her wonderful Otherworld series. Savannah, a young witch, is running the detective agency while her adoptive parents are out of town. She has a lot to prove to everyone when she starts investigating a case of murdered young women, a case with a supernatural twist. The case turns out to be far more dangerous than anyone initially thought and soon she has to ask for help to ensure her first case isn’t also her last.





“Blood Work” is an original Hollows graphic novel written by Kim Harrison. It tells the story of how Ivy and Rachel met and is set before the Hollows books.

“Acheron”, “Bad Moon Rising” and “No Mercy” by Sherrilyn Kenyon are all part of her Dark-Hunter series. They are standalone novels, but they are more fun if you read them in the correct order.





“Naked City” includes stories by urban fantasy writers like Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Naomi Novik and Holly Black. You may never look at Chinese food the same again after reading her story!

“The Sookie Stackhouse Companion by Charlaine Harris is a must read for all Sookie fans. It includes a new Sookie novella and a who’s who of all the characters in the books as well as a lot of other info.

“Wicked Appetite” by Janet Evanovich is a fun story about Lizzy, who works in a bakery. Her world is turned up-side down when Diesel turns up and he needs her help to find some missing objects. Some of you have already met Diesel in the Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers novels.

“One Grave at a Time” by Jeaniene Frost is a Cat & Bones novel. This time they have to best the revengeful spirit of a witch hunter. Every All Hallows Eve he somehow takes physical form to torture innocent women and burn them alive. He needs to be stopped once and for all.





“The Ingenue” is the second part of the graphic novels in Laurell K. Hamilton’s “Circus of the Damned”. I love her series about vampire hunter Anita Blake and I really enjoy seeing Anita in pictures too.

“The Vampire Files Volume Four” includes two books by P. N. Elrod about Jack Fleming, vampire PI. In “Lady Crymsyn” Jack is getting ready to open his own nightclub. During the renovations workers find a dead woman walled up in the basement. Jack can’t rest before he knows what happened to her and soon his investigations get very dangerous. In “Cold Streets” Jack and his friend Escott are dealing with a kidnapping of a child. Their troubles increase as they realize that somehow the kidnappers have figured out what Jack is.

“Home Improvement: Undead Edition” is a collection of stories about home repairs with a paranormal twist (like finding skeletons in the walls or portals in the attic). It includes stories by some of my favorite authors: Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs and Simon R. Green among others.

“The Bite Before Christmas” includes a Cat & Bones story by Jeaniene Frost. Cat wants to celebrate a normal holiday with Bones and their friends and family. Someone unexpected shows up and nothing goes according to plans. Cat has got to figure out a way to save all her loved ones.

15 July 2011

Rainy days


Ronja's been in Lappeenranta with her grandparents for the last two weeks.
They're bringing her home tomorrow.
Mirja was in Porvoo with my parents for over two weeks.
She had a great time with My, her cousin.

Mirja and I went to see "Animals United" in 3D.
It tells the story of what happens on the savanna in Africa
when the animals start to wonder why the water doesn't arrive
as usual and some of them set out to find water to drink.
We both enjoyed it a lot.



Today Mirja, her friend Matilda and I went to Huimala.
Adventure labyrinths, trampolines and lots of other activities.
I got tired just watching them run around!



Some of my favorite authors have published new books.
I've had a ball reading these:

C.E. Murphy: Spirit Dances

Spirit Dances is book six of the Walker Papers. Detective Joanna Walker 
is getting better at mastering her shamanic powers. She takes her boss to a 
dance performance that ends with the lead dancer dead. In addition 
homeless people are disappearing, the  full moon is approaching and 
it looks like the killer is a creature that can't possibly exist.

Charlaine Harris: Dead Reckoning

Dead Reckoning is the 11th book about Sookie Stackhouse. 
She witnesses the firebombing of Merlotte's, the bar where she works. 
Sookie and Sam work together to find out who's behind the attack. 
Eric and Pam are plotting something and once again Sookie is 
drawn into the vampire politics.

Anne Bishop: Twilight's Dawn

 Twilight's Dawn is a collection of stories in the Black Jewels series.
A mix of magic and romance with great characters.

Laurell K. Hamilton: Hit List

U.S. Marshals Anita Blake and Ted Forrester are hunting serial killers. 
Not just ordinary killers but monsters. The Harlequin have been the bogeymen 
among the vampires for a long time. The Harlequin serve the Mother of All 
Darkness, the first vampire. Her body has been destroyed, now she needs 
a new one and she wants Anita's. It looks like she's using the serial killings 
to get what she wants.

