It's Monday! What are you reading? (11/9)

Hosted by J. Kaye (@ http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/).

Books I completed this past week are:

• the ride of our lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family by Mike Leonard (Read by Marc Cashman)
• Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier
• boys that bite by Mari Mancusi
• Marked by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast
• Betrayed by P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast
• Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter (Read by Suzanne Toren) REVIEW TO COME

and Children's Books (I'm pretty sure I'm missing some, but...) -

• cha-cha chimps by Julia Durango (Illustrated by Eleanor Taylor) (2006)
- A really fun book. It's kinda like "10 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed" only it is chimps doing the cha-cha (and various other animals doing other dances) and nobody is bumping their heads... "ee-ee-oo-oo-ah-ah-ah! _ little chimps do the cha-cha-cha!"
• No! That's Wrong! by Zhaohua Ji and Cui Xu (2008)
- An absolutely silly-ridiculous book. A rabbit finds some underwear and thinks it's a hat. Various animals try this new "hat" on...and NO! That's Wrong! etc..
• Skippyjon Jones by Judy (Judith Byron) Schachner (2003)
- A funny (it had me cracking up) book, as well as a bit of a tounge twister. It won/earned the E.B. White Read Aloud Award.
• Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter (Illustrated by Steve James) (2009)
- A cute book based on the adult Dewey book (true story). The pictures are gorgeous; I looked at them before listening to the Dewey audiobook, and actually read the story after listening to the audio.

Currently Reading:

Still (because if you haven't figured it out by now, I'm really bad about — and take forever at — reading non-fiction books, even when I enjoy them) -

• Bear-ology: Fascinating Bear Facts, Tales & Trivia by Sylvia Dolson

I've started (just the intro), but am very unsure if I'll even finish listening to the first disc (let alone the book) -

• Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression by Mildred Armstrong Kalish (Read by Ruth Ann Phimister)

And instead of doing homework I'm enjoying -

• Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Upcoming books:

• Tippy Toe Murder by Leslie Meier
• Trick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier
• Blood Red by Heather Graham

And possibly some of the following library books:

• Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle (wife/husband writing team Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini. They also write the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries under the name Alice Kimberly)
• Dark Slayer by Christine Feehan
• Cat Sitter on a Hot Tin Roof by Blaize Clement
• Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• Luck Be a Lady, Don't Die by Robert J. Randisi
• The Fat Boy Murders by David A. Kaufelt
• Secrets by F.M. McPherson
• Pirate Curse by Kai Meyer
• The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer

Monday, November 9, 2009

2009 Young Adult Challenge Wrap Up

The 2009 Young Adult Challenge is hosted by J. Kaye...

You can check out the rules and who else is participating/participated by checking out the Sign Up Page.

You can see reviews (some of my own and other participants) of books read for this challenge here.

And you can see more about those who have completed this challenge here.

I've finished the 12 required books + some for this challenge.

I read:

[Please Note: Those titles with astericks have reviews on this blog. Those without astericks will redirect you my reviews/comments on the eHarlequin website.]

1. Witch Child - Celia Rees [January 2009]
2. Bite Me - Parker Blue [March 2009]
3. The Shadow Within - Jenine Wilson [April 2009]*
4. Pirates! - Celia Rees [April 2009]
5. Sovay - Celia Rees [April 2009]
6. Mister Monday - Garth Nix [June 2009]
7. Fortune's Folly - Deva Fagan [August 2009]*
8. The Devil's Paintbox - Victoria McKernan [August 2009]*
9. The Hunter's Moon - O.R. Melling [September 2009]*
10. You Are So Undead to Me - Stacey Jay [October 2009]*
11. Vamps - Nancy A. Collins [October 2009]*
12. boys that bite - Mari Mancusi [November 2009]*

Extras:

13. Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast [November 2009]*
14. Betrayed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast [November 2009]*

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Betrayed

Title: Betrayed

Author(s): P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Copyright Date: 2007

Print Date: Septemeber 2007

ISBN: 9780312360283

Pages: 310

Series: 2nd in the House of the Night series

Book Description (from back cover):

Fledgling vampire Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night finishing school. She finally feels like she belongs, even gets chosen as the Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, she actually has a boyfriend...or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threaten those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world. Betrayed, the second book in the House of the Night series, is dark and sexy, as thrilling as it is utterly shocking.

