Friday, December 31, 2010

Tea Time with Marce 2010 List of Favourites

Happy New Year and Welcome to Tea Time with Marce if it is your first visit.  I wish everyone an amazing year of reading in 2011 with much happiness and good health.

My goal was to read 50 books and I read 58, so I am happy.  I only had 4 DNF, go here for that list and to link yours if interested.



My Favourite New Authors - go here to see complete list

Vincent Zandri  - Thriller
Lisa McMann - YA (Wake Trilogy)
Lisa Schroeder  - Verse Novel Author


My Favourite Character

Flavia from The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley



MyTop 10 List of 2010


#1 - The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer - My Review
        (Psychological Suspense)



Tell-Tale by Sam Hayes My Review
        (Mystery)




Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink - My Review
        (YA - Paranormal Suspense)



        (YA - Paranormal)




        (YA - Verse Novel, Mystery)





Thriller





Horror




Adult Fiction





Mystery






Romance





Thursday, December 30, 2010

Announcement - I Want More Challenge details

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce




I Want More Book Challenge 2011:  Go here to join, there are 23 bloggers so far.  Thank you

Have you read a book and at the end said you must read another by this author but haven't?  Then this Challenge is for you, what are you waiting for.  :-)  There are so many amazing authors but sometimes we get caught up in reading all the new we forget about the authors that have already impressed, excited us, gave us what all readers want, a great read, that wow moment, so this Challenge is to show all the authors that have pleased us already how thankful we are by reading more of their literary works.

Details:

*  Challenge Dates: January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

*  All Genres are Welcome

*  This challenge does NOT include Series, only stand alone

*  See Levels below, you can change at any time if increasing, you cannot decrease once signed up.

*  All forms of books will count - eBooks, Audiobooks, etc

*  You do not have to list the chosen books ahead of time and your choices can crossover into other challenges you have joined.

* If you participate in this challenge please signup below.  Either post and link back here with your direct link to your intro challenge post or put Challenge Button on sidebar linking back here please.  In your post give us an idea of what authors impressed you, and now You Want More.

*  Monthly Giveaways - More details to follow soon


Level of Participation

Waited to long:   2 - 4 books
Give me more:    5 - 8 books
Never to much:   9 - 12 books

The Review Post for links will go up on Jan 1, 2011

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A-Z Mystery Author Challenge 2011


Ok, this is a real challenge for me, I love mystery but I 'hate' having to find books to fit challenges, lol, yes I am lazy like that.  I like the idea of finding new authors in my favourite genre though so I am game.  Michelle and I have similar reading styles also so I trust her judgement if I can't find an author.

Go over to join:  Michelle's Blog - red headed book child


RULES:

  • Challenge runs from January 1 - December 31, 2011. Sign up ends February 1, 2011.
  • Read A-I, J-P or Q-Z. You choose. The letter group you choose must be the last name of the author. (i.e= S for John Sandford).
  • Mystery genre can include Cozy, Suspense, Thriller, or Noir. All Adult novels please.
  • Leave a comment if you would like to sign up. I am getting rid of Mr. Linky.
  • Write a post about this challenge and which group/s you pick. You can list the authors you choose or do it as you go.
  • When you post your reviews, mention this challenge and link back to this sign up post.

I am going for the A-I group.  I is the only letter I didn't already have on my Wishlist, so help me out :-)  I am sure I can complete this Challenge.









I


Do you have any suggestions?  Thriller is my favourite.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Best Book Covers of 2010

Every Sunday Larissa's Bookish Life post a TOP 5 list on her blog. It can be about anything and every week she will have a new theme {You can vote on next week’s theme on her left sidebar!}

I was interested in this one so decided to join and share with you.

My Top 5 Covers



Thriller
See the man in the eye and the writing all over the book, my favourite cover of the year.




Adult Fiction




YA Suspense




YA - Simple but so meaningful to the story




Thriller Suspense


Do you have a favourite cover of the year?

Review - Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark




When Catherine Dornan's husband, Tom, is diagnosed with leukemia, she and their two young sons travel with him to New York during the holiday season for a lifesaving operation. On Christmas Eve, hoping to lift the boys' spirits, Catherine takes them to see Rockefeller Center's famous Christmas tree; while there, seven-year-old Brian notices a woman taking his mother's wallet. A St. Christopher medal tucked inside the wallet saved his grandfather's life in World War II, and Brian believes with all his heart that it will protect his father now. Impulsively, Brian follows the thief into the subway, and the most dangerous adventure of his young life begins. . . .



