I did much better this month and actually hit my 8 books a month goal!
July (8)
1. Black Butler Vol 3 by Yana Toboso (OWN)
2. Black Butler Vol 4 by Yana Toboso (OWN)
3. Living with feet to big for a glass slipper by Lynne Tapper (publisher gift)
4. Torment by Lauren Kate (OWN)
5. Accidents of Providence by Stacia M. Brown (NetGalley)
6. Replay by Keira Lea (WON a copy/OWN)
7. The Legacy: A Novel by Katherine Webb (NetGalley)
8. Sandstorm by James Rollins (OWN)
COMPLETED:
Retold Fairytale Challenge with 3 books (goal was 3)
1. Cinderella: Ninja Warrior by Maureen McGowan
2. Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer by Maureen McGowan
3. Living with feet to big for a glass slipper by Lynne Tapper
Off the Shelve Challenge with 9 books (goal was 5)
1. Songs of a Humpback Whale by Jodi Picoult
2. Target by Stella Cameron
3. The Magician's Nephew C.S. Lewis
4. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewi
5. The Horse and his Boy by C.S. Lewis
6. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
7. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
8. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
9. The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
Added one book to YA Historical Fiction Challenge (goal of 5, at 3) and three books to Show Me Free Challenge (goal of 24, at 16)
Sigma Force by James Rollins
Sandstorm, Book 1
Where to start on this book. First, if it wasn't for book club I totally wouldn't have picked it up. Second, there are some contradicting things in the book that kinda bothered me. Third, there was tons of characters and lots of death. and Fourth, I absolutely loved it and can't wait to continue reading the series, so far there's 7 books and I'm pretty sure it's not finished yet.
SO one contradicting part is the timeline. Not the timeline the book runs on because that was consistent but the timeline the characters talked about. Most of the characters are archeologist, so they go from billions of years ago to the Christian theory of the beginning of the world and do so without stating which they believe is actually true. I've never had a book combine both theories into one. It's like the author had no opinion, he doesn't lean one way or the other just states facts. The characters also didn't stand on one side or the other. It was strange and actually refreshing to have no biased. I think sitting down and chatting Theology with the author would make for a very interesting conversation. As much as he doesn’t have a set opinion in the book I think he would have opinions in real life. To find out what he believed would be for informative as he would be diplomatic about it and not passionate. People who speak with passion only want to talk you into believing the way they do. I feel like James Rollins wouldn’t do that.
Characters! Yikes was there allot of them! off the top of my head we have Harry, Lady Kensington aka Kara, Safia Al-Maaz, Billie (who’s actually a cat!), Ryan Fleming, Painter Crowe, Cassandra Sanchez, Habib, Clay Bishop, Omaha Dunn aka Indiana Jones, Danny Dunn, Coral Novak, John Kane, Yanni, Captian al-Haffi, Barak, Kalil, Dr Jacques Bertrand, Sean McKnight, Sharif, Lu’lu and I could go on! (BTW I did look up how to spell their names)
Out of all of those characters, most either die or are injured in some form. You would think that with so many characters that they would be hard to keep track of, but it actually wasn’t a problem. The book is extremely well written. The only time I did struggle was during major actions scenes, I would read it, read it fast because it was so exciting but then I would have to go back and reread it to make the scene make more sense, because sometimes it felt like I missed something. And there are tons of actions scenes!
For religion we’ve got Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. There’s mention of Moses, Abraham, Job, Jesus, Muhammad, King Solomon, Queen of Sheba, and many more. Once again we have no opinion. They are just part of the history.
I am so looking forward to the next book! I just have to decided whether or not I am gonna buy the whole series or use my EReader for them.
Where to start on this book. First, if it wasn't for book club I totally wouldn't have picked it up. Second, there are some contradicting things in the book that kinda bothered me. Third, there was tons of characters and lots of death. and Fourth, I absolutely loved it and can't wait to continue reading the series, so far there's 7 books and I'm pretty sure it's not finished yet.