Comments:

After a night of reading Marked, I started Betrayed in the early hours of Saturday. I fell asleep part way through and woke to the phone ringing (my mother asking me to come by the house and rake leaves — now). Instead of leaving right away, I returned to reading, showered, read...and went to rake leaves when I'd finished 2 hours later (Shameful, I know). Guess it was lucky for my mother that I did't (and still don't for that matter) have the 3rd book around yet.

Anyway, I'm not a fan of the "or two" part of the blurb above. (Why do authors insist upon having multiple love interests? Drives me batty.) Otherwise, I enjoyed this book, and am looking foward (anxiously) to reading the next in the series.

Marked

Title: Marked

Author(s): P.C. Cast + Kristin Cast

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Copyright Date: 2007

Print Date: May 2007

ISBN: 9780312360269

Pages: 306

Series: 1st in the House of the Night series

Book Description (from back cover):

ENTER THE DARK, MAGICAL WORLD OF THE HOUSE OF THE NIGHT, a world very much like our own, except here vampyres have always existed. Sixteen-year-old Zoey Redbird has just been Marked as a fledgling vampyre and joins the House of Night, a school where she will train to become an adult vampyre. That is, if she makes it through the Change — and not all of those who are Marked do. It sucks to begin a new life, especially away from her friends, and on top of that, Zoey is no average fledgling. She has been chosen as special by the vampyre Goddess Nyx. Zoey discovers she has amazing powers, but along with her powers come bloodlust and an unfortunate ability to Imprint her human ex-boyfriend. To add to her stress, she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers: When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite group, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny — with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Comments:

You know how sometimes you see quotes like "Intense!" or "Gripping!" about books? I don't know about you, but I'm the type of person to (mentally) roll my eyes at this. It may be true, but more often than not, I feel like it's either exagerated for marketing, or maybe whoever made the comment is the type who tends to have extreme opinions about their books.

Anyway, this book was gripping. Like it caught me in its clutches and wasn't letting go.

I liked the set-up. I did wonder a bit how/if the vampyres had their come-out, since (it seems to me) that is usually a part of books where the existance of vampires are known by the world. In this particular book, scientists have debated vamyrism, but I don't recall it saying when this debate/study started. I also worried a little about the "vampire finishing school" bit — I've seen it before (Vamps), and from what I've read and heard, the finishing school/boarding school (think Harry Potter*) thing has taken off and is a (potentially tiring) new trend. As it turned out, this concern was quickly forgotten.

*I am not saying anything against HP, just pointing to it as an example — and possibly one of the trend starters.

I also liked the heroine. Zoey has some issues (parents, namely), but she's rather clued into herself. She doesn't feel the need to give in to peer pressure when she isn't interested. She doesn't feel the need to act superior, even when she could (see: "amazing powers" in the blurb). She values friendship...Overall, a likeable character.

In any case, back to the gripping part. I started a little after midnight Friday night (technically Saturday), finished late (or early you might say) and actually couldn't make myself go to bed without starting the next book (until, that is, my sleep-deprived body decided for me, and I simply drifted off).

Which brings me to...Betrayed

boys that bite

Title: boys that bite

Author: Mari (Marianne) Mancusi

Publisher: Berkley JAM Books

Copyright Date: 2006

Print Date: April 2006

ISBN: 0425209423

Pages: 262

Series: 1st in the Blood Coven Vampire series

Book Description (from back cover):

My mom is so going to kill me if she finds out I'm turning into a vampire.

Okay, so technically she can't because I'm immortal. Well, not yet. See, due to the worst case of mistaken identity with my dark-side-loving twin sister at a Goth hangout called Club Fang, Magnus, a vampire hottie, went for my innocent neck instead of hers. Now, if I don't reverse it in time, Magnus will be my blood mate forever and I'm doomed to be a blood-gulping, pasty, daylight-hating vampire. Believe me, it seriously bites!

After the unfortunate slaying of the vampire leader, it's up to me, my sister, and Magnus to find the one thing that can solve my problem — the Holy Grail. No joke. I seriously hope I can get out of this on time because, somehow, I scored the hottest prom date in my school, the mouth-watering Jake Wilder. And I do not want to be a vampire for the prom — let alone the rest of eternity.

Comments:

This was a quick read — once I actually started it.

