A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle

Title: A Study in Scarlet

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Publisher: 1887

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 160

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Ebook; Monthly Key Word - Red; Well-Rounded Reader - Mystery; Back to the Classics - Mystery

"There's the scarlet thread of murder running through the colourless skein of life, and our duty is to unravel it, and isolate it, and expose every inch of it.".... Arthur Conan Doyle ..."A Study in Scarlet" Here, in "A Study in Scarlet", Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduces us to one of the most popular and studied characters in fiction; Sherlock Holmes. In this first novel of this most complex and some would argue, tortured man, he relates the first meeting of Holmes and the narrator of these adventures, Dr. Watson. Amazed by his amazing perception and the depth of what Holmes knows (and what he apparently has no need for) Watson is soon to learn that "No man burdens his mind with small matters unless he has some very good reason for doing so."

My first official Sherlock Holmes story. I've only ever seen the movie and tv adaptations. Yeah I know... bad. But I am fixing it! So I read A Study in Scarlet where we meet Holmes and Watson and investigate their first case together. Well, I really enjoyed the mystery, it was the characters that kept me reading. The main characters are a delight to get to know. I also really enjoyed the sparring with Lestrade and Gregson. Fun fun! While it probably won't be soon, I definitely want to read the rest of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

The Orphans at Race Point by Patry Francis

Title: The Orphans at Race Point

Author: Patry Francis

Publisher: Harper Collins 2014

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 547

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; New Author; Monthly Key Word - October; Lucky No. 14 - Blame It on the Bloggers

Set in the close-knit Portuguese community of Provincetown, Massachusetts, The Orphans of Race Point traces the relationship between Hallie Costa and Gus Silva, who meet as children in the wake of a terrible crime that leaves Gus parentless. Their friendship evolves into an enduring and passionate love that will ask more of them than they ever imagined.
On the night of their high school prom, a terrible tragedy devastates their relationship and profoundly alters the course of their lives. And when, a decade later, Gus—now a priest—becomes entangled with a distraught woman named Ava and her daughter Mila, troubled souls who bring back vivid memories of his own damaged past, the unthinkable happens: he is charged with murder. Can Hallie save the man she’s never stopped loving, by not only freeing him from prison but also—finally—the curse of his past?

I feel like this is a good book, but not a great one. I enjoyed reading it, but didn't have any strong feelings at the end. I didn't get into the world as much as I would have liked. I didn't connect to the characters as much as I would have liked. And yet, the writing was good, the storyline was thought out, and the characters were interesting. I guess I just wanted a bit more from the book. I'm giving it 4 stars on the strength of the writing and storyline.

Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn

Title: Ten Things I Love About You (Bevelstoke #3)

Author: Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon Books 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 377

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Monthly Key Word - September (Number); Lucky No. 14 - First Letter's Rule

Ten Things You Should Know About This Book
1. Sebastian Grey is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.
2. Annabel Winslow's family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind and The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church.
3. Sebastian's uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.
4. Lord Newbury detests Sebastian and will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening.
5. Lord Newbury has decided that Annabel is the answer to all of his problems.
6. Annabel does not want to marry Lord Newbury, especially when she finds out he once romanced her grandmother.
7 is shocking, 8 is delicious, and 9 is downright wicked, all of which lead the way to
10. Happily. Ever. After.

I started this book on the strength of the second in the series. I was not disappointed. It turned out better than the second book. I loved the characters of Annabel and Sebastian. I loved their predicament. I loved the storyline. Until we got to the last 30 pages. A bit disappointed about the almost deus ex machina, but then fake out. The writing got a bit clunky at the end. But overall, a solid historical romance.

Bevelstoke

#1 The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever
#2 What Happens in London
#3 Ten Things I Love About You

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Title: The Little Prince

Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Publisher: Reynal & Hitchcock 1943

Genre: Children's Literature

Pages: 112

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fantasy Project; 1001 Books; New Author; Monthly Key - July; What's in a Name - Position of Royalty

Few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as The Little Prince. Richard Howard's new translation of the beloved classic--published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's birth--beautifully reflects Saint-Exupéry's unique and gifted style. Howard has excelled in bringing the English text as close as possible to the French, in language, style, and most important, spirit.

Somehow I have gone 32 years without reading The Little Prince. This is the year I rectify that slight. And I'm so glad that I did. This is a delightful little story that appeals to all ages. It's usually shelved in the children's section, but really it could be shelved anywhere. The nuggets of wisdom sprinkled throughout make it a classic. I love that this story has some many different layers. I feel like this is a volume that once read again would yield an entirely different outcome.

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

Title: A Long Way Down

Author: Nick Honby

Publisher: Penguin 2006

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 325

Rating: 4/5 stars Movie: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Monthly Key Word - Aug; 52 Books - W31; Books to Movies

Meet Martin, JJ, Jess, and Maureen. Four people who come together on New Year's Eve: a former TV talk show host, a musician, a teenage girl, and a mother. Three are British, one is American. They encounter one another on the roof of Topper's House, a London destination famous as the last stop for those ready to end their lives.
In four distinct and riveting first-person voices, Nick Hornby tells a story of four individuals confronting the limits of choice, circumstance, and their own mortality. This is a tale of connections made and missed, punishing regrets, and the grace of second chances.

