2010 Once Upon A Time Challenge

This challenge is being hosted by Tena over at Crazy Book Slut. Here is the information that you need to know (borrowed from Tena's blog):

This challenge is quite simple..... read the fairy tales you grew up reading but from another view than Disney's version. There are so many great fairy tale books out there, that might take the same story we know but with an added twist.

These books can be Young Adult, Romance, Erotic, e-books, audio books.... your only limited by your own imagination.

I am going to make this an easy challenge to finish, and say the goal is to read at least 5 books, again if you want to go big or go home... read more!The time frame for this challenge will be January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. Plenty of time. Please do not start this challenge before the time, and don't use books you have already read.

Need some idea's for books?
* Once upon a Time Series
* Sleeping Beauty Novel's
(Adult books, must be 18)* Tons on Alice in Wonderland
* Gregory Maguire is a good author to use
Who is in?

A Little break

I will be taking a little mini break (4 days) from my blog this week (for sure) to deal with the upcoming Christmas season that starts at my job in T minus 2.5 hours. Christmas is what we at my job like to refer to as a little bit of a "cluster (insert your own choice 4 letter word)." When I come back from my little mini break there will more than likely be a great big lump of posts for you all to read.

And on that note....I leave you with this photo.....

A little cowboy BUTT CAM! Enjoy!

On My Wish List (3)

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City, which will be posted every Wednesday. It allows us to share the books we haven't bought yet but are waiting to be bought and devoured. If you are anything like me then your wishlist is getting longer by the day! If you would like to take part and have your own 'On My Wishlist' post then you can find more info here. (This post was inspired by the fab In My Mailbox by Kristi at The Story Siren).

This week I've been going through some webpages looking for books for some of my challenges...Particularly the Debut Authors challenge that I'm doing. Most of what is now on my wish list I don't have a picture of the cover to add to the post so I apologize for that.

Somebody Everybody Listens To by Suzanne Supplee (available May 2010)

Synopsis:
Retta Lee Jones is blessed with a beautiful voice
and has big dreams of leaving her tiny Tennessee
hometown. With a beaten down car, a pocketful
of hard-earned waitressing money, and stars in her
eyes, Retta sets out to make it big in Nashville. But
the road to success isn’t a smooth one in a town
filled with dreamers, and Retta begins to have
doubts: can she make her mark while staying true
to herself?

Invisible Girl by Mary Hanlon Stone (Debut Novel, available May 2010)

Synopsis:
When poor Boston girl Stephanie is abandoned by
her abusive mother and taken in by Annie’s Beverly
Hills family, she feels anything but home. Her dark
complexion and accent stick out like a sore thumb
in the golden-hued world of blondes and extravagance.
These are girls who seem to live life in fastforward,
while Stephanie is stuck on pause. Yet
when a new rival moves to town, threatening Annie’s
queen-bee status, Stephanie finds herself taking
sides in a battle she never even knew existed,
and that feeling invisible is a wound that can only
be healed by standing up for who she is.

The Best and Hardest Thing by Pat Brisson (Debut Novel, available May 2010)

Synopsis:
Fifteen-year-old Molly Biden has always been studious,
dependable, some might even say saintly. And
she’s sick of herself. So when she spots mysterious bad
boy Grady Dillon, she devises a plan to make herself
over into someone new, someone who will attract
Grady’s attention. She succeeds—but a little too well.
When Molly discovers she’s pregnant, she’s forced to
make the hardest choice of her life.

This addictively readable portrayal of Molly’s struggle
to accept her pregnancy and the fact that her life
will never be the same is told entirely in poetry, from
sonnets to haiku.

Wolves, Boys, & Other Things That Might Kill Me: A Novel by Kristen Chandler (Debut Novel, available May 2010)

Synopsis:
What’s more dangerous? Falling
for a boy? Or falling for a wolf?

KJ Carson lives an outdoor lover’s dream. The only
daughter of a fishing and wildlife guide, KJ can
hold her own on the water or in the mountains near
her hometown outside Yellowstone National Park.
But when she meets the shaggy-haired, intensely
appealing Virgil, KJ loses all self-possession. And
she’s not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that
they’re assigned to work together on a school newspaper
article about the famous wolves of Yellowstone.
As KJ spends time with Virgil, she also spends
more time getting to know a part of her world that
she always took for granted . . . and she begins to
see herself and her town in a whole new light.

Sea by Heidi R. Kling (Debut Novel, available June 10, 2010)

Synopsis:
Still haunted by nightmares of her mother’s death,
fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels
to Indonesia with her father’s relief team to help
tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress
disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about.
Since her mother’s plane went missing over the
Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn’t do
anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip
is a big step forward.