The first time I picked this up to read, I just wasn't in the mood for it. I waited as long as my library would allow (and then some — 3 renewals and it's still overdue) before picking it up. But this time I stuck. I was 100+ pages in before I knew it. I set it down to go to bed, but when I picked it up the next day to finish it I lost track of time (I finished, looked at the clock, and "Agh! I'm supposed to be at class! At this is the class that the instructor actually called me responsible? How responsible is she going to think I am now?")

I guess the shorter version is, this is the kind of book you have to be in the right mood for, but once you are it grabs you (at least, that's how it was for me). I don't mean I fell in love with it; I didn't. Both Sunny and her twin Rayne irritated me at points. But it did make me want to know, "What next?"

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Mistletoe Murder

Title: Mistletoe Murder originally titled Mail-Order Murder

Author: Leslie Meier

Publisher: Kensington Mystery

Copyright Date: 1991

Print Date: December 1998

ISBN: 0758203373

Pages: 222

Series: 1st in the Lucy Stone Mystery series.

Book Description (from back cover):

MAIL-ORDER MURDER...

As if baking holiday cookies, knitting a sweater for her husband's gift, and making her daughter's angel costume for the church pageant weren't enough things for Lucy Stone's busy Christmas schedule, she's also working nights at the famous mail-order company Country Cousins. But when she discovers Sam Miller, its very wealthy founder, dead in his car from an apparent suicide, the sleuth in her knows something just doesn't smell right.

Taking time out from her hectic holiday life to find out what really happened, her investigation leads to a backlog of secrets as long as Santa's Christmas Eve route. Lucy is convinced that someone murdered Sam Miller. But who and why? With each harrowing twist she uncovers in this bizarre case, another shocking revelation is exposed. Now, as Christmas draws near and Lucy gets dangerously chose to the truth, she's about to receive a present from Santa she didn't ask for — a killer who won't be satisfied until everyone on his shopping list is dead, including Lucy herself...

Comments:

The support behind the small town of Tinker's Cove, Country Cousins,and the descriptions (found at the start of each chapter) of various products offered by this company were interesting.

Lucy Stone, the heroine, is likeable. She's a good wife and mother, a hard worker, generous. In fact, the only thing about her I didn't care for was her tendency to gossip. Oh, I expect gossip to some extent in mysteries with amateur sleuths. How else would she gather her clues? The problem was the way she (and the other town ladies) gossiped. They didn't seem to even be aware of it. They didn't try to hid it or justify it (I'm not necessarily saying that would be better, but it would be more familiar). They certainly never hesitated; they simply did. And it baffled me. I've never heard anyone gossip so freely except family in some situations. And they wouldn't do it outside of family. Maybe it's because I'm not from a small town.

As for the mystery, Lucy is semi-casually looking into this murder while also keeping busy with her family, job, and the holidays. A little bit after the holidays,  toward the end of the book, Lucy discovers (rather than just suspects) who did it and puts into motion a way to stop him (or is it her???).

I thought Mistletoe Murder was a light book and a nice set-up to the rest of series. I will be continuing with the second book, Tippy Toe Murder.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

the ride of our lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family

Title: the ride of our lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family

Author: Mike (Michael) Leonard (Read by Marc Cashman)

Publisher: Books on Tape Books on CD (A division of Random House)

Text Copyright Date: 2006

Production Copyright Date: 2006

ISBN: 1415927227

Length: 7 Discs (7 hours 50 minutes)(Unabridged)

Book Description (from back cover of case):

An uproariously funny audiobook from NBC's Today Show correspondent Mike Leonard.

Mike Leonard is a lucky man. It's not everyone who get parents like Jack and Marge. At eighty-seven, Jack is a pathological optimist with an inexhaustible gift of gab. Marge, Jack's bride of sixty years, though cut from the same rough bolt of Irish immigrant cloth, is his polar opposite — pessimistic and proud of it. What was their son, Mike, thinking when he took a sabatical from his job with NBC News so he could pile these two world-class originals along with three of his grown kids and a daughter-in-law into a pair of rented RVs and hit the road for a month?

Mike was thinking that he wanted to give his parents teh ultimate family reunion. And so, one February morning, three generations of Leonard set out on their journey under the dazzling Arizonia sky. Thirty minutes later, one of teh humongous recreational vehicles has an unplanned meeting with a concrete island at a convenience store. Thus begins the adventure of a lifetime — and an absolute gem of an audiobook.

