PAST WORLD by Ian Beck

Interesting YA thriller told from multiple perspectives. Set in middle 21st Century where there's a theme park of Victorian London. There are people who live there and people who pay a lot of money to visit (called Gawkers). The laws of the area and time are closely enforced and are extremely arcane. Going into Past World, the visitor must give up anything from the present that doesn't fit with the time. That means no cell phones, no electric tooth brushes, nothing from the present.

Eve is a beautiful 17 year old girl who's memory only goes back two years. She's been raised and closely watched by her guardian, Jack, who's slowly going blind. Eve also has no idea that she's living in a theme park. Bible J, a pickpocket and assistant to a man who runs seances from his home and takes part Bible J's haul in exchange for giving him a place to stay. Caleb, brought to Past World by his father who was one of the original imaginers but who is almost immediately kidnapped in front of Caleb, who is also being blamed for Jack's murder. Chief Inspector Catchpole spends his time between the two worlds and is finally on the trail of The Fantom as well as information that is bigger than anyone could have imagined.

When Eve decides to run away to join the circus and learn about the real world, she sets off a series of events that not only put her in danger, but everyone she cares for or will care for. She's a child in a woman's body, but there's something in her past that's coming after her and she can't deny it's power over her. She also discovers she has abilities that most humans don't. She's extremely agile, fast and has no fear.

Once in Past World, Eve, Caleb, Bible J and Catchpole's lives intersect to bring them to a thrilling conclusion.

This story reminded me of a combination of a few things, Logan's Run, The Truman Show and Jack the Ripper. I'm not usually someone who enjoys material told from many different points of view, but in this case it served the story well.

LIPS TOUCH by Laini Tayolr

Three short stories in one book. Paranormal in nature, and about our female protagonists first kiss and what that means for each one. I have to say my favorite of the three is the last one, HATCHLING. Immortals use humans as pets and bread them for amusement since the immortals have no emotions and physical needs. They use humans as hosts to experience what they feel, but it's not pleasurable for the humans at all. Mab has spent 14 years trying to protect her daughter from the immortals she ran away from. But when one of Esme's eyes turns from brown to steel blue and wolves howl, it signals a change that neither of them is prepared for.

I don't want to spoil the story, but it's well written, well rounded and told with mounting anticipation of what is happening.

This is my first time reading Laini Taylor and I would highly recommend it.

YOU WISH by Mandy Hubbard

Kayla is 16 and her mother throws her a Sweet 16 birthday party only to make a wish that causes havoc as the days go by. She has to figure out what she wished for, what she really wants and how not to hurt her best friend when she remembers that her last wish was to be kissed by Ben, her best friends boyfriend.

I don't want to say too much, because I really encourage teen girls to read this book. Like PRADA & PREJUDICE, Mandy's heroines are different from the popular girls, and have to learn how to be themselves. In YOU WISH, Kayla discovers that she's the one who's pushed everyone away by her behavior and the way she dresses. She's so determined to be different she doesn't let anyone in. Being closer to normal isn't so bad.

Great read, fun characters and lots of funny moments with Kayla trying to figure out what's going on.

SNAPPED by Pamela Klaffke

Sara B. is the 39 year old co-owner of the famed Canadian magazine Snapped, which is best known for it's DOs and DON'Ts section geared towards what's hot and what's not in the fashions of the people on the street.

Sara B is hard drinking, hard living and has sex with many men. She has an open relationship with her boyfriend and has no intentions on having children and moving to the suburbs like her business partner Ted and his wife Genevieve, also known as Gen Gen. A one hit wonder from the 90's, now wife and mother of a toddler.

Everything in Sara's world is great and she has no plans for things to change, that is until a young woman by the name of Eva B. becomes her assistant. Eva makes changes at the magazine, cause Sara to look bad and starts sleeping with Ted. Sara discovers she's pregnant by her younger boyfriend, Jack, only to lose the baby. She leaves Snapped when a friend dies and decides to make changes in her life, encouraging those whom she humiliated in the DON'Ts section of the magazine to critique her.

Think All About Eve for the 21st Century. A woman who thinks she has it all discovers she never really did until she takes a hard look at herself.

Day 1 - Exercise

First day of really going after getting back into shape. Can't stand the way my body feels. I'm tired all the time and I need to be able to feel better about myself. So, off to walk a couple of miles. Well, it's amazing how easily your body goes back to jello and how hard it is to get it back into shape. I could barely do a mile for my calves and my shins hurting. But if I have to do a mile a day until it feels better, that's what I'm going to do.

Need to buy more fruit and protein. I ate my last banana, which has potassium and helps fight the muscle strain. So I will go tomorrow to get it.

Miles 1.15
Steps 2829
Moderate steps 2240
kcal 103

JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE by Beth Fantaskey

This book was given a starred review from a couple of publications that I will not mention, and I don't see how. Don't get me wrong, its entertaining enough, but it has a slow start. It's easy to see what direction the characters are headed. When of course Jessica (Antanasia) immediately despises Lucius, who is arrogant and annoyingly proper. But Jessica quickly changes her mind as Lucius acclimates to small town rural living, joining the basketball team, riding horses in 4H competitions and eating pizza. It's not until Lucius is hurt trying to save self-involved, popular, cheerleader Faith that Jessica understand what her feelings really are for Lucius.

At this time Lucius discovers compassion, caring and love that he never had as a child growing up abused and guided by his vampire Uncles determined to use him for power. Lucius also realizes they have no intention of welcoming Jessica into the fold. they will eventually kill her and take over both of the vampire clans. Lucius breaks the marriage pact at great risk to himself. Ultimately believing that he is too warped to actually be with Jessica.

But it's Jessica's love that shows him there's a better way.

It's just very juvenile in a lot of places. Some sweet parts, but mostly very juvenile.