But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a
brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage,
and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a
rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn’t
think twice about running away with him to the
epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they
find there could break both their hearts.

A compelling summer romance, Sea marks the
arrival of a stunning new voice in YA.

Faithful by Janet Fox (Debut Novel, available May 2010)

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Maggie Bennet’s life is in tatters.
Her mother has disappeared, and is presumed dead.
The next thing she knows, her father has dragged
Maggie away from their elegant Newport home,
off on some mad excursion to Yellowstone in Montana.
Torn from the only life she’s ever known, away
from her friends, from society, and verging on no
prospects, Maggie is furious and devastated by her
father’s betrayal. But when she arrives, she finds herself
drawn to the frustratingly stubborn, handsome
Tom Rowland, the son of a park geologist, and to the
wild romantic beauty of Yellowstone itself. And as
Tom and the promise of freedom capture Maggie’s
heart, Maggie is forced to choose between who she
is and who she wants to be.

Available April 13, 2010

Synopsis: When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother…
Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret girl power society dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.
… be careful what you wish for.
Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.
What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

Available February 2010

Synopsis: When a mandatory course forces Fiona to “try the knot” with super-jock Todd Harding, she’s convinced life could not possibly get any worse. Until moments later, when her long-time crush is paired with her arch-enemy (otherwise known as Todd’s obscenely hot, slightly sadistic girlfriend). But that’s nothing compared to her best friend’s fate – a year with the very shy, very goofy, very big Johnny Mercer.
A series of hilarious pranks and misunderstandings leave Fiona wondering: is there something her supposed “best friend” hasn’t told her? Could there be more to Johnny Mercer than a deep voice and an awesome music collection? And perhaps most intriguing of all, is it possible that Todd Harding could actually have a heart – and a brain – beneath his pretty-boy exterior?
Who knows what might happen once you begin a match made in high school…

2010 Debut Author Challenge

Since I'm on a big ole' reading kick right now I thought "what the heck...what's one more challenge." So I'm participating in The Story Siren's 2010 Debut Author Challenge. Here's the information that you need to know.....If you click on the RED words it will take you directly to the post with all of the information you need in it as well.

What is the 2010 Debut Author Challenge?

The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year.* I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.

Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.

The challenge will run from January 1, 2009- December 31, 2009. You can join at anytime!

* I would like to limit the novels to those released in 2010.

The Potential List:

1. A Love Story Starring My Dead Best Friend by Emily Horner

2. The Secret Year - Jennifer Hubbard

3. Sea - Heidi R. Kling

4. Faithful - Janet Fox

5. The Cinderella Society - Kay Cassidy

6. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver

7. Leaving Gee's Bend - Irene Latham

8. Forget-Her-Not's - Amy Brecount White

9. Wolves, Boys and Other Things That Might Kill Me - Kristen Chandler

10. Everlasting - Angie Frazier

11. Shooting Kabul - N.H. Senzai

12. The Best and Hardest Thing - Pat Brisson

13. A Match Made In High School - Kristin Walker

14. Under My Skin - Judith Graves

L.J. Smith Challenge!

I am also participating in the L.J. Smith Challenge being put on by My Friend Amy. I've read the Twilight series but now I'm going to branch out a little bit and check out all this "The Vampire Diaries" thing is all about.

The "Reader's Digest" version of "The Rules":

So here are all the details again since this is the world's longest Introduction to a Challenge Post:

What are we reading? L.J. Smith's The Vampire Diaries!

What are we watching? The Vampire Diaries on the CW!

When do we start? September 1st!

When do we have to finish? August 31st, 2010

Who's that guy in the photo? Lenore's celebrity love match Ian Somerhalder who plays Damon in the Vampire Diaries!

In My Mailbox (2)

So this week on In My Mailbox, which is a meme put together by the Story Siren. Here's what I got this week:

Synopsis: Susan Michaels was the hottest reporter on the Beltway Beat until she walked into a setup that ruined her reputation. Now she’s working for a small Seattle paper, penning stories about killer moths and alien babies, convinced that her life couldn’t get any worse…

That was before an idea for a breaking news piece brought her to a local animal shelter where she ends up listening to her source rant about vampires and gets coerced into adopting a cat despite her allergies. But when her new pet suddenly reveals himself to be a gorgeous—and lethal—shapeshifter, Susan realizes that there’s far more at stake than a career-saving by-line.

Born into a world of predators, Were-Hunter Ravyn Kontis was betrayed by those he loved best. Soulless, pitiless, he has spent three hundred years battling the Daimons who seek to subjugate humankind. Against all odds, Susan evokes in Ravyn feelings of tenderness. Desire. Love. And with the ultimate battle about to begin, this one very human woman holds the power to shatter both their worlds...

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan, a gifted harpist who regularly plays for weddings and other events, has the kind of stage fright that makes her physically ill before a performance, which is an inauspicious way to start a romance; but while vomiting before a competition she meets a gorgeous boy who comes into the restroom to hold her hair. He is Luke Dillon, a flautist who proceeds to accompany her in a truly stellar performance. As four-leaf clovers start appearing everywhere, Deirdre develops telekinetic powers and encounters strange, unworldly people who seem to bear her ill will. Her best friend, James, also a talented musician; her beloved grandmother; and her mother all are in danger, as Deirdre is targeted by the queen of Faerie. Deirdre eventually discovers that she is a cloverhand, a person who can see the denizens of faerie, and Luke, not the only immortal who has her in his sights, is a gallowglass, an assassin assigned by the queen of Faerie to kill Deirdre but who falls in love with her instead.

Synopsis: In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Synopsis (The Sweetheart of Prosper County): Almost-15-year-old Austin Gray is tired of standing at the curb and watching the parade pass her by. Literally. She decides this is the year she’ll ride on the hood of a shiny pickup truck in the annual parade, waving to the crowd and finally showing the town bully that she’s got what it takes to be the Sweetheart of Prosper County.

But far from simply being a beauty contest, becoming Sweetheart involves participation in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), raising an animal, and hunting or fishing. Austin will do almost anything to become Sweetheart, and has the support of her oldest friend, Maribel, her new FFA friends (including the reigning Sweetheart, and a quiet, cute cowboy), an evangelical Elvis impersonator, a mysterious Cajun outcast, and a rooster named Charles Dickens. If only her momma would stop overprotecting her, and start letting Austin live her own life. But Austin can’t move on until Momma moves on, too—and lets the grief of losing Austin’s daddy several years before out into the open.

Here is a bighearted story that will leave readers agreeing with Austin that sometimes, it’s not what you ride, it’s how you roll.

I also bought some books this week but I haven't decided yet which ones I'm going to keep and which ones are going to be part of a Christmas present yet. So next week's IMM should be interesting to say the least.

Whatcha Readin' Saturday

This week on Whatcha Readin' Saturday....I'm reading:

Synopsis: Susan Michaels was the hottest reporter on the Beltway Beat until she walked into a setup that ruined her reputation. Now she’s working for a small Seattle paper, penning stories about killer moths and alien babies, convinced that her life couldn’t get any worse…

That was before an idea for a breaking news piece brought her to a local animal shelter where she ends up listening to her source rant about vampires and gets coerced into adopting a cat despite her allergies. But when her new pet suddenly reveals himself to be a gorgeous—and lethal—shapeshifter, Susan realizes that there’s far more at stake than a career-saving by-line.

Born into a world of predators, Were-Hunter Ravyn Kontis was betrayed by those he loved best. Soulless, pitiless, he has spent three hundred years battling the Daimons who seek to subjugate humankind. Against all odds, Susan evokes in Ravyn feelings of tenderness. Desire. Love. And with the ultimate battle about to begin, this one very human woman holds the power to shatter both their worlds...

To participate in Whatcha Readin' Saturday all you have to do is link to a post about what you are currently reading and sign the Mr. Linky.

The 2010 Support Your Library Challenge

Since I am FINALLY in good standing again with my local library I figured I could use it as a source for some of the books for my other challenges as well. This challenge is being hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog.

Here is the information that you need to know:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.

2. There are four levels:

--The Mini – Check out and read 25 library books.
--Just My Size – Check out and read 50 library books.
--Stepping It Up – Check out and read 75 library books.
--Super Size Me – Check out and read 100 library books.

(Aim high. As long as you read 25 by the end of 2010, you are a winner.)

3. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Young Reader – any book as long as it is checked out from the library count. Checked out like with a library card, not purchased at a library sale.

4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

5. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

6. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

7. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your library books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.

Again, I'm going to aim high and go for the Super Size Me challenge...We'll see how well I do!

Candy Girl Review

Candy Girl A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper

Diablo Cody

Synopsis - 5/10
Plot - 8/10
Characters - 10/10
Overall Story - 10/10
Conclusion - 8/10

Overall Score - 41/50

*Optional*Smuttiness - 10/10



Review: Overall, I was really happy with the book. It's the story of a "normal" 20-something woman who get's this crazy idea that she should try her hand at being a stripper in addition to her day job as a typist for an advertising company in Minneapolis. The author doesn't mince any words and even uses some "colorful" language (if your not into f-bombs and "interesting" names for male parts DON'T read this book) for her year of being an "entertainer". You learn a lot about all the different clubs that she's worked at and a little bit about the other "entertainers" that she's come across.

