In My Mailbox & Library Loot!!

     

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

My mailbox has been busy this week!  I also went to the library.  One day I will catch up on all of these books!

From Paperbackswap.com:

         

• 
  
  Beneath A Marble Sky by John Shors


• 
  
  A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson

From Barnes & Noble:

              

• 
  
  The Pleasure Palace (Secrets of the Tudor Court #1) by Kate Emerson


• 
  
  Hate List by Jennifer Brown


• 
  
  Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson


• 
  
  Nobody's Prize by Esther M Friesner

From the library:

         

• 
  
  Shudder by Jennie Hansen


• 
  
  Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

 

Awards and Thank You's!

Polish Outlander was kind enough to pass on a few awards recently.  I want to thank her, display them, and then pass them on!  First off...

The Who Loves You Baby! Award is given to those bloggers whom you love and who have awarded you in the past! Pass it on!

Now, I've only been awarded 2 awards so will go to those bloggers and one more

Polish Outlander (you don't have to do anything with it since you gave it to me :))
J. Kaye's Book Blog
Debbie's World of Books

 

This one requires some questions to be answered.

Where is your favorite place to read a book?
The bathtub and in bed after the kids have to sleep

Bookmarks or dog ears?
Neither.  I usually just remember what page I am on. 

What is the best book you have read so far this year?
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Do you like to snack while reading and if so, what is your favorite snack?
I rarely snack.  Unless I've had a reading marathon

Book borrower or book collector?
I buy, swap, and borrow from the library.

Now to pass it on too...

Rundpinne
Alaine - Queen of Happy Ending
Sarah's Book Reviews
One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
Write Meg!
Polish Outlander

 

I would like to pass this on to

Rundpinne
One Person's Journey Through a World of Books
Debbie's World of Books
J. Kaye's Book Blog
Polish Outlander

The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, #3) by Philip Pullman

Title: The Amber Spyglass
Author: Philip Pullman
Published: September 2003
Pages: 480
ISBN: 9780440238157
Source: personal copy

Description: In the astonishing finale to the His Dark Materials trilogy, Lyra and Will are in unspeakable danger. With help from Iorek Byrnison the armored bear and two tiny Gallivespian spies, they must journey to a dank and gray-lit world where no living soul has ever gone. All the while, Dr. Mary Malone builds a magnificent Amber Spyglass. An assassin hunts her down, and Lord Asriel, with a troop of shining angels, fights his mighty rebellion, in a battle of strange allies—and shocking sacrifice.
As war rages and Dust drains from the sky, the fate of the living—and the dead—finally comes to depend on two children and the simple truth of one simple story.

I Give This Book 3.5 Stars!

I wish I could say that this was one of the best series I had ever read.  Sadly it isn't.  And I had such high hopes for it.  I watched the movie of The Golden Compass first and it intrigued me.  So I looked into the book and discovered it was a triology.  I really like that first book, but it's been downhill since then.  First and foremost, The Amber Spyglass was long.  And the funny part is I'm not really talking about the number of pages, because I've obviously read much longer.  There just seemed to be too much of everything in this book.  Too many characters to keep track of along with too many worlds that seemed to be interacting.  And the story was too complex even for me.   I've noticed that people seem to love or hate this book, but I'm firmly in the middle.  I don't dislike it for the reasons that most people do.  I don't think it's anti-god or anti-religion.  I just found some of the ideas presented in the final novel to be way out of the realm of reasonable thought.  And, I would love to talk to a preteen who has read these and understood them.  These books don't present the same way the say The Harry Potter Series does.

Hunted (House of Night, #5) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Title: Hunted
Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Published: March 2009
Pages: 323
ISBN: 9780312379827
Souce: personal copy

Description: The good news: Zoey’s friends have her back again and Stevie Rae and the red fledglings aren’t Neferet’s secrets any longer.  The bad news: Ancient evil with the face of an angel has been let loose – that and various other nasties (whose faces aren’t so angelic).  Grandma Redbird is in trouble.  Heath is in trouble.  The House of Night is in trouble.  Okay, let’s face it – Zoey’s whole world is in trouble!  But when the trouble comes from a being who appears to be beauty personified, will the world believe it? Especially when only a teenager and a group of misfits are the only ones who really understand the danger he brings.  Will Zoey have the strength and wisdom to reveal the truth?  Especially when, in the House of Night, the truth is often hard to come by…

I Give This Book 3.5 Stars!