This isn't High Fidelity. That was my initial thought when finished with the book. I started my Hornby journey with J's favorite and have found that this one just doesn't quite live up to it. This volume is a good novel. We get four interesting engaging characters. The switches in point of view are done well. Overall the storyline is okay. It just doesn't have the depth of High Fidelity. The overall voice of the book is not clear. In fact, I wasn't really sure of the point of the book once I got to the end. But I did enjoy reading it, so that's something.

Movie:

The movie fixed the main issue I had with the book: pacing. The movie quickly moves off of the roof of Topper House and into the characters. Very good decision. Once there, we get each of the characters' voices in a the telling of the larger story. I liked how they kept the voices, but didn't get stuck in each of the stories. Instead, the voices just narrate four different parts of the story. I thought the casting was very spot on, especially Jess. Jess can be very grating in the book. Imogen Poots toned her down a bit, but kept her inappropriate comments and impulsive nature. Toni Colette was perfect as the dowdy Maureen. I really believed her to be the meek mouse of the group. The only thing about the movie that I wasn't sold on was the ending. It was a bit too happy for me. I like the more ambiguous ending of the book. But that's it. I really enjoyed the rest of the movie.

Firelight by Kristen Callihan

Title: Firelight (Darkest London #1)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Hachette Book Group 2012

Genre: Paranormal

Pages: 372

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Mount TBR; Women Authors; Monthly Key Word - December; Seriously Series

London, 1881 Once the flames are ignited . . . Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity . . . Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

I was intrigued by the prequel, but was wary of what would actually happen in the series. I need not worry. This series started off amazing! I immediately fell for Miranda and Archer. I rooted for them to finally confess their feelings and their secrets. Of course it happened in the last 20 pages, but that's okay. I was enjoying their journeys. And we get some very interesting side characters. I figured out that the series will continue with some of the side characters and not focus on Miranda and Archer. I'm a little sad to lose them, but this volume explored most of their story. A great start to a hopefully great overall series. Can't wait to read to the next one.

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Spellbound
#7 Forevermore

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: Lost Lake

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press 2014

Genre: Magical Realism

Pages: 296

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; 52 Books - W24; Monthly Key Word - May (Lost); Lucky No. 14 - Cover Lust

The first time Eby Pim saw Lost Lake, it was on a picture postcard. Just an old photo and a few words on a small square of heavy stock, but when she saw it, she knew she was seeing her future.
That was half a life ago. Now Lost Lake is about to slip into Eby’s past. Her husband George is long passed. Most of her demanding extended family are gone. All that’s left is a once-charming collection of lakeside cabins succumbing to the Southern Georgia heat and damp, and an assortment of faithful misfits drawn back to Lost Lake year after year by their own unspoken dreams and desires.
It’s a lot, but not enough to keep Eby from relinquishing Lost Lake to a developer with cash in hand, and calling this her final summer at the lake. Until one last chance at family knocks on her door.
Lost Lake is where Kate Pheris spent her last best summer at the age of twelve, before she learned of loneliness, and heartbreak, and loss. Now she’s all too familiar with those things, but she knows about hope too, thanks to her resilient daughter Devin, and her own willingness to start moving forward. Perhaps at Lost Lake her little girl can cling to her own childhood for just a little longer… and maybe Kate herself can rediscover something that slipped through her fingers so long ago.

I just love Allen's books. I always know what I'm getting into when I pick one up: great characters, a bit of magic, and a happy ending. They're fairly predictable and yet I always get lost in the stories. I especially loved Devin and the alligator from this story. Something about the little girl who "sees" more than most of the adults rings true. I even liked Selma and her part in the resolution of the conflict. Definitely a go-to feel good read for the week.

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Title: The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America

Author: Erik Larson

Publisher: Vintage Books 2003

Genre: U.S. History

Pages: 447

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Adventure; Rory Gilmore; Library Books; Monthly Key Word - Color

Erik Larson—author of #1 bestseller IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS—intertwines the true tale of the 1893 World's Fair and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction.

I loved this book. Initially I thought it was just about the serial killer H.H. Holmes, but in reality this book tells the story of the creation and destruction of The White City. I was fascinated by the process of planning and building the World's Fair. I did not realize the amount of famous to me people that either had a hand in building the fair or were attendees. All throughout we get interludes about the murder spree of H.H. Holmes (only to be discovered after the fair). Larson's writing is clear and concise but with a nice storytelling manner. We get the inclusion of primary sources fitted seamlessly into the narrative. Even switching between the two main story lines is done well. Definitely a well written historical narrative.

