31 December, 2010

Out With A Bang: Final Tally



As the Out With A Bang read-a-thon comes to a close, I just wanted to post how things went for me. I started out with seven books that I wanted to read, but I ended up altering my reading list slightly. I made the mistake of going to the library, and of course, left with a couple of books that I couldn't wait to start.

Unfortunately, I had a slow reading day on the 30th, and I did not get as much done that day, as I had wanted or planned. Here's a final summary of how things went (all book titles are linked to their Good Reads page):


Wednesday, December 29th:

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (Love By Numbers, #2) Mostly Good Girls

Read: TEN WAYS TO BE ADORED WHEN LANDING A LORD by Sarah MacLean (357 pages)
Read: MOSTLY GOOD GIRLS by Leila Sales (347 pages)

Total Books: 2
Total Pages: 704




Thursday, December 30th (midnight-3am)

Charmed Life (Chrestomanci, #1)

Read: CHARMED LIFE by Diana Wynne Jones (224 pages)

Total Books: 1
Total Pages: 224




Thursday, December 30th

Seven Nights to Forever

Read: SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER by Evangeline Collins (336 pages)

Total Books: 1
Total Pages: 336




Friday, December 31st

Double Cross (The Disillusionists Trilogy, #2) The Mischief of the Mistletoe: A Pink Carnation Christmas

Read: DOUBLE CROSS by Carolyn Crane (432 pages)
Started: THE MISCHIEF OF THE MISTLETOE by Lauren Willig (68 pages)

Total Books: 1.2
Total Pages: 500



I ended up finishing 5 books, starting a 6th and completing a grand total of 1764 pages. Two books that I am disappointed that I didn't get to start are:


The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms, #2) Feed (Newsflesh, #1)
THE EXILED QUEEN by Cinda Williams Chima
FEED by Mira Grant


I guess, instead of ending 2010 with those two, I'll just have to use them to start off 2011!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Happy New Year!

I wish everyone happiness and purpose in 2011!



30 December, 2010

Out With A Bang: Update




Well, it's a few hours past the halfway point of the Out With A Bang read-a-thon, and I am doing pretty good. I would have hoped to have been a little farther along, but I'm pretty proud of the reading that I have done. And, not just reading! I've also gotten two reviews written, so that makes me happy.


Here's my progress so far, of books completed:

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (Love By Numbers, #2)Ten Ways To Be Adored When Landing A Lord
by Sarah MacLean


357 pages

My review is here





Mostly Good GirlsMostly Good Girls
by Leila Sales


347 pages

My review is here






Charmed Life (Chrestomanci, #1)Charmed Life
by Diana Wynne Jones


224 pages






I've also started DOUBLE CROSS by Carolyn Crane, but I am only about 20% through it. I haven't had a chance to do any of the challenges yet, but I plan on trying to check a few out later tonight.

Book Review: Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales

Book: MOSTLY GOOD GIRLS
Author: LEILA SALES
Genre: CONTEMPORARY YA

Published: October 2010, SIMON PULSE


I borrowed this book for my personal reading enjoyment, without prior review agreement or any type of compensation.


From Good Reads:
It’s Violet’s junior year at the Westfield School. She thought she’d be focusing on getting straight As, editing the lit mag, and figuring out how to talk to boys without choking on her own saliva. Instead, she’s just trying to hold it together in the face of cutthroat academics, her crush’s new girlfriend, and the sense that things are going irreversibly wrong with her best friend, Katie.

When Katie starts making choices that Violet can’t even begin to fathom, Violet has no idea how to set things right between them. Westfield girls are trained for success—but how can Violet keep her junior year from being one huge, epic failure?


My Review:
MOSTLY GOOD GIRLS takes an irreverant look at one girl's journey through an all-girls private high school. Violet has a very distinct voice that shines throughout the whole book, and had me smiling, laughing out loud, and covering my face with amusement. Luckily, I read it mostly in the privacy of my own room. However, there would have probably been some heavy duty recommending going on, if I had been reading this in public.

