Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Teaser Tuesday


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading, and anyone can play along!

  • grab your current read
  • flip to a random page
  • select two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
  • try not to include spoilers!
  • please let us know the author and book so we can add them to our TBR pile!

This week my teaser will be taken from Caitlin Kittredge's Night Life.

""Luna could get it!" Sunny exclaimed, grabbing my knee. "She has access to all that stuff!"
I looked at the floor. Sunny would find out soon, but she wasn't going to do it in front
of Hoskins." pg. 212

I just started this book so I'm really interested in this teaser!

What is your Tuesday teaser?

Happy Reading!

Ice - Linda Howard

'Tis the season for mistletoe and holly, Santa . . . and suspense. And the gift that keeps on giving is Ice: premier thriller author Linda Howard's breathless tale of a man, a woman, and a battle for survival against an unforgiving winter--and an unrelenting killer. Oh, what fun it is to read.
Gabriel McQueen has only just arrived home on holiday leave from the service when his county-sheriff father sends him back out again with new marching orders: A brewing ice storm, and a distant neighbour who's fallen out of contact, have the local lawman concerned. So he enlists Gabriel to make the long haul to the middle of nowhere and make sure that Lolly Helton is safe and sound. It's a trip the younger McQueen would rather not make, given the bitter winter weather--and the icy conditions that have always existed between him and Lolly.
But there's no talking back when your dad is the town's top cop. And there's no turning back when night falls just as Gabriel arrives--and discovers that the weather outside isn't the only thing that's frightful. Spotting strangers in Lolly's home--one of them packing a weapon--kicks Gabriel into combat mode. And his stealth training is all he needs to extract Lolly from the house without alerting her captors. But when the escape is discovered, the heat--and the hunt--are on. And the winter woods are nowhere to be once the ice storm touches down, dropping trees, blocking roads, and trapping the fleeing pair in the freezing dark.
Now, snowbound, unarmed, and literally under the gun, Gabriel and Lolly must depend on each other to endure the merciless forces of nature--and evade the ruthless enemy out in the blackness of the silent night . . . and out for their blood.

Title: Ice
Author: Linda Howard
Genre: Adult Fiction, Suspense, Romance
Publisher: Ballantine Books
My Rating: 3/5

This book was mainly about ice... and lots of it. I wouldn't say it was "Christmas" themed at all. It seemed more geared towards winter. The inside flap (written above) had more phrases to do with Christmas than the entire book combined. It was a very fast-paced read. The characters were set up easily, as was the plot. You could follow along seamlessly and quickly. The only complaint I had is that there really wasn't any depth to the characters/book, in the sense that yes, they may have been at odds in high-school but they seemed to get over that quite quickly without really tackling the subject or feeling "real" emotions about it. (Now this is my POV, and you/anyone might think differently on this). The other thing I noticed was that there was a lot of description about the ice, and how it could bring down trees and limbs and kill someone if they weren't careful. I didn't mind reading this, but I didn't need it pounded at me. I got it the first time, didn't need it reiterated the 67th time. It could also be argued that it needed that much reiteration to get across the point that the storm was dangerous, and that this was needed for the story to be believable. (You be the judge.) All in all, not one of her greatest works, but still an enjoyable read.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

In My Mailbox -2-


In My Mailbox is hosted over at The Story Siren every Sunday. I have found the blog that I first found the picture (above) and would like to throw the link up to Tynga's Urban Fantasy reviews to say that that is where I found the picture. Both of these sites are very informative and they have amazing reviews. Check them out! :)

I bought one book this week. (surprising, I know!)

1. Kitty's House of Horror's by Carrie Vaughn

I also received three books as stocking stuffers. (Thanks Babe!)

1. Midnight Reign (Vampire Babylon) by Chris Marie Green
2. The Soldier King (A Novel of Dhulyn and Parno) by Violette Malan
3. By Blood We Live. Edited by John Joseph Adams. (Vampire Anthology)

I can't wait to get started on these books, however I'm just starting Night Life by Caitlin Kittredge, and I will be reading Michelle Rowen's Demon Princess: Reign or Shine next. (Reviews to follow!) :)

I also picked up a bookmark this week that I thought was cool. It has the following on it...

Top 10 Reasons to Read Everyday
1. Frees your Mind
2. Impresses everyone with what you know
3. Develops your Imagination
4. Chases away Boredom
5. Teaches you Something
6. Takes you to Faraway Places
7. Sends you to the past or into the future
8. Introduces New People and Cultures
9. Opens up New Worlds
10. Gives you Serenity

That's all that I received In My Mailbox this week. Let me know what you received in yours!

