Hot Blooded

Title: Hot Blooded

Author: Lisa Jackson

Date Finished: April 26, 2009

Personal Book Count: 35 out of 100

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: Romantic Suspense

First Line: “You want something special?” she asked, running the tip of her tongue over her lips provocatively.

Summery: from the back cover-

“FIRST ONE DEAD BODY...

A prostitute lies strangled in a seedy French Quarter hotel room. Miles away, in a rambling plantation house on the sultry shores of Lake Ponchartrain, popular late-night radio host Dr. Samantha Leeds receives a threatening crank call. All in a day's work for a celebrity. Who would think to link the two?

THEN ANOTHER...

A second hooker's corpse turns up. Samantha's ominous caller persists, along with a mysterious female claiming to be a woman from her past — a woman who's been dead for years. With Detective Rick Bentz convinced that the serial killer prowling the shadowy streets of New Orleans is somebody close to Samantha, she doesn't dare trust anyone. Especially not Ty Wheeler, her seductive new neighbor who seems to know more about her than a stranger should.

...AND ANOTHER

Somebody has discovered Samantha's darkest secret. Somebody is convinced that lives must be sacrificed to pay for her sins. So far, the victims have been strangers. But as a cunning, cold-blooded killer grows bolder, Samantha wonders in dread if she will be the next to die...”

Why did I pick this book? : Lisa Jackson is a new author to me, and I have this quirk where I always like to start at the beginning of a series, or with the first work published.

Review: This is the epitome of what I like it my romance suspense. I’m not sure what took me so long to try her work, as a few different people recommended her. This one took me a while to read, as I was partly savoring it (as my first L.J.) and partly had to keep putting it down and picking it up as ‘obligation’ reads (ARCs, library reads, ect,) kept arriving.

I’m really glad that this was the first in a series. I really liked the characters, and the setting, and hope to see more of them. (I’m gonna miss Ty, Yummy!) I thought Rick was a bit harsh, I’m hoping he grows on me… Montoya was a bit of a non-character, I look forward to getting to know him a bit better.

It will be interesting, because I would have said that Sam and Ty were the protagonists, and they are gone in the next one (if I understand correctly) and Rick Bentz and Montoya are brought to the front. I look forward to the transition (or lack there of) for that too.

New Orleans has always been of interest to me, and some where I would like to visit. I’m interested to see how she deals with Hurricane Katrina. This book was written pre-Katrina. I wonder how she deals with New Orleans post-Katrina. Does she completely ignore it, or address it somehow?

The hard part is going to be deciding which of her books to read next. Do I read the next in the series (Cold Blooded) or read Wicked Game which she wrote with her sister, Nancy Bush (another author I really like).

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D

2009 Young Adult Book Challenge Completed

I finished another challenge!

It was the 2009 Young Adult Book Challenge (links to original post) hosted by J. Kaye (links to challenge).

The twelve books I read are:

1. Eclipse- Stephenie Meyer
2. Twilight- Stepehnie Meyer
3. For Money and Love- Todd Strasser
4. Wake- Lisa McMann
5. Breaking Dawn- Stephenie Meyer
6. Sister Wife- Shelley Hrdlitschka
7. The Graveyard Book- Neil Gaiman
8. Vampire Academy- Richelle Mead
9. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks- E. Lockhart
10. Thirteen Reasons Why- Jay Asher
11. New Moon- Stephenie Meyer
12. The Chocolate War- Robert Cormier

It was a fun challenge, and over way too fast! I think I still have more in my TBR pile and on hold at the library. I love the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a challenge. =D

Thank you for hosting J. Kaye. I really enjoyed this one, and discovered some new authors. I was saying to a friend last week, I can’t believe how much more good stuff is out there now. Now that I am done the challenge, I am certainly not done with the genre...

The Graveyard Book

Title: The Graveyard Book

Author: Neil Gaiman

Date Finished: April 26, 2009

Personal Book Count: 34 out of 100

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: Young Adult

First Line: There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.

Summery: taken from the dust jacket-

“Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy.

He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead.

There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy-an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer.

But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family. . . .”