My Review - 5 Tea Time Perfection

I loved everything about this story.  A mystery on Christmas Eve with beautiful characters, it was a race of time, my heart was pounding and I couldn't stop reading, I read it in one sitting, went to sleep at 2am with a smile.

I will recommend this one as Christmas Eve reading.

In the mind of a 7 year old, at first I thought would this really happen but I think when a child is focused and truly believes in something they get completely engrossed without realising the danger they could be putting themselves in.  And the focus came from his heart, love for his family.

Note - this is for the Queen of Suspense Challenge I am hosting which ends Aug 2011.  Go here for details if you want to join. 

Monday, December 27, 2010

Review - Drawn in Blood by Andrea Kane


New York Times bestselling author Andrea Kane returns with an amazing new FBI thriller, one that takes us into the high-profile—and high stakes—world of art crime. There, nothing is as it seems: friends become traitors, lovers become strangers . . . and the battle lines are Drawn in Blood.

My Review - 4 Great to the last Drop

I read Twisted last year before blogging and it was on my favourite 2009 list.  Drawn in Blood was the follow up to Twisted, a great way to end my year of reading.

I enjoy the main characters Sloan and Derek.  In this one we follow the struggles of them balancing their relationship and busy career work life.  I find them to be exciting, genuine and real, how I imagine FBI agents to be.  Sloan has to protect her father, his friends and decide how much to share with the man she loves, Derek.

Following this investigation was exciting, so many characters, friends, family involved in the storyline.  Drawn in Blood is a a great fitting title.  The saying 'blood is thicker than water' is taken to the ultimate and at times everyone is a suspect.

The Asian crime world was a thrilling ride.  High powered affluent art lovers vs the rich art dealers vs the cruel art thieves, all made such an interesting read.

Andrea Kane is an author I will definitely read more by, hopefully more about Sloan and Derek.  I love the relationship intertwined with the action paced crimes they have to solve.  I don't think romance is the place for many thriller books AndreaK has executed it perfectly in my opinion.  Great characters, action and the excitement of sitting on the edge of your sit to see how it all ends.

I look forward to reading more from Andrea Kane.

Here is my review of Twisted.  Both can be stand alone reads.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

2011 Book Blogger Recommendation Challenge


I completely failed the 2010 Challenge but thought I would try again and support Jennifer.  I am only going for 5 this year.

These are the ones I will choose from, any recommendation from you?  The highlighted ones are a definite to read, I just don't know about 2011.

  1. Bitten - Kelley Armstrong
  2. My Soul to Take - Rachel Vincent  (the 1st in the series, so if this isn't it, not this one)
  3. The Bourne Identity - Robert Ludlum
  4. Fallen - Lauren Kate
  5. Forgive My Fins - Tera Lyn Chils
  6. Midnight Kiss - Lara Adrian (the 1st in the series, so if this isn't it, not this one)
  7. Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson
  8. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
  9. Mind Games - Carolyn Crane
  10. Good Grief - Lolly Winston
  11. Dirty Little Secrets - CJ Omolulo
  12. The Girl Who Fell From The Sky - Heidi Durrow
  13. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
  14. Dracula - Bram Stoker
Click here to see the entire 2010 Book Blogger Recommendation List.


The Levels:
Level I
- Read 5 books from the 2010 Book Blogger Recommendation List
Level II - Read 10 books
Level III - Read 15 books
Level IV - Read 20 books
Level V - Read 20+ books

The Rules:
  • Challenge will run January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. Participants can join anytime throughout the challenge.
  • Create an intro post, linking back to this post.
  • Sign up with the MckLinky below. Please link to your challenge intro post, not your blog home page.
  • Chose your own books from the list. You can decide to read books only on the Top 25 list or from the entire recommendation list. You do not have to make a list of books before the challenge begins.
  • All forms of books acceptable (audiobooks, eBooks, etc.)
  • Rereads do not count towards the completion of the challenge. The challenge is about discovering books that are new to you.
  • You don't need a blog to participate.
  • Reviews, while always appreciated, are not mandatory.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Happy Holidays




Happy Holidays

Enjoy the festive time with family and friends, all the traditions, gifts and love.