Be Still My Vampire Heart - Kerrelyn Sparks

One look at her was enough to stop his heart . . .

If it was still beating. Angus MacKay has been undead for almost five hundred years and it's not often something, or someone, surprises him. Until Emma Wallace. The sight of this luscious agent from the CIA's elite Stake-Out team was enough to stop Angus in his tracks. But then he discovers that she's a vampire slayer, intent on killing the "monsters" who killed her parents. And it's Angus's job to stop her.

The only good vampire is a dead vampire. It's been Emma's motto since she committed her life to the destruction of these things. Now Angus MacKay wants to convince her differently. Sure, he's a sexy Highland warrior who seems to have stepped off the cover of a romance novel, complete with brogue, kilt, and sword, but he's also one of them. And it's her job to kill him.

The war is on, but will it end in the destruction of one or both of them . . . or in total surrender to a passion for the ages?

Title: Be Still My Vampire Heart
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Sub-Genre: Vampire Fiction
Publisher: Avon Books (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
My Rating: 4/5

This is the third installment in the Love at Stake series. I've read all of them out of order, and I recommend that they be read chronologically. This book was excellent. I enjoyed the comraderie between the male vampires. I really like Angus's character as well. He and Emma seem to just flow well together. At first, the fact that Angus keeps checking under his kilt to make sure that "everything" is still there after he teleports was funny. It wears thin the tenth time that he does it though. The story was engaging, with Angus trying to stop Emma from killing vampires and to realize that there are two different factions of vampires; that some aren't necessarily evil. We get to see their relationship evolve, and see how far they are willing to go to save each other. Casimir, the leader of the Malcontent's makes an appearance as well, and there is another fight between "good" and "evil"... It is definitely a light and funny read.


Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas

Wishing you all the best this holiday season. I hope that you have had a great Christmas and have spent it with the ones you love most. Travel safely, and have fun.

Glass Houses - Rachel Caine

It's a small college town filled with quirky characters. But when the sun goes down, the bad comes out. Because in Morganville, there is an evil that lurks in the darkest shadows--one that will spill out into the bright light of day.

Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation. The popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks on the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero. And Claire really doesn't have the right connections--to the undead who run the town.

When Claire heads off campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life. But they'll have Claire's back when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood....

Title: Glass Houses
Author: Rachel Caine
Genre: Young Adult
Sub-Genre: Vampire Fiction
Publisher: Nal Jam Books a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
My Rating: 4.5/5

This is the first YA book that I have read by Rachel Caine, and I loved it. I loved the fact that there are four (relatively main) characters (Michael, Shane, Eve, and Claire). The story drew me in, and left me wanting more. I'm hoping that the writing itself evolves throughout the series, but it was definitely an excellent read. This will be a book that I recommend to my friends (or anyone that asks for a new series or author). I love the chemistry between the main characters, be it as friends (or maybe more?) The only thing that I recommend though (before reading the book), is that you have the second book (or the rest of the series?) ready, because Rachel clearly loves the cliffhanger effect! I'm waiting for the second book from the library, and I finished this book with a "holy crap batman! What happens next?!" outlook. (Duane can attest to that...) This is a book that I wouldn't mind having on my shelf. The story is just that good.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I, Alex Cross - James Patterson


YOU CAN'T RUN


Detective Alex Cross is pulled out of a family celebration and given the awful news that a beloved relative has been found brutally murdered. Alex vows to hunt down her killer, and soon learns that she was mixed up in one of Washington's wildest scenes. And she was not this killer's only victim.

YOU CAN'T HIDE

The hunt for the murderer leads Alex and his girlfriend, Detective Brianna Stone, to a place where every fantasy is possible, if you have the credentials to get in. Alex and Bree are soon facing down some very important, very protected, very dangerous people in levels of society where only one thing is certain--they will do anything to keep their secrets safe.

ALEX CROSS IS YOUR ONLY HOPE TO STAY ALIVE

As Alex closes in on the killer, he discovers evidence that points to the unimaginable--a revelation that could rock the entire world. With the unstoppable action, unforeseeable twists, and edge-of-your-seat excitement that only a James Patterson thriller delivers, I, Alex Cross is the master of suspense at his sharpest and best.

