Wednesday, March 30, 2011

W... W... W... Wednesdays

Linking up with Should be Reading for this weeks edition of W..W..W Wednesdays.

It's easy to play- just answer the following questions

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?

I'm currently reading Scone Cold Dead by Kaitlyn Dunnett. It was a cozy that caught my eye at the library. That happens to me a lot!



   I just finished reading The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry. 





What do I think I'll read next? Hmm I said The Survivor last week, but then I started a different book. The next book I have from the library is Wedding Day Murder by Leslie Meier, but I have to write a paper on Hitler for school, so I have some books about him I need to go through.  I'll say Wedding Day Murder!!





~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

~Review~ The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry

Synopsis (from book jacket)


When Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile in 1821, he took to the grave a powerful secret. As general and emperor, he had stolen immeasurable riches from palaces, national treasuries, and even the Knights of Malta and the Vatican. In his final days, his British captors hoped to learn where the loot lay hidden. But he told them nothing, and in his will he made no mention of the treasure. Or did he?


Former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone is about to find out when trouble comes knocking at his Copenhagen bookshop. Actually, it breaks and enters in the form of an American Secret Service agent with a pair of assassins on his heels. Malone has his doubts about the anxious young man, but narrowly surviving a ferocious firefight convinces him to follow his unexpected new ally.


Their first stop is the secluded estate of Malone's good friend Henrik Thorvaldsen. The wily Danish tycoon has uncovered the insidious plans of the Paris Club, a cabal of multimillionaires bent on manipulating the global economy. Only by matching wits with a terrorist-for-hire, foiling a catastrophic attack, and plunging into a desperate hunt for Napoleon's legendary lost treasure can Malone hope to avert international financial anarchy.


But Thorvaldsen's real objective is much more personal: to avenge the murder of his son by the larcenous aristocrat at the heart of the conspiracy. Thorvaldens's vendetta places Malone in an impossible quandary - one that forces him to choose between friend and country, past and present. Starting in Denmark, moving to England, and ending up in the storied streets of Paris, Malone plays a breathless game of duplicity and death, all to claim a prize of untold value. But at what cost?




Here's what I think...


First, I love Berry. I have never read a book by him that didn't grab and hold me from the very beginning. Until now. I wanted to love this book as I had all his others - but I just couldn't. The focus was less on the power play and more on the personal vendetta side and I didn't enjoy that quite as much. 


As always, he always intertwines little factoids about history, which I love, and even separates real from what he concocted at the end. Those writer's notes are one of the things I love about him! There was enough action, intrigue, and back stabbing to make it a decent read, but for me, being such a fan I was a little disappointed.


Sadly (and I hate to do it!) I have to give it only a 2 - it was just O.K. for me.



~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Friday, March 25, 2011

Friday Book Blog Hops 3.25.11

So glad it's Friday! 
Today's first hop is hosted by Crazy-for-Books

Book Blogger Hop

Today's question -
If you could physically put yourself into a book or series... which one would it be and why?

Great question! A hard one too. I would have to say I would like to be in the Little House books. Those were my first favorites and I still think it would be awesome to live in the "pioneer days".  Although, I think I'd rather live in town than out on the homestead working my butt off for 20 hours a day!


Now it's time for Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee



Today's Fun - 
Inspired by the inane twitter trend of #100factsaboutme give us five book related silly facts about you.

Wow - another hard one. Let's see what I can think of...

1. I'm obsessed with picking books to read. I have hundreds on my eReader and shelves full but I still have to go the library at least once a week and get some to read from there too. I'll never be able to read all of them.

2. I never read new releases. The hype is too much and I think I'll be disappointed. I usually wait about a year before I read anything 'new'.

3. I don't keep my books. *GASP* If I've bought books, after I read them I donate them to the library.

4. I never reread books. That's why I don't feel obligated to keep them.

5. I always read a cozy mystery (or two!) after reading a big ass book. Yes, even when it's a series and no, I don't know why!


Join the book hopping fun and have a great weekend!

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

W... W... W... Wednesdays

Since it sometimes takes me forever to finish a book and my poor book blog feels neglected today I thought I'd link up with Should Be Reading to play in her WWW Wednesdays.

To play along just answer these three questions and link up!
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you'll read next?



What am I currently reading?  I know my sidebar shows I'm reading three - but the reality is I've started three.  I really only read one at a time and that's The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry.  It's a library book and I own the other two, so that one got bumped up!



What did I recently finish reading?  Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy.  I loved that book so much and once again I want to thank whomevers blog I read that recommended it!  I wish I could remember who it was!








What do I think I'll read next?  I will probably finish The Survivor by Sean Slater.  I've been working on that one for a while now and it's time to get it done!