It doesn't snow here in Bermuda but it is cold, windy and rainy.  We are not used to below 60 degrees, brrrrr.

I look forward to actually finishing a book and maybe a holiday one before the end of year.


 

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Favourite New Authors you discovered in 2010 (add your link)

Welcome to Tea Time with Marce


 
I started blogging last year September and it is amazing how many authors have become new favourites, many I would never know about if I didn't blog.  I am happy to have found so many new ones to follow and become a real fan.

This is my Top 10 list:  As you can see I enjoyed a few so much I read another. 

Lisa McMann (read the whole Wake Trilogy this year)

Lisa Schroeder (I read 2 this year)

Vincent Zandri (I read 2, one was a Digital Short)

Michelle Zink (I read 2 this year)

Jean Holloway  (I read 2 this year)

Heath Sommer (I read 2 this year)

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Lisa Unger

Pamela Samuels Young

Sam Hayes


Who are your favourite new authors you discovered in 2010?






I Want More - 2011 Book Challenge


I decided to do a I Want More Challenge for 2011 in order to read more by authors that have impressed me after only reading one of their books.  Go here to see details if you are interested in joining.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Teaser Tuesday


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

Just do the following to participate:

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!
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
 
 
 
I decided on 2 this week so I can include my holiday read.
 



Teaser from pg 72
 
"Flavia," I said as I paused for a moment at the door.  "Flavia Sabina Dolores de Luce." The "Sabina" was real enough; "Dolores" I invented on the spot.
 
Flavia is my favourite character of the year, is my review.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[you_better_not_cry_l.jpg]
 
 
Teaser from short story Why Do You Reward Me Thus?
 
Four calling Birds?  Three French hens?  Two turtle doves?  What are turtle doves and why would anybody want one of them, let alone two?  And a partridge in a pear tree?  Where the (****) was this person shopping?"
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Happy Holidays, I look forward to reading your Teasers.
 
 

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Did Not Finish Books for 2010 (add your link)

I decided last year that I will not do reviews on books I am unable to finish but will do a post all together and this year it was 4.

I also made a fairly hard decision.  I will not be reading Steig Larsson series, I tried The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and just couldn't get past 100 hundred pages.  My brother loved it and read all 3 immediately, all the great reviews on the blogosphere but what sealed the deal was my real life friend that reads the same books I do.  She tortured herself and read the 1st one and hated every moment of it, yup not doing it.







THE HUSBAND by Dean Koontz


I chose this for the Book Bloggers Recommendation Challenge, which I was not successful in completing.

This felt a little like this happened, then this happened, now this, then this, just a boring not well executed story.







The Splendor Falls  by  Rosemary Clement-Moore


I chose after reading a review from a popular YA blogger.

Way to much detail for my liking and I really tried with this one but just couldn't torture myself anymore.
















The Pleasure Was Mine  by Tommy Hays

I was intrigued after reading a review from a blogger who I don't think is blogging anymore.

The writing was not good, I was unable to complete it due to the writing.  I am very interested in Alzheimer's but just couldn't get into this one, something was missing.














This one is Mine by Maria Semple

I feel a little bad about this one as it was for review.  I kept saying I will try again and get through it, I just couldn't.

Should I give this one away as a giveaway and ask the blogger to review?











So there you go, that is my list.  I am most surprised by Dean Koontz, I do enjoy his works so not to be able to finish one is odd to me, I think it is because I expect better from him.


Would you like to join, add your link.





You also may be interested in linking to Best Reading Month of the Year

  • Best Reading Month of Year (add your link)
  • Friday, December 17, 2010

    The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum (Jan choice, want to join us?)



    Pages - 384
    Published Date - May 24, 2010

    Blum (Those Who Save Us) visits Tornado Alley in this vivid novel about a set of twins with a dark history. At home in Minnesota, Karena Jorge gets an unexpected call informing her that her twin brother, Charles Hallingdahl, whom she hasn't seen in the 20 years since something went very wrong during a storm chase, has been admitted to a Kansas mental hospital. Charles suffers from rapid cycling bipolar disorder, and all Karena knows is that he refuses medication, he can be a danger to himself and others, and he is still obsessed with storm chasing. When she rushes to the clinic and finds he has already left, Karena joins a professional storm-chasing tour company, hoping to find her brother in the caravan of watchers who follow major storms. In the course of the tour, Karena confronts the past and the way it has shaped her life. The unpredictable and dangerous storms provide a framework for an exploration of the bond between siblings (and its limitations), and Blum renders the stormy backdrop as richly as she does her nuanced characters.





