Books and the sun

After spending Labour day not working, it's back to the work routine this week. Which I don't find so bad because I managed to truly rest body and soul, body by laying in the sun and mind by reading. Last week I was starting to get worried because I no longer felt the need to read anything (that is a terribly worrisome state for me because it signifies sth is very wrong since I read to relax and I do it all the time). And from all the things I can choose from (having quite a lot of books in my room) nothing seemed interesting. So, I was saved when I got a call from Algoritam last week that some of my ordered books have arrived and having a long weekend to read them. :)

I finally got my hands on Deadly desire by Keri Arthur (Riley Jensen series, book 7) and I liked the fact that Riley's love life got complicated (again) but in this book she managed to keep the one relationship (I'm keeping my fingers crossed to survive the next books), living. We'll see what happens in the next Riley installment that should be out sometime in October I believe.

I also got my hands on another of Mary Balogh's historical romance, Simply perfect. The moral of the story is you're not too old to find love when you're 35 and a spinster school teacher. lol :) And good clothes and hats, a positive outlook on life, some strength of character and a good hair-dressing maid are what is needed to transform a non-descript woman into someone of beauty. Sounds familiar?

The third book I'm only halfway through is First king of Shannara by Terry Brooks. Usually I'm scared of starting to read fantasy series because when they are good I can't stop and I do have everyday obligations that cannot be put aside just because I can't stop reading. :) You wouldn't believe how often I am faced with that problem... I first came into contact with TB when reading his Genesis of Shannara trilogy and I loved it. He writes somewhat differently from most of other fantasy writers I read (similar to Raymond Feist) in the manner that the story proceeds fast and you do not follow every day occurences through the book (that sometimes makes me lose interest which almost happened with Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series). Anyway, this is just a prequel, so what follows is another good trilogy for which I will somehow have to pace myself and read it as I usually read.

Regarding sniffing during the weekend, I didn't do much of that - sun cream being the reason (smells too strong to get a good feeling what something else might smell like). I did try Cococabana by PdN after reading Abigail's post on it. I thought I'd get more coconut from it but I don't think that detracts anything from the loveliness of this. I was trying to figure out which note is the one that smells similar to sth in Eau Turquoise which displays it more prominently and which is why I cannot bear to wear it, but I was unsuccessful. Smells aquatically-sweet and it's an understatement when I say aquatic is not my thing. :)

I did finally get my hands on some of Andy Tauer samples and I look forward to smelling them more conscientiously. I kept smelling Reverie en jardin and thinking something here smells so familiar but unfortunately, couldn't figure it out. Like I said, they deserve more of my time. :)

Image: www.fantasticfiction.co.uk