It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (May 17, 2010)

It's Monday, What are you reading is a meme hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books.

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.

Last week I read: 

Countdown by Deborah Wiles -- The review will be posted on May 26. I got this one for review and really loved it.

Changeling by Steve Feasey - The US title of this one is Wereling. I couldn't wait and bought this one and its two sequels from The Book Depository.

Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman -- I liked this start to a new series. The main character is a spin-off character from the Retrievers series. I think it is a promising start and I look forward to more books in this series.

The Season by Sarah MacLean - This was a Regency romance/mystery for young adults. I thought it was a good introduction to the genre. The characters were interesting and the romance was sweet.

Here is what I am currently reading:

I usually read one book at a time but this week I'm trying to read two.

Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson is a 2010 Debut YA Author book. I am a fan of werewolves and so I picked this one.

The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa is the sequel to The Iron King. I loved The Iron King and was eager to read the sequel. I got the book from NetGalley and am reading it on my computer using Adobe Digital Editions because it doesn't come out until August and I couldn't wait. I can only read this one when I am home and not using my computer for something else. (I managed to finish this Sunday evening but didn't want to redo my whole post.)

These are what I am planning to read next:

Running with the Pack is an anthology of werewolf stories. It includes stories by Carrie Vaughn, Laura Anne Gilman and C. E. Murphy.

Alex Van Helsing by Jason Henderson is another 2010 Debut YA Author book. It tells the story of a teenage vampire slayer.

White Cat by Holly Black is the first in the Curse Workers series. I have heard good things about it and I like Holly Black's writing style.

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson -- I got this one at a conference I went to recently. Ben signed it for me. I know that there are classes that teach this book but I hadn't had a chance to read it.

Here is what I got last week:

Inside of a Dog (Adult books and additions to my Kindle)

Ms. Martin Teaches Media (YA and MG -middle grade - books)

Those are my plans for next week. I'll be fitting reading around work,  a trip to the dentist and two doctor visits. What do you have planned?

ARC Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Just a warning - this book won't be available until August 1. It is available for pre-order (and, trust me, you should).

 

The Iron Daughter

Author: Julie Kagawa

Publication: Harlequin; Original edition (August 1, 2010)

 

Description: Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's alone in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

 

My Thoughts: This was wonderful sequel to The Iron King. The story begins with Meghan at the Court of the Winter Queen. She is trying to survive and is missing Ash. When Ash returns he treats her badly. Meghan is heartbroken until Ash tells her that he can't be kind to her because any kindness or love is a weakness in the Winter court. The main adventure in this book comes after the Scepter of the Seasons is stolen by the Iron faeries. The Winter Queen is sure that it was the doing of the Summer King even though Meghan tries to tell her it was the work of the Iron faeries. Meghan, Ash and Puck have to find the scepter and get it back to stop the war that could destroy both Winter and Summer and have a fatal effect on the human Earth too. The book is filled with adventures, friends lost and found, and some surprises too.

 

I highly recommend this book to all lovers of fantasy.

 

Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge, 2010 YA Reading Challenge, 2010 E-Book Reading Challenge

 

In My Mailbox (May 16, 2010)

The weekly In My Mailbox post is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is fun to see what everyone else gets in their mailboxes, shopping bags, and library visits. Click on the link to The Story Siren's site to see the rules and join in the fun.

I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the cool books everyone gets. You will discover lots of wonderful blogs and lots of books that you won't be able to live without.

OK, I'll admit it, I'm Kathy and I am a bookaholic. Way too many books found their way to my house this week again.

I bought A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander because I have read the first two books in the series and this one was a bargain book at Amazon this week.

I bought Running with the Pack which is an anthology of werewolf stories. I love werewolves. Some of the authors included are Carrie Vaughn, Laura Anne Gilman and C. E. Murphy.

