Worth Reading It?

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

2012-02-16T09:23:00.002-05:00

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

Run's January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012.

The Rules:
Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.
No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

There are four levels:
The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

My level - Mini YA 12 books

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

2012-02-16T09:17:00.003-05:00

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Rules:
Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate. If you are a Non-blogger please leave a comment with a
link (if you review elsewhere) to your review or with the book(s) you read.
Audio, ebooks (some libraries allow ebooks to be checked out), bound books are ok.
No re-reads
Create a sign up post and post the link in the linky here.

Challenge goes from
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Levels:Level 1 - Read 12 library books
Level 2 - Read 24 library books
Level 3 - Read 36 library books
Level 4 - Read 37+ library books

My Level - Level 1 12 books

Borrowed Book Challenge 2012

2012-02-07T09:46:00.005-05:00

Challenge: Borrowed Book Challenge 2012

Lasts: February 1st 2012 - April 30th 2012

Details:Similar to the Support your Libraries Challenge, this challenge is all about
borrowing books from your library and supporting them in whichever way you can.
Those of us with ereaders know how easy it is to check books out via that method
as well! The possibilities are endless!! It will only last 3 months.

Mini-Challenges:

February - Check out and review one Romance book (even if it just has
characters who are in love with each other, it qualifies)

March - Check out and review one book with a Green cover!

April - Create and post a library spotlight post (It can be your local library and why it's awesome. I will be spotlighting libraries all month so you can take a look at my examples)
I will post a wrap-up post with a linky at the end of each month for you to link up these
posts.________________________________________________________________________________Prizes:

Everyone who signs up and completes their level will get an exclusive Borrowed Book Challenge Award badge to flaunt on their page! Everyone's a winner!At the end of each month she is giving a US participant a book from her library (their choice) or an International
participant a Amazon e-giftcard worth $5 bucks! Hey, it's something!
If you're interested link up your Master post here (you can list all the books you've checked out on that post and give her a little shout out on there as well

my level - Bookworm 1-3books

February - The Sweet Spot by Kayla Perrin

Edge of Apocalypse by Tim LaHaye & Craig Parshall

2012-02-07T08:10:00.004-05:00

Edge of Apocalypse (book 1 in End series)
by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall
narrated by Stefan Rudnicki
Rating 4.5 stars

from back of book:
Edge of Apocalypse pulls you into an adrenaline-fueled political thriller laced with End Times prophecy. From Tim LaHaye, creator and co-author of the world-renowned Left Behind series---the most successful adult fiction series ever written---and Craig Parshall comes an epic story ripped from the headlines of world events and filtered through Scriptural prophecy. Set in the near future, Edge of Apocalypse chronicles the beginning of The End---the earth-shattering events leading up to the Apocalypse foretold in Revelation. Joshua Jordan, former U.S. spy-plane hero turned weapons designer, creates the world's most sophisticated missile defense system, a laser shield code-named Return to Sender. Even as Jordan hopes to secure America against a brazen array of new enemies, he finds himself trapped between international as well as domestic assailants. Global forces conspire to steal the defense weapon even as U.S. government leaders will do anything to stop the nation's impending economic catastrophe---including selling-out Jordan and his weapon. With help from a group of powerfully connected Christian leaders known as The Patriots, Jordan works to save the nation from economic and moral collapse---and to clear his name. As world events begin setting the stage for the 'end of days' foretold in Revelation, Jordan must consider not only the biblical prophecies preached by his wife's pastor, but the personal price he must pay if he is to save the nation he loves.

My Review:
I really liked the book. The suspense held throughout the telling of the story. Right at the beginning the action starts and doesn't let up. Set in the near future the events are fictional however, it is just to real. There isn't anything in this book that if one was honest with his or her self couldn't see actually happen.

Spoiler alerts!!!!!!!!!!

Let's start with the phone. The All phone is an all in one device. It's you television, fax, computer etc. The All phone come in many sizes that's why it has taken over everything.

Now let's take on the world in this story. The U.S. government has become so indebted to under nations that everything is for sale including our freedoms which are trumped by the new version of the United Nations. Corruption is rampant within the U.S. as well as other countries. The story centers around the events making the one world government an reality.

So what makes the story real is that it could easily happen. As we (people in general) become complacent and not active in our government policies politicians can use our lack of action to their advantage. The book sounds like a conspiracy theory but I look at it as an warning. You may want to say it is paranoia. Isn't it better to be a little paranoid with your guard up or be blindsided.

I will give you an example. Have you ever seen Demolition Man? The movie stars Sandra Bullock and Slyvester Stallone. In the movie, cars drive themselves. We see this in other movies as well. Now we think this is fiction. Several years back (and I do mean years back) I was watching a program and the were testing cars that drove themselves. The goal was to have sensor is the median barrier on highways that regulated speed keeping cars a certain distance apart and to achieve this the sensor did the driving. The driver would take over once the car got close to the exit. This didn't go anywhere though. Why not? Because at the time people were not ready to give up driving. You think they gave up? You would be wrong. If I want you to do something sometimes coming right out with what I want you to do is too much for you to handle. You will say know. I still want you to do it so I will just take a more slow path to my goal. So what did they do. Came up with cars that help you parallel park. By slowly getting you use to the new technology you become use to the lack of control so that by the time the car that can drive itself is introduced you think of it as a natural progression.

This is the type of thing that this book deals with. Right now we have versions of the All phone. Smartphones really do all the things that we use. We have already made the switch to digital television. Most of the major channels also air their shows on the Internet via their website. So having all television channels broadcast only through the Internet is not far fetch at all.

The way the story deals with government issues is not far fetch either. Other countries with do what the U.N. says of deal with the consequences which usually means not getting aide or trade. World peace is a great concept. A one world government would seem like a good answer to achieve that goal however, it is not natural. Every empire you have tried to rule the world have failed...epically. Having an global economy and a global government are two completely different things but it seems that it is becoming increasingly integrated.

This is really a good story that can open your eyes. Make you aware of events and issues that are going on in the world around you. It is just very well done. So what didn't I like? It not that I didn't like it as that it will isolate certain readers. This is a christian book. I didn't not know that before I read it. It is undeniably there. Faith, the belief in God, and the belief that Jesus Christ died for our sins is very much apart of the plot of this story.

If you are not christian and can get pass that message in the book it is really worth the read in my opinion. I must note that I do love a good conspiracy theory also I am not one to read christian novels so this really surprised me. You may read this and see a good story. You may read this and think its all propaganda. You may read this and it leads you to be more proactive. But one this is for sure it is an entertaining read. So have I hooked ya?

Slug Club

2012-02-05T09:32:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the Slug Club. It never hurts to know the "right" people to help you in certain situation. In many areas of life, networking can make life changing connections.

To join just leave a comment below

Points Breakdown
A Hogwarts Class = 1 point
Slug Club = 5 points
A Hogwarts class & Slug Club = 6 points
Slug Club 2 or more members same book = 15points + 5points (if for a class) + 1point (if also listed under Charms class) You must leave a comment with your partner or partners name and the book you all are reading
Slug Club 2 or more members same book = 15points +
10points (if for a lesson) You must leave a comment with your partner or partners
name and the book you all are reading

All you have to do is list the book where they should go. I will take care of the points
February - Slug Club lesson can be listed under any Hogwarts class where it fits.

February - Read a book of a famous literary character be it Harry Potter, Stephanie Plum, Alex Cross etc. Extra 45points if you post an interview between yourself and the character (be creative, have fun with it)

Dumbledore's Army (D.A.)

2011-12-29T09:58:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Dumbledore's Army (D.A.)
We all know that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is out there with his Death Eaters waiting for the right opportunity strike. The spells and charms we learn here will enable us for the eventual day we will have to fight! Books read for Defense Against the Dark Arts class can be listed here.
To join just leave a comment below

Points Breakdown

Defense Against the Dark Arts Class = 1 point

D.A. Club = 5 points

Defense Against the Dark Arts Class & D.A. Club = 6 points

D.A. Club 2 or more members same book = 15points + 5points (if for a class) + 1point (if also listed under Charms class) You must leave a comment with your partner or partners name and the book you all are reading

D.A. Club 2 or more members same book = 15points + 10points (if for a lesson)You must leave a comment with your partner or partners name and the book you all are reading

All you have to do is list the book where they should go. I will take care of the points

January - D.A. Club lesson cannot be listed under you Defense Against the Dark Arts class. This is for 5points only listed under the D.A. Club

We will master Accio this month. The accio charm is used to summon an object to you.
How do you learn how this charm? Read books with that have works like summon, grab, demand, bring... In other works, the title should be a form of what the Accio charm is meant to do.
Also is important to this club because you just may be in the position of being away from something in the middle of a fight that may aide you in winning it.

You charm assignment should look like this
D.A. Club
January - Accio
Then list your books

February - D.A. Club lesson can be listed under you Defense Against the Dark Arts class. This is for 5points listed under the D.A. Club plus 1 point if you list it under Defense Against the Dark Arts class.

We will master Stupify this month. The stupify charm is used to stun a person or halt an moving objects.
How do you learn how this charm? Read books with that have works like stun, halt, pause even wait... In other works, the title should be a form of what the Stupify charm is meant to do.
The benefits of learning the charm is pretty obvious. It is an important charm to learn if one wants to defend his or her self.

You charm assignment should look like this
D.A. Club
February - Stupify
Then list your books

Soundtrack Challenge: Dirty Dancing

2011-12-06T21:32:00.002-05:00

Duration: Up to you!

Levels:
Somebody’s Baby: 3 - 5 books
Hungry Eyes: 6 -11 books
Overload: 12 books.
Rules: Audiobooks, anthologies, and re-reads are fine. Post as you go, or all at once. Indicate your total near the top of your post, preferably in bold. Thanks! Example: 3/6 for three books read out of a planned six.

Spell It Out option: Choose one of the following song titles to spell out with book titles, series titles and authors. Or choose your favorite soundtrack to spell!

I’ve Had the Time of My Life (Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes) (Hyperlink is to Final Dance.)
This song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1987. Read a book first published in 1987. Or read a book that had has an Academy Award winning movie; and yes, that means any academy award, such as for song! Or has a white dress on the cover. Read a book that is the first in a series. Or has characters or an author named Bill or Jennifer.

Be My Baby (The Ronettes)
Read a book with a body of water on the cover or has the word “baby” in the title. Or has a character or author named Ron or Ronette. This is the second song on the CD; read a book that is #2 in a series.

She's Like the Wind (Patrick Swayze) {Movie Scene}
Read a book with the word “wind” in the title or has a sad good-bye scene. Or has a character or author named Patrick or Johnny. This is the third song on the CD; read a book that is #3 in a series.

Hungry Eyes (Eric Carmen)
Read a book with an eye on the cover. Or had the word “hungry” or “hunger” in the title. Or the genre is fantasy. Or the character is learning to dance. Or has a character or author named Eric or Carmen. This is the fourth song on the CD; read a book that is #4 in a series.

Stay (Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs)
Read a book with the word “stay” in the title. Or has a character (or author) named Maurice or William. Or has one of the signs of the zodiac on the cover or in the title. This is the fifth song on the CD; read a book that is #5 in a series.

Yes (Merry Clayton)
Read a book that is a positive/affirmative/uplifting book, or has “yes” or “merry” in the title. Or shows a wheel(s) on the cover. This is the sixth song on the CD, so read a book that is the #6 in a series.

You Don't Own Me (The Blow Monkeys)
Read a book where someone breaks free from something or someone. Or has monkey(s) in it. This is the seventh song on the CD; read a book that is #7 in a series.

Hey! Baby (Bruce Channel)
Read a book with a predominately baby blue cover, or has the word “baby” in the title. Or a character calls another character “baby” or “babe” or Bruce. Or there is a baby in the book. This is the eighth song on the CD; read a book that is #8 in a series.

Overload (Alfie Zappacosta)
Read a book with a predominately dark blue cover, or has the word “overload” in the title, or has a character with a baritone voice, or has a character/author named Alfie. This is the ninth song on the CD; read a book that is #9 in a series.

Love Is Strange (Mickey & Sylvia)
Read a book that’s genre is romance. Or has the word “strange” (or a derivative of the word) in the title. Or the cover shows money. Or has a character or author named Mick, Micky, or Sylvia. This is the tenth song on the CD; read a book that is #10 in a series.

Where Are You Tonight? (Tom Johnston)
Read a book where someone gets lost or the protagonist is looking for a missing person. Or has a character named Tom (or it is the author’s name). This is the eleventh song on the CD; read a book that is #11 in a series.

In the Still of the Night (The Five Satins)
Read a book with a predominately black cover, or has the words “still” or “night” in the title. Or there is a satin dress on the cover. This is the twelfth song on the CD; read a book that is #12 in a series

Example of “Spell It Out” option (ignore articles – “a, an, the” – unless you need them) using titles, series names, or author’s name. You can use any of the song titles above.

S. -Seabiscuit: An American Legend, by Laura Hillenbrand
T. - Travises, #3; Smooth Talking Stranger, by Lisa Kleypas
A. - Adair, Cherry = Hush
Y. - Yours To Keep, by Shannon Stacey

2012 Read Your Own Books Reading Challenge

2011-12-06T21:26:00.003-05:00

January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012

This challenge is for those of us who have books that we’ve purchased and just haven’t gotten to. Rules:

Starts January 1, 2012 and ends December 31, 2012
Anyone can join
You don’t have to have a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers feel free to share your list of books in the comment section of the monthly link up post.
Reviews though not required are always nice.
Audio, E-books, Bound all count
Re-reads DO NOT count
There is no need to come up with your list of books in advance.
Challenge crossovers ok
Create a sign up post and link up in the linky below.
What qualifies for this challenge?:

Any book that you have personally purchased, been gifted, or swapped, BEFORE January 1, 2012 and just have not gotten the chance to read yet.
What DOES NOT qualify for this challenge?:

Any book that has been purchased AFTER January 1, 2012.
Any book that you have been asked to review
Tour sites, Netgalley, GalleyGrab, etc.
Library Books
Levels:

Level 1 – Read 1-5 Your Own Books
Level 2 – Read 6-10 Your Own Books
Level 3 – Read 11-20 Your Own Books
Level 4 – Read 21+ Your Own Books

2012 Romance Reading Challenge

2011-12-06T21:20:00.003-05:00

2012 Romance Reading Challenge

This reading challenge is for any genre of Romance with the exception of YA and Erotica. Have fun with this one peeps!

Rules:

Anyone can join
You don't need a blog to participate. For non-bloggers, please leave a comment with a link (if you review somewhere else) to the review or leave a list of the books you read on the monthly link up post.
Audio, ebooks, and bound books are ok.
No re-reads
Create a sign up post and post the link in the linky here.
Challenge goes from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Challenge Crossovers are ok.

Levels:

Level 1 - Read 4 Romance novels
Level 2 - Read 10 Romance novels
Level 3 - Read 14 Romance novels
Level 4 - Read 15+ Romance novels

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

2011-12-06T21:09:00.001-05:00

2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge

Run's January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012.

The Rules:

Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
Audio, eBooks, paper, re-reads all count.
No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
There are four levels:

The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
The "Fun Size" YA Reading Challenge – Read 20 Young Adult novels.
The Jumbo Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 40 Young Adult novels.
The Mega size YA Reading Challenge – Read 50+ Young Adult novels.

My book list:

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

2011-12-06T21:00:00.003-05:00

2012 Support Your Local Library Challenge

Rules:

Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate. If you are a Non-blogger please leave a comment with a link (if you review elsewhere) to your review or with the book(s) you read.
Audio, ebooks (some libraries allow ebooks to be checked out), bound books are ok.
No re-reads
Create a sign up post and post the link in the linky here.
Challenge goes from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Levels:

Level 1 - Read 12 library books
Level 2 - Read 24 library books
Level 3 - Read 36 library books
Level 4 - Read 37+ library books

My book list:

Bump by Megan McCafferty

2012 ARC Reading Challenge

2011-12-06T20:54:00.003-05:00

2012 ARC Reading Challenge

What qualifies for this challenge?:

1. Actual Advance Reader Copies - this includes from tour sites like ATW Tours.
2. Any book that YOU ARE ASKED by either an author, publisher, publicist, media group, etc. to review.
3. Book Sneeze, Pump Up your Books, Tyndale and S&S Galley Grab ("they send out a monthly list & the first ~100 to get to their site gets the book to review").

