2017 Reading Challenge Round-up -- Completed

Goal: 20/20   100%

1. Jane Ashford (1/21/17)
2. Ginny Baird (12/19/17)
3. Juliet Blackwell (10/8/17)
4. John Campbell (11/10/17)
5. John Connolly (10/27/17)
6. Juliet Dark (11/28/17)
7. Imogen Edwards-Jones (4/7/17)
8. Lia Habel (7/29/17)
9. Peter Hernon (10/6/17)
10. Antony Johnston (11/21/17)
11. Lisa Kleypas (12/22/17)
12. Marjorie Liu (3/17/17)
13. Susan Meissner (11/18/17)
14. Liane Moriarty (7/19/17)
15. Kim Newman (5/14/17)
16. Danielle Paige (5/29/17)
17. Ray Russell (10/25/17)
18. Jodi Taylor (1/30/17)
19. Sherry Thomas (2/10/17)
20. Brenna Yovanoff (10/24/17)

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Goal: 24/24   100%

1. The Runaways Complete Collection Vol. 1 (1/3/17)
2. A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (2/10/17)
3. The Daily Show by Chris Smith (2/10/27)
4. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
5. Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs (2/19/17)
6. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
7. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (2/28/17)
8. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (3/9/17)
9. Fairest by Marissa Meyer (3/9/17)
10. Winter by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
11. Monstress Vol. 1 (3/17/17)
12. Hamilton The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter (3/21/17)
13. Unmentionable by Therese Oneill (3/29/17)
14. Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates (4/2/17)
15. Atlantia by Ally Condie (4/13/17)
16. Mostly Void, Partially Stars by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor (4/28/17)
17. Dorothy Must Dies Stories Vol. 3 by Danielle Paige (6/14/17)
18. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (6/19/17)
19. Zombies: A Brief History of Decay (6/20/17)
20. The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (7/1/17)
21. Locke and Key Small World (7/15/17)
22. Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige (7/17/17)
23. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (7/19/17)
24. The End of Oz by Danielle Paige (7/22/17)

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Goal: 12/12  100%

1. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
2. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
3. Fairest by Marissa Meyer (3/9/17)
4. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
5. Winter by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
6. Atlantia by Ally Condie (4/13/17)
7. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (5/27/17)
8. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 1 by Danielle Paige (5/29/17)
9. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 2 by Danielle Paige (6/9/17)
10. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 3 by Danielle Paige (6/14/17)
11. The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (7/11/7)
12. Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige (7/17/17)

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Goal: 24/24  100%

1. Revival Vol. 3 (1/2/17)
2. Runaways Complete Collection Vol. 1 (1/3/17)
3. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton (3/10/17)
4. Monstress Vol. 1 (3/17/17)
5. The Complete Love Hurts by Kim Andersson (3/18/17)
6. Pretty Deadly Vol. 1 (3/20/17)
7. Pretty Deadly Vol. 2 (3/21/17)
8. Saga Vol. 6 (4/21/17)
9. East of West Vol. 5 (4/21/17)
10. East of West Vol. 6 (4/21/17)
11. The Walking dead Vol. 25 (4/22/17)
12. The Walking Dead Vol. 26 (4/22/17)
13. Lady Killer by Joelle Jones (4/28/17)
14. Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton (5/5/17)
15. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (6/19/17)
16. Zombies: A Brief History of Decay (6/20/17)
17. Locke and Key Small World (7/15/17)
18. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 1 (8/16/17)
19. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 2 (8/18/17)
20. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 3 (8/18/17)
21. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 4 (8/18/17)
22. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 5 (9/3/17)
23. The Coldest City by Antony Johnston (11/21/17)
24. How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman (11/24/17)

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Perpetual Reading Lists Challenge
Goal: 20/20  100%

1. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (2/6/17)
2. The Daily Show by Chris Smith (2/10/17)
3. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
4. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
5. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell (3/24/17)
6. Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates (4/2/17)
7. The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order (4/12/17)
8. The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto (5/26/17)
9. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (5/27/17)
10. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (6/23/17)
11. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (7/8/17)
12. 50 Great American Places by Brent D. Glass (7/19/17)
13. Dead Feminists by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring (7/27/17)
14. The Great Quake by Henry Fountain (9/2/17)
15. The Lost City of Z by David Grann (9/23/17)
16. The Mummy by Anne Rice (10/18/17)
17. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (10/20/17)
18. A Tea Reader by Katrina Avila Munichiello (10/20/17)
19. Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen (11/19/17)
20. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol Karlsen (11/22/17)

