The 2012 100+ Books in a Year Reading Challenge is hosted by Book Chick City

The 2012 100+ Books in a Year Reading Challenge is hosted by Book Chick City.

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012
• Rules: Read 100+ books in 2012 (any genre)
• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.
• You can join at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.
• At the beginning of Jan 2012, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews.
• Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted.
• Only fiction, no non-fiction.
• This challenge can crossover to other challenges.

12 DYSPOTIAN/POST-APOCALYPTIC IN 12 MONTHS

Not too sure yet which books I will be reading for this challenge.  


I'll try to post reviews both here and on my Goodreads profile too.

Click the link above to join us in this year's challenge :D

Men In Uniform 2012 Reading Challenge

Level: CHIEF


The challenge means I will need to read 16+ books containing a male lead who is in uniform.  I'll try to post reviews both here and on my Goodreads profile too.

Click the link above to join us in this years challenge :D

Silver Shark (Kinsmen #2) by Ilona Andrews

Claire Shannon is a killer. She uses no weapons, only her mind.

Born on a planet locked in a long war, Claire is a psycher, a woman with the ability to attack minds and infiltrate a biological computer network where psychers battle to the death. But when the war abruptly ends, Claire must hide her psycher's ability to survive. She is deported to a new planet, a vivid beautiful place, where she meets Venturo Escana, a powerful psycher, whose presence overwhelms both her mind and her body.

She thought she had left war and death behind, but now she must fight for her new life and this battle might just cost her everything...
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My View:

The Kinsmen world is fascinating and I love learning more about it. Ilona & Gordon write such absorbing worlds and characters. I look forward to any more pieces they give us regarding the Kinsmen.

The story is rich and absorbing with the reader being drawn in and held captive until the very end of the book.

I loved Claire from the very beginning. She came across as a very strong and independant woman. Ven....I mean WOW! If only I could find a guy like this around here. He is very self-assured, yet very sweet with Claire.

Claire is a soldier. She was taken into the military at a very young age and comes from a world where she has known nothing but war and the responsibility of defending her countrymen. She has a strong connection to her team and when that bond is broken she has to adapt fast.

Claire is sent off-world to another planet, which in contrast to her own is extremely vibrant both in people & environment. She gets a job, by hiding skills which if discovered could lead to her death.

During this time we meet Venturo. He is a strong, capable and lethally talented "Psycher". He is also compassionate and is the one to give Claire a chance in this new world she finds herself in.

The story moves on and our hero & heroine show the strength and innate honour they both possess during the twists and turns of this adventure.

Although the story is not the most complex or long that I have read, I truly fell in love with the characters and the world of the Kinsmen.

Archangel's Blade (Guild Hunter #4) by Nalini Singh

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh is back in the shadows of a deadly, beautiful world where angels rule, vampires serve, and one female hunter must crawl out of the darkness to survive . . .


The severed head marked by a distinctive tattoo on its cheek should have been a Guild case, but dark instincts honed over hundreds of years of life compel the vampire Dmitri to take control. There is something twisted about this death, something that whispers of centuries long past . . . but Dmitri's need to discover the truth is nothing to the vicious strength of his response to the hunter assigned to decipher the tattoo.


Savaged in a brutal attack that almost killed her, Honor is nowhere near ready to come face to face with the seductive vampire who is an archangel's right hand, and who wears his cruelty as boldly as his lethal sensuality . . . the same vampire who has been her secret obsession since the day she was old enough to understand the inexplicable, violent emotions he aroused in her.


As desire turns into a dangerous compulsion that might destroy them both, it becomes clear the past will not stay buried. Something is hunting, and it will not stop until it brings a blood-soaked nightmare to life once more . ..


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My View


*Spolier Alert*


I really enjoyed this story, however I am having trouble with the ending. I can't really put it in to words yet. I'll have to digest it a little first.

This was a very moving story and Nalini has once again proven what a talented writer she is.

I've always liked Dmitri and was excited about this book being about him, and giving us a better look into his past and what he has been through.

I really loved learning about Honor. She is a strong woman and is a character I hope we see more of in future Guild Hunter installments.

Having thought a bit more about the ending, I think it's the past lives thing that is getting to me.

