Challenges 2010

Okay, this post can totally be skipped over and it won't hurt my feelings whatsoever. I'm joining a bunch (and I mean a BUNCH) of challenges and rather than doing a bunch of individual of posts for each one...I just don't have the time or inclination...so I'm going to do one really long post. Really long... and I'm going to admit right now that I'm joining way too many challenges. But there are so many good ones out there this year that I just cannot resist. Oh boy!

First of all, I'm joining the 100+ Reading challenge as it looks like I am just going to fall short this year. So maybe next year I'll make it to 100 :) I'm also going to join the Christy Awards challenge which has already begun and is totally outside of anything that I ever usually read. I'm going in as a Total Fiction Newbie but would like to read more if possible. 2010 will be a year of pushing my reading boundaries a bit and this challenge will help with that.

I'm also joining in on the Graphic Novels Challenge. I'm going with the intermediate level (3-10) as I read 2 graphic novels this past year. So I think that I'm going to up the bar for next year.

I'm also joining the Series Challenge Season 4. I participated in (and actually finished) this challenge last year and since I'm a series kind of girl...perfect challenge for me.

Another challenge that is already ongoing but that I am now joining is the Women Unbound challenge. How can I resist this one? I'm going with the Bluestocking level which requires 5 books with 2 of them being nonfiction.

Two other challenges that I am participating in again that I joined last year are the 1st in a series challenge and 2nds challenge. I'm going with Addicted on both challenges which requires 12 books for each. Figured if I could do it this year (which I did :P) then I could do it next year.

I'm also joining in on the Chunkster challenge which I didn't quite finish this year. I'll be participating at the chubby chunkster level (love the names btw) which is only 3 books. Definitely doable!

I reread...I know there are those out there who don't but I definitely like to go back to books that I really enjoyed. So the Flashback Challenge was a challenge that I had join in on. I'm going with the Bookworm level that only requires 3 books but who knows if I'll reread more. Especially if I continue rereading the Harry Potter series. And I'll admit that I am craving some Harry Potter right now.

Last year, I searched and searched for a good historical reading challenge. Now this year there are a bunch. So of course I'm joining in with the Historical Fiction reading challenge at the fascinated level which is 6 books.

And the lovely Jackie is again hosting the New Author challenge. I'm so close to reading 50 new authors this year and would love to do it again next year. But I'm going to start off with saying 25...playing it safe since I'm joining so many challenges.

Next, I'm joining in on the Social Justice Challenge. The amount I participate in this one is on a month to month basis which leaves it really open for me. A good thing for sure!

Another challenge that I completed this year and am joining again for next year is the Support Your Library challenge. This is such an easy challenge for me and I just can't resist. I'm going with the Just My Size level which is 50 books.

And I'm joining the Young Adult challenge which I also completed this year...or I'm going to after I finish the book I'm reading :) I'm going with the Mini YA reading level as I don't read a ton of books that are YA. I would like to read more though...

Okay, we're almost there. I'm also joining in on the Twenty Minute Book Club Challenge at the Aluminum level. This only requires 4 books but I may read more if I can.

The Fantasy Reading challenge is another easy challenge for me that I'm joining in on. Going with the Addicted level which is another 12 books...I better hit 100 books at the rate of challenges that I'm joining. LOL!

So that's it for me...I'll probably end up joining a few more but this is it for now. Call me crazy but I am SO excited about 2010. It should be a great year of reading! And I apologize to all of the challenge hosts for not taking the time to make seperate challenge posts. But I did try to link up to you :) Now if I could just clean up my sidebar... and if the spacing would go the way I want to...

The Sunday Salon- Back to Blogging

Whew! Where did November go and how are we only two weeks away from Christmas?? Sorry that I've been gone lately but I was sick (which is absolutely no fun when you are huge and pregnant too) and then I took a bit of a blogging break. I'm back and feeling better than ever minus the whole huge thing but I can't really change that right now. And I have about a zillion posts running around in my head that I need to get to but for now I thought I would catch you up with my reading and just say hello :)

I'm currently reading Stolen by Kelley Armstrong. This is the 2nd book in this series and I'm hoping to enjoy it as much as I did the first. As I have yet to review the first book, Bitten, I'll probably end up doing a double review post at some point. In fact, I may be doing a lot of those in the near future. I'm so far behind... I'm also still reading The Woman in White which is going well but let's face it: there is NO way that I am going to finish it before the new year. I'm still reading it in small sections which really does work for me.