    Paula over at Tome's Devotee is hosting this Book Club, go here to join.

    The benefit of this Book Club is you get to have turns choosing the book.

    It is my turn to choose the next book and I chose The Stormchasers by Jenna Blum.  Anyone interested in joining us?

    Have you read this, what did you rate it?

    Participate in my End of Year Meme - What has been your best Reading Month of the Year?

    Thursday, December 16, 2010

    Review - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley



    Book Summary from Flaviadeluce.com

    Great literary crime detectives aren’t always born; they’re sometimes discovered, blindfolded and tied up in a dark closet by their nasty older sisters. Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce’s bitter home life and vicious sibling war inspires her solitary diversions and “strange talents” tinkering with the chemistry set in the laboratory of their inherited Victorian house, plotting sleuth-like vengeance on Ophelia (17) and Daphne (13), and delving into the forbidden past of her taciturn, widowed father, Colonel de Luce. It comes as no surprise, then, that the material for her next scientific investigation will be the mysterious corpse that she uncovers in the cucumber patch.

    Fearless and darkly imaginative, Flavia hurries to solve the murder and acquit her father of suspicion. Following the lead of its clever protagonist, Sweetness is entirely inventive, fast-paced, and quick-witted, with tongue-in-cheek humour that derides the macabre seriousness of subject.
    Alan Bradley plants the story deep into the setting of 1950s England, with a portrait of an eccentric home life that is all too wickedly familiar. The story’s twists are supported by the time and place as well as the unusual interests of the characters which range from stamp-collecting to making poisons all of which are highly researched and ingeniously incorporated.

    My Review - 4 Great to the last drop

    Flavia is my favourite character of the year, she made this mystery extremely entertaining.  She is only 11 and made me enjoy even more the deliberate childlike interest on solving the crime.  She reminded me of Pippy Longstocking and Annie, they all could have been best of friends.  She made me laugh and gasp her quick tongue, so wrong but so right also, adults couldn't help but love her but also want to smack her one. She kept on talking about Glady's, I thought it was her horse, nooooo, it was her bike, (rolling on the floor laughing), the adult in the book i'm sure rolled their eyes when they said who is Glady's and Flavia responded my bike like it was normal to name your bike.

    She was brilliant, definitely an up and coming star in life, entrepreneur.  Her passion was Chemistry, a true scientist.  What child has a laboratory in their house, I still find this disturbing, in an intriguing way.  Flavia had far to much time alone and she took full advantage of getting down and dirty in the investigation.  She had me saying 'hmmm good thinking Flavia, how you think about that' she was just brilliant.

    Those that enjoy historical fiction will enjoy this story, I was able to get through it but it was the part that wasn't my cup of tea, the history on the stamp collection that the overall mystery was around.  Also all the scientific words but it added to the genuine passion Flavia had.

    In the end of the story she asked the Detective what symbol in his little book was for her, he told her P but didn't say what it stood for, I think it was for Pain in the ass :-)  She tried to out smart the Detective many times, she enjoyed a good little white lie at times.

    You will not get enough of Flavia, I will be reading the next in the series because I want more Flavia de Luce.

    Wednesday, December 15, 2010

    What has been your Best Reading Month this year?

    The end of the year is quickly coming upon us, exciting but still with the thought 'where did the year go'?

    I know the Top 10 favourite books of the year posts will begin soon, I wanted to know if you had a Month that knocked your socks off :-)

    For me it was February, can you believe that, May was close also but the first part of the year I was really pleased, the 2nd part of the year, just ok reads for the most part, that must change for next year.

    Here are the books I read in Feb, click on link if you want to read reviews.

    The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer   (My favourite of the year)
    Psychological Suspense

    I heart you, You haunt me by Lisa Schroeder on Kindle
    YA Verse Novel

    Wake by Lisa McMann on Kindle
    YA Mystery

    The Quickie by James Patterson
    Thriller

    Heartsick by Chelsea Cain on Kindle
    Thriller


    If you do a post, please link up, I will leave up until end of year.


