Monday, January 31, 2011

Authors By The Alphabet February Book Choice

Bet Me

Bet Me
Jennifer Cruise
480 pgs
St. Martins Press












Amazon Blurb -

Setting: small city in Ohio
Thirty-three-year-old Minerva Dobbs is annoyed when her current boyfriend dumps her three weeks before her sisters' wedding. But she's downright furious a few moments later when she overhears her now "ex" boyfriend bet hunky Calvin Morrisey that he can't take her home and bed her. In fact, she's so angry at them both that she lets Cal take her to dinner and decides to string him along until after her sisters' wedding. Minerva pegs Cal as a handsome "used car salesman of seducers." Cal thinks Minerva is a "cranky, starving, risk-averse statistician." But Minerva's hormones keep whispering "this one," although she knows the gorgeous Cal isn't the man for her practical, white-cotton-bra, several-pounds-over-thin, self. And Cal is blindsided by the lust he feels for the voluptuous, sensual woman he glimpses behind Min's actuary exterior. While Cal and Min struggle to deal with their mutual distrust and attraction, their friends and families try their best to interfere and direct the progression of the unlikely romantic connection.
Bet Me is unabashedly, irrepressibly romantic. In the wacky, wonderful world of Min and Cal, author Jennifer Crusie leaves no humorous situation unexplored--no potential comedic cauldron left unstirred--no hysterically funny complication left undeveloped. The reader is treated to a seemingly mismatched hero and heroine who fling caution to the winds to explore their unexpected attraction. The sexual tension is hot, the dialogue witty and wickedly sarcastic, and the supporting cast of secondary characters hilarious. Like Min's favorite Krispy Kreme donuts, this novel is rich and sinfully delicious. Indulge. Enjoy.
******

Ok ladies, this is February choice picked by Christine from The Happily Ever After.  We will hook up the last Thursday of the month over at her place for q-n-a :)

The Stormchasers Review and Q-n-A

The Stormchasers

The Stormchasers
Jenna Blum
373 pgs.
Dutton












Amazon Blurb -

Blum (Those Who Save Us) visits Tornado Alley in this vivid novel about a set of twins with a dark history. At home in Minnesota, Karena Jorge gets an unexpected call informing her that her twin brother, Charles Hallingdahl, whom she hasn't seen in the 20 years since something went very wrong during a storm chase, has been admitted to a Kansas mental hospital. Charles suffers from rapid cycling bipolar disorder, and all Karena knows is that he refuses medication, he can be a danger to himself and others, and he is still obsessed with storm chasing. When she rushes to the clinic and finds he has already left, Karena joins a professional storm-chasing tour company, hoping to find her brother in the caravan of watchers who follow major storms. In the course of the tour, Karena confronts the past and the way it has shaped her life. The unpredictable and dangerous storms provide a framework for an exploration of the bond between siblings (and its limitations), and Blum renders the stormy backdrop as richly as she does her nuanced characters. 
*****

I liked this book.  The complexity of the relationship between twins Karena and Charles was fascinating, and at times aggravating.  The fact that Charles suffered from bipolar disorder made it even more intense.  I've always known that twins have this "connection" and to see it explored here as Karena tried to live a normal life with her brother by her side was hard to watch. His mental disorder would through the whole family into such a turmoil, and the fact that he would disappear for days on end chasing tornados made me wiggy.  As a mom, I don't know how I'd handle that.

I found the father a non-entity, and the mom somewhat on the odd side.  I don't know if that was just my perception or if she was that way, kinda flighty, uninvolved.  The fact that they were referred to as Siri and Frank instead of mom and dad throughout the book just compounded that fact.

When Karena tries to reign Charles in during one of his off the hook manic runs, and they are chasing a storm, a horrid tragedy takes place and she doesn't see him for 20 years after he gets put into a mental hospital.  She gets a call from a hospital in Kansas and she flies down to get him, only to find him gone, so she joins a stormchasing tour to try and find him.  Finding love and her brother proves to be the ultimate test of loyalty and trust for Karena.