What does NOT qualify for this challenge?:

1. Any book that YOU personally asked for a review copy of.
2. Netgalley

The Rules:
Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the monthly wrap-up post on Jamie's blog.
Audio, eBooks, and bound books count.
No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
Create a sign up post and link to the linky here.
Challenge runs from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012.
Crossover challenges is ok

There are four levels:

The Mini ARC Challenge – Read 4 ARC's.
The "Fun Size" ARC Challenge – Read 10 ARC's.
The Jumbo Size ARC Challenge – Read 20 ARC's.
The Mega size ARC Challenge – Read 21+ ARC's.
NOTE: You may UPGRADE your challenge but you can NOT DOWNGRADE your challenge.

I'm doing The Mini ARC Challenge - 4

Setting Up Hogwarts Reading Challnege Post

2011-12-01T09:40:00.004-05:00

This is how you Hogwarts Reading Challlenge post should look. Having your post this way helps me keep track of points. To make things easy just copy and past this example. Remember to link your post back to the sign up page. This post should be the one you linked to Mr. Linky so that I can easily find it.

Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2012 Jan 1 to Dec 31

In the Hogwarts Reading Challenge you are a student of the school. You will be sorted into houses. Each book you read must fit in to the subject of one the classes. You do not have to read books that fit all the subjects. Each book equals one point (toward the house cup).

You must read at least 5 books (audio books counts) before you are enter in to the drawing. At the end of the Challenge one person will win a $15 Amazon Gift Card and one house will win the House Cup (purely a pride thing).

There are mini challenges that has it own prize

To be eligible to win prizes you must have a blog and sign up using Mr. Linky. Then start a Hogwarts Reading Challenge post and link it back to this post.
****You can be eligible for prize if you become a member of I Love Reading Challenges on Shelfari and keep the list of the books you read for this challenge under the Hogwarts Challenge post there. You can also become a fan of the I Love Reading Challenges Facebook fan page and keep you list there as well.
Reading one of the 7 Harry Potter books earns you 25 house points. You can only read this books once during the challenge. 15 points for any other Harry Potter related book such as Tales of Beedle the Bard or A Parent's Guide to Harry Potter, again these books and only be read once during the challenge.

The Houses
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin

COURSES
Transfiguration - read any book that has trans or figure in its title, is about shape shifting, has a shape shifter in it, or is about anythiThing having to do with changing one thing into another
1. book
2. book

Defence Against the Dark Arts - read any book that has defence(defense), dark and/or art(s) in its title, read any book that is about self defense, war, history of war/marital arts, murder mysteries

Charms - read any book that has charm in its title, any book that deals with gives something or someone a new aspect (for example the nerdy guy become a handsome doctor)

Potions - read any book that has potion in its title, cookbooks count but you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Astronomy - read any book that has astronomy in its title, books about planets, stars, etc, sci-fi
1. book

History of Magic - read any book that has history or magic in its title, books about magic, witches, etc

Herbology - read any book that has herb in its title, again cookbooks count and again you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Arithmancy - read any book that has arithmancy in its title, any book with a number in its title, any book that deal with numbers or math

Ancient Runes - read any book that has ancient or runes in its title, books about historical places like the pyramids, Stonehenge, great wall of china, or any book about symbols

Divination - read any book that has divine in its title, any book about psychics or psychic abilities, tarot reading etc
1. boook

Care of Magical Creatures - read any book that has magical or creatures in its title, about supernatural beings

Muggle Studies - nearly any book works here, what better way to understand Muggles than to read what they read

CLUBS & SPORTS

Charms Club
list book
Lesson:
list book

Dumbledore's Army (D.A.)

Music Appreciation and Great Intonation Club (M.A.G.I.C.)

Slug Club

Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (S.P.E.W.)

Potions Club

Charms Club

2011-12-01T09:26:00.007-05:00

Welcome to the Charms Club. You will earn an extra 5 points for reading books that are Charms Related (see Charm Class ). This means any book that is read for Charms class can be listed here. We will also learn how to do certain charms. If you learn the charm it will be worth 5 points. Learned charms are ONLY listed under the Charms Club.

Use this post to communicate with your fellow Charms Club members if you like. It would be in your best interest to do so as books read by two or more members will have a value of 15points.

To join Charms just leave a comment

Point Breakdown:

Charms Class = 1 point

Charms Club = 5 points

Charms Class & Charms Club = 6 points

Charms Club 2 or more members same book = 15points + 5points (if for a class) + 1point (if also listed under Charms class) You must leave a comment with your partner or partners name and the book you all are reading

Charms Club 2 or more members same book = 15points + 10points (if for a lesson)
All you have to do is list the book where they should go. I will take care of the points.

Charm Club members:
Kari

January - Charms lesson cannot be listed under your Charm class. This is for 5 points only listed under Charms Club.
The charm we will master this month is Accio. The accio charm is used to summon an object to you.
How do you learn how this charm? Read books with that have works like summon, grab, demand, bring... In other works, the title should be a form of what the Accio charm is meant to do.

You charm assignment should look like this
Charms Club
January - Accio
Then list your books

February - Charms lesson can be listed under your Charms class. This is for 5 points listed under Charms Club plus 1 point if you list it under your Charms class.
The charm we will master this month is Lumos. The lumos charm is used to light your wand tip. In other words your wand becomes sort of like a flashlight.

How do you learn how this charm? Read books with that have variations of the word light (also words like see, sight would work since its hard to see in the dark...getting where I'm going). In other works, the title should be a form of what the Lumos charm is meant to do.

Your charm assignment should look like this
Charms Club
February - Lumos
Then list your books

Sign Up: Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2012

2011-12-01T09:11:00.009-05:00

Hogwarts School
of Witchcraft and Wizardry Reading Challenge 2012

UNIFORM
Items that make you feel comfortable and cozy. May we suggest soft cotton or wool pajamas and a comfy blanket?

SORTING HAT
If you would like to be in Slytherin House. Leave a comment you do not have to be sorted for that house. Previous challengers can choose to stay in the house they were in last year just leave a comment stating that.

THE HOUSES
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin

COURSE BOOKS
All students are allowed to choose books that fit the criteria of the courses.

COURSES
Transfiguration - read any book that has trans or figure in its title, is about shape shifting, has a shape shifter in it, or is about anything having to do with changing one thing into another

Defence Against the Dark Arts - read any book that has defence(defense), dark and/or art(s) in its title, read any book that is about self defense, war, history of war/marital arts, murder mysteries

Charms - read any book that has charm in its title, any book that deals with gives something or someone a new aspect (for example the nerdy guy become a handsome doctor)

Potions - read any book that has potion in its title, cookbooks count but you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Astronomy - read any book that has astronomy in its title, books about planets, stars, etc, sci-fi

History of Magic - read any book that has history or magic in its title, books about magic, witches, etc

Herbology - read any book that has herb in its title, again cookbooks count and again you must cook at least one recipe out of the book

Arithmancy - read any book that has arithmancy in its title, any book with a number in its title, any book that deal with numbers or math

Ancient Runes - read any book that has ancient or runes in its title, books about historical places like the pyramids, Stonehenge, great wall of china, or any book about symbols

Divination - read any book that has divine in its title, any book about psychics or psychic abilities, tarot reading etc

Care of Magical Creatures - read any book that has magical or creatures in its title, about supernatural beings

Muggle Studies - nearly any book works here, what better way to understand Muggles than to read what they read

CLUBS & SPORTS
To find a description of a club and to join it click on it and add your Hogwarts Reading Challenge post link to the Linky. You can converse with members of the club through comments on that post. Check posts regularly for club activities (they will also be tweeted).

Charms Club

Cheerleading Squad – not active - while trying a new a triple back flip spilt the professor well…is unavailable

Dueling Club – not active - professor was hit with an unknown jinx No worries we are sure that the healers at Saint Mungo’s will straighten things out

Dumbledore's Army (D.A.)

Inquisitorial Squad – disbanded

Gobstones Club – not active at the moment - someone jinx the stones
with booba tuba puss

Music Appreciation and Great Intonation Club (M.A.G.I.C.)

Slug Club

Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare (S.P.E.W.)

Wizard's Chess Club – not active – all pieces need repair Helena Hornsnout and Ramus Romshack marathon chess games It was quite a sight and amazingly long Rumor goes that Romshack is still sleeping it off after two weeks

Potions Club

Qudditch - Professor Umbridge, the High Inquistor has suspended alll Qudditch games per Educational Decree 24. We are working on this.

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 lamp
1 comfy chair or sofa
1 set brass scales
1 notebook, pack of note cards, or electronic device *for your reviews and tracking points

Students may also bring and owl OR a cat, a toad, or any pet of your choice. Please try to keep them small so that they fit into your dormitory.

WE MUST REMIND YOU THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS"

How the challenge works:
You must read at least 5 books (audio books counts) before you are enter in to the drawing. At the end of the Challenge one person will win a $15 Amazon Gift Card and one house will win the House Cup (purely a pride thing).

Mini challenge has its own prize

To be eligible to win prizes you must have a blog and sign up using Mr. Linky. Then start a Hogwarts Reading Challenge post and link it back to this post. Follow this example! It makes it easier for me to keep track of points which is done once a month.
****You can be eligible for prize if you become a member of I Love Reading Challenges on Shelfari and keep the list of the books you read for this challenge under the Hogwarts Challenge post there. You can also become a fan of the I Love Reading Challenges Facebook fan page and keep you list there as well.

Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2012

2011-12-01T08:21:00.008-05:00

Hogwarts School
of Witchcraft and Wizardry Reading Challenge 2012

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Student,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Reading Challenge. Please click the crest to find a list of all classes and clubs. As well as instructions on how to get sorted, how to choose books for classes, and information on school clubs.
Term begins on January 1. We await your owl.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

The Harry Potter Project

2011-11-22T08:48:00.004-05:00

The Harry Potter Project

I love the Harry Potter series. I'm sure you all know that since I'm hosting the Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2012. I am also going to re-read the series again. This time I am going to do an indepth review. If you would like to join me please do. I would like to have a discussion about the meaning of the books. What did you found interesting? What did you get from the story? Dicuss the characters. Who is Nicholas Flamel? Tales of Beetle the Bard, what other stories does it remind you of? Let dig in. The more people the better. First book review/discussion end of January 2012.

Blogoversary 11/22/2011

2011-11-21T10:02:00.006-05:00

Blogoversary 11/22/2011

I must say that I am surprised at the lack of reponse for these 3 free books. I have read She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True. I liked them both (read before I started blogging). There was one comment on the Blogoversary post Marce. So Marce if you would like the books they are yours.

Blogoversary 11/22/11

2011-11-12T16:23:00.005-05:00

It's been 3 years?! WOW time has flown. I thank you all for the support and fun. I love do this. To say thank you I'm having a Blogoversay Giveaway. This is not to gain new followers; this is a thank you for the followers I already have. All you have to do is leave a comment to this post that you would like to be entered into the giveaway and since this is a book blog recommend a book you would like to see reviewed here. The winner will be announced on 11/22/11.

The giveaway: I got these from a library book sale (support your local library...they need it)

3 books authored by Wally Lamb
She Come Undone
The Hour I First Believed
I Know This Much Is True

Thanks again y'all

Stepahnie Plum the movie

2011-11-11T09:08:00.003-05:00

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

I know I'm late but they have release the trailer for Janet Evanovich's One for the Money. The movie is based on the first book in the Stephanie Plum series that is 18 books deep now. Explosive Eighteen is slated for release on November 22nd. I have to read the Plum series from the beginning. I listened to most of the series on audiobooks. If any of you have ever listened to an audiobook you know that the narrator makes or breaks the book. The narrator for the first couple of books was flat but the Lorelei King either found her voice (since I'm not sure she hasn't narrated the whole series) or she saved the series in audiobook format. She gives the story life something that was missing in the first couple of books. Anyway on to the movie.

I am not thrilled. I watched the trailer and it did not have me wanting to see the movie. In fact, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to wait for the DVD. So here's what I think. The Plum series would work better as a tv show. Not everything work as a movie. And if they wanted to go the movie right I would've done a HBO, Showtime, or even Lifetime movie. Hey it works for Nora Roberts. It was the right decision for her to make. Like I said, the Plum series would have been great for tv. There are many cop/detective/crime shows but none that has the comedic action that make the Plum series different from the pack.

I am also not in love with the casting choices. Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum. She may be ok but I know that Sandra Bullock would've nailed it. I know y'all may disagree but Julia Roberts would've done a good job. And believe it or not Alyssa Milano would've made a great Stephanie. Yeah I said it, Alyssa Milano! Jason O'Mara as Joe Morelli. Eh, I think this may work. He is cute and a little rugged looking. He can pass as a cute cop. Daniel Sunjata as Ranger is a no. Sunjata is cute. He is sexy. But he is NOT Ranger. Rey Curtis, Mario Lopez, Benjamin Bratt there's more but you get the point. Ranger is suppose to...well...make us have to change our panties. And Sunjata just doesn't do that. The actress who's playing Connie doesn't quite fit the image either.

What they may have gotten right. Sherri Shepherd as Lula. Sherri is funny and will probably bring the sass and attitude that is Lula. By the way, Lula is favorite character (ok so Ranger is but we're not counting him). Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur seem to be a good fit from looking at the trailer.

Watch the trailer and let me know what you think. I just think they could've done better. All these books and years to think about making the books at "reality" and this is what they came up with. For all you authors out there, when you are contemplating making your books into a movie consult your fans. Yes it's your vision but we are the audience. We are the people you are trying to get double the money out of (paying for the book & paying to see the movie). Listening to us, take what we want in consideration and you'll probably be rewarded in sales.

Reading Challenges

2011-11-10T22:32:00.004-05:00

It's getting towards the end of the year so you know what that mean. 2011 reading challenges are coming to an end. So how did you all do? I did horrible. I had many setbacks toward middle of the year and did no reading for months. However, that doesn't mean that I'm going to join less challenges next year. NAY! I will have just as high of a reading goal.

If you are already planning what challenges you are going to join next year head over to my bookclub on Shelfari call I Love Reading Challenges. You will find many reading challenges for the upcoming year (we will start updating on December 1st). My coadmins Tenia F (Slytherin student in the Hogwarts Reading Challenge) and Cora R are friendly and will answer any questions you may have if I am not available. I fact if it wasn't for the two of them I just don't know what I would do...they are great!

If you have a reading challenge you would like us to know about please either join I Love Reading Challenges and post it there, leave it in a comment along with any links, or tweet it to me. 274 people are members of I Love Reading Challenges so chances are someone will be interested in joining your challenge.

**Coming soon more updates and information about Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2012

Announcement Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2012

2011-10-27T15:40:00.007-04:00

Announcement Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2012

I am still working on the new challenge. The subjects will remain the same. So if you are like Hermione you will be able to start planning your reading list. Now, something new...in the books there ate mentions of different clubs and groups so this year you will be able to sign up to a club or group. I will be posting a sign up page soon. I can tell you that there will be quidditch teams, a music/choir club,a homework club, and others. Mini challenge theme announcement coming soon! Leave a comment if you would like to see a particular club.

Clubs:

You must have at least 3 classmates to be a club.

Books read for the club will have the same point value as a mini challenge book (10 points)

Books read for a club can also be listed under a class and mini challenges

Points:

each book is 1 point for the main challenge.

books read for the mini challenge is worth 10 points each (the minimum books to complete a mini challenge will vary this year), plus 15 points for each additional, plus 1 point if you also list it under a class *you must list this books under your classes I will not do it for you this year.

Harry Potter books are only worth 25 points. They can NOT be listed under your classes nor can they be used for any mini challenge.

Harry Potter related books are worth 15 points (example Tales of Beedle the Bard, Guides to Harry Potter, basically any book that has Harry Potter in its title or is about the Harry Potter world). The CAN be listed under your classes and for mini challenges.

10 points for books read for a club *see above for points involving clubs

MIA 2...Yeah need another one

2011-10-07T08:54:00.002-04:00

So I ended up disappearing again. This time it was because I got laid off. I, of course, had to go on an job search. It hasn't been a long search. I was lucky and found something fairly quick. Unfortunately, it pays less so I'm now having to get use to trying to figure out how to pay my overpriced rent and other bills. So there you have it. This is why I had to disappear again. Many changes this year but hey...that's life right.

M.I.A....Sorry

2011-08-10T09:17:00.004-04:00

Things have been crazy for me in the past couple of months. Unfortunately, I have had alot I have had to deal with in my personal life and the blog and giveaways had to take a backseat. I am so sorry to all the winners. However, I have gotten most of the things that had to be dealt with in my personal life and can get back to the fun stuff....my blog and the giveaways.

