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Saturday, October 31, 2009

RIP IV Reading Challenge Wrap Up


Here's my wrap up for this reading challenge. I actually read more books that could have been in this challenge. I think next year I'll try one of the challenges that has you read more books.















For this challenge I read:

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink











For this challenge I read:

A couple short stories from Great Irish Tales of Horror by Peter Haining
All of Hellbound Hearts by various authors.

All in all a successful challenge for me this year!

Happy Halloween!!




















I hope everyone has a fun filled, safe Halloween!!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A to Z Wednesday



Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)
4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.
(We all love comments, don't we?)
Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEKS LETTER IS: L

Lords of Misrule (Morganville Vampires Book 5 - Rachel Caine

In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans have coexisted in (relatively) bloodless harmony...until the arrival of Bishop, a master vampire who threatens to put the evil back in evil undead and smash the fragile peace. But Bishop isn't the only threat....

Violent black clouds promise a storm of devastating proportions. As student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against the elements---both natural and unnatural---the unexpected happens: Morganville's vampires begin to vanish one by one. Discovering why leads Claire to one last choice: Swear allegiance to Bishop...or die.



Finally a book letter I didn't have to search and search for. I had plenty of books that start with "L". Now this book I have read and I love this series. This is book 5 and they are quick fun reads.

Arcadia Snips and The Steamwork Consortium - A Review

Arcadia Snips and The Steamwork Consortium - Robert C. Rodgers

Synopsis:

IN AN ERA of bygone anachronisms and steam-powered ambulatory engines, a sharp-witted street thief with a heart of semi-precious metal must match wits with a cryptic cryptozoologist, an amoral assassin, a masked menace, and a secret plot to bring the city she loves to its knees.
Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium is both a cautionary tale against reckless mathematics and an accurate historical account all rolled up into one. In fact, the story is so accurate that you might consider it more a history lecture than an illustrated novel.


My Thoughts:

This was my first introduction to the "Steampunk" genre and what an introduction it was! I just loved this book. It was so much fun to read. The characters were remarkable. The story was filled with adventure, mystery, a few mad scientists and a whodunit in a world run by and on machines.

The illustrations were fantastic and really helped with character and world visualization. Being a visual reader and new to this genre of storytelling, the illustrations helped me a lot.

I would recommend this to anyone who thinks they might enjoy it. It really was a lot of fun to read!

To find out more information about Robert or the book, you can go to www.arcadiasnips.com

This book was received from the author for review purposes.

Lovely Bones Winners!!


And the winners are:

Jamie
Elaing8 - Already won new winner is: Jessica
Patronus89013
Beth (Bookaholicmom)
J.T. Oldfield
- Already won new winner is: Audrey

Congrats to all the winners!! I will be contacting you by email shortly. You have 48 hours to send your mailing information or I will have to choose another winner.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...


  • 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Here's my teaser this week:

"But why would the Roman army want to hurt children?"
"Because our father is Marc Antony!"

Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran pg 5

Doesn't this just make you wonder what the heck is going on?

Flesh And Fire - Blog Tour October 26, 2009 and Giveaway!

Flesh and Fire - Laura Anne Gilman

Hardcover:
384 pages
Publisher:
Pocket (October 13, 2009)
Language:
English
ISBN-10:
1439101418


Synopsis

From acclaimed bestselling author Laura Anne Gilman comes a unique and enthralling new story of fantasy and adventure, wine and magic, danger and hope....

Once, all power in the Vin Lands was held by the prince-mages, who alone could craft spellwines, and selfishly used them to increase their own wealth and influence. But their abuse of power caused a demigod to break the Vine, shattering the power of the mages. Now, fourteen centuries later, it is the humble Vinearts who hold the secret of crafting spells from wines, the source of magic, and they are prohibited from holding power.