I get that Dmitri fell for Honor, but it seems that it's more a case of her being the "vessel" of Ingrede's soul/memories than of who Honor is. I don't know if anyone else feels this way or if it was how Nalini wanted it to seem, but it just felt a little off. It's a beautiful premise - that souls who loved as deeply as Dmitri & Ingrede's did, would find each other again, but it seemed to take something away from who Honor is. Maybe I just don't have a feel for who Honor was before her abduction and that's whats messing with me.

I don't know. I'll have to re-read this story again to see if I feel differently about the ending.

All that being said, I truly enjoyed this story and can't wait for the next Guild Hunter installment.

Keep up the great work Nalini!

Friday 56

"Go make your presence known in the cabin, Commander."

Hope's Folly by Linnea Sinclair

http://www.shilohwalker.com/website/?p=27674

Grave Witch (Alex Craft Book 1) by Kalayna Price

Not even death can save her now.

As a grave witch, Alex Craft can speak to the dead-she's even on good terms with Death himself. As a consultant for the police, she's seen a lot of dark magic, but nothing has prepared her for her latest case. When she's raising a "shade" involved in a high profile murder, it attacks her, and then someone makes an attempt on her life. Someone really doesn't want her to know what the dead have to say, and she'll have to work with mysterious homicide detective Falin Andrews to figure out why...


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My View:


I loved this book.  I could not stop reading it.  I enjoyed Alex's interactions with Falin & Death and all her friends.


There is a lot of potential in this world and I can't wait to see where Kalayna leads us.

Deadtown (Deadtown Book 1) by Nancy Holzner

They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders — but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human…

Vicky’s demanding job keeping the city safe from all manner of monsters is one reason her relationship with workaholic lawyer (and werewolf) Alexander Kane is in constant limbo. Throw in a foolhardy zombie apprentice, a mysterious demon-plagued client, and a suspicious research facility that’s taken an unwelcome interest in her family, and Vicky’s love life has as much of a pulse as Deadtown’s citizens.

But now Vicky’s got bigger things to worry about. The Hellion who murdered her father ten years ago has somehow broken through Boston’s magical protections. The Hellion is a ruthless force of destruction with a personal grudge against Vicky, and she’s the only one who can stop the demon before it destroys the city and everyone in it.

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My View:

When I first started reading this book, I didn't think it would grab me, but I was wrong.  I really enjoyed this book.  The world is interesting and the main character can be quite charming.   I've already ordered the next in this series at my local library and I can't wait to get my hands on it :D

The Becoming (Anna Strong Chronicles Book 1) by Jeanne C. Stein

Anna Strong is trained for anything...until she's attacked one night, only to awaken in a dark world that exists between the living and the dead. Here, Anna struggles with her love for the two men who inhabit the realms of each: Max, a human DEA agent, and Avery, a Night Watcher who joins Anna in pursuit of the vampire who changed her life.
 
Now, as her two worlds collide, fate plunges Anna into the ultimate battle between good and evil where survival is not just for the living.

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My View:

I enjoyed this book.  The world is very intriguing and I can't wait to read more in this series. 

Rosemary And Rue (October Daye Book 1) by Seanan McGuire

October "Toby" Daye, a changeling who is half human and half fae, has been an outsider from birth. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the Faerie world, retreating to a "normal" life. Unfortunately for her, the Faerie world has other ideas... 

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening's dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby must resume her former position as knight errant and renew old alliances. As she steps back into fae society, dealing with a cast of characters not entirely good or evil, she realizes that more than her own life will be forfeited if she cannot find Evening's killer.


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My View:


I really liked this book.  October is an interesting character, who has had some very sad things happen to her and I can't wait to read the next book.  The glimpses of Tybalt are fantastic!  I think he will be another of my favourite male leads!

Staying Dead (Retrievers Book 1) by Laura Anne Gilman

Manhattan's night life just got weirder...

It starts as a simple job--but simple jobs, when you're dealing with the magical world, often end up anything but.

As a Retriever, Wren Valere specializes in finding things gone missing--and then bringing them back, no questions asked. Normally her job is stimulating, challenging and only a little bit dangerous. But every once in a while...