I decided to read this because...

I said in my introduction post of this blog that I'll read just about anything. That doesn't mean, however, that I don't tend toward certain genres - and away from others. This isn't my usual sort of book. So why did I read it?

I was exploring the local library's website, and came across a program all the libraries in this area (from several districts) are involved in to, I guess, community build. This program has a family theme and suggested three books, one adult, one YA, one children's. This was the adult selection, and I decided (being the flexible — when it comes to books — person I am), to give it a try.

I almost ordered the print copy, but saw an audiocopy was available and thought it would be the perfect medium to read this type of book. A choice I do not regret.

Read by:

As a newcomer of sorts to audiobooks, who reads the audiobook is a big deal. My first audiobook (by Luanne Rice, I don't remember the title) was so slloooowwww and dragggged out. I finished it just to get it over with and expect I would have liked it in print better. My second audiobook — The Big Sleep, a classic detective book — was read by Elliott Gould. He was perfect for that type of detective narrating (BTW, for those who don't know, Elliott Gould is also an actor. I recognized his voice — not his name — from the Ocean's (11, 12, 13) movies). Anyway, I was a bit aprehensive about which way this one would go.

It took me a couple tracks to get comfortable listening to Marc Cashman read this book, but by the end, when he says (on the last track) "This is Marc Cashman," I mentally protested. Seriously, for a couple seconds, I was all, "No you're not! You're Mike Leo... Oh. Yeah. You're the reader. You're Marc Cashman." (Kinda embarrassing to admit.) He was fairly good at accents, of which he had several to read. Texas Southern, N'Awlins Southern, Georgia Southern, Rhode Island Eastern... Not to mention young (child), young (teen), elderly, middle aged... and male/female (female was, as could be expected, his weakest, in my Midwestern American opinion).

Leftover Comments:

This is already long, so I'll try to keep the rest short...

The story itself was fun and often times funny. It had its poignant moments, its thoughtful moments, its interesting moments, its inspiring moments, and its boring moments (this is a man writing about his life — no one's life is always interesting, even when edited for a book). In the end, I'm glad I decided to try it.

As a(nother) side note: Language I could have ignored in a print book — mostly sh- and various forms of the Lord's name (which may or may not bother you, depending on who "you" are) — was much more out there and difficult to ignore.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

It's Monday! What are you reading? (11/2)

Hosted by J. Kaye (@ http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/).

Books I completed this past week are:

• Zinnia by Jayne Castle
• Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich
• Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men by Molly Harper

and Children's Books -

• Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley
• God Made Me by Helen Haidle (Illustrated by Rick Incrocci)

Currently Reading:

I decided the Lucy Stone cozy mystery series is perfect for the Fall / Winter Mystery Reading Challenge. I've started with the first in the series:

Mistletoe Murder by Leslie Meier

1 disc (of 7) left of this:

the ride of our lives: Roadside Lessons of an American Family by Mike Leonard (Read by Marc Cashman)

I planned to get futher with this, but I misplaced it for a while. I'll be trying to read more of it this week (again)...

Bear-ology: Fascinating Bear Facts, Tales & Trivia by Sylvia Dolson

and ugh (for a class - big exam today)...

Essentials of Systems Analysis and Design (4th Edition) by Joseph S. Valacich, Joey F. George, & Jeffrey A. Hoffer

Upcoming books:

• Tippy Toe Murder by Leslie Meier
• Tick or Treat Murder by Leslie Meier
• Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

I had several library books go overdue this week. I need to be better about reading what I check out:

• boys that bite by Mari Mancusi (This is still overdue, I couldn't renew it again...so I'm reading it this week or returning it unread.)
• Luck Be a Lady, Don't Die by Robert J. Randisi
• The Fat Boy Murders by David A. Kaufelt
• Secrets by F.M. McPherson
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• Pirate Curse by Kai Meyer
• The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer

Monday, November 2, 2009

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men

Title: Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men

Author: Molly Harper (Molly Harper White)

Publisher: Pocket Star Books Paranormal Romance

Copyright Date: 2009

Print Date: September 2009

ISBN:9781416589433

Pages: 376

Series: 2nd in the Jane Jameson series. The 1st book is Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs. The 3rd book, Nice Girls Don't Live Forever should be out January 2010.

