Books Read in June/July

I know, I know...I didn't post my June reads. I'm well aware of that. Suffice it to say I was busy with other things (Aspergers does not allow for interference when it raises its ugly head). So, without further ado.

The Deadliest Bite by Jennifer Rardin (5 Stars)
The last in the series by Jennifer, who passed away before the book was released. Its a wonderful end to Jaz and Vayle's adventures. I highly recommend this entire series. It has humor, adventure, action, romance and a kick-ass heroine who's both a sociopath and a caring friend. Must own.

Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews (5 Stars)
The latest in the Kate Daniels series. What can I say about this one? Kick-ass heroine, shapeshifting hotties (Curran is melt in your mouth delicious - lol), adventure, action, romance, an amazing world, scary scary vampires...its just wonderful. Another must own.

Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay (5 Stars)
Another fantastic book. First in a series. I blogged about it already, so go back and read what I had to say. Troubled heroine with serious issues, fascinating world, action, angst. Must own.

Afterlight by Elle Jasper (3 Stars)
This was an interesting book with some issues. Riley Po is a tattoo artist who's brother Seth is becoming a vampire. She had to turn to a vampire to help save him. I wanted to like this book more than I did. It had all the right elements. My biggest problem with it was Gullah (if you've read it, you'll know what I mean). I swear, if I had to read that word one more time I would have screamed.  Gullah this, Gullah that, Gullah Gullah Gullah. Ack. Don't get me wrong, its a good first book. Although Riley tended to piss me off at points, I still intend to read the sequels.

Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh (4 Stars)
Elena is a hunter. Her latest mission? To hunt down a rogue Archangel. This brings her into contact with Raphael, another Archangel who's sexy and dangerous himself. Interesting world, badass heroine, action, and just a little drop of romance. I thought Raphael was a bit of a dick, but I'll definitely be reading the sequels to this...in fact, they're already added to my TBR pile.

Stripped by Marcia Collette (3 Stars)
I wasn't a huge fan of this book - I bought it on my e-reader for dirt cheap. I liked the storyline, but I thought the characters were underdeveloped and things just didn't gel perfectly for me. Still, for the price, its okay.

Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells (5 Stars)
I love Sabina Kane. She's an awesome heroine. Sensitive, badass, a little lost. Her grandmother is a total bitch. And I love Gighul (a demon watching shopping channels cracked me up). I've read this one before - its the first in a series (which I also give 5 stars), but I just felt like reading it again. Must own.

The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan (5 Stars)
This is the final book in a trilogy. Anyone who follows my blog knows I had a bitch of a time finding this book. I don't know why but none of the bookstores around me carried it. It's a damn fine series, so that just pisses me off. This book is told from the perspective of Sin, a dancer in the Goblin Market. The books center around two brothers, Alan and Nick, and their fight to survive the mages that would like to see them dead. I'm not telling any more than that, because these books should be read and savored. They're YA, but they're not dumbed down. Must own. Even if you have to hunt for them...

A Shot in the Dark by K.A. Stewart (5 Stars)
The second installment in the Jesse James Dawson series. Jesse is a husband, father, friend and modern day samurai who fights demons to get people out of contracts made with them. I LOVE this series. I love Jesse. He hurts. He fights. I can't help but think of a Yoda poster I bought my son. "Do or do not. There is no try." Jesse gets in there and does it, no matter the cost to himself. An absolute must own series. Buy it. Buy copies for your friends.

Dead Iron by Devon Monk (6 Stars)
Steampunk meets western meets urban fantasy meets horror meets....well, hell, this is an amazing book. Cedar is a tortured hero - turned werewolf by a god, forced to rid the world of the Strange. Think evil dark steampunk fae with monstrous hungers. What can I say about this story except its original, scary, smart, and thoroughly engrossing. I don't like westerns. And while I love steampunk, I find a lot of steampunk books hard to read. This book hooked me. I loved it. A must own.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater (6 Stars)
Clare and Sam are two teens torn apart by the fact that they're both werewolves. Sam can't stop shifting. Clare has never shifted. These books are an emotional rollercoaster ride. They're traumatic. They're engrossing. I cried. I threw the 2nd book across the room at the end. They'll rip out your guts, spit them on the floor and not give a shit. Forever is the satisfying, if a little bit heartbreaking, end to the trilogy. These are not only a must own - I recommend you get the hardcovers. Because you're going to want to read them again and again. Wow.