I giggled, I cringed and I had a few WTF?! moments but overall the writing style and overall story are easy to follow. The only part that I was a little bit skeptical about was how cool her now husband was about the whole idea, but I guess that's a "too each there own" kind of thing.

2010 Thriller and Suspense Challenge

Here's yet another 2010 challenge that I'm going to give a shot. This one is hosted by Book Chick City. Here is the information that you need to know:

Timeline: 01 Jan 2010 - 31 Dec 2010
Rules: To read TWELVE (12) thrillers in 2010

Details:
• 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 then you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• If you decide to participate in this challenge please use the links I have set up below with the buttons to post on your sidebar, this way others can find their way back to this post and join in the fun. You can choose either button.

• If you decide to join this challenge be sure to create a post telling others, please make sure you add a link back to this post so others can join in.

• You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

• There will be a place for you to link your reviews, but this is optional.

There is also a list of sub-genre's that can be viewed HERE

2010 Young Adult Challenge

This challenge is hosted by J-Kaye's book blog.

There are four levels:

--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.

--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.

--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

Audio, eBooks, paper all count.

No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

So I think I'll be a major overachiever and go with the SUPER SIZE ME challenge.

1. Shadowland - Alyson Noel

2. Linger - Maggie Steifvater

3. Going Bovine - Libba Bray

4. Crescendo - Becca Fitzpatrick

5. Hush, Hush - Becca Fitzpatrick

6. Sea - Heidi R. Kling

7. The Secret Year - Jennifer Hubbard

8. Sleepless - Cyn Balog

9. Jekel Loves Hyde - Beth Fantaskey

10. Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side - Beth Fantaskey

11. Fallen

12. Beautiful Creatures

13. Before I Fall - Lauren Oliver

14. Deadly Little Lies - Laurie Faria Stolarz

15. Deadly Little Secret - Laurie Faria Stolarz

16. Forget-Her-Nots - Amy Brecount White

17. A Match Made In High School - Kristin Walker

18. Chasing Brooklyn - Lisa Schroeder

19. Sing Me To Sleep - Angela Morrison

20. The Cinderella Society - Kay Cassidy

21. My Soul To Take - Rachel Vincent

22. My Soul To Save - Rachel Vincent

23. My Soul To Keep - Rachel Vincent

24. You Wish - Mandy Hubbard

25. Sweet Little Lies - Lauren Conrad

26. L.A. Candy - Lauren Conrad

27. Evermore - Alyson Noel

28. Blue Moon - Alyson Noel

29. Everlasting - Angie Frazier

30. Wolves, Boy and Other Things That Might Kill Me - Kristen Chandler

31. A Love Story: Starring My Dead Best Friend - Emily Horner

32. Leaving Gee's Bend - Irene Latham

33. 13 to Life: A Werewolf's Tale - Shannon Delany

34. Faithful - Janet Fox

35. Under My Skin - Judith Graves

36. Boys, Bears and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots - Abby McDonald

37. The Best and Hardest Thing - Pat Brisson

38. Shooting Kabul - N.H. Senzai

39. Rules of Attraction - Simone Elkeles

40. Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles

41. Holes - Louis Sachar

42. Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson

43. The Host - Stephenie Meyer

44. To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

45. Little Women - Louisa May Scott

46. Just Listen - Sara Dessen

47. The Little House on the Prairie Collection - Laura Ingalls Wilder

48. Where The Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls

49. King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian - Marguerite Henry

50. Misty of Chincoteague - Marguerite Henry

51. Stormy, Misty's Foal - Marguerite Henry

52. Justin Morgan Had A Horse - Marguerite Henry

53. Mustang: Wild Spirit Of The West - Marguerite Henry

54. Black Gold - Marguerite Henry

55. San Domingo : The Medicine Hat Stallion - Marguerite Henry

56. The Black Stallion Series (20 total books)- Walter Farley

57. Man O' War - Walter Farley

Musical Thursday - Hillbilly Bone

Lynsay Sands Challenge

Amy over at My Overstuffed Bookshelf is holding a Lynsay Sands/Argeneau Family reading challenge. I'm big into vampire/werewolf/paranormal reading material right now so I am totally joining up. I've heard about this author on various book related webpages but I have yet to read one of her books yet. So I am super excited about this challenge.

101 Fantasy Reading Challenge

NOTE: My review of The Blind Side and my On My Wish List posts are also up.