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Goal: 92/92  100%

1. An alphabet book — Take Away the A by Michael Escoffier (February)
2. A counting book — One, Two, Three, Mother Goose by Iona Opie (April)
3. Concept book: shapes or numbers or opposites or colors — Happy-pea All Year by Keith Baker (April)
4. A book set on a farm or in the country -- Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack! by Doreen Cronin (July)
5. A book set in the city or in an urban area -- Little Elliott Big City by Mike Curato (Nov)
6. A book set at the beach, in the ocean, or by a lake -- Uh-Oh Octopus by Elle van Lieshout and Erik van Os (June)
7. A book with human characters — Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel (March)
8. A book with animal characters — Miss Fox’s Class Shapes Up by Eileen Spinelli (January)
9. A bedtime book -- Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson (Nov)
10. A rhyming book — Too Many Moose by Lisa M. Bakos (February)
11. A book celebrating art -- Matisse's Garden by Samantha Friedman (Nov)
12. A book celebrating dance -- Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig (Nov)
13. A book celebrating music -- The Carnival of the Animals by Jack Prelutsky (Nov)
14. A book celebrating family (parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc.) -- Froggy Goes to Grandma's by Jonathan London (Oct)
15. A book about feelings, expressing feelings -- How to Mend a Heart by Sara Gillingham (Sept)
16. A book with a twist (unexpected) ending -- Bluebird by Bob Staake (Sept)
17. A book about pets (cats, dogs, fish) -- Henry Hodges Needs a Friend by Andy Andrew (Sept)
18. A book celebrating libraries or reading — My Pet Book by Bob Staake (January)
19. A book translated into English (originally published in another language/country) -- Blanche hates the night by Sibyl Delacroix (Nov)
20. A book about trains or planes — Yellow Copter by Kersten Hamilton (February)
21. A book about cars or trucks -- Demolition by Sally Sutton (Oct)
22. A book about starting school -- Harry and the DInosaurs Go to School by Ian Whybrow (Nov)
23. A book about friendship (sharing, caring, forgiving) — The 329th Friend by Marjorie Weinman Starmat (January)
24. A book about being ME, about being unique, special, loved, etc. — Half of an Elephant by gusti (January)
25. A fairy tale -- Cinderella by Marcia Brown (Dec)
26. A twisted (adapted) fairy tale -- There was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight by Penny Parker Klostermann (Nov)
27. A book about a holiday -- Countdown to Halloween by Patricia Reeder Eubank (Sept)
28. A new-to-you author — It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton (April)
29. A new-to-you illustrator — Zoo Zoom illustrated by Macky Pamintuan (February)
30. A book about new experiences (dentist, doctor, sleepovers, movies, playing sports, learning to swim, etc.) — Bike On, Bear by Cynthea Liu (February)
31. A series book — Absolutely One Thing by Lauren Child (April)
32. A book celebrating food (cooking, eating, trying new foods, eating healthy) -- Gobble, Gobble, Tucker by Leslie McGuirk (Oct)
33. A book published before 1950 --  Many Moons by James Thurber (Nov)
34. A book published in the 1950s -- Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss (Dec)
35. A book published in the 1960s -- Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown (Nov)
36. A book published in the 1970s -- The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord (Dec)
37. A book published in the 1980s -- The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle (Nov)
38. A book published in the 1990s -- The Day Jimmy’s Boa ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble (Nov)
39. A book published in the 2000s -- Word Builder by Ann Whitford Paul (Sept)
40. A book published 2010-2016 — Poo in the Zoo by Steve Smallman (April)
41. A book published in 2017 - Monster's New Undies by Samantha Berger (August)
42. A book by Dr. Seuss -- Hop on Pop (Oct)
43. A book by Mo Willems — Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late (January)
