Graphic Novel Review - Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci & Jim Rugg

Synopsis: "Noted young adult novelist Cecil Castellucci and artist Jim Rugg launch Minx with the Plain Janes, a story about four girls named Jane. When transfer student Jane is forced to move from the confines of Metro City to Suburbia, she thinks her life is over. But there is the lunch room at the reject table she finds her tribe: three other girls named Jane. Main Jane encourages them to form a secret art gang and paint the town P.L.A.I.N. - People Loving Art In Neighborhoods. But can art attacks really save the hell that is high school"

My Review: This is my favorite Graphic Novel so far!! I loved the characters and the story line. The ideas of art attacks to make people take notice of the beauty around them. While the illustrations were all black and white, you don't notice the lack of color, the writing and characters are vivid enough. I hope there is more where this came from . . .

 

My Rating: Definitely a Four Paw and A Stump Wag for me! I bet a lot of you will love this one too! A little teen drama, artsy and all attitude!

Bedtime Story: Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb

 

Synopsis: "Illus. in full color. A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers."

 

My Review: This is a great one right now for Munchkin, who is just learning how his fingers and hands work.  It does get a little repetitive but I guess that is how he is going to learn.  I think it would be great if I got a drum for him to act out the book too.

 

My Rating: A fun book when learning about fingers, hands and thumbs, but reading it too many times could get old. It gets a rating of Three Paws from us.

 

 

Good Night, Sweet Dreams!

2013 Series Reading Challenge - Sign Up

I am signing up for the Series Reading Challenge over at Salacious Reads.

 

 

The goal is to start (or continue) and finish series of books.  You can read as many as you want or as few as you want.  Below are the series of books I hope to finish this year.

 

1. Daughters of the Glen by Melissa Mayhue - 8 Books (I think I have read 2)

2. Lone Star Sisters by Susan Mallery  - 5 Books (I have read 1)

3. Lords of Deliverance by Larissa Ione - 5 Books & 2 Novellas (I have read 1 book)

 

Other possibilities: Inheritance Cycle, Tudor Court

 

 

 

So are you reading any series this year? Want to join me?

 

 

2013 Mental Illness Advocacy Challenge - Sign Up

The Details:

 

The official GoodReads group for the MIA Reading Challenge hosted by Opinions of a Wolf.

Read fiction or nonfiction about or with a central character suffering from a mental illness. The sufferer must NOT be demonized.

Challenge Levels:
Acquainted–4 books
Aware–8 books
Advocate–12 books

I am signing up for the Acquainted Level and will be reading the following books

 

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Soft Spots by Clint Van Winkle

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dressen

 

and one of these: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, January First by Michael Schofield, Dirty Little Secrets by CJ Omololu, or Life is but a Dream by Brian James

 

 

I hope maybe some of you will join me in this reading challenge that brings important issues to light.

Review of Warrior's Lady by Gerri Russell

Synopsis: "Camden Lockhart vowed to eliminate the Ruthven clan after they had destroyed his family. All he had left was a small niece and the legacy of the Charm Stone she carried, but no one knew where the little girl was.

Rhiannon Ruthven came to the abbey to escape the brutality of her brothers and find solace. Instead she found the orphaned Violet Lockhart in need of an escort to her uncle's castle. Rhiannon didn't know it, but she would be walking straight into a nest of assassins.

Whatching Rhiannon nearly sacrifice her own life to save another's, Camden knew he could not condemn her to death. He'd have to protect her from the very men he'd hired to kill her. Scottish legend said the Charm Stone had the power to heal, but was it strong enough to unite two wounded hearts."

My Review: I loved the characters in this one! Rhiannon is such a humble female lead, it was nice to see (even though I usually prefer strong female characters). I think Russell did a good job with the character's reactions to one another, especially Camden's. There was so much packed into this book, plague, feuds, and corruption in the church. All in all a great book and lovely romance. Definitely at least read until you get to the ice skating scene ;)

 

 

My Rating: The characters really made this story for me, I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

 

 

 

Please Note: there are a couple of sex scenes in this book but they can be skimmed over and don't take over the story if you wish to avoid them.

2013 Audiobooks Challenge - Signup

    I am joining an audiobook challenge hosted by Hot Listens.   I listened to one novel on CD last year and found it to be enjoyable, especially since it gets difficult juggling the Munchkin and a book.  I have several waiting on my shelves just waiting to be listened too.     I am going to sign up for the Newbo level of listening to 1-5 books.  I am not sure how many I will actually get to read but I will list my choices (in no particular order) . . .   1. Eric Brighteyes 2. Heat Wave 3. Life of Pi 4. Horse Soldiers 5. One Bullet Away     So away we go!!  

Spend My Money - Historical Romance

 

Gosh, I have more Christmas Gift Certificate Money to spend and can't make up my mind!

 

 

So which of these Historical Romances should I get? They have been waiting for a while on my wishlist!

 

 

The Options:

 

 

The Making of a Duchess

Fire on Dark Water

Camelot's Destiny

The Mercenary's Bride







The Last Viking

The Guardian

I just can't choose, please do it for me! I will read it and share it with all of you during the Follower's Month.  So please post your vote and I will tally it on Friday the 11th!





 



Wednesday Writing

So Wednesday is my official writing update day. I have so many story projects going on and I need a push to get some done. So I will be trying to post each Wednesday about how my writing adventures are going (and I may need a swift kick in the pants by you guys sometimes).

Current Active Project:

The Last Mountains - 13,468 (handwritten) = 15,766 (typed)

A equine shapeshifting family is being hunted to near extinction and the young new leader must go against all her lessons and approach the elite council for aide. Will they help her? How will she keep her family's traditions and values alive, let alone her herd?