Ember by Kristen Callihan

Title: Ember (Darkest London #0.5)

Author: Kristen Callihan

Publisher: Forever Yours 2012

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 88

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; New Author; 52 Books - W19; Read Your Freebies; Monthly Key Word - April (Light)

After a fire consumes the Ellis family fortune, the beautiful and resourceful Miranda finds herself faced with an impossible dilemma: enter a life of petty crime or watch her family succumb to poverty. But once her fiancée learns of her descent into danger--and of the strange, new powers she's discovered --saving her family may come at the high price of her heart.
When Lord Benjamin Archer's one chance for redemption is destroyed by corrupt London antiquarian Hector Ellis, he vows to take what Ellis values most-his daughter Miranda. Forced to hide his face behind masks, Archer travels the world hoping to escape the curse that plagues him so that he can finally claim his prize.
But once Archer returns home to London, will it be revenge he seeks? Or will the flame-haired beauty ignite new, undeniable desires?

I picked up this little prequel around the same time that I picked up the first book in the series. I was immediately drawn in by the story and characters. We get some background into Miranda and Archer and (I'm imagining) a set-up to the actual series. I can't wait to dive into Firelight. Now I just need to go find the physical book somewhere in my library...

Darkest London

#0.5 Ember
#1 Firelight
#2 Moonglow
#3 Winterblaze
#3.5 Entwined
#4 Shadowdance
#5 Evernight
#6 Soulbound
#7 Forevermore

2014 Monthly Motif and Key Word Reading Challenges

From Bookmark to Blog:

Welcome to the 2014 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge! For this challenge, each month is assigned a certain motif or theme. Your task is to read one book per month that fits in with the motif for that particular month.
MONTHLY MOTIFS:

Jan- Around the World Choose a book to read that takes place in a country different than the one you live in or choose a book written by an author that is from a country different than your own.
Feb- Award Winner Read a book that won recognition or an award in 2012.
Mar- Fairy tales or Fairy Creatures Read a fairy tale retelling or a book with fey/fairies in it.
Apr- Short & Sweet Read a collection of short stories or anthologies.
May- Mystery, Murder, & Mayhem Read a murder/mystery book, a book in which someone dies of mysterious causes, or a book in which a mystery must be solved.
June- A Long Journey Read a book in which the character(s) take a trip, go on a quest, or find themselves on a journey toward something, etc.
July- Assassins, Warriors, & Rebels Read a book in which the main character is one of these things or fights against one of these things.
Aug- Alternate Reality Read a book that's set in the future, on another planet, in another dimension, or in an unknown world. A Dystopian book will count this month as well.
Sep- Book to Movie Read a book that has a movie based off of it. For an extra challenge, see the movie as well.
Oct- The Witching Hour There's been a lot of zombies lately, but this year include a 'witchy' book in your scary reads- a book about a witch or a book that has witches in it.
Nov- An Oldie but a Goodie Pick a book published before 2000 that you've always wanted to read, but just never got to. Or pick a book set in the past (before 2000).
Dec- That's a Wrap Finish a series you've been meaning to finish or read the next book in a series you started but never finished.

My TBR:

January -- High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
February -- Flesh and Bone by Jonathan Maberry (Bram Stoker Award)
March -- Tales of the Brothers Grimm
April -- Stranger Than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk
May -- Deanna Raybourn mystery
June -- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
July -- Maria Snyder fantasy
August -- Cherie Priest or another author's steampunk
September -- Tess of the d'Ubervilles by Thomas Hardy
October -- The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
November -- TBD
December -- TBD

From Bookmark to Blog:

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge! For this challenge I have chosen six key words associated with each month in 2014. Your task is to read one book each month whose title includes one or more of the key words for that month.
* The title you choose can be a variation on one of the key words. For example- your title could include the word 'snowing' or 'snowflake' even though the key word is 'snow.'
* Key words can be tweaked. For example- You could read "Cinder" or "Ashes" for the key word 'Fire' and that would be just fine. If the key word is 'family' then your title could include the word 'sister' or 'mother.'If the key word is 'food' then your title could include the word 'cake.'
* Link up below to participate and add additional links any time you post about the challenge or post about a book you read for the challenge.

MONTHLY KEY WORDS:

JAN- Angel, Secret, Clock, Black, Day, Wild

FEB- Her, Life, Night, Red, Dark, Island

MAR- Forever, Inside, Storm, Sky, Flower, Stay

APR- Star, Light, Never, Princess, Break, Clear

MAY- Dawn, Death, End, Lost, Beautiful, And

JUN- Color, Beyond, Day, Place, Grave, Road

JUL- Beautiful, Ship, Prince, Whisper, Sun, Of

AUG- Forgotten, Down, True, Run, Danger, Me

SEP- Number, Take, Shadow, Ice, Who, After

OCT- Ocean, Blood, Still, Out, The, Fate

NOV- Into, Sound, Blue, House, My, Last

DEC- Kiss, Fire, Ruin, White, Promise, Infinity

My TBR:

January -- In the Company of Secrets
February -- The Long, Dark Teatime of the Soul by Terry Pratchett
March -- Yellow Crocus
April -- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
May -- The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
June -- The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen
July -- The Little Prince
August -- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
September -- Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
October -- Bloodring by Faith Hunter
November -- The House at Riverton by Kate Morton
December -- The Angel's Kiss

2013 Reading Challenge Round-Up -- Completed Edition

Look at all these finished challenges! I did good this year...