SOULLES by Gail Carriger

Part romance, mystery, paranormal, steampunck comedy. Gail Carriger has written a fun Victorian romance with a fantastic heroine. Stubborn 25-year-old bluestocking Alexia Tarabotti is patently unmarriageable, and not just because she's large-nosed and swarthy. She's also soulless, an oddity and a secret even in a 19th-century London that mostly accepts and integrates werewolf packs, vampire hives and ghosts. The only man who notices her is brash Lord Conall Maccon, a Scottish Alpha werewolf and government official, and (of course) they dislike each other intensely. After Alexia kills a vampire with her parasol at a party—how vulgar!—she and Conall must work together to solve a supernatural mystery that grows quite steampunkishly gruesome. Well-drawn secondary characters round out the story, most notably Lord Akeldama, Alexia's outrageous, italic-wielding gay best vampire friend.

All I can say is this is such a fun read. I really enjoyed Alexia and her adventures as well as the battle of wills, masking their attraction, with Lord Maccon. I would love for this to be a television series or something. Didn't want the story and the adventure to be over when the book ended.

Exercise

Day 2 - Fall Workout, Today
7952 steps
7339 moderate steps at 51 minutes
356 kcal
3.91 miles

Day 2 - Fall Workout, Monday, October 5, 2009
5515 steps
3870 moderate steps at 30 minutes
192 kcal
2.10 miles

MERIDIAN by Amber Kizer

This book had promise, but fell short on the story. Just a little too sappy, Meridian's just a little too weak, and not enough answers for the character to know what they need to do, why or how. It always seemed like everyone was keeping the ultimate revelation away from Meridian, but with no real purpose. Her mother kept from her that she was a Fenestra, but why since someone tried to kill her on her 16th birthday. Her mother said she wanted her to have a normal life, but her parents were standoffish and never connected with her emotionally or physically until they had to send her away. Auntie kept Tens' real purpose from her, spent very little time teaching Meridian the right way to let people pass and seemed to want to hide who and what Reverend Perimo was. If Auntie can sense the Anternocti, way can't she figure out that Perimo is one of them. Meridian's health also seems to improve over time being with Auntie and learning to guide the dying spirits through, but no one seems to explain that this will happen or why. The finally Tens is her protector as well as the person she's destined to be with, but they hide this from her as well until later.

There are so many secrets one wonders why Meridian listens to or believes anything they say.

All I can say is there is a grain of a story, which could be a television series, but it's too saccharine sweet to be anything but a fluffy book.

Exercise

Day 1 - Fall Workout
9666 steps
7779 moderate steps @ 57 mins
399 kcal
4.41 miles

I ran almost 2.95 miles and walked the rest meeting Billy C for lunch and then going to the post office. I had energy all day, but my legs started to feel sore by the end of the day.

I am currently up way later than I should be and I hope I can get myself motivated to do the same thing tomorrow.

THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO (Chaos Walking Trilogy, Book #1) by Patrick Ness

Before I finished reading the book, I took a look at a few reviews that complained about confusion, and the story not becoming clear before page 100. Now this isn't Shakespeare, but like reading Shakespeare, you have to get into the cadence of the writing. There is a lilt to it that's necessary for the reader to fall into, which I found quickly and loved.

Toby and his talking dog Manchee discover a "Quiet" near the swamp and when they do, all hell breaks loose and his world is never the same. The Quiet, turns out to be Olivia, who's scouting vessel crashed on the planet killing her parents. Toby wants to be hard and grown up, or what he considers a Man. But what he discovers is that he already is a Man by taking on the responsibility of protecting Olivia from the men of Prentisstown and himself from being what they want him to be.

I loved this book. The funny thing is I almost never read it. I had read about it a year ago when it first came out, but thought it sounded odd from the descriptions I was able to read at the time. But over the past year, it kept popping up in my search of material and I finally read a starred review in Publisher's Weekly for THE ASK AND THE ANSWER. So, I decided to go for it anyway and read the material fulling expecting not to like it.

Some of the best surprises come from where you least expect it. I didn't say much about the story because anything I do say would give it away. I just say to anyone who may come across this mini review. Do yourself a favor and read a book by an incredibly good writer.

DEVIL'S KISS by Sarwat Chadda

This is an interesting book and character of Bilquis aka Billi, the only female Knights Templar at the age of 15. The archangel Michael aka Mike Harbinger is out to repeat The Tenth Plague in London in order to bring people back to their faith and to God.

In this book, The Templar are a rag tag group group of 5 or 6 Londoners consisting of one young 15 year old girl who's father is very cold and distant, only focusing on her training as a Templar. Billi resents all this training and wants to be a normal girl when she meets Mike just as her former friend and fellow Templar Kay comes back into town. Kay has changed from that gawky boy he was and is interested in getting closer to Billi. But she is interested in the mysterious Mike. Only to find out that Mike is the Archangel of Death and is using Billi to get to The Cursed Mirror, the last of the Holy relics not lost and still in the Templar's possession.

When Billi realizes what Michael is up to, she must step up to the plate and become the Templar she never wanted to be, but is destined to become.

MONSTER REPUBLIC: The Divinity Project by Ben Horton

Kids turned into monsters by a mad scientist and then thrown away only to fight back. That's the premise of this YA action adventure. The writing isn't great, but there's a kernel of a great idea in this book.

Cameron is the all around (want to say All-American, but it's set in the UK) great guy. He's good looking, the jock on campus, and the perfect girlfriend and even stands up for the underdog (kids being bullied). But his eagerness to do the right thing puts him the the wrong place when an explosion happens at the nuclear power plant the class has been taken to on a field trip. When Cameron wakes up, it's to the face of a young covered in fur. She tells him they have to move, but all Cameron has are questions. Why is he so stiff, why is he laying on a metal slab and where are they? There is no time for questions before the Bloodhounds are on them and Cameron's body starts fighting and doing things he never was able to do before. What's more, he's doing them without thinking, by instinct and has to force himself to stop.

When Cameron finally sees his reflection, he's not the same boy he was before, he's made up of parts of other people and metal and machinery. There's even a gun that comes out of his arm. He learns of the Monster Republic, a group of rejects that were thrown away by the great, but crazy Dr. Fry.