Why did I pick this book? : I am a fan of Neil Gaiman, and it was this years Newbery Award winner. Need I say more? ;)

Review: This was a great book. It was everything I had heard and more. I like that I got so much out of it as an adult, and think I would have gotten MORE as an early teen. A lot happened in this story, and that helped it move FAST. At one point I checked where I was, and I was surprised to see that I was about 100 pages in. And yet I never found it confusing, or like there was too much. It was just a good pace I think. And it feels well tied together at the end. There would be things that happened 200 pages ago, that you have almost forgotten about or figure you are done with, and the they come up again, because it affects another story line. Bod is character that is presented as very loveable, but serious and innocent. And very trusting. I wouldn’t say he was particularly relatable (but that is not such a bad thing, do I want to be able to relate to male child who lives in the graveyard?) but he does have a way of charming you that makes you want to read on. My one gripe would be the ending. It felt very sudden. The way the author chose to end it was not unexpected, but the way he did it felt abrupt to me. It didn’t take anything away, but I was just left with a feeling of… I don’t know. Jarring maybe? Like it was over, and I had closure, but it was so sudden, I felt a little smacked with it. Anyhow, I have American Gods on the shelf, and I have a feeling it’s going to have to move a little higher on my TBR pile. =D

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D

I got awards!

Wow, what a great week! I was nominated for not 1 but 2 awards!

The first comes from Teddyree at The Eclectic Reader.

I’m not really sure of the ‘rules’ for this one, so the people I chose were the top 4 people who commented (and thus encouraged) me most during the read-a-thon. You guys were all so wonderful, and I had so many comments, I wish I could give awards to you all! The names I picked are:

Melissa from Melissa's Bookshelf

Kailana from The Written World

Eva from A Striped Armchair

Vasilly from 1330v

***********************************

The second award I got came for Melissa at Melissa’s Bookshelf.

Here are the Rules...
1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3) Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Heh, 15 other bloggers. I had enough trouble coming up with 3, so that is what I’m going with…

Em at Em's Bookshelf

Blair at In The Turtle Shell

Bonnie at Redlady's Reading Room

Thank you both for thinking of me. I’m really touched, and it made a difference to my week. =D

Never Tell a Lie

Title: Never Tell a Lie

Author: Hallie Ephron

Date Finished: April 21. 2009

Personal Book Count: 33 out of 100

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: suspense

First Line: Rain or shine, that’s what Ivy Rose had put in the yard-sale ad.

Summery: taken from the dust jacket-

“It all started with the yard sale. Ivy was eight months and one week pregnant when she insisted that she and her husband, David, clean out the junk they'd inherited with the old Victorian house they'd bought three years before. Call it nesting, call it nerves—she just wanted it all gone: the old electrical fixtures, the boxes of National Geographics from the 1960s, the four black wool greatcoats.

Neither she nor David recognized the woman at first. But it turned out that the customer asking about the lime-green glass swan dish—the woman who looks just about as pregnant as Ivy—was none other than Melinda White, a former high school classmate of David and Ivy's. When Melinda was a child she used to play in their new house, she explained. It looked like they'd been doing some work. Would it be all right if she took a look around? David took Melinda inside. And she never came out.

Now David's under police suspicion, and Ivy finds herself digging deep into the past to clear his name. But David's history, she begins to discover, is not necessarily the history she remembers, and before long Ivy has uncovered a twisted web of deceit, betrayal, and lies, both the ones we tell those we love and the ones we tell ourselves. . . .

Relentlessly fast-paced and disturbingly creepy, Never Tell a Lie is a page-turning thrill ride about how well we know the people we love, and how far we are willing to go to protect the secrets of our past.”

Why did I pick this book? : I had heard of it shortly before it was released. I requested it as an ARC, but couldn’t get my hands on a copy, so had to read it when it came out.

Review: I liked it. It was a little predictable. Like something I had read, something similar, or seen something in a movie once, it felt familiar. I was able to figure it out from the clues read, but I still enjoyed the ride. The suspense had me well hooked in, and was nearly impossible to put down for the last 100 pages. There were enough characters that I think if you weren’t reading closely enough, there would have been more doubt about how it was going to end. I think it would have been a good ‘stormy night’ read. Ivy and David were a fairly relatable couple, as they are about the same age and stage in life as my husband and I. I have always liked Victorian houses, and was a little jealous of this one, with the descriptions on the inside and outside. The authors descriptions made me want to go in and snoop. I think I will be seeking out more to read by this author.

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D

How Sweet It Is

Title: How Sweet It Is

Author: Alice J. Wisler

Date Finished: April 19, 2009

Personal Book Count: 32 out of 100

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: Christian Fiction

First Line: When single people pack up to relocate, they often have a dog.

Summery: From the back cover-

“When Deena Livingston moves into her grandfather’s cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, she plans to keep to herself, start a cake-decorating business, and recover from the heartbreak she left behind in Atlanta. But a special request from Grandpa Ernest compels her to interact with the Bryson City Locals, who have some surprising stories to share with the new girl in town.