Last night, I finished reading The House on Tradd Street by Karen White. While I don't think that I liked it as much as so many others did, I did like it enough to want to read the next book. Hmm...that sounds weird to me so suffice it to say that I liked it but didn't love it. I also recently finished reading Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine which was a great follow-up to the first book in the series. I'm currently about 10 books away from hitting 100 books read this year and have accepted the fact that I probably won't make it. I'm okay with that though as it has been a really good year for me reading wise.

I'm sure that I'll post about my reading goals for 2010 in the near future but they have been rolling around in my head for the past couple of weeks. Plus, all of the challenges that I want to join...I don't think that I can resist some of them. I've put a hold on my library check outs and am just trying to read from the stack that I have because they will all go back at the end of this year. I've decided to start all over with new library loot in 2010 :) Fun, fun... Anyways, my apologies for not being around more these past few weeks and hopefully I will catch up at some point. My google reader is at 1000+ which means I've got some reading and commenting ahead of me. Talk to you soon and happy holidays!!

Randomness

Seriously...I'll be back soon but for now I'm just reading "easy" reads that don't take much out of me and working on getting better.

The Sunday Salon - Library Loot Edition

Hmm...is it a no-no to combine The Sunday Salon and Library Loot into one post? Probably but I can't wait any longer to share all of the goodies that I have brought home from the library lately. And I haven't shared my reading progress lately...plus, it IS Sunday :) Let's start with the obvious which is that once again I have way too many books checked out. I honestly don't care though as I am so excited about some of these. I can't possibly read all of these but I'm sure going to try.

In reading news, I'm currently reading Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block. Heard about this author on a couple of other blogs and I couldn't not give her a try. I've only finished the 1st Weetzie book but I liked it. Different but good is my opinion so far. I'm also still working on The Woman in White but my reading on that one has definitely slowed down. Not for any real reason other than I don't pick it up at times. I do like it though so I'm not sure exactly what my problem is. But on to my library finds:

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood- From Publishers Weekly: "Intrigued by contemporary reports of a sensational murder trial in 1843 Canada, Atwood has draw a compelling portrait of what might have been." I loved The Handmaid's Tale so I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.


A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray- From Goodreads: "A Victorian boarding school story, a Gothic mansion mystery, a gossipy romp about a clique of girlfriends, and a dark other-worldly fantasy..." This is reloot for me but how can I resist this cover? And that description? I will HAVE to get to it this time!

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson- I've been wanting to read something by this author for awhile now. It is about 3 different mysteries that are all tied together somehow...not sure how but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Crow Lake by Mary Lawson- From Goodreads: "In this universal drama of family love and misunderstandings, of resentments harbored and driven underground, Lawson ratchets up the tension with heartbreaking humor and consummate control, continually overturning one's expectations right to the very end." Sounds intense but good!


Graceling by Kristin Cashore- I've yet to read a bad review of this book so of course I took this one home with me.

Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine- Book 2 in the Weather Warden series and one that I've been meaning to pick up for awhile now. I really liked the 1st one so I'm looking forward to this! And I believe that this may be reloot as well.

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent- From Goodreads: "Kent paints a haunting portrait, not just of Puritan New England, but also of one family's deep and abiding love in the face of fear and persecution." I picked this one up based on Dar's review and am really, really excited about it.

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton- From Goodreads: "Set as the war-shattered Edwardian summer surrenders to the decadent twenties, The House At Riverton is a thrilling mystery and a compelling love story." Sold! Sounds so good :)

Spindle's End by Robin McKinley- I was in the mood for a retelling of a fairy tale and this one jumped out at me. This is the retelling of Sleeping Beauty and hopefully it will be just what I am looking for.

The House on Tradd Street by Karen White- Another recommendation that I found over at Dar's blog. If you guys haven't checked her out you should. And this one is billed as a mystery with ghosts so of course I couldn't resist.

Wow! I really need to work on my self control :P And if you can't guess, the rest of my Sunday will probably be spent reading so I can make progress in my towering stack of books. Plus, I'll be stopping by to see what you all are up to. Happy Sunday!

Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur

Give a brief summary of the book:

Full Moon Rising finds Riley lying naked in an alley, unable to remember how she got there or the previous days that have obviously passed by. She figures out all too soon that she needs to escape, and escape fast, as someone is after her and won't be happy that she is free. Once again, Riley is up against an unknown force that is trying to create the perfect breed of species and they want her as one of their test subjects.

Likes?

I liked everything about this novel and this series so far. This was a fast-paced novel that I couldn't put down as I was constantly trying to figure out what was going to happen next. And who was behind everything that is going on...I flew through this book. Riley is a great main character. She is strong and sure of herself and doesn't make apologies for the way she is. As the reader, I can't help but like her. Especially as we see her struggle with the possibilites of becoming a guardian and the killing of others that will be involved. I also like the mix that makes her both werewolf and vampire. Keri Arthur made it even more interesting in this book as she gives Riley new talents that she is just beginning to discover. Definitely a series that I will continue following!