Cameron goes through a lot of things in a short time. He tries to go to his family, who don't recognize him and wont listen long enough to hear that he is their son and brother. The Monster Republic don't trust him, because he's not technically a reject, he was liberated by Rora, the unofficial leader of this rag tag group of misfits who have no place in society due to the way they look and act because of the experiments done on them by Dr. Fry, his girlfriends isn't his girlfriend anymore because she's been altered by Dr. Fry as well, and finally his best friend from his old life turns him in because Dr. Fry is holding his mother.

Cameron has to learn that he can't go back to his old life and find his place in the Monster Republic, but show them that they don't have to stand for what has been. It's time to fight back.

I like the lessons in the book. Not everything stays the same and if you rely on what you look like, you must look deeper to figure out who you really are and who you want to be.

As I said, before the writing isn't great, but the story is a great idea.

Day 15 - Exercise

6519 steps
5423 moderate steps 41 minutes
258 calories
2.88 miles

I've got to get my shit together and hopefully this with be the start. I have a press junket to do tomorrow starting at 8:30 a.m. and will try to do at least two miles in the morning of walking. Must go to bed early enough to get a full nights sleep.

DEADLY LITTLE LIES by Laurie Faria Stolarz (A Touch Novel)

Sequel to Deadly Little Secret and just as easy of a read, but just as frustrating by way of the heroine not using her brain and telling someone other than her self involved friends that someone is terrorizing her with photos and strange calls. I just don't understand how she can go home alone knowing that someone has been following her and making her think she's crazy.

I do like the idea that her aunt has the same condition as evidenced in her journal entries from childhood, which are alternating chapters of what his happening to Camelia.

I want to like it because it is such and intriguing and quick read, I just can't because of how impossibly ridiculous Camelia and Ben act.

DEADLY LITTLE SECRET by Laurie Faria Stolarz (A Touch Novel)

Ben is the new boy in school. There are rumors that he killed his girlfriend in his hometown, but now wanting a fresh start, he's in a new school and in Camelia's world. She's fascinated by him, almost to the exclusion of everyone. He saved her life several months earlier and disappeared before she could thank him. Now here he is and claiming he doesn't know her. Ben is strange, he comes to class late and doesn't interact with any other kids. Actually everyone in school makes fun of him and writes letters on his locker, telling the killer to go home.

Ben and Camelia grow close despite his reservations and her growing concern over the gifts, notes and photos that are being left for her by some mysterious person. She keeps what's happening only between herself, her friends Kimmie and Wes until Ben tells her that she's in danger.

My biggest problem with this book is that when the things that are being left for Camelia start getting creepy and intrusive, she doesn't go to the police or tell her parents. She seems to believe she can figure this all out by herself and fix it. The threatening phone calls the red lipstick letters spelling BITCH on her mirror.

I also don't understand why Ben is so mysterious about what he knows may happen. I get that he's a little shell shocked by what happened to his girlfriend and the fact that no one is nice to him, more like all out mean. But when he tells Camelia that she's in danger, but holds back, it makes him look more guilty than helpful.

I like the idea of the book, but not so much the way it story plays out. I like THE BODY FINDER better. Similar theme, but better structure. You don't always feel like you want to yell at the leads to think smarter.

THE LAST THING I REMEMBER by Andrew Klavan

Think YA version of The Fugitive meets post 9/11 terrorism.

Charlie wakes up in a room he doesn't recognized, tied to a chair, hearing voices saying they are about to kill him and all he knows is he has to get out. It seems the last day he remembers is about a year ago when everything was normal and all he had to worry about was getting the most popular girl in school to notice him and doing a presentation of his Black Belt in Karate for assembly. But things aren't normal anymore.

At first, Charlie doesn't even realize that it's been a year, he thinks his last memory happened the day before. But he is more worried about getting away from the men who are about to kill him. When he finally finds someone to help him, they turn him into the police where he discovers it's been a year and he's been convicted of his best friends' murder. Charlie is also plagued my names and snippets of conversations he picked up from the men who's been holding him. He realizes that the Secretary of Homeland Security on his way to meet with the President, is the target of homegrown terrorists and Charlie is the only one who is privy to this information. He must get away from the police taking him back to prison and stop the attack. But when he does, he's mistaken for one of the terrorists and is back on the run.

Now he only has one name, whispered to him by someone he didn't see, telling him he was a better man than he knew and to find Waterman.

It was an interesting and fast read. There are definite moments when you are reading at breakneck speed trying to get to a part that well explain why this good, All-American kid seems to be in so much trouble and why he doesn't remember anything that's happened to him and how he went from an ordinary life to such crazy circumstances.

The chapters alternate between what's currently happening to Charlie and what happened on the last day he remembers. the moments of his last day of normalcy are so boring, I found them hard to read. But the juxtaposition between that day and what's happening now are so drastically different, they do help to propel the story forward. Although God and country aren't beaten over your head, it's clear that this is a Christian novel, which always puts me off a little. I like things like that to be a little more organic and subtle.

LORD LOSS by Darren Shan (The Demonata Series)

It wasn't as gory as I thought it would be. But it wasn't as good as I thought it would be also. Very quick read. And for anyone who has a hard time getting their pre-teen or teen boy to read, this is a good series to start with. It has action, gore, friendship and a little comedy all in one very short read. The story moves quickly and the characters are interesting. I just wasn't drawn in as I was with other books along the same genre.

They never explain Grubbs odd name, other than his mother chose it. And he has to deal with some very adult issues, depression, loss of family, anxiety, etc. He's even put into a psychiatric facility for a time when no one believes that demons killed his family, which shows how people automatically assume children are lying even with real issues.

Grubbs finds a new family and reason to move forward with his Uncle Dervish, who believes what Grubbs has been saying about the demons, and who he thinks is his cousin Bill-E.

There are some dark elements to the book, but nothing a teen can't handle.

THE BLUE GIRL by Charles De Lint

I read over half of this book and may finish it later. Again, I've said this before, I hate not finishing a book. But as busy as I am I don't have time to fully read something I feel won't make a good film or television show or isn't fun, interesting or fast reading enough for me to finish it quickly. When I find myself lagging and I can't finish a short book in a day or two, then it's not for me.