But now rumors come of a new darkness rising in the vineyards. Strange, terrifying creatures, sudden plagues, and mysterious disappearances threaten the land. Only one Vineart senses the danger, and he has only one weapon to use against it: a young slave. His name is Jerzy, and his origins are unknown, even to him. Yet his uncanny sense of the Vinearts' craft offers a hint of greater magics within — magics that his Master, the Vineart Malech, must cultivate and grow. But time is running out. If Malech cannot teach his new apprentice the secrets of the spellwines, and if Jerzy cannot master his own untapped powers, the Vin Lands shall surely be destroyed.

In Flesh and Fire, first in a spellbinding new trilogy, Laura Anne Gilman conjures a story as powerful as magic itself, as intoxicating as the finest of wines, and as timeless as the greatest legends ever told.

My Thoughts:

The story tells of a master teaching his apprentice the fine art of Vineart, magic that comes with the use of wine. Then subtle disturbing instances begin to happen across the land far enough apart that most don't even realize what is happening. A battle brewing between good and something so sinister that no one really knows what they are in store for. Such a unique world of magic and wines. I'm not a wine drinker but I will never look at a bottle of wine the same again.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I thought I would. I will say it took me a long time to get through the book and I'm not sure if it was the world so unlike anything I have read or it just wasn't holding my interest. I can't really decide. I liked the book but I hated that I kept getting distracted while reading it.

It being book 1 of a trilogy the story didn't wrap itself up in the end, instead I'm guessing book 2 will pick up right where it left off. I think I would have liked to had some resolution at the end. I might give book 2 a chance to see how the story plays itself out.

Participating Blogs:

All About {N}: http://www.bookwormygirl.blogspot.com/
Beth’s Book Review Blog: http://bethsbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/
Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
Revenge of the Book Nerds: http://booknerdextraordinaire.blogspot.com/
The Neverending Shelf: http://neverendingshelf.blogspot.com/
Layers of Thought: http://www.layersofthought.net/
Fantasy Freak: http://fantastyfreak.blogspot.com/
Undercover Book Lover: http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/
Carol’s Notebook: http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/
Starting Fresh: http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
Pick of the Literate: http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/
My Friend Amy: http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
Cheryl’s Book Nook: http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
Opinionated? Me?: http://readingwatchingliving.blogspot.com/
Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
One Person’s Journey Through A World of Books: http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/
My Life In Not So Many Words: www.ziarias.blogspot.com
Geek Girl Reviews: www.geekgirlreviews.com
Sci-Fi Guy: www.scifiguy.ca
Wendy's Minding Spot: http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
Found Not Lost: http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/
Brizmus Blogs Books: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com/
25 Hour Books: http://25hourbooks.wordpress.com/
Temple Library Reviews: http://templelibraryreviews.blogspot.com/

Due to a mailing issue I ended up with two copies of this book! Sarah has graciously given me permission to host a giveaway for the second book.

US & Canada only

To enter leave a comment with an email address

+1 following/follower

Contest ends November 5, 2009 6pm PST.

(I received this book from Pocket Books for Blog Tour/Review purposes)

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Mailbox Monday & What Are You Reading

This is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Join the fun and post what you got in your mailbox last week!

Well after having no books last week, the postal fairy must have felt sorry for me because I got a few review books in. I'm on a book buying ban at the moment until I get some of my TBR pile read. I did however cheat and pre-order the upcoming Stephen King book. I really can't wait to read that one.






Spellbinder - Helen Stringer (Received from publisher via Shelf Awareness)















Flesh and Fire - Laura Anne Gilman (Received from Pocketbooks for Blog Tour)















Cherries In Winter - Suzan Colon (Received from Publisher)
















Struts & Frets - Jon Skovron (Received from publisher)
















It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event hosted by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished last week:
After - Amy Efaw
Flesh and Fire - Laura Anne Gilman

Currently Reading:
Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium - Robert C. Rodgers



Books to Finish this Week:

Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium

Weekend Roundup




















It has been a fairly quiet weekend. I have not done much other than going to a friends house to watch a UFC fight on pay per view.