I was hoping this book would be good because the last one in the series was my favorite so far.  But, this one was slightly boring.  It seemed like most of it was spent setting up for things to come.  And I'm getting a little tired of the boy drama.  A lot of the time it just makes me roll my eyes.  I think it would work better if she had a connection with one vampire and maybe Heath as well.  I also have to say that some of the language used is just plain awful.  I'm not talking about foul language, but words used in dialogue.  Maybe I've been out of my teen years to long, but it just doesn't seem natural.  I still really like Aphrodite especially now that she's human.  The ending was interesting, but I will there was more of it.  It seems like a dramatic ending for a story that had no build up.

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2) by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Dragonfly in Amber
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Published: June 1992
Pages: 949
ISBN: 9780440215622
Source: personal copy

Description: For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....
Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

 I Give This Book 5 Stars!

I was completely floored by Outlander.  It was a story like I've never read before.  When I picked the book to read as part of a challenge last year, I did not know that it was part of a series.  I knew when I was finished that I wanted to read them all.  I wish I had sat down and read Dragonfly in Amber in one sitting.  Instead I drew it out over a couple months, reading here and there.  So, in that sense it's my fault that I sometimes got confused over who was who.  Because lets face it, there's a lot of people and even more information presented in this book.  But, its wonderful.  I feel like I've been taken on a history lesson that is much more personal than any book or teacher could ever have shown me.  Claire and Jamie are beginning to work their way into the favorite characters (and couple) category.  They invoke a powerful mental picture.  I love their relationship and to what grounds they will go to portray (notice I don't use the word prove) their love for one another.  The events that happen in this story are also of high emotion and intensity.   Diana Gabaldon has written a masterpiece.  I can not wait to see were she takes Claire and Jamie next!

 

Teaser Tuesday!

 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:
"Even among caretakers and Knights of the Dawn, dragons remain the stuff of legend.  I've never seen a live one.  Almost none of us have.  But Chuck Rose lived among them for months at a time, studying their habits.  He even photographed one."
"How'd he die?"
Warren sighed.  "A dragon ate him"

~Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull

Ok, I know that was more than two sentences.  But, I just had to include the entire dialogue.  I just thought it was great!

*Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Truly, Madly by Heather Webber!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

First off, this is hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog.  If you would like to take part, just head on over and join the fun!

Last week was an interesting week.  I liked everything I read, but nothing really stands out as my favorite.  If I had to pick one, I would say Splendor by Anna Godbersen.  It was a great ending to a series I really enjoyed.  It had a completely suprising ending!

I finished off the current books in the Vampire Kisses series.  This included Dance With a Vampire, The Coffin Club, and Royal Blood.  I think The Coffin Club was my favorite.   These last three were better than the first three.   And, I read recently that there will be a Vampire Kisses book 7.

I also read Tempted by P.C. and Kristen Cast.  It was a much better book than the last one.  I do think the story is starting to get dragged out a little.  I think there's a lot of background information and not a lot of action.  I did like then ending!  It totally blew me away.

I'm reading Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull.  It's part of the Fablehaven series.  I've loved the first two books.  I also plan on reading The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl if there is time!

*Don't forget to check out my giveaway for Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

In My Mailbox and Library Loot!

       

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

No books in the mail this week.  I expect a few in the coming week though.  I did make a couple trips to the library and this is what I picked up...

           

• 
  
  Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull


• 
  
  The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan


• 
  
  Beastly by Alex Flinn


• 
  
  Shadowland by Alyson Noel


• 
  
  Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

 

*Don't forget to check out my giveaway for Truly, Madly by Heather Webber

Book Giveaway! Truly, Madly by Heather Webber (CLOSED)

Meet Lucy Valentine; sassy, fabulously original…and psychic.
Lucy hails from a long line of matchmakers known as Valentine INC. According to family legend, the Valentines have been blessed by Cupid with the ability to help couples find true love. Trouble is Lucy’s powers were zapped away by an electrical surge and now all she can find are lost objects.  But what good is that in the matchmaking world?
Lucy is about to find out when she tries to solve a murder and winds up falling into a romance of her own.