But, all that to say, it wasn't bad. I just wasn't interested enough in the story. Seventeen year-old, Imogene Yeck has moved to a new town when her hippy mother decides to find herself and go back to college. Imogene was part of a gang in her old town and is determined to be different here, where she befriends Maxine, a shy student picked on for being smart. Maxine influences Imogene by getting her to study and do better in school and Imogene influences Maxine, by getting her to break out of her shell a little, dress with more flare and talk to boys. Although Imogene is pushed around, literally, by the popular kids in school, she stands up to them and that strength attracts the attention of the schools resident Ghost, Adrian, who died under suspicious circumstances.

Imogene notices him watching her, as she says she's always been sensitive to these things, so seeing Adrian isn't a surprise to her. But when he tells her about the fairies who tricked him into jumping off the building, Imogene doesn't believe they exist. In their pursuit to get her to see the, they pull a prank turning her blue, but that also attracts the dangerous Animithims putting everyone in danger that Imogene loves.

As I didn't finish the book, I don't know what ensues from there. But I can say that I don't really care. Took forever in alternating point of view chapters between Imogene, Adrian and Maxine to get that far. I do know that somehow Imogene prevails over the fairies and the Animithims and gets Adrian to go to his angel to cross over. But it's not as interesting as The Mortal Instruments series, which I didn't like or Tithe, which I did read and kind of liked. All the bullying by students as well as the time it took for Imogene to get Adrian to talk to her was drawn out way too long.

This just didn't work for me. But maybe if I have more open time in the future I may finish it.

Day 14 - Exercise

1.70 miles
4332 steps
2980 moderate steps 25 minutes
147 calories

I woke up with a migraine at 2:30-ish a.m. and it continued through the morning. I didn't feel like working out, but wanted to do a little something so I walked to the store and home.

Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow morning.

Day 13 - Exercise

3.22 Miles
8095 steps
4769 moderate steps 39 minutes
279 calories

I actually didn't exercise like normal. I had to do a press junket at The Avalon Hotel on Olympic and Canon, so I walked from my house in the morning, back to my house at lunch, back to The Avalon, then back home. Then all the walking during the junket. So I ended up doing a lot of steps for the day. I like that kind of exercise. Getting most of it done for work, saving the environment in my way by not driving the 1/2 mile to work and back.

Let's see if I can keep it up for the week.

THE WAY OF SHADOWS by Brent Weeks (Night Angel Series)

Azoth is a homeless child living on the streets a guild rat who pays money from stealing to Rat to stay alive. But Rat is brutal, forcing other boys to have sex with him and beating others. Azoth wants to be a wetboy (an assassin) and presents himself to the most famous wetboy in their kingdom, Durzo Blint. Blint is hard and lives by a code. Having never taken on an apprentice before, Durzo forces Azoth to kill Rat, then changes his name to Kylar Drake, teaching him to fight, about poison and about the Talent, which seems to be ever dormant in Kylar. Kylar also lives with a family who teaches him how to act among royalty. He grows into a skilled young man, but with many lies from others and those he's told himself, bonds are broken, trusts are lost, and it's up to Kylar to make it all right.

there's lots of action, and fighting and friendships and loves in this book. But for me it's not quite enough. The book does become exciting when Kylar is bonded with the black ka'kari, the seventh stone of power which is of the night, making him The Night Angel. Once Kylar is aware of his powers and in learning how to use them, it's a fun ride of fighting and magic.

It's just missing a little excitement for me.

Day 12 - Exercise

3.05 miles
6287 steps
5426 moderate steps 38 minutes
275 calories

I got up and just went for it. It was interesting because I wanted to see Laura Ling and Una Lee return from their incarceration in North Korea. Then I remembered that I could record the news on my DVR, so I did. I have been feeling a little rubbing from either my sport underwear or my work out pants. I'm sure it's because my legs are so fat they are rubbing on the stitching of something. I have to remember to use my sport stick to help with the friction from the rubbing. But, I'm very proud of myself that I've done two days this week so far, which I haven't done for several months. I've always come up with some excuse as to why I can't or don't want to work out. I'm going to try to keep the miles short so that I don't overwork myself and then talk myself into being too exhausted the next day to work out again.

Let's see what happens. LOL!

Day 11 - Exercise

3.63 Miles
8156 steps
5264 moderate steps 38 minutes
328 calories

I didn't sleep well on Sunday evening. Took until after midnight to fall asleep, but I got up at 6:00 am and went for a run anyway. Felt good to be doing what I should be doing. Let's see if I can keep it up.

THE MUSASHI FLEX by Steve Perry

Interesting book. Not something I normally go for, but easy to read and action packed. Set in the future a la BLADE RUNNER, Mourn is a 45 year old man who has been playing an underground fight game called The Musashi Flex. Basically mixed-martial arts, sometimes with hand weapons, like glades or bars, etc. Sola is a young woman trying to find her way in the world and her mark to make as much money to prove that her family was wrong about her going against the family traditional business when she meets Mourn, who saves her from an attack. Shaw is a billionaire who runs a highly profitable pharmaceutical company. He has everything anyone could ever want except he knows he's not good enough to ever get into the top ten of the Musashi Flex. So he develops a drug to give him speed and and edge over the competition.

As Mourn and Shaw go on their path to become Primero, number one, they both find out a lot about themselves and what they really want out of life as well as the women they weren't looking for in their lives to help them achieve the goals they didn't even know they had.

Think BLADE RUNNER meets FIGHT CLUB. Interesting idea if I ever want to make a fight movie. All the worlds are a little unnecessary, but could be interesting to watch if doing something like that eventually cost less.

'Resident Evil' duo picks up 'Warded'

'Resident Evil' duo picks up 'Warded'

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So exciting to have this finally announced and to feel like what I've been doing for a long time is acknowledged. Hopefully this is the start of something very exciting in my life.

Day 10 - Exercise

4.19 miles
8525 steps
7775 moderate steps 56 minutes
385 calories

It felt good to work out after a week or longer of not working out. I needed to do this. My food intake is finally better, so it felt good to do the workout that was needed. Let's hope I continue.