~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Friday, March 18, 2011

~Monkeewrench~ by P.J. Tracy

Image from Goodreads

Synopsis - Haunted by a series of horrifying and violent episodes in their past, Grace MacBride and the oddball crew of her software company, Monkeewrench, create a new computer game where the killer is always caught, where the good guys always win. But their game becomes a nightmare when someone starts duplicating the fictional murders in real life, down to the last detail. By the time police realize what's happening, three people are dead. While the authorities scramble to find the killer, the Monkeewrench staff is playing their own game, analyzing victim profiles in a frantic attempt to discover the murderer's next target. In a thriller populated by characters both hilarious and heartbreaking, a rural Wisconsin sheriff, two Minneapolis police detectives, and Grace's gang are caught in a web of decades-old secrets that could get them all killed. ~From the book jacket


What I have to say - WOW! This book was incredible. I didn't even have this on my radar until I read a review on another blog about it and realized I HAD to read it. Then I went to the library, hunted up a copy and read like mad! I can't remember where I read the review now but thanks so very much.  I mean that sincerely. I'm not going to try and get all smart sounding on you by analyzing the characters and their emotional baggage.  I am going to tell you that each person is probably the most perfect mix of good and bad - just like real people.  I'm also going to tell you that you must read this book!  Now I have to add the rest of the series to my TBR pile!


I give this book 5/5 - it was awesome

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

I {heart} the Library

I've always been a fan of the library.  Since I was young girl, waiting (im)patiently for the book mobile during summer break.  Books that are the nice hard covers, that are free?  Dang, what's not to love?  But lately the library and I have grown apart.

The last time I was in there was about a month ago - on a mission - looking for a book for my English paper.  I went to the book, checked it out, and went home.  No browsing, no wandering aimlessly through the shelves of goodness.  In and out in under 5.  Sad.

But yesterday, I had to return said book.  And I was just going to drive by and throw it in the drop box.  But I didn't ~ I went in.  And spent close to 40 minutes wandering around looking for books that I've seen on the various reading blogs I follow.

I finally decided on two - yes only two.  Because I do still have school, and I don't have as much time to just read (which breaks my heart) and I went to check them out.  And the Librarian says "You never picked up The Venetian Betrayal - let me get that for you."

People, I wait listed that book a long time ago - and they called when the flu was running around my house to come get it - but I couldn't.  And they still had it for me.  Amazing.

And that is why I {heart} my library...


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Sunday, March 13, 2011

~ Reading Challenges Update ~

I'm not uber huge on doing posts with updates.  I do have my page of challenges, which I do update as I go along.  But since I'm procrastinating about writing a paper for English that's due tomorrow I thought I'd go ahead and do a blanket update!

Challenge 1 - Show me the Free Reading Challenge
I have read 2 out 12 free ebooks.  I have more listed to read, but haven't made it to them yet.  According to my little meter I'm 17% done with this challenge!

Challenge 2 - Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2011
I'm almost halfway done with this one (42%!) having read 5 out of 12.  This was the only challenge I originally signed up for because these are my favorite types of books.  I guess that shows in the overall count!

Challenge 3 - A to Z Reading Challenge
I signed up for this one late but so far I've read 6 out of 26 for a 23% completion rate.  This challenge has taught me that a lot of titles start with the same letter!  Come on authors - let's get creative!!

Challenge 4 - 100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2011
I'm going to be honest - what was I thinking?  But that's O.K. - it's fun trying to see if you can accomplish something and then next year I can try and beat it.  So far I've read 7 out of 100 for a whopping 7% completion rate!  I do like that this one is easy to figure out mathematically!

Like I said earlier, my Challenge Page is updated as I go.

I may do another one of these though - I think I still have one more paper due this semester!!

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder ~ Joanne Fluke




Synopsis and photo from GoodReads:  No one cooks up a delectable, suspense-filled mystery quite like Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke s dessert-baking, red-haired heroine whose gingersnaps are as tart as her comebacks, and whose penchant for solving crimes one delicious clue at a time has made her a bestselling favorite. And it all began on these pages, with a bakery, a murder, and some suddenly scandalous chocolate-chip crunchies. Featuring a bonus short story and brand new, mouthwatering recipes, this limited edition of the very first Hannah Swensen mystery is sure to have readers coming back for seconds.

Hannah Swenson already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother's attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden, Minnesota's most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered behind her bakery with Hannah's famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life just can't get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer. 