Viper Moon by Lee Roland (3 Stars)
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book. To some extent I did. Parts of it worked for me. Other parts, not so much. The world is interesting. The storyline is excellent. I like the main character when she's kicking ass and hunting bad dudes. I like the two male interests (Michael is fascinating and Flynn is just sweet). Here's my issue...You meet a guy, fuck him and all of the sudden - less than 24 hours have passed - he's your boyfriend and you're declaring undying love for each other? What??! Not only that, but Cass (the heroine), is constantly bitching and moaning about how every little thing that happens means he's going to leave her. She hasn't known him a day!! I tried to pretend they'd known each other longer to get through the story. Frustrating, but worth reading.

Desdaemona by Ben Macallan (4 Stars)
I'm actually only half-way through with this book, but I love it. I might even upgrade to 5 stars if it continues to impress. Jordan is a 17 year old boy - he's been 17 for a long time, but I don't know how long yet. He finds kids and returns them home. And he has 6 fingers on one hand. Desi is a teenage girl - only she's not anymore, really - she's a daemon. She hunts down Jordan to help her find her sister, who's gone missing during her servitude to something. I'm not sure if its the devil or something else yet. Written from Jordan's perspective, it is brilliantly done in little snippets of connections. I can't wait to see what happens....

 ,...and since I want to get back to it, so that I can finish it today, that is the end of my list. Two months. A total of 13 books. Pathetic. But they were, for the most part, highly entertaining and well written books. Go forth. Read. Over and out.

August Releases - Holy smokes!!

So, I thought I'd share my August List with everyone. It's.....extensive?? massive?? bank breaking??!

Now, I don't intend to buy every book on this list. I thought I'd highlight the books that I will be buying so you can all laugh at my insanity. Of course, I don't have a local bookstore anymore (*sob*oh Borders*sob), so I guess these will be Amazon purchases. Good thing I decided to become a Prime member. (BTW Ro = romance, YA = young adult, GN = graphic novel, SF = sci-fi, and s = series)

8/1 – The Vampire Next Door by Ashlyn Chase (Ro-s)

8/1 – Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough (YA-s)

8/2 – Real Vampires Don’t Wear Size Six by Gerry Bartlett (Ro-s)

8/2 – The Marked Son by Shea Berkley (YA)

8/2 – Blood Hunt by Shannon K. Butcher (Ro-s)

8/2 – Working Stiff by Rachel Caine (SF-s)

8/2 – The Watchtower by Lee Carroll (SF-s)

8/2 – Derek’s Bane by Mary Jane Davidson (Ro-s)

8/2 – Blood Maidens by Barbara Hambly (SF-s)

8/2 – Storm’s Heart by Thea Harrison (Ro-s)

8/2 – Blood Cursed by Erica Hayes (SF-s)

8/2 – Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Ro-s)

8/2 – Water to Burn by Katherine Kerr (SF-s)

8/2 – Blood of the Demon by Rosalie Lario (SF)

8/2 – Blood Ties by Mari Mancusi (YA-s)

8/2 – The Dark Elite 3 by Chloe Neill (YA-s)

8/2 – Darkness Descending: Armageddon by Devyn Quinn (Ro)

8/2 – Downpour by Kat Richardson (SF-s)

8/2 – Eternal by Gillian Shields (YA-s)

8/2 – The Moonlight Brigade by Sarah Jane Stratford (SF-s)

8/2 – Basilisk by Rob Thurman (SF-s)

8/2 – Primal Law by J.D. Tyler (Ro-s)

8/2 – The Wild Side - anthology

8/6 – Shadow Kin by M.J. Scott (SF)

8/6 – Wayfinder by C.E. Murphy (SF-s)

8/9 – The Magician King by Lev Grossman (SF-s)

8/9 – Thirst No. 4: The Shadow of Death by Christopher Pike (YA)

8/15 – Half Blood: Covenant by Jennifer Armintrout (SF)

8/15 – The Urban Fantasy Anthology (anthology)

8/16 – Bargains and Betrayals by Shannon Delany (YA-s)