PRADA AND PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard

Although I feel like the main character, Callie, is a little overemotional about not being one of the cool girls and once she's in 1815 England, she seems to accept her circumstances too easily, I found myself really liking the story and what happens to Callie while she's there.

In the twenty-first century, Callie cares too much about what other people think of her and her main goal is to get the cool girls to like her. But once she's living in 1815 with Emily, the Duke Alex and the Dowager Victoria, she learns to stand up for herself, speak her mind and be herself, falling in love with Alex.

This reminds me of THE CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT or KATE AND LEOPOLD, but with a teen girl. It's a fun and quick read.

Day 9 - Exercise

4.68 miles
91513 steps
8597 moderate steps 60 minutes
435 calories

It felt good to go that far today. I really pushed myself. It would have been 5 miles or more if I had gone all the way to Olympic on my last lap, but I cut it short by a block because I felt the headache coming on. But I am happy I did two days in a row and I plan to go the rest of the week.

I was called to work a press junket on Friday and Saturday, I just hope the call time isn't so early that I can't make the workouts. I really want to try to do every day the rest of this week until Sunday.

DOC WILDE and the FROGS OF DOOM by Tim Byrd

This book reminds me of the old fashioned adventure shows from the 1930's and 40's like Tarzan, Superman and Flash Gordon. Lots of adventure, a little over the top, but fun.

I loved the relationship between Dr. Wilde and his kids. Concerned and caring, but also trusting them to be able to take care of themselves.

I like the idea that the family is famous for being adventurers, almost like Howard Hughes or Amelia Earhart reels that ran before films in the theaters in the 30's.

Fun for any boy who doesn't like to read.

Day 8 - Exercise

4.07 miles
8526 steps
7155 moderate steps 50 minutes
372 calories

Today was the first day I was able to walk without my calves killing me from my last workout day attempt on the stairs. They didn't feel great at first, but eventually warmed up. I think I pushed a little too hard, cause I ended up with a headache, but I need to get this going properly.

Now if I can just control myself with my eating. I was doing well, until later in the day when I was desperate for ice cream and went and got some. I know I didn't have to get into my car and drive to the store, but sometimes I just can't control myself. I have to work on that more than anything else.

Let's hope I can keep the motivation going to get out of bed and do the same thing tomorrow.

BAD GIRLS DON'T DIE by Katie Alender

This was a really good and scary book. I like that Alexis is not the popular girl, she's the class outcast. Smarter than everyone else and not willing to keep her mouth shut to fit in. You get the feeling that the principle likes her spunk, just has to keep order so Alexis ends up in detention a lot.

But this is also a story of how if you don't look beyond the surface, you never know what someone is really like. Alexis makes a lot of assumptions about her fellow classmates, including Megan, the head cheerleader, and Carter, the class president.

When her sister Kasey starts acting even stranger than normal, it's Megan and Carter who are willing to listen and believe what she's telling them. Alexis never thought she needed friends until things started going wrong at home.

Now she has to relay on them to help her stop the evil that's possessed her sister and threatening to kill a large number of people from the town.

Fast read, couldn't put it down. Read it in one sitting.

LAMENT: The Faerie Queens Deception by Maggie Stiefvater

Although I like this book, I like SHIVER much much better. There seem to be many unresolved issues in this book, from James, Dierdre's friend who is hurt to get to her, Aunt Delia who has her own motives in destroying her family. Is Delia responsible for Granna's death, how was she going to explain Dierdre's disappearance from her family if something happened to her, what did she get out of destroying Dierdre and does Dierdre every confront her Aunt with the things she's done? Why does her mother not want her to learn to drive? I definitely like the storytelling more the WICKED LOVELY, which I thought was more interesting in the second book. But I was still left with missing pieces that didn't make the story completely whole for me.

I will be interested to read the sequel, BALLAD, because the ending of LAMENT was abrupt.

Day 7 - Exercise

1.71 miles
4148 steps
2272 moderate steps 20 minutes
153 calories

I did some stairs near my house. It's an alternative workout. Doesn't give me the same steps as running or walking a couple miles, but I sweat more and my calves are killing me and it's only the end of the day. I was going to run tomorrow, but I may only be able to walk. Got to keep going. Every day is a new day.

THE STONE CHILD by Dan Poblocki

I really liked this book. Reminds me of THE GOONIES or GOOSEBUMPS, where kids fall into something interesting and have to figure out the mystery behind it. There are funny aspects to it and even I was holding my breath with fear in a few spots.

Eddie's parents have moved him to a small town where it seems his favorite author lives or lived until he mysteriously disappeared 13 years ago. Now Eddie with his new friends, Harris and Maggie, must solve the mystery of the coded manuscript left by the author.

It's a great story of how hard it is to make friends, how kids who are different are picked on and how friendship can be all the family you need.

HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick

Scheduled for release October, 2009, this book fits in to the YA paranormal pantheon with the others.

Although it takes a while to unfold, it's a fast and entertaining read. Nora is a goal oriented teen until she's paired with new student Patch in biology class. Then everything in her life changes. Nora knows there's something dangerous about Patch, but when the people in her life start getting hurt and she feels likes she's being stalked, she doesn't know who to turn to. Her friend Vee is more interested in exploring her hormones then listening to Nora's warnings. Nora has to ultimately trust Patch if any of them are going to get out of the mess their in alive.

There's great, unfulfilled sexual tension throughout the book between Nora and Patch, which makes it readable by a teen of any age. Vee is extremely selfish as a friend, encouraging Nora to continue to see a guy who's been physically abusive just so she can have a date with his friend. As an adult, I get the message that you have to think for yourself and protect yourself no matter what peer pressure is there, but I believe the message is too subtle for the average teen who may actually go through something like this.

There are familial connections that aren't really fully explored until the end of the book and some aspects that aren't explored at all. In the prologue, Chauncey is visited by a boy who turns out to be a fallen angel. But it never seems that Chauncey has put it together that the fallen angel must be his father as Patch, Chauncey and Nora all have the same birthmark on their wrists. Since Patch says he was the first fallen angel, and needs to kill a descendant of his Nephilim, it only makes sense. But the author never says they are father and son, nor does he address Nora's potential since she should be part Nephilim also.