Midsummer Eve Giveaway winner TeamWolf1988 your books are on the way...I am added two older books No Love Lost by Eleanor Woods and Haunted Spouse by Heather Allison

Anja Kasup I don't know if you sent me your email address but I do need it for the gift card. Please email me at bunnitaz@hotmail.com in subject line put in Hogwarts Challenge.

Kari, Andrea, and Tenia your items have to be sent to me and then sent to you. They will not let me send them to you directly so it will take some time. I will be in contact with each of you.

Every time I do a giveaway, contest, or challenge I learn so much. My lesson this time around. Have all prizes boxed up and ready to go ahead of time. So the Hogwarts Reading Challenge is coming back but instead of September it will start January !st most of the rules will be the same but the mini challenges will be different. And yes, I will have the prizes on hand already (which is why it is not starting until Jan 1st).

Once again sorry everyone...and thank you for participating and joining my blog

Little Ghetto Girl by Danielle Santiago

2011-06-19T17:35:00.005-04:00

Little Ghetto Girl by Danielle Santiago
Hardcover pgs 197
06/19/2011
rating: 3stars

from back of book:

After a successful life in the drug game, twenty-one-year-old Kisa Kane plans to retire - settle down, find a good man and raise a family of her own. Done with the thug life , she has everything a ghetto girl would want: plenty of money, drop-dead-gorgeous looks, and two thriving legitimate businesses. Until she falls in love with Sincere Montega, a powerful drug dealer whose down-and-dirty money pulls Kisa back into the world she is trying so hard to leave behind. With lies, cheating, and conflict, Kai, their newborn, may be the only reason for this couple to stay together, but their lives are ineviably changed in the most unexpected way the only way the streets of Harlem can.

My Review:
I have said it before, I will say it now, and I will say it again. What is with all the brand name dropping in urban/street fiction, hell name dropping period? It is so not necessary for a good story. The characters are always ghetto beauties. Will anyone break the forumla? I am in search for it. Anyway on to the review. Good looking girl meets good looking guy. Both are involved in the streets. They love, they fight, they have beef with others, and in the end they have a happy ending.

What did stand out for me in this story is the jealousy of Kisa's sister Shea (same father different mother). Shea is as grimy as a sibling can get. All and all this is a good urban/street fiction story. I did not like the writing style of the story though. Kisa said. Sincere said. And it jumped forward too much. Also the sex scene where not written out which is actually a change for this genre. I missed the explict sex scenes. I rated this 3 stars because there were points when I was really interested in what was going to happen next. TBR list #4 really there's no rush.

Challenges:
Off the Shelf Challenge
What's in a Name 4
2011 Where Are You Reading

Follow Friday 06/20/2011

2011-06-10T11:01:00.004-04:00

Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee
Feature blogger Nicki J Markus

Q. The magic book fairy pops out of your cereal box and says "you and your favorite character (from a book of course) can switch places!" Who are you going to switch with?

A. Ok if I had to choose a character it would be Harry Potter though I would much rather just be a student at the school. I love that magical world. Ummm so it wasn't that hard of a choice.

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. (Required) Follow the Featured Bloggers - Beackseat Reader!!!!!
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing at Parajunkee.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say "howdy". Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "hola."
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the love...and the followers.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-06-10T09:23:00.003-04:00

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Ebook pgs 496
05/20/2011
rating: 5stars

Overview: Beatrice is living in dystopian Chicago. The city is broken up into 5 factions. When a person reaches the age of 16 he or she has to take an aptitude test. The test tells the recipient which faction he or she is best suited for. After the aptitude test, there is the Choosing Ceremony where the person announces which faction he or she has chosen from that point on the person has limited contact with his or her family (if they choose to live the faction they were born into) “motto faction or blood.”
Where to begin with this book? Let’s start with the factions. There are 5 of them. Dauntless faction values bravery. Abnegation faction values selflessness. Erudite values intelligence. Amity values peace and friendship. Candor faction values honesty. The factions came about to rid society of those negative traits that make a society least than harmonious. The problem with factions is that people have to live by one trait I do think that people have one dominant trait but they are other traits that cannot be suppressed. Humans are too complex creatures to live in a “box”.
The faction’s values are not all they are cracked up to be. Amity is not really explored in this book so I cannot speak on them. Candor honesty is more like tactlessness. There is a way to be honest and not so abrupt. Erudite’s intelligence is more like arrogance. Abnegation’s selflessness is servitude. Dauntless’s bravery is needless danger for danger stake. Or at least this is what the faction’s values have turned into.
Next is Beatrice as a character. She is not the most likable character at the beginning. I think it was because in her head she thought she was this nice girl weakling but she also was cold and heartless at times. The character I liked best was Four. I pretty much figured out his background and the side plot with him. The rest of characters were good as well. The story felt sluggish in the beginning but for me it picked up quickly. I cannot wait for the second one.
Comparisons to Harry Potter….so you saying you didn’t see me doing this LOL I’m hosting a Harry Potter Reading Challenge for heaven’s sake you know I have to go there. Here we go:
The factions somewhat remind me of the houses in the HP series. Dauntless would be Slytherin and Gryffindor. The two houses are not that different they are just good twin evil twin. Erudite would be Ravenclaw.. Amity and Abnegation would be Hufflepuff. Candor really doesn’t fit into any one house. Erudite in this first book can also be Slytherin but an explanation would contain a spoiler so I won’t get into that.
I heard people make comparisons to Hunger Games so I must read them now. TBR list #1…LOVED IT! I cannot wait to see what is going to happen in the second book. The first book we left with the city is chaos.

Discussion with Lah of Lazy Girl Reads and Lisa at Baffled Books will be added later tonight.

Challenges
2011 Where Are You Reading?
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011

Follow Friday June 3 2011

2011-06-03T08:10:00.003-04:00

Follow Friday hosted by Parajunkee

Feature blogger Amy from Backseat Reader

This week's question is: What are you doing to prepare for an upcoming zombie apocalypse and/or the return of Mel Gibson to the silver screen? (Both of which could be terrifying.)

Well first for the zombie apocalypse...I'm doing nothing. I think I should be going the shooting range and stock piling weapons. As for Mel Gibson, I was too much of a fan to begain with so not watching his movies is not an issue for me.

I think that one of the best thing that anyone can do (and this goes for any celebrity, business, etc) not support the person. If you don't agree with his view points then don't help him make a living. Stop watching the movies he's in.

To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list
2. (Required) Follow the Featured Bloggers - Beackseat Reader!!!!!
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing at Parajunkee.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say "howdy". Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "hola."
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the love...and the followers.

Wednesday's Wonders 06/01/2011

2011-06-01T09:02:00.003-04:00

Wednesday's Wonders and it's where you talk about a song that has been stuck in your head that week or reminds you of one of the books your reading. Started by Jessica @ Reading with Style

Okay so the song that has been stuck in my head is the theme song from the Fraggle Rock! LOL

"Dance your cares away, Worry's for another day. Let the music play, Down at Fraggle Rock"

Baby-sitters Little Sister #59: Karen's Leprechaun

2011-05-31T22:11:00.004-04:00

Baby-sitters Little Sister #59: Karen's Leprechaun by Ann M. Martin

Paperback pgs.93

rating: 2stars

05/31/2011

From back of book:

Karen and Andrew are going to be in the St. Patrick's Day parade. The parade director is a funny little man dressed all in green. He tells Karen he is a leprechaun.Karen is not sure if she should believe the leprechaun. But Karen loves his tales about rainbows and pots of gold. Could the leprechaun stories be big trouble for Karen?

My Review:

Karen and her brother Andrew were asked to be in the Stoneybrook St. Patrick's Day parade by the eledrly couple down the street. On their way home they spot a dog on their front stoop. After looking for the dog owner they end up keeping the dog (with their parent's permission) but their other pets don't get along the dog, Lucky. At the end Karen finds Lucky and home.

What I didn't like about the book? At one point they thought someone was breaking in. Karen's mom and stepfather told them to stay in the bedroom. Of course Karen thinks she can come to the rescue. The parents did not address the fact that she disobey what they told her and that if it had of been a real burlger she could've made things worse. I would have liked that addressed. I also didn't like that Mr. O'Casey apologize about telling her he was a leprechaun. He is an adult, her going off on her own is another act of disobeying whether she believed he was a real leprechaun or not. The last was that O'Casey ending up seeming a little creepy with the letters.

Challenges:

YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge

The Baby-sitters Club Challenge

Baby-sitters Little Sister #21: Karen's New Teacher by Ann M. Martin

2011-05-31T21:26:00.004-04:00

Baby-sitters Little Sister #21: Karen's New Teacher by Ann M. Martin

Paperback pgs. 103

Rating: 4stars

05/31/2011

From back of book:

The meanest teacher ever
Karen loves her second-grade teacher. Ms. Colman never yells, and she makes school interesting. Karen's class is learning about math by making pizzas!

But now there's bad news. Karen and her friends are getting a substitute teacher. Mrs. Hoffman has lots of rules, like NO TALKING. She even makes Karen clean the sink.

Please come back, Ms. Colman

My Review:

Karen has a very close attachment to her teacher so when Ms. Coleman announce that she will be out for a month she is gigundo (her favorite word) upset. She doesn't like the first substitute because she treated them like little kids by doing things like reading from a picture book. She doesn't like the second substitute because she had way to many rule, especially no talking.

Mrs. Hoffman was indeed a strict teacher that most kids would hate. I find that I really kike the Little Sister series. Karen is a little girl who speaks her mind. I feel that she is written older than the seven year old she is suppose to be but so far each story has something that I remember I would have related to at that age. For this book it would be the favorite teacher mine at the age range was Ms. Clayton.

Challenges:

The Baby-sitters Club Challenge

YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge 2011

It's Monday! What Are Yu Reading? 05/30/2011

2011-05-30T09:33:00.005-04:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

A weekly meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey.

Books I finished last week:

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown - Great mystery & suspense story. Has a subplot of romance. Keep me interested to the very end.

The Baby-sitters Club #2: Claudia and The Phantom Caller - Claudia and friends receive calls where the caller hangs up without saying anything. It just so happen that there is a robber who is doing the same thing. Are the calls they are receive from the Phantom Caller?

Baby-sitters Little Sister #9: Karen's Sleepover - Karen has a sleepover but a too-grown-for-her-own-good classmate is ruining the fun. On top of that Karen had a fight with her best friend. Will she make up with her bestie? fav line from this story: "we are not best friends, we are best enemies."

Books I'm reading this week:
The Baby-sitters Club #1: Kristy's Great Idea - When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club-a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends all while doing something they each love to do-she has no idea how much the club will change everything.

Crank calls, uncomfortable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients ...running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders , Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. But only if they stick together...

Baby-sitters Little Sister #21: Karen's New Teacher - Karen loves her second-grade teacher. Ms. Colman never yells, and she makes school interesting. Karen's class is learning about math by making pizzas!

But now there's bad news. Karen and her friends are getting a substitute teacher. Mrs. Hoffman has lots of rules, like NO TALKING. She even makes Karen clean the sink.

Pleas come back, Ms. Coleman!

Baby-sitters Little Sister #5: Karen's Leprechaun - Karen and Andrew are going to be inn the St, Patrick's Day parad3\e, The parade directr is a gunny little man dressed all in green. He tell Karen he is a leprechaun.

Karen is not sure if she shold believe the leprechaun. But Karen loves his tales about rainbows and pots of gold. could the leprechaun stories be big trouble for Karen?

The Baby-sitters Club #39: Poor Mallory! - There's some bad news in the Pike family: Mallory's chlad has just lost his job. And since money is going to be tight until Mr. Pike finds a new job, all eight of the Pike kids decide to help out.

Nicky gets a paper route, Vanessa tries selling her poetry, and Mallory takes a baby-sitting job in Kristy's ritzy neighborhood. But being around the Delaneys only makes Mallory feel poor. They have a cat that cost $400 and tennis courts in their backyard!

Poor Mallory-she needs the Baby-sitters now more than ever!

It's my birthday so I'm not sure how much reading I will get done today but this is the plan thus far.

The Baby-sitters Club: Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin

2011-05-29T19:30:00.004-04:00

The Baby-sitters Club: Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin
paperback pgs.156
rating: 4stars
05/29/2011

From back of book:

When Kristy Thomas has the great idea to form a baby-sitters club-a chance to earn money and spend time with her friends all while doing something they each love to do-she has no idea how much the club will change everything.

Crank calls, uncomfortable toddlers, wild pets, untruthful clients ...running a business is hard work! Kristy and her co-founders , Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey, are sure they can handle anything. But only if they stick together...

My Review:
It was a great idea. I wish that I could have been apart of a baby-sitting club. Well I would have had to live in an area where there were baby-sitters. I thought it was smart of them to keep records and a notebook of experiences and all of that (be carefully the IRS may audit you for not paying your kiddie taxes). Kristy is very relatable character. She is a preteen who is smart, upset about the divorce of her parents, she is jealous of her mom new boyfriend, and she tries hard not to like him. I think most people who have had parents who'd divorce when they were young can relate to Kristy.tbr list #2 I gave this such a high position on the tbr list because of its iconic nature.

Challenges:
YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge 2011
The Baby-sitters Club Challenge

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown

2011-05-29T15:13:00.004-04:00

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown
Audiiobook 12cds
rating: 4stars
05/25/2011

From Goodreads:
Hard-living detective-turned-P.I., Dodge Hanley tries not to dwell on the past. But when he gets a call from Caroline King, “the one” who got away, there’s no time for looking back; their daughter is in trouble.

Caroline has told Berry that Dodge is an old friend they can rely on to prove she didn’t shoot her ex-lover, even though she’s already told the cops she saw the real culprit. It was Oren Starks, Berry insists, a former co-worker fired for stalking her. Dodge believes his daughter…and he’s pretty sure Deputy Ski Nyland does, too, considering how hard he’s working to find Starks. Berry’s told them he’s depraved, and from what they learn, she’s got him pegged. But nut jobs play by their own crazy rules. The only thing clear to Dodge is that Starks is obsessed with having Berry…or killing her, and neither is acceptable to a man who’s determined to right some old wrongs, even if he has to risk his life—not to mention his heart—to do it

My Review:
This was a great story. It had several little stories going on. The main plot is that the main character Dodge is called by his ex, Caroline, to help their daughter Berry. Berry is being stalker by a previous co-worker, Oren. Deputy Nyland is called to the house when someone has called in a 911 of someone being shot.
It is apparent that Nyland has developed feelings for Berry right off that bat. Berry also feels something for Nylan too though the two fight it for awhile. Dodge and Caroline are not honest about their relationship to Berry but she soons figures it out. All the while Oren is killing and creating havoc. There is a pretty good twist in the book. And the ending is expected but still goood. tbr list #2 the narrator voice keep the story moving forward. he changed tones to differentate characters.

Challenges:
Whisper Stories in My Ear 2011
2011 Where Are You Reading?
Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge

2011-05-26T10:01:00.004-04:00

Do you ever feel like you’re in a reading rut? That you don’t read enough variety? That you need to branch out, spread your literary wings and explore other genres, flavors, styles?

Oh my yes. Right now I am reading a lot of urban fiction. I would love to read more literary works but they just don't seem to hold my attention as much right now. I am really into quick reads right now and I find that the books I would like to read would take awhile to get through. Maybe once falls rolls back around I'll be more willing to cuddle up with a more serious book.

Baby-sitters Little Sister #9: Karen's Sleepover by Ann M. Martin

2011-05-24T09:47:00.005-04:00

Baby-sitters Little Sister #9: Karen's Sleepover by Ann M. Martin
Paperback pgs 102
rating: 3stars
05/23/2011

From back of book:
Karen's having her first sleepover ever! She and her friends are going to tell spooky stories, try on makeup, and raid the refrigerator.

But then Karen and Nancy get into a big fight. Karen doesn't want Nancy to come to her party. A new girl comes instead, and she is no fun! What will Karen do now?

My Review:
This is about Kristy little stepsister Karen. Karen is a smart seven year old who's a little too smart for her own good. She decides that she wants to have a sleepover and after her dad and stepmom ok she invites all the girls in her class to it. Then she gets into an argument one of her best friends and it just so happen a new girl enters the class named Pamela. Pamela is way too grown for her age and it soon becomes apparent that she shouldn't have been invited to the party. Good story about friendship and also about how people are not what you think they are by just looking at them.

Challenges:
YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge
The Baby-sitters Club Challenge

The Baby-sitters Club #2: Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls

2011-05-23T16:49:00.004-04:00

The Baby-sitters Club #2: Claudia and the Phantom Caller by Ann M. Martin -
paperback
4stars
05/23/2011

from back of book:
Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey have had some strange adventures since they started the Baby-sitters Club. But nothing's been as spooky as what's going on right now. The baby-sitters have been getting mysterious phone calls whn they're out on their jobs. When a phone rings and they pick up, there's no one on the other end of the line.
Claudia's sure it's the Phantom Caller, a jewel thief who's been operating in the area. cluadia has always liked reading mysteries, but she sheoesn't like it when they happen to her. So she and the baby-sitters decide to take action-with some very mixed results!

my review:
This story revolves around Claudia Kishi. She is a smart pre-teen girl in the seventh grade. She loves art and have an...unique sense of style. The baby-sitters include Claudia, Stacey McGill, Kristy Thomas, and Mary Anne Spier. The story is about a jewel theif who calls the household (presumelying to make sure no one is home) before breaking in. The girls get paranoid as two of them get calls where the caller never says anything. And the other two are just spooked from the thought of the caller. The side story is about Claudia and her crush on a boy named Trevor Sandbourne. (YA)tbr list #3 it's a fun quick story but if you been waiting to read other books did it count definite wait

Challenges:
The Baby-sitters Club Challenge
YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge
2011 Where Are You Reading?

It's Mondy! What Are You Reading? 05/23/2011

2011-05-23T08:44:00.002-04:00

It's Mondy! What Are You Reading?

A weekly meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey .

Books I finished last week:
Divergent by Veronica Roth - Great book 5stars. I am reveiw this with Lisa and Lah. So a review will be coming soon for this

A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber- Good chick lit book that does a great job telling the story of several women lives while linking them all together through the knitting store.

Reading this week:
The Baby-sitters Club #2: Claudia and the Phantom Caller by Ann M. Martin -
from back of book:
Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey have had some strange adventures since they started the Baby-sitters Club. But nothing's been as spooky as what's going on right now. The baby-sitters have been getting mysterious phone calls whn they're out on their jobs. When a phone rings and they pick up, there's no one on the other end of the line.
Claudia's sure it's the Phantom Caller, a jewel thief who's been operating in the area. cluadia has always liked reading mysteries, but she sheoesn't like it when they happen to her. So she and the baby-sitters decide to take action-with some very mixed results!

Baby-sitters Little Sister #9: Karen's Sleepover by Ann M. Martin -
from back of book:
Karen's having her first sleepover ever! She and her friends are going to tell spooky stories, try on makeup, and raid the refrigerator.
But then Karen and Nancy get into a big fight katen doesn't want Nancy to come to her party. A new girl comes instead, and she is no fun! What will Karen do now?

Tough Customer by Sandra Brown -
from back of book:
Colleagues, friends, and lovers know Dodge Hanley as a private investigator who doesn’t let rules get in his way—in his private life as well as his professional one. If he breaks a heart, or bends the law in order to catch a criminal, he does so without hesitation or apology.That’s why he’s the first person Caroline King—who after a thirty-year separation continues to haunt his dreams—asks for help when a deranged stalker attempts to murder their daughter . . . the daughter Dodge has never met. He has a whole bagful of grudging excuses for wishing to ignore Caroline’s call, and one compelling reason to drop everything and fly down to Texas: guilt.
Dodge’s mind may be a haze of disturbing memories and bad decisions, but he arrives in Houston knowing with perfect clarity that his daughter, Berry, is in danger. She has become the object of desire of a co-worker, a madman and genius with a penchant for puzzles and games who has spent the past year making Berry’s life hell, and who now has vowed to kill her.
Dodge joins forces with local deputy sheriff Ski Nyland, but the alarming situation goes from bad to worse when the stalker begins to claim other victims and leaves an ominous trail of clues as he lethally works his way toward Berry. Sensing the killer drawing nearer, Dodge, who’s survived vicious criminals and his own self-destructive impulses, realizes that this time he’s in for the fight of his life.

A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber

2011-05-22T10:32:00.003-04:00

A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber
narrator: Linda Emond
Audiobook
5cds 6hrs
Rating:4stars
05/20/2011

From back of book:
In the year since it opened, A Good Yarn has thrived-and so has Lydia Hoffman, the owner. A lot of that is due to Brad Goetz. But when Brad’s ex-wife reappears, Lydia is suddenly afraid to trust her newfound happiness. Elise Beaumont joins one of Lydia’s popular knitting classes. Living with her daughter, Aurora, Elisa learns that her onetime husband plans to visit and that Aurora wants a relationship with her father, regardless of how Elise feels about him. Bethanne Hamlin is facing the fallout from a divorce and joins the knitting class as the first step in her effort to recover a sense of dignity and hope. Courtney Pulanski is depressed and overweight teenager. She’s staying with her grandmother, who’s trying to help by taking her to the knitting class.

My Review:
This is a chick lit book that deals with the lives of several women all center around the knitting store called A Good Yarn. Lydia, the owner of the store, has survived two bouts with cancer. She has made friends with the ladies of her knitting class. She starts a new class for sock knitting and it’s a rocky start at first.

Bethanne is recently divorce and has lost all self-confidence. I have to admit she was a bit pathetic and annoying. Elise had lost most of her money in a bad real estate scam and is living with her daughter when her ex-husband shows up. Courtney is living with her grandmother while her father is out of the country on assignment.
The novel does a great job of telling each individual story while linking them all together. It is about love and friendship. It is about women coming together to support one another.

The narrator voice was pleasant. Her voice draws the listener into the story. I am a crocheter learning to knit so I really enjoyed this story. tbr list #3...it's a great story and a quick read

Challenges:
Whisper Stories in My Ear 2011
2011 Chick Lit Challenge
2011 Where Are You Reading?

Follow Friday May 20

2011-05-20T09:00:00.003-04:00

Follow Friday

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

(Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host { Parajunkee.com } and any one else you want to follow on the list

(Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers - http://ninjagirlreads.blogspot.com/

Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing at Parajunkee.

Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments

Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"

If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers

If you're new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Q. It's circle time. Time for us to open up and share. Can you tell us FIVE quirky habits or things about you? We all have them...

1. I'm a bit OCDish. I put my bills in order by domination and then seriel number.
2. I like the small of gas (petro) so if I pull into a gas station and it stinks I'll leave and go to a better smelling one.
3. I try to read 3 books at a time: Audio, Ebook, Hardcopy
4. I love nachos!
5. I can't focus on one thing at a time. To get anything done I need to have several things going on.

New Challenge Ideas

2011-05-19T09:40:00.004-04:00

So next month is the end of the Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2011. Many of you have expressed that you would like to keep the challenge going. All the prizes from the challenge come out of my pocket. They are not donated so I can only afford to do one challenge that involve prizes. So here the options I would like y'all to vote on:

Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2011-2012
It will start on the 1st of September (like the books) to June 30th 2012. It will have the same classes. There will be mini challenges. I'll throw some twists in there to keep it interesting.

Generic High School Challenge 2011-2012
It will start from Sept 1 through June 30th 2012. . There will be the 4 main subjects (English, Math, History, and Science), a lab (you choice of a Math or Science lab) and two electives (Music, Art, P.E. or your choice of an extra class of the main 4). There will be mini challenges for this as well. Instead of houses there will be homerooms.

Robert Langdon Reading Challenge 2012
It will be from January 1st to December 15th. There will be teams. The will be puzzles, clues, and code breaking (you have to solve a puzzle, clue, or code to move on to the next part of the journey). There will also be mini challenges. Mini challenges will give a winning team an advantage on the next puzzle, clue or code.

To vote use the poll on the sidebar. Thanks everyone!

Midsummer 's Eve Giveaway Hop June 21-24

2011-05-19T08:00:00.011-04:00

Midsummer 's Eve Giveaway Hop
June 21st - June 24th

This is my first giveaway Hop so please bear with me. For this hop I will be giving away Nora Roberts Gallagher trilogy. Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon, and Heart of the Sun. These books are second hand from a library book sale. Winner will be chosen through Random.org

To Enter:

+1 You must be a follower of this blog - leave a comment stating that you are already a follower or new follower

Extra Chances To Win:

+1 Follow me on Twitter - leave a comment with your twitter name
+1 Tweet the following: Midsummers Eve Giveaway @Bunnitaz

WINNER: TeamWolf1988

Thank you to everyone who participated in my first ever hop won't be my last.

Booking Through Thursday May 19

2011-05-19T07:35:00.005-04:00

Booking Through Thursday is a meme hosted here

This weeks question:

In contrast to last week’s question–What do you think of censoring books BECAUSE of their intended age? Say, books too “old” for your kids to read?

Yes I absolutely do. I'm going back to read The Babysitters Club series for YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge. If it wasn't for that challenge I probably wouldn't re-read those books as I feel I'm too old for them. I definite wouldn't read any meant for an even younger age than that.

As far as censoring books no I don't believe in it, for the most part. Should a young child read some of the urban fiction or erotica books I read, no. However, I think most books that have been censored are not censored because it's explicit but because it deals with uncomfortable situations such as religion, sexuality, and such.

Waiting on Wednesday: Justify My Thug

2011-05-18T08:23:00.005-04:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week it is Justify My Thug. I am one of those people who once I have started a series I have to finish it out. This book is the newest in Wahida Clark's thug series. It has just came out but I haven't been able to get it yet.

From Borders:

Justify My Thug continues the scintillating drama of Wahida Clark’s bestselling Thug series. Following the action of Thug Lovin’, the story rejoins the saga’s favorite couple, Tasha and Trae, as they try to overcome their troubles and make their marriage work. Meanwhile, Jaz is facing drama of her own. In the torrid world of sex, drugs, and crime, Wahida Clark continues her definitive Hip-Hop soap opera that fans have come to love.

Teaser Tuesday: Divergent

2011-05-17T08:46:00.005-04:00

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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:
Then, with a gasp I can't contain. I shift my hand forward, and my blood sizzles on the coals.

pg.47 Divergent by Veronica Roth

Payback With Ya Life by Wahida Clark

2011-05-16T10:51:00.006-04:00

Payback With Ya Life by Wahida Clark
Tradeback pgs.302
rating:3.5stars
05/15/2011

From back of book:
She lost her integrity, her best friend…and nearly wound up dead. Now Shan is making her move, far away from Memphis’s mean streets, to wipe the slate clean and start over. But she can’t hold back what she’s feeling for Briggen, a wealthy drug dealer who want her to be his one and only for life. Her brother, Peanut, can’t afford to lose her – or the one shot he has at getting back on top of the drug game. And the ruthless convict who tricked Shan into loving him is out of lockdown…and out to settle lethal scores with her and Peanut. Now, with everything at stake and a vicious turf war taking no prisoners, Shan must put it all on the line to save her future - or die trying.

My Reviews:

This was a good book but it did not hold my attention for long periods of time. Usually I can read these books in 2 to 3 days it took over a week for this one. There was a lot going on. Fans of urban fiction will like this as it gives you all that you've come to expected from these types of books. Clark touched on just about every subject in this book. Miscarrages, infidelty, drug dealing, prison, murder, rape...you name it, it's in here. TBR list#3 *if you are not an urban lit fan this is NOT for you

Challenges:
Clue Board Reading Challenge
2011 Where Are You Reading?
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

2011-05-16T10:23:00.008-04:00

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

narrator: Tanya Eby
9cds approx 10hrs
rating: 5stars
05/13/2011

From back of book:
In Wyoming for a medical conference, Boston medical examiner Maura Isles joins a group of friends on a spur-of-the-moment ski trip. But when their SUV stalls on a snow-choked mountain road, they’re stranded with no help in sight.
As night falls, the group seeks refuge from the blizzard in the remote village of Kingdom Come, where twelve eerily identical houses stand dark and abandoned. Something terrible has happened in Kingdom Come: Meals sit untouched on tables, cars are still parked in garages. The town’s previous residents seem to have vanished into thin air, but footprints in the snow betray the presence of someone who still lurks in the cold darkness—someone who is watching Maura and her friends.
Days later, Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli receives the grim news that Maura’s charred body has been found in a mountain ravine. Shocked and grieving, Jane is determined to learn what happened to her friend. The investigation plunges Jane into the twisted history of Kingdom Come, where a gruesome discovery lies buried beneath the snow. As horrifying revelations come to light, Jane closes in on an enemy both powerful and merciless—and the chilling truth about Maura’s fate.

My Review:
This book was great. It moved forward and never seemed to get bogged down. The story pulled you in. The characters each had their own personalities and though Gerritsen doesn't go into the back story of the characters you get a sense of what type of people they were. The one character that got on my nerves though was Arlo (no sure if I'm spelling the name right). All he kept talking about was food. I mean really with all that was going on.... Oh and he was a food snob. The ending had a twist so you think you know how things ended up the way they did but nope it all started in an expected way. Perfect name for the village too...Kingdom Come. I just knew something bad had happen and was going to happen there. In fact, if it was me I would've been reluctant to even step foot pass the gate. Narrator voice was great. She did a great job of reading the suspense. TBR list #1

Challenges:
Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge
Whisper Stories in My Ear 2011
I Spy Reading Challenge

It's Mondy! What Are You Reading?

2011-05-16T09:20:00.005-04:00

It's Mondy! What Are You Reading?

A weekly meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey .

Books read last week:
Payback With Ya Life by Wahida Clark– An urban fiction book where a lot drama happens. Shoot out, back stabbing, sexuality, baby mamas, drug dealers...you name it's in here.

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen - Wow this book was very suspenseful. I think not figure out the ending and that kept me interested. It is about a group of people getting lost. They happen upon a village where something went wrong and now they fear not being found. From there things just get even more interesting.

Books reading this week:

Divergent by Veronica Roth –
From Amazon:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

I also need to write reviews for Too Good to Be True by E. Lynn Harris, Payback With Ya Life by Wahida Clark, and Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen. Plus update my challenges.

The Baby-sitters Club Challenge

2011-05-14T12:04:00.012-04:00

I am doing the YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge. So I decided to read as much of The Baby-sitters Club series that I can. All the books hopefully will can be found through my library network and the main Boston library system. I'm looking for company so feel to join me, leave a comment with your Babysitters Club posts so I can check it out!