I bought Very Valentine by Adrianan Trigiani and Love is a Four-Legged Word by Kandy Shepherd at the half-price book fair at school this week. I couldn't pass up the deals. I had seen Adriana Trigiani's name on lots of blogs but had never tried one of her books. The blurb on the Shepherd book made it sound good too.

I added these paranormals to my collection too.

Dragon Haven by Robin Hobb is the second book in a series. I have the first for my Kindle and will buy a paper copy next weekend when I go to her author signing. I friend and I are doing a day trip to shop and go to the signing.

Embers by Laura Bickle appealed to me because I had seen so many good reviews on the blogs I read. I bought Master of None by Sonya Bateman for the same reason. Both sound really good.

I added these to my Kindle this week. Behind Closed Doors by Shannon McKenna is the first in a series. I think the series is romantic suspense.

Knight Angels: Book One: Book of Love by Abra Ebner has a lovely cover. It is YA. It sounds like an interesting paranormal story.

I got The Wild's Call by Jeri Smith-Ready. I bought this a while ago (before it was offered for free) but somehow I didn't download it to my Kindle until this week.

These were all free books for my Kindle this week.

Swashbuckling Fantasy: 10 Thrilling Tales of Magical Adventure contains stories by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Scott Westerfeld, D. J. MacHale and Holly Black among others.

The Scent of Shadows by Vicki Pettersson contains bonus materials. I have read the book but I want to see what the bonus materials are.

Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb also has bonus materials. This is the first book in the series 

Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills is the first in the Call of Duty series. The main character is a librarian. How could I pass it up?

Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts just sounds like a sweet love story.

Forbidden: The Sacrifice by Samantha Sommersby had this warining blurb: "Warning: This book contains one bad-ass demon, spectacular shagging, a feisty American heroine, and one very hot, very British, knife-wielding shrink." I really couldn't pass it up.

That is what I got this week. What couldn't you resist?

 

Contest at Bibliophilic Book Blog (7/15)

Would you like an eReader? Monica S. at The Bibliophilic Book Blog is giving one away. If you already have a reader, she will give you an Amazon Gift Card worth $100.  You have to check out her blog. She does so much for the soldiers fighting overseas. You have lots of time. The contest ends on July 15. If you enter after reading this, please refer to me. You'll get five extra entries. 

More About Me

Jenn at Book Crazy saw this over at My Overstuffed Bookshelf and it looked like fun to her. I thought so too. Here are my answers.

 

1. Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?

 

My closet doors have to be closed. If they aren't, I would run into them when I get up during the night.

 

2. Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels?

 

Yes, but I usually just throw them into a drawer at home. When the drawer gets full, I toss them all out. I don't know why I take them because I don't usually use or want them.

 

3. Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?

 

Bottom sheet has to be tucked in and all the sheets need to be tucked tight with no wrinkles. Can't sleep on wrinkly sheets!

 

4. Would you rather be attacked by a bear or a swarm of bees?

 

Bear, please, bees make me crazy. Can I choose the bear?

 

5. Do you have freckles?

 

I used to have some on my arms but not on my face. Now I mostly just have age spots.

 

6. What is your biggest pet peeve?

 

People who don't listen when others talk but just wait for an opening to start talking again.

 

7. Have you ever peed in the woods?

 

Yep! Let me just say this: "long walk, small bladder".

 

8. Do you ever dance if there’s no music playing?

 

Only at home when I can be completely private. My dancing is not for public consumption.

 

9. Do you chew your pens and pencils?

 

Weird! Never! I don't like having wood in my mouth. It creeps me out in a major way.

 

10. Is it okay for guys to wear pink?

 

Sure! Or any other color they like. Everyone should be able to wear any color they like.

 

11. What do you dip a chicken nugget in?

 

Sweet and sour sauce is my favorite dipping sauce.

 

12. What is your favorite food?

 

Medium rare rib-eye steak! Hmm? Maybe for dinner tonight.

