15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 5

So while browsing the blogs I follow (mind you I am crazy behind on checking everyone's blogs out) I cam across this challenge hosted at Good Books and Good Wine and it sounded kind of fun.

 

 

Day 5 Post

 

Recommend a Tear Jerker

 

Oh gosh, I have read several of these over the past couple of years but one that I read recently that really sticks out for me is Twelve Months by Steven Manchester.  He had me tearing up all the way through the book (and let me tell you I am not an emotional person at all).  I have The Rockin' Chair also by him on my TBR list and have been told to keep my tissue box handy.

 

Synopsis: "Don DiMarco has a very good life – a family he loves, a comfortable lifestyle, passions and interests that keep him amused. He also thought he had time, but that turned out not to be the case. Faced with news that might have immediately felled most, Don now wonders if he has time enough. Time enough to show his wife the romance he didn’t always lavish on her. Time enough to live out his most ambitious fantasies. Time enough to close the circle on some of his most aching unresolved relationships. Summoning an inner strength he barely realized he possessed, Don sets off to prove that twelve months is time enough to live a life in full.

A glorious celebration of each and every moment that we’re given here on Earth, as well as the eternal bonds that we all share, TWELVE MONTHS is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit."

 

 

 

Synopsis: "Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.

Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy Grandpa John calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, THE ROCKIN' CHAIR is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read."

 

 

 

Bedtime Story: Sleepy Kittens

 

Synopsis: "An adorable board book with finger puppets based on a book featured in the animated movie, Despicable Me, coming from Universal Studios in Summer 2010. With gentle, rhythmic verse, little ones will love to snuggle up with these soft, cozy kitties at bedtime."

My Review: I was so excited when I found this book, I adore the movie Despicable Me and this book was super cute in the movie. The quality of the book isn't quite what I expected. The kitten puppets are rough and stiff and there was no brush attached to the book to brush the kittens but other than that it is still the very cute story Gru read to the girls.

 

My Rating: So I wasn't really thrilled with the quality of the book but Munchkin seems to love this book and the kittens. So we will compromise and give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

 

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 4

So while browsing the blogs I follow (mind you I am crazy behind on checking everyone's blogs out) I cam across this challenge hosted at Good Books and Good Wine and it sounded kind of fun.

 

 

Day 4 Post

 

What's the last book you flung across the room?

 

I make it a habit not to fling books across the room, especially the ones on my Nook or Kindle ;) but I did have a reading rut not to long ago where I read several disappointing books in a row. If it hadn't been on my Nook I may very well have flung Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater across the room (or let the cat chew on it a bit).  The characters drove me nuts, the story line drove me nuts, the writing style drove me nuts, all in all I was about batty by the time I finished it.

From the Review Pile #10

 

 

 

From the Review Pile is a meme hosted by Stepping Out of the Page every Thursday.

The aim of this meme is to showcase books that you've received for review (or if you don't receive review books, any book that you own and really want to read/review) but haven't yet got around to reading, in order to give the book some extra publicity.

I know that a lot of you have a huge pile of books that you want to read/review, but it understandably takes a while to get around to reading them all - here you can give a book (or two!) some of the publicity that it deserves, even if you haven't read it yet!

 

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Synopsis: "Quicklime Petterson is still kicking around campus two years after commencement. But as the post-college daze is petering out, an offer comes in: pen a porn script for the policeman who just busted him, get his charges dropped. With no time to workshop, the erstwhile English major pounds out an introspective, Oedipal flesh-flick entitled "Conceptual Tart." The project attracts a tween star in search of an edgy role, and media frenzy ensues. As the would-be one-off deal threatens to become a vocation, Quicklime attempts to find the honest career he meant to start after college, amidst growing renown as a pornographer."

 

After Dark Review of Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione

 

Synopsis: "Sexy, powerful, and immortal, Limos is on a crash course with destiny. She’s been marked as Satan’s bride and her jealous fiancé wants her all to himself. The only way this Horseman can keep herself—and everyone else—safe is to keep her distance. But not even Limos can save herself from the secrets she’s kept . . . or resist the seductive allure of one very brave human.

Arik Wagner knows the saying “love hurts” better than most, yet he never thought stealing a kiss from Limos would land him in Hell. Literally. It takes all his military training to survive the demon torture, but once he’s topside, Arik realizes that the agony has just begun. With the Apocalypse looming and Satan demanding his bride, will Arik and Limos surrender to the desire smoldering between them? Or will giving in to their passion unleash hell on earth?"

My Review: I wasn't as impressed with this book as I was with Eternal Rider. I thought I would like Limos more than I did but everything about her is so contrived and fake that you can't tell which emotions are real. I did however really like Arik and Regan. Maybe it is because they are humans and haven't lived thousands of years so are a little more relatable. The story its self had a lot going on, so many tangents and plots going on at once, I would have preferred a little more focus on Limos. All that said I am really curious as to what is going to happen to Than and Regan.