24 June 2011

Happy Midsummer!





I've been on vacation this week.
We were visiting my parents in Porvoo for a couple of days.
Ronja had her last football practices and games 
before the official summer break.
Mostly we've done as little as possible -
and enjoyed it very much!

For the first time in many years we will be
celebrating Midsummer at home just the four of us.
Enjoying food & drink, playing games,
being together.

Happy Midsummer everyone!


Here are some of the books I've read:

Moon Called vol. 1 
I don't usually read graphic novels, but I had to pick up
Moon Called simply because I love the Mercy Thompson
novels by Patricia Briggs so much. The next volume
should be out in October. I can't wait!

P.N. Elrod: The Vampire Files vol. 3
The Vampire Files volume 3 by P.N. Elrod includes
books 7 and 8 in her series about vampire P.I. Jack Fleming.
Good mysteries set in Chicago in 1937
with gangsters, girls, jazz and lots of action.

Full Moon City
Full Moon City is a short story collection of modern
werewolf tales.
Danger lurks in the heart of the city...
but not always where you expect it. 

The Gift of Love
The Gift of Love is a collection of romantic short
stories celebrating the love of family and how it impacts our lives.

Dragon's Lure
Dragon's Lure is a short story collection answering
everything you ever wanted to know about
dragons, but no one has survived to ask...
This was my favorite of the collections.
I enjoyed the stories very much.

Life, BBC 2009
I've also watched almost 10 hours worth
of amazing nature documentaries.
Perfect for rainy days.

17 April 2011

Expo, knitting and books


Yesterday we went to the Model Expo / Pet Expo.


We saw railway and other models, dogs, bunnies, Celtic silver jewelry,
some hand made things. We've usually visited on Sunday and there
seemed to be more people now on Saturday.



I found these ceramic magnets. Too cute!



I finally have pics of my latest knitting project.
Mirja is modelling.


This is what I've been reading:

Bayou Moon is the second novel in the Edge series. Not as good as the Kate Daniels novels but an enjoyable read. Magic, romance and lots of action as the heroine must trust a stranger if she wants to find out what happened to her parents and save the rest of her clan.

Heaven's Spite is the fifth novel about Jill Kismet, a hunter whose job is to keep her city safe from hellbreed and other things that go bump in the night. She has to bring out even bigger guns than normal when her mate and her apprentice are kidnapped. She's forced to seek help from someone who really can't be trusted and of course the ending isn't happy.

This Side of the Grave is the fifth novel about Cat and Bones. They have to solve the mystery of the disappearing vampires, avoid a war between vampires and ghouls and learn to live with Cat's new abilities.
Fast paced, action filled and fun! 

Blood Wyne is the ninth novel about the three D'Artigo sisters, who are half-human, half-Fae. This time around they are after a vampire serial killer and have to get rid of some angry ghosts. A very entertaining mix of action, magic and passion.

Ilona Andrews: Bayou Moon

Lilith Saintcrow: Heaven's Spite

Jeaniene Frost: This Side of the Grave

Yasmine Galenorn: Blood Wyne

24 March 2011

Butterfly necklace


This butterfly pendant in sponge coral and sterling silver is similar to 
the dragonfly pendant I used in a necklace some weeks ago.


I also used jasper in different shapes and sponge coral rounds, 
pewter fairy beads from Green Girl Studios,
silver plated rounds, pewter bead caps and a metal toggle.


These books are all by my absolute favorite authors at the moment!
Fantasy, magic, mystery, action and romance -
mix it all up and enjoy!

Shalador's Lady is a Black Jewels novel about a kind Queen who is trying to find 
the strength and courage within herself  to restore a land and a people who's
suffered greatly under cruel and corrupt Queens.

River Marked is a Mercy Thompson novel. Mercy is a coyote shifter going on her
honeymoon with her werewolf husband Adam. They're going camping but nothing 
goes according to plan. People are disappearing and it becomes clear that 
something ancient evil is lurking in the river.

Mercy Blade is a novel about Jane Yellowrock. She's a shape-shifting skinwalker and
a vampire killer and now she is working with security for the vampires.
Her life gets more complicated than usual when a pack of werewolves comes
into town.

Exit Strategy and Made to be Broken are both about Nadia. She is an ex-cop
nature lodge owner as well as a hitwoman with a conscience. She has to deal
with a serial killer and baby sellers and her own painful past. 

Anne Bishop: Shalador's Lady
Patricia Briggs: River Marked
Faith Hunter: Mercy Blade
Kelley Armstrong: Exit Strategy
Kelley Armstrong: Made to be Broken