Title: I, Alex Cross
Author: James Patterson
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Suspense.
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
My Rating: 4/5

This book is the latest installment in the Alex Cross series. Lately I've been finding his books a little graphic and though well-written, I haven't liked them as much. I was hoping that this book wouldn't follow the pattern that I've seen emerging. This book broke the pattern... in a way. It still was graphic, and I agree that it's one of the worst cases that Alex has worked on. However, it's not as graphic/morbid as the last Cross novel, or the last stand alone novel. (It still had parts that were a bit much!) Parts of this book I found didn't segue together well, but over-all it was very cohesive and well-written. It was engaging, but I do enjoy Alex Cross's earlier stuff more. I enjoyed the dialogue with Alex's family, and am glad that things ended the way they did. (I can't say more than that without giving major spoilers!) It's a fast-paced read, and definitely throws a surprise or two your way! If you're a fan of James Patterson, it is one of his better novels and is well worth the read. If you're new to James Patterson, I'd start with his earlier stuff and work your way up to this novel. There are a lot of characters in this book that are introduced early on in the series.

As an addendum, I really enjoyed the stand alone Cross book titled Alex Cross's Trial.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Are These My Basoomas I see Before Me? - Louise Rennison


It's a bit early to get swoony knickers but I have got them on.


For Georgia,
the more things change, the more they stay the same. Just when she thought she was the official one-and-only girlfriend of Masimo, he's walked off into the night with the full hump, leaving Georgia all aloney on her owney--again. All because Dave the Laugh tried to do fisticuffs at dawn with him!
Two boys fighting over Georgia? It's almost as romantic as Romeo and Juliet . . . though perhaps a touch less tragic.
It's time for Georgia to get to the bottom (oo-er) of this Dave the Laugh spontaneous puckering business once and for all. It's like they always say: If you snog a mate in the forest of red bottomosity and no one is around to see it, is he still a mate? Or is he something more?

Title: Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me?
Author: Lousie Rennison
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: HarperTeen (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
My Rating: 4.5/5

I have loved reading this series, and am sad that this is the final "diary" of Georgia's. It is definitely a quick and easy read. Light, and hilarious. I have laughed out loud through all of the books in the series. We see all of the dilemma's that Georgia faces, what with her red bottomosity with Dave the Laugh; her relationship with Masimo; and her crazy antics with the ace gang. If you are in the mood for something that doesn't need a lot of thought, and are wanting something to cheer you up and get you laughing... this series is it. Much hilarity ensues when one reads what Georgia's parents, little sister Libby, cat Angus, the ace gang, Dave the Laugh, the Stiff Dylans, and of course Georgia, get up to!

The books in order:
1. Angus, thongs and full-frontal snogging
2. On the bright side, I'm now the girlfriend of a sex god
3. Knocked out by my nunga-nungas
4. Away laughing on a fast camel
5. Dancing in my nuddy-pants
6. Then he ate my boy entrancers
7. Startled by his furry shorts
8. Love is a many trousered thing
9. Stop in the name of pants!
10. Are these my basoomas I see before me?

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Fragile Eternity - Melissa Marr

Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone--but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on a new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.
Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her--but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.

Title: Fragile Eternity
Author: Melissa Marr
Genre: Young Adult
Sub-Genre: Fantasy, Faery
Publisher: Bowen Press (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
My Rating: 4.9/5

This is the third book in the Tales of Faery series by Melissa Marr. I don't know where to even begin with this review. We see several alliances change through the different faery courts. We get to see the fourth court that is almost solely in Faery. Sorcha, the Unchanging Queen, was very (surprisingly) kind at times, not as fickle as the other faeries, and her character is amazing.
I'm beginning to have a love/hate relationship with Aislinn and Keenan now though. Aislinn is entirely way too trusting, but she also mopes around a LOT. Keenan is the same as he has been through the previous books, devious as only faeries can be. Seth on the other hand... I love Seth. He is awesome. (So is Niall). I love what Melissa has done with Seth's and Niall's characters. They are definitely heavy-weight contenders in the series now. I figured that Seth would become a faery since Aislinn accepted the title of Summer Queen. I love how it all happened though. I really can't wait for the next book to hop on the ride with Seth to see what his new life entails, and what he discovers about himself along the way. We get a teaser also about Leslie (I'm still hoping for a follow-up story for that love triangle!) However, we're going to have to wait as the next book out is Ani's story. (Can't wait!) I'm officially hooked on this series now.

Current song that I'm listening to: Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

What'cha doing Wednesdays?

