Tag: reading challenge

My 2014 Re-reading challenge:

On By mikaelalindIn Book Recommendations

I have 200 books marked as unread in Calibre, most of them written by authors that I have wanted to give a try for a long. And yet, none of them spark my interest.

Normally, I would have shrugged it off, and assumed that it would change soon. Except that I have been in a reading slump since October. Which is very frustrating, when you like me used to  read 1 book/ day, if not more.. But then I started to think about why I have been in a reading slump. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the reading slump started roughly around the time I decided to focus on my writing career.

Which made me sit down, and think hard. It is unheard of for me to read as few books as I currently do. I also know that some authors simply cannot read new books and/ or books in the same genre that they are writing in.

And add to the fact that the only books I haven’t DNF’d have been re-reads, I have decided to focus on re-reads this year. I am not sure which books I’ll re-read, but I look forward to browse my library, and pick up old and newer faves that I want to re-read. 🙂

Embarrassment of Riches September round up

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

TBR-vignette1

 

I only read one book that qualifies, but I have DNF’d several books. And, I have started to purge my Kindle library of old freebies that I know I am unlikely to read. Which is a big step forward.

 

The book I finished :

A Case of Imagination by Jane Tesh. It was well written, but it took awhile before it hooked me. The problem I had with it was that I liked the characters more than I liked the mystery.

 

 

 

 

The DNF’d books:

I read 20 pages, before losing interest.

 

I read 60 pages, and got tired of the MC behaving like a spoiled child. I could understand why, since there was very little explanations

 

 

It was well written, but I never felt I got to know Miranda, and she never felt like a girl. But since it is short, and I am half way through, I’ll probably finish it. Maybe.

WWW Wednesday September 18

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

www_wednesdays4To playalong, justanswer the following three (3) questions…

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

I have been awhile since I posted one of these. But here is what I have read for the last week or so. I have been  craving Contemporary romance lately, so I decided to  re-read a bunch of old favorites.

• What did you recently finish reading?

Romantic Suspense is a hit and miss genre for me, but this one worked surprisingly well. I loved Krissy and Billy’s romance. Both of them had issues that they worked through together.

 

This is my favorite Maya Banks story. I have a weakness for stories about relationships going through a rough time. And this story is just the right mix of poignant and sizzling.

 

This was a touching romance, that was about healing Luke. I liked Luke and Abby, and how their romance slowly unfolded.

 

 

And I also glommed on the first three novels in the Lucky Harbour series. Unfortunately, the books started to blur together when I finished the third book. Which means the series isn’t glommable for me.

 

• What are you currently reading?

Right now, I am reading A Demon and His Witch by Eve Langlais. It is a fun lighthearted paranormal, and I like it. Even if it is a bit predictable.

 

 

 

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Something that isn’t Contemporary Romance. It might be paranormal romance, a mystery, or something utterly random from the TBR pile.

 

Embarrassment of Riches May Round up:

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

I know, I know. This one is a bit late.
A Taste of Magic by Traci Madison.
This was an old, old freebie I had in my Kobo account. I read 5 pages before giving up on it. It just felt.. bland. Which is too bad, since I normally like lighter paranormal romances.
Murder in the Marais by Cara Black
This was another DNF. It was well written, and I liked the character so I’ll probably give it another try later.
Unnatural Issue by Mercedes Lackey
I posted a review of it here, and I’ll just say it wasn’t one of her better ones. Normally I like this series, but here the romance part failed.

Embarrassment of Riches reading challenge April Round up:

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations
I have read a diverse number of genres this time around, which was a nice change from my ordinary Paranormal Romance, Fantasy and Urban Fantasy :). Oh, and I added a couple of DNF novels this time, since they fit the criterias. Plus, no one mentioned that you couldn’t add DNF’s to me.
Second Star by Dana Stabenow
Not perfect, but I liked Star, and the fact that she was more or less a burecraut.
A Little Ray of Sunshine by Lani Diane Rich
It was good, and I liked it, but I think I like Lani Diane Rich contemporary romances more.
But
 
Nefertiti by Nick Drake
This was a historical mystery that was free a couple of years ago, and the blurb was intriguing.  Well, I read 20 pages, and decided to not read any more, since I didn’t care about the character.
Doctor, Doctor by Lori Handeland:
Normally,I like Lori Handeland’s Contemporary Romances. This one was an exception.
I just didn’t care about the characters. At all.
Intimate Exposure by Portia Da Costa:
It was good, but I didn’t feel I trusted their happily ever after.
Death’s Rival by Faith Hunter:
I think I am done with the Jane Yellowrock series, for now at least. To me it feels as if she keep on making the same mistakes, and doesn’t learn from them. 

Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge: Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations, reviews

The Particulars: Urban Fantasy, Ace, available in print and as e-book

 The Source: The Bookshelf
The Grade: B+ 
The blurb:

Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy’s next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she’s fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy’s connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water…




The Review:
I was a bit hesitant to re-read this book, since I have had a bit of bad luck when it comes to re-reads recently. In the end, I am glad I re-read it.

