May 2010 Summary

Here is an overview of what I read and what I got in May.
I read 18 books this month.

Young Adult
Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristen Cast
The Angel Experiment by James Patterson
The Season by Sarah MacLean
Changeling by Steve Feasey
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent
Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Middle Grade
The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner
Countdown by Deborah Wiles

Adult Books
Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts
Out of Mind by Stella Cameron
Archangel's Kiss by Nalini Singh
Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris
Hard Magic by Laura Anne Gilman

Love in the Time of Dragons by Katie MacAlister

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

And I'm currently reading Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Added to the TBR Stack

This month I added 101 books to my LibraryThing account.
Right now 92 are still TBR.

Young Adult - 51
Middle Grade - 1
Kindle Books - 29

Progress on Challenges

2010 YA Debut Author (Goal = 24 books)

Jan. - March = 10
April I read: 3
May I read: 1
Total to Date: 14

2010 YA Reading Challenge (Goal = 25)

Jan. - March = 19
April I read: 8
May I read: 11
Total to Date: 38

Flashback Reading Challenge (Goal = 6)

Jan. - March = 3
April I read: 0
May I read: 1
Total to Date: 4

2010 E Book Reading Challenge (Goal = 20)

Jan. - March = 18
April I read: 1
May I read: 3
Total to Date: 22

RYOB Reading Challenge (Goal = 100)

Jan. - March = 47
April I read: 17
May I read: 18
Total to Date: 82

2010 TBR Reading Challenge (Goal = 12)

Jan. - March = 4
April I read: 1
May I read: 1
Total to Date: 6

Bottoms Up Reading Challenge (Goal = 36)

Jan. - March = 6
April I read: 1
May I read: 2
Total to Date: 9

In the Middle Reading Challenge (Goal = 10)

Jan. - March = 9
April I read: 4
May I read: 2
Total to Date: 15

This was a busy month at work. I am generally pleased with the amount I read. I am looking forward to my summer vacation beginning a just over a week. I really hope to whittle down the TBR stack. My goal is to read a book a day for the days I am on vacation. I have 85 days from the last day of this school year until the first teacher workday of the next one. I read 85 books last summer. I hope to do better this summer.

Teaser Tuesday: Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Moon Sworn (Riley Jenson, Guardian, Book 9)
Author: Keri Arthur

Publication: Dell (May 25, 2010)

Some nights never end.
Some desires never die. . . .

Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death—causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate, Kye Murphy, is dead—and at Riley’s own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover, Quinn, can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley—including her job at the Directorate.

Now, the ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons have started turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. A vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her brother—and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark forever.

Here's my teaser:

Quinn was here, still standing by my side through all the tears and the heartbreak and the more than occasional bad mood. He loved me and he wouldn't go away - he'd told me that so often in the last few months that it had almost become a joke between us.

 

I am sorry that this series is coming to an end. I have grown very fond of Riley, Quinn, Rhoan, Leander and the other characters that make up this world.

  

Review: Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bleeds

Author: Ilona Andrews

Publication: Ace (May 25, 2010)

Description: Kate Daniels cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to deal with-especially if they involve Atlanta's shapeshifting community.

And now there's a new player in town-a foe that may be too much for even Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family.

My Thoughts: What a great, thrill packed episode for Kate and Company. I liked seeing how her relationship with Curran is developing. It is great to see two very dominant and stubborn people find their way in a relationship.

I don't want to spoil the experience for anybody so I won't say too much about the plot. The villain and the mythology were fascinating. Kate really had a large problem to solve in this one. It is easy to see why she has been so reluctant to allow anyone into her life. It seems that anyone she knows can end up as a target. Kate makes lots of changes in this book and has to assess what is really important to her.

This was exciting and entertaining. It was also a "stay up into the wee hours" book. I couldn't put it down before I got to the final page. I want more! I want to know what comes next for Kate.

Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge

  

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

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 had a really busy week and, consequently, had much less time for reading. This is what I did manage to finish and review.

I finished My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent. It was a great episode in the Soul Screamers series. Things are changing greatly for Kaylee.

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton. This was a very good YA fantasy. It is based on Irish Mythology and was very interesting. Teagan, her little  brother Aiden, and Finn have to battle goblins in this one.