8/16 – Blood Drive by Traci Houston (SF)

8/16 – Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones (SF-s)

8/16 – Autumn: Purification by David Moody (Ho-s)

8/16 – Low Town by Daniel Polansky (SF)

8/16 – Kitty’s Greatest Hits by Carrie Vaughn (SF-s)

8/22 – The Next Full Moon by Carolyn Turgeon (SF-s)

8/23 – Where Demons Fear to Tread by Stephanie Chong (Ro-s)

8/23 – Nocturne by Christine Johnson (YA-s)

8/23 – Tantalize: Kieren’s Story by Cynthia Leitich-Smith (GN)

8/23 – Possess by Gretchen McNeil (YA)

8/23 – Bloodlines by Richelle Mead (YA)

8/23 – Down to the Bone: Quantum Gravity by Justina Robson (SF-s)

8/23 – Body of Sin by Eve Silver (Ro-s)

8/23 – Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent (SF-s)

8/26 – As You Wish by Gabi Stevens (Ro-s)

8/30 – Hades by Alexandra Adornetto (YA-s)

8/30 – Aftermath by Ann Aguirre (SF-s)

8/30 – With Fate Conspire by Marie Brennan (SF-s)

8/30 – White Tiger by Kylie Chan (SF)

8/30 – Blood Rules by Christine Cody (SF-s)

8/30 – Circle of Enemies by Harry Connolly (SF-s)

8/30 – Evangelina by Mary Jane Davidson/Anthony Alongi (SF)

8/30 – One Grave at a Time by Jeaniene Frost (Ro-s)

8/30 – The Hour of Dust and Ashes by Kelly Gay (SF-s)

8/30 – Ghost of a Smile by Simon R. Green (SF-s)

8/30 – Damned by Nancy Holder/Debbie Viguie (YA-s)

8/30 – Roil by Trent Jamieson (SF-s)

8/30 – Shifting Dreams: Ready to Run by Holley W. Kinsey (Ro-s)

8/30 – Devil’s Business by Caitlin Kittredge (SF-s)

8/30 – Awakenings by Edward Lazellari (SF)

8/30 – Blood Sacrifice by Maria Lima (SF-s)

8/30 – A Taste of Crimson by Marjorie Liu (Ro-s)

8/30 – Dust and Decay by Jonathan Maberry (YA-s)

8/30 – Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead (Ro-s)

8/30 – Soul Thief: Demon Trappers by Jana Oliver (SF-s)

8/30 - The Dark Glamoure by Gabrielle Pierce (SF)

8/30 – Hellbent by Cherie Priest (SF-s)

8/30 – Twisted by Gena Showalter (YA-s)

8/30 – Crossroads by Jeanne C. Stein (SF-s)

8/31 – Killbox by Ann Aguirre (SF-s)

Yes, I kid you not. All of the highlighted series, I have on my shelves. Its insanity, isn't it?  I think I counted 43 must have books. I counted 3 times, but it's late & my brain is mush & wait! Did I just say 43 books???....oh for God's sake, at my current reading rate (which I'm sure will pick up once school kicks in again), that would take me 7 months of reading!! And lets face it, my TBR pile is already bigger than the sci fi section at my local library. Here's the way I look at it, though. Books - real, touch em feel em books - are going to be harder and harder to get. So, I might as well gobble them up while I can. I'll have enough books to read until I die! mwah ha ha ha ha

Another Borders Blog

I went to my favorite Borders today. It was packed. PACKED. There wasn't a parking space anywhere near the store. Inside, people were carrying baskets filled with books. The shelves are already looking bare. The checkout line was no less than 20 people deep. At one point, there were at least 40 people standing in line, all with stacks of books in their arms.

Where were these people when Borders needed them?

It wasn't like there are big savings yet. 10% on most books. Romance was 30% off. And business books were 20% off. So why were they all rushing to gobble up the books? I had some very interesting conversations.