    Friday, December 10, 2010

    Book Blogger Hop - Book Blogs

     
     
     
    Welcome to Tea Time with Marce

    It is Book Blogger Hop Time.  Thank you Jennifer for Hosting such a fun networking meme.  Go over to join this week at Crazy For Books

    This week's question comes from Angela who blogs at Library Girl Reads:
     
     "What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs?  Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"
     
    I enjoy reviews the most.  The 2nd would be lists, favourite list, themed lists etc that are book related. 
     
    I enjoy trying to find other blogs with similar interest so when I find a blog that has there reviews listed, I spend time there reading and finding out if our views are similar.
     
    So far I have to say I haven't really enjoyed Author Guest posts, they are just ok to me, I can think of 3 from different blogs that I have enjoyed but maybe that was because I was interested in that author.
     
    Most giveaways are not international so that is not a huge interest for me and even when it is I only enter if I really would like the giveaway.
     
    The ultimate is really just networking, I enjoy that overall part of the Book Blogging Community.
     
    Have a great weekend.
     
    Please take a moment to participate in my Poll - How should I organise my reviews?
     
     

    Thursday, December 9, 2010

    How should I organise my 2011 Reviews?


    I have pretty much decide what Challenges I am going to participate in so now I am preparing and organising. 

    2011 Reviews

    I think this is an important feature on blogs, I know it is a fast way for me to decide if I will follow or not when I find a new blog.

    I wanted to know from you how you prefer to see reviews organised, please participate in my poll on sidebar.

    • Ratings
    • Authors Name - First, eg. Mary Higgins Clark
    • Authors Name - Last, eg. Clark, Mary Higgins
    • Title
    • Monthly Reading order

    I appreciate your help.



    Tuesday, December 7, 2010

    Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge, 2011 (My Choices)

    The Betty and Boo Chronicles is hosting the Memorable Memoris Reading Challenge again for 2011.

    About the Challenge: If you enjoy reading memoirs or really haven't explored them as much as you'd like to, then this is the challenge for you.  Anything that in your mind qualifies as a memoir will meet the challenge requirements. Letters, diaries, autobiographies, books on writing memoirs ... in my book, they all count as Memorable Memoirs.  Books, e-books, audiobooks are all fine. 

    Dates: January 1 - December 31, 2011.   You can sign up anytime from now and throughout 2011, but don't start reading until January 1, 2011. 

    Requirements:  It's up to you!  I want this to be a fun and low-key challenge, yet one that will be worthwhile of your valuable reading time. If that means reading one memoir, that's great.  If that means reading three dozen, even better.  You decide what works for you.  Overlaps with other challenges are more than fine ... even encouraged. :)

    My Contenders for 2011

    I read The Glass Castle last year before I started blogging and was shocked how much I enjoyed it, I never even thought to try a Memoir before.  I read 2 more this year, one was ok and the other good.

    Two of my favourite bloggers enjoy Memoirs and I respect their views, go check them out also: 
    Christa at Mental Foodie and Missy at Missy's Book Nook

    So my goal next year is to read a minimum of 3 memoirs.  Have you read any of the below and/or what is your favourite memoir?




    No summary needed, right?  I will be starting with this one.











    Motherless Child - stories from a life


    Imagine you gave a baby up for adoption forty years ago, and after years of trying to find her, she finds you. Now come the hard questions. She's healthy, beautiful, and successful, but she wants to know why you gave her away and why you didn't marry her father. And there is also the unspoken question of "What kind of black woman gives her baby away?" How do you explain to her that giving her away was the best gift you could offer? This is Sarah Weathersby's first published work, a coming-of-age-in-the-sixties-single-black-pregnant and on the way to Germany, memoir.




    A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
     
    In A LONG WAY GONE: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Beah, now twenty-six years old, tells a powerfully gripping story: At the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he’d been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. At sixteen, he was removed from fighting by UNICEF, and through the help of the staff at his rehabilitation center, he learned how to forgive himself, to regain his humanity, and, finally, to heal.


    This is an extraordinary and mesmerizing account, told with real literary force and heartbreaking honesty.

    Perfection: A Memoir of Betrayal and Renewal


    Julie Metz's life changed forever on one ordinary January afternoon when her husband, Henry, collapsed on the kitchen floor and died in her arms. Suddenly, this mother of a six-year-old became the young widow in her bucolic small town. But that was only the beginning. Seven months after Henry's death, just when Julie thought she was emerging from the worst of it, came the rest of it: She discovered that what had appeared to be the reality of her marriage was but a half-truth. Henry had hidden another life from her.
    Perfection is the story of Metz's journey through chaos and transformation as she creates a different life for herself and for her young daughter. It is the story of rebuilding both a life and an identity after betrayal and widowhood, of rebirth and happiness--if not perfection.


