It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (Nov. 29, 2010)

It's Monday, What are you reading is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.  

 

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I had a good reading week. I was disappointed not to get to Duluth for Thanksgiving but the travel conditions between here and there prevented my trip on Wednesday. I enjoyed a quiet four-day weekend here at home.

Besides reading and playing computer games, I also started a Google Docs spreadsheet to list all the VHS and DVD movies and TV series that I own. I collect movies and TV shows but am not very good at actually watching them. I want to make sure that I don't start buying duplicates.

I also took the time to play around with the design of this blog. I chose a new background and created a new header. What do you think? I couldn't really find anything that was "doggish" so I went with letters and school stuff for that part of my life.

I also wrote a lot of reviews and scheduled a bunch of posts for the next couple of weeks. I am trying to get a little bit ahead during this busy holiday season.

Here is what I read:

I got the eARC of My Soul to Steal from NetGalley and Harlequin Teen. I have read and enjoyed the rest of the series and wanted to keep up. This book will be published on Dec. 28, 2010 and my review is scheduled for Dec. 16.

I also read Choker by Elizabeth Woods. This was the first book I read from Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab program. I enjoyed this psychological thriller and the author almost succeeding in tricking me. I did manage to figure out what was going on with about a third of the book left. The book will be published on Jan. 4, 2011. My review is scheduled for Dec. 2. 

I also had a chance to read Masques by Patricia Briggs. I have liked everything I have read by her and this was no exception. Masques is a high fantasy story with interesting and well-written characters. It is hard for me to believe that this was her first book. My review will  be posted on Dec. 2.

Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs is the sequel to Masques and was equally entertaining. I loved the interaction and the love story between Aralorn and Wolf. The mystery was also well done. I hope that there are more stories with these characters on Ms. Briggs' horizon. My review for this one will be posted on Dec. 9.

I read Ten Ways to Be Adored when Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean. This historical romance didn't break any new ground in the genre but was a very pleasant and entertaining story about two very well-realized characters. I loved the romance and the flashes of humor in the story. This review will be posted on Dec. 4.

The next book I plan to read is Virals by Kathy Reichs. I love her forensic mysteries for adults and am eager to see how she does when she writes for young adults. This book also fits as part of the 2010 Debut Young Adult Author Challenge.

I'm not at all sure what I will be reading next week. But these are good possibilities--

Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell is an eARC on my Kindle from NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin. I have never read anything by the author but the cover and blurb intrigued me. The book will be published on Jan. 3 and I would like to get it read and reviewed before that.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand is also an eARC from NetGalley and HarperTeen that will be released on January 4, 2011. It is by a 2011 Debut Author and is a young adult paranormal about angels.

I have also been eager to read these print books that are near the top of my TBR stack. I just got Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John. It is also young adult and is about a deaf girl who needs to manage a rock band to earn money for college.

Pegasus by Robin McKinley has been on the stack for a little while calling out to me. I am a fan of Ms. McKinley's work and am eager to read her newest.

Since all of the books I'm planning to read are young adults, I may find it necessary to grab something from my adult TBR stack to put a little balance in my reading diet. There are so many good choices there that I may just have to close my eyes and grab. 

What are your plans for the week?