44. A book by Jan Thomas -- What Will Fat Cat Sit On? (December)
45. A book by Eric Carle -- Friends (Nov)
46. A book by Laura Numeroff -- If You Take a Mouse to School (Oct)
47. A book by Patricia Polacco -- An A from Miss Keller by Patricia Polacco (Nov)
48. A book by Jon Klassen -- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (Sept)
49. A book by Beatrix Potter -- The Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig (Nov)
50. A book by Kevin Henkes -- The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes (Nov)
51. A book written or illustrated by LeUyen Pham -- Real Friends by Shannon Hale (Nov)
52. A Caldecott winner -- Flotsam by David Weisner (Nov)
53. A Caldecott honor -- Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds (Nov)
54. A picture book biography -- The Girl wWho Though in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca (Nov)
55. A nonfiction picture book -- The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson (Sept)
56. A book from your childhood -- The True Story of the Three Littles Pigs by John Scieszka (Nov)
57. A book you discovered as an adult -- Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman (Sept)
58. A book celebrating writing, being an author or illustrator — A Poem in Your Pocket by Margaret McNamara (March)
59. A library book — Frankie Stein by Lola M. Schaefer (February)
60. An audio book -- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (Dec)
61. A book about dinosaurs OR dragons -- Dinosaurs in Disguises by Stephen Krensky (july)
62. Nonfiction book about animals (or animal) — Animals by the Numbers by Steve Jenkins (March)
63. A challenged book OR a controversial book -- In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (Dec)
64. A book that makes you laugh -- Open Very Carefully by Nicola O'Bryne (july)
65. A book that makes you cry --  Book by David Miles (Sept)
66. Hate the text, love the art -- Toy Boat by Randall de Seve (Oct)
67. Love the text, hate the art — I Wanna Go Home by Karen Kaufman Orloff (February)
68. A book with a great cover — Monster Park by Annie Bach (April)
69. A book with an ugly cover -- Molly and Her Dad by Jan Overrod (Oct)
70. A book about toys — Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins (February)
71. A book about weather -- Freddy the Frogcaster and the Huge Hurricane by Janice Dean (Nov)
72. A picture book for older readers -- Enzo and the Fourth of July Races by Garth Stein (Oct)
73. A book of jokes, riddles, tongue-twisters -- Kitty Riddles by Katy Hall (Oct)
74. A book about seasons -- Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak (Sept)
75. A song -- Ten Little Sleepyheads by Elizabeth Provost (Oct)
76. A poetry book -- WonderFall by Michael Hall (Sept)
77. A book by a celebrity — Never Play Music Next to the Zoo by John Lithgow (February)
78. A book published in Australia -- Animalia by Graeme Base (Dec)
79. A book published in the UK -- Agnes and Clarabelle by Adele Griffin and Courtney Sheinmel (Nov)
80. A book about science or math -- The Earth Book by Todd Parr (Sept)
81. A book about history or historical event -- Patience Wright by Pegi Deitz Shea (july)
82. A book about sports -- Big Kicks by Bob Kolar (August)
83. A book about celebrating birthdays -- Scaredy Squirrel has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt (Nov)
84. A book about a President or world leader -- Hillary Rodham Clinton by Michelle Markel
85. A book about another country -- All Aboard for the Bobo Road by Stephen Davies (Sept)
86. A book celebrating faith -- By the Hanukkah Light by Sheldon Oberman (Oct)
87. A pop-up book, or, a book with cut-outs or flaps or fold-outs -- Little People Zoo (Oct)
88. A bilingual book -- Buenas Noches Luna by Margaret Wise (Dec)
89. A television series that has been adapted to a book — Meet Tracker by Geof Smith (March)
90. A book that has been adapted to a television series -- Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace (Nov)
91. An adaptation of a myth or legend — The Sandman by William Joyce (February)
92. A book about babies — Funny Face, Sunny Face by Sally Symes (March)