    The Tattoo Chronicles


    The Tattoo Chronicles is an illustrated diary that offers an intimate look at a crucial year in the personal and professional life of Kat Von D, the charismatic, no-holds-barred tattooer and star of LA Ink.
    When Kat does a tattoo, she writes an entry about it in her journal, reflecting not only on the significance of the tattoo for the person who is receiving it but also on how the experience of creating this tattoo affects her personally.
    In these diary entries—some poignant, some hilarious, some confessional—Kat lays it on the line about how doing these tattoos influences her life and art. Here are the highs and the lows, the good, the bad, and the ugly—including her feelings about her fame, family, love life, friends, and fans.
    Visually stunning, this graphically compelling diary is jam-packed with tons of Kat's images, from sketches of her tattoos to the finished works, and candid shots of her unusual personal collections—all photographed by Kat herself. Fans will love reading about her array of clients from all walks of life, including MotÖrhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Dave Navarro, and members of Metallica, Green Day, Kings of Leon, and the Eagles. Throughout The Tattoo Chronicles are captivating, color photographs of Kat that were taken specifically for the book, published here for the first time.



    In Balanchine's Company: A Dancer's Memoir


    Fisher danced for the great choreographer George Balanchine in the mid–20th century, when the New York City Ballet was still "exploding into being against all odds." Her era is that of Orpheus, the Nutcracker and Agon (she was one of its original dancers), when the company starred ballerinas Maria Tallchief and Tanaquil Le Clerq. Mr. B., as he was respectfully yet affectionately called by his dancers, was still young, still approachable, full of vigor and good humor. We see his "multi-dimensional alertness," and also his sense of whimsy and genuine affection for his dancers. Where else do we find a limerick written by Balanchine about his Vespa, his entreaties to Fisher to perform a questionable song written on tour at a big benefit and his defense of the author's right to read bad science fiction? Yet woven into these personal and telling recollections are wonderfully astute looks at Balanchine's artistic process and the place of his ballets in the canon of 20th-century art. Fisher eventually became a professor of English at the City College of New York, and her observations as both dancer and literary critic are unparalleled. This book is indispensable for lovers of ballet and theater. 48 b&w photos.

    Sunday, December 5, 2010

    What are you Reading - Monday

    It's Monday, What are You Reading.  Sheila over at One Persons Journey has an incentive for networking so go over and have fun while adding to your Wishlist.


    I completed..... 

    and    Currently Reading 

    My reviews

    Cut Short by Leigh Russell   and   Beneath the Silver Lining

    I am currently reading
















    What do I think is next.......
















    I look forward to your post.

    Saturday, December 4, 2010

    2011 eBook Challenge - Kindle

     
     
    Ladies and gentlemen! Start your engines e-readers!  The eBook Challenge is Hosted by
    The Ladybug Reads go over to join.

    I got my Kindle for Christmas and just LOVE IT, I have read majority of my books on my Kindle so of course I am joining this challenge again and going for Obsessed Level 20 ebooks

    This challenge was previously hosted by Alaine at Queen of Happy Endings.  When she started looking for new homes for the 2011 challenges, I jumped at the chance to host this one.  Since getting a Kobo eReader this past year, I've started reading more e-books.  Since e-readers are now available internationally, a lot more people are going to be reading books in digital format.  So why not challenge yourself and read even more?

    Challenge Guidelines:
    1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

    --Non-bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

    2. There are four levels:


    -- Curious – Read 3 e-books.

    -- Fascinated – Read 6
    e-books.

    -- Addicted – Read 12
    e-books.

    -- Obsessed – Read
    20 e-books.

    2011 Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge



    Go to Book Chick City's blog to sign up and read all the details.

    Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011


    Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

    Go here to read my reviews used for 2010's Challenge
     
     

    Completed Thriller and Suspense Challenge 2010



    Thriller and Suspense is my favourite genre so I knew I would complete this challenge, it was 12 for the year.  I read many more and chose what I wanted to use for this challenge.