Who would have the sheer audacity and the motive to kill the most punctual delivery man Hannah ever had? Topping the list is the high school football coach. What exactly was his wife doing, making the rounds with the milkman? Could Max Turner, owner of Cozy Cow Dairy, have had a secret he didn't want to share with his top employee? The more Hannah snoops, the more suspects turn up. Why has Lake Eden s most prominent prodigal son, Benton Woodley, just resurfaced? And what about the mysterious Mr. Harris who seemed interested in buying the property next to the dairy, but then disappeared? This is one murder that's starting to leave a very bad taste in Hannah's mouth. And if she doesn't watch her back, Hannah's sweet life may get burned to a crisp.

Filled with a healthy sprinkling of humor and a delightful assortment of nuts, 
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE MURDER serves up a great new mystery series and introduces a delicious, down-home sleuth that mystery readers will surely savor for years to come.


What I have to say:  I haven't read a 'cozy' in months and dang, I really missed them!  This is my first Joanne Fluke Mystery.  I love Hannah Swensen.  I really enjoyed how the characters were fleshed out and how great it was that most of them are incredibly likable.  

The recipes that were included all sounded so delish!  Too bad I'm the only cookie eater in this house or I would give them a shot.  I'm looking forward to reading more of these and getting to know Hannah and her small town a lot better.

I give it a 4 - loved it!

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Friday, March 11, 2011

Friday Book Blog Hops 3.11.11

They ask the questions
I answer them
Link up
Check out the other bloggers
It's a good time

The first Friday Blog Hop is hosted by Crazy-for-Books

Book Blogger Hop

Today the question is
"If I gave you £50 (or $80) and sent you into a bookshop right now, what would be in your basket when you finally staggered to the till?"

That's pretty easy for me - all the following books are by Steve Berry
The Charlemagne Pursuit
The Paris Vendetta
The Emperors Tomb
The Jefferson Key (this would be a pre order!)
It would also probably cost more than 80 bucks - so I would have to get some as downloads for my Kobo!

The second hop comes courtesy of Parajunkee's View



Today's question is

who are You the Boy/Girl, instead of You the Blogger?


Well, I'm a married mom of one.  Currently, I'm enrolled in school working towards a degree in Elementary Education.   We are a military family living in South Carolina.  I'm a Mystery/Suspense kind of girl but will read other types of books if the mood strikes me.  I have homeschooled my son in the past and am considering doing it again.  We are a cub scout family.  Like to camp and love the beach.  My other blog, Life on Planet Caddick, is my venting blog where I will pretty much tell it like it is - just like I do in real life!  I hate rude people and being late.  No pets - we used to have three cats, and they were with us for a very long time.  I miss them.  There you go - the abridged version of me!



~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Thursday, March 10, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 30


The last day of my 30 Days (which we all know took more than 30 cuz I'm a slacker like that!).

What book am I reading right now?

Right now I'm reading The Survivor by Sean Slater.

I was reading three at the beginning of spring break - but now I'm just down to this one.  Which is exactly how I like it!

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 29


Saddest Character Death

I'm a bad reader - I don't get attached to characters.  I think I learned that from my Stephen King days!  That man will kill someone so fast you sometimes didn't realize it happened.  So, I just take the death of any character as a given at the beginning and if it doesn't happen I consider it a bonus!



~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 28


First favorite book or series obsession

When I was pre teen it was of course, the Little House Books.  I was also partial to the Hardy Boys.  My first real obsession as a teenager though was an author obsession - Stephen King.  I haven't read him a long time - hmmm



~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Monday, March 7, 2011

~ So Excited ~

For some reason I stumbled across the information today that Steve Berry will be releasing his new book "The Jefferson Key" in May instead of November!  EEP!  I need to get my sorry self caught up on some Steve Berry books!!  I'm only three behind in the Cotton Malone series right now.

You can pre order from his site www.steveberry.org  No, I'm not getting paid to freak out on my blog about the push up of the publication date - it just makes me super excited and I had to share!


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

30 Days of Books - Day 27



Day 27 - If a book contains ____________, I will always read it.

If a book has one of the three 'M's in it I will without a doubt always read it.  If it has all three that's just a bonus!  What are the three 'M's?

Murder
Mystery
Mayhem

Love that stuff!


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Sunday, March 6, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 26


OMG day!

The last books I read that made me want to run out and buy the next one RIGHT AWAY (and I'm cheap - so I don't do that very often!) was the Twilight Series.  I HAD to know what was going to happen next - right this minute!


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Saturday, March 5, 2011

The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear

 Image Source

 Grief. Hope. Love. Sword fights. And the crisp glory of fried okra.

Ex-cocktail waitress and "convenience story professional" Eudora "Pea" O'Brien is filled with grief and regret, low on cash and all alone. Headed down the hot, dusty back roads of central Texas, Pea is convinced she'll find a sign leading her to the reincarnated soul of the sister who raised her. A sign that she's found her place in the world of the living again.

At least that's what the psychic promised.