The Baby-sitters Club
1. Kristy’s Great Idea – 1986
2. Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls – 1986
3. The Truth About Stacey – 1986
4. Mary Anne Saves the Day – 1987
5. Dawn and the Impossible Three – 1987
6. Kristy’s Big Day – 1987
7. Claudia and Mean Janine – 1987
8. Boy-Crazy Stacey – 1987
9. The Ghost at Dawn’s House – 1988
10. Logan Likes Mary Anne – 1988
11. Kristy and the Snobs – 1988
12. Claudia and the New Girl – 1988
13. Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye – 1988
14. Hello, Mallory – 1988
15. Little Miss Stoneybrook…and Dawn – 1988
16. Jessi’s Secret Language – 1988
17. Mary Anne’s Bad-Luck Mystery – 1988
18. Stacey’s Mistake – 1988
19. Claudia and the Bad Joke – 1988
20. Kristy and the Walking Disaster – 1989
21. Mallory and the Trouble With Twins – 1989
22. Jessi Ramsey, Pet-sitter – 1989
23. Dawn on the Coast – 1989
24. Kristy and the Mother’s Day Surprise – 1989
25. *Mary Anne and the Search for Tigger – 1989
26. *Claudia and the Sad Good-bye – 1989
27. Jessi and the Superbrat – 1989
28. Welcome Back, Stacey! – 1989
29. Mallory and the Mystery Diary – 1989
30. Mary Anne and the Great Romance – 1990
31. Dawn’s Wicked Stepsister – 1990
32. Kristy and the Secret of Susan – 1990
33. Claudia and the Great Search – 1990
34. Mary Anne and Too Many Boys – 1990
35. Stacy and the Mystery of Stoneybrook – 1990
36. Jessi’s Babysitter – 1990
37. Dawn and the Older Boy – 1990
38. Kristy’s Mystery Admirer – 1990
39. Poor Mallory! – 1990
40. Claudia and the Middle School Mystery – 1991
41. Mary Anne vs. Logan – 1991
42. Jessi and the Dance School Phantom – 1991
43. Stacy’s Emergency – 1991
44. Dawn and the Big Sleepover – 1991
45. Kristy and the Baby Parade – 1991
46. Mary Anne Misses Logan – 1991
47. Mallory on Strike – 1991
48. Jessi’s Wish – 1991
49. Claudia and the Genius of Elm Street – 1991
50. Dawn’s Big Date – 1992
51. Stacey’s Ex-Best Friend -1992
52. Mary Anne and 2 Many Babies – 1992
53. Kristy For President – 1992
54. Mallory and the Dream House – 1992
55. Jessi’s Gold Medal – 1992
56. Keep Out , Claudia! – 1992
57. Dawn Saves the Planet – 1992
58. Stacey’s Choice – 1992
59. Mallory Hates Boys (and Gym ) – 1992
60. Mary Anne’s Makeover – 1993
61. Jessi and the Awful Secret – 1993
62. Kristy and the Worst Kid ever – 1993
63. Claudia’s Friend – 1993
64. Dawn’s Family Feud – 1993
65. Stacey’s Big Crush – 1993
66. Maid Mary Anne – 1993
67. Dawn’s Big Move- 1993
68. Jessi and the Bad Baby-sitter – 1993
69. Get Well Soon Mallory! – 1993
70. Stacey and the Cheerleaders – 1993
71. Claudia and the Perfect Boy – 1994
72. Dawn and the We Love Kids Club – 1994
73. Mary Anne and Miss Priss -1994
74. Kristy and the Copycat – 1994
75. Jessi’s Horrible Prank – 1994
76. Stacey’s Lie – 1994
77. Dawn and Whitney , Friends Forever – 1994
78. Claudia and Crazy Peaches – 1994
79. Mary Anne Breaks the Rules – 1994
80. Mallory Pike #1 Fan – 1994
81. Kristy and Mr. Mom – 1995
82. Jessi and the Troublemaker – 1995
83. Stacey vs. the BSC – 1995
84. Dawn and the School Spirit War – 1995
85. Claudia Kishi , Live from WSTO! – 1995
86. Mary Anne and Camp BSC – 1995
87. Stacey and the Bad Girls – 1995
88. Farewell , Dawn – 1995
89. Kristy and the Dirty Diapers – 1995
90. Welcome to the BSC , Abby – 1995
91. Claudia and the First Thanksgiving – 1995
92. Mallory’s Christmas Wish – 1995
93. Mary Anne and the Memory Garden – 1996
94. Stacey McGill , Super Sitter – 1996
95. Kristy + Bart =? – 1996
96. Abby’s Lucky Thirteen – 1996
97. Claudia and the Worlds Cutest Baby – 1996
98. Dawn and Two Many Sitters – 1996
99. Stacey’s Broken Heart – 1996
100. Kristy’s Worst Idea – 1996
102: Mary Anne And The Little Princess – 1996
103. Happy Holidays, Jessi – 1996
104. Abby’s Twin – 1997
105. Stacey The Math Whiz – 1997
106. Claudia, Queen of The Seventh Grade – 1997
107. Mind Your Own Business, Kristy! – 1997
108. Don’t Give Up, Mallory – 1997
109. Mary Anne To The Rescue – 1997
110. Abby the Bad Sport – 1997
111. Stacey’s Secret Friend – 1997
112. Kristy and the Sister War – 1997
113. Claudia Makes Up Her Mind – 1997
114. The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier – 1997
115. Jessi’s Big Break – 1998
116. Abby and the Best Kid Ever – 1998
117. Claudia and the Terrible Truth – 1998
118. Kristy Thomas, Dog Trainer – 1998
119. Stacey’s Ex-Boyfriend -1998
120. Mary Anne and the Playground Fight – 1998
121. Abby in Wonderland – 1998
122. Kristy in Charge – 1998
123. Claudia’s Big Party – 1998
124. Stacey McGill…Matchmaker? – 1998
125. Mary Anne in the Middle – 1998
126. The All-New Mallory Pike – 1999
127. Abby’s Un-Valentine – 1999
128. Claudia and the Little Liar – 1999
129. Kristy at Bat – 1999
130. Stacey’s Movie – 1999
131. The Fire at Mary Anne’s House – 1999

Super Specials
1. Baby-sitters on Board
2. Baby-sitters’ Summer Vacation
3. Baby-sitters’ Winter Vacation
4. Baby-sitters’ Island Adventure
5. California Girls
6. New York, New York
7. Snowbound
8. Baby-sitters at Shadow Lake
9. Starring the Baby-sitters Club
10. Sea City, Here We Come
11. The Baby-sitters Remember
12. Here Come the Bridesmaids
13. Aloha , Baby-sitters
14. BSC in the U.S.A
15. The Baby-sitters European Vacation

The Mysteries
1. Stacey and the Missing Ring
2. Beware, Dawn
3. Mallory and the Ghost Cat
4. Kristy and the Missing Child
5. Mary Anne and the Secret in the Attic
6. The Mystery at Claudia’s House
7. Dawn and the Disappearing Dogs
8. Jessi and the Jewel Thieves
9. Kristy and the Haunted Mansion
10. Stacey and the Mystery Money
11. Claudia and the Mystery at the Museum
12. Dawn and the Surfer Ghost
13. Mary Anne and the Library Mystery
14. Stacey and the Mystery at the Mall
15. Kristy and the Vampires
16. Claudia and the Clue in the Photograph
17. Dawn and the Halloween Mystery
18. Stacey and the Mystery at the Empty House
19. Kristy and the Missing Fortune
20. Mary Anne and the Zoo Mystery
21. Claudia and the Recipe for Danger
22. Stacey and the Haunted Masquerade
23. Abby and the Secret Society
24. Mary Anne and the Silent Witness
25. Kristy and the Middle School Vandal
26. Dawn Schafer, Undercover Baby-sitter
27. Claudia and the Lighthouse Ghost
28. Abby and the Mystery Baby
29. Stacey and the Fashion Victim
30. Kristy and the Mystery Train
31. Mary Anne and the Music Box Secret
32. Claudia and the Mystery in the Painting
33. Stacey and the Stolen Hearts
34. Mary Anne and the Haunted Bookstore
35. Abby and the Notorious Neighbor
36. Kristy and the Cat Burglar

Super Mysteries
1. Baby-sitter’s Haunted House
2. Baby-sitters’ Beware
3. Baby-sitters’ Fright Night
4. Baby-sitters’ Christmas Chiller

The Baby-sitters Club Friends Forever
BSC Friends Forever Super Special 1: Everything Changes

BSC Friends Forever 1: Kristy's Big News
BSC Friends Forever 2: Claudia vs. Stacey
BSC Friends Forever 3: Mary Anne's Big Break-up
BSC Friends Forever 4: Claudia and the Friendship Feud
BSC Friends Forever 5: Kristy Power
BSC Friends Forever 6: Stacey and the Boyfriend Trap
BSC Friends Forever 7: Claudia Gets Her Guy
BSC Friends Forever 8: Mary Anne's Revenge
BSC Friends Forever 9: Kristy and the Kidnapper
BSC Friends Forever 10: Stacey's Problem
BSC Friends Forever 11: Welcome Home, Mary Anne
BSC Friends Forever 12: Claudia and the Disaster Date

BSC Friends Forever Super Special 2: Graduation Day

Baby-sitters Little Sister
BSC Little Sister 1: Karen's Witch
BSC Little Sister 2: Karen's Roller Skates
BSC Little Sister 3: Karen's Worst Day
BSC Little Sister 4: Karen's Kittycat Club
BSC Little Sister 5: Karen's School Picture
BSC Little Sister 6: Karen's Little Sister
BSC Little Sister 7: Karen's Birthday
BSC Little Sister 8: Karen's Haircut
BSC Little Sister 9: Karen's Sleepover
BSC Little Sister 10: Karen's Grandmothers
BSC Little Sister 11: Karen's Prize
BSC Little Sister 12: Karen's Ghost
BSC Little Sister 13: Karen's Surprise
BSC Little Sister 14: Karen's New Year
BSC Little Sister 15: Karen's in Love
BSC Little Sister 16: Karen's Goldfish
BSC Little Sister 17: Karen's Brothers
BSC Little Sister 18: Karen's Home Run
BSC Little Sister 19: Karen's Good-bye
BSC Little Sister 20: Karen's Carnival
BSC Little Sister 21: Karen's New Teacher
BSC Little Sister 22: Karen's Little Witch
BSC Little Sister 23: Karen's Doll
BSC Little Sister 24: Karen's School Trip
BSC Little Sister 25: Karen's Pen Pal
BSC Little Sister 26: Karen's Ducklings
BSC Little Sister 27: Karen's Big Joke
BSC Little Sister 28: Karen's Tea Party
BSC Little Sister 29: Karen's Cartwheel
BSC Little Sister 30: Karen's Kittens
BSC Little Sister 31: Karen's Bully
BSC Little Sister 32: Karen's Pumpkin Patch
BSC Little Sister 33: Karen's Secret
BSC Little Sister 34: Karen's Snow Day
BSC Little Sister 35: Karen's Doll Hospital
BSC Little Sister 36: Karen's New Friend
BSC Little Sister 37: Karen's Tuba
BSC Little Sister 38: Karen's Big Lie
BSC Little Sister 39: Karen's Wedding
BSC Little Sister 40: Karen's Newspaper
BSC Little Sister 41: Karen's School
BSC Little Sister 42: Karen's Pizza Party
BSC Little Sister 43: Karen's Toothache
BSC Little Sister 44: Karen's Big Weekend
BSC Little Sister 45: Karen's Twin
BSC Little Sister 46: Karen's Baby-sitter
BSC Little Sister 47: Karen's Kite
BSC Little Sister 48: Karen's Two Families
BSC Little Sister 49: Karen's Stepmother
BSC Little Sister 50: Karen's Lucky Penny
BSC Little Sister 51: Karen's Big Top
BSC Little Sister 52: Karen's Mermaid
BSC Little Sister 53: Karen's School Bus
BSC Little Sister 54: Karen's Candy
BSC Little Sister 55: Karen's Magician
BSC Little Sister 56: Karen's Ice Skates
BSC Little Sister 57: Karen's School Mystery
BSC Little Sister 58: Karen's Ski Trip
BSC Little Sister 59: Karen's Leprechaun
BSC Little Sister 60: Karen's Pony
BSC Little Sister 61: Karen's Tattletale
BSC Little Sister 62: Karen's New Bike
BSC Little Sister 63: Karen's Movie
BSC Little Sister 64: Karen's Lemonade Stand
BSC Little Sister 65: Karen's Toys
BSC Little Sister 66: Karen's Monsters
BSC Little Sister 67: Karen's Turkey Day
BSC Little Sister 68: Karen's Angel
BSC Little Sister 69: Karen's Big Sister
BSC Little Sister 70: Karen's Grandad
BSC Little Sister 71: Karen's Island Adventure
BSC Little Sister 72: Karen's New Puppy
BSC Little Sister 73: Karen's Dinosaur
BSC Little Sister 74: Karen's Softball Mystery
BSC Little Sister 75: Karen's County Fair
BSC Little Sister 76: Karen's Magic Garden

Baby-sitters Little Sister Specials
BSC Little Sister Special 1: Karen's Wish
BSC Little Sister Special 2: Karen's Plane Trip
BSC Little Sister Special 3: Karen's Mystery
BSC Little Sister Special 4: Karen, Hannie, and Nancy
BSC Little Sister Special 5: Karen's Baby
BSC Little Sister Special 6: Karen's Campout

list from here & here

Just Too Good to Be True by E. Lynn Harris

2011-05-12T16:04:00.003-04:00

Just Too Good to Be True by E. Lynn Harris
narrators: Adenrele Ojo, Bahni Turpin, Mirron Willis
8cds 10hrs
rating: 3stars

From back of book:

Harris serves up a treat that will capture and enchant audiences everywhere—a big, bold, and irresistible novel about football, family, and secrets.

Brady Bledsoe and his mother, Carmyn, have a strong relationship. A single mother, faithful churchgoer, and the owner of several successful Atlanta beauty salons, Carmyn has devoted herself to her son and his dream of becoming a professional football player. Brady has always followed her lead, including becoming a member of the church’s "Celibacy Circle." Now in his senior year at college, the smart, and very handsome, Brady is a lead contender for the Heisman Trophy and a spot in the NFL.

As sports agents hover around Brady, Barrett, a beautiful and charming cheerleader, sets her mind on tempting the celibate Brady and getting a piece of his multimillion-dollar future—but is that all she wants from him, and is she acting alone?

Carmyn is determined to protect her son. She’s also determined to protect the secret she’s kept from Brady his whole life. As things heat up on campus and Carmyn and Brady’s idyllic relationship starts to crumble, mother and son begin to wonder about the other—are you just too good to be true?

A sweeping novel about mothers and sons, football and beauty shops, secrets and lies, JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE has all the ingredients that have made E. Lynn Harris a bestselling author: family, friendship, faith, and love.

My Review:
First I must say that the first person to start the narration for this voice made me cringe. I did not like her voice at all.

This story is about a college football player who mother brings him up with Christian values. He took an oath to save himself until marriage but breaks it after he falls in love. When a cheerleader with her own motives set her eyes on him Brady world is turned upside down. He finds out that everyone he thought he could trust has told him lies. He becomes lost. The is a book about how lies will eventually expose themselves. It is also about forgiveness and how your actions affect yourself and others.

*was lost on the name Brady (Tom Brady) Bledsoe (Drew Bledsoe)...not sure if this is where Harris got the name from but these two players are known to be/been the best in football and the character is suppose to be best of the college football team he plays for.

Challenges:
Whisper Stories in My Ear 2011

Booking through Thursday

2011-05-12T07:21:00.000-04:00

Do you read books “meant” for other age groups? Adult books when you were a child; Young-Adult books now that you’re grown; Picture books just for kicks … You know … books not “meant” for you. Or do you pretty much stick to what’s written for people your age?

Yes I do read books meant for other ages groups. I sometimes read YA books. I am actually about to get ready to re-read the Babysitters Club series for the YA of the 80s and 90s Reading Challenge (if you are interested in reading along with me leave a comment I would love the company). I don't have any children so I don't read any books younger than YA.

Waiting on Wednesday: Mistress No More

2011-05-11T09:10:00.004-04:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week my W.O.W. is Mistress No More by Nobia Bryant. This isn't a synposis for this title yet but I love her writing. The novels are always fast paced and stucks you in. I am not sure if I will get this right when it comes out but I will get it eventually.

Queen of the Night by J.A. Janice

2011-05-10T16:59:00.004-04:00

Queen of the Night by J.A. Janice

10cds 11hrs 30mins

rating 3stars

05/06/11

From back of book:
When a couple is murdered while observing the seasonal blooming of the Queen of the Night flower, Dr. Lani Walker, border patrol agent Dan Pardee, and homicide investigator Brian Fellows are tasked with protecting the victims’ daughter, who witnessed the gruesome crime. Meanwhile, detective Brandon Walker comes out of retirement when a witness steps forward with information regarding a decades-old unsolved murder.

My Review:
Okay, this book started off slow. I was seriously thinking of not finishing it by the end of the first c.d. However, things started to pickup and soon the book got interesting. There are many different story lines going on so it can get confusing but there is one main character who is directly and indirectly affecting the lives of the rest of the characters. The plot is one that has been in the news before and continues to be now...family violence. The one thing I could not understand and still do not understand is the significance of the temperature at the beginning of chapters. TBR list #3 it turned out to be a good read .

Challenges:
2011 Where Are You Reading?
Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011
Whisper Stories in My Ear 2011

Spontaneous by Brenda Jackson

2011-05-09T20:54:00.006-04:00

Spontaneous by Brenda Jackson
Ebook pgs. 129
rating 3stars
05/08/2011

From back of book:
Kimani Cannon knows she's in trouble the second she lays eyes on 6'4" of luscious male. The best kind of trouble, too…mm-mmm! Duan Jeffries turns out to be the perfect man—charming, considerate…and the best lover she's ever had. Too bad Mr. Delicious is just a one-night stand….

Until Kim needs a date to her mother's (fifth) wedding! Duan's willing to act the part of her fiancé… as long as it means full benefits. More amazing sex? No problem!

Then Kim finds out that Duan's got his own private agenda. Suddenly, she doesn't know what to believe. Her head and heart are telling her to be careful. But the sensual thrumming in her blood is turning out to be much more persuasive….