 

13. What movies could you watch over and over and still love?

 

I seldom watch movies at all. I do remember watching Witness with Harrison Ford a number of times though.

 

14. Were you ever a boy/girl scout?

 

Yes, I was a brownie and a girl scout when I was in elementary school. I did quit at age 12 though. Given enough time, I bet I could still find my merit badges.

 

15. Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?

 

Luckily, I cannot imagine a magazine that would ever be interested in publishing a nude picture of me. Even if they did, I would not be interested. This body looks much better clothed!

 

16. Can you change the oil on a car?

 

Nope. That is what my dealership is for. I prefer to leave that kind of thing to professionals.

 

17. Ever gotten a speeding ticket?

 

No, but I was stopped once and given a warning. I took my car back to the dealership and found that the odometer was miscalibrated. I may push the limit by driving 3-4 miles over the posted limit but I am too much of a rule follower to speed.

 

18. Ever ran out of gas?

 

No, but my yellow low fuel indicator light has come on a few times.

 

19. Are you lazy?

 

Incredibly. I prefer to think of it as "laid back" or relaxed.

 

20. When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?

 

Every year until I was 12. I really don't remember any costumes. I think I was Maid Marion one year.

 

21. How many languages can you speak?

 

One with any fluency. I have studied Spanish and French and remember a few words but have never actually had to speak anything but English.

 

22. Who is better…Leno or Letterman?

 

Who? I don't stay up late enough (unless I'm reading) to watch late night TV and wouldn't watch talk shows even if I did.

 

23. Do you sing in the car?

 

Frequently! I like to sing along with my favorite CDs.

 

24. Ever eat a pierogi?

 

Yes and I really like them. My dad was Polish. I have even made pierogis (but buying the frozen ones is much preferred - see question 19).

 

25. First concert?

 

Would you believe The Cowsills? I also saw Neil Diamond in concert in the late 60s too.

 

If you do this survey too, leave a link. I'd like to check out your answers too.

 

Library Lounge Lizard 1st Blogiversary Contest (May 31)

Darcy at Library Lounge Lizard is having her 1st Blogiversary and she is giving the presents. Check our her blog for alll the details and the list of prizes that you can win. You have until May 31 to get your entries in. Happy 1st Blogiversary, Darcy! 

RevIew: Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman

Hard Magic

Author: Laura Anne Gilman

Publication: Luna; Original edition (May 1, 2010)

Description: Welcome to P.U.P.I.—Private, Unaffiliated, Paranormal Investigations

A handpicked team trained to solve crimes the regular police can't touch—crimes of magic.

My name's Bonnie Torres. Recent college grad, magic user and severely unemployed. Until I got a call out of nowhere to interview for a job I hadn't applied for. It smelled fishy, but the brutal truth was I needed the work—so off I went.

Two days later I'm a PUPI—me and Nick, Sharon, Nifty and Pietr. Five twentysomethings, thrown into an entirely new career in forensic magic.

The first job we get is a doozy: proving that the deaths of two Talents were murder, not suicide. Worse, there are high-profile people who want us to close up shop and go away. We're sniffing out things they'd rather keep buried.

Looks as if this job is gonna get interesting. The only problem is, we're making it up as we go along….

My Thoughts: This was an entertaining start to a series. I thought the book was very readable. I liked Bonnie. She came across as a 20-something recent college graduate who really didn't know what she wanted to do for her career.  Bonnie is also a bridge between Council and lonejacks since her father was a lonejack and her mentor and Guardian is Council. I enjoyed her relationship with her Guardian J as she begins to assert her independence.

The mystery was interesting. We had a chance to follow the clues as the team worked to develop new investigatory techniques. The concept of an unaffiliated investigation organization that deals with crimes between Talents makes for an interesting story.

I would have liked to know more about each member of the team and about the two men who founded the investigative agency. I hope we get more details in further episodes. Overall this was a satisfying beginning to an interesting series.

Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge