In The Famous Words of Harry Dresden…

…just before he starts setting things on fire.

And with that thought, I’m going to keep calm, take myself to bed, and call this weekend DONE.

See you all tomorrow. Sleep well.

Skin Game by Jim Butcher

My Rating TEN out of 5 Stars!
Yes, it’s THAT good!

After waiting about a year and a half for Skin Game (Note to Jim Butcher: WRITE FASTER!), I had my doubts as to whether it could really live up to my hopes and expectations. I needn’t have worried. The book is flat out fantastic! I finished at midnight last night, and couldn’t sleep for two more hours, I was so worked up. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again (probably many, many times)–Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files is simply the best Urban Fantasy series out there, hands down. (And I read several very good ones, believe me.) It has everything you want in a series, including, but not limited to, bigger and better plot lines, an ever-growing cast of characters, and a hero who continues to gain more and more power, and grow as a person, as well.

What Are You Reading?

Happy Freya’s Day! And you know what Fridays are around here…why, What Are You Reading Day, of course! As usual, inquiring minds wanna know!

If you were visiting here at any time on Monday, you can probably guess what I’M reading…Skin Game, of course. Catching up with what the heck is happening in Harry Dresden’s ever-expanding world of madness, mayhem, and things that go bump in the night. Our Wizard, who has become so much more than just that, is in a mess once again, thanks to Mab, the Winter Queen of the Fae, and all-around cold-hearted, tough as nails, bad-ass ruler of her realm. Now that she has made Harry her Winter Knight, he has no choice but to obey her every command, grumbling and snarking every step of the way as he may. Between her and that parasitic thing he has growing in his head, Harry is changing. And some of his friends aren’t sure it’s in a good way. The book is EXCELLENT so far, and the only bad thing about reading it is that once I’m done, I’ll be waiting another LONG year  or more for the next one. Oh, that Jim Butcher torments his fans so!

Now, your turn. What are YOU reading this week. I’m sitting here, pencil in hand, ready to take notes. Let us hear from you! 🙂

Monday Giveaway Day: Skin Game by Jim Butcher

Be the first to email me today AFTER 3:00PM eastern standard time, and receive a free download of Jim Butcher’s new release, Skin Game. This is the long awaited next book in my favorite urban fantasy series, The Dresden Files. You KNOW you want this one. Set your timers and alarm clocks! Email me! The first to ask WINS! And remember the Monday Motto: Free Is Good! 🙂

Only Six More Days!

I’m sure I speak for a lot of us when I say I can hardly wait for next Tuesday to arrive! Jim Butcher’s newest Dresden Files book, Skin Game, will be released, and I’m heading straight to my local book seller to pick up my copy. I can’t even wait for it to be sent from Amazon! With the exception of Ghost Story, I’ve never been more eager to get my hands on a new Dresden Files book. Or any other, for that matter. Harry’s world gets bigger, badder, and more complex with every single book, and Harry, himself, has grown so much as a character, it’s hard to believe how it all started out. This one sounds like it is going to be fantastic, and after waiting over a year and a half for it, I really hope it is. And the GOOD NEWS is that someone will win a free download of this next Monday afternoon. Yep. I’ll be giving away a copy of Skin Game to one of my followers. And all you have to do to win, is ASK. Simply email me any time after 3:00pm EST. If you are the first person I hear from, the download is yours!

Mark your calendars! You know you want this one, and FREE…IS…GOOD! 🙂

Release Date For Skin Game by Jim Butcher!

COMING:  May 27, 2014

Finally! A release date for the long-awaited next book of The Dresden Files. I won’t say this is my favorite cover of the series, by any means…and what’s up with that gun, Harry?…but I don’t care. I cannot WAIT to get my hands on this book!! I am pre-ordering it already. (Yes, it’s available for pre-order on amazon now.) I was beginning to think Jim Butcher had gone off to write comic books…ahem…I mean graphic novels, of course…forever, so now that there is an actual date for this release, I’m both relieved and ecstatic–even though it’s still almost HALF A YEAR away!!! 😯

I don’t know about you other Dresden fans, but I will not rest until I know what’s up with Harry and Mab, the wicked faery queen. And even more than that, what’s up with Harry and ex-Sgt. Karrin Murphy? Don’t disappoint us, Jim Butcher! We fans can turn on you in an instant, you know. 😉

Let the countdown begin!