My Review:

This should have been a face paced book but for some reason it took me a while to read it. The plot was great. It centers around a steamy sexual affair turned romance between the two main characters. Jackson also was able to throw in a bit of suspense with the storyline concerning Kim mother's fiance. TBR List #4 though it was good there's no rush to read this.

Challenges:
2011 Sexy Reading Challenge
2011 Chick Lit Challenge
2011 Where Are You Reading?

Teaser Tuesdays

2011-05-09T16:41:00.004-04:00

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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teasers:

"I loved him so much, Born. I was even willing to stay with him and work it out. But then Brianna came over and she said that Sha proposed to her."

pg. 151 Payback With Ya Life by Wahida Clark

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

2011-05-09T12:50:00.003-04:00

It's Mondy! What Are You Reading?

A weekly meme hosted by Sheila @ Book Journey.

Books read last week:
Spontaneous by Brenda Jackson – A romance about two people who are super attracted to each. For similar reasons each decide that what they have can only be physical relationship but soon it becomes more but each thinks the other doesn’t want to how they truly feel.

Queen of the Night by J.A. Janice –
A suspense novel where a disgruntle guy life changes with a heat of the moment act. His actions afterwards change the lives of many in his path.

Books reading this week:

Payback With Ya Life by Wahida Clark –
From back of book:
She lost her integrity, her best friend…and nearly wound up dead. Now Shan is making her move, far away from Memphis’s mean streets, to wipe the slate clean and start over. But she can’t hold back what she’s feeling for Briggen, a wealthy drug dealer who want her to be his one and only for life. Her brother, Peanut, can’t afford to lose her – or the one shot he has at getting back on top of the drug game. And the ruthless convict who tricked Shan into loving him is out of lockdown…and out to settle lethal scores with her and Peanut. Now, with everything at stake and a vicious turf war taking no prisoners, Shan must put it all on the line to save her future - or die trying.

Divergent by Veronica Roth –
From Amazon:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen –
From back of book:
In Wyoming for a medical conference, Boston medical examiner Maura Isles joins a group of friends on a spur-of-the-moment ski trip. But when their SUV stalls on a snow-choked mountain road, they’re stranded with no help in sight.
As night falls, the group seeks refuge from the blizzard in the remote village of Kingdom Come, where twelve eerily identical houses stand dark and abandoned. Something terrible has happened in Kingdom Come: Meals sit untouched on tables, cars are still parked in garages. The town’s previous residents seem to have vanished into thin air, but footprints in the snow betray the presence of someone who still lurks in the cold darkness—someone who is watching Maura and her friends.
Days later, Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli receives the grim news that Maura’s charred body has been found in a mountain ravine. Shocked and grieving, Jane is determined to learn what happened to her friend. The investigation plunges Jane into the twisted history of Kingdom Come, where a gruesome discovery lies buried beneath the snow. As horrifying revelations come to light, Jane closes in on an enemy both powerful and merciless—and the chilling truth about Maura’s fate.

The Sunday Salon

2011-04-17T13:56:00.004-04:00

If you have look at my page on the side named reading challenges you'll see that I signed up for alot of them this year. I have fallen back on my reading in the past couple of months. I think that I am back on track now. Work had alot of things going on since I have a couple of extra tasks that I have to do and I am trying to position myself to take on another task. In these times of lay offs it's a good idea to try to learn as much as possible to make yourself more valuable. Also I just became president of our site Toastmasters club. Plus going to school full time. Oh and I started going back to that gym so that has been wiping me out.

I still have hope of finishing all of my challenges though. I just finished reading The Hood Life, an urban/street lit novel. I loved it. I am going to start Blown Coverage by Jason Elam & Steven Yohn. I got it two years ago (WOW that long) as a ARC and never got around to reading it. After that I am scheduled to read New Moon but I may replace it with something else, not sure yet. So what are you reading?

***I'm not sure who started this meme...sorry

Buy One Book & Read It

2011-04-17T00:38:00.005-04:00

Buy One Book & Read It

Hosted My Friend Amy It's that time of year again!

The time of year when I encourage you to pull out those wallets and buy a book...and then actually read it!

The Buy One Book and Read It Challenge is back. This challenge started when I read the depressing statistics that something like half of the adults in the United States wouldn't read a single book over the course of the year. Nothing plunges me into the depths of despair like that, so I decided to encourage people to read a book. When I also realized that bookstores and the publishing industry was suffering, I decided to add on the buying part.

Start Date: January 1st, 2011 End Date: December 31st, 2011

There are two levels to this challenge:

1) Buy One Book and Read It.

This level is good for people who don't read often but think that would like to read more. It's also good for people who don't buy books. If you don't read much or don't buy many books, this is your level.

2) Level Two--Buy one book and read it every month

You don't have to buy a book in January and read it in January, but you must buy 12 books that you also go on to read during the year. This level is ideal for book bloggers notorious for the buying part, but not so much the reading part.

Rules 1) The book you read must be for pleasure. It cannot be a book you are reading to your children, for work, for research. This is all about fun.

2) The book(s) can be print or electronic. Unless you are unable to read print, audiobooks don't count towards this challenge.

3) Make sure to add your links to the Mister Linky that will go up by January 1st.

Please spread the word! The whole idea of this challenge is to spread the love of reading in manageable bite-sized pieces.

Prizes: Everyone who completes the challenge at the level they signed up for will be entered into a drawing to win a ten dollar gift certificate from Gift Certificates.

I am doing level one:

The Hood Life

The Hood Life by Meesha Mink and De'nesha Diamond

2011-04-17T00:23:00.004-04:00

The Hood Life by Meesha Mink and De'nesha Diamond

Tradeback pgs 303

4.5 stars

04/16/2011

From the back of book:

A pimp, a killer, a playa, and a drug dealer struggle to get their game right in a sizzling novel where leaving the life and trying to go straight is a deadly option.

Tavon, better known as "Sweet," would pimp his own mother — and he does. Convinced that the prostitution game chose him, Sweet loves his high-rolling life. But when he unexpectedly becomes a father, will Sweet be able to choose between the family trade and his grown, not-so-innocent daughter?

After ten years in prison, the drive-by Demarcus committed still haunts him. Determined to stay above the law, he's found Allah, promised to change his ways forever, and finally do right by his girl, Zoey. But when an opportunity arises that will set him and Zoey right for life, Demarcus may have more faith in his killah reputation than the Koran....

Kaseem runs every single drug going in and out of Bentley Manor. His empire provides clothes, cash, and his satisfaction of his wifey, Quilla — along with the company of other ladies, of course. But when Kaseem's crew becomes more violent, will he be able to escape the life — and the gangsters — he created?

The best playa on the block, Rhakmon can get a woman to do anything he wants. His latest girlfriend, Shaterica, lets him steal, lie, and cheat — smitten to be under his spell. But when Rhakmon's devious deeds are finally brought to light, the revenge Shaterica plans may ultimately be more horrible than anything he could have imagined....

My Review: Well the ladies have done it again. The book is fast paced. I like that it focuses on four men this time around. There are so many WTF moments. It start right in the first couple of pages. I mean this things that Tavon is make you think what in the world is up with that?! As usually the ladies keep you up on your toes with the twists and turns. This is book three in the trioloyg of the Bentley Manor series though I hope that there will be another.

After all, there are some characters I would love to know what happened after the the drama. Like what are Lexi, WooWoo, and Aisha up to. Apparently WooWoo is visiting Has in jail so what is going on with that. Princess became a singer and we all know there's drama in Hollywood. What happens with Sweet aka Tavon? How about Rhakmon and Kaseem? Come on ladies don't leave us hanging like this. TBR list #1

challenges:

Buy One Book & Read It

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011

Wild Fire by Christine Feehan

2011-04-14T12:29:00.004-04:00

Wild Fire by Christine Feehan

narrator: Phil Gigante

Audio Book

12discs 14hrs 44min

04/14/2011

2stars

From back of book:

Called on a dangerous assignment, leopard shifter Conner Vega returns to the Panama rain forest of his homeland, looking every bit the civilized male. But as a member of the most lethal of the shifter tribes, he doesn’t have a civilized bone in his body. He carries the scent of a wild animal in its prime, he bears the soul-crushing sins of past kills--and he’s branded by the scars of shame inflicted by the woman he betrayed. Isabeau Chandler’s a Borneo shifter who’s never forgiven Conner--or forgotten him. The mating urge is still with her, and when she crosses Connor’s path, passions run like wild fire. But as Connor’s mission draws Isabeau closer, another betrayal lies waiting in the shadows--and it’s the most perilous and intimate one of all.

My Review:

I was torn with this book, like with her Carpathian series, Feehan has a repetitive style. Having read so many of her Carpathian novels it can become tiring. Liquid heat this, dark desire that. The love scenes just don't do that much for me anymore. This book in particular did not get my temperature warm. The story lagged. I found myself just waiting for it to end. Speaking of the end. I enjoyed the last disc, especially the last few tracks. In fact, without the love scene and the passion felt descriptions between the two main characters the book was actually interesting. The drug trafficking, the kidnappings, the force servitude could have made for a great story. Unfortunately, Feehan novels are romances focused on the relationship between the two main characters anything else that happens in the book is just a backdrop. I would have preferred the backdrop in this novel. TBR list #4

Challenges:

I Spy Title Challenge

A to Z Around The World Challenge

Olympic Challenge London 2012

Mailbox Monday

2011-04-11T12:48:00.006-04:00

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

hosted this month by Passages to the Past

So this is what I got on Saturday from the Borders closing near me:

Kobo Ereader

2011-03-29T08:56:00.003-04:00

Kobo Ereader

$99 from Borders online ($139 in many stores)

specs: grey scale no color, approx. 5x7, holds approx 1000 ebooks

So I just got my Kobo on Sunday March 27th and I must say I am liking it. I do wish that it had color but for the price its a good device. One of the Borders close to me is closing so I got mine for 60 bucks. I just could not pass that up. It some in a cute box that open up like a book...awe. So far so good. If anything funky with it happens I will surely do a post.

Friends with Benefits by Cat Johnson

2011-03-21T20:36:00.006-04:00

Friends with Benefits by Cat Johnson

E-book 46pgs

03/21/2011

4.5stars

My review:

This is a short erotic e-book. Meg and Jeff have been friends the eighth grade. Recently they had decieded to become friends with benefits after watching a very steamy chick flick that made them both wanting some physical contact. Things were going well until one night. After that night the whole relationship between the two change.

This is a very hot and steamy erotic short story. It definitely left me wanting more. In fact, I wanted so much more that I only gave this book a 4.5 star rating because I would have liked at least one more sex scene. TBR list #1 if you like erotica.

You can find the story here at allromanceebooks.com

Chaser by Miasha

2011-03-03T17:27:00.005-05:00

Chaser by Miasha

3stars

03/02/2011

From back of book:

Leah -- Young, beautiful, and in love with the wrong man. Distraught after her boyfriend Kenny sets her up to take the fall in yet another of his schemes, Leah has no choice but to strike a deal with the police. Her world changes overnight, and maintaining her composure while gathering information is no easy task. And then she meets Nasir... Nasir -- All he's ever wanted to do is make his family proud. Ambitious and hardworking, Nasir is a good man, but he owes a debt to a former friend -- and regardless of how many times he's paid it back, Kenny will never let him forget it... Kenny -- Money reigns supreme in Kenny's world and he'll stop at nothing to get more of it. Kenny would lie, cheat, and even kill to protect his empire. There is no such thing as loyalty as far as he's concerned. And he's starting to realize that his girlfriend Leah is standing in his way... Smart, sexy, and undeniably thrilling, Chaser is exactly what Miasha's legions of fans have been waiting for.

My Review:

The title of the book can have two different meanings. Chaser could be the type of work that both of the male characters engaged in. Chaser are the tow truck drivers who show up at car accidents...they chase wrecks. Chaser could also mean paper chaser. One of the main characters, Kenny, is a huge paper chaser. He will do whatever he can to get money be it drugs or an auto insurance scam. Things heat up when Leah and Nasir start to spend time together.

This is a fast paced book. The novel starts off with a bang. Talk about grabbing the reader with the first page. I enjoyed this book. It isn't a favorite but it is a good read. TBR list #3

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

2011-03-02T09:56:00.007-05:00

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

(Bride Quartet #3)

Narrator: Angela Dawe
Audio Book 8cds 8hr 54min
Publishing Date: 2010
Genre: Romance
3stars

Date: 02/28/2011

From back of book:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts cordially invites you to meet childhood friends Parker, Emma, Laurel, and Mac – the founders of Vows, one of Connecticut’s premier wedding planning companies.

Laurel McBane has always relied on her friends for support, especially when her dream of attending culinary school was almost ruined by her parents’ financial problems. Now Laurel is repaying the kindness of her friends by creating extravagantly luscious tiers of cakes and other confectionary delights that add the perfect touch to their clients’’ weddings.

As for romance, Laurel believes in it – in theory. But she’s too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that other women seem too long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker’s older brother, Delaney Brown, on whom Laurel has had a mega crush since childhood.

But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her, or so she thinks. When Laurel’s quick-silver-mood get the better of her-leading to an angry, hot, altogether mind-blowing kiss with Del – she’ll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever…

My Review:
This is a good read. It focuses mostly on Laurel. Her friendship with the other three is a part of the plot as well.

Laurel parents ended up in financial trouble and she no longer had money to go to culinary school. However, one of her friend’s parents sent her with the only catch being that she make something of herself. This is mainly a romance novel. Since childhood she had a crush on Delany Brown. Delany has always called all the friends his girls. Laurel finally has had enough and if a fit of anger and frustration she kisses Del. That kiss has changed everything and now the two must decide how to proceed.

Along the way Laurel is troubled by the fact that she doesn’t come from then type of money that Del and Parker does. She doesn’t want him to think that she is with him because of his money. This thought is egged on by the whisper people in Del’s circle and well as Mac’s cold-hearted trouble-making mother. So not only does she have to content with her changing relationship with Del but also with her occasional sense of class inferiority.

The narrator had a pleasant voice. The characters did not sound the same so it was easy to see them as different people and not just someone reading to you. The story was paced fast. Angela Dawe did a great job; I hope she read the other books in the series.

Challenges:

Whisper Stories in My Ear 2011
Foodies Reading Challenge
2011 Chick Lit Challenge

Sex in the hood by White Chocolate

2011-02-27T14:52:00.004-05:00

Sex in the hood by White Chocolate

published: 2005

02/27/2011

pgs 335

1star

From back of book:

SEX IN THE HOOD IS THE WILD, EROTIC TALE OF LOVE, SEX AND GHETTO DREAMS.

Duke Johnson has everything - money, power, and respect. He's the self-proclaimed ruler of Babylon, the sexiest party underworld in Detroit, and he can have anything and every woman he wants. That is, until he meets Victoria.

Victoria has lost both her parents, and now that she;s moved from her upper class home in suburbia into her grandmother's run-down shack in the hood, she's about to lose something else - her virtue.

Join us as White Chocolate, Urban Books' bi-racial sensation, takes you on one of the most pleasurable experiences of all time.

My Review:

***warning contains profanity

What a bunch of bullshit! One of the most pleasurable experience of all time? My ass...this book was painful. So bad that I didn't make it pass page 64. I did skim through the book to see if there were a point where it would get better, yeah right. So what is this crap about? Duke is a egoistical conceited "ruler" of the sexiest party of Detroit's underworld translation he is a pimp of a big brothel.

The women are called Sluts and the men are Studs. When describing body parts and sex scenes the language is crude. Urban lit is known for explicit sex scenes but this was just ridiculous. The two main character were racist and prejudiced. Duke had everyone called him Massa Duke so it should be of no surprise that he was colorstruck. Victoria has genitalia that talks to her. I have heard of the term that sex is power but this book took the term literally and not even in a convincing way.

The entire book revolves around Babylon and Duke desire to be it's ruler and grow it. Victoria as his Duchess and the light bright face of the company who speaks the King's English will be the tool he needs to get certain people on board with the expansion. Apparently black women from the ghetto don't know how to speak proper English or if they do they are faking it.

I am glad this is a pass it along book because no one should waste their money on this. I searched and their is a Sex in the hood 2...why? The premise could've worked with a more skilled author but it is clear that White Chocolate just decided to jumped on the Urban Lit bandwagon. TBR list #5 if you are not an Urban Lit fan don't even bother you will just get the wrong idea of what the genre is. For Urban Lit fans, if this is on your tbr list put it on the bottom, the absolute last entry, believe me there is no rush for this.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

2011-02-25T14:43:00.005-05:00

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Narrator: Jim Dale
Audiobook: 17cds 20hrs

$69.95

ISBN 0807282596

Genre: Young Adult

5stars

02/25/2011

From back of book:

You have in your hands in pivotal fourth novel in the seven-part tale of Harry Potter's training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron and the Weasleys. He wants to dram about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal-even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.