Can a Dr. Seuss-quoting plumber who shows up at the most unexpected times, a handsome social worker who seems to know exactly what Deena is thinking, and a classroom full of mischievous middle-school students teach Deena to once again embrace the sweet things in life?”

Why did I pick this book? : I received it as an ARC off of librarything. I thought the summery looked interesting, and like a light, fun read I would enjoy.

Review: Deena felt realistic. Both her and Zack felt like real people to me, and not just forced together to make either a romance story or a Christian story work. It felt like the author put more thought into these characters then just slapping labels on and calling that good enough. Maybe Christian Fiction has changed quite a bit since I last read it. Or maybe I was reading different kinds. But this one (and the last) book I read, felt so much… softer? Like I wasn’t being beaten over the head every second page. (Who does that help anyway? At that point, you’ve either got me, or you’re going to scare the bejesus out of me and push me away). Christian aspect is not overpowering. Ok, enough said.

It had enough characters throughout to keep it interesting, to provide different interactions, and to learn something different from everyone.

I felt gripped from the beginning of this book by an emotional hook. The first chapter had a little humor, which I like, but you see a lot. I guess it is a good standby way to grab people. But it was the second chapter (about the 3^rd page) that got me invested. I like the contrast of the abrupt change. Without revealing anything, Deena has a bit of a panic attack, and I instantly CARED. I felt for her. I wanted to hold her in my arms and soothe her.. I wanted to find out more about what was behind it. And I like her spunk talking herself through it, and making herself push on, despite the fact it is probably the last thing she wants to do at that point in time. I knew I would like her then.

I also like the ending. It was practical. It’s wasn’t a crazy- jump- into- each- others- arms- because- everything- is- instantly- better. It was a logical starting place for the characters. Not everything had to be wrapped up perfectly neatly. It was ok to say, hey, look, we have a really good start. (Hm, could there maybe be a sequel? I would LOVE that, and would be out there the day it was for sale.) And yet, when it finished, I felt satisfied. Will definitely read more by this author. =D

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D

Amazon Haul (or what I will soon be reading ;D)

Good mail day. My order from Amazon arrived. (actually in the spirit of full disclosure, DH picked it up at the PO last night. But that is another, LONG story.) And good timing too, as it seems to be BLIZZARD-ING (yes, I love that word) today. Wanna see what I got?

The first is The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly. A mystery that takes place in a bookstore. Perfect for me, no? Can’t believe I haven’t read this one yet. It is the first in a series, and I’m sure many more will be coming home.

Next is No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty, founder of NaNoWriMo (link). I had taken the one copy out of the library about a month ago. But then I had to take it back, and didn’t feel like waiting another 3 months to get it back. I had fallen in love with the format and his humour, and so decided, what the heck? I had an order going in, so I would tack this on.

A couple months ago, I met a friend for lunch, and she was reading Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul (another perfect one for me). Being the NASCAR fan I am, I hade to have it. I have been stocking all the local second hand shops, without and luck. They had every other CS book but. That made this one another one I felt justified adding. I mean, I tried, right? ;)

And the last… well, I’m not sure about the last. It is called “Paper Engineering & Pop-ups for Dummies”. I am a huge fan of for dummies books. This one, they sent out an add for a while ago, and I couldn’t resist. I was a big origami addict as a teen, as so after I read the description, I had to give it a try.

Heh. That is all. But. Already I am planning my next order. So what do you think? Does any of it sound interesting? Like something you would try? Maybe you have, what did you think? Any suggestions for my NEXT order? (like I need help)

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Title: Dear Mr. Henshaw

Author: Beverly Cleary

Date Finished: April 18, 2009 (second read a thon read…)

Personal Book Count: 31 out of 100

Rating: 3 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: Newbery Medal

First Line: Dear Mr. Henshaw, My teacher read your book about the dog to our class.

Summery: From the back of the book-

“Leigh Botts has been author Boyd Henshaw’s number one fan even since he was in second grade. Now in sixth grade, Leigh lives with his mother and is the new kid at school. He’s lonely, troubled by the absence of his father, a cross-country trucker, and angry because a mysterious thief steals from his lunchbag. Then Leigh’s teacher assigns a letter-writing project. Naturally Leigh chooses to write to Mr. Henshaw, Whose surprising answer changes Leigh’s Life.”

Why did I pick this book? : at one point I had decided I was going to read all the Newbery’s, so at some point I had picked this up (from bookmooch, I think) and stuck it on the shelf. Then when I was about half way through the readathon, I saw this one, and decided it was time to read it.