'Tis the season for less reading, and more hustling and bustling about. I hoped that I'd be able to finish my personal 100 books for 2009, but that might not happen now. Unless, I ignore my computer, and hole up this weekend and just read until my eyes bleed. Then again that might prove a little sore!
I'm currently reading "Fragile Eternity" by Melissa Marr. I haven't quite made it to my Tuesday teaser page yet... I'm just maybe 20 pages shy of it. It certainly has me intrigued though!
Saturday I was in town at my local Coles bookstore, and I had a lady come up to me and ask for help looking for a book. I thought it was quite awesome, especially when she started off with "You look like someone who knows her way around a bookstore." How awesome is that?? I thought it was pretty cool (hence why I'm still going on about it) ;). I helped her find the book(s) that she was looking for, and was quite happy when she announced in front of staff members that I should work there etc. (They were all busy though... I haven't seen that store so busy since, well, Christmas last year.) I just thought I'd share that random happening from my life. :)
Anyway, I figured I'd post since it's been a couple of days since my last post. (Not including all of the book challenges that I've entered!) I'll jot down a review once I've finished this book. I'm liking it so far, loving the new dynamics between the kings/queens etc. I'll write more on that later though. :)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays



Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My teaser: He shook his head as if to clear the spider webs that seemed to be wrapping around him as she spoke. "I do."

pg. 270 ~ Fragile Eternity - Melissa Marr


451 Challenge

I just joined another challenge...

Welcome to the 451 Challenge! This challenge is based on 451 Fridays, a weekly feature hosted at As Usual, We Need More Bookshelves.

451 Fridays is based on an idea from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. In his novel, a group of people (Bradbury calls them Book People) are trying to keep the ideas found in books alive. Instead of actually saving the books, the Book People each "become" a book - memorizing it, word for word, and passing it down to the next generation.

451 Fridays asks what books you feel passionate about. What book do you think is so important that you would be willing to take on the challenge of "becoming"?

We have compiled an amazing list of books this year in our weekly 451 Fridays posts, and it's time to start reading them! So, the 451 Challenge was born.

Here is how it will work: between January 1, 2010 and November 30, 2010, participants are challenged to read books on the 451 master list. There will be several levels of participation:

Spark - read 1-2 books from the master list
Ember - read 3-4 books from the master list
Flame - read 5-6 books from the master list
Blaze - read 7 or more books from the master list

Re-reading is acceptable, as are crossovers with other challenges. Audio, print, and e-books are all acceptable. Each month, participants will be encouraged to post their reviews on the challenge blog, and each review posted will be an entry into a grand prize drawing for a $25 gift card to the online bookseller of the winner's choice.