Goal: 35/35 books DONE!!!!!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)
Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)
Gulliver’s Travel’s by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
Her Ladyships Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
The Sandman Vol. 11 (9/27/13)
The Sandman Vol. 12 (9/27/13)
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (9/29/13)
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
Cape Storm by Rachel Caine (10/1/13)
Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine (10/5/13)
Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith (11/7/13)
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)
100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
Vanity Fair by Thackeray (12/18/13)
Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
B is for Baby by Suzonne Stirling (12/11/13)
Universal Rights Down to Earth by Richard Thompson Ford (12/13/13)
Final Jeopardy by Stephen Baker (12/13/13)
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)

Goal: 10/10 books DONE!!!!!!

The Required Categories:

19th Century Classic — Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (12/18/13)
20th Century Classic — The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
Pre-18th or 18th Century Classic — Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
Classic that relates to the African-American Experience – The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
Classic Adventure — The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
Classic that prominently features an Animal - Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne(9/10/13)

Optional Categories:

Re-read a Classic — Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)
Classic Non-Fiction title –The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
Classic Children’s/Young Adult title — The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)
Classic Short Stories – The Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)

Goal: 10/10 books DONE!!!!!

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (8/28/13)
Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
Sandition by Jane Austen (12/18/13)

Goal: 5/5 books DONE!!!!!!

The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
The Dragon Men by Steven Harper (9/2/13)
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)

Goal: 60/60 Books DONE!!!!!!!!

Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
Chicken with Plums by Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
Ill Wind by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)
Firestorm by Rachel Caine (2/16/13)
The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)
Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13)
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
Locke and Key Vol 1: Welcome to Lovecraft (1/4/13)
Locke and Key Vol 2: Head Games (1/4/13)
Locke and Key Vol 3: Crown of Shadows (1/5/13)
Locke and Key Vol 4: Keys to the Kingdom (1/6/13)
MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/23/13)
The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
The Color Purple by Alice Walker (6/24/13)
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (7/26/13)
The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13)
The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (7/13/13)
Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
The Bleeding Dusk by Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
Gale Force by Rachel Caine (9/9/13)
Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder (9/17/13)
Cape Storm by Rachel Caine (10/1/13)
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine (10/5/13)
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
Iron’s Prophecy by Julie Kagawa (10/10/13)
The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker-Smith (11/7/13)
100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
Love and Friendship by Jane Austen (11/11/13)
The Watsons by Jane Austen (11/13/13)
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)
Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
Boneshaler by Cherie Priest (12/14/13)
Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
Vanity Fair by Thackeray (12/18/13)

Goal: 52/52 books DONE!!!!!

Wanted by Mark Millar (1/2/13)
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
The Complete Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales (2/26/13)
Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (3/30/13)
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/13/14)
Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
The Hostage by Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)
The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/13/13)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/22/13)
Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan (7/24/13)
The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13)
When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)
Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
The Sandman Vol. 8 (8/29/13)
M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman (9/1/13)
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)
Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder (9/17/13)
The Sandman Vol. 11: The Dream Hunters (9/27/13)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
Rose of Fire by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/21/13)
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (10/27/13)
The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)
Jane Austen and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor by Stephanie Barron(11/20/13)
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes (12/3/13)
Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
Tanglefoot by Cherie Priest (12/15/13)
Sandition by Jane Austen (12/18/13)

Goal: 15/15 books DONE!!!!!!

History- US, World, European – Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
Autobiography, Biography, Memoir – A Long Way Gone by Ishamel Beah (1/21/13)
Food – Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
Family, Relationships, Parenting, Dating, Love – MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
Music, Film, TV – Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
Health, Medicine – Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy – The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
Anthropology, Archaeology – Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
How To – A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman (9/10/13)
Cultural Studies – Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
Business, Finance, Management – The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman (10/9/13)
Home – Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato (12/11/13)
Crafts – B is for Baby by Suzonne Stirling (12/11/13)
Technology – Final Jeopardy by Stephen Baker (12/13/13)
Government – Universal Rights Down to Earth by Richard Thompson Ford (12/13/13)

Goal: 12/12 Books DONE!!!!!

January (cold) – Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)
February (family) – The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
March (valley) – Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts (3/17/13)
April (garden) – The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4/30/13)
May (name) – Emma by Jane Austen (5/22/13)
June (never) – Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
July – Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason (7/15/13)
August – The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/17/13)
September (shadow) – As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
October (witch) – Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
November (number) – The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
December – The Road by Cormac McCarthy (12/6/13)

Goal: 20/20 movies/books DONE!!!!