Leila Sales provides a deep look into Violet's life, but she does it through short, choppy chapters that almost read like individual vingettes. Though, the book has over 300 pages, the style makes for quick reading, and the pacing and timing flows nicely to keep a reader engaged. While I did read this book for a read-a-thon, I can see how, even in the course of a normal reading session, one might move from chapter to chapter, and event to event, without quite realizing that so many pages are being consumed so quickly.

I very much enjoyed reading MOSTLY GOOD GIRLS because of the strong voice given to Violet. Even in the throes of a friendship crisis, she stays true to the character that Sales has constructed. Here is a book that I would read more than once, especially if I needed a good laugh.

I like to read issues books because they are important, and paranormal/ fantasy books because they transport me to another world, but the most critical aspect of a book to me is whether it keeps me engaged, as a reader. MOSTLY GOOD GIRLS did this. It kept me reading, and it was extremely entertaining.


4.5/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 13/15 (4 stars)

Highly Recommeded, if you liked:

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (Georgia Nicolson) by Louise Rennison



Links for the author:
Leila Sales website
Twitter
FaceBook

Book Review: Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean

Book: TEN WAYS TO BE ADORED WHEN LANDING A LORD
Author: SARAH MACLEAN
Genre: HISTORICAL ROMANCE


Published: October 2010, AVON (HARPERCOLLINS)



I purchased this book for my own reading enjoyment, to review without compensation or a prior endorsement agreement.



From Good Reads:
Since being named “London’s Lord to Land” by a popular ladies’ magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps—only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious woman he’s ever met!

The daughter of a titled wastrel, Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though she is used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father’s recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother’s birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks.



My Review
I can't say enough about the writing of Sarah MacLean. I had never read any of her work before a few months ago, but it seemed to me that there were more than a few bloggers raving about her first book in the LOVE BY NUMBERS series, NINE RULES TO BREAK WHEN ROMANCING A RAKE. I finally decided to check out what the praise was all about, and was blown away by that book. In fact, it sparked a historical romance buying spree for me.

Though, I loved Ralston in NINE RULES, I adored Nick in TEN WAYS. The two brothers -twins- captured my heart from the very beginning, and MacLean captured my attention with her witty banter, atristocratic characters, great pacing and interesting plot.

But, what really made me fall in love with TEN WAYS TO BE ADORED WHEN LANDING A LORD (and the series, in general) was the amazing voice, and personalities of her leading ladies. In this novel, Lady Isabel has had to endure a horribly unsuitable gambling father, know as The Wastrearl. That's wastrel earl, for the uninitiated. He has gambled away all of their money, and even herself, in a few instances. Yet, Isabel manages to keep a household for her brother to inherit. More importantly, she builds a sanctuary for other women. And, she is not afraid to do what she must to keep it all together.

McLean knows how to mix a great historical setting, fantastic dialog, and wonderfully endearing characters to come up with a novel that would snag the attention of anyone who appreciates an intelligent read. One that just happens to be shelved in the romance section.


4.5/5 for plot
5/5 for characters
4.5/5 for language

My Rating: 14/15 (4.5 stars)

Must Read, if you enjoyed:

Trial by Desire by Courtney Milan
When Harry Met Molly by Kieran Kramer
Soulless by Gail Carriger



Links for the author:
Blog
Twitter
FaceBook
GoodReads

29 December, 2010

Advance Review: Subway Girl by P.J. Converse

Book: SUBWAY GIRL
Author: P.J. CONVERSE
Genre: YA CONTEMPORARY

Published: March 2011, HARPERTEEN



I received this book through Good Golly Miss Holly Book Tours for free, in exchange for an honest review


From Good Reads:
From the moment he sees Amy on a Hong Kong subway, Simon wants to talk to her. But when he finally works up the courage, he finds out he can’t. Because Amy doesn’t speak Chinese, and Simon is failing English. But despite their language barrier, Amy and Simon connect, and they discover they understand each other.


My Review:
SUBWAY GIRL is one of the most unique books that I have read this year, and it is coming in at the very end. I like the concept of Simon and Amy, and how their relationship evolves from a shaky first meeting, to a tentative friendship, then to something much more intimate, that approaches love.