451 Master List

  • 1984 - George Orwell
  • A Bend in the River - V.S. Naipaul
  • A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
  • A Confederacy of Dunces - John O'Toole
  • A Solitary Blue - Cynthia Voigt
  • A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
  • A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
  • A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
  • Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton
  • Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank
  • Anne of Green Gables - L.M. Montgomery
  • Ashes in the Wind - Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
  • Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
  • Atonement - Ian McEwan
  • Black Beauty - Anna Sewell
  • Blake's Poetry & Designs - William Blake
  • Call It Sleep - Henry Roth
  • Calvin and Hobbes - Bill Watterson
  • Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
  • Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
  • Centennial - James Michener
  • Charlotte's Web - E.B. White
  • Collected Poems - Robert Frost
  • Collected Poems - William Butler Yeats
  • Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky
  • Cry, The Beloved Country - Alan Paton
  • Demonology - Rick Moody
  • Devil in the White City - Erik Larsen
  • Diaries of Anais Nin - Anais Nin
  • Different Seasons - Stephen King
  • Dr. Seuss's ABC - Dr. Seuss
  • Dr. Zhivago - Boris Pasternak
  • Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
  • Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
  • Fingersmith - Sarah Waters
  • Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
  • Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise - Ruth Reichel
  • Geek Love - Katherine Dunne
  • Going After Cacciato - Tim O'Brien
  • Gone With the Wind - Margaret Mitchell
  • Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
  • Greengage Summer - Rumer Godden
  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling
  • I Am America and So Can You! - Stephen Colbert
  • I Am David - Ann Holm
  • In This House of Brede - Rumer Godden
  • Interview with the Vampire - Anne Rice
  • Islandia - Austin Tappan Wright
  • Izzy Willy Nilly - Cynthia Voigt
  • Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
  • Jitterbug Perfume - Tom Robbins
  • Julius Ceasar - William Shakespeare
  • Just So Stories - Rudyard Kipling
  • Legends of Pensam - Mamang Dai
  • Les Miserable - Victor Hugo
  • Little Boy Lost - Marghanita Laski
  • Little Women - Louise May Alcott
  • Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
  • Long Day's Journey Into Night - Eugene O'Neill
  • Love You Forever - Robert Munsch
  • Macbeth - William Shakespeare
  • Mary Poppins - P.L. Travers
  • Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
  • Middlemarch - George Eliot
  • My Invented Country - Isabel Allende
  • Night - Elie Wiesel
  • Night at the Circus - Angela Carter
  • Nursery Rhymes - Mother Goose
  • Out of the Silent Planet - C.S. Lewis
  • Paco's Story - Larry Heinemann
  • Paradise Lost - John Milton
  • Parthian Stations - John Ash
  • Peace Like a River - Leif Enger
  • Perfume - Patrick Suskind
  • Persuasion - Jane Austen
  • Piercing the Darkness - Frank Peretti
  • Pitch Dark - Renata Adler
  • Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
  • Quarantine - Jim Crace
  • Rabbit is Rich - John Updike
  • Rasero - Francisco Rebolledo
  • River's End - Nora Roberts
  • Roots - Alex Haley
  • Sam Bangs and Moonshine - Evaline Ness
  • Sea Glass - Anita Shreve
  • Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 - Nathaniel Philbrick
  • Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
  • Silence - Shusaku Endo
  • Small Gods - Terry Pratchett
  • South Riding - Winifred Holtby
  • St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves - Karen Russell
  • Summer of my German Soldier - Bette Green
  • Ten Tales Tall and True - Alasdair Gray
  • Tender is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald
  • The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights
  • The Autograph Man - Zadie Smith
  • The Awakening - Kate Chopin
  • The Bean Trees - Barbara Kingsolver
  • The Beginning and the End - Naguib Mahfouz
  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Barbara Robinson
  • The Blindfold - Siri Hustvedt
  • The Blue Castle - L.M. Montgomery
  • The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
  • The Butcher Boy - Patrick McCabe
  • The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis
  • The Complete Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  • The Complete Works of Shakespeare - William Shakespeare
  • The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas
  • The Courage of Their Convictions: Sixteen Americans Who Fought Their Way to the Supreme Court - Peter Irons
  • The Double Helix - James D. Watson
  • The Dragonridgers of Pern - Anne McCaffrey
  • The Family from One End Street - Eve Garnett
  • The Far Pavilions - M.M. Kaye
  • The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
  • The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand
  • The Giver - Lois Lowry
  • The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein
  • The Golems of Gotham - Thane Rosenbaum
  • The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
  • The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
  • The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
  • The Haunting of Hill House - Shirley Jackson
  • The Hiding Place - Corrie ten Boom
  • The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
  • The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkein
  • The Hours - Michael Cunningham
  • The Hours - Michael Cunningham
  • The Iliad - Homer
  • The Iliad - Homer
  • The Importance of Being Earnest - Oscar Wilde
  • The Joy Luck Club - Amy Tan
  • The Joy of Cooking - Rombauer, Becker, and Becker
  • The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
  • The Lions of Al-Rassan - Guy Gavriel Kay
  • The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupery
  • The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkein
  • The Love of a Good Woman - Alice Munro
  • The Magic of Ordinary Days - Ann Howard Creel
  • The New York Trilogy - Paul Auster
  • The Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux
  • The Phantom Tollbooth - Norton Juster
  • The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
  • The Power and the Glory - Graham Greene
  • The Ring and the Book - Robert Browning
  • The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole aged 13 3/4 - Sue Townsend
  • The Shipping News - E. Annie Proulx
  • The Sleep Book - Dr. Seuss
  • The Stand - Stephen King
  • The Story Girl - L.M. Montgomery
  • The Story of a Mariage - Andrew Sean Greer
  • The Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu
  • The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffinegger
  • The Way of Herbs - Michael Tierra
  • The Worst Hard Time - Timothy Egan
  • The Yiddish Policeman's Union - Michael Chabon
  • This Present Darkness - Frank Peretti
  • Time and Again - Jack Finney
  • To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
  • Tropic of Cancer - Henry Miller
  • Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
  • Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
  • We Need to Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver
  • We the Living - Ayn Rand
  • We Were the Mulvaneys - Joyce Carol Oates
  • Where the Sidewalk Ends - Shel Silverstein
  • Winesburg, Ohio - Sherwood Anderson
  • Women in the Wall - Julia O'Faolian
  • Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
  • Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M. Pirsig