The Reader (1/24/13)
Mansfield Park (2/3/13)
A Game of Thrones (1/9/13)
One Day (1/29/13)
The Secret Garden (4/30/13)
Emma (5/22/13)
Never Let Me Go (6/20/13)
Coraline (3/21/13)
Stardust (4/11/13)
Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13)
300 (2/12/13)
Warm Bodies (6/13/13)
The Color Purple (6/24/13)
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (6/26/13)
Guns, Germs, and Steel (8/12/13)
The Host (8/24/13)
Pride and Prejudice (8/28/13)
The Count of Monte Cristo (11/22/13)
Gulliver’s Travels (10/3/13)
The Road (12/6/13)

Goal: 10/10 books DONE!!!!!

Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman (10/7/13)
MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
Stardust by Neil Gaiman (4/11/13)
Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (11/22/13)
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
Storm Glass by Maria Snyder (9/17/13)
Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13)

Goal: 20/20 books DONE!!!!

300 (2/12/13)
Cowboys and Aliens (2/9/13)
The Walking Dead Book 5 (5/14/13)
Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)
Wanted (1/2/13)
Chicken with Plums (1/2/13)
Locke and Key Vol. 1 (1/4/13)
Locke and Key Vol. 2 (1/4/13)
Locke and Key Vol. 3 (1/5/13)
Locke and Key Vol. 4 (1/6/13)
Locke and Key Vol. 5 (3/1/13)
A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel (3/1/13)
Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13)
The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13)
The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)
Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)
American Vampire Vol. 1 (8/21/13)
Hyperbole and Half by Allie Brosh (11/26/13)

Goal: 5/5 books DONE!!!!

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
Dance of the Gods by Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
Storm Glass by Maria Snyder (9/17/13)
Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry (11/16/13)

Goal: 6/6 books DONE!!!!!

Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/14/13)
The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman (7/27/13)
The New Deadwardians (8/19/13)
Apocalypse Z by Manel Loureiro (9/1/13)
San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)
100 Days in Deadland by Rachel Aukes (11/11/13)

Goal: 12/12 books DONE!!!!!

Translated fiction – The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
Historical mystery – The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King (2/26/13)
Romantic suspense – As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
Made into a movie – P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
New Adult – Saving Wishes by G.J. Walker Smith (11/7/13)
Urban Fantasy –London Eye by Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
Dystopian – Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
Memoir – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
LGBT – Every Day by David Levithan (8/15/13)
Action Adventure –The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
Humour– Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
Published in 2013 – And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13)

Goal: 5/5 books DONE!!!!

The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
The Firebrand by Susan Wiggs (6/13/13)
The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne (11/3/13)
Her Ladyship’s Companion by Evangeline Collins (10/9/13)
Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)

Goal: 15/15 books DONE!!!!!

Almost America by Steve Tally (1/14/13)
Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
Thin Air by Rachel Caine (2/22/13)
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
When Twilight Burns by Colleen Gleason (8/5/13)
Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
Gulliver’s Travel by Jonathan Swift (10/3/13)
Bachelor Girl by Betsy Israel (9/10/13)
Gale Force by Rachel Caine (9/9/13)
Cotillion by Georgette Heyer (9/14/13)
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair (9/8/13)

Goal: 15/15 books DONE!!!!!!!

ROMANCE

Contemporary – P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
Historical – Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
Paranormal – Vampire for Christmas by Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)

HORROR

Science Fiction – London Eye by Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
Psychological – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
Young Adult – Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)

THRILLER/SUSPENSE

Historical – A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
Action – Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
Supernatural – Chill Factor by Rachel Caine (1/13/13)

SCIENCE/FANTASY

Vampire – Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
Dystopian – Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
Epic Fantasy – A Game of Thrones by George Martin (1/9/13)

MYSTERY/CRIME

Historical – The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (10/20/13)
Romantic – Change of Fortune by Jen Turano (1/3/13)
Classic Whodunit – The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King (2/26/13)

Goal: 25/25 Ebooks DONE!!!!!

The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson (2/26/13)
Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (2/3/13)
Coraline by Neil Gaiman (3/21/13)
300 (2/12/13)
Persuasion by Jane Austen (1/21/13)
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (1/10/13)
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (3/30/13)
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (4/5/13)
Stardust by Neil Gaiman (4/11/13)
The Postman by David Brin (5/27/13)
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins (7/7/13)
Vampire for Christmas by Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)
Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)
And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (8/8/13)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (8/28/13)
Max Stops the Presses by Colleen Gleason (9/5/13)
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne (9/10/13)
Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz (10/1/13)
Lady Susan by Jane Austen (10/10/13)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (9/20/13)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (9/28/13)
San Diego 2014 by Mira Grant (10/1/13)

Goal: 8/8 series DONE!!!!

Started in 2012

Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series (6,7,8,9,10,11,12) (9/27/13)
Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series (3) (7/24/13)
Kendare Blake’s Anna Dressed in Blood series (2) (3/11/13)

Started in 2013

Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) (10/5/13)
Jennifer Armintrout’s Lightworld/Darkworld series (1,2,3) – DNF’d
Nora Robert’s Morrigan’s Cross series (1,2,3) (3/17/13)
Ally Condie’s Matched series (1,2,3) (7/12/13)
Susan Wiggs’ Chicago Fire series (1,2,3) (6/13/13)
Colleen Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Chronicles (1,2,3,4,5) (9/5/13)

Goal: 15/15 books DONE!!!!!