A Christmas to Remember

Title: A Christmas to Remember

Author: Lisa Kleypas, Lorraine Heath, Megan Frampton, Vivienne Lorret

Publisher: Avon 2017

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 420

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New to Me

Romance stars Lisa Kleypas, Lorraine Heath, Megan Frampton, and Vivienne Lorret prove in this collection of stories that love is the most magical during Christmas…

"I Will" by Lisa Kleypas

To be reinstated into his father’s will, Andrew, Lord Drake, must court a respectable woman-his friend’s spinster sister, Miss Caroline Hargreaves. After he blackmails Caroline into helping him, the charade begins-but is it really a charade once love takes hold of their hearts…?

4/5 I loved most of this story. I enjoyed the interplay between the two main characters until we got to the sex scene. Then, I just didn't like how it played out. Too much for my taste. 

"Deck the Halls With Love" by Lorraine Heath

Alistair Wakefield, the Marquess of Chetwyn, devastated Lady Meredith Hargreaves when he proposed to another. But when he becomes free to pursue her, it’s too late for she’s on her way to the altar….. As Christmas approaches, Chetwyn vows to lure Lady Meredith back into his arms.

5/5 Loved this story so much. Great characters and great storyline.

"No Groom at the Inn" by Megan Frampton

James Archer detests his mother’s matchmaking ways. When ordered to attend a Christmastime house party filled with simpering maidens, he produces a fiancée-Lady Sophronia Bettesford. James and Sophronia pretend to be in love for one month. But their pact soon turns into love.

4/5 Another decent story although I found James to be a bit dull for my taste.

"The Duke’s Christmas Wish" by Vivienne Lorret

To the Duke of Vale, science solves everything-even marriage. When the impulsive Ivy Sutherland makes him question all of his data, he realizes that he’s overlooked a vital component in his search for the perfect match: love.

4/5 Pretty good storyline and characters. I would have liked to see more from their plot. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Demon Lover by Juliet Dark

Title: The Demon Lover (Fairwick Trilogy #1)

Author: Juliet Dark

Publisher: Ballantine 2011

Genre: Paranormal Fiction

Pages: 416

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Popsugar - Based on Mythology; New to Me

Since accepting a teaching position at remote Fairwick College in upstate New York, Callie McFay has experienced the same disturbingly sensual dream every night: A mist enters her bedroom, then takes the shape of a virile, seductive stranger who proceeds to ravish her in the most toe-curling, wholly satisfying ways possible. Perhaps these dreams are the result of her having written the bestselling book The Sex Lives of Demon Lovers. Callie’s lifelong passion is the intersection of lurid fairy tales and Gothic literature—which is why she’s found herself at Fairwick’s renowned folklore department, living in a once-stately Victorian house that, at first sight, seemed to call her name.
 
But Callie soon realizes that her dreams are alarmingly real. She has a demon lover—an incubus—and he will seduce her, pleasure her, and eventually suck the very life from her. Then Callie makes another startling discovery: Her incubus is not the only mythical creature in Fairwick. As the tenured witches of the college and the resident fairies in the surrounding woods prepare to cast out the demon, Callie must accomplish something infinitely more difficult—banishing this supernatural lover from her heart.

Random read off my shelf. Don't know why I haven't read it before as I really really enjoyed this volume. I fell right into this collection of odd characters and beings. I immediately connected with Callie and her search for self. I loved the fact that Honeysuckle House became a character in its own right. I loved the slow unraveling of the world into a full-fledged reality. I especially loved the short but fascinating scenes featuring Adelaide. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

Fairwick Trilogy:

• #1 The Demon Lover
• #2 The Water Witch
• #3 The Angel Stone

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Coldest City by Antony Johnston

Title: The Coldest City

Author: Antony Johnston

Publisher: Oni Press 2012

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 176

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; New to Me

November 1989. Communism is collapsing, and soon the Berlin Wall will come down with it. But before that happens there is one last bit of cloak & dagger to attend to. Two weeks ago, an undercover MI6 officer was killed in Berlin. He was carrying information from a source in the East - a list that allegedly contains the name of every espionage agent working in Berlin, on all sides. No list was found on his body. Now Lorraine Broughton, an experienced spy with no pre-existing ties to Berlin, has been sent into this powderkeg of social unrest, counter-espionage, defections gone bad and secret assassinations to bring back the list and save the lives of the British agents whose identities reside on it.

J and I were intrigued by the trail for Atomic Blonde and picked it up to watch. But before we did, I wanted to read the graphic novel that the movie was based on. This is a slim volume full of black and white stark images. The reader is treated to a great spy thriller full of twists and turns and who-dun-its. We get to see our main character venture into a Berlin ready to be reunited. I loved following the twisty storyline, eager to find out the real story behind the events. Very much an enjoyable read. Now we get to watch the movie!

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Bridge Across the Ocean by Susan Meissner

Title: A Bride Across the Ocean

Author: Susan Meissner

Publisher: Berkley 2017

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 363

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - Set in a Hotel; New to Me

February, 1946. World War Two is over, but the recovery from the most intimate of its horrors has only just begun for Annaliese Lange, a German ballerina desperate to escape her past, and Simone Deveraux, the wronged daughter of a French Résistance spy.
 