I totally joined up with this challenge. It's called the 101 Fantasy Reading Challenge. Now will my little ADD brain wrap itself around a challenge....who knows but I'm going to give it my best shot.

Here are the rules:

1. Pick the number of books you want to read. It can be a mixture of the top 101, and/or the whole list. For example, you might want to aim to read 5 from the top 101 and 5 from the rest of the list.

2. Create a list of the books you want to tackle. You can create a list now, or add them as you go. Completely up to you.

3. The challenge runs from 10/10/09 to 10/10/10.

The Blind Side Review

The Blind Side
Michael Lewis

Synopsis - 9/10
Plot - 10/10
Characters - 9/10
Overall Story - 10/10
Conclusion - 8/10

Overall Score - 46/50

Synopsis: One day Michael Oher will be among the most highly paid athletes in the National Football League. When we first meet him, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or how to read or write. He takes up football, and school, after a rich, white, evangelical family plucks him from the streets. Then two great forces alter Oher: the family's love and the evolution of professional football itself into a game in which the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist becomes the priceless package of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side.

Review: I saw the trailer for the movie first one day and decided that that was one of those movies that I MUST see. The next day on a whim I was surfing the Barnes and Noble webpage and I did a random search to see if The Blind Side was in book form. As we can all see it oh so very much is in book form and scores high on my review scale too! I'm not going to say a whole lot about this one because I don't want to give away too much.

Now if your not much of a football fan I would probably recommend skipping the book form. The book itself starts off with a little history of the "game" (and there are "history lessons" thrown in through out the book, but they all tie in to the story) and your about 3 chapters in before you even meet Michael Oher. Once you meet Michael and you learn just a teeny tiny bit about him you can totally understand why his "new family" took him in and loved on him and why he in turn turned around and loved on them in return.

School wasn't easy for Michael....He had to become academically eligible before he could even start playing sports at all. Football didn't come easy to Michael...He started out a basketball player and dabbled in Track too. But once he got the hang of football well to quote the late great Paul Harvey.... "Now you know the rest of the story." We'll put it this way in all of College football only one school didn't offer Michael a full scholarship to there school and that was Penn State.

I would totally recommend this book to pretty much anyone. Even though it is pretty football heavy (not always pertaining to Michael) it is still a very great story. A story that says even great things can come from a not so great beginning. In short: READ IT! TODAY!

On My Wish List

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City, which will be posted every Wednesday. It allows us to share the books we haven't bought yet but are waiting to be bought and devoured. If you are anything like me then your wishlist is getting longer by the day! If you would like to take part and have your own 'On My Wishlist' post then you can find more info here. (This post was inspired by the fab In My Mailbox by Kristi at The Story Siren).

On my wishlist this week:

Synopsis (from Good Reads):’Tis the season for mistletoe and holly, Santa . . . and suspense. And the gift that keeps on giving is Ice: premier thriller author Linda Howard’s breathless tale of a man, a woman, and a battle for survival against an unforgiving winter–and an unrelenting killer.

Oh what fun it is to read.Gabriel McQueen has only just arrived home on holiday leave from the service when his county-sheriff father sends him back out again with new marching orders. A brewing ice storm, and a distant neighbor who’s fallen out of contact, have the local lawman concerned. So he enlists Gabriel to make the long haul to the middle of nowhere, and make sure Lolly Helton is safe and sound. It’s a trip the younger McQueen would rather not make given the bitter winter weather–and the icy conditions that have always existed between him and Lolly.

But there’s no talking back when your dad is the town’s top cop. And there’s no turning back when night falls just as Gabriel arrives–and discovers that the weather outside isn’t the only thing that’s frightful. Spotting strangers in Lolly’s home–one of them packing a weapon–is all it takes to kick Gabriel into combat mode. And his stealth training is all he needs to extract Lolly from the house without alerting her captors. But when the escape is discovered, the heat–and the hunt–are on. And the winter woods are nowhere to be once the ice storm touches down, dropping trees, blocking roads, and trapping the fleeing pair in the freezing dark.

Synopsis (from Good Reads): J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood novels have introduced readers to a "different, creative, dark, violent, and flat-out amazing" (All About Romance)world. Now, as the vampire warriors defend their race against their slayers, one male's loyalty to the Brotherhood will be tested-and his dangerous mixed blood revealed...

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood-even though his sister is married to a member, for he harbors a deadly secret that could make him a huge liability in their war against the lessers. As plots within and outside of the Brotherhood threaten to reveal the truth about Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world, Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him-and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

Synopsis (from Good Reads): In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Synopsis (from Good Reads): Dear Reader,Life is great for me. I have my chicory coffee, my warm beignets, and my best friend on the cell phone. Once the sun goes down, I am the baddest thing prowling the night: I command the elements, and I know no fear. For centuries, I've protected the innocent and watched over the mankind, making sure they are safe in a world where nothing is ever certain. All I want in return is a hot babe in a red dress, who wants nothing more from me then one night.

