Praying the Rosary

One of the things I've always struggled with is praying the rosary and even Marian devotion in general. I don't have a problem with Mary, but I feel spiritually empty when I pray for her intercession. As for the rosary, I just can't seem to focus on the Mysteries like I know I should. Right now I'm using Father Peyton's Rosary Prayer Book but it doesn't seem to help. The book that benefited me the most was a little prayer book that had a Scriptural verse for every bead; so I would read the verse then say a Hail Mary. However, I can't remember the name of the book and I left it at my house over Christmas break.
So how do you pray the rosary? What works for you? Is there a particular book that helps direct your thoughts to the Mysteries, or maybe a special prayer that helps prepare you? I'm sure I could find books out there (I probably even have a couple) that 'tell' you how to pray the rosary, but I'd rather get your input and see what actually works for you. I remember reading Fr. Michael Scanlan's book Let the Fire Fall and in it he describes a time when he was praying the rosary and he was so absorbed in the Mysteries that he absolutely knew that were he to look up (he was kneeling at the time) he would actually have seen Mary. Whenever I pray the rosary that image comes to my mind. I want to be that absorbed in the Mysteries.