Dislikes?

Hmm...I can't say that I have any real dislikes. I will say that I have a hard time relating to Riley when it comes to having multiple sexual partners all of the time. Which is going to sound odd unless you've read this series. Suffice it to say that it is an integral part of being a werewolf and while I understand that...well, I just have times where it is a bit too much. But it doesn't make me like the story any less if that makes any sense. Probably not :)

Additional Thoughts?

I'm finding after reading this 2nd book that I really, really like this series and am eager to pick the 3rd book up. I'm curious as to where the author will take the next book and am also curious as to how Riley will grow. I'd recommend this series (start out with the 1st one though) to paranormal romance lovers and those who enjoy urban fantasy. But be prepared to not want to set this book down once you start it!

*Reading Order*

1. Full Moon Rising

2. Kissing Sin

LoL! Sorry but I'm going to stop there. And that is 3 for 3 for me in November so far...I am on a roll. Now if I could get some other back reviews posted...another day. Be on the lookout for a new library loot post soon. I have a BUNCH of books that I'm so excited to share about but I'm waiting until the last 2 requests come in from the library.

A Veiled Deception by Annette Blair

A Veiled Deception is the first in the cozy mystery series featuring Madeira Cutler who is a fashion designer with a love and flair for vintage clothing. But when she comes home for her youngest sister's wedding, trouble begins to brew as her sister's nemesis is found strangled with a bridal veil. Now Madeira is out to clear her sister and her family's name as well as find out who the killer really is. And while doing that she begins to discover and explore the new paranormal gifts that she inherited from her mother.

Hmm...what to say about this one other than I liked it. It wasn't great or anything but it was a fun enough read. Madeira, or Maddie as she is most often called, is an interesting main character with a lot of quirks. The way she talked at times was a bit over the top but other than that I liked her. The mystery itself was interesting and I especially liked the visions that Maddie was having of previous women wearing the same wedding dress. It was definitely a cozy mystery with nothing too over the top but a fun read nonetheless.

All in all, I would recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers who enjoy reading about fashion as well. As for myself, I'll be reading the 2nd book at some point but I won't be rushing out or anything to grab it. Good but not great :)

P.S. - 2 for 2 so far this month on reviews...woohoo!

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

"Each Reader must choose a piece of lace. It is hers for life. It might be a pattern handed down through generations or a piece cosen by the reader for its beauty or familiarity. Many Readers prefer the handmade laces, particularly the laces of old Ispwich or the new circular pieces made by the women of Yellow Dog Island. - The Lace Reader's Guide" p. 6 of The Lace Reader

I'm not even sure where to begin with this review other than to say that I found this book to be an amazing read. The Lace Reader begins with the reader meeting Towner, the main character, who admits freely that she lies and that her name is really Sophya. Towner is going back to her hometown as her Great Aunt Eva is missing. While there she will be forced to confront her demons from the past and work through the issues that are still haunting her today. The women in Towner's family are all lace readers and can read the future in the lace. But something has caused Towner to vow never to read lace again...


Oh my goodness...how I enjoyed this book! From the very beginning, I was swept up in the story that the author had written and the atmosphere that she had created. I didn't quite know what to make of Towner, I mean she admits right from the beginning that she is crazy and that she lies. So I wasn't sure at any point in the book if she was telling the truth which made for an interesting read. I ended up just letting the author take me for a ride and what a ride it was! The story was told from different viewpoints at time but it didn't detract from the story whatsoever. In fact, it made me feel even closer to the main characters. I ended up caring about Towner even though I couldn't entirely trust the story that she was telling me. And the ending of this book...blew me away. Seriously, I might have seen pieces of it coming but really in the end when I closed the book I was stunned. I think that this would be a great book to read with a book group and have a discussion over. I myself would love to hear what other readers thought of the ending of this book.


All in all, I found this to be an amazing read and will probably go on to my top reads of 2009. I'm pretty sure I've gushed enough over this book...so go pick it up and give it a try. I doubt that you'll be disappointed. Highly recommended.


P.S.- This is me meeting my November goal of reviewing books directly after I read them. I can't possibly get more behind on reviews if I do this and I'll try and catch up on a few reviews that I am behind on at some point in this month as well.

The Girl She Used To Be by David Cristofano

From Goodreads:

"When Melody Grace McCartney was six years old, she and her parents witnessed an act of violence so brutal that it changed their lives forever. The federal government lured them into the Witness Protection Program with the promise of safety, and they went gratefully. But the program took Melody's name, her home, her innocence, and, ultimately, her family."