Neverwhere (3/30/13)
Good Omens (1/10/13)
Coraline (3/21/13)
Stardust (4/11/13)
M is for Magic (9/1/13)
Sandman Vol 6 (8/19/13)
Sandman Vol 7 (8/19/13)
Sandman Vol 8 (8/29/13)
Sandman Vol 9 (8/29/13)
Sandman Vol 10 (8/29/13)
Sandman Vol 11 (9/27/13)
Sandman Vol 12 (9/27/13)
Anansi Boys (10/7/13)
The Graveyard Book (9/20/13)
The Ocean at the End of the Lane (9/29/13)

Goal: 30/30 books DONE!!!!!

Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
The Passage by Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
Crossed by Ally Condie (3/1/13)
A Foreign Affair by Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
Chicks Dig Time Lords by Lynne Thomas and Tara O’Shea (2/3/13)
Fables Vol 17 Inherit the Wind (2/4/13)
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
Cowboys vs. Aliens (2/9/13)
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (6/20/13)
Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
Wedding of the Century (8/14/13)
The Sandman Vol 6 (8/19/13)
The Sandman Vol 7 (8/19/13)
Selected Stories of O. Henry (8/18/13)
The New Deadwardians (8/19/13)
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
The Host by Stephenie Meyer (8/24/13)
The Sandman Vol. 8 (8/29/13)
The Sandman Vol. 9 (8/29/13)
The Sandman Vol. 10 (8/29/13)
M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman (9/1/13)
Apocalypse Z by Manel Loureiro (9/1/13)
The Dragon Men by Steven Harper (9/2/13)

What's in a Name 6 hosted by www.BethFishReads.com

Goal: 6/6 Books DONE!!!!!!

Up or Down: Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
Kitchen Find: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
Party or Celebration: The Wedding Gift by Lucy Kevin (1/24/13)
Fire: Firestorm by Rachel Caine (2/16/13)
Emotion: Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
Lost or Found: Lost by Gregory Maguire (7/12/13)

Goal: 18/18 Books DONE!!!!!!

Contemporary – One Day by David Nicholls (1/29/13)
Historical – The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (7/7/13)
Paranormal – Windfall by Rachel Caine (2/11/13)
Fantasy – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (7/26/13)
Romance – The Mistress by Susan Wiggs (6/4/13)
Thriller – The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason (7/13/12)
Nonfiction – The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill by Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
Women’s Fiction – The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2/14/13)
Chick Lit – The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen (8/1713)
Dystopian – Matched by Ally Condie (2/21/13)
Horror – Terror by Night by Ambrose Bierce (2/14/13)
Biography – Thomas Paine by Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
Fairy Tales – The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen (8/20/13)
Classics – A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain (6/23/13)
SciFi – The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein (2/7/13)
Short Stories – The Complete Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales (2/26/13)
Erotica – Beauty or the Bitch by Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
Epic Fantasy – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (4/28/13)

Goal: 25/25 authors DONE!!!!!

Jane Austen (1/21/13)
Carrie Bebris (6/6/13)
Alison Bechdel (8/19/13)
Rachel Bertsche (5/31/13)
Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
Rachel Caine (1/12/13)
Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
Ally Condie (3/1/13)
Gillian Flynn (2/9/13)
Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
Colleen Gleason (8/1/13)
Jasmine Haynes (1/9/13)
Felicity Heaton (7/12/13)
Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
Jenny Lawson (3/15/13)
Paula McLain (7/7/13)
Kate Morton (2/14/13)
Nora Roberts (3/9/13)
Marjane Satrapi (1/2/13)
Lynne Thomas (2/3/13)
Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
Alice Walker (6/24/13)
Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
Susan Wiggs (5/22/13)

Goal: 25/25 authors DONE!!!!!!

Cecelia Ahern (4/13/13)
Sarah Addison Allen (2/18/13)
Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
Mark Bittner (6/26/13)
David Brin (5/27/13)
Ally Condie (2/21/13)
Justin Cronin (1/20/13)
Jared Diamond (8/12/13)
Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
Colleen Gleason (7/13/13)
Steven Harper (5/4/13)
Joe Hill (1/4/13)
Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
Laurie King (2/26/13)
Tim Lebbon (3/15/13)
David Levithan (8/15/13)
George R.R. Martin (1/9/13)
Craig Nelson (1/28/13)
David Nicholls (1/29/13)
Caro Peacock (1/22/13)
Nora Roberts (3/3/13)
Bernhard Schlink (1/24/13)
Darren Shan (4/14/13)
Steve Tally (1/14/13)
Jen Turano (1/3/13)

Goal: 24/24 books DONE!!!!!