Review: I liked this book, for what it was, and I can totally see why it won the Newbery. It was a cute, fun, fast read that actually made me laugh out loud a few times. I am impressed how Cleary chose to change formats in the book from a letter, to more of a diary style. It would have been so easy to stick with one format through out, but I like the way it showed growth for the character. The black and white illustrations were wonderful, and I was sucked in from the beginning by the characters voice. If I was an 8 year old boy, I would be hooked. =D

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D

Breaking Dawn

Title: Breaking Dawn

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Date Finished: April 18, 2009 (readathon, yay!)

Personal Book Count: 30 out of 100

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: Young Adult

First Line: I’d had more then my share of near-death experiences; it wasn’t something you ever really got used to.

Summery: from the jacket-

“To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, a tumultuous year of temptation, loss, and strife have led her to the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or to pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fates of two tribes hangs.

Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating, and unfathomable, consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella's life-first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse-seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed... forever?”

Why did I pick this book? : 4^th and final book in the series

Review: don’t know what to say. It was long. 750 pages? On the other hand, a lot happened. The Jacob bit was boring. I guess I don’t really understand why she broke it up like that. I thought that the young vampire Bella part dragged, but that could have been my frame of mind. Overall I enjoyed it, and it was a good wrap up to the series.

My major beef? I felt like it was much darker then the other 3. It was more… violent? Graphic? A couple times I felt my stomach start to turn… was it inappropriate? I don’t known. It was a story about vampires. I think it would have to be a case by case thing.

I have heard good and bad about it. I would say, on the most part I liked it. It was a good ending to the series. I was a little set to be disappointed, after the end of Eclipse. But it didn’t disappoint. I wouldn’t recommend reading it on it’s own, but it’s a must if you have read the rest.

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D

End of event meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you?

I think about 9:00 was the hardest, as I was up at 5:30, and not used to that, that is when it caught up to me…

2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?

I liked Dear Mr. Henshaw. I know it’s for kids, but it was light and funny and short, and gave me a boost when I needed it…

3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Not really, it was my first (to participate in) and it was a wonderful experience.

4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?

The cheerleaders did an AWSOME job

5. How many books did you read?

2 and was 25 pages short on my third

6. What were the names of the books you read?

Breaking dawn, Dear Mr. Henshaw, How Sweet It Is (almost finished)

7. Which book did you enjoy most?

Tough call, Sweet and Dear were both very good, but very different, but I really liked finishing breaking dawn (and the twilight series in general) this way I feel accomplished, and there is no let down…

8. Which did you enjoy least?

none

9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?

n/a

10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?

I will 100% do it again, either as a cheerleader or a reader…

Once again, I wanna say that you to the organizer, cheerleader and fellow reader… you guy made this so much fun, and you all did so well in your rolls! Congrats!

This year was my first, and I found that having personal cheerleaders helped A LOT (thanks blair and jen). Also, it was so much fun to do it with a buddy. Reading is such a solitary thing, but it was fun to stop and blog together, and chat about our books, and what mini-challenges we were doing ect. Next year I’m going to pick more shorter books to give me a boost. And less snacks (I blame DH’s bad influence) and less coffee toward the end (that one is all me). Right now, I am really excited about how much I have to blog about in the next little while and how much closer I am to my challenge goals. Maybe I should do mini-readathons more regularly =D

Now, back to bed, 3 hours of sleep just isn’t cutting it…

3:42

Title of book(s) read since last update: how sweet it is
Number of books read since you started: 5 read (2 finished (breaking dawn, dear mr henshaw))
Pages read since last update: 12
Running total of pages read since you started: 575
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 45m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 16h 17m
Mini-challenges completed: 10
Other participants you’ve visited: 27
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 243

coffee consumed- 6 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 4 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…), bottle of water, 1 torpedo from quizinos, left over pretzels from nachos, I peca-roll cinnamon bun,

minutes slept- 30

I am a done bunny. I think the last 25 pages will have to wait for tomorrow. I am proud of what I accomplished today though… will blog and wrap up in the next couple of days when I have recovered. Can’t wait for the next one, sign me up! And thanks to all the cheerleaders, organisers and fellow participants who made today so much fun!