The first conversation was with a woman in her 30's. She was buying every single one of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. I asked her if she had read them and she said yes, they were her favorite books. But she had over the years  given her copies away to friends. And then she said she never thought that she might not be able to own them again. She asked if I had read them and I said no, but they were on my list of books I want (which is 11 pages deep). I was carrying it. She asked for recommendations of books I liked and I gave her some. Then she remarked on how she has a kindle and confided that she only downloads free books on it. She told me she prefers real books, but she's a struggling student with 2 dogs and a cat and money is tight. But she decided that it was more important to buy this series in paperback than buy groceries. We both lamented the loss of books. I ran into her later at the checkout. She had so many books - some I'd recommended that she thanked me for pointing her toward - and was excited to go home and sit down with a book.

The second person I talked to was a man in his late 30's or early 40's. He struck up a conversation asking me if I'd read a particular author. I hadn't. He asked if I liked sword play sci-fi and recommended a series that was his favorite. I told him I was more of a modern day with a twist dark urban fantasy kind of girl and he chuckled. Then we started discussing all the books we loved. We both agreed The Stand by Stephen King is probably the most epic good-vs-evil book we've ever read. He likened it to a bible. He said he liked epic end-of-world books, but had never found one that spooked him as much as The Stand. I recommended The Reapers are the Angels with a warning that its not a happy book.  Then we discussed cyberwar urban fantasy. He recommended some older Orson Scott Card books that I'd never read. I think I'll end up buying them at some point. I showed him www.Wake, which he added to his stack.

I ended up showing him Devon Monk's Dead Iron and he decided it was worth reading and added it to his pile. His very pregnant wife and three children wandered over with their own stacks but when his wife realized he was geek talking with me about computer programming (by that point we'd gotten onto the subject of my son creating an engine to run a computer game on his android phone), she wandered away with a funny little smile.

This man told me he's a computer programmer and he loves technology, even owns an ereader, but that it makes him sad that books are disappearing. He said one of his favorite things to do is to take the books he's read to his mother's twice a year and trade them for the books she's read. With an ereader, he can no longer do that. He said the ereader is great, but he won't spend more than $5 on an ebook.

The last conversation was with the clerk, who sadly talked about the loss of her job which she loves. She knows me by sight as I do her - I'm in there at least once a week. She thanked me for doing my part to save their store. She said I was a loyal customer and they were grateful for people like me who truly love books. Then she remarked on the incredible number of people in the store and said she didn't recognize most of the people who had come in that day. She said what I'd been thinking - where had all these people been? Why was it so important now to buy all the books they wanted? Why did they wait until it was too late? 

I feel cheated. Robbed of my joy - reading. Don't get me wrong. I'm a tech savvy geeky nerd of a girl. I love technology but not at the expense of books. I'll still read, but for me reading on an ereader just isn't the same. I'm a little ADD. I find I'm more distracted on my ereader. Plus, selecting a book? I can't remember what I was reading sometimes. At least with a real book, its sitting right on my chair. I just pick it up and dive in.

The general consensus of people in line is that Borders closing is armaggeddon. It's the apocalypse. It's devastating and a huge mistake. I want to open an indie bookstore. Right. F-ing. Now.

I bought $140 worth of books. I'm planning to buy more. Maybe I can buy enough books to last me until I'm 80....that's only another 31 years. Think it's possible?

Karen Marie Moning - Barron's POV

So there was this contest on Vampire Book Club ( http://vampirebookclub.net/ ) called Alpha Showdown. Basically, they pitted various urban fantasy characters against each other and let people vote on who was more alpha. Karen Marie Moning's character, Jericho Barrons, from her Fever series won the whole kit and kaboodle. Probably because she promised a sex scene from Barrons POV if he won it all - and those of us who are huge fans of Barrons ascerbic alpha personality wanted that scene more than anything in the world.

Yes, I admit, Barrons does things to me. He is the ultimate bad boy. The guy you know you will never tame and don't really want to. The type of man who makes you forget to be a lady. Sheesh. I'm getting flushed just thinking about him -- and he's a freaking character in a book!

Ms. Moning, holding to her promise to readers, put the scene up today on her site ( http://www.karenmoning.com/kmm/jzbscene.html ) Go. Read it. It's so much more than she promised. Because holy hell, is it hot!!!

Dead Iron by Devon Monk - a review

So I just finished Dead Iron by Devon Monk. I won it in a contest she had on her blog site (can I say thank you to her and to all the wonderful authors who offer up these contests for die hard fans). I am, admittedly, a fan girl of her Allie Beckstrom series. I have a serious thing for Zayvion Jones. And a minor thing for Shame and Terric. (I know Shame keeps saying he doesn't swing that way, but damn - for some reason I'm hoping he and Terric get it on - lol).