Book Description (from back cover):

Forever a Bridesmaid, Never an Undead Bride

Once a devoted children's librarian, Jane Jameson now works at a rundown occult bookstore. Once a regular gal, she's now a vampire. And instead of a bride, she's an eternal bridesmaid — which leads her to question where exactly her relationship with her irresistibly sexy sire, Gabriel, is headed. Mercurial, enigmatic, apparently commitment-phobic vampires are nothing if not hard to read. While Jane is trying to master undead dating, she is also donning the ugliest bridesmaid's dress in history at her best friend Zeb's Titanic-themed wedding. Between a freaked-out groom-to-be, his hostile werewolf in-laws, and Zeb's mother, hell-bent on seeing Jane walk the aisle with Zeb, Jane's got the feeling she's just rearranging the proverbial deck chairs.

Meanwhile, Half Moon Hollow's own Black Widow, Jane's Grandma Ruthie, has met her match in her latest fiancé. He smells like bad cheese and has a suspicious history of dead spouses. But Jane's biting her tongue. After all, would a nice girl really think she has a future with a vampire?

Comments:

I ended up requesting the local library buy this (which makes me its first reader!). I really need to find out if there's a limit to how many I can request because oh what fun I could have.

Anyway, I enjoyed it. I like (most of) the characters — Jane, Gabriel, Dick, Mr. Wainwright... It was frustrating knowing there was more going on with Zeb that Jane (and others) weren't paying enough attention to notice sooner, but then Jane was distracted with other things.

Like being a bridesmaid and all the efforts that entails, complete with counseling, mediator, and horrible dress. (I'm so grateful that my sister's wedding was small, and the only limitations about the dress was it had to be pink — which is one of my least liked colors, but looks fairly good on me.) Or handling more family drama. Speaking of which, it was nice to see Jane's mother in a better light.

I'm still waiting to know what's going on with Gabriel (I'd better get answers come January), but otherwise found this a satisfying and fun romance.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Plum Spooky

Title: Plum Spooky

Author: Janet Evanovich

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Copyright Date: 2008

Print Date: January 2009

ISBN: 9780312383329

Pages: 309

Series: Including the one short story and the Between-the-Number books, this is the 19th Stephanie Plum story.

Book Description (from dust jacket):

Turn on all the lights and check under your bed. Things are about to get spooky in Trenton, New Jersey.

According to legend, the Jersey Devil prowls the Pine Barrens and soars above the treetops in the dark of night. As eerie as this might seem, there are things in the Barrens that are even more frightening and dangerous. And there are monkeys. Lots of monkeys.

Wulf Grimoire is a world wanderer and an opportunist who can kill without remorse and disappear like smoke. He's chosen Martin Munch, boy genius, as his new business partner, and he's chosen the Barrens as his new playground.

Munch received his doctorate degree in quantum physics when he was twenty-two. Now he's twenty-four, and while his brain is large, his body hasn't made it out of the boys' department at Macy's. Anyone who says good things come in small packages hasn't met Munch. Wulf Grimoire is looking for world domination. Martin Munch would be happy if he could just get a woman naked and tied to a tree.

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has Munch on her most-wanted list for failure to appear in court. Plum is the all-American girl stuck in an uncomfortable job, succeeding on luck and tenacity. Usually she gets her man. This time she gets a monkey. She also gets a big guy named Diesel.

Diesel pops in and out of Plum's life like birthday cake — delicious to look at and taste, not especially healthy as a steady diet, gone by the end of the week if not sooner. He's an über bounty hunter with special skills when it comes to tracking men and pleasing women. He's after Grimoire, and now he's also after Munch. And if truth were told, he wouldn't mind setting Stephanie Plum in his crosshairs.

Diesel and Plum hunt down Munch and Grimoire, following them into the Barrens, surviving cranberry bogs, the Jersey Devil, a hair-raising experience, sand in their underwear, and, of course . . . monkeys.

Comments:

I tend to prefer the regular Stephanie Plum books to the Between-the-Number books. However, I still enjoy these. This one was fun though not as funny. Carl the monkey was a highlight. Lula made her appearance, and the story of her relationship (or perhaps fiasco is a better word for it) w/ Tank continued.

I have to say, the one thing that drives me nuts in these books is how Stephanie is always taking about — and eating — food. Donuts, fast food, her mother's roast beef, etc. Talk about food that, more often then not, makes me want some. And I can't afford to eat like that, both in terms of weight and money.