 

My Rating: I was a little disappointed in this installment in the Lords of Deliverance series.  There was a lot of sexing it up which didn't really seem to fit who Limos and Than are suppose to be. It does lead me nicely into the next book though.  I give it a rating of Two Paws and A Stump Wag.

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 3

So while browsing the blogs I follow (mind you I am crazy behind on checking everyone's blogs out) I cam across this challenge hosted at Good Books and Good Wine and it sounded kind of fun.

 

 

Day 3 Post

 

Who are your blogging BFFS?

 

I am kind of a shy person, but I have met some awesome bloggers and become friends with a few.  I do have a couple though that I am much closer with.  First and foremost my pal Jessica over at Thoughts at One in the Morning.  We were friends before we both started blogging on the MLParena and our friendship has grown so much stronger now that we realize that we also share reading and writing in common.  I have also developed a friendship with The Book Queen through our letters (thanks to her Ink Readers).

After Dark Review of Eternal Rider by Larissa Ione (Re-Read)

Synopsis: " They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.
Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life."

My Original Review (2011): I absolutely loved this book! I think Ione just gained another follower! Eternal Rider had great dynamics between the characters. The siblings (Four Horsemen) had your typical family love hate relationship. The character descriptions of the Hellhounds, horsemen and demons was very interesting, I so want to be a horseman and have a horse with me at all times like they do, so cool! The struggle between good and evil that Ione portrayed was interesting, the good had flaws and the evil even had some redeeming factors, there was so much gray area it seemed very realistic. Ares was a great character, I enjoyed his harsh but down to earth point of view, it was a great contrast to Cara's timid and look for the good in everything point of view. Oddly enough the Hellhound pup, Hal added some great comic relief on occasion. What I really loved was that Larissa Ione really stuck with the main plot of the book and didn't get distracted by the physical parts (read sex scenes) as I have read in the past.

My Review (2013): I re-read this one since I finally have the next 3 in the series, boy am I glad I did too! There are so many intricate sub-plots and key things going on that I forgot. Cara kind of bothered me in the re-read, her contradicting character of being meek and timid then all of the sudden turning tough and crazed for rough sex just didn't sit well with me. I still really enjoyed the Horsemen characters (yes all of them) and the Hellhounds. I also noticed the interlocking of Ione's other series, while I felt I missed something when some the characters came in, I still didn't really need to read the other series to catch up. I think maybe during the re-read I was able to pick up on more the small details and pick it apart a little more than I like to but it was still very enjoyable and I can't wait for the rest of the series.

Note: There is adult language and situations described in detail through out this book, there is also a good amount of blood and guts, just a forewarning.

My Rating: I really think I enjoyed this book more the first time around where as the second read I was able to absorb more details but felt a little lacking with characters and emotions with the book.  I give it a rating of Three Paws.

 

15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 2

 

Please feel free to join the challenge hosted by Good Books and Good Wine.

 

Day 2 Post

 

What's your bedtime reading ritual?

 

Mine really varies from day to day depending on the book I am reading.  First and foremost I have to make sure Munchkin is sleeping so I don't have to interrupt my reading to sooth him when he is screaming.  Then I let the dog out and get myself ready for bed, usually with some soft fuzzy sweatpants. I make sure I have drink and my Nook, Kindle and a couple of paperbacks ready to go next to the bed. Niko comes back in and snuggles into his crate while I snuggle into bed. Valerie usually has to come and get her pets before I can pick up the book otherwise she will push her way in front of it. Then it is finally off to reading land.

 



15 Day Book Blogger Challenge - Day 1

So while browsing the blogs I follow (mind you I am crazy behind on checking everyone's blogs out) I cam across this challenge hosted at Good Books and Good Wine and it sounded kind of fun.

 

 

So Here is my Day 1 Post

 

Make 15 Book Related Confessions

 

1. I am a book hoarder! I can't get rid of any books, even if they are horrible condition or I hated them. I have donate books before and less than a year later I am buying the same books again just to put them on my shelf.

 

2. Which leads me to my second confession. I have books shoved everywhere. My 2 6 foot shelves are stacked double deep and have books shoved in every available space, so I now have books boxed under beds, even shoved in drawers (especially in the extra space in my shorts and bathing suit drawers).

 

3. I have never walked out of a book store without spending at least $80. I think its because I hold off until I can't stand it anymore and then the smell of the pages when I walk into the store sends me into a craze.

 

4. I have tried to use the library, but after I read a book and return it to the library, I go buy it just in case I want to read it again! Haha I really am nuts huh?