I didn't go on my usual Sunday walk today. My legs are pretty sore from the two Kick classes I took last week and the Power class I took on Friday.

The awesome picture above is a skylight in a place called Ape Caves in Washington. We went a couple of years ago and I have to say it was a fantastic experience. The lower caves is real easy one hour long hike down and back up and if you're feeling really adventurous you can hike the upper caves it's approximately the same length but it's full of rock pile after rock pile you have to climb up and over and a 8 foot wall you have to scale up. It took us 2.5 hours to hike the upper caves and then another 25 min to hike back down the mountain trail once we got out. The picture is right near the end of the caves and by the time you get to it, you are so glad to see daylight. Our family had a fantastic time that day and hope to go back and do it again soon.

Have you ever had a day when you gotta finish a book but find that you keep getting distracted by every little thing? That's my day today. I need to finish 100 pages, which for me is nothing really. But at the rate I'm going it will literally take me all dang day to finish. I pick the book up read 3 pages and get distracted. My mind is just all over the place today and it's driving me insane. This post is the very evidence of my distractions. I started reading and the next thing I know I'm thinking jeez I need to get my Sunday post done and here I am writing it up. If this keeps up I will be up all night reading.

I must get this book finished...

I hope everyone had a great weekend and read-a-thons and here's to a great week ahead!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

A Cheerleading Saturday Post


I wanted to cheer lead everyone on that is participating in the read-a-thon today. I was unable to participate this time due to plans that can't be changed for this evening.

I've spent a few hours reading in spirit with you all this afternoon while watching the Ducks game on TV. Of course during that time I also had my laptop close by to check blogs, etc. I get so easily distracted lol.

I hope you all have great time participating and get lots of reading done!!

Friday, October 23, 2009

The Postmitress - A Review

The Postmistress - Sarah Blake ( I received this from B&N First Look Book Club for discussion on their site)

Synopsis

Filled with stunning parallels to today's world, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.
On the eve of the United States's entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn't deliver a letter. In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.
The residents of Franklin think the war can't touch them- but as Frankie's radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen. The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during wartime, when those we cherish leave. And how every story-of love or war-is about looking left when we should have been looking right.

My Thoughts:

I'm not sure what I think of this book yet. I'm grappling with my own thoughts. The book bounced around a little bit in the beginning but after a couple chapters settled into a nice rhythm. I felt myself being drawn into the story and it kept me turning pages to see what was coming next.

I think I was expecting something different than what I got. It's not a bad thing mind you, I enjoyed the book, It just wasn't what I was expecting.

I have to be honest, the synopsis for me, was misleading and it had a direct effect on me while I was reading the book. I wish the blurb would get rewritten. While everything in the synopsis is in the book, it just doesn't reflect the story very well. I spend the majority of my time wondering when certain events were going to happen, and while I was waiting, there was a decent story going on in the background. A story I would've enjoyed more had I not been looking for and waiting on things to happen.

There was a lot of great information about WWII in the pages, stuff I never knew about. I found myself going online and looking stuff up to read more. This was what I enjoyed most about the story, learning new things.

My final thoughts, I enjoyed the story. The characters were well written and I'm glad I got to read this story regardless of my dislike for the synopsis and the effect it had on me.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Booking Through Thursday



If you could ask your favorite author (alive or dead) one question … who would you ask, and what would the question be?

I would ask Janet Evanovich where she comes up with all her wacky scenarios? If you've ever read her series you'd know she has some of the most outlandish events happening to the characters.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A to Z Wednesday



Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)
4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.
(We all love comments, don't we?)
Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEKS LETTER IS: K

Kiss Me Forever by Rosemary Laurey

Kiss Me Forever

He's Hot. He's Sexy. He's Romantic. He's Immortal.