Now the two women are joining hundreds of other European war brides aboard the renowned RMS Queen Mary to cross the Atlantic and be reunited with their American husbands. Their new lives in the United States brightly beckon until their tightly-held secrets are laid bare in their shared stateroom. When the voyage ends at New York Harbor, only one of them will disembark...
 
Present day. Facing a crossroads in her own life, Brette Caslake visits the famously haunted Queen Mary at the request of an old friend. What she finds will set her on a course to solve a seventy-year-old tragedy that will draw her into the heartaches and triumphs of the courageous war brides—and will ultimately lead her to reconsider what she has to sacrifice to achieve her own deepest longings. 

I randomly picked this up at the library after hearing about it on What Should I Read Next?, Anne Bogel's podcast. And I'm so glad I did. The premise sounded intriguing and it's a different kind of WW2 novel than I have read. I immediately fell in love with all of the historical character. Annaliese, Phoebe, and Simone were great. I loved learning more and more about their stories and speculating on where they ended up. I loved the mystery of "she" aboard the Queen Mary. The transitions between time periods and characters were well done. I never felt ripped out of the storylines. I ended up speeding through this one because it was so good. Definitely a fan. Must check out more of Meissner's works.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Omega Days by John Campbell

Title: Omega Days

Author: John Campbell

Publisher: Berkley 2013

Genre: Horror

Pages: 360

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: New to Me

San Francisco, California. Father Xavier Church has spent his life ministering to unfortunate souls, but he has never witnessed horror like this. After he forsakes his vows in the most heartrending of ways, he watches helplessly as a zombie nun takes a bite out of a fellow priest’s face…
University of California, Berkeley. Skye Dennison is moving into her college dorm for the first time, simultaneously excited to be leaving the nest and terrified to be on her own. When her mother and father are eaten alive in front of her, she realizes the terror has just begun…
Alameda, California. Angie West made millions off her family’s reality gun show on the History Channel. But after she is cornered by the swarming undead, her knowledge of heavy artillery is called into play like never before…

I had checked this out a few months back, but ran out of time to read it and had to return it to the library. For Halloween, the librarians put up a special display and it was just sitting there calling my name. So I grabbed it, sat down and read this in two days. Campbell pushes you right into the madness and doesn't stop until the last page. And even then there's a cliffhanger... I thoroughly enjoyed this zombie book. It won't land on my Top 10 list for the year, but I am defiitely going to keep reading this series. 

Omega Days:

• #1 Omega Days
• #2 Ship of the Dead
• #3 Drifters
• #4 Crossbones

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Gates by John Connolly

Title: The Gates (Samuel Johnson Vs. The Devil #1)

Author: John Connolly

Publisher: Atria 2009

Genre: Horror

Pages: 296

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New to Me

Young Samuel Johnson and his dachshund, Boswell, are trying to show initiative by trick-or-treating a full three days before Halloween, which is how they come to witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Road. The Abernathys don't mean any harm by their flirtation with the underworld, but when they unknowingly call forth Satan himself, they create a gap in the universe, a gap through which a pair of enormous gates is visible. The gates to Hell. And there are some pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out.... Can one small boy defeat evil? Can he harness the power of science, faith, and love to save the world as we know it? 

Another long-time resident of my TBR shelf. I finally picked it up and it was such a joy! Reminded me of Good Omens or any of Christopher Moore's books. I loved the combination of horror and comedy. Samuel is a great foil for the forces of Hell. And Nurd was so much fun. I started reading this as a holdover while my hold book was arriving, fully intending to put it up when my other book came, but I ended up flying through this book instead. Love love loved it!

Samuel Johnson Vs. The Devil

• #1 The Gates
• #2 Hell's Bells
• #3 The Creeps

Next up on the TBR pile:

Haunted Castles by Ray Russell

Title: Haunted Castles

Author: Ray Russell

Publisher: Penguin Classics 2013

Genre: Horror

Pages: 235

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsguar - Story within a Story; New to Me

Haunted Castles is the definitve, complete collection of Ray Russell's masterful Gothic horror stories, including the famously terrifying novella trio of  "Sardonicus," "Sanguinarius," and "Sagittarius." The characters that sprawl through Haunted Castles are frightful to the core: the heartless monster holding two lovers in limbo; the beautiful dame journeying down a damned road toward depravity (with the help of an evil gypsy); the man who must wear his fatal crimes on his face in the form of an awful smile. Engrossing, grotesque, perverted, and completely entrancing, Russell's Gothic tales are the best kind of dreadful.