3 1/2 cannolis

Q-n-A

1.    What did you rate the book?  In 1 sentence what was your overall thought.
See above.  It was a good book which made me angry at times.
2.    Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite?
Both Karena and Kevin were my faves.  I didn’t really have a least but the mom(Siri) upset me some.
3.    Have you ever experienced a storm?  Would you ever go stormchasing?
No and no.  I live in earthquake country and that’s enough for me.
4.    What did you think of Karena and Charles family?  How do you think his Bipolar disease affected them?
Actually I found them somewhat odd.  Maybe that was just my perception, I’m not sure.  The dad struck me as detached, the mom seemed lost uninvolved.  They didn’t seem to know how to handle Charles so they hid it and didn’t talk about it.
5.    How did you respond to Siri as the mom?
She angered me.  I felt she didn’t do enough to help Charles.  I understand the dad wasn’t there, but I got a flighty vibe from her.
6.    How would you describe Karena?
Loyal, loving, kind, strong, tormented.  She had such a terrible weight put on her.
7.    How would you describe Charles?
Torn.  He suffers from this disease that takes hold of him and makes him do insane things, say horrible things.  Yet I think he was just allowed to do what he wanted to do.
8.    Favorite moment(s) in book?
When Karena and Kevin talked in the car.  The beginnings of a relationship are always sweet.
9.    What are your feelings on them being twins, the twindar relationship?
I know twins have a very close relationship, and it can probably be intimidating to the outsider, especially if they’re identical.  I’m sure they do sense things about each other that others are clueless to.
10.    Charles’s bipolar disorder is described throughout the novel as “the djinn,” “the Stranger.” Why does Blum do this? What moment touched you the most?
I think so that it is clear that he is gone when he is in the throes of a psychotic break.  I didn’t have just one moment that touched me, though her not being able to go back into the hospital was very moving.
11.    Do you think Kevin and Karena are a good match?
I do, I think Kevin is a protector and Karena needs that.
12.    How would you handle being in a relationship with someone that had a sibling
with Bipolar?  What did you think of Kevin's reaction?

Kevin was very fair and understanding.  My former son in law is a paranoid schizophrenic and dealing is not easy.  While they are sick, it’s hard to hold them accountable for their actions, yet when they aren’t in a down turn they need to be.  They aren’t dumb or stupid.
13.    Did you note any quotes?  Share with us.
I didn’t have any quotes jump out at me.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Friday Hop



If anyone is interested in a book club, we have one going.  The details are all here -


Authors By The Alphabet
*****


This Hop is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books, and it runs through the weekend, so if you can't today, hop on tomorrow!  Just remember, go to her site, follow the rules, visit some of the blogs and get to know em, if you start to follow tell em you met them through the hop!

This weeks ? -

What book are you most looking forward to seeing published in 2011?  Why are  you anticipating that book?

That would be the next in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, Dead Reckoning on May 3rd.  I've invested so much time in these characters that I can't wait to see what happens next.  Never mind the fact that I flippin love True Blood on HBO and June can't come quick enough!!  This season is when Eric has amnesia!

The Help

The Help
The Help
Kathryn Stockett
464 pgs
Amy Einhorn Books/Putnum













Amazon Blurb -

Starred Review. What perfect timing for this optimistic, uplifting debut novel (and maiden publication of Amy Einhorn's new imprint) set during the nascent civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss., where black women were trusted to raise white children but not to polish the household silver. Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The budding social activist begins to collect the stories of the black women on whom the country club sets relies and mistrusts enlisting the help of Aibileen, a maid who's raised 17 children, and Aibileen's best friend Minny, who's found herself unemployed more than a few times after mouthing off to her white employers. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams. Assured and layered, full of heart and history, this one has bestseller written all over it.
**********

This novel was just absolutely fantastic!  It brought so many emotions forth in me, I loved it.  I was angry, sad, frightened, happy, and laughing out loud at times.  Without a doubt this book is going to produce some very thought provoking feelings and discussion.  I was talking to my hubs and kids about it as it progressed constantly.