Instead, I get a runaway Mardi Gras float that tries to turn me into roadkill and a beautiful woman who saves my life but can't remember where she put my pants. Flamboyant and extravagant, Sunshine Runningwolf should be the perfect woman for me. She wants nothing past tonight, no ties, no long-term commitments.But every time I look at her, I start yearning for dreams that I buried centuries ago. With her unconventional ways and ability to baffle me, Sunshine is the one person I find myself needing. But for me to love her would mean her death. I am cursed never to know peace or happiness-not so long as my enemy waits in the night to destroy us both.--Talon of the Morrigantes

Teaser Tuesday

I found Tuesday Teaser over at Should Be Reading and was inspired to join in! Anyone can play along.

Just do the following:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my TT for this week:

"Girl-specific toys littered the living room rug, including a naked Barbie orgy that had ended in partial dismemberment. A juice box with the air sucked out of it had been left on the kitchen table, the perfect totem of innocence."

From:

Upcoming Reviews

Just wanted to drop a little update about the reviews that will be coming up this week. The first one will be for Louis L'Amour's book Hondo and then of course there will be the review for The Blind Side....A lot of people have been wanting to hear about this one. So be sure to drop by and check them out.

In My Mailbox

So this is my first week doing In My Mailbox, which is a meme put together by the Story Siren. Here's what I got this week:Synopsis: Decreed by David Letterman (tongue in cheek) on CBS TV's The Late Show to be the pick of "Dave's Book Club 2006," Candy Girl is the story of a young writer who dared to bare it all as a stripper. At the age of twenty-four, Diablo Cody decided there had to be more to life than typing copy at an ad agency. She soon managed to find inspiration from a most unlikely source— amateur night at the seedy Skyway Lounge. While she doesn't take home the prize that night, Diablo discovers to her surprise the act of stripping is an absolute thrill.

This is Diablo's captivating fish-out-of-water story of her yearlong walk on the wild side, from quiet gentlemen's clubs to multilevel sex palaces and glassed-in peep shows. In witty prose she gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at this industry through a writer's keen eye, chronicling her descent into the skin trade and the effect it had on her self-image and her relationship with her now husband.

Synopsis: One day Michael Oher will be among the most highly paid athletes in the National Football League. When we first meet him, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or how to read or write. He takes up football, and school, after a rich, white, evangelical family plucks him from the streets. Then two great forces alter Oher: the family's love and the evolution of professional football itself into a game in which the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist becomes the priceless package of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side.

Synopsis: The Darkness Chosen Series

A thousand years ago, a brutal warrior roamed the Russian steppes and struck a sinister bargain. In return for the ability to change at will into a cold-hearted predator, Konstantine promised his soul -- and the souls of his descendants -- to the devil.

Scent of Darkness

Anna Smith loves her dynamic boss, Jasha Wilder, but her daring plan to seduce him goes awry when she encounters a powerful wolf who, before her horrified eyes, changes into the man she adores. She soon discovers that she can't escape her destiny, for Jasha is Konstantine's descendant, and Ann is the woman fated to break the curse that binds his soul.

Well that's it for this week. I can hardly WAIT to see what next week brings!

Whatcha Readin' Saturday

It's Saturday again! Time for Whatcha Readin' Saturday. This week I'm reading Michael Lewis' book The Blind Side. It's the story of Michael Oher who was recently drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. Also, on November 20th the book in movie form featuring Sandra Bullock and Tim Mcgraw will be coming out in theaters.

Synopsis (from goodreads): By the author of the bestselling Moneyball: in football, as in life, the value we place on people changes with the rules of the games they play.

The young man at the center of this extraordinary and moving story will one day be among the most highly paid athletes in the National Football League. When we first meet him, he is one of thirteen children by a mother addicted to crack; he does not know his real name, his father, his birthday, or any of the things a child might learn in school such as, say, how to read or write. Nor has he ever touched a football.

What changes? He takes up football, and school, after a rich, Evangelical, Republican family plucks him from the mean streets. Their love is the first great force that alters the world's perception of the boy, whom they adopt. The second force is the evolution of professional football itself into a game where the quarterback must be protected at any cost. Our protagonist turns out to be the priceless combination of size, speed, and agility necessary to guard the quarterback's greatest vulnerability: his blind side. .