I'm going to go all out and go for "Blaze". It would be nice to cross-over several of these challenges! :)

Sunday, December 13, 2009

In My Mailbox


This is my first "In My Mailbox" post... I came across the icon in a blog, if it's yours let me know and I'll link it back to you. (I have been over so many blogs the last few days that I can't remember where I found the icon. All I know is that I really liked the look of it. lol)
(Inspired by Kristi from The Story Siren)

I have been really bad this month so far in reference to buying books. My only saving grace is that I love the fact that I've gotten several gift cards and that I save a LOT with my irewards card through Chapters, and through their promotions.

I received some mail at Mom and Dad's last week from Indigo, (a surprise to me) and realized that it was a complimentary gift for those select few who are their most loyal clientele. That intrigued me when I realized what they were saying was "Thank you for spending all of your money in our stores." Needless to say once you check out this list of books you'll see why I received the "gift".

1. Rogue Angel: Paradox - Alex Archer
2. Winter Moon - Mercedes Lackey, Tanith Lee, & C.E. Murphy
3. On The Edge - Ilona Andrews
4. Tall, Dark & Hungry - Lynsay Sands
5. Bound to Shadows - Keri Arthur
6. Me and My Shadow - Katie MacAlister
7. Three Days to Dead - Kelly Meding
8. Tainted: The Blood Lily Chronicles - Julie Kenner
9. Never After - Laurell K. Hamilton, Yasmine Galenorn, Marjorie M. Liu, Sharon Shinn
10. Magic in the Shadows - Devon Monk
11. Magic in the Blood - Devon Monk
12. Bite Marks - Jennifer Rardin
13. Shiver - Maggie Stiefvater
14. Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick
15. Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger

At least most of these books were paperbacks, and that the one adult hardcover was 40% off. Again, I'm happy that I had some gift cards to help alleviate the cost! Anyway, that is my "In My Mailbox" post. :)

Take Another Chance Challenge



The Take Another Chance Challenge is hosted by Jenners at Find Your Next Book Here. I will be joining this challenge at the Moderate Gamble level.

The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 until December 31, 2010.

Here are the details from the challenge page:

A Small Gamble: Complete any 3 of the 12 challenges described below.
A Moderate Gamble: Complete any 6 of the 12 challenges described below.
Gambling It All: Complete all 12 of the challenges described below.

Challenge 1: Read Your Doppelganger (worth 1 entry)
Find an author who has either the same initials, the same first name, the same last name, or the exact same name as you. Read a book by this author and write a post about it. (If you try to keep your identity anonymous on your blog, you don't have to reveal what part of the author's name is the same as your name.)

Example: If your name is Susan Kasischke, you might read a book by Stephen King (same initials), Susan Donovan (same first name), Laura Kasischke (same last name) or Susan Kasischke (same exact name).

Challenge 2: Blogroll Roulette (worth 1 entry)
Find a blogroll at either your book blog or a book blog you like that has at least 15 book blogs on it. Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the number 1 for the min. and 15 for the max. and then hit generate. Then find the blog that is that number on the blogroll you selected. (For example, if you get 10 at Random.org, then count down the list of blogs until you get to the tenth one). Go to that blog and pick a book to read from the books that they have reviewed on their blog. Read it and write a post about it. Be sure to link to the blog post you picked the book from!

Challenge 3: 100 Best Book (worth 1 entry)
Choose one of the lists below and go to the link provided. Choose a book to read from the list that you haven't read before. Read the book and write about it.

* Radcliffe's Rival 100 Best Novels List
* Top 100 Sci-Fi Books
* 100 Best Romance Novels of the 20th Century
* 100 Best Mystery Novels
* 100 Best Non-Fiction Books (pick from either Board List or Reader List)
* 2009 Best Books for Young Adults

Challenge 4: Prize Winner Book (worth 1 entry)
Pick one of the major literary awards from the list below. Click on the link for the award you picked. You will find a brief description of the award and links to past winners. Pick one of the past winners, read the book and write about it.