Up for grabs is my gently used ARC of Truly, Madly by Heather Webber.  Contest is open to US residents only.  It will close on January 31, 2010 at 11:59 pm.  To enter, please leave a comment including your email so I can notify the winner.  Winner will be selected using random.org.  You can earn extra entries the following ways...

+2 if already follow using Twitter or Facebook
+1 if you become a follower on Twitter or Facebook (click on the pictures on my sidebar)
+1 if you Tweet or post about this contest on your blog (leave link please)

Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine, #1) by Heather Webber

Title: Truly, Madly
Author: Heather Webber
Published: Feb 2010
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9780312946135
Source: Won From Goodreads

Description: Meet Lucy Valentine; sassy, fabulously original…and psychic.
Lucy hails from a long line of matchmakers known as Valentine INC. According to family legend, the Valentines have been blessed by Cupid with the ability to help couples find true love. Trouble is Lucy’s powers were zapped away by an electrical surge and now all she can find are lost objects.
But what good is that in the matchmaking world?
Lucy is about to find out when she tries to solve a murder and winds up falling into a romance of her own.

I Give This Book  4 Stars!

This book caught my interest from the moment I saw it.  I was glad to have won a copy.   It completed exceeded my expectations.  I was afraid that the psychic accept of this story would be a tad bit corny in combination with the romantic elements.  But, it worked better than I imagined.  Lucy was a fiery lead character.  In one book she manged to draw me in and I look forward to reading the future books in this series.  The mystery elements balanced out the romance perfectly.   It even surprised me and wasn't predictable.  The secondary characters added to the story and were developed enough to be a great supporting cast for future books.  Overall, a great read and looking forward to more of this series and more from Heather Webber!

* Watch for my giveaway for this book tomorrow!

Ash by Malinda Lo

Title: Ash
Author: Malinda Lo
Published: September 2009
Pages: 264
ISBN: 9780316040099
Source: Library

Description:  In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.
The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I knew about the difference in this story from the traditional Cinderella fairytale.  But, it was still hard for me to acknowledge the fact that she doesn't end up with the prince in this story.  And, I was very glad the biggest difference wasn't  thrown in your face.  Instead, what you have is a beautifully written story.  It is raw and emotional.  You can help but feel for Ash through every heartache and ordeal she goes through.  I also felt that fairies and their myths and tales were such an intricate part of the story.  Ash's belief and interactions with them made her such a different lead character.  This story was far different from anything else I read in 2009.  I would recommend it to anyone who likes fairy tales retold, and don't mind something different. 

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

Title: The Heretic Queen
Author: Michelle Moran
Published: September 2008
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780307381767
Source: Library

Description: In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past and remake history. 
The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family—all with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. A relic of a previous reign, Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh’s aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.  Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history.

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I've always loved the history of ancient civilizations.  But, history class is just facts.  It does not make you feel like you are there.  It does not give you a taste of what life might have been like.   Michelle Moran does.  I can not imagine the research that goes into her work.  The minute you open the cover of one of her novels, you are there.  I love the settings, the characters, and the story itself.  I like how she takes what is known and weaves into her story, so in the end you are not sure if the book was fact or fiction.  I also enjoyed that in both books I've read, she has included biblical references.  And, I've completely missed them until I've read the author notes in the back.  Michelle Moran leaves me talking about her books long after I've read them!

Teader Tuesday!

 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:
"The chairs were filled with Dullsville High promgoers getting makeovers, haircuts, and pedicures.  All heads - being cut, blow-dried, and colored - turned toward me as if I (clad in tight black zippered shorts, black tights, Frankenstein boots, and a Gothique T-shirt) wasn't worthy of entering the salon.

~ Dance with a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

First off, this is hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog.  If you would like to take part, just head on over and join the fun!

I started off the week with Extras by Scott Westerfeld.  I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  I wasn't sure about an add on book to what should have been a trilogy, but I actually liked it more than Specials.

I read both Kissing Coffins and Vampireville by Ellen Schreiber this week.  Still very unsure of this series.  I haven't pinpointed what is off for me.  But, I did like Vampireville more than I liked this first two books, so maybe the series is picking up a little.