The story is told by the 3 different main ladies in the book, Aibleen, Skeeter, and Minny.  It takes place from 1962-64 in Jackson Mississippi.  Aibileen and Minny are maids who work for Skeeter’s friends.  Sadly, prejudice runs so deep and thick in this southern town, it’s pitiful.  The thought that these vibrant funny ladies are somehow less than human because of their skin color is shocking.

Skeeter is an awkward gal.  Very tall, thin, blond hair that is puffed up with frizz, she’s always felt out of place.  Her mom has done nothing to encourage her self esteem, quite the opposite actually.  Her friends Hilly and Elizabeth, who she’s been with since she was young, are married and have kids, just what her mother is wishing for her.  They belong to a social club, and they hold bridge parties together.  Skeeter is just graduated and home from college and she gets right back into the social life with her friends.

Aibileen is Elizabeth’s maid.  She has such sorrow in her heart due to the death of her son.  Caring for Elizabeth’s daughter Mae Mobley helps her soothe the ache.  She truly loves this baby girl and Mae Mobley adores Aibileen.  Aibileen is who we meet first, and right away you find out what a bitch Hilly is.  While at a bridge party at Elizabeth’s house, Hilly’s snide nasty selfish ways come across loud and clear.  The others are obviously too timid to do anything other than just nod in agreement to whatever Hilly might be saying.

Minny is a hoot!  Sassy and brash, she can’t hold a job due to her mouth.  The thing is, she is known as the best cook in Jackson and all love her cakes and pies, especially her caramel cake! She has been with Hilly’s mom, but Hilly is sticking her mother in an old age home so Minny will be without a job again.  Not too easy for her to find one either with her sassing.  She fixes Hilly but good when Hilly wants Minny to work for her and Minny doesn’t want to since her cousin Yula Mae already does and she won’t hurt her cousin like that.  In the hopes of forcing Minny to work for her, Hilly spreads the rumor that Minny is a thief, which ruins any chance she might have had finding a job.  Minny does get a job a bit aways out with Hilly’s ex-boyfriend’s new wife Celia Foote.  Hilly is on the hunt to find Minny because of the terrible awful that Miss Minny did to her.

Skeeter gets a job at the local paper as the advice columnist.  She is clueless to household hints let alone advice about men, so she asks Aibileen to help her.  Elizabeth isn’t all that happy about Aibileen’s time being spent helping Skeeter.  As time progresses, Skeeter starts to realize how wrong these ladies and their other compatriots are treated when Hilly forces Elizabeth to build a bathroom in her garage for Aibileen to use so they don’t catch any diseases from sharing the main one.  Imagine that sh*t!!  Cook my food and care for my kids, but don’t use my bathroom I may get sick from you!!!!  I would be serving pee soup and spit tea to those b*tches.

Aibileen tells Skeeter a bit about her son, how smart he was and how he wanted to write a book about being a black man working for white people.  A little light bulb goes on in Skeeter’s head and the idea is born.  She slowly starts prodding Aibileen to tell her how she is treated, and if she’ll get her friends to do the same.  It takes much time and convincing, but eventually besides Aibileen and Minny, ten other wonderful woman come forth and spill the beans on these people.

You learn that not all the relationships are so negative.  There were some that were filled with love and companionship.  Who would never want to be separated till one died.  Yes there were those who are just so ignorant in their ways that they have been steeped in and handed down family to family since the civil war times, you can only pity the fact that it is for that reason they are such a$$holes.  Even Skeeter herself doesn’t realize some of the wrong and Aibileen helps her to see. The crap they say and do made me want to scream while reading.  I understand perfectly that there are employer and employee relationships, but to intentionally undercut, underpay, and treat despicably another human being is just sad.