* Booker Prize
* Caldecott Medal
* National Book Award
* National Book Critics Circle Award
* Newbery Medal
* Nobel Prize for Literature
* PEN/Faulkner Award
* Pulitzer Prize
* Commonwealth Writers' Prize
* EMMA Awards

Challenge 5: Title Word Count (worth 1 entry)
Go to Random.org and, using the True Random Number Generator, enter the numbers 1 for the min. and 5 for the max. and then hit generate. Find a book to read that has that number of words in the title. Read the book and write about it.

Example: If you get 1 for your number, read a book that has a one word title. If you get 2, read a book that has a two word title and so on and so forth.

Challenge 6: Genre Switch-Up (worth 1 entry)
Go to this list of book genres and pick a genre that you have NEVER read before. Find a book from that genre, read it, and write about it. Note: If you seriously cannot find a genre that you have never read, then pick the genre that is as far away from what you normally read.

Challenge 7: Break A Prejudice (worth 1 entry)
We all have reading prejudices--authors we don't like, genres we don't like, or even publishers we don't like. For this challenge, think of a reading prejudice you have and then find a book that is an example of this type of book. Read the book and then write about the reading prejudice you had BEFORE you read the book and how reading the book either changed your prejudice or reinforced it.

Examples: I always say I can't stand James Patterson; therefore, I might read a James Patterson book for this challenge. Or, if you sneer at "chick lit" books, you might read a "chick lit" book. Or, if you think books published by Harlequin are pure drivel, you might read a book published by Harlequin. If you turn up your nose at the Twilight books, then you might read one of the Twilight books.

Challenge 8: Real and Inspired (worth 2 entries)
Many authors or books inspire others to pay homage to them by writing another book inspired by the original work. For this challenge, read both an original work and a book inspired by that original work. Write about both books in one post. Note: This might require some research on your part and requires reading two books so it worth 2 entries.

Examples: Christopher Moore's Fool is based on Shakespeare's play King Lear so I plan on reading both King Lear and Fool. Another example is Jane Austen, who inspired the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. For this challenge, you might read both Pride and Prejudice and the zombie version. (There are tons of other Austen-inspired books out there too.) Another idea would be a graphic novel version of a "standard" novel. The only real requirement is that the "inspired by" book must clearly state what original work inspired it.

Challenge 9: Same Word, Different Book (worth 2 entries)
Find two books that have the same word in the title. Read both books and write about them. (Worth 2 entries because you have to read two books).

Example: If you pick the word "Love," you could read any two books that both have Love in the title. To help you find books that have the same word, you could go to Amazon.com, type a word into the Search box and see what books come up with that word.

Challenge 10: Become A Character (worth 2 entries)
For this challenge, you can read any book you want. However, you have to write about the book as one of the characters from the book. The character can comment on his/her treatment by the author, other characters, the "untold story," what happened next, and so forth. You could even have two characters interviewing each other! Your imagination is the only limit. Because of the difficulty level of this challenge, it is worth two entries.

Challenge 11: All in the Family (worth 2 entries)
The writing gene often runs in the family. For this challenge, you need to find two authors from the same family (either by blood or by marriage) and read a book by each of the authors and then write about both books. Because of the research involved and having to read two books, this challenge is worth two entries.

Examples: The Bronte sisters; Stephen King and his wife Tabitha OR his son Joe Hill; Jonathan Kellerman (husband) and Faye Kellerman (wife); Michael Chabon (husband) and Ayelet Waldman (wife); Joan Didion (wife) and John Gregory Dunne (husband); Mary Higgins Clark (mother) and Carol Higgins Clark (daughter)

Challenge 12: Author Anthology Pick (worth 2 entries)
Find an anthology of your choice. Read at least 5 entries in the anthology. Of the 5 entries you've read, pick your favorite one and then find a book by that writer and read it. (If your first choice doesn't have a book, then pick your next favorite until you find a writer that has a book.) Write about the anthology, your favorite pick from the anthology, and the book you read by your favorite pick. Because of having to obtain and read two books, this challenge is worth two entries. Thanks to J.T. Oldfield at Bibliofreak who partially inspired this challenge.

Example: If you choose a poetry anthology, you would at least 5 different poems, pick your favorite, and then seek out a book of poetry by that poet. If you read a short story anthology, you would read at least 5 different short stories, pick your favorite, and then seek out either a novel or another book of short stories by that writer.

2010 100+ Reading Challenge


I haven't joined any online challenges for reading x amount of books; however, I have read 93 so far this year and am hoping to reach 100 books before the end of the year. I think I'll need to read a bit faster. :) I've decided to join J. Kaye's 2010 100+ Reading Book Challenge.