In an unforgettably funny and poignant journey, Pea collects an unlikely family of strays-a starving kitten, a pregnant teenager, a sexy con man trying to go straight, and a ferocious gun dealer named Glory, who introduces Pea to the amazing, sword-wielding warrior goddesses of Texas author Robert E. Howard-creator of the Conan the Barbarian novels-and celebrated in festival every year. Six foot tall, red-headed Pea looks good with a sword in her hand.

Glory, the goddesses, and a grandmotherly caf owner become Pea's unlikely gurus as she struggles to learn swordplay and the art of perfect fried okra. She'll have to master both if she's going to find what matters most-her own lost soul.  Image and Synopsis from GoodReads





What I have to say:


I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  Once again, not a choice I would have made but I did get this one free!  I downloaded it onto my Kobo when I first got it on Christmas.  


I loved the way Jean Brashear wrote this book, like you were talking to her, it made it easy to read.  It was a fun read and I'm glad I took the chance on it. Eudora is a fun girl and her supporting cast of characters are not only misfits but completely enjoyable to get know. 


I would recommend this book - seriously!


I give it a 4.
 
~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

30 Days of Books - Day 25


Any five books from my TBR Pile

The list of books I want to read is extensive.  The list of books I actually have possession of is slightly smaller, but growing!  Recently I was cleaning out one of my 'hidey hole' places and found more books!  I'm so stinkin' bad...

So, randomly from my TBR shelf ~
O is for Outlaw by Sue Grafton
Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton
R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton
Fractured by Karin Slaughter
The Wheel of Darkness by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

Plus I have a bunch on my Kobo.  I won't even go there.....



~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Friday, March 4, 2011

Fish: A Memoir of a Boy in a Man's Prison (T.J. Parsell)

When seventeen-year-old T.J. Parsell held up the local Photo Mat with a toy gun, he was sentenced to four and a half to fifteen years in prison. The first night of his term, four older inmates drugged Parsell and took turns raping him. When they were through, they flipped a coin to decide who would "own" him. Forced to remain silent about his rape by a convict code among inmates (one in which informers are murdered), Parsell's experience that first night haunted him throughout the rest of his sentence. In an effort to silence the guilt and pain of its victims, the issue of prisoner rape is a story that has not been told. For the first time Parsell, one of America's leading spokespeople for prison reform, shares the story of his coming of age behind bars. He gives voice to countless others who have been exposed to an incarceration system that turns a blind eye to the abuse of the prisoners in its charge. Since life behind bars is so often exploited by television and movie re-enactments, the real story has yet to be told. Fish is the first breakout story to do that.  From GoodReads



This is not the usual book I would randomly pick up to read.  I actually hunted it down because of a paper I needed to write for my English class.  It ended up that I didn't use it for my paper, but I find it difficult to not finish a book.

I found this book to be well written.  It had to be agonizing to relive the abuse and horror endured by the author in prison.  And yes, he was in jail for a crime - but no one deserves to be abused in such a way.

There is no sugar coating in this book - so if you're going to read it be prepared for that.  Not only does it talk about being gang-raped (repeatedly) but also the emotions of the author discovering his sexuality.

Overall I did enjoy this book.  Not 'light' reading but a good book.

I give it 3 out of 5.


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

30 Days of Books - Day 24


Day 24 Topic - Best Quote from a book

Whenever I think of a quote from a book - it's not from a book at all!  Here is what I think of -






~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Thursday, March 3, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 23


Today's Topic - Most Annoying Character Ever

ooo  I have more than one so I'll share!

Nellie Olson from the Little House Books.
Sookie Stackhouse from the Southern Vampire Series
Edward Cullen from, well, I guess we all know he's from Twilight

Why I find them annoying - anyone who remembers Nellie needs no reason.  Look around any public place today, I consider most of those kids "Nellie Olson's".

Sookie bothers me because I personally hate the fact that she ended up with Eric.  I find him annoying too - but she, well, I don't know - pick Sam or Bill anyone but Eric!

I don't understand Edward.  You love her, you leave her, you won't turn her, but then you do.  Ugh!  You have more problems making decisions than most women I know!!  I don't really even get the whole 'team Edward' thing either.  Really???  Over the hotness that's Jacob?  Um, yeah.....



~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 22


Today's topic - Favorite non sexual relationship

Cotton Malone and Henrick Throvaldsen from Steve Berry's series.  These two have a sad history, which binds them together and makes them willing to do anything for each other.  Although not specifically 'friends' they do carry an absolute respect and concern for each other.

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

30 Days of Books - Day 21


Favorite Romantic/Sexual Relationship

Temperance Brennan and Andrew Ryan from the Kathy Reichs books.  Even the whole on again/off again thing doesn't bother me like it normally would because these two are just great together.


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...