If there is one thing Dixie LePage does not need in her life, it's complications. And the man sitting across the table from her in a crowded English pub, the one offering to buy the library of her inherited estate in a small English village, is a major complication. For starters, there's the broad shoulders. The slightly amused smirk. That smoldering look that makes it impossible to concentrate. And that infuriating, old-fashioned, and well, okay, incredibly appealing sense of chivalry. No doubt about it, the guy is hot and sexy. Of course, there is one wee little problem: He claims to be a vampire named Christopher Marlowe, as in THE Christopher Marlowe, famous playwright, contemporary of Will Shakespeare. Right. Amend that to hot, sexy, and totally insane. Please see no more complications. So why can't Dixie seem to resist the warmth of Christopher's charm, the protective feel of his strong hands, or the tempting pull of his full mouth when the sun goes down. . .?

Boy I barely found a book again this week and in the process I found another "J" book. I've had this book for a few years now and sad to say I haven't read it yet. Someday when I'm in a romance mood, I'll pick it up and read it.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...


  • 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Here's my teaser this week:

Her mom jerks back. "Oh...My...God," she whispers. The anger melts from her face. Her eyes are huge, her mouth open. "Oh my..."

After - Amy Efaw pg 11

After - A Review

After - Amy Efaw
Checked out from my local Library

Synopsis:

An infant left in the trash to die. A teenage mother who never knew she was pregnant . . .

Before That Morning, these were the words most often used to describe straight-A student and star soccer player Devon Davenport: responsible, hardworking, mature. But all that changes when the police find Devon home sick from school as they investigate the case of an abandoned baby. Soon the connection is made—Devon has just given birth; the baby in the trash is hers. After That Morning, there's only one way to define Devon: attempted murderer.

And yet gifted author Amy Efaw does the impossible— she turns Devon into an empathetic character, a girl who was in such deep denial that she refused to believe she was pregnant. Through airtight writing and fast-paced, gripping storytelling, Ms. Efaw takes the reader on Devon's unforgettable journey toward clarity, acceptance, and redemption.

My thoughts:

This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions and I think that was her intent. One second my heart went out for Devon and the next, I wanted to throttle her. I spent most of the book trying to come to terms with why and what would cause Devon to do what she did. I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. I was horrified by what Devon had done and felt myself making judgments before I really had all the facts. By the end of the book, I was still horrified by her actions but at the same time I had a clearer picture of what might make someone do what she did. I say might because my mind still doesn't want to wrap itself around what Devon did.

I still want to deny that it happens at all. But the sad truth is, it does. I think it's an important subject and like eating disorders and such, one that doesn't get enough attention until it happens to another baby somewhere in some city.

Even with the rough subject of the book, I really enjoyed it. Amy did a wonderful job writing it. I was instantly pulled in and I didn't want to put the book down. I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking about reading it.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Mailbox Monday & What Are You Reading

This is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Join the fun and post what you got in your mailbox last week!


Well this past week, I held out and got NO books. That's right not a single book in the mail or bought. I'm actually okay with this. I have so many books in my TBR pile that I could afford a week or two or three off lol.

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event hosted by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

Books I finished last week:
Defenders of The Scroll

Currently Reading:
Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium - Robert C. Rodgers
After - Amy Efaw


Books to Finish this Week:

Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium (probably won't get done this week, but I can hope)
After
Flesh and Fire

Weekend Roundup


It has been another uneventful weekend for us. I anticipate that most will be now that winter is coming and my honey works on Saturdays.

I did go over to a friends house Saturday night to play Rockband with them and my husband came after work. It was nice to get out of the house after being cooped up all day. It was even better to get out and be social with great friends.

Today I went on my Sunday walk that I have missed the past two weekends. I really enjoy the walks but with the rainy season coming we wont get to go as much. We still go when it rains but if it's a downpour day we skip.

I'm craving soup again for dinner but I think my kids will disown me if I keep making soup so I will resist the urge to have a pot of yummy soup simmering all day on the stove.