To participate in Whatcha Readin' Saturday all you have to do is tell us a little bit about what your currently reading and post a link in the Mr. Linky below. Pretty simple. So whatcha readin'?

Let's Brainstorm Together

I am looking for gift idea's (AKA books) for my brother's fiancee' who is shall we say "a reader who reads because it's something to do when your broke." She likes to read but with there current situation can't really afford to go out and buy herself a new book all the time or even 1/2 of the time, so she's stuck reading the same things over and over again. That and they just moved to a new town...ok so it's actually a city and has no idea where a library is.

Any and all suggestions are helpful and greatly appreciated!

Have a great weekend!

Another Contest!

Crazy for Books is giving away a copy of Coppola: A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq. The contest itself ends on November 30th. If you want to check out more on this book there is an interview with the author over on Crazy for Books.

Musical Thursday - Uncle Kracker

On My Wish List

So it's Wednesday again and I am participating in Book Chick City's On My Wish List. This week on my wish list we have the following:

Synopsis: W. P. Kinsella plays with both myth and fantasy in his lyrical novel, which was adapted into the enormously popular movie, Field of Dreams. It begins with the magic of a godlike voice in a cornfield, and ends with the magic of a son playing catch with the ghost of his father. In Kinsella's hands, it's all about as simple, and complex, as the object of baseball itself: coming home. Like Ring Lardner and Bernard Malamud before him, Kinsella spins baseball as backdrop and metaphor, and, like his predecessors, uses the game to tell us a little something more about who we are and what we need.

Synopsis: As little girls MacKensie, Emma, Laurel, and Parker spent hours acting out their perfect make believe "I do" moments. Years later their fantasies become reality when they start their own wedding planning company to make every woman's dream day come true. With perfect flowers, delicious desserts, and joyful moments captured on film, Nora Roberts's Bride Quartet shares each woman's emotionally magical journey to romance.

In Bed of Roses, florist Emma Grant is finding career success with her friends at Vows wedding planning company, and her love life appears to be thriving. Though men swarm around her, she still hasn't found Mr. Right. And the last place she's looking is right under her nose.

But that's just where Jack Cooke is. He's so close to the women of Vows that he's practically family, but the architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship. When Emma returns his passion—kiss for blistering kiss—they must trust in their history…and in their hearts.

The Blind Side Trailer

I can hardly wait to pick this book up at the bookstore later this morning! The trailer makes this movie peak at the top of my "must see this movie" list!

My facebook page...

I am in the process of re-doing my facebook page. When I created the page I mistakenly created a regular page to start of with and then created the page for Confessions of a Book Junkie. So I am going to delete the current page and start over. I just wanted to put that out there for all of you as a little heads up.

J

A Cover Alert! Lover Mine by J.R. Ward

I found the image for the cover of the next Black Dagger Brotherhood novel on Lovin' Me Some Romance. I can HARDLY WAIT until April!

Synopsis: In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - vampire warriors, defenders of their race...John Matthew has been through his vampire transition and taken to the life of the Brotherhood with a vengeance, but he still can't shake the nightmare of his past and is unsure of his future as a warrior hero. He's made a promise to honour the Brotherhood and their fight with the slayers at all costs, until the love of his life is kidnapped and he is forced to make a choice that could change his life and the Brotherhood's forever...

We have a WINNER!

The math has been done, the "scores" tabulated and we know have a winner for my first ever book giveaway! It was a really close one too!

Drum roll please......

Our winner is:

Jenn from Book Crazy!

The Shadow Riders Review

The Shadow Riders
Louis L'Amour
224 pages

Synopsis -10 /10
Plot - 9/10
Characters - 9/10
Overall Story - 10/10
Conclusion -10/10

Overall - 48/50

Synopsis: Dal and Mac Traven left Texas young and idealistic. They came back from opposite sides of a living hell, a war that had torn the nation in two. They wanted only to reclaim their old lives…but one man held their future hostage.

Colonel Henry T. Ashford had gathered an army of criminals and renegade soldiers, leading them on a path of destruction and kidnapping through Texas to the Gulf. Among Ashford’s captives were the Travens’ sister and Dal’s tough-minded fiancée, Kate.

Now Mac and Dal must take up arms once again and ride together against Ashford’s army—ready to fight another war, if that’s what it takes to win the freedom of the women they love.

Review: I am a big fan of Louis L'Amour. He writes a story that when you start it you feel like you're actually there while it's taking place. Like a couple of his other novel's this particular book was made into a movie...Which I too enjoy. Naturally, I saw the movie before I read the book but I was equally happy with both.