2:51AM

Title of book(s) read since last update: how sweet it is
Number of books read since you started: 5 read (2 finished (breaking dawn, dear mr henshaw))
Pages read since last update: 17
Running total of pages read since you started: 563
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 40m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 14h 32m
Mini-challenges completed: 10
Other participants you’ve visited: 27
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 243

coffee consumed- 6 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 4 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…), bottle of water, 1 torpedo from quizinos, left over pretzels from nachos, I peca-roll cinnamon bun,

minutes slept- 30

I think I’m on about my 3^rd wind? That nap really did help. 32 pages to go, and I think I’m done my book, AND the read-a-thon… will be back to post once more, and then wrap up tomorrow… =D

1:46 (yes, that would be AM)

Title of book(s) read since last update: how sweet it is
Number of books read since you started: 5 read (2 finished (breaking dawn, dear mr henshaw))
Pages read since last update: 23
Running total of pages read since you started: 546
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h 08m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 13h 52m
Mini-challenges completed: 10
Other participants you’ve visited: 27
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 233

coffee consumed- 6 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 4 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…), bottle of water, 1 torpedo from quizinos, left over pretzels from nachos, I peca-roll cinnamon bun,

minutes slept- 30

ok. I crashed. But I crashed responsibly. I set a timer and allowed myself 30 minutes. And it was more a resting my eyes and my head then a snooze. Now I’m more determined then ever to make it to the end. Who’s with me???

I did get a fair chunk of reading done, and I think that finishing this book tonight is in the realm of possibility (maybe even probability). 4 hours to go, DH just got up from his snooze, and I think I’m raring to go… =D

11:38

Title of book(s) read since last update: dear mr henshaw
Number of books read since you started: 5 read (2 finished (breaking dawn, dear mr henshaw))
Pages read since last update: 78
Running total of pages read since you started: 523
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h 10m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 12h 44m
Mini-challenges completed: 10
Other participants you’ve visited: 24
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 213

coffee consumed- 6 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 4 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…), bottle of water, 1 torpedo from quizinos, left over pretzels from nachos, I peca-roll cinnamon bun,

minutes slept- 0

well, I think I’ve pulled a second wind. I feel like I am going strong, and may just make it till 6 am. I finished dear mr henshaw (whoo hoo!). I am convinced it is all the sugar from the cinnamon roll. My hockey team lost (boo!) but who can I blame but myself for the lack of cheering? Monday is another game… also, my new best-friend-picker-uper-how-did-I-ever-live-without-you? Eye drops. Just sayin’… this time, it’s back to either how sweet it is (I would really like to finish this one) or hot blooded, depending on how well my eyes and brain are working together… =D

9:53

Title of book(s) read since last update: dear mr henshaw
Number of books read since you started: 5 read (1 finished (breaking dawn))
Pages read since last update: 56
Running total of pages read since you started: 445
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 48 m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 11h 34m
Mini-challenges completed: 9
Other participants you’ve visited: 24
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 213

coffee consumed- 6 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 4 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…), bottle of water, 1 torpedo from quizinos, left over pretzels from nachos

minutes slept- 0

I think I am about half way through dear mr henshaw. It is a cute, quick read, just what I needed at this point. I never knew what it was about going in, but I’m glad I picked it up. It’s made me laugh out loud a time or two, and even read a couple bits to DH. So, do you think I have earned my cinnamon bun reward yet? Hoping in my next stretch to finish this book…

Hmmm. Notice I have been posting every hour lately instead of every 2. I wonder why that is? Attention span getting shorter?

8:46

Title of book(s) read since last update: how sweet it is
Number of books read since you started: 4 read (1 finished (breaking dawn))
Pages read since last update: 19
Running total of pages read since you started: 389
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 51 m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 10h 46m
Mini-challenges completed: 9
Other participants you’ve visited: 24
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 203

coffee consumed- 5 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 4 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…), bottle of water, 1 torpedo from quizinos,

minutes slept- 0

was able to curl up in my chair and sink into my arc for a while. I am really enjoying it, and it is a nice change of pace from the other books I’m reading. I am thinking about mixing things up a bit for this next stretch, and have pulled dear mr. henshaw by Beverly cleary for this next stretch. It will be nice and light and quick, and give met hat boost I think I need right now with a feeling of accomplishment. =D

creativity challenge

my haiku (idea stolen from DH)

my reads breaking dawn
how sweet it is hot blooded
dear mister henshaw

7:22

Title of book(s) read since last update: hot blooded
Number of books read since you started: 4 read (1 finished (breaking dawn))
Pages read since last update: 27
Running total of pages read since you started: 370
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h 10 m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 9h 55m
Mini-challenges completed: 8
Other participants you’ve visited: 20
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 198

coffee consumed- 5 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 4 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…), bottle of water, 1 torpedo from quizinos,

minutes slept- 0

took a small break this time to read and soak my feet. It made me feel better for a while, and then sleepy again. Enjoying hot blooded though, and think I am just less then half way through. Not sure if I will be able to finish it AND how sweet it is. But if I finish one or the other, I will be a happy girl =D

also, DH reminded me GO FLAMES GO!!!! =D

mid-event survey

1. What are you reading right now?

hot blooded by lisa jackson

2. How many books have you read so far?

finished 1

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

i think either hot blooded or finishing how sweet it is

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

not really, it is just DH and me, so these things aren't TOO hard to plan

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

only big interuption is the dog needing to be walked... i sent hubby ;)