SO one contradicting part is the timeline. Not the timeline the book runs on because that was consistent but the timeline the characters talked about. Most of the characters are archeologist, so they go from billions of years ago to the Christian theory of the beginning of the world and do so without stating which they believe is actually true. I've never had a book combine both theories into one. It's like the author had no opinion, he doesn't lean one way or the other just states facts. The characters also didn't stand on one side or the other. It was strange and actually refreshing to have no biased. I think sitting down and chatting Theology with the author would make for a very interesting conversation. As much as he doesn’t have a set opinion in the book I think he would have opinions in real life. To find out what he believed would be for informative as he would be diplomatic about it and not passionate. People who speak with passion only want to talk you into believing the way they do. I feel like James Rollins wouldn’t do that.
Characters! Yikes was there allot of them! off the top of my head we have Harry, Lady Kensington aka Kara, Safia Al-Maaz, Billie (who’s actually a cat!), Ryan Fleming, Painter Crowe, Cassandra Sanchez, Habib, Clay Bishop, Omaha Dunn aka Indiana Jones, Danny Dunn, Coral Novak, John Kane, Yanni, Captian al-Haffi, Barak, Kalil, Dr Jacques Bertrand, Sean McKnight, Sharif, Lu’lu and I could go on! (BTW I did look up how to spell their names)
Out of all of those characters, most either die or are injured in some form. You would think that with so many characters that they would be hard to keep track of, but it actually wasn’t a problem. The book is extremely well written. The only time I did struggle was during major actions scenes, I would read it, read it fast because it was so exciting but then I would have to go back and reread it to make the scene make more sense, because sometimes it felt like I missed something. And there are tons of actions scenes!
For religion we’ve got Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. There’s mention of Moses, Abraham, Job, Jesus, Muhammad, King Solomon, Queen of Sheba, and many more. Once again we have no opinion. They are just part of the history.
I am so looking forward to the next book! I just have to decided whether or not I am gonna buy the whole series or use my EReader for them.
Waiting on Wednesday
A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.
With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?
Release September 27 2011
Love this cover!!
Teaser Tuesdays
Harry Masterson would be dead in thirteen minutes. If he had known this, he would've smoked his last cigarette down to the filter.
Sandstorm by James Rollins
Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading, be sure to check out the other Teasers!!
The Legacy: A Novel by Katherine Webb
Publisher: HarperCollins
Received from: NetGalley
Rating: 4 Stars
Cover Thoughts: perfect for the story. Fits in well.
Review: I sat out under the sun for 4 hours and read this book. It was well written and I could not wait to get to the parts where you heard Caroline story. While Beth and Erica's stories were interesting, I really wanted to read and hear about Caroline and her journey.
I didn't get how the two stories where connected until halfways through. But the actual connection was very interesting. And I kinda wished Erica had followed up and found the rest of the connecting family in America. My only unanswered questions are about what happened with the family in America. Their story was not finished. But it wasn't fully their story, so I suppose it's alright that their side got unanswered.
The mystery of the family is really interesting and how Caroline became the person she does, is very drastic. I very much enjoyed the story, hence the reason I read it in one sitting! It's allot of pages though, enough that you get all the best parts of the story.
Waiting on Wednesday
Release October 11 2011
Can't wait!
Teaser Tuesdays
"Stick the kettle on. I'll dig out some booze and we'll have tipsy coffee."
"Erica, it's not even lunchtime."
The Legacy: A Novel by Katherine Webb
Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading, be sure to check out the other Teasers!!
Book Club
This time we are reading
book 1 of the Sigma Force Series
An inexplicable explosion rocks the antiquities collection of a London museum, setting off alarms in clandestine organizations around the world. And now the search for answers is leading Lady Kara Kensington; her friend Safia al-Maaz, the gallery's brilliant and beautiful curator; and their guide, the international adventurer Omaha Dunn, into a world they never dreamed existed: a lost city buried beneath the Arabian desert. But others are being drawn there as well, some with dark and sinister purposes. And the many perils of a death-defying trek deep into the savage heart of the Arabian Peninsula pale before the nightmare waiting to be unearthed at journey's end: an ageless and awesome power that could create a utopia...or destroy everything humankind has built over countless millennia.