Anyway, Dead Iron is a fascinating book. I'm not even sure how to describe it...I think it needs it's own category....steampunk western horror sci-fi fantasy. It's a brilliant mix of all that and more.

The story revolves around a main character - Cedar. He's a man with a dark history. His wife and child are dead (tho we're not sure how) and he and his brother traveled west only to run into a Pawnee god who cursed them both. Cedar is forced to become a wolf for three nights during the full moon. His brother - well, Cedar woke up after his first change beside the dead body of a wolf. He's a tragic figure, our Cedar. His one mission - to kill the strange creatures that are wreaking havoc in our world.

Then there's Mae. Witch. Married to a black man. She is as isolated as Cedar, avoiding contact with people in town. Only Jeb, her husband, has gone missing and Mae wants answers as to why.

Next are the Madder brothers. Miners. Drunkards. But talented with gears. Who are they, really?

And Rose. Adopted daughter of the local merchantile owners. She's odd. Some say she's crazy. She wants out of the town that scorns her for her oddness.

They are all loners. (Well, the brothers are loners together.) They all see the world within our world - the world of the Strange. Gears and magic. If I were going to try to describe the creatures of the Strange, I would say a cross between evil unseelie fae, demons and steampunk robots.

They are all on a collision course with Shard Lefel - the railway man with a plan. A dark, evil plan. A violent plan. A plan that threatens to destroy everything. A plan that has already destroyed so much.

How do all of these characters come together? In a phenomenal, fast-paced, horrific, bloody, brilliant BRILLIANT manner. You see, the local blacksmith's son has gone missing, too. He's just a little boy and Cedar knows its something Strange that took him. Cedar intends to get him back. Only problem? It's full moon time. Oh, and the Madder brothers want something from him. And Mae wants his help, too, to find out who is keeping her husband from her.

Devon Monk creates a world that is beyond creative. It's downright genius. Dark, frightening, and filled with incredible potential. I'm being completely honest here when I say I'm not a fan of westerns. And while my house is decorated with steampunk, I've found a lot of steampunk books strangely tedious to read. Not this one. This one had me hooked almost instantly. And I can't wait to read more.

I give Dead Iron by Devon Monk the coveted 6 stars. Because it plain deserves the first 5 stars for its engrossing, intelligent, well devised characters, world and storyline. And it gets a bonus star for making me abandon everything to take my time reading and absorbing it. I LOVED it.

BORDERS - A Eulogy

It is a dark, sad sad day in the world of book lovers everywhere, people. The news today from Borders is grim. The company that was going to invest and maybe save their ass pulled out. Now the only bidder is the company that liquidated Circuit City (yes, I wept for them, too). It goes to court on July 19th and a judge will make a decision. Borders will be liquidated.

Can I say I almost threw up when I heard this news?

I love Borders. I love the colors of it. I love the layout of it. I love the smell and sound and feel of it. I love the books. I love the friendly, helpful employees. There is NOTHING about Borders that I don't like - except its death. A death I will mourn with the fervor of a devoted lover unwilling to accept the loss of the one I cherish.

Where will I shop? Barnes and Noble? Gah. If I want to be treated like a lowlife cootie-bearing skank, I could go hang out with my mother-in-law. I can't stand the attitude of the employees in that store. I doubt they read anything but what's on Oprah's must read list (and even then, they only do it to say they have). I don't know if B&N employees across the country are like my local B&N snootmeisters. Maybe they're not. I'd hate to think that they were all like that. But where I am, they all wear chinos from Talbots, and foofy sweaters over prim crisp blouses, with perfectly preppy shoes and hair, and antique jewelry from their great-grandmother's grandmother, the queen of England. They probably spend more on their mascara than they do books. And God forbid you don't meet their standards. They're not going to help you. You'll be lucky if they acknowledge you.