Mrs. Green aka Daria, is also a hanging item. The reader will immediately get that she wants Nora to stay as far away from Patch as possible, but Nora never seems to question her demand for Nora to stay away from him other than she believes he has a troubled past.

I really wanted to like this project and it was an easy and fast read, I just can't quite say I thought it was great.

Day 6 - Exercise

2.81 Miles
6287 steps
4643 moderate steps 33 minutes
251 calories

Obviously I haven't worked out in a while. There have been a lot of things going on, from work (trying to read as many pieces as quickly as possible) to just feeling like crap cause I let myself get so big. My lung capacity is down and I feel like I should be able to jump right back into running 3-5 miles a day and I can barely run for three minutes.

I know I have to give myself time to get back into it, and do it more regularly, but it's so hard remembering what I could do and knowing my body won't adjust and allow it to come back as quickly as I would like.

But, I've been eating extremely well. Only complex carbohydrates, lots of fruit and vegetables. My digestive system feels it, which is good. Have to get back to drinking my green drink every day. It was such a routine to prepare it to drink while at the gym. Since I don't go to a gym anymore, it's just as easy not to make it up. I know it helps me so I with my health and dietary needs, so I will make sure i drink it at least every other day from now on. This is a new month and I'm determined to make it work for me.

THE BODY FINDER by Kimberly Derting

This book doesn't come out until March 2010, but should be met with great anticipation.

Violet Ambrose has always been able to detect the echo of animals that have been killed, birds, mice, etc until when she's eight years old and walking in the woods behind her family home with her father she discovers the body of a young girl. Now she's sixteen and a junior in highs school. She's discovering she's falling for her best friend Jay, who she's knows for most of her life. All of a sudden there's something different about him and she notices he's turned from a gawky boy into a young man. But she isn't the only one who's noticed.

Jay has become quite popular with the girl and when another friend asks Violet to the homecoming dance, Jay takes it badly and decides to ask Lissie, the most popular girl in school. This puts a wedge in their friendship until Violet starts finding dead girls again.

Jay becomes very protective of Violet. They realize they are meant to be together after Violet risks everything to find the serial killer murdering young girls in her Maryland town and surrounding areas. When they think everything is okay, Violet realizes someone is following her and she has to figure out who it is before he kills her.

The teenage crush, not knowing if the other person likes you, dealing with friends who know you better than you know yourself, is all in this book. Along with a healthy dose of tension from the hidden serial killer, who we don't realize is someone we think we should be able to trust. I like that some of the chapters alternate with the musing of the serial killer. Some times he's very close to our heroin and even she, with her ability to sense dead things along with the taint they leave behind on the person who's done the killing, can't sense everything.

Lot's of fun teen moments as well as the anticipation of not knowing what is going to happen next. If you liked Prom Night, the film, you will like this book.

SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater

To be honest I haven't read Twilight, but if it's anything like this book, I think I would like it. Shiver is well written, smoothly telling the story of two people destined to be together. As the reader you feel the tug of their connection. How badly they want to be together and how they try to make every moment count. Sam hides from Grace the fact that he most likely will become a wolf this winter and never return to human form. Grace knows but ignores all the signs in order to live in the fantasy of what could be.

At the same time, Jack, a violent person to begin with has been changed and is doing everything that is against the rules. He tells Grace's friend Olivia what he is as well as biting her believing that this will cure him if he passes the curse along. Then there's Shelby who hated being human an loves being a wolf and wants to be by Sam's side as the leader of the pack. But Sam doesn't want to be leader, he doesn't want Shelby and he doesn't want to be a wolf.

Grace has both parents, but they are selfish and neglectful

So many levels of teen angst, bullying and young love. Really sweet story.

THE SET UP by Sophie McKenzie

This book is really slow. I know what it's trying to be, but I just think it took too long to get there as well as being a hard to get excited about.

It's easy to see that Jack is a bad guy and using Nico to get information. If Nico's stepfather, Fergus, would just talk to him and tell him what's going on with him instead of forbidding him to do things, then maybe Nico would understand the ramifications of what's going on. But I guess that wouldn't propel the story along. There are constant miscommunications from everyone. No one seems to be able to say what they are really feeling or what they really want, and I know that's pretty typical for teens, but even the adults don't seem to know how to express themselves clearly.

I just think this could have been better. There was great potential to be thrilling, action driven and high octane, but fell short in all areas.

BLOOD TIES by Sophie McKenzie

Theo and Rachel have very different lives. Theo is raised by a single mother on a modest income, but somehow able to afford to send him to a private school and pay for a bodyguard. Rachel lives with both her parents, who seem to find a way to remind her every day that she's not as good, pretty or talented as her dead sister Rebecca. The story is told from Theo and Rachel's perspectives in alternating chapters, but rarely overlapping in theme. Just a continuation of the story from differing views.

Although, the intention of the book is to lead you into this realization that Rachel and Theo are clones and the only two of their kind, I found it easy to figure out that their lives aren't normal and that they are some sort of genetic experiment early on. I do like how the book delves into the idea of hate, but from the group/organization who is hunting them to kill them both because they believe they are abominations as well as the realization that Theo's true biological parents were Jews who were Nazi sympathizers.

The RAGE organization is like many other organizations that truly exist who use violence and murder to express the fact that their views are the only ways to live. I find it fascinating when a group says life is important but chooses to take life in order to get that point across. This story line shows how intolerance can come in many forms.

I always like when female protagonist learn their own strength as well as their voice, but this one seems to happen overnight with Rachel. And it seems she's come to the change because of a boy. That I don't like. She's often bullied by her peers at school, ignored or ridiculed by her mother and father, but the moment Theo's in danger, she's willing to learn to fight and put her life on the line to save and protect him. She can't do it for herself, but she can for a 15 year-old boy... and one who doesn't even know she exists other than to help him find out about his father.