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

how fast it's going

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

so far i think it is great! well organised and well run. kudos!

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

more snacks, bigger variety of books, more sleep the night before

9. Are you getting tired yet?

oh yeah...

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

nope, just lots of caffine, and moving to differnt rooms in the house throughout hte day, and switching books often if needed.

6:06

Title of book(s) read since last update: how sweet it is, hot blooded, never tell a lie
Number of books read since you started: 4 read (1 finished (breaking dawn))
Pages read since last update: 43
Running total of pages read since you started: 343
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h 22 m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 7h 45m
Mini-challenges completed: 7
Other participants you’ve visited: 20
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 183

coffee consumed- 4 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 2 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…), bottle of water, 1 torpedo from quizinos,

minutes slept- 0

I have been really scattered this session, reading 3 different books, and not getting far in each, and not being very satisfied. DH went to quizinos and brought home dinner, and cinnamon buns for desert, so hopefully I get back a little more focus again. Although I’m thinking about saving the cinnamon bun for a ‘reward’ if I make it till midnight =D

I can’t believe we are at the half way point! On one hand I am proud of what I have done, and on the other, I feel like there is so much more I want to do. And sleep will start to be a factor soon. Thinking about scheduling a cat nap for about 9???

Most of all, I am LOVING all this reading time I am allowing myself guilt free!

3:55

Title of book(s) read since last update: breaking dawn
Number of books read since you started: 2 read (1 finished (breaking dawnYAY!))
Pages read since last update: 44
Running total of pages read since you started: 300
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h 12 m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 6h 23m
Mini-challenges completed: 5
Other participants you’ve visited: 20
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 159

coffee consumed- 4 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 2 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?), 1 chocolate milk, I easter bunny ears (think I’m going to have to cut myself off the chocolate now…),

minutes slept- 0

YAY! Breaking dawn is done. I have mixed feelings, I think I’ll have to let it sit for a while before I know how I feel.

feel nicely accomplished though... =D

Sat in the sun for a while outside. It was nice, but then it got too hot and made me sleepy, so it was back to the couch for me.

I think I will try and either work on how sweet it is this hour, or back to hot blooded.

1:58

Title of book(s) read since last update: breaking dawn
Number of books read since you started: 2 read (o finished)
Pages read since last update: 53
Running total of pages read since you started: 256
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h 25 m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 5h 11m
Mini-challenges completed: 5
Other participants you’ve visited: 14
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 131

coffee consumed- 4 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 2 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs. Pretzel nachos, 1 pop, 3 chocolate chip cookies (I need the energy, right?)

minutes slept- 0

Well, I didn’t finish my book, but I have about 40 pages left. I did get lunch though, which maybe a bad thing, as it seems I have started to feel sleepy. I’m sure it won’t be long until my second wind kicks in. if not, I have AMP in the wings. Heh.

I do have to that Meyer’s books are addicting, easy, fun reads, and a good start for today. If only I didn’t want to smack Jacob all the time. All I’m sayin’…

UG, DH just informed me that NASCAR is on at 6, and playoff hockey is on at 7. how am I going to watch both of those AND read???

11:55

Title of book(s) read since last update: breaking dawn
Number of books read since you started: 2 read (o finished)
Pages read since last update: 43
Running total of pages read since you started: 203
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 3h 46m
Mini-challenges completed: 4
Other participants you’ve visited: 9
Prize you’ve won: 0

minutes online- 103

coffee consumed- 4 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 2 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs.

minutes slept- 0

I think I made good progress this stretch on breaking dawn. Instead of switching back this time, I plan on pushing through till I’m done. I think I have about 100 pages left. Also, I did find time to dress. Goal this session is to find some lunch. And switch from coffee to something else… =D

comic

Hour 6, draw a comic mini-challenge.