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (3/11/13)
Locke and Key Vol. 5 (3/1/13)
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (1/21/13)
The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie King (2/26/13)
A Game of Thrones: Graphic Novel Vol. 1 (3/1/13)
Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George (3/2/13)
Death: At Death’s Door by Jill Thompson (3/4/13)
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade (3/6/13)
Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade (3/8/13)
London Eye by Time Lebbon (3/15/13)
The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (3/20/13)
Zom-B by Darren Shan (4/14/13)
Birth by Tina Cassidy (4/20/13)
The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper (5/4/13)
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (5/11/13)
Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson (5/12/13)
The Walking Dead Book Five (5/14/13)
The Walking Dead Book Six (5/14/13)
The Walking Dead Book Seven (5/17/13)
The Walking Dead Volume 17 (5/17/13)
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (6/113/13)
Fables 18: Cubs in Toyland (6/23/13)
Reached by Ally Condie (7/12/13)

In the Company of Secrets by Judith Miller

First book of 2014... Let's get this party started!

Title: In the Company of Secrets (Postcards from Pullman #1)

Author: Judith Miller

Publisher: Bethany House 2007

Genre: Christian fiction

Pages: 386

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Monthly Key Word - Secrets; ebook; Women Authors; 52 Books -- W1; Read Your Freebies

The truth could cost her everything....
Olivia Mott didn't intend to lie. Somehow, it just happened. And wasn't it all Lady Charlotte's fault anyway?
Now Olivia's position as assistant chef at Pullman's elegant Hotel Florence is dependent upon her keeping her secrets. And sometimes lies have a way of leading to other lies. Should Olivia admit her real past and accept the consequences or keep quiet in order to preserve her comfortable new circumstances?
Deception seems to be part of everyday life in the company town of Pullman, Illinois, where the grand Pullman Palace Car is manufactured. Samuel Howard, Olivia's friend and the town manager, seems to think everything is fine, but Olivia observes something quite different. Could it be that Olivia is not the only one harboring secrets?

Hmmm... This is one of those free books that I happened to pick up on Kindle. So glad I did not actually pay for this book. I was thoroughly bored the entire time I was reading. The characters are not very entertaining. The plotline is very predictable. The sermons are seemingly out of place and awkward. The ending is a complete "cliffhanger" but we all know how the story will end. I can't believe I actually finished this one, but I did. So, first book of the year completed. Not starting on a high note. Hope things get better...

Postcards from Pullman (DNFed series)

In the Company of Secrets
Whisper Along the Rails
An Uncertain Dream

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Title: The Road

Author: Cormac McCarthy

Publisher: Vintage 2007

Genre: Dystopia

Pages: 241

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading; Dystopian; Monthly Key Word -- December; Book to Movie; Bingo -- 4 from everyone but me; NPR SciFan (perpetual); Fantasy Project (perpetual)

How I Got It: Library loan

A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

Another meh book. I can appreciate the stark simplicity of the writing, but I just wasn't a fan of the rest of the book. Nothing grabbed me and kept me really interested in reading. I'm fairly certain that I finished because it's only 241 pages. Don't really see what all the hype was about. I guess it just wasn't my kind of book.

Movie:

The movie added a ton of action beats that just don't exist in the book. It also expanded the role of the wife. I understand why they did it for a wide spread release movie. The book just doesn't have enough to appeal to mass audiences. Overall, I like the movie better than the book, but It still just wasn't something that really held my attention.

The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne

Title: The Billionaire Wins the Game (Billionaire Bachelors #1)

Author: Melody Anne

Publisher: Gossamer 2011

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pages: 205

Rating: 1/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Romance; Monthly Key Word -- November; Mount TBR; 52 Books -- W45; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: I own it

Joseph Anderson has decided it's time for his three successful sons to find brides. Joseph wants grandchildren to fill his mansion, and he wants them immediately. His eldest son, Lucas, is successful in all areas of his life, except love, and Joseph begins matchmaking. He finds Amy Harper and deems her the perfect daughter-in-law. He just needs to get her and Lucas to both realize they're made for each other.
Lucas Anderson is wealthy, sexy, and stubborn. He has no desire to have any woman enter his life, causing chaos, or using his family's name. Many women have tried, and he's been successful in finding out who they are beneath their false smiles.
Amy Harper was raised in tragic circumstances and doesn't like pampered, rich men who have been handed everything with a silver spoon. She spent years finishing her education and then received a job with the Anderson Corporation. She instantly doesn't like her incredibly sexy boss, who is arrogant and thinks every woman should fall at his feet.