I haven't gotten a whole lot read this week. I finished one book and I'm well into a second. I did something I haven't done in ages and I still can't believe I did it. I put a book down after 50 pages. I just couldn't get into it, I'm not sure why. I think normally I'd really enjoy the story so I'm going to give it a few months and re-check it out and try again. Right now I'm reading After by Amy Efaw and so far it's good. It's evoking some strong emotions from me so we'll see how it goes, but I anticipate I'll enjoy it.

Well that's all for me this week. I hope everyone had a great weekend and here's some good vibes for a great week ahead!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Supreme Courtship Winners!


The winners have been drawn and without further ado...

BETH - Already won new winner is CPULLUM
FREDAMANS
RYAN G.
TEA
BARB

Congratulations to all the winners!!!

Emails have been sent out to you. If you haven't received feel free to contact me with your mailing information. Winners have 48 hours to get in touch or I will have to select new ones.

Again congrats guys!!

Booking Through Thursday



We’re moving in a couple weeks (the first time since I was 9 years old), and I’ve been going through my library of 3000+ books, choosing the books that I could bear to part with and NOT have to pack to move. Which made me wonder…

When’s the last time you weeded out your library? Do you regularly keep it pared down to your reading essentials? Or does it blossom into something out of control the minute you turn your back, like a garden after a Spring rain?

Or do you simply not get rid of books? At all? (This would have described me for most of my life, by the way.)

And–when you DO weed out books from your collection (assuming that you do) …what do you do with them? Throw them away (gasp)? Donate them to a charity or used bookstore? SELL them to a used bookstore? Trade them on Paperback Book Swap or some other exchange program?

I usually go through my books every couple of years or so. I hate getting rid of books but if I don't weed them out, I'd run out of room. If I had a choice I'd never get rid of any book but since that's not an option lol. I never get rid of very many though when I go through them. A bag maybe.

I either donate them or trade them in at my local used bookstore. I never ever throw a book away unless it's damage beyond repair, and since we all love books here this is a very rare event. All of our books are well taken care of, but there is the occasional accident heh.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Defenders of The Scroll - A Review


Defenders of The Scroll - Shiraz
Received from the author for review.

Synopsis from the Barnes & Noble website:

A teenage boy.

A dark wizard.

A mystic scroll.

And the fate of a world hangs in the balance...

When Alex "the Axeman" Logan is pulled from his world to help a young princess, named Dara, save her kingdom from the Shadow Lord, he thinks there has been a mistake. He's a teen guitar player close to failing 11th grade, not some defender of the realm. All he has are some school books, his wits, and his love of fantasy movies.

Overnight his life is history. Alex must confront the Shadow Lord and his minions when he is thrust into a land that has changed from a magical paradise to a barren, hopeless, helpless realm invaded by a dark army. But Alex is not alone. He has the help of Dara, a magic scroll, and a band of unlikely companions drawn from his own history books: a hardened Roman Legionnaire, a swift Japanese Samurai, a fearless African Warrior, a fiery Amazon Archer, and a spirited Shaolin Monk.

Can Alex become more than he believes and lead his small band of Defenders to the Hall of Shadows, the birthplace of the Shadow Lord? The fate of the realm and everyone in it rests on him.

My Thoughts:

I wasn't sure what I would think of this book at the beginning. It's a little out of my normal reading genre, but I have to say I really enjoyed this.

Your typical good vs. evil theme with all kinds of great characters along the way. The little girl who holds great power. A teenage boy sucked into the world to protect her, even though he's the furthest thing from a warrior. The nifty ability to pull things and people from the history books that came with him.

The book is full of rich characters, fantastic adventures and danger all the way through it. It even has pirates! So much fun!

I think this is a book kids would love to delve into and experience. As a matter of fact when the book arrived my oldest son grabbed it and told me he got to read it first, and when he gave it back to me a few days ago he told me he really liked it.