Tamlyn Marie's Grace -

Think Cinderella only with a matchmaker ;)

Other Works in Progress:

The New Old Home - 17,193 words

Everyone dreams of winning the lottery, but what would you do with that money? That is the question presented to Natalie, when she is at the lowest point in her life, she is presented with an opportunity to make any normal person's dreams come true, but all those winnings can't give her what she wants most.

Princess Bs - 32,131 words

A story about a woman, recently divorced and returned to her home town to figure out what is next. She encounters an old friend and spends a weekend with him and his daughters. Feelings that are long since buried are rising up again, but are her recent loss and his current life going to stand in the way of their happily ever after?

Night Rider - 17,229

Alice is a recent high school graduate who is a very accomplished competitive rider in Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western/Rodeo. Her parents had arranged for her to attend a private college on the east coast geared specifically to equine professions. However, Alice wants to focus on her studies in English Literature. When she arrives at the college she hides her riding abilities, but can she keep her talent and love of horses hidden?

Other Ideas Plotting:

Bloodsoar's Story

A pegasus struggles through life, ejected from the herd, near capture by humans.

The Assassin's Assassin

A student learns what the school is really teaching and sets out to destroy those who support the program.

Angel Story

Angels battle out an age old feud in a parallel world

 

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So it is a new year and time for new goals.  Hopefully I can actually accomplish something throughout this year! I had high hopes for last year but wasn't able to reach my goals.

Oh well, we start anew in 2013!

So for my new writing goals I am going to keep them simple and achievable.

Goal #1
Catch up on typing on Tamlyn Marie's Grace

Goal #2
Plot/outline ending of The Princess Bs

Goal #3
Obtain voice recorder and start making notes for stories using it

Goal #4
Reach 50,000 words in one of my novels


I would like to achieve more but I want to prove to myself that I can keep and reach the goals I set for myself, even with little Munchkin running my life ;)


So what writing goals have you set for yourselves this year?!

Spend My Money - Paranormal Romance

It's the genre you have all been waiting for and now you get to pick which book I purchase!

 

 

 

The Options:

 

 

 

West of Want

How to Drive a Dragon Crazy

Lover Reborn

Cynful

Tempting the Beast

All For You

I am glad all of you have to make this choice and not me!! The title with the most votes by Friday the 11th will be the one purchase and reviewed for my Follower's Month!!













Spend My Money - Young Adult

Yup, more Christmas Gift Certificates to spend!!

 

I know YA is a favorite genre of my followers, so help me pick which of these books to purchase! I will read it and review for my Follower's Month!

 

 

The Options:

 

 

An Off Year

The Ivy

Hush, Hush

Girl on the Other Side

House of the Star

Stealing Parker

I know, you guys are probably shocked that I haven't read some of those yet! So tell me which one I should pick!! Please post your vote and I will tally them on Friday the 11th!













Spend My Money - Fantasy/Mythology

You ready to help me spend more of my Christmas Gift Certificates?!

 

Below are listed some of the Fantasy and Mythology books that have been sitting on my wish list for a while.  Which would you like to see reviewed during the Follower's Month?

 

 

The Options:

 

 

Valkyrie Rising

Vessel

Firelord

Swirls

Eyes Like Stars

Between the Sea and Sky

I know, its so hard to choose!! This is why I need your help, so please post your vote below so I can tally them up on Friday the 11th!













Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last (2) Week:

Links will take you to my review

Food Fight by Christina York
Merry Christmas Little One by Sandra Magsaman
Dance of Desire by Catherine Kean (After Dark)
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

 Royal Flush by Scott Bartlett
The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
Baby Farm Animals by Garth Williams
The Nose Book by Al Perkins
Voice of an Evil by Thorny Horton


Currently Reading:

Cleo: The cat who mended a family by Helen Brown - PB - on page 124 of 292
Last Regress by Rachel J. Thorne - Nook - on page 36 of 212
The Art of the Personal Letter by Margaret Shepherd - PB - on page 198 of 240

Next Books to be Read:

TBD

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So I am officially back to work! Boy was it hard getting up this morning after 4 months of being home with the Munchkin!! Hopefully I get home and both him and Hubby have survived LOL!


As I said the other day I have lots of stuff planned for the year here on the Blog.  Lets hope I can keep up with it on top of the Munchkin and working again, let alone my usual chores and duties.  My Hubby and I have also taken on more work with Niko's rescue.  We have been volunteering for a while doing home visits, but we are now also assisting in processing adoption applications.  It is a wonderful feeling helping dogs and families find each other, but it is another thing added to our crazy schedule.

Anywho, I will be using January as a regroup and plan month. I will be posting signups for the various challenges I plan to participate in this year (I am hoping I can complete at least a couple!!), I will also be posting a review of 2012.  I need to catch up on emails, reading of all of your blogs and some requested reviews.  Also, I need to start getting ready for a month of romance in February!!

I hope you all had a great holiday season and find yourselves happy, healthy and looking forward to this new year!!

Spend My Money - Children's Books

Yup, you get to spend more of my Christmas Gift Certificates! 

 

It seems that my Bedtime Stories posts are some of the most popular, they are viewed more times than I ever expected! So what Children's book should I purchase, read to Munchkin and review? The one you pick will be posted as a Bedtime Story in my Follower's Month.

 

 

The Options:

 

 

The Hiccupotamus

One Winter's Day

Bless This Mouse

The OK Book

Please Take Me For a Walk

Hug

So, which one? Which do you think I should read to Munchkin?

 

Post the title in the comments and I will tally the votes on Friday the 11th!