Finding out what the terrible awful was that Minny did to Hilly made me roar with laugther!!   Hilly was Nelly from Little House On The Prairie tenfold!  What a bully she was, and all were afraid to stand up to her.  I understand the times, and small town living, how ones reputation can be ruined, but for Pete's sake someone should have grown a backbone and hammered Hilly right on the head.  How she's described made me think of Shirly Temple on steroids, dressing kinda childlike while being a grown woman.

I recommend this book to everyone, read it, smile, be sad, laugh, and enjoy this author’s first foray into published authordom.  It also is going to become a movie!  We certainly had a great time discussing it at our book club meeting, and it touched me very much.

5 cannolis

Don't Blink

Don't Blink

Don't Blink
James Patterson
370 pgs
Little Brown and Co













Amazon Blurb -

The good
New York's Lombardo's Steak House is famous for three reasons--the menu, the clientele, and now, the gruesome murder of an infamous mob lawyer. Effortlessly, the assassin slips through the police's fingers, and his absence sparks a blaze of accusations about who ordered the hit.



The bad


Seated at a nearby table, reporter Nick Daniels is conducting a once-in-a-lifetime interview with a legendary baseball bad-boy. In the chaos, he accidentally captures a key piece of evidence that lands him in the middle of an all-out war between Italian and Russian mafia forces. NYPD captains, district attorneys, mayoral candidates, media kingpins, and one shockingly beautiful magazine editor are all pushing their own agendas--on both sides of the law.


And the dead


Back off--or die--is the clear message Nick receives as he investigates for a story of his own.Heedless, and perhaps in love with his beautiful editor, Nick endures humiliation, threats, violence, and worse in a thriller that overturns every expectation and finishes with the kind of flourish only James Patterson knows.
*******

Nick Daniels is a reporter with Citizen Magazine.  He’s in Paris, just wrapping up a treacherous escape from Dafur when his editor Courtney calls with an amazing interview op.  Disgraced superstar Yankee Pitcher Dwayne Robinson is finally granting an interview 10 yrs after being banned from baseball.  Nick just needs to get his but stateside in 24 hrs before the man chickens out.

What could possibly happen?  Well at the trendy Lombardi’s steakhouse where the interview is taking place, a mob hit can happen, that’s what.  And at the table right next to where Nick and Daniel are sitting.  Now fasten your seat belts cause the story goes wild from here.  Nick is on the mob hit list now and people around him are dropping like flies.  Never mind the fact that woman he loves is engaged to a multi millionaire who also happens to own the magazine he works for.  Oh and she is also his editor.  A slightly sticky situation since they slept together before he left for Dafur.

Nick won’t let this go, and even though the mob is trying to shut him up, he starts digging into a mess too unreal to believe.  Can he solve this before everyone who means anything to him and anyone who is helping him winds up dead?  Well, grab this book and let Patterson take you on Mr. Toads Wild Ride to find out!

I liked it, I didn't form any real attachments to any characters, though I was finding all the tragedies becoming a bit of overkill for me.  I call this Sipowicz Syndrome, for Andy Sipowicz from NYPD Blue tv show.  That poor guy had everything terrible happen to him and it gets to be way too much, thus resulting in… Sipowicz Syndrome.



3 1/2 cannolis

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Authors By The Alphabet Q-n-A







Just a heads up girls, Marce will be posting the ?'s soon, so keep an eye out at her blog.

UPDATE, here is the link to the Q n A -


Tea Time With Marce

Just check in and see when she does, looking forward to it :) !!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Good Reading

I have finished Don't Blink and in usual Patterson style, you are just stumped to the end and flabbergasted too.  I liked it, and I'll review it soon.

The Help


  The Help
   Kathryn Stockett
   464 pgs
   Amy Einhorn Books/Putnum














Right now I'm reading a simply fantastic book for my book club, The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  This book is just amazing.  It's about black maids and their white bosses in the 60's.  I have so much to say about it.  I still have a hard time grasping that there was a culture of people who actually believed that black people were less than human.  It's quite disgusting.  They didn't want the maids to use their bathrooms for fear of disease, yet they wanted them to raise their kids and cook their food.  Oh I'd cook their food for em all right!!

