Sunday, November 22, 2009

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.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

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.


Friday, November 20, 2009

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.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

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