How have I never heard of Ray Russell? And to find out he is one of Guillermo del Toro's favorite authors? Holy cow this was a great find on the random library shelf. I love love loved every single story included in this collection. But I have to say that my favorite was "Sagittarius" involving Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, and Jack the Ripper. The way Russell crafts his stories fascinated me. I loved the story within a story format for a few of the stories included. I loved the throwback to Gothic storytelling. And I loved the stories themselves. There were thoroughly scary. Perfect pick for my spooky October reads.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Title: Paper Valentine

Author: Brenna Yovanoff

Publisher: Razorbill 2013

Genre: YA Horror

Pages: 304

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New to Me

For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one.  Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders?  Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.

Another random book that's been sitting on my shelf for too long. I thought it would be perfect for a spooky October. Unfortunately, I was very bored by this volume. I was not impressed by the characters or the storyline. I usually need one of the two to really get into a book. This one did not give me either. So I pushed through the story, but was thoroughly bored. Oh well. At least I made another space on my shelf.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

Title: Secondhand Spirits (Witchcraft Mystery #1)

Author: Juliet Blackwell

Publisher: Obsidian 2009

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Pages: 313

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; What's in a Name -- Alliterative Title; New to Me

Lily Ivory feels that she can finally fit in somewhere and conceal her "witchiness" in San Francisco. It's there that she opens her vintage clothing shop, outfitting customers both spiritually and stylistically.

Just when things seem normal, a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area. Lily has a good idea that some bad phantoms are behind it. Can she keep her identity secret, or will her witchy ways be forced out of the closet as she attempts to stop the phantom?

Such a great little cozy mystery! Bonus points for being set in San Francisco, my adoptive city across the bay. I loved diving into Lily Ivory's world of clothing, mystery, witches, romance, and goblins (or pigs). I sped through this book waiting impatiently to find out the mystery behind La Llorona, Frances Potts, and all the other fun characters. I loved the world building in this volume. Can't wait to pick up the next in the series!

Witchcraft Mystery

• #1 Secondhand Spirits
• #2 A Cast Off Coven
• #3 Hexes and Hemlines
• #4 In a Witch's Wardrobe
• #5 Tarnished and Torn
• #6 A Vision in Velvet
• #6.5 A Haunting is Brewing
• #7 Spellcasting in Silk
• #8 A Toxic Trousseau
• #9 A Magical Match

Next up on the TBR pile:

8.4 by Peter Hernon

Title: 8.4

Author: Peter Hernon

Publisher: Jove Books 1999

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 460

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New to Me

A massive earthquake in America's heartland causes massive destruction and a launches an equally epic struggle to save the survivors. 

Random book from my shelves. Along with my scary reads for October's FrightFall Readathon, I threw this one in as a thriller. Unfortunately it just wasn't great. The style is very much in the same vein as Michael Crichton. Lots of science passages and action with only a bit of characterization. The plot jumped around a bit between all the characters. The characters themselves weren't that well developed. The romance was silly and forced. The action sequences were the only parts that kept me reading. I made it through the book, but wouldn't recommend it to anyone...

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Title: Dearly, Departed

Author: Lia Habel

Publisher: Del Rey 2011

Genre: YA - Horror

Pages: 470

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Read Your Book Shelf; New Author

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the mores of an antique era. Sixteen-year-old Nora Dearly is far more interested in her country’s political unrest than in silly debutante balls. But the death of her beloved parents leaves Nora at the mercy of a social-climbing aunt who plans to marry off her niece for money. To Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses. Now she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting a fatal virus that raises the dead. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and thoroughly deceased. But like the rest of his special undead unit, Bram has been enabled by luck and modern science to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

One of those books that's been on my shelf for way too long! I finally picked it up and was glad I did. I love a good zombie book and this one had some good twists on the mythos. We get good zombies and bad zombies. We get a future dystopian world (at least for the New Victorians). We get a good adventure story. I will admit that it took me about 100 pages to really get into it, but once I did, I sped through it.  There's a companion novel that I had to put a hold on at the library. 