What I like with Patricia Briggs novels is the detailed worldbuilding, and how she can take something and give it a fresh twist. This book, and the rest of the Mercy Thompson series, are no exception. This book focused on the werewolves, but I liked how she introduced the other factions in the world, both vampires and fae. I liked how the werewolves in the US were ruled by the Marrok, and how he kept a firm but benevolent grip on the reins. It felt right, somehow.

Despite the fact that I vaguely remembered what happened, I couldn’t stop reading. I held my breath, from the moment Mercy met Mac, to her search for Jessie and Adam. The plot moved at break neck pace, and I loved how the stakes gradually increased as Mercy and her friends they tried to figure out who was behind this. I’ll admit that there was times when I wondered if they would figure out who the villain was in time. 
   

Meeting the characters again felt like meeting old friends. I liked that Mercy a lot. She had a core of strength and confidence. And while she defied Adam a lot, she also knew how to handle werewolves, and when to keep quiet. I also liked her loyalty to her friends, and how she was prepared to do anything for them. 
I couldn’t find anything bad, the only thing that keeps it from getting an A is that I felt it lacked that something.

* The blurb is from the UK edition, since I couldn’t find a proper blurb for the US edition online. Which drove me nuts. I hate when all I can find is a three line blurb.

Friday Bargains: 0.99 books at Sony

On By MikaelaIn Book Recommendations

The bargains I am excited about right now is at Sony. I haven’t bought anything from Sony, just downloaded freebies, but I think that will change. ;).

Anyway, they have to ongoing campaigns right now.  The first one is  Fall in love with a series, which Amazon is price matching.  It is mostly romance, but I am excited, since several of the books are on my Wishlist.
The second is in their newsletter, and it is a hodgepodge of genres. 

Oh. They have a third campaign: Buy 6 books, get one for free. You can read more here.

Sourcebooks offer 30% off on Linda Wisdoms Paranormal Romances this week.

30% off any Linda Wisdom novels this week!

Created on Thursday, 11 October 2012 08:00

Author Linda Wisdom’s tales of witches and demons are wickedly entertaining! Her light paranormal romances are a delightful way to spend an October evening! Take 30% off any of her books at Discover a New Love with coupon code “WISDOM” when you check out from the cart. Expires October 18, 2012

Friday Bargains: Samhain bargains

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized1 Comment

I got an e-mail from Samhain, telling me that they have a 30% off code ( coupon: TRICKORTREAT) on the following 8 e-books. Unless something has changed,  this stacks on top of the new release discount, which means 60 percent off.

Ballroom Blitz by Lorelei James
She’s got the rhythm, but he’s got all the right moves…

Unleashing The Receptionist by Juniper Bell
You can tie a girl up, but you can’t keep her down. 

Dark in the Woods by Rosemary Laurey
When the wild things are stirring, taking sides could get you killed.

Sex and the Single Princess by Bonnie Dee and Marie Treanor
Behind every beautiful shoe is a sexy shoemaker. 

Just a Kiss by Erin Nichols
She’s unforgettable… which is what got him in trouble the first time.

My Regelence Rake by JL Langley
Before you find your prince, you have to kiss your share of rakes.  

 Wanderlust by Vella Munn
Her feet say its time to move on. Her heart says something else..

The Fallen Boys by Aaron Dries
The road to forgiveness is covered in blood. 

The current Samhain bookclub offering is  Heat of Passion by Elle Kennedy and Shadows in the Mist by Brian Moreland.



 

Friday Bargains: A lot of Historical mystery

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

For me, autumn means I want to curl up on the coach and read mysteries. And, the publishers are appearantly reading my mind this week. 
Right now, the first three books in  Tasha Alexander’s Lady Emily’s series are discounted to 1.99 at Amazon. ( That price, in combination that Amazon didn’t add Whispernet fees, was enough for me to snap up the first one.)

Joss Alexander’s Tainted Innocence is discounted to 1.99 at Carina Press, until September ends.  This is another one I plan to buy. 

Still Life with Murder by P.B Ryan is free at both Amazon and Smashwords.  ( I have this one, I have started to read it several times, but I never finished it.)

Friday Bargains: Mostly Novellas and short stories

On By MikaelaIn Uncategorized

Kobo has very nice round up of novellas, and short stories here, priced between 0.99-2.99. I am tempted to buy some, but I probably wont since I am trying to purchase less e-books.

Amazon   offers 100 e-books for 3.99 this month.  The romance e-books sounds quite interesting, but  the one I really want is in Fantasy..  I might actually buy something from Amazon, instead of just downloading freebies.

Poisoned Pen press offers several of their books for free right now.  (If one of the books isn’t free, price report it.)

And, since I am weak I signed up for Samhain’s newsletter ( I love coupon codes). Speaking of Samhain, their current Book club selection is Blaze of Glory by Sheryl Nantus. Today is the last day.