Besides, the last few times I've been to B&N, they have not had ANY of the urban fantasy/paranormal romance books (be they adult or teen) that I was looking for. They didn't even have Sarah Rees Brennan's "The Demon's Covenant". They told me they didn't carry Molly Harper's books or Kim Harrison's Madison Avery series in their store (and, according to the robosnob who I spoke to, they NEVER will). In fact, they seem to have fewer and fewer copies of books on their shelves. Why? I can only say every time I walk through the door I'm attacked by some Biff/Mitzy clone trying to get me to try out their new e-reader. And every book I haven't been able to locate? Well, they're quick to share that if I had their e-reader, I would be able to get my books the minute they're available.

Thank God for one bright spot. New England Mobile Book Fair - an independent bookstore an hour from me. Yes, I'll make the drive. The problem? They don't carry every book either. And their books are sorted by publisher on shelves 10 feet high double layered and jammed in, so you have to hunt for the books you want with the help of the very nice but often busy staff, and sometimes you can't find them. It's either that or Amazon. And lets face it, Amazon is pushing that Kindle, too.

This is the end of books. Let us all bow our heads.

Oh, we'll still all be reading, but we'll be doing it on cold, impersonal, electronic devices. The book industry is killing itself. They're hanging themselves with noose provided by online mega stores that are laughing all the way to the bank with our money which they used to buy the rope (probably from China).

I shall weep and wail and lower my flag to half-mast for Borders and for all of us. The world will not be a better place without books. It's a dark dark sad day.

Hunting for books....

I've noticed a trend that worries me lately. I can't find new releases at the bookstores. So, I finally got annoyed enough to strike up a conversation with a bookstore manager. The book I was looking for was The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan. This is the third book in a trilogy about magicians, demons, brothers, sisters, and how far you will go for the ones you love. Its an incredible series with a very interesting world, action, snark, humor, and deep emotion. I was under the impression that the series did well here in the US and I didn't think I would have so much trouble finding this last book.

Here's what I learned....
The publisher did a small batch and B&N only had 30 copies in their warehouse which meant that no stores would carry it.

As far as I'm concerned that's not good. If this person is to be believed, publishers are cutting back on the number of books that they publish - which means bookstores are buying less books, and that books are not readily available at those bookstores. The reasoning is that people are buying e-books, so they don't need to publish as many copies. Of course, this conversation was followed up by the store manager encouraging me to check out their e-reader for purchase.

We're being pushed into becoming an e-reader society, people.

Now, I love my e-reader but I want my books in a tangible form, so this bums me out severely.

And if this person was fibbing about the size of books published, that means that B&N is buying less books in order to force people to invest in their e-reader. That's just plain sleazy any way you look at it.

I ended up ordering The Demon's Surrender from Amazon, and I'm about 300 pages in. It's wonderful. I can't wait to blog about it.

(I know I haven't posted my June books. I think I might lump them in with the July books. My reading speed is severely hampered these days...)

Why I Love My Husband (or I Have An Awesome New Phone!!!(

Conversation....

Hubs: What's up? (answering phone at 3:30pm at work yesterday)
Me:  You busy?
Hubs: Are you feeling okay?
Me: I'm good. You're not in a meeting or anything are you?
Hubs: No. What do you need?
Me: Remember how you told me that my phone was up for renewal and I said I still like my phone?
Hubs: (slowly) yeeaah...?
Me: You know how I read you that article the other day about Verizon getting rid of their unlimited data plans?
Hubs: Mmmmhmmm....
Me: Well, I was just thinking that I'm going to eventually want a smartphone, right?
Hubs: Yeah (with heavy sigh)
Me: So, today is the last day to get into the grandfather clause for the unlimited plan.
Hubs: You want a smartphone.
Me: Um, yeah. And it would be smart to get it now and get the unlimited data plan because tomorrow the price goes up and the fees are ridiculous. We'll end up paying a fortune...
Hubs: Okay. Why don't you go on their site and see what they have available for phones.
Me: Done.
Hubs: You already looked?
Me: Um...yeah.
Hubs: What phone do you want?
Me: The Sony Ericsson Xperia. It's a gaming phone.
Hubs: You don't want the iPhone?
Me: No. I like this gaming phone. I can download playstation games on it.
Hubs: Ooookay....Send me an email with the info and I'll take a look.
Me: Thanks honey. (send already prepared email)\

TWO HOURS LATER...Hubs walks in the door with my new phone.
Me: <3 <3 (those are hearts, people) *squee*