Gone with the Respiration:

• #1 Dearly, Departed
• #2 Dearly, Beloved

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 1 by Danielle Paige

Title: Dorothy Must DieStories Vol. 1 (Dorothy Must Die #0.1-0.3)

Author: Danielle Page

Publisher: Full Fathom Five 2015

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 377

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fairytale Retellings; New to Me

These three prequel novellas to the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die series follow the iconic characters from the beloved classic The Wizard of Oz as their lives intertwine to bring about the downfall of Oz. Dorothy begins a journey down a darker path. Glinda the Good Witch may not be so Good. And the Wizard realizes that Oz is his destiny. Kiss the land where troubles melt like lemon drops goodbye. Here there's danger around every corner and magical shoes won't be able to save you.

"No Place Like Oz" -- Oh so good! I loved this story detailing how Dorothy came back to Oz and became the Dorothy we know in Dorothy Must Die. I loved the reappearance of so many characters. And the explanation of the switch from silver slippers to ruby slippers is perfect.

"The Witch Must Burn" -- My least favorite of the three stories. Glinda is such an odd character. Even evil I'm not a fan of her at all. The story felt a bit convoluted and I just couldn't get behind it. 

"The Wizard Returns" -- Much better than Glinda's story. I loved seeing the Wizard change from the Wizard we knew to a man without his memory to something different and a bit unknown. Can't wait to see what happens in the rest of the series.

Dorothy Must Die

• #0.1 No Place Like Oz
• #0.2 The Witch Must Burn
• #0.3 The Wizard Returns
• #0.4 Heart of Tin
• #0.5 The Straw King
• #0.6 Ruler of Beasts
• #0.7 Order of the Wicked
• #0.8 Dark Side of the Rainbow
• #0.9 The Queen of Oz
• #1 Dorothy Must Die
• #2 The Wicked Will Rise
• #3 Yellow Brick War
• #4 The End of Oz

Next up on the TBR pile:

Tuscany for Beginners by Imogen Edwards-Jones

Title: Tuscany for Beginners

Author: Imogen Edwards-Jones

Publisher: Ballantine Books 2005

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 313

Rating: 2/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Read Your Book Shelf; New to Me

Belinda Smith has found her very ownTuscanvalley in the sun, having abandoned a dreary cheating husband and an even drearier English town. Running Casa Mia, her own too, too divine bed and breakfast, everything is coming up sunflowers and olive groves for La Contessaof the Valley. Life couldn’t be more perfecto!

Until, that is, the arrival of Lauren–a beautiful, feisty Wall Street ball-breaker who has the gall to announce her plans to open a new B&B. A place just like Belinda’s–only much more glamorous. Even worse, Lauren, whose charmingly calculated smile Belinda recognizes as quite like her own, threatens Belinda’s existence as the epicenter of all things ex-patriot in the valley.

A Under the Tuscan Sun knock-off that was a complete disappointment. I get that Belinda's supposed to be a deluded character in the beginning and then grow after Lauren's arrival, but I didn't care and never grew to like Belinda. I couldn't get over her ridiculous nonsense in the beginning of the book. And the way she treated her daughter? Do not get me started on the wrongness of it all. I just couldn't seem to care about Belinda. The writing wasn't the best and I kept getting distracted by the odd sentence structures. An utter disappointment.

Monstress Volume 1

Title: Monstress Vol. 1: Awakening

Author: Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

Publisher: Image 2016

Genre: Comics

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: New to Me; Graphic Novel; I Love Libraries

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steampunk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both. Entertainment Weekly praised MONSTRESS as "one of Image Comics' most imaginative and daring new series" and dubbed it the "Best New Original Series" in their year-end "Best Comics of 2015" list. Collects MONSTRESS #1-6

Picked this one up from the library after hearing great things from other bloggers. I was very impressed by the story and the art. The cells are all very dark, but each one has such detail. I loved the look of the world as well as the costumes on the characters. The intricate costumes are amazing. Very well drawn! As for the storyline, I loved the twist on history and mythology. It took me a minute to get my bearings on time and and place, but it's not a negative. I just like to place all the stories I read in history. Maika is great main character with a mysterious past and motivations. I can't wait to find Volume 2 and continue the story.

A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas

Title: A Study in Scarlet Women (Lady Sherlock #1)

Author: Sherry Thomas

Publisher: Berkley 2016

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 323

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsugar - First in a series; I Love Libraries

With her inquisitive mind, Charlotte Holmes has never felt comfortable with the demureness expected of the fairer sex in upper class society. But even she never thought that she would become a social pariah, an outcast fending for herself on the mean streets of London.