Though they are both Asian, Simon is a native of Hong Kong, while Amy moved there from America with her family. He speaks almost no English, while she speaks very little Chinese. However, mostly through Simon's persistence, they manage to transcend the language barrier.

Simon's character undergoes much development, and the reader spends much of the time seeing things from his perspective. There are times that the prose and dialog seems disjointed, but it never put me off of the story. In fact, I think it contributed to the underlying plotline of Simon learning to speak English.

Converse has written an engaging novel of cultural differences, overcoming language barriers, friendship, love, and acceptance. SUBWAY GIRL is a quick read; this ARC edition is just over 200 pages. I especially like that this is a great addition to books that expand diversity in publishing, while not being exclusive. It's easily a book that many people can relate to, no matter their ethnicity.


4/5 for plot
4/5 for characters
4/5 for language

My Rating: 12/15 Highly Recommend (3.5 stars)



Links for the book:
HarperTeen Book Page

28 December, 2010

Out With A Bang Read-A-Thon Book List




It's the last few days of 2010, and I wanted to get a few more books in before I call the end of the year. And, so came along the Out With A Bang Read-A-Thon. It's just past the official start time, so here are the books that I have in my line-up. I'm not saying that I will get them all read, but I am going to make a really good try at it. These are all books that I bought myself or checked out from the library. In other words, I wanted to try to clear some of the books on my shelf that can be pushed to the side in my dedication to reading, and posting for, review books.




YA Contemporary




Mostly Good Girls

It’s Violet’s junior year at the Westfield School. She thought she’d be focusing on getting straight As, editing the lit mag, and figuring out how to talk to boys without choking on her own saliva. Instead, she’s just trying to hold it together in the face of cutthroat academics, her crush’s new girlfriend, and the sense that things are going irreversibly wrong with her best friend, Katie.

When Katie starts making choices that Violet can’t even begin to fathom, Violet has no idea how to set things right between them. Westfield girls are trained for success—but how can Violet keep her junior year from being one huge, epic failure?



YA Fantasy



The Exiled Queen

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.




Charmed Life

Cat doesn't mind living in the shadow of his sister, Gwendolen, the most promising young witch ever seen on Coven Street. But trouble starts brewing the moment the two orphans are summoned to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Frustrated that the witches of the castle refuse to acknowledge her talents, Gwendolen conjures up a scheme that could throw whole worlds out of whack.





Feed

Mira Grant's Newflesh Trilogy opens in an eerie post-apocalyptic world where zombies, pandemics, bloggers, and White House occupant would-be vie for our attention. Twin web reporters Georgia and Shaun Mason are flattered when a presidential candidate invites them to cover his campaign. Before long though, they are engulfed in a story far more serious and infinitely more dangerous.




Adult Historical Romance



Ten Ways To Be Adored When Landing A Lord

Since being named “London’s Lord to Land” by a popular ladies’ magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps—only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious woman he’s ever met!

The daughter of a titled wastrel, Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though she is used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father’s recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother’s birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks.




Adult Urban Fantasy/ Fantasy



Double Cross

Justine Jones lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she was lured into the web of a mysterious mastermind named Packard, who gifts her with extraordinary mental powers—dooming her to fight Midcity’s shadowy war on paranormal crime in order to find the peace she so desperately craves.

But now serial killers with unheard-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity, including mastermind Packard and his oldest friend and worst enemy, Midcity’s new mayor, who has the ability to bend matter itself to his will.

As the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience as she tests the limits of her new powers and faces an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men—one on a journey of redemption, the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.




Dark Oracle

As a criminal profiler, Tara used science and her intuitive skill at Tarot card divination to track down the dangerous and depraved, including the serial killer who left her scarred from head to toe. Since that savage attack, Tara has been a recluse. But now an ancient secret society known as Delphi’s Daughters has asked for her help in locating missing scientist Lowell Magnusson. And Tara, armed with her Tarot deck, her .38, and a stack of misgivings, agrees to try.