They are also going to make this into a movie and I'm sure it will be just as good.  This is Stockett's debut novel and what a hit!

I have decided to forgo the 500 page challenge I've been doing and just focus on reading regardless if it's 10 pages or a thousand. I have a ton of books to get through!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Grave Surprise

Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 2)

Grave Surprise
Charlaine Harris
295 pgs. Paperback
Berkley












Amazon Blurb -

At the start of Harris's winning second supernatural caper to feature Harper Connelly (after 2005's Grave Sight), a skeptical anthropology professor, Clyde Nunley, tests Harper's gift of clairvoyance in a historic Memphis cemetery, where Harper correctly senses a fresh corpse in the wrong grave. Strangely, the body turns out to be a missing 12-year-old girl, Tabitha Morgenstern, whom Harper failed to locate in Nashville on a case two years earlier. The hotel suite of Harper and her manager and stepbrother, Tolliver Lang, both of whom fall under suspicion, becomes a magnet for a medley of amusing characters, including Memphis cops, Tabitha's assorted relatives and a drunken Clyde Nunley, who, shortly after accusing Harper of fraud, is found dead in the same grave as Tabitha. 
**********

Harper and Tolliver are in Tennessee to take up a challenge arrogant College Professor Clyde Nunley has issued her.  She has this gift of finding dead people and knowing how they died.  She got this after being struck by lightening while a teenager, and has some lasting physical issues as well. The Professor wants her to "read" a cemetery, telling him and his students who is in the grave and what they died from.  It's an old cemetery and the info is in a sealed envelope with no way for her to know anything about the history.  Of course she begins giving the correct info and Clyde is going apoplectic.  Till she comes to a grave all the way in the back, she feels a young girl, then realizes it's Tabitha Morgenstern, missing for over a year and whose family hired Harper to find.  Clyde laughs with glee and tells her she is wrong, and Harper lets him know underneath Tabitha is a man and he was stabbed, and indeed there are two bodies in this grave.

Thus begins the next chapter in the Harper Connely mysteries.  Of course the cops eye them suspiciously, truly, I don't understand why, and the total distaste of those who come in contact with her.  People like John Edward, Sylvia Brown and James VanPraagh have massive followings.  Any how, there are some great characters here, Xyla Bernardo, the psychic, and her tattooed and studded grandson Manfred. FBI Agent Koening who has been on this case from the beginning, Clyde Nunley's wife Ann, and Tabitha's brother Victor.  While these characters stop  in briefly through out the book, they add a great layer to it.  Soon, the two realize that Tabitha being in that grave was no coincidence and try to solve the mystery without losing their own lives.

I like Harper, and Tolliver, who really aren't brother and sister for those who don't know, but step sibs.  Harper relies on Tolliver so deeply its very touching how he knows this and lovingly gives her the strength and protection she sometimes needs.  I find how they both get jealous of each others object of affection quite endearing and hope at some point they'll admit to each other that they love each other.  These books are quick, entertaining and not fluff at all.  I'll be continuing.

3 1/2 cannolis

Friday, January 7, 2011

Lets Hop







I have a tbr challenge going if any wanna join, I also have a book club going too, Authors by the Alphabet.
******


This Hop is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy-For-Books, and it runs through the weekend, so if you can't today, hop on tomorrow!  Just remember, go to her site, follow the rules, visit some of the blogs and get to know em, if you start to follow tell em you met them through the hop!

This weeks ? -

What book influenced or changed your life, how?

Well I have to be honest, there isn't a single book I've read that has influenced me or changed my life.  I have enjoyed books, been moved to tears by books, have gotten angry at what was written in books, but none have influenced me or changed me.  Does that make me weird?  Hope not.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

2011 E-Book Reading Challenge


Yes, another challenge.  It is being hosted by The Ladybug Reads.  This will be incorporated into my tbr challenge since there are a bunch of e-books on my list.  I'll be doing the addicted - 12 books level.