When the city is struck by a trio of unexpected deaths and suspicion falls on her sister and her father, Charlotte is desperate to find the true culprits and clear the family name. She’ll have help from friends new and old—a kind-hearted widow, a police inspector, and a man who has long loved her.

But in the end, it will be up to Charlotte, under the assumed name Sherlock Holmes, to challenge society’s expectations and match wits against an unseen mastermind.

A delightful retelling of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories. I love how Thomas turned the character on it's head and made Holmes a disgraced society woman. Mrs. Watson is great as Holmes' partner and in some ways benefactor. Plus we get an interesting array of side characters. I'm excited for the next book in the series to be released this fall. Best of all we get a tantalizing mention of Moriarty... I can't wait to see where this all leads!

Lady Sherlock

• #1 A Study in Scarlet Women
• #2 (Fall 2017)

Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor

Title: Just One Damned Thing After Another (The Chronicles of St. Mary's #1)

Author: Jodi Taylor

Publisher: Night Shade Books 2013

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 336

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Popsguar - Set in two different time periods; New to Me

At St Mary’s Institute of Historical Research, the historians don’t just study the past, they revisit it.

Behind the strait-laced façade of a conventional academic institution, the secret of time travel is being used for ground-breaking and daring historical research taking the historians on a rollercoaster ride through history: from the destruction of Pompeii to the Normandy trenches; from the Great Fire of London to Bronze Age Troy and even to the time of the dinosaurs…

Meanwhile, within at St Mary’s itself, there are power struggles and intrigues worthy of a book in themselves.

A friend told me I had to read this one and lent me her copy. She was right! This was such a fun adventure story. I loved the main character of Max, but all the side characters were also great. I fell right into the fun storyline in the first chapter and almost couldn't put the book down to sleep. The pace is fast and the twists and turns just keep coming. There are some pretty far out happenings, but the way this book is written, I didn't stop to shake my head at the crazy. I was fully immersed in the world. So much fun and a great needed escape from the events of the past few days. Now I need the second book.

The Chronicles of St. Mary's:

• #0.5 The Very First Damned Thing
• #1 Just One Damned Thing After Another
• #2 A Symphony of Echoes
• #2.5 When A Child is Born
• #3 A Second Chance
• #3.5 Roman Holiday
• #4 A Trail Through Time
• #4.5 Christmas Present
• #5 No Time Like the Past
• #6 What Could Possibly Go Wrong
• #6.5 Ships and Stings and Wedding Rings
• #7 Lies, Damned Lies, and History
• #7.5 The Great St. Mary's Day Out
• #7.6 My Name is Markham
• #8 And the Rest is History

The Bargain by Jane Ashford

Title: The Bargain

Author: Jane Ashford

Publisher: Sourcebooks 2014

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 416

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New to Me

Lord Alan Gresham is the sixth son of the Duke of Langford and, as such, has been allowed to remain at Oxford to pursue his scientific studies. When the prince regent asks him to debunk the "ghost" of a dead actress haunting Carlton House, he cannot refuse, and is forced back to the Society he deplores. But upon meeting the daughter of the alleged ghost, his calm, logical investigation is disrupted.

A fun fluffy romance that turned out to be not so fun. The first 60% of the book was just fine. I enjoyed the characters and the story line. But then things started getting weird. The book tries to stick too many twists and situations into a few pages. Thoroughly disappointed in the last few pages. Really turned me off to the entire book...

2017 New to Me Reading Challenge

From The Herd Presents:

Welcome to the 2017 New to Me Reading Challenge!

This challenge is all about pushing your boundaries and trying something new! And author, a series, a subgenre, etc.

If you tweet or tag use #NewToMe2017

Anything "new" to you. For example...

--First time reading an author

--first book in a series

--first book you've read from a series (doesn't have to be book one)

--first time trying a genre/subgenre

--a debut book from an author (even if you've read them before)

*books need to be over 80 pages

To complete the challenge you need to read 12 books minimum.

You can pick any number of books above that!

In your sign up post please indicate your goal. You can always up the goal!

There will be three posts for the challenge.

Sign Up Post: Link your sign up post on this page once it's live (if you're not a blogger link a Goodreads shelf dedicated to the challenge)Mid Year Check in: First week of June

Wrap Up Post: Last week of December

*you can incorporate your check ins with monthly recaps/weekly recaps, with other challenge updates, or their own update.

I'm going to focus on new-to-me authors this year.