I picked this up to take a fun romance break from the epic that is The Count of Monte Cristo. Unfortunately, what I got was a poorly written tromp through every romance cliche and stereotype I know of. We get the over-bearing, macho, pig-headed male lead who's very experienced in bed. We get the cautious and yet willful and pig-headed female lead who's a virgin. We get meddling parents. We get instant attraction. We get lies and omissions. We get misunderstandings that could clear everything up in five seconds. We get an accidental pregnancy. We get a forced shotgun marriage that the female lead resists but submits quickly. We get a 180 degree change in attitude without ever discussing anything. And finally we get a happily-ever-after. Ugh! Too much crap shoved into one short book. Plus, it is badly written with changes in scenes, narrators, and action with little or no warning. I had to reread many paragraphs just to figure out what the hell was going on. I thought about DNFing the book many times and yet I finished it for some reason. I blame the sleep deprivation.

Billionaire Bachelors (DNFed series)

1. The Billionaire Wins the Game
2. The Billionaire's Dance
3. The Billionaire Falls
4. The Billionaire's Marriage Proposal
5. Blackmailing the Billionaire
6. Runaway Heiress
7. The Billionaire's Final Stand

Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Witches 101: A Witches of East End Primer

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Publisher: Hyperion 2011

Genre: Paranormal; Witches

Pages: 63

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Witches and Witchcraft; Monthly Key Word - October; ebook; Fall into Reading

How I Got It: iPad read

Almost three million copies of The Blue Bloods series in print, Melissa de la Cruz has now written her first paranormal romance for adults, on sale June 21st. The first in the Beauchamp Series, the book features a brand-new cast of characters, a fascinating and fresh world to discover, and a few surprise appearances from some of the Blue Blood fan favorites. It’s a page-turning, heart-stopping, magical summer read, fraught with love affairs, witchcraft, and an unforgettable battle between good and evil.
But before you read the book, meet the Witches! In this primer, you’ll meet the three Beauchamp women – Joanna, Ingrid, and Freya – learn a little bit about their special powers, and even get some tips so you can cast a few spells of your own.

Hmm... This was a free teaser ebook for the new Witches of East End series. I was intrigued by the series concept and the appearance of the Beauchamps in the Blue Bloods series. The ebook itself gives the reader a chapter about each of the Beauchamps. We are teased with a larger mystery and storyline. it definitely doesn't stand on its own, but I am fairly interested in reading the series now. I just kinda wish this was a full story to get us into the series, instead of the opening chapters.

As Shadows Fade and Max Stops the Presses by Colleen Gleason

Title: As Shadows Fade (Gardella Vampire Chronicles #5); Max Stops the Presses (Gardella Vampire Chronicles #5.5)

Author: Colleen Gleason

Publisher: Signet Eclipse 2009; 2013

Genre: Vampires

Pages: 342; 30

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Paranormal -- Angels; Monthly Key Word - Shade; Mount TBR; Seriously Series; Eclectic -- Romantic Suspense; Ebook; Bingo -- 2 2013 releases

How I Got It: I own it

Demons, enemies of both mortals and the undead, have found their way to Earth. To defeat them, Victoria Gardella proposes an alliance between her slayers and Lilith’s vampires. But the vampire queen wants the former slayer Max Pesaro in return for her cooperation—a small price for the world, but a price Victoria is unwilling to pay...

An amazing conclusion to a great paranormal romance series. I loved seeing where the story led. And I'm super excited to find a happy ending, albeit one with a huge twist. I can see the need for the twist, but holy crap it was a shocker. My only complaint was that I wanted a bit more of an ending. Thankfully, we Gleason made a short story to give the readers a bit more of a ending.

This is a short story (about 30 pages) that takes place after the end of As Shadows Fade, the fifth book in the Victoria Gardella Vampire Chronicles series.

And this is the story that helped me find a bit of closure for the characters. Plus, it was a cute little short story to follow up. Love it!

Gardella Vampire Chronicles:

#1 The Rest Falls Away
#1.5 Victoria Gardella
#2 Rises the Night
#3 The Bleeding Dusk
#4 When Twilight Burns
#5 As Shadows Fade
#5.1 Max Stops the Presses
#6 Roaring Midnight
#7 Raging Dawn
#8 Roaring Shadows

2013 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge

From Bookmark to Blog:

For this challenge I have chosen ten key words associated with each month in 2013. Your task is to read one book each month whose title includes one or more of the key words for that month. For instance, in January I might read Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah. The key words are listed below.

GUIDELINES
* The title you choose can be a variation on one of the key words. For example- your title could include the word 'snowing' or 'snowflake'even though the key word is 'snow.'
*Key words can be tweaked. For example- You could read "Cinder" or "Ashes" for the key word 'Fire' and that would be just fine. If the key word is 'family' then your title could include the word 'sister' or 'mother.'If the key word is 'food' then your title could include the word 'cake.'
* Link up below to participate and add additional links any time you post about the challenge or post about a book you read for the challenge.

My tentative TBR List:

January -- Chill Factor by Rachel Caine
February -- Child of Darkness by Jennifer Armintrout
March -- Valley of Silence by Nora Roberts
April -- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
May -- Emma by Jane Austen
June -- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
July -- Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason
August -- The Sugar Queen by Rachel Caine
September -- As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason
October -- Witches 101 by Melissa de la Cruz
November -- Billionaire Wins the Game
December -- TBD