Here are some of the books on the list -

Kindle Books 
  
A Kiss Of Shadows
A Little Death In Dixie 
Battle Of The Network Zombies
Beyond The Reflections Edge
Dark Pursuit
Demonfire
Flowers For Elvis 
Giving Chase
In The Warrior's Bed
Killing Joe
Mania
Mozart's Blood
Murder Takes The Cake
Once Bitten
Snow Melts In Spring  
The Dark Tide 
The Irish Warrior
The Mane Squeeze
The Marquis
The Sacrifice (Forbidden)
The Wallflower
The Wicked House Of Rohan
Triple Exposure 
Waiting At Eros
Wicked Lovely
You Can't Stop Me


E-Books - These are books that I've had for a over year now, snagged in a RAR file given by a fellow PNR lover and sitting on my puter.  This isn't even half of them.  It is the whole series of some listed.

Blood Noir
Ceremony In Death
Drums Of Autumn
For A Few Demons More 
High Stakes (Vegas Vampires)
Jacob (Nightwalkers)
Kiss Of The Night
My Immortal (Seven Deadly Sins)
No Rest For The Wicked
Rapture In Death
Real Vampires Live Large 
Reno's Chance (Tempting Seals)
Riding The Storm (Acro)
She's No Fairie Princess (The Others) 
The Darkest Fire (Lords Of The Underworld)
The Devil Inside (Morgan Kinglsy)
Touch Of Evil
Touch The Dark (Cassie Palmer)
Undead And Unpopular
Wild Card (Elite Ops)
Working For The Devil (Dante Valentine)




I'll come back here and update what I've read.


Year In Review

This past year I read a boat load of books!!  I started keeping track of what I read and I'm really happy I did that.  It was a great way to see my progress and look back on some books I really enjoyed, and others that I couldn't stand.

I've read 72  books with a total of 26366 pages for 2010.

Some really memorable ones for better or worse -

 The Story Of O by Pauline Reage was a tough book for me.  Dealing with the bdsm lifestyle I had a hard time understanding what possessed that woman to put up with what she did.  On The Edge by Ilona Andrews was a great discovery author and book for me.  I haven't read the second in the series, Blue Moon but we'll see in 11.  I absolutely loved her Kate Daniels series!  Kate, and Curran were just fantastic.  Finding Queen Betsy and the Undead Series was a big treat.  They are just these light fun readings and Queen Betsy just cracks me up!!  A really great surprise and hands down the the best discovery for me is the Heartsick Series by Chelsea Cain.  Wow, that Gretchen Lowell is just evil!  Nothing like a crazy woman who serves up Drano on a spoon, and pulls your intestines through your stomach while you lay awake and paralyzed.  Her fourth in the series, The Night Season, comes out in March and I can't wait.  I also met Rachel Morgan from Kim Harrison's series.  I'm still reading those and I think they're great.  I do like Kisten.  First Drop Of Crimson, by Jeanine Frost was a let down for me.  This is her spin-off from the Night Huntress series and it just didn't pack the punch I was looking for.  The second, Eternal Kiss Of Darkness was better.  The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake was just a real downer!  Whoa that book was too much.  A sweet surprise was The Godmother by Carrie Adams, I really enjoyed that book. A book that made my heart race and scared the crumbs outta me, hands down, Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill.  Man o' man that was some book!

I read some really good Patterson books at the end of the year.  The Big Bad Wolf was great, as was Beach Road, now that one snuck a punch in that I never saw coming!!  I liked Postcard Killers as well.  Met Stephanie Plum and read one, two and sixteen of her series.  I find Grandma Mazur and the antics of Stephanie and her wacky crew hysterical.  I want to go back and read where she and Ranger hook up since I like him better than Joe Morelli.

I have joined some really fun challenges, Summer Reading, Summer Romance, James Patterson, Suspense and Thriller, In Death, RIP, Humorous PNR.  I didn't finish all of em, but a good chunk were completed and I'm looking forward to some new ones in 11-


TBR Challenge, hosted by me ;)
Mary Higgins Clark, hosted by Marce
I Want More, hosted by Marce as well.