This is what I am reading now:

Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews is the 4th in the Kate Daniels series.

Kate Daniels cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to deal with-especially if they involve Atlanta's shapeshifting community. And now there's a new player in town-a foe that may be too much for even Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family.

Next Week

Right now, I have no idea what I am going to be reading next week. It will depend totally on what mood I am in.

I expect to be very busy at work again. I will be closing the library, hunting down missing library books, doing inventory, writing reports, etc. for two school libraries.

I have lots of choices for my next book as can be seen in the picture below. And that is only the front row. The two stacks on the left have equally high stacks behind them.

That was my week. How did your week go?

Don't forget to visit my other blog - Ms. Martin Teaches Media - and enter my hundred follower contest. The contest ends Friday, June 4 at midnight. You may pick the book of your choice for $20 or less from Amazon US or The Book Depository. If I get to 175 followers, there will be 4 winners.

ARC Review: Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

Tyger Tyger

Author: Kersten Hamilton

Publication: Clarion Books (November 15, 2010)

I got this one from NetGalley

Description: Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this story. I liked Teagan. She was portrayed as a goal-driven and serious young lady who has decided that love can wait. It doesn't fit into the plan of getting into a veterinary medicine program. However, when Finn shows up and is introduced as a cousin by Tea's mother, her plans are derailed and not just because Finn is gorgeous and they have some chemistry between them. Finn is trailed by goblins, cat-sidhe and other creatures. When Tea's mother dies as a result of interference from the goblins and her father is kidnapped into the Mag Mell, Tea needs to find Finn to get his help to get her father back.

The secondary characters were also all interesting. Teagan's best friend Abby was a good character. She isn't academic like Teagen but she was a supportive and helpful friend. She also added a little comic relief to the story with her tendancy to use the wrong words in conversations. I also liked Teagen's younger brother Aiden. Aiden is about six years old. He is able to remember any song he hears. He also has a great sense of direction. He can always find his way home. Even though Tea would like to find a safe place for Aiden to stay while she and Finn try to rescue her fater, they must bring him because of his talents. He can sing a safe path and always find the way home.

I liked the mythology in the story. I haven't read anything else that is the same. The author says that she  based the mythology in the story on Irish mythology.

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

Booking Through Thursday - Bedside

What books do you have next to your bed right now? How about other places in the house? What are you reading?

 

I don't have any books by my bed. I do almost all of my reading while sitting on the couch in my living room. Currently occupying my couch are: My Soul to Keep by Rachel Vincent, 2 copies of Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park (39 Clues, Book 9), and A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix. 

 

My nearest books indicate how eclectic my book choices usually are. After, I finish My Soul to Keep, I will be donating it to my HS Media Center. The 2 copies of Storm Warning will be donated to my Elementary Media Center after I read one of them. A Rush of Wings would be a re-read, if I have time, for a discussion on GoodReads.

 

Oh, and my Kindle is sitting on my couch too with 325 books on it. Now, life would be good if I could just stay on my couch. However, I need to head off to work shortly.

 

Check and see what books others have at their sides (bed or otherwise) by looking at the links on Booking Through Thursday.

 

WoW: Magic Bleeds and Moon Sworn

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
These books have been shipped and I am just haunting my mailbox until they arrive.

Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels, Book 4) by Ilona Andrews

Kate Daniels cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to deal with-especially if they involve Atlanta's shapeshifting community.

And now there's a new player in town-a foe that may be too much for even Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family.

Moon Sworn (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 9) by Keri Arthur

Some nights never end.
Some desires never die. . . .

Shape-shifting werewolf and vampire Riley Jenson is through with death—causing it, solving it, surviving it. Her soul mate, Kye Murphy, is dead—and at Riley’s own hands. Not even the seductive embrace of her vampire lover, Quinn, can fully ease her mind, for she has begun questioning everything that makes her Riley—including her job at the Directorate.

Now, the ritualistically slain bodies of ex-cons have started turning up. Reluctantly, Riley takes the case, but something even worse is waiting in the wings. A vicious enemy from her past is determined to strip Riley of everything that gives her life any meaning: her lover, her brother—and even her own identity. Can Riley survive this ultimate assault? All she knows is, she must fight one last time to find answers, before everything goes dark forever.

These are both going to fight for top place on my TBR stack when they arrive. What are you waiting for?