My Review:
Well I am bias as I love the HP series. In this book Harry and students find out that the Triwizard Tournament. The Tournament had not been played in over a century due to the death toll being to high. The three largest schools Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Durmstrang Institute, compete for the Triwizard Cup bragging rights and 1000 galleons (coins) for the winner. There is only one change with this new session of the tournament, no under age wizards. And to make sure no under age students submit their name a spell was place on the Goble of Fire.

Harry learns about the Dark Mark and Death Eaters for the first time at the Qudditch World Cup. He also hears about the 3 unforgivable curses . Imperius is a curse that gives the user control over the person the curse was placed on. Cruciatus is a curse to inflict the worse of pain. Avada Kedavra is a killing curse.

During the book Harry name is place into the Goblet. He is now magically bound to compete. He has to try to figure out how to get through each of the task while trying to figure out who put his name in the Goblet and why. The last task took him straight to Voldemort. In the end, a student dies, Voldemort is back (though people are not ready to admit it), Sirius is revealed to trusted people who fought against Voldemort before, and we are left with the impression that things are about to get ugly.

Narrator Jim Dale is the best. He has a voice for every character. The flow is smooth and you never feel like come on get to the good stuff. TBR list #1 ...come on, you already knew that right!

Challenge
Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2011
Triwizard Mini Challenge 2011 (7 books in series)

Baby Momma Drama by Carl Weber

2011-02-25T08:37:00.009-05:00

Baby Momma Drama by Carl Weber
3.5stars
02/24/2011
Tradeback $15
pages 311
published: 2003

From back of the book:
Older sister Jasmine, a postal worker in Richmond, Virginia, is working hard, saving money, and waiting for the right man to walk into her life. And in fine-dressing, smooth-talking attorney Derrick, she thinks she's found him. Derrick is generous, gorgeous, and oh-so-sexy. But all it takes is some pointed questions from Jasmine's shrewd granny Big Momma to expose her man as nothing more than a lying, drug-dealing hustler. Refusing to admit she's been played, Jasmine chooses to remain faithful to Derrick while he's doing time. That is, until she finds him in a clinch on visiting day with his baby's momma, Wendy. Derrick's big mistake with Wendy pushes Jasmine even further toward the arms of good friend-and good man-Dylan. But when yet another baby momma comes into the picture, Jasmine will have to decide whether the right love is worth the complications that come with it

Little sister Stephanie is looking for a good time, not a good man, although she finds both in sweet, loyal Travis. Before she knows it, a one-night fling has turned into a three-year relationship. But then, Malek, Stephanie's sexy high school sweetheart and the father of her adorable son, swings back into town and that wild part of her wants another taste of the one that got away. Right in the middle of wedding planning, Stephanie falls into a crazy affair with Malek-one that could destroy the best thing that ever happened to her. Big Momma tries to keep Stephanie's little family together, but a woman has to take care of her own life and for Stephanie, part of keeping things real will be learning how to lie in the bed she made for herself. Now that she's the momma, maybe it's time to start acting like a grownup

My Review:
Main characters are Jasmine, Stephanie, Travis, and Dylan. What did I think about the characters? I felt like all the characters were in a rush to be in relationships. None of them just too time out to reflect on what went wrong with the last relationship.

Jasmine was judgemental quick to finding fault with how other woman dealt with men and judging those men. The same is true about Stephanie. Travis was a good man but should have put his foot down every now and then. And he shouldn't have tried to buy her love. Buying things do not make someone love you and does not make one a good man. Dylan was perhaps the only person who had most things right though he waited way too long for Monica.

There are book club discussion questions at the end I will answer those now but I will not type out the questions. So here goes:

I have dated someone who have been in prison. I have dated a few guys who have been in prison. When I was younger I definitely went for the bad boys. An ex of mine was in and out of jail...a lot. So yeah, I know what it's like to date someone in da joint. Most have some of the same things in common. They put work above almost everything else. They tend to cheat. And is not above them to manipulate emotions to work in their favor.

If I could have any man from the book it would have been Dylan. Travis was ok but he just didn't appeal all the way with me. Dylan has a loyal friend,, faithful boyfriend, and sexy lover quality. Malek and Derek, well I've known several of men like them. I think there are many women who would agree with the statement "good sex will keep you in a bad situation."

Now Big Momma. She is like many nosy mother figures in family. The thing about giving advice is that you can give it but it doesn't mean the person receiving it has to take it. Nagging never fixed anything, in fact, some times it makes a person want to do the opposite. Also it makes people not want to come to you when something is going on.

The story was well told. It is a fast paced novel. The plot moved forward from the point of view of the four main characters. I would have given this novel 4stars but there were times when I wanted to smack the crap out of a couple characters, mainly Jasmine and Big Momma. Also I didn't like the way the character jump right into a relationship. It was like the were all afraid of taking some time. Especially Travis, I don't want to reveal what he did because it takes away from some of the story but let's just say shame on him, not for Stephanie's sake but his own. I saw myself in some of the characters so it was very for me to relate and that gives why I added the .5. The overall meaning of the storyline is two things. One, people treat you the way you allow them to treat you. Second, appreciate what you have before it's gone.
TBR list #3

Challenges
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011
What's in a Name 4
2011 Where Are You Reading?

On Urban/Street Lit Novels

2011-02-24T09:14:00.002-05:00

On Urban/Street Lit Novels

Okay, what am I missing? Why would a man want to make a woman who has more men in her than a New York subway car his wifey? Beauty, a crazy body, and good sex? Is that really what would blind a man to what and who a woman really is? It seems in urban/street lit novels that is all the dudes want. Then as soon as the chick flip on him (like her back warned him of) he wants to freak out. Hello! She was all about money when you met her and you knew it.

Then the women in these novels always have impossibly perfect curvy bodies. The men are always chiseled. The drug dealers always have bank and power. Both are shallow and only care about the materialistic aspects of life. I know drug dealers, their wifeys, their kids, their families, and drug users. Not every crack head is noticeable from across the street and for every kingpin you have a hundred low-level, making end meet hustlers. And the wifeys are in all shapes and sizes.

What I want people to understand about these novels is that there is truth in it. People are that shallow. People are that grimy. But at the end of the day these books are fiction. Life is not this way for many people in the hood. Not every little girl is abused. Not every little boy wants to be a pusher. Not everyone is out for money and clothes. And not every man is criminal. These books are entertainment, simply an action movie in a book.

I got this picture from here

Pass It Along

2011-02-23T12:07:00.008-05:00

Pass It Along

I was given a book that has been passed along several times already. I decided to make a blogpost dedicated to the idea. I'm sure that many people wont follow the rules and come back here to leave a comment stating that they have received the book and to those who have done it Thank You! I do hope however, that the book continues to get passed along and no one keeps it for his or her self.

The rules:
When a person receives the book they are to write their name and blog URL on the inside cover along with the date they finished reading it. They are asked to come to this post and do the same in the comments section.

If you are a blog owner try this little experiment yourself. Kindly leave a comment with your Pass It Along blogpost.

My Pass It Along Book is Sex in the Hood by White Chocolate

pages 335
published: Urban Books 2005
ISBN:1893196208

From back of book:
Duke Johnson has everything - money, power, and respect. He's the self--proclaimed ruler of Babylon, the sexiest party underworld in Detroit, and he can have anything and every woman he wants. That is, until he meets Victoria.

Victoria has lost both her parents, and now that she's moved from her upper class home in suburbia into her grandmother's run-down shack in the hood, she's about to use something else - her virtue.

Whisper Stories in My Ear 2011

2011-02-23T09:00:00.003-05:00

Whisper Stories in My Ear
2011 Audiobook Challenge

Here is the basic information:
Should you choose to participate in this challenge, your goal is to read at least twelve (12) audiobooks (no matter the length). Twelve is the minimum to be entered in the Grand Prize at the end of the Year.

Of course anyone can join. You just have to live on the planet earth, (meaning, this is an international challenge and contest) and you need to have either a blog where you can post your Reviews, or you need publish your review anywhere else, goodreads, LibaryThing, amazon, Barnes & Nobles, audible, etc etc etc...

Important: When you post your Review you have to say that you listened to the audiobook version of the book, who was the narrator, the length of time the audiobook ran and your separate rating/impression for the audiobook (how you liked the narration of the story beyond what you thought of the story itself). This can be at the end of your regular review, just like this example here.

The challenge runs from January 1st to December 31st, 2011.
You can join at anytime you want!
It doesn't matter what audiobook you are listening to, no matter the genre or the length!

Challenge Guidelines:
Please create a blogpost announcing your participating, you can include the books you are planning to listen to, but you don't have to. People without a blog just leave a link to where you will be posting your reviews (i.e. your Goodreads account).

Every month, starting in January there will be a new post up for you where you can post your Reviews for that month. A Mr Linky form will be up for you.
Although one review is the minimum to be entered, the more reviews you post each month the more chances you get to win the monthly prize. The monthly prizes includes giftcards from where you can buy audiobooks - like Amazon, iTunes, Barnes&Nobles and Audible. Plus, we will also have some MP3 players in the monthly prizes and other stuff that has something to do with audiobooks. You know how we Bookworms like to get creative with the prizes....
You can pick the audiobooks as you go (no need to decide right now).
Throughout the year, as you add your reviews in, you'll be eligible for level badges based on how many hours of audibook listening you've logged.

They'll unveil those images as we go, but the levels are as follows:

100 hours: Whispering My Love
200 hours: Can't Keep Quiet
300 hours: Singing It From The Mountain Tops
400 hours: Megaphone Shout

My Books (will list as I go):

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

2011-02-22T16:55:00.002-05:00

Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Read by Joyce Bean
2006
13cds 15hours
$39.95

from back of book:
EXPLORE THE WILDS OF THE GRAND TETONS-AND THE MYSTERIES OF LOVE, MURDER, AND MADNESS

Reece Gilmore has come a long way to see the stunning view below her. As the sole survivor of a brutal crime back East, she has been on the run. She settles in Angel’s Fist, Wyoming, and takes a job at a local diner. And now she’s hiked this mountain all by herself. Ti was glorious, she thinks, as she peers through her binoculars at the Snake River churning below.
And then she sees a man and a woman on the opposite bank. Arguing. Fighting. And suddenly, he’s on top of her, his hand around her throat…

Enjoying a moment of solitude a bit farther down the trail is a gruff loner named Brody. But by the time Reece reaches him and brings him to the scene, the pair is gone. And when authorities comb the area where she saw the attack, they find nothing.

Reece knows there’s a killer in Angel’s Fist, even if Brody, despite his seeming impatience and desire to keep her at arm’s length, is the only one willing to believe her. When a series of menacing events makes it clear that someone wants her out of the way, Reece must put her trust in Brody-and herself-to find out if there is a kill in Angel’s Fist before it’s too late

My Review:
Great suspense novel. There are times with Reece struggle with her past becomes annoying. You feel empathy for what she had to go through and you understand way she is the way she is. But at the same time, you think it was a case of wrong place at the wrong time. Not everyone is in danger for their lives at every moment. I never knew who the killer was though I suspected I never knew for sure. At the end, the thing that you can learn from this book is trust your instincts. If something or someone does “feel” right then keep that in the back of your mind, you don’t have to act on it at the moment but concrete reasons as to way you feel that way may present itself.

Quote – Like to think himself a mountain man. What he is, is gayer than daisies in spring
“My love life is as sparse as Pete’s hairline.”

Challenges:
2011 Where Are You Reading? Wyoming
Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

Thong On Fire by Noire

2011-02-17T09:26:00.007-05:00

Thong On Fire by Noire
Hardcore pages 291
Published: 2007
Genre: Urban/Street Lit
2stars
02/17/2011

From back of book:

I WAS JUST A LOST LITTLE GIRL forced to make it in a grown woman’s world. A child turned out by the rulers of the game. When you get thrown into a snakepit you better learn how to wiggle! It’s all about survival, baby. And not only did I learn the code of the streets, I made my own damn rules and got paid in the process. So listen close, but watch your pockets. I’m a Harlem girl. A scandalous chick. A ruthless mama. Me and this city are just alike. Grimy. And we never, ever sleep…

My Review:
Saucy is selfish, self-centered, and straight grimy. She betrays Tai, a girl she calls her best friend. Though she hasn’t said anything to her face she bad-mouth her in her mind. She thinks Tai has low self-esteem when it’s really her. She has no sense of self worth outside of her looks and sexually skills. In the back of her mind if people weren’t paying her any attention, she wasn’t laced with stack of money and fly gear she was dirty, raggedy Saucy with the crack-head parents.

The fact that she liked that she had gotten herself tagged as Brainiac should make me feel sorry for the character but she is so unlikable, I can’t feel an ounce of sympathy for this character. All I could think is that somebody needs to Tae Bo that hoe. At least she really did love on person and though she screwed over everyone in her life she honestly had a limited of what she would do to her Uncle Swag.

In the end she loses everything. The funny part is that she still didn’t get it right up to the end. She had no sense of responsibility. Everything was everyone else’s fault. She turned out to be just like the mother she despised, right down to the neglected of her own child.

The book is a cautionary tale for all those people who value looks and material possession over everything else. It is hard to write a character that the reader is supposed to be not like but sympathize with Noire didn’t succeed in creating that effect with me.

NOTE *She likes to reference characters from other books in to the novel you are reading. She is associated with a few rappers and you will find their names and raps throughout the novels whenever she brings up music.

Challenges:
What's In A Name 4
Chick Porn Reading Challenge 2011
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011

Dark Challenge by Christine Feehan

2011-02-14T12:50:00.005-05:00

Dark Challenge by Christine Feehan
Read by Juanita Parker
12cds
2.5stars

02/14/2011

From back of book:
Was She More Than His Mate?
Julian Savage was golden. Powerful. But tormented. For the brooding hunter walked alone, far from his Carpathian kind, alien to even his twin. Like his name, his existence was savage. Until he met the woman he was sworn to protect… When Julian heard Desari sing, rainbows swamped his starving senses. Emotions bombarded his hardened heart. And a dark hunger to possess her flooded his loins, blinding him to the danger stalking him. And even as Desari enflamed him, she dared to defy him with mysterious, unparalleled feminine powers. Was Desari more than his perfect mate? Julian had met his match in this woman, but would she drive him to madness…or save his soul?

My Review:
Like all the novels in the Dark Series it is very repetitive. Words you will hear over and over and over again are white hot, liquid heat, molten lava, need, and hunger. It can be quite tiring and bogs the book down. If you took all the repetitive words out of the story it would be much more interesting but a whole lot shorter. Like in all the novels you are introduced to new characters that you know will have their own books in the future. What was different about this one is that you have a group of Carpathians you have been “lost” since childhood. They do not understand the ways of their people. We as readers can see what is happening between two of the characters though they cannot understand it themselves. TBR list #5

Challenges:

Chick Porn Reading Challenge 2011

2011 Sexy Reading Challenge

Readers of Romance Challenges Winter 2011

Random Book Questions

2011-02-11T15:53:00.002-05:00

Random Book Questions. This is questions from It all starts with a book.

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack:
Not usually. If I do it would be something like chips, popcorn, or Skittles.

What is your favorite drink while reading?
Usually water. I drink a lot of water anyway so it’s only natural. If I am craving something else then it would be that.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
NO, NO, NO. The idea of writing in books horrifies me. I didn’t even highlight in my textbooks.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?
I use both an index card and a bookmark at the same time. Bookmark because it’s pretty and an index card (s) for notes. Dog-ear pages…are you kidding me. I loaned a book to a friend and noticed she dog-eared a page. I was more than a little upset. Needless to say, I won’t lend her any of my new books.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?
Fiction 99% of the time.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
I can stop anywhere.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
No but I will swear out loud or put it down for awhile.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
No. I may make a note to look it up later but usually I can figure it out.

What are you currently reading?
Thong on Fire by Noire

What is the last book you bought?
I don’t remember it has been a long time. I want to buy new books all the time but I have so many to read pile that I can’t justify a new book.

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?
One printed book and an audio book.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
No. I can read anywhere. Any time though I find myself read more in the afternoon.

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
Doesn’t matter to me. I do enjoy a good series.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
Harry Potter series. Alex Cross series.