Cover Art – An Interesting (And Exciting) Find

John Paul Pfeiffer a/k/a Harry Dresden

Some of you know that I really enjoy good cover art. Sometimes it’s an overall interesting or intriguing design, and sometimes it’s a particular model that catches my eye. For nearly two years, I’ve been Googling around trying to find the model

Cold Days by Jim Butcher (Finally Finished It!)

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Dang, Jim Butcher!  Take us on a ride, why doncha?  I finally found time amidst all that’s going on around here to finish Cold Days.  I read until 2:00am last night, determined not to stop until I knew how it all turned out.  Holy guacamole!  This book is what Cecil B. DeMille would write if he were an Urban Fantasy author instead of a long-deceased director of big-budget Hollywood spectacles from decades ago.

Cold Days is Giving Me Cold Feet!

Ack.  Have you ever been so involved in a book that you were almost afraid to turn the page?  That’s how I’m feeling about Jim Butcher’s latest in the Dresden Files series, Cold Days.  The suspense is killing me, and I keep finding

Quote #53 – Jim Butcher

“I don’t care about whose DNA has recombined with whose. When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching–they are your family.”

–Jim Butcher, Proven Guilty

Quote #52 – Jim Butcher

“Jobs are a part of life. Maybe you’ve heard of the concept. It’s called work? See, what happens is that you suffer through doing annoying and humiliating things until you get paid not enough money. Like those Japanese game shows, only without all the glory.”

  –Jim Butcher, “Blood Rites”

Good Morning, Everyone!

Cover of Jim Butcher’s Ghost Story

(Probably My Favorite in the Entire Series)

It’s finally cool here in central Florida–and by cool, I mean 50-ish at night, and 70-ish in the daytime–so I should be working in my yard, cleaning up the mess from late summer.  But after 5 days of hauling tree debris around and trying to make a dent in that particular mess, I really don’t feel like it.  The garden will have to wait a bit longer, I’m afraid.  And then, there’s my latest distraction: 

My “To Be Read” Stack

Do you have one?  A place where you gather all the new books you are getting ready to read?  I do.  I’m not a happy camper when it gets low on books, either.  I feel RICH when

Musing on Anthologies

As I was glancing briefly at some reviews of “An Apple for the Creature,” a new anthology I just received yesterday, I was really surprised…maybe even a bit shocked…at how many people said they bought the book for

The Dresden Files Novels by Jim Butcher

Chris McGrath’s Cover Art for White Night

(Click to Zoom)

Aaah, Harry Dresden!  I hope some of you clicked on the image above, the better to see Chris McGrath’s wonderful cover painting of everyone’s favorite wizard!  (Grown up wizard, that is!)  If you DID take a close look, then you’ll likely understand why I love Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden so much.  Six and a half feet of pure, good-hearted chivalry, in a world where almost NONE exists, and wearing a long black duster, too!  Not to mention he carries a rune-covered magic staff and a blasting rod of flame and destruction!  Who WOULDN’T want this guy on their side?

With the release date of Cold Days coming up soon, I figured it’s time

Cold Days Release Date!!!

Wooohoooo!!!  Finally!  News that Jim Butcher’s newest Dresden Files novel will be released

Quote #8 – Jim Butcher

“Holy shit,” I breathed. “Hellhounds.”
“Harry,” Michael said sternly. “You know I hate it when you swear.”
“You’re right. Sorry. Holy shit,” I breathed, “heckhounds.”

    ― Harry Dresden to Michael, Grave Peril (The Dresden Files, Book 3)

Dresden Files News

For all you Harry Dresden fans out there who are anxiously awaiting publication of  Jim Butcher’s next Dresden Files book (like ME!), just wanted to give an update.  According to a report dated August 7, Penguin books has still not confirmed a release date for “Cold Days.”  Is it just me, or does it seem like

Quote #6 – Jim Butcher

“Paranoid? Probably. But just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean there isn’t an invisible demon about to eat your face.”
―Jim Butcher, Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1)

Quote #2 – Jim Butcher

“You backbiting, poisonous, treacherous, deceitful, wicked, clever girl. If this works I’ll buy you a pony.”
―Harry Dresden,  Summer Knight (Dresden Files, Book 4)