I didn't realize it was the beginning of a series until I got to the end, so I look forward to reading book 2 when it comes out. I'm anxious to see what adventures will come next for Dara and Alex.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

A to Z Wednesday



Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)
4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.
(We all love comments, don't we?)
Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEKS LETTER IS: J
Joan of Arc - Mark Twain

Synopsis

When JOAN OF ARC was first published in Harper's magazine in 1895, the reading public did not recognize Mark Twain behind it. It is ostensibly a translation of Sieur Louis de Conte's memoirs, the one person who was with Joan during the three important stages of her life: as a visionary village peasant, as a military genius and as the defendant at her trial. The narrator, quiet, retiring and sentimental, is quite unlike the true author.

Twain was fascinated by Joan. He spent 12 years in research and made many attempts before finally getting the story right. He wanted to laud Joan for her unique role in history. He was able to do so after studying contemporary accounts written by both sides, the French and the English.

This is my husbands book. Believe it or not I don't have a "J" book in my library.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading and it asks us to...


  • 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
Here's my teaser this week:

"Dear Madame," the letter read. "Although we remain appreciative of your continued attempts to bring a feminine touch to the world of aeronautics, the Royal Society of Aviation regrets to inform you that your design shall fly only once swine have taken to the skies."

Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium - Robert C. Rodgers pg1

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Mailbox Monday & What Are You Reading


This is a weekly meme hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page. Join the fun and post what you got in your mailbox last week!

I picked up more than a few books this week so I am going to do things a bit different this week. Instead of posting a picture of the book I am just going to list the books with an Amazon link, otherwise the posting would take up so much room.

I picked up slightly less books than I did last week =)



Arcadia Snips and The Steamwork Consortium - Robert C. Rodgers (Received from author for review)
















Secrets of a Christmas Box - Steven Hornby (From publisher for review)















Ballad - Maggie Stiefvater (Bought)
















Sir Dalton - Chuck Black (A contest win from Sheila at One Person's Journey)















Dawnthief - James Barclay (Bought)
















Soulless - Gail Carriger (Bought)
















It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event hosted by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.









Books I finished last week:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling Audiobook
Bull Rider - Suzanne Morgan Williams
The Postmistress - Sarah Blake
Call Me Kate - Molly Roe

Currently Reading:
Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium - Robert C. Rodgers
Another Faust - Daniel & Dina Nayeri

Books to Finish this Week:
Defenders of The Scroll
Arcadia Snips and the Steamwork Consortium
Another Faust

Weekend Roundup

It's been a pretty uneventful weekend. I spent most of yesterday reading a book for the Barnes & Noble First Look Book Club.

Today we went to camp and finished tearing it down for the season. I'll miss camping but come next season we'll be back up there.

The picture to the left used to be railroad tracks over the river here and recently has been turned into a walking bridge. It's actually pretty nice to be able to safely cross to the other side of town.

I had a great reading week. Finishing 3 books and 1 audiobook.
I have been awful at giving out awards that I have received, so I will work on that today. So without further ado...


I received these two awesome awards from Ryan over at Wordsmithonia.






I'd like to pass the Blog Commenters award to: Vicki at Reading At The Beach and Kaye at The Road Goes Ever Ever On.

I Like to pass the Zombie Chicken on to: Mel at He Followed Me Home and NotNessie at Today's Adventure.



I received this from the lovely J.Kaye over at J.Kaye's Book Blog.

I'd Like to pass this on to Sheila at One Person's Journey Through A World of Books and back to J. Kaye.







I received this from Lori over at Some of My Favorite Books.

I'd like to pass this on to: Teddy at The Eclectic Reader.







I received this from Vicki at Reading At The Beach.

I'd like to pass this on to: Wendi B. at Wendi's Book Corner.
















Okay I think I got all of them.

I hope everyone had a great week and here's to a great week ahead!