Not as thrilling of an adventure as it could have been from start to finish. The adrenaline ride starts pretty late in the book, but once it does it doesn't give up until the end.

MAGICKEEPERS: The Eternal Hourglass by Erica Kirov

This book was really fun. Lot's of similarities to J.K. Rowlings books about a boy who can do magic. But where they differ is that Nicholai (Nick) lives in modern day Las Vegas with his failed magician father, only to find out that he is part of a long line of powerful Russian Magicians that date back to the time of the Tsar and his family as well as the evil Rasputin.

Nick must discover his inner power, learn how to live among those steeped in tradition and become part of the most successful magic show in Las Vegas while fighting off an evil intent on destroying him and his new found family.

Nick's cousin Isabelle can control her large white tiger Sasha as well as other animals. Including the Polar Bares they swim with. And Nick is given a special horse who shines like his coat is made of gold. The book brings out a lot of your imagination with the animals and the snow that falls from the top of the hotel the family lives in and runs, which tourist believe to be an illusion.

What I like about this book aside from the imaginings of all the creatures and magic tricks Ms. Kirov has put in her book, is the history that's included. How Houdini came up with his name, the fictional mystery surrounding his death, tied into other historical elements. It's fun to speculate and if I was a kid, it would lead me to find out more about the real characters she's added to this fictional story, like Jules Verne.

On to my next book... BLOOD TIES by Sophie McKenzie

GONE by Michael Grant

The reviewer for VOYA said, "If Stephen King had written LORD OF THE FLIES, it might have been a little like this..." and I couldn't agree more.

What I like about this book is that it shows us how kids treat each other. If they can do thing things that they've done to each other without parental supervision, what do they do with it? In this day of bullying at an all time high, this book shows how some kids are just bad and make inappropriate choices at every turn.

Sam is a kid who is already known as a hero, but doesn't really want to be noticed accept by the object of his affection, Astrid and hang out with his surfing buddy, Quinn. When everyone over the age of 15 literally disappears, everyone looks to Sam for guidance. He doesn't want to be the leader, but doesn't consider what will happen if he doesn't take charge until it too late.

Some of the kids, start to develop abilities, which are against the laws of physics... So the question becomes, are they in this world or are they somewhere else? With the barrier surrounding the town, into the ocean, as low as they can go and as high as they can see, they soon realize no one is coming to rescue them.

At the same time a young girl by the name of Lana, who's been sent to stay with her grandfather for sneaking alcohol to a friend, is alone in the desert hurt for an accident resulting from her grandfather going "Poof" while driving into town. Lana believes she's going to die from her injuries until she realizes she has the ability to heal herself.

Sam, Quinn, Edilio, Astrid and Little Petey, find Lana when they are driven out of town by Sam's newly found twin brother Caine. It seems Caine was given up for adoption and discovers that his mother was none other than the school nurse at his boarding school. He's bitter about life, bitter that she kept Sam and pretty much a sociopath bent on making this new world they call The FAYZE, his domain.

There are elements of Caine and Able, in this book. With the kids learning that being different and more advanced than their peers, due to their abilities, isn't a good thing. They are persecuted and bound for purposes of keeping them under control.

There is violence, when kids killing other kids, but it's done in a way that isn't overtly brutal.

I am looking forward to reading HUNGER, the next in this six part series, with a new book coming out each spring.

Day 5 - Exercise

4.55 miles
9662 steps
6343 moderate steps 45 minutes
411 calories

I did something different today. I am posting at the end of the day after wearing the pedometer all day and doing errands along with running. I think I ran about 40 minutes this morning for about 2.73 miles. Took longer cause I am so fat and heavy, my lung capacity isn't able to adjust like I used to.

I went to the doctors and they weighed me. I'm so embarrassed to even write it, but I'm 184 pounds. That's horrible. I have to lose the weight. I went and bought all kinds of fruit and vegetables today. I am determined to lose it and get back to where I want to be and what will make me happy.

Ran all over the city today doing errands. And I have more to do tomorrow. I just want to exercise and read. Why is life so complicated?

Been dealing with a lot of stress. Can't wait to come out the other end of all this stuff.

Still need to do the review of GONE by Michael Grant. I will probably do it tomorrow, when i finish my errands.

Day 4 - Exercise

3.73 miles
7312 steps
7040 moderate steps @ 49 minutes
354 calories

I slept really hard last night and almost woke up late. I think if I hadn't had to use the bathroom, I would have kept sleeping. But I got up around 5:40 a.m. and decided to go for my run even thought I was still tired and wanted to sleep. I had a bit of a headache also and took an Advil before leaving the house.

It's funny how I have the intension of just walking cause I'm tired and have a bit of a headache, but I'm so competitive with myself that I end up running anyway and running further than normal. It felt good to look at my pedometer and know I pushed myself a little more today. I would love to be able to run the 3 miles consistently without stopping to walk, but I know I will get there.

Looking in the windows of some of the shops as I ran by also caused me to push more. I hate looking the way I do right now. I need to be in shape.

PANIC ATTACK by Jason Starr

This book had a starred review from Publisher's Weekly, and in some ways I can understand that. It tells an interesting story from four different perspectives. There's Dr. Adam Bloom, as psychologist who doesn't emotionally connect with his wife, Dana or his self involved daughter, Marissa.

The family is supposed to be in Florida, visiting Alan's mother when they are robbed. They didn't go because of the weather and hear the intruders. Alan pulls out a gun and kills one of the intruders, which sparks a contrived act of revenge by the second intruder.

Dana is more interested in pointing out Adam's faults, why her life sucks and what's wrong with everyone and how they treat her that she doesn't see that her having an affair with the local trainer influences how she treats her husband. She's pissed that he used the gun to protect his home and family and continues to blame him for how their lives spiral out of control after the shooting.

Marissa is a spoiled, self involved brat. She's graduated from college with an art history major, quit her first job after one month, because she thought the job was beneath her, and moved into her parents home where all she does is hang out with her friends, drink, get high and have sex in her parents home while her father supports them. She is just as angry with her father for using the gun during the robbery. She can't believe he can't express his emotions and thinks he should behave as she wants him to and now how he is. She doesn't make allowances for the fact that he may not know how to handle what's happened. She forms a relationship with Xan, who is really Johnny Long, the other robber.