My Thoughts:

The Girl She Used To Be swept me up from the beginning of the novel and didn't let go until the end. This is a fast paced moving novel that focuses on what a lack of identity can do to an individual. Melody has been multiple names and faces throughout her lifetime but never the person that she wants to be which is Melody. She is caught up in the net that is the witness protection program and struggling to find herself amongst all of the lies. Melody was an interesting main character for me. I didn't always like her or her actions at times but I couldn't stop myself from caring about what happened to her...even when she didn't care herself. The main problem I had with this book was the believability issues. As a reader, I really had to stop myself from nitpicking and just enjoy the ride. Because it is a good ride and like I said before, I found myself caught up within the pages of this book. But it isn't realistic whatsoever which did cause a few problems for me especially at the beginning of the book. All in all, I liked this book and would definitely pick up more by this author in the future.

(I received this book from the lovely folks at Hatchette and unfortunately am just now getting around to reviewing it. )

Library Loot - October 22nd

So I really didn't need anymore library books. Really. But that has never stopped me from checking out books from the library even when I know that I cannot possibly read them all. And I can't seem to help myself when I come across all of these lovely reviews from my fellow bloggers. I mean really, what's a girl to do? Here's what I picked up when I went to the library yesterday (by myself..such a treat!)

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher by Kate Summerscale- All of the blame goes to Nymeth for this one. I read her review...added it to my neverending TBR list and snatched it up when I came across it while browsing through the nonfiction shelves.

The Observations by Jane Harris- Lesley at A Life In Books recently reviewed this one and boy did I want to read it after reading her review. She said it fits the RIP challenge bill so I'm going with it and hopefully I will get to it soon :)




The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman- I've heard of this author from multiple bloggers but haven't read anything by her yet. And actually I had a different book checked out by her previously but then I looked at the synopsis for this one and decided that I wanted to read this one more. I'm such a moody reader.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmaelf Beah- I found this one browsing in nonfiction as well. Plus, I was hoping to read this one for a couple of challenges so I was excited to find it.




Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block- A new to me blogger (I'm so out of the loop sometimes) Debi recently reviewed this one and it sure sounded good. Then Andi reviewed a different book by this same author and I knew I was going to have to give her a try. Found this one on the shelves and couldn't resist...plus, don't you love this cover??

The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine- I've read the 1st book in this series and enjoyed it. Stephanie always seems to love these books which made me want to continue on even more!

See...me going to the library and checking all of these books out is basically due to everyone else and their wonderful reviews. I can't resist...and just think of all the books I'm going to learn about after you guys get done with the readathon. I can't participate myself...gotta work but I will try and stop by to cheer you all on. As always, share your thoughts if you've read any of these!

An "In Death" Series Post

I really, really, really need to catch up on my reviews. And one way to do that is knock off two reviews with one stone and talk about one of my favorite series. As regular readers of my blog know, I love, love, love the In Death series by J.D. Robb (better known as Nora Roberts). I'm going to take the time to FINALLY review two of her books that I read awhile ago that are a part of this series.

Divided In Death is according to fantastic fiction, the 21st book in the In Death series and luckily for me this series is still going strong. In this book, Eve is investigating a murder that looks like a setup and the prime suspect is one of Roarke's own employees and a personal friend. What makes this book different than previous books in the series, is that Eve and Roarke are straddling different sides of the line. Roarke takes the murder as a personal attack against him while Eve has to view it from a more technical viewpoint and from a cop's eyes. I liked this one a lot because we (the reader) got to see a different side of their relationship. It made their relationship seem like it was stronger and I just can't help but love these books because of it. The mystery kept me guessing and involved and I flew through this book just as fast as the others. Definitely recommended.

Visions In Death is the next book in the series and was another strong addition to this series. In this book, Eve is up against a killer who is killing young women and removing their eyes. With little to go on, Eve may be on her most difficult case yet especially when she begins to work with a pyschic who seems to be having visions relating to the murders. Peabody played a more prominent role in this one which was a nice change. Plus, I just love the dynamics between her and Eve so I had a fun time reading this book. Another fast-paced mystery with a great ending that I didn't see coming whatsoever.

All in all, these are fun reads for me that never fail to draw me out of a reading slump. They always keep my attention and I end up turning the pages as fast as I can. I'd recommend these to anyone that enjoys a good mystery with some romance thrown into the mix. But start at the beginning with Naked In Death!

Series Order:

1. Naked In Death (hah, I'm going to have to stop there as there are just too many to list)

but I will leave you with a link to my 1st post that I did on this series which was Holiday In Death ...sorry I read all of the others before I started blogging. If I ever catch up on this series I plan on rereading them all :P