An inexplicable explosion rocks the antiquities collection of a London museum, setting off alarms in clandestine organizations around the world. And now the search for answers is leading Lady Kara Kensington; her friend Safia al-Maaz, the gallery's brilliant and beautiful curator; and their guide, the international adventurer Omaha Dunn, into a world they never dreamed existed: a lost city buried beneath the Arabian desert. But others are being drawn there as well, some with dark and sinister purposes. And the many perils of a death-defying trek deep into the savage heart of the Arabian Peninsula pale before the nightmare waiting to be unearthed at journey's end: an ageless and awesome power that could create a utopia...or destroy everything humankind has built over countless millennia.
Replay by Keira Lea
I won this copy from Mission to Read you can read about it in this post.
I really enjoyed this book. But I want to start at the beginning. I really hated the beginning, Kelsee Lewis was a horrendous brat at the start of the book. The first 60 pages were frustrating, I hated Kelsee she was a spoiled rich kid who only cared about herself. She made her mother out to be a horrible person but her mother went through so much.
And then, it just got better. Like WAY better, it got interesting. The characters got depth and the story just grew. I am kinda sad the book was so short. Kelsee really grew up and accept responsibility. I kinda wish this book was a series, but it's not :(
I would definitely read another book by Keira Lea
P.S. oh I find it really intriguing that the characters name is Kelsee Lewis and the author is Keira Lea. And I love the sound of Keira Lea it flows so nicely.
I really enjoyed this book. But I want to start at the beginning. I really hated the beginning, Kelsee Lewis was a horrendous brat at the start of the book. The first 60 pages were frustrating, I hated Kelsee she was a spoiled rich kid who only cared about herself. She made her mother out to be a horrible person but her mother went through so much.
And then, it just got better. Like WAY better, it got interesting. The characters got depth and the story just grew. I am kinda sad the book was so short. Kelsee really grew up and accept responsibility. I kinda wish this book was a series, but it's not :(
I would definitely read another book by Keira Lea
P.S. oh I find it really intriguing that the characters name is Kelsee Lewis and the author is Keira Lea. And I love the sound of Keira Lea it flows so nicely.
Waiting on Wednesday
Ashlyn is about to discover what she’d thought to be true her whole life, wasn’t, and the truth, too fantastical to imagine. Secrets lurk beneath the deep blue waters of Lake Tahoe, secrets that will change Ashlyn's life forever
Release Date July 31 2011
Teaser Tuesdays
"Between classes, all thoughts of impossible deadlines, budget cuts, and psychological issues vanish when I have a Patrick Martin sighting. The second I realize he's going to pass close enough to notice me."
Replay by Keira Lea
Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading, be sure to check out the other Teasers!!
Surprise Winnings
I got a surprising email the other day from Rie Conley at Mission to Read. I had won a EReader book from her! The lovely author Keira Lea than sent me a copy! I am so exciting to read! Stay tuned for tomorrow's Teaser Tuesday post! And be sure to check out Keira's post on Mission to Read
Kelsee Lewis has a new school, a prima donna best friend, and one week to write a hit play. Throw in a self-obsessed mom and an absent executive dad, and it’s no wonder she has panic attacks—complete with time-warp special effects. When Kelsee meets comic book maven Quinn, she realizes the attacks give her the ability to rewind time.
Replaying life seems like the best way to erase mistakes. But will second chances leave Kelsee flailing in the orchestra pit alone?
Replaying life seems like the best way to erase mistakes. But will second chances leave Kelsee flailing in the orchestra pit alone?
Accidents of Providence by Stacia M. Brown
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Received from: NetGalley
Rating: 3 Stars
Cover Thoughts: muh. The cover doesn't have any real connection to the story and I would really like that from this book. A connection, an image.
Review: I thought I would be reading a book about women's rights and while this book is about the rights of humans. It the men who are fighting for their rights. We are talking year 1649, men who don't own land didn't have the right to anything at this point. This book is written in a time were the class system is more the most important things to people.
I read this book fast but mostly because I just wanted to get through it. I wanted to get to the end of the trail and see what happened to Rachel. The book was written from different person's perspective and it was very confusing sometimes. The only person's who perspective's I actually cared about were Rachel's and Thomas Bartwain. It was interesting to read about the revolt, but it felt like a side story.
The romance part of the book was interesting. I always have wondered what woman did when they didn't get married. What to say without spoilers... the ending the last twenty pages were a shock I didn't expect that and it was so interesting, but weird and kinda disturbing. I wonder how many people that happened to.