Johnny has killed his partner, Carlos' girlfriend, who was also the Bloom's maid. After Adam's emotionless interviews about the shooting and the media accuse him of being a vigilante, Johnny goes on an ever growing crusade to make them pay for the killing of Carlos. Forgetting the fact that they were robbing the family. All Johnny can see is that they are a rich family who has everything and he wants them to pay for his horrible life and killing Carlos. Johnny first plans on getting close to Marissa and then killing them all after being invited into their home for dinner, but the plan evolves as Johnny figures out a way to expose all of their secrets to the, use his knowledge of the family turn them against each other and kill them off one by one.

Dana is the first to go, and when Adam doesn't come home right away, Johnny eludes to the fact that Adam may have killed Dana. Now Adam is a suspect and Marissa believes this is also true.

My problem with this is that Marissa lives in her parents house and spends their money like they owe it to her to care for her, yet she's highly disrespectful to her father. She believes her mother should just leave her father, but doesn't realized that her mother doesn't really have a life as she's been a mother and housewife for more than a decade and being alone at an older age isn't the same as being alone in your twenties.

When Adam starts to put the pieces together and becomes suspicious of Xan, Marissa is the first to jump all over him and accuse her father of trying to shift the blame from himself. She's more apt to believe her father could kill her mother than a boyfriend she's known for a week or two.

I liked the book coming from different perspectives in almost each chapter, but there's not enough suspense and I believe that Johnny's reasons for going after the Bloom family are flimsy at best. If he had other mental problems, seemed to have a history of toying with people, other than women just to get their money, or if he came across as just more dangerous, I would like this book better.

My favorite thing is how Johnny believes he's the best lover in the world, but after having sex with Marissa, in her recount, she says he seemed nervous, trying too hard and that maybe he would get better when they knew each other better.

Day 3 - Exercise

2.78 miles
5393 steps
5231 moderate steps @ 37 minutes
262 calories

I didn't run for the past several days because I was still suffering from migraines as well as I had to be in the valley for something first thing yesterday morning. Was out of the house and traveling at 6:00 a.m. I also ran a new route. I think I like this much better.

I didn't sleep very well last night cause I'm going through some things. Hoping they will be over soon, but who knows. But I got up and ran anyway. It felt good to run off some tension, but I'm still feeling it a bit. I felt like I pushed myself to run a bit more. I will keep trying to do that so I can do three miles of straight running before I start trying to do hills. I'm still walking too much when I get winded. I'm sure that's because I'm not consistent in my daily running.

Well, I'm off to shower and read for the rest of the day. I have so much material coming my way, I really have to get on the ball.

SWOON by Nina Malkin

This book was an interesting idea, although it lacked depth in character. Sin was out for revenge and Dice was looking for love since her best friend Ruby died and her, too busy, parents have shipped her off to Connecticut to live alone, yet be watched over by her aunt who's having and affair an and cousin who's soul purpose is to lose her virginity and keep looking for that feeling like a drug from any source she can.

Sin being mystically made up of earth, wind, emotions and a little Native American magic is an interesting concept, for falls short of what this person can do when he becomes real flesh and blood. Having extra strength, the ability to cajole anyone into doing anything you want them to and the constant latent sexual energy he wields is a bit much for a book for teen girls, in my opinion.

I wanted to like, it but the constant sexual escapades as well as the lack of real stakes, leaves this story flat for me.

No Exercise Today

I'm not working out today. I woke up about three times in the middle of the night with cramps and the start of a migraine. I suffer from Fribroids, which can result in very intense cramps and migraines, which I've suffered from all my life. Advil is as much medication as I take unless my migraines result in me throwing up or not being able to take the light of day. That's when I go to the doctor for a shot.

But it's been years since that's happen. I know the foods that can trigger a migraine and when hormones are the culprit, I relax as much as possible.

I hope to be better by tomorrow, to resume my workouts with Sunday's off.

Day 2 - Exercise

2.80 miles
5432 steps
4795 moderate steps
264 calories

I almost talked myself into not working out and staying in bed until I remembered that I would have to post my excuse and how important that excuse really was. So I got up and got dressed. It was a little more difficult in some ways, cause it felt like the route was longer. But easier in other ways, where I felt like I ran more than walked.

I'm trying to push myself each time even if I don't want to.

I'm glad I got up and made it outside.

THE MAGICIANS by Lev Grossman

I hate it when other people review books and they haven't gone beyond the first 100 pages, but I have to say that I just can't do it. I don't know how to explain how hard I found it to read this book. It seems to jump all over the place.

Quentin Coldwater (the primary character) seems to find a way to be miserable no matter what he's doing or what world he's in. I'm hoping that if I eventually finish this book (some time in the future), that some of the storylines I feel are hanging in the air, will be explained. Which is the problem with not finishing a book. But I just can't.... It's so hard.

I am someone who can read the minimum of 300 pages in a day and I have spent two days on this book an haven't gotten past page 70. Enough said! Publisher's Weekly described the book as "derivative" and I should have listened. Generally their starred reviews don't do it for me, but they were so right in this case. At least up to the pages I have read.

Well on to the next book.... SWOON by Nina Malkin

Day 1 - Exercise

2.72 miles
5300 steps
4875 moderate steps
255 calories

It was hard getting out of bed. I used to go to the gym 6 days a week, but it recently closed, I'm sure due to the recession. I can't afford the gym my old training partner is now going to, so I have decided to get into shape on my own. I used to run 5 miles a day and never realized how hard it was to get there. I'm feeling it now, with my age and my weight, but I'm determined to get there.

This is small, but a step in the right direction. I'm crossing my fingers that I can build back up.

I'm not posting my weight, because it's the largest I've ever been in my entire life and refuse to even get on the scale. But I have a doctors appointment on June 24th and I'm sure they will weigh me. That will be the first day I post it.