 

5. I have forgotten to eat, drink and sleep while involved with a book. Niko may have been feed late a few times as well, but I am careful not to get involved while Munchkin is in my care.

 

6.  I am a book multi-tasker.  I read and keep track of multiple books at once. I usually am reading a paperback or 2, one on my nook, one on my kindle, an audio book and one on my work computer going at once.  I keep them all separated in my mind by where and when I read.

 

7. I am also a mood reader, I generally read a book based on my mood. If I force myself to read a book when not in the proper mood, I end up hating it and giving it a poor review even though I know it may not have earned it.

 

8. I own multiples of my favorite books. One in particular is Fire by Kristin Cashore and I have a signed ARC, a hard cover copy, an ebook on my nook and an audio of it. I want to be prepared to re-read it at any time and any where.

 

9. I don't loan books. If I have a book that I want to suggest to some one I either send them the name and author or I buy them their own copy. (again its my weird obsession with having books I have read on my shelves).

 

10. I have gotten pretty good at hiding my obsession from my Hubby.  We work opposite shifts so we only see each other on the weekends so I try to never go book shopping, blogging or reading on the weekend.

 

11.  If I finish reading a particularly good book I have a bonding experience with it. I take in every detail of the pages, the cover, the smell and even cuddle and pet it a little before putting it on the shelves (and even go back occasionally to re-establish that bond).

 

12. I am an organization freak about my books. The rest of my house can be in shambles but I need my books all shelved properly, spines out and facing the right way so I can read the titles. I can never decide if I want them shelved by genre or alphabetical by author or by series or by when I read them or rating so am constantly pulling them all off the shelves and rearranging them.

 

13. I almost never read the cover before starting a book.  Even if it has been on my shelf forever or I just bought it, I always dive in without checking the synopsis so that the story is always a complete surprise (some times its for the good and other times I am so confused until it all starts making sense halfway through).

 

14. I am guilty of not so much shopping by the cover but by the title.  The title better be something that catches my attention. I like them either to be descriptive (Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband) or something unique (Stork).

 

15. My TBR pile is out of control! I am nearing150 books on my TBR pile. I just can't help but add to it though, just to make sure I have the right book when I want it.

 

 

So do you think I am crazy yet? What are your secret book confessions?

 

 

 



Audio Review of The Bride's Farewell by Meg Rosoff

 

Synopsis: "On the morning of her wedding, Pell Ridley creeps out of bed in the dark, kisses her sisters goodbye and flees — determined to escape a future that offers nothing but hard work and sorrow. She takes the only thing that truly belongs to her: Jack, a white horse, and small mute Bean who refuses to be left behind.

The road ahead is rich with longing, silence and secrets, and each encounter leads her closer to the untold story of her past. Then Pell meets a hunter, infuriating, mysterious and cold. Will he help her to find what she seeks?

With all the hallmarks of Meg Rosoff’s extraordinary writing, The Bride’s Farewell also breaks new ground for this author, in a nineteenth-century, Hardyesque setting. This is a moving story of love and lost things, with a core of deep, beautiful romance."

My Review: Well this was different. It kind of reminded me of Jane Austen's style but not quite as long (thank goodness). There was a lot of rambling and felt like the story really wasn't going anywhere. I liked the prominence of horses and dogs throughout the book but other than that I really didn't develop much feeling for the characters. I found 'Dog Man' to be the most interesting character. This is also listed as a romance but I didn't really feel any romance or love in the story, more of a commitment. All that said the reader for this book did a great job, her accent really suited the story and kept me listening.

 

My Rating: This was a so so book for me and while I listened to the whole book, I really wasn't all that invested in it.  I give it a rating of Two Paws.

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 Week:

Links will take you to my review

 

The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller
Soft Spots by Clint Van Winkle
It's Time To Sleep, My Love (Bedtime Story)


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

Soft Spots
The Bride's Farewell
Eternal Rider
The Little Engine That Could
 

Currently Reading:

Blood in the Valley by JK Hogan - Kindle - 5%
Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione - PB - On page 142 of 414


 Books to be Read Soon:

 

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto (Audio Challenge)
Ugly Beautiful by Seanpaul Thomas (Requested Review)
Dark Chatter by Andrew Branch (Requested Review)


 



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Wow busy day in the office so I am late posting but at least it is getting done.  So not much reading done last week due to a nice corneal abrasion (thank you for that Munchkin).  Thankfully that is all healed finally so I can read again!

Did you guys all have a great holiday? It was so brutally hot and humid here we couldn't really even enjoy it, Munchkin seems to get sick in the heat. So we kind of stayed inside other than grilling some delicious food.

Well I am off to another week. Hopefully lots of books will be read during the remainder of the month since I have company coming who will entertain the little man!