I won't read this book but it was a good read and an interesting historical fiction. HAPPY READING!
Fallen Series by Lauren Kate
The covers of these book just drags you in. Makes you want to just love this book series. Seriously the covers are breathtaking.
But the truth is, the book just didn't do it for me. I actually felt like I was forcing myself to read the book until about half ways through and than it got a little better for me. Ironically the parts of the book I enjoyed the most was when Luce forgot about Daniel and just lived her life. All the stuff with Daniel just felt annoying to me and I didn't want to read about him or his attitude. Seriously if he can't explain this to her why didn't he have Francesca explain it to her. If I had been Luce I would have thrown a huge hissy fit and told him he better get someone to explain things or else.
Actually Luce kinda annoyed me for that fact, she is such a good to shoes. And she doesn't think... gah why couldn't she figure it out in her own that staying at the school was to protect her AND her friends and family. Also what was the point of the boy in the airport?
Besides all this. It actually started to get interesting when Miles and Shelby started hanging out with Luce and they started to explore things. Or when things started happening with the announcers.
While the story isn't my favorite I definitely am gonna read Passion. I also hope to pass my copy of Torment to someone who will enjoy it more than I.
It Is What It Is Chronicles by Lynne Tapper
Release Date: April 29 2011
Publisher: Matador
Received from: Felicity at Midas Public Relations
Illustrator: Monica Alesina
Rating: 4 Stars
Cover Thoughts: Fairytale cover - pink, horse drawn carriage, and a mention of shoes! Definitely a must read!
Review: It is What It is is a funny title of a book series. But that's what this book is all about. Humor, looking back at the past and finding humor in it, instead of mistakes or woes. This book is all about learning to understand one self and learning to learn and become friends with ones self before taking on relationships. The thing I loved the most about this book is that you truly come to like Innocent the main Princess in the story. At first you may hate her and think what an idiot girl she is. But by the end everything she does is okay and she is such a better person due to her mistakes.
The names in the story are the best part of the book. It makes me want to go through the people in my life and come up with fun names for them! My favorite names I think are Vicountess Victim and her neice Lady Why Me. But Prince I-Only-Mean-What-I-Say-At-The-Time and Marchioness Mostess are high up on the list too. Baron Booty reminds me of so many of my friends boyfriends it's ridiculous. Oh seriously there are dozens of great names in this book! I am very glad there was a Character list at the back of the book!
My favorite character is Duchess Confidence. Her role in the book is small but it's that little piece of sub-conscious that Innocent needed even if she didn't always listen.
Living with feet too big for a glass slipper is a fairytale story that answers all your questions about fairytales. There is always more than just the Perfect Prince!
Review aside. There were so things that I struggled with in the book. Mainly BIG words. I do not have a big vocabulary list and so I came across a ton of words that I had either heard in a different context or had never heard before. In an effort to grow my vocabulary list, I have include those words and their definitions below.
Vocabulary List
Emulate PG 10 L14
to try to equal or excel; imitate with effort to equal or surpass
Diabolical PG 10 L 24
having the qualities of a devil; devilish; fiendish; outrageously wicked
Coercion PG 11 L 3
use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance
Convoluting PG 11 L 4
rolled up together or with one part over another
Cohesive PG 11 L 6tending to cohere or stick together
Bolshie PG 11 L 7
difficult to manage; rebellious
Nihilistic PG 11 L 12
total rejection of established laws and institutions
Quadrennial PG 11 L 15
occurring every four years
Rhetoric PG 12 L 8
the study of the effective use of language
Amicable PG 1 L 13
characterized by or showing goodwill
Tenaciously PG 13 L 11
holding fast; characterized by keeping a firm hold
Tenacity PG 13 L 21
the quality or property of being tenacious
Placating PG 13 L 31
to appease or pacify, especially by concessions or conciliatory gestures
Platitudes PG 14 L 12
a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.
Egocentric PG 14 L 35
having little or no regard for interests, beliefs, or attitudes other than one's own
Apres PG 20 L 3
after; following
Esplanade PG 30 L 5
any open, level space, especially one serving for public walks or drives.