My favorite of the week was Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs.  This series just keeps getting better every book.  I didn't think I would like a book about the Fae as much as I did.  I loved the stories about their myths and the artifacts in those stories.

I'm reading Splendor by Anna Godbersen.  Great book and a great series.  I'll finish out the week with Dance with a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber, Tempted by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast, and The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber.

In My Mailbox and Library Loot!

         

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

My fabulous mother-in-law got my a gift card to Amazon for Christmas.   I had a really hard time picking from my wish list.  This is what I finally decided on...

                    

• 
  
  The Ten Best Days of My Life by Adena Halpern


• 
  
  Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott


• 
  
  If I Stay by Gayle Foreman


• 
  
  Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

and from the library...

              

• 
  
  Dance With a Vampire by Ellen Schreiber


• 
  
  The Coffin Club by Ellen Schreiber


• 
  
  Royal Blood by Ellen Schreiber

The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Title: The Heretic's Daughter
Author: Kathleen Kent
Published: September 2008
Pages: 332
ISBN: 9780316037532
Source: Library Book

Description: Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived.
Kathleen Kent is a tenth generation descendent of Martha Carrier. She 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 Give This Book 4 Stars!

I have to be honest in saying the book was a little different for me.  I think it's because you know what is coming.  I kept thinking it was slow because I wanted it to get to the part were the panic has set in and people are being accused left and right.  Man that makes me sound like I crave the gruesome.   But, at the same time as thinking the story was slow, I would realize I was reading huge chunks of it in the blink of an eye.  I guess I was thinking the story focused more on the witch trials, when that's not the case.  It's about family and how they stand together during extreme circumstances.  It's also about a very interesting relationship between a mother and a daughter and how that changes during this time.  You do eventually get a sense of what it was like for those who stood accused of witchcraft, but it's such a small part of the story.  It is amazing what this family went through.  You get the sense that they are even stronger than what they were before such an ordeal.   It left me thinking about it even after I read the last page.

Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: Tattoo
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Published: January 2007
Pages: 272
ISBN: 9780385733472
Source: Personal Copy

Description: Bailey Morgan isn't the type of girl who shows a lot of skin, but somehow, she ends up in a dressing room at the mall with her friend Delia applying a temporary tattoo to her lower back. Never one to suffer fashion doubt, trendsetter Delia knows exactly where she wants her own tattoo: on her stomach, right where her shirt ends—can you say "midriff"? Annabelle, the quiet one, chooses the back of her neck, and tomboy Zo plasters hers on the top of her foot. The tattoos will last for three days, and Delia's sure that with them, the four friends will absolutely kill at the school dance.
Unfortunately, killing is just what someone has in mind, and Bailey, Delia, Annabelle, and Zo are in for the battle of their lives. Along with her tattoo, each girl receives a gift—a supernatural power to help them in their fight. As Bailey's increasingly frightening dreams reveal the nature of their enemy, it becomes clear to the girls that it's up to them to save the world.
And if they can get Delia to stop using her newfound power to turn gum wrappers into Prada pumps, they might actually stand a chance.

I Give This Book 3.5 Stars!

I wasn't sure about this book at first.  Some young adult books come with very little cross over appeal.  It was a little cliché in the beginning.  But, then the fun started.  I've always enjoyed mysteries and thrillers, and this story had that and more.  The characters were upbeat.  I did think that the climax happened rather abruptly.  I wanted a little bit more conflict there.  It ended well though and had an interesting spin.

Alice in Rapture, Sort Of (Alice #2) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Title: Alice in Rapture, Sort Of
Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Published: First published in 1989
Pages: 144
ISBN: 9780743450461
Source: Library

Description:  The summer of the first boyfriend
That's what Alice's father calls the summer before Alice starts junior high. And because Pamela's cousin from New Jersey says starting seventh grade without a boyfriend is the worst thing that can happen to a girl (even worse than not having pierced ears or a leather skirt), Alice is grateful that she's got Patrick.   The trouble is, Patrick the boyfriend is a lot more complicated than Patrick the friend. What's an appropriate present for Alice to give Patrick for his birthday? What should she do if Patrick wants to kiss her and she hasn't just brushed her teeth? Alice really likes Patrick, but sometimes she thinks life would be a lot simpler if they were still just friends.