Case in point: A cornerstone containing a spell is stolen and there's a magical complication. (Isn't there always?) Wren's unique abilities aren't enough to lay this particular case to rest, so she turns to some friends: a demon (minor), a mage who has lost his mind, and a few others, including Sergei, her business partner (and maybe a bit more?).

Sometimes what a woman has to do to get the job done is enough to give even Wren nightmares....

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My View:

Really enjoyed this novel.  It's a great start to a new series.  I enjoyed Sergei & Wren's banter and interactions.  The cast of character's are very enjoyable and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Hard Magic (Paranormal Scene Investigations Book 1) by Laura Anne Gilman

Welcome to P.U.P.I.—Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations

A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can't touch—crimes of magic.

My name's Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job I hadn't applied for. It smelled fishy, but the brutal truth was I needed the work—so off I went.
Two days later I'm a PUPI—me and Nick, Sharon, Nifty and Pietr. Five twentysomethings, thrown into an entirely new career in forensic magic.

The first job we get is a doozy: proving that the deaths of two Talents were murder, not suicide. Worse, there are high-profile people who want us to close up shop and go away. We're sniffing out things they'd rather keep buried.
Looks as if this job is gonna get interesting. The only problem is, we're making it up as we go along….

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My View:

I liked this book.  It did take me a while to get into it, but by the end I was glad a stuck with it.  This is the first book from this author that I have read and I will be checking out her other titles soon.

The characters are great, lot's of room to develop, and they are in all, very likable.  The story was good, if a little bit slow in getting going, but it seemed to flow okay and ended well.  I will be checking out the next in this series "Pack of Lies" when it comes in at my local library.

Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge Update

So, I've just spent an hour combing through the shelves and computer catalogue system at my local library to get some of the unread books for my challenge list.

I managed to collect:

Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman
The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod
Greywalker by Kat Richardson
Staying Dead by Laura Anne Gilman

I've now been home and reserved the remainder of the books to my reserve list, so hopefully I should have a few more of them to tick off the list before I head back to work.

I was very surprised when I realized that only 3 books from this reading list aren't available at any of our city libraries.  I never knew there were so many Urban Fantasy readers in my city, but it's nice to know there are people like me who like to escape the everyday drudgery to fantastic worlds of magic and the paranormal :D

Now my hardest decision is going to be which one to read first...

Catch you all again soon with an update and hopefully some reviews :D

Rosey's Review: 2011 1st In Series Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge

Rosey’s Review are having a 1st in Series Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge.  The rules and info for entering the challenge can be found on Rosey’s site, but if you follow the link below you should be set:

http://roseysreview.com/2011/11/2011-reading-challenge-1st-in-series.html

I am going to go all out for this challenge too! (I know I seem to be going all out for everything at the moment) I will be trying to achieve the Full Bloom level.  This means I will need to read all 59 of the books listed in the challenge list.

Now I have already read a few of books on this list which is okay and they can be counted, but I thought I might give it a go and re-read them too.  I’m not too great a writing reviews for the books I read, but I will endeavour to try and write a decent review for them.

The Books I’ve Already Read:

• Undead and Unwed by MaryJanice Davidson
• Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
• Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
• Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
• Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton
• Touch the Dark by Karen Chance
• Working for the Devil by Lilith Saintcrow
• Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
• Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughan
• Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur
• Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow
• Undone by Rachel Caine
• The Devil Inside by Jenna Black
• The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
• Midnight’s Daughter by Karen Chance

The Books to Go:

• What’s a Ghoul to do? by Victoria Laurie
• Summon the Keeper by Tanya Huff
• Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler
• Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk
• Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
• Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane
• Stray by Rachel Vincent
• Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
• Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta
• Spider’s Bite by Jennifer Estep
• Storm Born by Richelle Mead
• Staying Dead by Laura Anne Gilman
• Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris
• Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
• Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy
• A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
• Night Rising by Chris Marie Green
• Nightwalker by Jocelynn Drake
• Mind Games by Carolyn Crane
• Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells
• Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
• Greywalker by Kat Richardson
• Dying Bites by D.D. Barant
• Grave Witch by Kalayna Price
• Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding
• Heart of Stone by C.E. Murphy
• Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
• Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
• Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman
• Once Bitten, Twice Shy by Jennifer Rardin
• Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines
• Trick of the Light by Robyn Thurman
• Personal Demons by Stacia Kane
• The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein
• The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod
• Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney
• Burning Water by Mercedes Lackey & Hugh Syme
• Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan
• Highborn by Yvonne Navarro
• Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between by J.A. Saare
• Blood Law by Jeannie Holmes
• Black Wings by Christine Henry
• Spiral Hunt by Margaret Ronald
• Right Hand Magic by Nancy A. Collins

Whew, what a list!  So 44 new books to read.  I can’t wait!