10:00

Title of book(s) read since last update: How Sweet it is
Number of books read since you started: 2 read (o finished)
Pages read since last update: 35
Running total of pages read since you started: 160
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h 21m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 2h 46m
Mini-challenges completed: 2
Other participants you’ve visited:6
Prize you’ve won:0

minutes online- 73

coffee consumed- 3 cups

food eaten- 1 bowl honey nut cheerios, 2 chocolate foil wrapped Easter eggs.

minutes slept- 0

I am so surprised how fast this is going! hour 4 already. I switched books this hour, and it seemed to keep things going nicely for me, and am ready to go back to breaking dawn for a while. my jaw dropped when i came back and had over 30 comments. that has never happened before in the history of my blog. Dh said, i think i know why. i was chosen to be the reader of the hour. thank you for all your kind, encouraging, comments. i wish i had time right now to sit down and write each of you to than you, but for now a blanket thank you will have to do. my goals for this next couple hours are to read a little more breaking dawn, visit a few more blogs, and maybe even get dressed...

Title of book(s) read since last update: Breaking Dawn
Number of books read since you started: 1 read (o finished)
Pages read since last update: 125
Running total of pages read since you started: 125
Amount of time spent reading since last update: 1h 25m
Running total of time spent reading since you started: 1h25m
Mini-challenges completed: 1
Other participants you’ve visited:4
Prize you’ve won:0

minutes online-29

coffee consumed- 2 cups

minutes slept- 0

I am so far having a great time, but found that my eyes weren't moving quickly in the begining, and my brain wasn't absorbing words. things are starting to pick up now. my most amusing moment from the last hour and a half was when DH started to tip over because he had fallen asleep. it might be a LOONNNGGGG 24 hours ;)

7:30

Where are you reading from today?

At my home in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

3 facts about me …

I own a book store

I have no sense of smell

I hate corn but love peas

How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

16 (but i'm not expecting to read them all)

Breaking Dawn- Stephenie Meyer (library, challenge)

Dracula- Bram Stoker (started)

A Horse and His Boy- C.S. Lewis (started)

Hot Blooded- Lisa Jackson (started, challenge)

How I Write- Janet Evanovich (started)

Obedience- Lavender (audio) ???

Selling Used Books Online- Stephen Windwalker (started)

Specials- Scott Westerfeld (challenge)

Never Tell a Lie- Hallie Ephron (Library)

Middle Sex- Jeffrey Eugenides (challenge)

The Time Traveller’s Wife- Audrey Niffenegger (challenge)

Falling Awake- Jayne Ann Krentz (challenge)

Darkfever- Karen Marie Moning (challenge)

Chocolate Bridal Bash- Joanna Carl (challenge)

How Sweet it is- Alice J. Wisler (ARC)

Beat the Reaper- Josh Bazell (library)

Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

as some of mine are half finished, I would like to finish at least 2. my only other goal would be to stay awake. heh. I also want to see how many mini-challenges i can complete.

If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, Any advice for people doing this for the first time?

nope, i'm a first timer =D

OK, I’m ready. It’s twenty to six. The coffee is brewing, I am awake (sort of. Still trying to get my eyes to open wide enough to move back and forth). I have snacks, blankets, drinks, and a pile of books. I have narrowed it down, and decided to start with Breaking Dawn, How Sweet it is, A Horse and his Boy, Hot Blooded and How I Write. I think it is a good variety, and ones I know I like because I have already started. I don’t sit still for long very well, and my attention tends to wander, so I’m hoping variety is the key. My plan is to read for an hour and a half, and come back and blog, do mini-challenges, read some blogs, post some comments, and check in (for about half an hour). As with the book selection, we’ll see how well it goes. I am fighting a bit of a headache, but I took a couple motrin, so hopefully I’m good to go. I am turning off everything buy my email (for comments), my blog, DH’s Blog, the challenge blog, and I’m debating twitter… trying to minimize distractions. Should be a fun day, and I’m really looking forward to it. Good Luck everyone! =D

PS, if you read this and decide you wanna sponsor me, that would be great. If not, I’m thinking I’ll do a flat donation at the end…

Read a thon

I have done it. I have decided to take part in the 24-hour read-a-thon this Saturday. The first one I wanted to, but I chicken out and watched. The next couple I missed. This one I’m in for whole hog. You can watch my progress here, or join me HERE. I think I have talked DH in to doing it with me. You can watch his progress here.

I plan on reading some of the stuff that is on my side board (a lot of which I feel like I have been reading for ever) a couple ARC’s, and a couple library books. Other then that, I will delve into my TBR pile, and see if I can at least get started on a couple challenge books I have been putting off for library reading. See how far I get on what.