Tara immediately senses there is far more at stake than one man’s life. At his government lab in the New Mexico desert, Magnusson had developed groundbreaking technology with terrifying potential. Working alongside the brusque but charismatic agent Harry Li, Tara discovers that Magnusson’s daughter, Cassie, has knowledge that makes her a target too. The more Tara sees into the future, the more there is to fear...

Riddle Me This and Entice Winners!

Last night marked the close of my Riddle Me This Holiday Book Giveaway. It was unlike any other contest that I have had on the blog before, and I think I might try the format, or something like it, in 2011. Thanks to all who participated!


The contest worked off of a point system. Each clue, if guessed correctly, would earn the participant a certain amount of points. The highest scorers' names were plugged into random.org, and voila! A random winner was chosen.



Clues for Book #1
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare winner is: Kelsey Murphy












Clues for Book #2
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins winner is: Amber Griffiths












Clues for Book #3
Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr winner is: Brooke











There was also a mystery YA prize pack up for grabs, to all of the participants in Riddle Me This, whatever their point accumulation happened to be. And, that randomly chosen winner is: Alison



And lastly (but never leastly), I have the winner of ENTICE by Carrie Jones. See my review HERE. This prize will be mailed directly from the publisher to: donnas




I've already contacted all of the winners, and your prizes will be in the mail within 7-10 days.

Thanks again, everyone who participated. Never fear, if you didn't win this time around, I will be having more contests and giveaways in the future!

Best Books of 2010: Top Ten

I wrap up my Best Books of 2010 series of posts with my ultimate favorites of the year. These books come from all genres within adult and YA. They are the stand-out titles that I read during the year. This list includes books that were decidedly non-mainstream, approached difficult topics, kept me glued to to the pages, had standout writing, and were overall the books that I am glad to own for posterity; books that will stay in my head and my heart, and will probably be re-read many times in the future. My Top Ten of 2010:


#10
Mistwood by Leah Cypess

Mistwood (Mistwood, #1)



#9
Exit Light by Megan Hart

Exit Light



#8
Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart

Dangerous Neighbors



#7
Mind Games by Carolyn Crane

Mind Games (The Disillusionists Trilogy, #1)



#6
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love By Number, #1)



#5
Inside Out by Lauren Dane

Inside Out (Brown Siblings, #3)



#4
Comfort Food by Kitty Thomas

Comfort Food



#3
Alpha by Rachel Vincent

Alpha (Shifters, #6)



#2
Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Bleeding Violet (Portero, #1)



#1
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

The Iron Duke (Iron Seas, #1)

27 December, 2010

Best Books of 2010: Adult

Because many of the adult books that I read during the year were included in a series, of which I read the entirety, I have only a few contributions to my list of books that were a single-title read for me, so far. My list, in no particular order:


Best in Adult: 2010

Touched by an Alien by Gini Koch
Embers by Laura Bickle
Eternity and a Day by Aline Hunter
Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews
Hunting Season by Shelly Laurenston


Touched by an Alien (Katherine "Kitty" Katt, #1) Embers (Anya Kalinczyk, #1) Eternity and a Day (Desires of the Otherworld, #1) Bayou Moon (The Edge, #2) Hunting Season (The Gathering, #1)

26 December, 2010

Best Books of 2010: YA Part Two

By far, a majority of the YA that I read and reviewed in 2010 fell into the genre that I would consider fantasy, but seems to be widely considered paranormal. I leave the decision up to each person, but the rest of my YA list has been divided into several fantasy sub-genres. In no particular order, I present the rest of the Best In YA.



Contemporary Fantasy

Angelfire by Courtney A. Moulton
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
White Cat by Holly Black
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford


Angelfire (Angelfire, #1) Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, #1) Shade (Shade, #1) White Cat (Curse Workers, #1) A Touch Mortal



Historical Fantasy

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare


Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)



Fantasy

The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
StarCrossed by Elizabeth C. Bunce


The Demon King (Seven Realms, #1) StarCrossed (Thief Errant, #1)



Fairy Tale Fantasy

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor


Lips Touch: Three Times


Denotes: Books that will not be published until 2011, but I read in 2010

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