Marchioness PG 43 Title
British marquise's wife - a nobleman ranking next below a duke and above an earl or count
Dauphines PG 43 L 17
the eldest son's wife of a king of France
Erroneous PG 73 L 23
containing error; mistaken; incorrect
Abysmal PG 75 L 35
immeasurably deep or great
Soliloquy PG 77 L 11
an utterance or discourse by a person who is talking to himself or herself or is disregardful of or oblivious to any hearers present
Debonair PG 92 L 9
courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm
Salacious PG 93 L 23
lustful or lecherous
Platonic PG 96 L 3
purely spiritual; free from sensual desire, especially in a relationship between two persons of the opposite sex
Anemones PG 102 L 22
any of various plants belonging to the genus Anemone, of the buttercup family, having petallike sepals and including several wild species with white flowers as well as others cultivated for their showy flowers in a variety of colors
Hedonistic PG 122 L 2
a person whose life is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification
Dearth PG 124 L 2
n inadequate supply; scarcity; lack
Penultimate PG 140 L 3
next to the last
Neurosis PG 168 L 5
a relatively mild personality disorder typified by excessive anxiety or indecision and a degree of social or interpersonal maladjustment
Demarcation PG 168 L 28
the determining and marking off of the boundaries of something
Adulation PG 171 L 14
to show excessive admiration or devotion to; flatter or admire servilely
Oedipus PG 199 L 32
Greek myth the son of Laius and Jocasta, the king and queen of Thebes, who killed his father, being unaware of his identity, and unwittingly married his mother, by whom he had four children. When the truth was revealed, he put out his eyes and Jocasta killed herself
Amalgamations PG 210 L 22
the act or process of amalgamating - to mix or merge so as to make a combination; blend; unite; combine
Dereliction PG 216 L 4
the act of abandoning something
Pragmatic PG 232 L 24
of or pertaining to a practical point of view or practical considerations
Waiting on Wednesday
No Cover Officially!
But
Black Butler Vol 7
is set to Release October 2011
I am so very excited to continue reading this series!!
Teaser Tuesdays
"There are princes Innocent has courted,In her life, though some are strange.
Some are weird and totally inappropriate, some are really bad and some insane.
All these princes had their moments, of fun, laughter, joy and pain.
Some she wished she had sent packing and some she wished had remained.
Though she knows she will have an unexplained affection, for all the peculiar princes she has bedded before.
She will often stop and shake her head in disbelief that she ever dated them at all.
In Innocent's life journey she will love even more."
Living with feet too big for a glass slipper by Lynne Tapper
Tuesdays are hosted by Should Be Reading, be sure to check out the other Teasers!!
Living with feet too big for a glass slipper by Lynne Tapper
Thank you so much Felicity
at Midas Public Relations
for giving me the opportunity to review Lynne Tapper's new book!
TTYL I must go read! :)
Black Bulter Vol 4 by Yana Toboso
Isn't that a funny line! Seriously though Sebastian is going to be fighting the butler from the character on the last page of Vol 3. This book was filed with humor.
It's very hard to write a review when I am watching a TV Show at the sametime.
The first battle with Agni and the Prince was really good, but I was actually disappointed in the end. The book started off really series, but then after that battle things became all about the humor. And while I really enjoyed that I missed the seriousness and the blood and guts from the 2nd and 3rd volumes.
I do expect a massive battle coming in Volume 5, which I have on order and should be getting soon. I expect that the series will get serious again in that volume. Sebastian is still my favorite person even. And actually out of all the books I think page 115 the title page of Chapter 18 is my favorite picture throughout the whole series so far. I would very much like it if Mr. and I could find anime costumes like in that picture!
Anyways I can't wait to get Volume 5 and see the end of the curry match!
Black Bulter Vol 3 by Yana Toboso
Manga is so like anime it is crazy. The battle scene that started in Vol 2 ends half ways though Vol 3. What an epic battle it was too. I think my favorite part was the side story on Lady Red and learning about Ciel's family. Sometimes I wish the books were in colour so I could see the details put into Lady Red's clothes, or even Ciel and Sebastian.
The battle scene while extremely long would take like 3 or 4 minutes in a anime. But I like to think it would be drawn out into three or four episodes. The last page ending has be extremely curious and I also wonder if we will see the Grim Reapers again.
Off to read!! :)
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