Marce is my challenge enabling buddy :)  I can go to her blog, Tea Time With Marce to find some really great challenges.

Book clubs I belong to, Authors By The Alphabet, an online book club started by me, and will be hosted by each member each month, and All About Books, started by my sil and hosted in each members home at the end of each month.  I will start adding if the book I'm reading is a bcc, or book club choice :)

Did I have one fave in all of 2010, hhhmmm, yes I did.  I had a lot that I really enjoyed, but none that knocked my socks off like Outlander by Diana Gabaldon did to me.  That book touched me to my very core.  The story of Claire and Jamie is one of the most heartrending stories I have ever read!  Now, sadly the others don't have the same pull, not that they aren't good, but I find them dragging just a bit.

The biggest stinker in 10?  Hands down that goes to Eat Pray Love!!  I hated that book and all it's hype.  I never wanted to read it, but it was my book club's choice so I had to dive in nose held closed tight!  That's how it goes with book clubs, ya sometimes read what you normally never would, and it leads to some awesome discussion, and sometimes a change of heart.  Not in this case ;)

I'm looking forward to a new year of reading, with my book clubs and on my own.  I really hope to whittle down that darn tbr, but somehow I know more books will fill the spots I empty.  I hope you all had a great year of reading, and fill 2011 with even better finds!

Happy New Year!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

TBR Challenge Roster

This will be my tracking page, I'll come back here and keep tabs on what I've read to see how well I do.  Here are the books I'm hoping to get through and make a nice dent in the pile!  Now, there will be a couple of books I have to buy, such as Shadowfever and The Night Huntress Series, there is no way I can not read the last of those series, and for my book clubs that I belong to I will try the library first, but for the most part, I plan on going book buying free in 11.  I'll let you know when I fall and cave to buying.  Also, if another book in my tbr catches my fancy, I'll add it as well.

Traditional Books

About Grace
After All These Years
Beneath A Blood Red Moon
Bergdorf Blonds
Blood Bound
Blowfly
Desire Unchained
Don't Blink
Grave Surprise
Hide
Sam's Letters To Jennifer
Stalking The Angel
The Bodies Left Behind
The Remains
The Sculpter 
The Sinner
The Mephisto Club
The Thirteenth Tale
Tiger Eye
Vampire Seduction
Vampire Secret
What The Night Knows
When Darkness Falls
Whispers
Wraith
Zen And The Art Of Vampires

Kindle Books 
  
A Kiss Of Shadows
A Little Death In Dixie 
Battle Of The Network Zombies
Beyond The Reflections Edge
Dark Pursuit
Demonfire
Flowers For Elvis 
Giving Chase
In The Warrior's Bed
Killing Joe
Mania
Mozart's Blood
Murder Takes The Cake
Once Bitten
Snow Melts In Spring  
The Dark Tide 
The Irish Warrior
The Mane Squeeze
The Marquis
The Sacrifice (Forbidden)
The Wallflower
The Wicked House Of Rohan
Triple Exposure 
Waiting At Eros
Wicked Lovely
You Can't Stop Me


E-Books - These are books that I've had for a over year now, snagged in a RAR file given by a fellow PNR lover and sitting on my puter.  This isn't even half of them.  It is the whole series of some listed.

Blood Noir
Ceremony In Death
Drums Of Autumn
For A Few Demons More 
High Stakes (Vegas Vampires)
Jacob (Nightwalkers)
Kiss Of The Night
My Immortal (Seven Deadly Sins)
No Rest For The Wicked
Real Vampires Live Large 
Reno's Chance (Tempting Seals)
Riding The Storm (Acro)
Rapture In Death
She's No Fairie Princess (The Others) 
The Darkest Fire (Lords Of The Underworld)
The Devil Inside (Morgan Kinglsy)
Touch Of Evil
Touch The Dark (Cassie Palmer)
Undead And Unpopular
Wild Card (Elite Ops)
Working For The Devil (Dante Valentine)















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