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I picked this book for my 2009 banned or challenged books challenge.  I noticed that the Alice series as a whole is frequently challenged.  Since my library did not have the first in the series, I choose the second one.  I was completely impressed with this book and intend to read the rest of the series.  I wish I had known about these books in my preteen years.  I though Alice was a wonderful character.  While, the parts of the story were a bit outdated, I thought the dilemma's faced were very real.  It was fun and lighthearted at times, but the message portrayed was very thoughtful.  I'm hoping these stay in print so that my daughters can read them when they are older.

The Queen's Mistake: In the Court of Henry VIII by Diane Haeger

Title: The Queen's Mistake
Author: Diane Haeger
Published: October 2009 by NAL Trage
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780451228000
Source: Library Book

Description: When the young and beautiful Catherine Howard becomes the fifth wife of the fifty-year-old King Henry VIII, she seems to be on top of the world. Yet her reign is destined to be brief and heartbreaking, as she is forced to do battle with enemies far more powerful and calculating than she could have ever anticipated in a court where one wrong move could mean her undoing. Wanting only love, Catherine is compelled to deny her heart's desire in favor of her family's ambition. But in so doing, she unwittingly gives those who sought to bring her down a most effective weapon-her own romantic past.
The Queen's Mistake is the tragic tale of one passionate and idealistic woman who struggles to negotiate the intrigue of the court and the yearnings of her heart.

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I confess I don't much about Henry VIII's last 3 wives.   I kind of became disgusted with the man after the first 3.  But, they each have their own story to tell.  This book made me feel for Catherine Howard immensely.  She was a pawn from the start.  Her family raised her to be naive but knowledgeable about sexual games with men.  But, they never taught her the ways of the royal court, nor did she known what it meant to be the King's Queen.  And especially what it meant to belong to King Henry VIII.  She was denied what she truly wanted and her family feed her to the wolves for the own gain.  The story was slow at first, but quickly built to what you know is coming.  The story left me with the same opinion I've  long had of Henry VIII.  Catherine was left the victim, although if she truly was faithful while married to the King, only a few really know.

Teaser Tuesday

 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:
      "Aya's brain was spinning from the needle jab, losing it's grip on consciousness, but slowly she grasped what the plan had been all along: a way for the disguised Cutters to be captured. 
      Aya and the others had just be bait..."

From EXTRAS  by Scott Westerfeld

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

First off, this is hosted by J. Kaye’s Book Blog.  If you would like to take part, just head on over and join the fun!

I didn't have a fantastic reading week.  Everything was completely average.

 Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast was my first read.  It completely felt like a middle of the series book.  Most of it was spent rehashing what already happened.  And then last bit of action that was completely predictable.

The book that took most of the week was The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman.  I am completely jumping for joy at being done with this series.  The last book was ok.  Most of it was overdone, and could have been cut from the story.  I still do not know how the target audience gets these books.

My last book was Blood Game by Iris Johansen.  Normally, I love these kinds of books.  My go to genre for many years.  Either, I've become a different reader, or this one fell short of it's mark.   I wish she would have stayed clear of what's so popular in mainstream now.

For this week I have Extra's by Scott Westerfeld on the agenda.  Another last book in a series I've really enjoyed.  Also going to read Kissing Coffins by Ellen Shreiber and Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs.

In My Mailbox and Library Loot

         

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi and she was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie!

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Marg that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

I didn't get anything in the mail again this week.  But, I did pick up some things from the library.  So here we go...

         

• 
  
  Tempted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast    


• 
  
  Kissing Coffins by Ellen Schreiber


• 
  
  Vampireville by Ellen Schreiber

I have to be honest in saying that once I get caught up on my series that I am reading, I'm going to stay away from vampires for awhile.  I think I've gone overboard, and it's time to read about something else.  :)

100+ Books Reading Challenge

This is hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog!  And my final challenge (for now :) ) is the 100+ books reading challenge.  I did this last year and was proud that I actually completed it.  I had no idea that I read that many books in a year.  I'm going to aim for 150 this year.  And that figure can include books I've read before.  I will be keeping track of every book read this year HERE

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

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.

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

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

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 thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.