Right now my thoughts are:

Breaking Dawn- Stephenie Meyer (library, challenge)

Dracula- Bram Stoker (started)

A Horse and His Boy- C.S. Lewis (started)

Hot Blooded- Lisa Jackson (started, challenge)

How I Write- Janet Evanovich (started)

Obedience- Lavender (audio) ???

Selling Used Books Online- Stephen Windwalker (started)

Specials- Scott Westerfeld (challenge)

Never Tell a Lie- Hallie Ephron (Library)

Middle Sex- Jeffrey Eugenides (challenge)

The Time Traveller’s Wife- Audrey Niffenegger (challenge)

Falling Awake- Jayne Ann Krentz (challenge)

Darkfever- Karen Marie Moning (challenge)

Chocolate Bridal Bash- Joanna Carl (challenge)

Yes, these will probably change a lot between now and Saturday. I know I won’t read them all. I do hope to finish a couple I have started, and start a couple more. I will try and update what I have read, and how much of it every hour or two. It will be interesting to me, because I have never really timed how much I read, or how fast, and have never been a huge marathon reader, so I am looking forward to this experiment. Please feel free to drop by and visit (and comment if you like) throughout the day. Oh, and please send coffee… ;D

Edited to Add-

How Sweet it is- Alice J. Wisler (ARC)

Beat the Reaper- Josh Bazell (library)

starting to feel in over my head. anybody have some good advice for a first timer?

Fire and Ice

Title: Fire and Ice

Author: Julie Garwood

Date Finished: April 12, 2009

Personal Book Count: 29 out of 100

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genre/ Subject: Romantic Suspense

First Line: Today we celebrate.

Summery: taken from the dust jacket-

“Fresh from her incredible smash-hit historical romance Shadow Music, New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood returns to contemporary romantic suspense with this wonderfully sexy, exhilarating blockbuster. Filled with sizzling passion and breathless adventure, Fire and Ice features a feisty heroine whom Garwood's devoted readers already know and love from her hugely popular novel Murder List.

Sophie Rose, a tough and determined newspaper reporter, is the daughter of Bobby Rose, a suave, charming, and handsome gentleman who also happens to be a notorious big-time thief sought by every law-enforcement agency in the country. When the major Chicago daily where she works insists she write an expose about her roguish father, Sophie refuses, quits her job, and goes to work at a small newspaper. Far from her onetime high-powered crime beat, she now covers local personalities such as the quirky winner of several area 5K runs whose trademark is goofy red socks.

Those red socks-with Sophie's business card neatly tucked inside-are practically all that's found after runner William Harrington is killed near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, seemingly the victim of a brutal death by polar bear. The Alaska cops want to know why Harrington carried Sophie's card. With an unerring nose for a good story, she heads north.

What Sophie doesn't realize is that on her journey from Chicago to Prudhoe Bay, danger follows in her wake. After one attempt on her life, she's been assigned brash but sexy Jack MacAlister as a bodyguard by the cautious FBI. Amid great peril and deadly intrigue in the unforgiving Alaskan terrain, she and Jack form an uneasy alliance sparked with sensual attraction. But they will soon be fighting more than their growing passion for each other. Powerful forces will stop at nothing to prevent the exposure of the sinister conspiracy Sophie and Jack are about to uncover.

Captivating mystery, unyielding desire, unrelenting action in a setting both beautiful and lethal-Julie Garwood weaves these thrilling elements into a heat-generating masterpiece of romantic suspense.”

Why did I pick this book? : Garwood became on of my favourite romantic suspense authors (I haven’t tried her historical stuff) through the Buchannan series, and when this on came out, I had to read it.

Review: I have read all of the Buchannan series, and I kind of like the idea of this spin off. Sophie is one of the friends of the girl who marries one of the Buchannan brothers in Murder List . I like that we are revisiting, and getting to know some of the characters from that book a little better, as we as introducing a few new ones. Garwood has a gift for inventing characters that are unique and memorable. Their quirks make for a fun read. Also, this one had an appropriate twist at the end, and so had great payoff for me. I’m glad I read this one in spring and not winter, because just reading about the parts that took place in Alaska made me cold. I may have had frost bite if it had been winter. Garwood tends to be a light read, but there is always enough exciting moments, and enough romance to make it worth the read, and this one lived up to expectations. =D

Agree? Disagree? Recommendations? Any insights, suggestions, or comments on the book or format, or blog at all are most welcome. If you have read this and/ or review it yourself, please let me know. Can you think of any books like this? Give me a recommendation! =D