A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris

I just realized I finished this book over a month ago and never wrote about it. A Touch of Dead is a collection of all the Sookie Stackhouse short stories Charlaine Harris as had published in several collections over the years.

These short stories are quick, fun reads for any Sookie fan. They help explain some events that are only eluded to in the stories, such as how Sookie first heard of her cousin's death. If you're a Sookie fan and you've never read any of these stories, which had each been published previously in separate books, then I recommend this book. Perhaps it will tide you over till the next novel comes out in the Spring.

Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

Jen Lancaster continues to be my new favorite author. I love her personality and humor and so far I've loved everything I've read by her. (Her blog, jennsylvania.com is hilarious!)

Such a Pretty Fat chronicles her weight loss attempts and eventual success. But the best part of this is that while she is working hard to lose weight, she isn't doing it because she is that self-concious. Despite her weight she was always comfortable with her body and always has a high-self esteem, which I really admire. Her desire to lose weight was prompted more for health reasons than a problem with self image.

Her wit, humor, and success has even inspired me to join a gym and try to become healthier. Of course I can't hire a personal trainer like she did, but I figure just working out myself is a step in the right direction!

If you've never read anything by Jen Lancaster, I highly recommend any of her books. There are four currently in print and her newest one is due out in May.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin

I can't even count how many times I've read this book (I re-read it at least once a year) and I love it every time. Every girl in the world should read this book and fall in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy. This is my favorite book EVER.

Guilty Pleasures by Laurel K. Hamilton

I really wasn't interested in reading the Anita Blake books, but a friend from work was reading them and let me borrow the first two novels of the series, so I thought I would give them a try. One of my managers had previously described Anita Blake as a female Harry Dresden, so I figured they can't be that bad, right?

After reading the first novel of the series I'm pretty sure my initial impressions of the series were correct. While the writing wasn't bad, and Anita Blake can be just as witty as Dresden, there's something very different about this series that kind of turns me off. I'm curious enough to read the second book, there were some things left unanswered, but I don't think I'll ever read the entire series. As my co-worker who lent me the books says, you just feel dirty after reading them. Not that there's a lot of sex in them ... at least not in the first one (I hear they eventually include a lot of sex) but they're still very sexual and gritty. I can't describe it well, but essentially they are extremely dark.

If you like trashy romance novels and vampires, you might enjoy this series. However, I just can't get into it. We'll see what happens after I read the second book.