The Traven brothers - Mac, Dal and younger brother Jesse - all head off to the war between the states. When the war is over they head for home only to find that a whole 'nother "war" has taken place before they even get home. A tough confederate Colonel who refuses to let the war end has taken to assembling an "army" of rouge soldiers and outlaws and proceeds to lead them on a path of death, destruction and kidnapping across Texas all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

Now what this Colonel doesn't know is that he has taken the Traven's sister and Dal's tough-as-nails girl, Kate, hostage. The Traven's don't take to kindly to that thought and take up arms to get back their family as well as the other's who have been kidnapped. What happens next is a pretty AWESOME story of determination, love and some "ha, ha sucks to be you."

Whatcha Readin' Saturday

Everyone who likes to read is pretty much on the hunt for that next "great read"....Me included. So I have decided to create my own little "meme" called Whatcha Readin' Saturday. So without further adue....I give you Whatcha Readin' Saturday.

To Participate:

1. Hey we're all here looking for the next "great read" so please write us a little blog post and tell us a little bit about what you're currently reading.

2. Sign the Mr. Linky so that we can visit you and check out what your reading.

3. See it's pretty simple....Anyone can play!







This week on Whatcha Readin' Saturday I am reading Louis L'Amour's book Hondo. I'm a HUGE Louis L'Amour fan so I thought I would share this one with all of you out there. Louie has a writing style that totally makes you feel like you are right there as all the action is taking place and I TOTALLY LOVE that!



Synopsis: He was etched by the desert’s howling winds, a big, broad-shouldered man who knew the ways of the Apache and the ways of staying alive. She was a woman alone raising a young son on a remote Arizona ranch. And between Hondo Lane and Angie Lowe was the warrior Vittoro, whose people were preparing to rise against the white men. Now the pioneer woman, the gunman, and the Apache warrior are caught in a drama of love, war, and honor.

Shiver Review

Shiver

Maggie Stiefvater

390 pages

Synopsis - 9/10

Plot - 9/10

Characters -10/10

Overall Story - 9/10

Conclusion - 9/10

Overall - 46/50

Synopsis: For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Review: It took me a little longer than I would have liked to get this book read (dang real life!) but I throughly enjoyed it. This is a good old fashion young love story...of course with a twist. There ALWAYS is a twist! See when Grace was younger she was attacked by wolves, then there was the wolf with yellow eyes that saved her. Now Grace is in love with those eyes and that wolf...which strangely enough she only sees in the winter months. It turns out that Grace has seen those eyes before...In there human form.

Those yellow eyes and wolf body belong to Sam. After an incident human Sam finds his way to Grace's house where things start to fall into place for Grace. She knows those eyes...They belong to her wolf. This wounded boy IS her wolf.

From the "chance" meeting there are ups and downs for Grace and Sam. There is also a little bit of drama thrown in to keep the story from becoming a "sappy" love story. Overall, I really love how Maggie draws you in with her writing style. I giggled a bunch and there were a couple "chance for tears" moments. LOVED IT! Can hardly wait until July to read book 2 of the series...Linger.

Secret Santa

I've also signed up for Secret Santa over at The Neverending Shelf. Here is the information that you need to know:

* A sign up sheet has been created here: www.theneverendingshelf.com/2009/10/secret-santa.html for those wishing to participate.

* This open internationally to all book lovers. I am hoping to pair those in like countries. For example: Canadians with other Canadians, UK with UK, etc.

* Books given can be new or used. If used, please make sure they are in good condition.

* Sign-ups end on November 15th. I will email you your partner's information by Wednesday, November 18th.

* Please have your package sent out no later than December 10th.

* When you’ve sent out your package, please email me and let me know. And please also email me when you receive your package. I want to ensure that all who sign up receive something.

* And most importantly: HAVE FUN!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at neverendingshelf(at)gmail(dot)com.

Book Bloggers Holiday Swap

I've signed up for the Book Bloggers Holiday swap. There is still a little bit of time to sign up. The final day to get in on the swap is November 12.

Musical Thursday Debut

Dear John Trailer

I haven't read the book yet but I am super excited to see the movie! It looks really good! There may be a Barnes and Noble trip in my future!

Wish List Wednesday (2)

Wish List Wednesdays is hosted by Jennay at My Tea Time is Book Time. It's a weekly meme and anyone can join in!!! All you have to do is list a few of the books on your wish list (and all book lovers have one of those...right?). Come and share, so other readers can add more books to their growing wish list!

Win a copy of Fade to Black

If you drop by my bloggy pal Book Crazy Jen's blog you could enter to win a copy of the book Fade to Black by Morgan Kearns. The interview with the author was really good too! Have a good one everyone!