It's pretty straightforward, you'll need to read 100 or more books for the year 2010. If you want to join up, go over to J. Kaye's blog here and sign up. I am happy to be able to join up for 2010 and hope I'll be able to achieve my goal. I guess I'm starting one of my New Year's resolutions early. Well, writing it down here early. I'll make sure that I've finished any books that I'm reading before the 1st, so that I can start right away on the 1st with the challenge. I'll keep a tally going on the side of my blog so I don't have to constantly go back to a post and continually edit the post.

Challenge Rules:

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st through December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

Happy reading everyone!

Ink Exchange - Melissa Marr

Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.
Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.
The tattoo does bring changes--not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

Title: Ink Exchange
Author: Melissa Marr
Genre: Young Adult
Sub-Genre: Fantasy, Faerie
Publisher: HarperTeen (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
My Rating: 4.5/5

This is the second book in the "Tales of Faerie" series by Melissa Marr. It was exceptionally well written, especially for how dark the story gets. We see the dark and addictive side of Faerie and how Leslie deals with her ties to Irial, and her relationship with Niall. I loved the character development for both Niall and Irial, and how they deal with their growing feelings for Leslie. I thought that the ending was brilliant and it opened it up for a follow-up book to continue the storyline with all 3 characters. I find that there is a lot of depth to Melissa's characters (in both Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange) and that they draw you right into the story. The story flows fluently and makes for an easy and interesting read.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Never Cry Werewolf - Heather Davis


Moonlight can totally change your life.
And it all starts so simply.
You. Him.
The moon.
You're toast.

Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had "borrowed" that Porsche?). But her stepmother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior: Suddenly Shelby's summer plans are on the shelf, and she's being packed off to brat camp. It's goodbye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.
Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there's more to Austin than crush material--his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby's help guarding it. Shelby knows that she really shouldn't be getting tangled up with another bad boy . . . but who is she to turn her back on a guy in need, especially such a good-looking one? One thing's for sure: That pesky full moon is about to get her into trouble all over again.

Title: Never Cry Werewolf
Author: Heather Davis
Genre: Young Adult
Sub-Genre: Paranormal Romance, Werewolves
Publisher: HarperTeen (An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
My Rating: 5/5

This is Heather Davis' debut novel. I loved the tension/attraction between Shelby and Austin and quite enjoyed their characters' development. Brat camp is all about releasing the old you, and embracing the new you. Shelby's intentions are good, but she can't help getting into trouble. She seems to continually get in trouble for trying to save the "bad boy". On her journey through boot camp, she finds out what she is made of, and applies herself accordingly.
The book was well written, and kept me interested. Usually I read books quite fast, however if I am really enjoying a book, I'll read it in more detail, and savour the words. This is one of those books that I just couldn't put down, and kept re-reading the paragraphs so I wouldn't miss anything. Heather employs several characters, that you can't help but love. I really hope that she has a follow up novel for Shelby and Austin. I would really like to see if Shelby maintains her friendship with Ariel as well. The book was left open-ended, and as per Heather's website she hopes to write a follow-up to continue their story.


Current song that I'm listening to: Lady Antebellum - Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Teaser Tuesdays


Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading, and anyone can play along!
  • grab your current read
  • flip to a random page
  • select two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
  • try not to include spoilers!
  • please let us know the author and book so we can add them to our TBR pile!

This is my first "Teaser Tuesday" post, and I've been kicking around the idea of starting a book blog, so here goes... :)

I'm currently reading Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis.

" 'Huh?' I glanced down at a scratch on my arm. It was one of probably a hundred on my body from trekking through the woods. 'It's from the hike'."

(pg. 192)

She's a new author to me, and I actually read a review for the book on Lyra Rose's Blog. I was intrigued by the description, so I decided to pick it up and try it! I'll write a review once I've finished the book.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Universal Truths from our Generation.

I thought this was a great and funny post, so I stole this from Roni's blog. Thanks Roni! :)

Random thoughts from people 20-35 years old...

-I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.

-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

-I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

-That's enough, Nickelback.

-I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?

-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

-There is a great need for sarcasm font.

-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.

-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

-How are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

- I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.

- A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

- LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

- I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

- Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

- Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

- How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

- I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

- Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

- While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

- MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

- Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

- I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

- Bad decisions make good stories

-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

- Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

-There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

- "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

-I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

- I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

-When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...

- As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

-Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.

-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

-The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There's nothing like being made to feel fat before dinner.