 

Update to come soon .

Wish I'd Read That Challenge 2011

So I was checking out blogs and such on Goodreads this morning and I came across the blog of Julie @knitting and sundries, and noticed she was taking part in the above named challenge.

I clicked on the link and it took me to a great blog called My Love Affair with Books.  I read through the guidelines and decided that I wanted to take part in this challenge as well.

I’m going to try and go all out for the Obsessed level in the challenge.  You have to read 20 books to reach this level.  Now I am already taking part in a few other challenges, some by myself and some through other sites, so I should hopefully be reading a lot this year.

I’ll be listing the books I read as I go and I’ll try to post the reviews on here as well as on Goodreads.

I’ll check back soon with updates.

P.S.   If you feel like joining the challenge too, follow the link below:

http://books-love-affair.blogspot.com/2010/12/wish-id-read-that-challenge-2011.html

The 1001 Club...

For those of you who know me well, the heading above may clue you in to what this post will be about and for those of you who don’t know me well or even at all, I will try to enlighten you.

I am a bit of a reader.  I love books.  I don’t care if they are paperback, hardback, e-book, audiobook or written on a block of stone, I just love them.  I find it a sad thing when people say they aren’t much for reading as they don’t have time or they think it’s a bit of a waste of time to be sitting down with a book.  I disagree with them.  There can be nothing better than taking a well deserved time out with a good book.
Books take you to another time and place or into another persons life.  What is not great and exciting about that?

I have many favourite authors and some of them are listed as links on my blog.  I am always on the look out for a new author or genre.  I have recently started into the more serious side of the Science Fiction genre and am surprised that I didn’t get hooked into it earlier.  What fantastic stories being told!  The most recent books I have read are Quarter Share and Half Share by Nathan Lowell.  These were originally done as free audio books from the authors website but have been released into paperback and e-book formats.  Now I’m no great authority on this genre, as I’ve stated I’ve only just gotten into it, but these stories kept me hanging on to the last word.  I am about to commence listening to the next installment, Full Share, on my iPod over the coming days.  I cannot wait to hear what else is happening with Ishmael and his progress through the ranks on board the “Lois McKendrick”.

It’s never hard to find books to read but I got to thinking about another book I received as a gift a few years back.  It’s called “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die”, and I decided I was going to give it a go and try and read them all.  I will be honest with you and tell you that I may not finish all these books but I will attempt to.  Sometimes there are books that no mater what you do, you just can’t get into it and make it through to the end.  I have found a few books like that over the years and although it’s inevitable that you won’t like all the books you pick up, you do get that feeling that you just didn’t give them a real chance.  Here’s hoping I can persevere and make it through the list.  I will also try to give some reviews on the books I do get through, but I’m not very good at writing reviews.  I’m just not critical enough to give very concise reviews on the books I read, so be prepared for a lot of “It was really good.  Enjoyed the character’s a lot”

Now, I have read some of the books already, but I think to get into the true spirit of things I’m going to read them all again.  First up on my list is “Journey to the Centre of the Earth” by Jules Verne.  I’m only up to chapter three but so far so good. His writing is a bit circumlocutory, however it currently seems to add to the feel of the story – I figure learned men of the day did waffle a bit getting a story out, a bit like some politicians nowadays.

If anyone else is thinking of partaking in this personal challenge, I’d love to hear about it either here in my comments or if you have your own blog let me know so I can check it out.
Take care and I’ll post again soon.

“TV.  If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the fun they’ll have with twenty-six.  Open your child’s imagination.  Open a book.”  ~Author Unknown

“We should read to give our souls a chance to luxuriate.”  ~Henry Miller

“Books are immortal sons deifying their sires.”  ~Plato