    Tell-Tale by Sam Hayes 5 stars

    The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer  5 stars

    13th Hour by Richard Doetsch  4 1/2 stars

    The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne 4 1/2 stars

    The Quickie by James Patterson  4 1/2 stars

    Lightning by Dean Koontz  4 1/2 stars

    Ace of Hearts by Jean Holloway 4 1/2 stars

    Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger  4 stars

    The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark 4 stars

    The Remains by Vincent Zandri  4 stars

    Heartsick by Chelsea Cain  3 1/2 stars

    Cut Short by Leigh Russell 3 stars

    Now that I am officially finished, I will signing up for 2011

    Friday, December 3, 2010

    Popular and Hyped Books you did NOT enjoy



    Welcome to Tea Time with Marce

     It is Book Blogger Hop Time.  Thank you Jennifer for Hosting such a fun networking meme.  Go over to join this week at Crazy For Books


    I was surprised to see this week's question is from me :-)

    "What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"


    There are 3 for me:

    The Hunger Games
    Uglies
    The Time Traveller's Wife (DNF) - This was before I was blogging

    I am not one that reads because a book is hyped I have to be intrigued and think I will enjoy it.  I have never read Dystopian before and realised after reading Uglies and The Hunger Games the genre is not for me and I know I am in the minority for The Hunger Games trilogy, you couldn't go a week without hearing about those books. 

    I was wondering when I posted my reviews if I would get 'attacked' but my followers that comment have always been respectful and thanked me for being honest.  So friends, I appreciate you reading my opinion, commenting and respecting me as a blogger.

    I look forward to your comments and your responses to my question of this weeks Blog Hop.

    Have a great weekend.

    Thursday, December 2, 2010

    Review - Cut Short by Leigh Russell



    Book Summary from Amazon

    D.S. Geraldine Steel expects the quiet town of Woolsmarsh to be dull. She quickly discovers she is wrong. The park is a place where children play, friends sit and gossip, people walk their dogs, or take a short cut to avoid the streets. But in the shadows a predator prowls, hunting for victims. A woman sees the killer and comes forward as a witness-someone whom the killer must stop at all costs. For D.S. Geraldine Steel, it is a race against time to find the killer before he strikes again, as public pressure mounts with the growing death toll.

    My Review - 3 More Sugar Please

    This was a solid Crime Thriller that had interesting characters but it just didn't have my heart racing.  We know who the serial killer is so we are on the investigation journey along with the Detective and Police, this took away from any surprise or mysterious element.  I would recommend this one to those that enjoy light or cozy mysteries.

    I did enjoy reading the story through the eyes of serial killer, victims and D.S. Geraldine Steel.

    Geraldine beat herself up a little regarding what she missed or how else she should have approached evidence and I felt the same way, why don't they, why didn't they, did they forget, etc.  I am unsure if the author did this on purpose.

    There is a twist but only for the reader to say, ahhh interesting but it doesn't connect for the characters, I didn't like that at all.

    All in all, it was good, I will probably read the next in this series.  And the cover, one of my favourites this year in my opinion.  See the man in the eye pupil, that is great artwork.

    I wanted to try British authors that is why I chose to read this one.  I also read a great review with interview of Leigh Russell over on Clarrisa's blog, Listen to the Voices.

    Book Club - Authors by the Alphabet (Join in)




    Paula over at Tome's Devotee is hosting this Book Club, go here to join.

    A few of us read The Godmother by Carrie Adams for (A)

    Here is the update from Paula

    Ok girls, here we go again!  We will be restarting this baby in January with some new rules.  Each participant will host a month at their blogs with the wrap up Q-n-A at the end of the month and they will pick the book for that month.  If one of us has read it, we can always just give a quick skim to refresh our memories this way there's no checking back and forth waiting to see who did or didn't or does or doesn't want to read it.   A book club is to expose ourselves to things we might not normally read and each of us will have a chance to hit our fave genres when we host :) We will go in order of sign-ups from Mr. Linky.  I will post the book choice and have it on my sidebar as well.  Questions are easy enough, a lot of books have ?'s all ready to go and you can find them online, if not, there are generic ?'s that you can use as well.

    We will start with the letter B and have the ?'s on the last Monday of each month.  We can stop by the host's blog, copy and paste the ?'s answer them and then post in the comment section.

    I'm looking forward to this, I'm glad we're doing it this way, it makes it much easier!  Sign up below, and whoever snags #1 and 2, start looking for that B and C author book!