How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author's last name, etc.)
Okay. I have one tall bookcase it holds romances (triple stacked). The last shelf holds mysteries. Two small bookcases. One holds African-American authors and the other holds everything else (double stacked). Then on those bookcases, books I have read are placed in the back of the shelves.

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

2011-02-10T09:05:00.005-05:00

Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich
Read by Lorelei King
7cds

3stars

02/10/2011

The spiciest, sauciest, most rib-sticking plum yet!
Recipe for disaster: Celebrity chef Stanley Chipotle come to Trenton to participate in a barbecue cook-off and loses his head-literally.
Throw in some spice: Bail bonds office worker Lula is witness to the crime, and the only one she’ll talk to is Trenton cop, Joe Morelli.
Pump up the heat: Chipotle’s sponsor is offering a million-dollar reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of the killers.
Stir the pot: Lula recruits bounty hunter Stephanie Plum to help her find the killers and collect the moolah.
Add a secret ingredient: Stephanie’s Grandma Mazur. Enough said.
Bring to a boil: Can Stephanie hunt down to killers, a traitor, five skips, keep her grandmother out of the sauce, solve Ranger’s problems and not jump his bones?
Warning: Habanero hot. So good you’ll want seconds.

My Review:

Again this is one of my favorite series. Lula once again steals the show. You know, I think it would be nice is Evanovich could find a way to start a series or even just one book starting Lula. That would be riot. Action after action. TBR list #3

Challenges:

Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2011

2011 Global Reading Challenge

2011-02-09T11:32:00.004-05:00

The Easy Challenge

Read one novel from each of these continents in the course of 2011:

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe

-Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)

The Seventh Continent (here you can either choose Antarctica or your own ´seventh´ setting, eg the sea, the space, a supernatural/paranormal world, history, the future – you name it).

From your own continent: try to find a country, state or author that is new to you.

The Medium Challenge
Read two novels from each of these continents in the course of 2011:

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)

The Seventh Continent

Try to find novels from fourteen different countries or states.

The Expert Challenge
Read three novels from each of these continents in the course of 2010:

Africa
Asia
Australasia
Europe
North America
South America (please include Central America where it is most convenient for you)
The Seventh Continent

Select novels from twenty-one different countries or states if possible. (For Australasia, selecting a different state for your last book will be acceptable)

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

2011-02-07T08:40:00.007-05:00

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Hardcover pgs. 498
rating: 3 stars
02/06/2011

From Goodreads:
Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

My Review:
Well, what can I say? Did it leave you to the hype for me? I don't know if it's because it is a YA novel but it just didn't grab me. Okay, this is what bothered me the most...Edward's damn perfection. Nothing about him sounded like perfection to me. It made me wonder if I had ever gushed about a guy like this as a teenager. I really don't think I did. Yes, there were guys that I thought were sooo good looking. I even dated a couple of the "popular and fine" ones but my mind wasn't constantly bring up the words perfection and beautiful at every sight. If you were to talk out the comments on Edwards beauty the book could probably be cut down to 400 pages. For me it really slowed the pace of the book down. TBR list #4 (sorry Twilight fans but this book can wait).

Challenges:
I Spy Reading Challenge
2011 Where Are You Reading?
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

2011-02-04T09:03:00.003-05:00

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
read by Lorelei King
7cds
3stars
02/04/2011

from back of box:
BOUNTY HUNTER STEPHANIE PLUM GOES ON HER MOST EXPLOSIVE ADVENTURE YET.

THE CRIME: Armed robbery to the tune of nine million dollars
Dom Rizzi robbed a bank, stashed the money, and did the time. His family couldn't be more proud. He always was the smart one.

THE COUSIN: Joe Morelli
Joe Morelli, Dom Rizzi, and Dom's sister, Loretta, are cousins. Morelli's a cop, Rizzi robs banks, and Loretta is a single mother waiting table at the firehouse. The all-American family.

THE COMPLICATIONS: Murder, kidnapping, destruction of personal propety, and acid reflux
Less than a week after Dom's release from prison, Joe Morelli has shadowy figures breaking into his house and dying in his basement. He's getting threatening messages, Loretta is kidnapped, and Dom is missing.

THE CUPCAKE: Stephanie Plum
Stephanie and Morelli have a long-standing relationship tha involves sex, affection, and driving each other nuts. She's a bond enforcement agent with more luck than talent, and she's involved in the bank-robbery-gone=bad disaster from day one.

THE CRISIS: A favor for Ranger
Security expert Carlos Manoso, street name Ranger, has a job for Stephanie that will involve night work. Morelli has his own ideas regarding Stephanie's evening activities.

THE CONCLUSION: Only the fearless should listen to Fourteen
Thrills, chills, and incontinence may result.

My Review:

I love the Stephanie Plum series. She always seems to find trouble. Many times she only has herself to blame. I'm a nice person too but where is the bail enforcement handbook does it states that you have to babysit the son of a skip, even if she is related to your on again, off again boyfriend. Lula always have great lines. My favorite from this one "I need something clogging otherwise my blood could go to fast and make me dizzy" LOL (it went something like that). TBR list #3

Challenges:
Mystery & Suspense (comic thriller)
2011 Where Are You Reading?
Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

2011-02-02T12:42:00.006-05:00

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
10 cds
5stars
02/02/2011

From back of book:

My Review:

This is book 3 in the series. In this one Harry "accidentally" "blows" up is Aunt. While storming out of the house with no place to go he sees the grim. Where introduced to new characters such as Stanley Shunpike and Sirius Black. Sirius Black is the prisoner who escaped from Azkaban. The relationship between Sirius, Harry, and Harry's parents is explained in this book. The book is faced paced. The audio verison is always great as the narrator does a great job with the voices. TBR list #1

Challenges:

2011 Global Reading Challenge

The Olympic Reading Challenge 2012

A to Z Around the World Challenge

Triwizard Tournament Mini Challenge (7books in a series, HP books)

In Sheep's Clothing by Mary Monroe

2011-01-29T11:00:00.012-05:00

In Sheep's Clothing by Mary Monroe

3stars

Trade paperback pgs. 324

01/29/2011

from back of book:

A restless young woman thinks she’s found a free ride to happiness and adventure. But it’s a trip that may land her in prison-or worse…

When twenty-eight-year-old Trudy Bell lands a secretarial position at a travel agency, she feels like a new woman. And her warm, friendly personality soon wins her the adoration of her colleagues-with one exception. Ann Oliver, the only other African American employee, is a high-level manager who despises the low-income black experience Trudy represents. But no one is going to ruin Trudy’s new life. In fact, she’s found a way to make it even better. As the secretary who processes the agency’s bill, Trudy has easy access to company credit cards. Including Ann’s.

At first, Trudy’s deception involves a few high-priced lunches, but it soon expands to include weekend “business trips: to exotic locations. Before long she’s leading a double-life-Ann’s life-complete with a secret apartment where she entertains the men she meets at upscale bars. But their worlds collide the night Trudy brings home the wrong man-one who has an angry score to settle. With Ann. Now, unless Trudy can convince him she’s not the woman he’s after, she may pay the highest price of all…

My Review:

Where do I start? Let's start with the main character Trudy (Gertrude) Bell. The intent was that we as readers are suppose to feel empathy for Trudy and the tradgies she went through. Ummm, no! She knew from the start what she was doing and that it was wrong. She made excuse and tried to pass the buck every step of the way. Trudy was a self abosorb cry-baby with no back bone, low self-esteem, and an envious heart.

She fell in to the trap of the grass is greener. Many people have fallen into this trap but to steal someone identity to life the life you wish you had is patheic. I have no empathy for this character. In the end, she got what she deserves. The moral of the book, don't wish to be someone else because you don't know what type of life that person has. Trudy definitely leans the lesson the hard way.

Challenges:

Clue Board Game Challenge

2011 Where Are You Reading?

Round the World Passage 2011

Ruthless Game by Christine Feehan

2011-01-28T15:46:00.004-05:00

Ruthless Game by Christine Feehan
GhostWalker series book 9

01/28/2011
11cds 13.5hrs
3.5stars

From back of book:
When there are no rules, there are no limits.

A woman on the run, with more to live for than she imagined, collides with a danger more lethal than she feared in the all-new GhostWalker scorcher by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan…

GhostWalker Kane Cannon is pure male-animalistic, sexual, protective, instinctive-and his past missions have prepared him for anything. But his newest assignment, to rescue hostages in Mexico, plunges him into a hot zone he never anticipated: the hiding place of Rose Patterson-a fugitive, an ex-lover, a fellow GhostWalker pregnant with his child.
Rose is in flight from the insidious experiments that still haunt her dreams, and from the madman who’d do anything to take her child. Of all the GhostWalkers enlisted to hunt her down, Kane is the only one she can trust. But as their passion reignites, the stakes are raised. Because Kane is now a wanted man as well. And together they’re about to face the most desperate challenge of all: saying together and staying alive.

My Review:
The GhostWalkers are an elite group of military soldiers who have been psychically enhanced. This book focuses on the relationship between Kane and Rose. Kane came into the program as an adult. Rose had been in the program since she was a child. Treated horribly she was trained and experimented on. Then she was put into the breeding program design to make a super solider. She rejected all the men sent her way until Kane. She has chosen him.
The novel is fast paced. It get bogged down sometimes at the descriptive romance scenes once you realize that you have heard these words before. Still, it’s a good story to get lost in. On your tbr list placed this at #3

Challenges:

Chick Porn

2011 Sexy Reading Challenge

Mini-Challenge

Black Hills by Nora Roberts

2011-01-25T18:51:00.008-05:00

Black Hills by Nora Roberts
14cd 17hrs 2mins
1/25/2011
5 stars

from back of book:
A summer at his grandparents' South Dakota ranch is not eleven-year old Cooper Sullivan's idea of a good time. But things are a bit more bearable now that he's discovered the neighbor girl, Lil Chance, and her homemade batting cage. Each year, with coop's annual summer visit, their friendship deepens from innocent games to stolen kisses, but there is one shared experience that will forever haunt them: the terrifying discovery of a hiker's body.
As the seasons change and the years roll by, Lil remains steadfast to her aspiration of becoming a wildlife biologist and protecting her family land, while Coop struggles with his father's demand that he attend law school and join the family firm. Twelve years after they last walked togehter hand, fate has brought them back to the Black Hills when the people and things they hold dear need them most.
When small pranks and acts of destruction escalate into the heartless killing of Lil's beloved cougar, memories of an unsolved murder in these very hills have Coop springing to action to keep Lil safe.
Lil and Coop know the natural dangers that lurk in the wild landscape of the Black Hills. Now they must work together to unearth a killer of twisted and unnatural instincts who has singled them out as prey.

My Reviews:

Great book. It didn't start that way for me. I did not like the narrators voice at all. It struck me as annoying and not at all the type of voice I had heard on other audiobooks. I think it was because the character, young Cooper Sullivan, was being a huge spoiled brat. He just whined for the first few tracks. Soon, with the deal he made with his grandmother, he started to enjoy his time in South Dakota.

The story then jumps to when both are grown and have lived life separately and as differently as they did when they were children. Lil had made her dream of an wildlife rescue refuge a reality. Coop was able to prove himself to himself in New York. He moved back to South Dakota to stay will Lil was away. When she came back they both had to deal with the hearbreak of the past. Cougars are the thread that hold the characters together. Even the serial killer who make a small mark in the beginning of the book and gain presence as the story goes along. The killer decides to stalk and hunt Lil.

The story is suspenseful with a romance theme throughout. I gave it a 5 star rating because it held me attention after the first few tracks. I had to know how it ended. I had to know how the relationship unfolded. The story pulled me in and that deserves a 5 star rating. On your tbr list but this as #1 (#2 if you don't like romances, the romance is not the typical cheesy variety).

Challenges:

Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011
2011 Where Are You Reading?
Mini-Challenge

Fifth Born by Zelda Lockhart

2011-01-22T20:50:00.008-05:00

Fifth Born by Zelda Lockhart

hardcover pgs210

1/22/2011

rated: 4stars

from back of book:

When Odessa Blackburn is three years old, she sees her grandmother for the last time, and so begins her story as the fifth born of eight children in a troubled family. Molested by her father, Odessa is also the sole witness to a murder he commits. Her mother guards both secrets and joins her husband in ostracizing their fifth born from the rest of her siblings.

As Odessa grows, so do her troubles. She ultimately separates herself from her parents and siblings into a new reality that prompts memory and revelation. her choices for survival provoke an outcome that will forever alter the carefully maintained lies of her childhood.

My Review:

The novel was written beautifully. It is somewhat fast paced in that I ead it in two days. The subject matter is sad and distrubing. The way the adult characters chose to treat children is just appalling. Odessa is subject to constant physical, mential, and emotionally abused from all sides. A drunken father who does not hestitate to show just how much he hates her. A mother who ignores the truth in an effort to stand by her man.

However, I did not and could not feel completely sympathy for her. As a child of three she was indeed a cry-baby, I could understand that though being that she was only three. But as she got older and continued to make excuses for the way people treated her angered me. Her constant neediness for her mother love disguised me. And her inability to fight back turned her into a punk in my mind. Everyone survives tragedies in their own way and this is how Lockhart chose to have Odessa survive her but it just could not respect this kid. Her plight was a harsh one to bear but I just could not get behind her 100%. It was this feeling about the character that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars. On your tbr list of five this should be #2

Challenges:

Off the Shelf Reading Challenge

Mini-Challenge

What's in a Name 4

Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

2011-01-21T13:07:00.004-05:00

Mystery & Suspense Reading Challenge 2011

I participated in this challenge last year and did horribly. I think most because I was not organized and got off track. I have a plan this year for all my challenges so I'm going to try this again.

Sign Up
To sign up you MUST make a post on your blog about participating in the challenge - you then use the URL of the post to sign up to the challenge by adding it to Mr Linky below. DO NOT just add your blog URL - this will be deleted. Also please be aware that unless you show you are joining the challenge with a participation post your ARC will not be sent.
You must add the button to your sidebar - make sure that it links back to this post so others can join the challenge if they wish. Easiest way to do this is to copy and paste the code displayed above!

My Lists:

Fearless Fourteen 02/04/2011

Angel Falls 02/22/2011

Ice Cold 05/13/2011

2011 Chick Lit Challenge

2011-01-21T11:46:00.005-05:00

Read at least 8 books of the chick lit variety. What qualifies for chick lit? Books like Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series, Red Ink Press books, authors like Jane Green or Whitney Lyles, etc. These are the mostly fluff, fun-to-read, brain candy type of books. This challenge runs from January 1 thru December 31, 2011. You can make your list ahead of time of the books you want to read or just list them as you go along. To sign up click here.

My books:

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

Spontaneous by Brenda Jackson

Fired Up by Jayne Anne Krentz

2011-01-21T09:28:00.008-05:00

Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz

An Arcane Society Novel (Book 7)

Dreamlight Trilogy (Book 1)

Audiobook: 9cds 10hours

rated: 3 stars

From back of book:

More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsessionfueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man's decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations.

Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts - just the beginning, he believes - of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can't do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the gift to read the lamp's dreamlight.

Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman. Her talents for finding objects and accessing dream energy are what will save him, but their sudden and powerful sexual pull threatens to overwhelm them both. Danger surrounds them, and it doesn't take long for Chloe to pick up the trail of the missing lamp. And as they draw closer to the lamp, the raw power that dwells within it threatens to sweep them into a hurricane of psychic force.

My Review:

The first cd moved very slow. I am not a person to easily give up on a book especially an audiobook since I listen to them at work. By the end of the second cd the story started to pick up and by the middle of the book the action and storyline really comes together. I ended up liking the book and will got back to the first novel to get caught up (this is the first book I've read from the Arcane Society series). For me I had never heard about the Arcane Society and what it's about. Also the Winters curse and all of these other family legends and/or mythns were new to me. It is those things that has me wanting to start from the beginning. If you are a fan of Krentz work or a paranormal romance reader I think you should give this book a try. On a tbr list of five put it around #3

Challenges:

Mini-Challenge

-Something Borrowed (got it from a friend who got it from the library)

Olympic Challenge London 2012

2011 Sexy Reading Challenge

Mini-Callenge

2011-01-18T13:23:00.006-05:00

Mini-Challenge hosted by Lazy Girl Reads
This challenge goes from Jan. 1st 2011- Apr. 1st 2011

Rules: Choose 4 books according to the following guidelines:
*Something old
-Fifth Born by Zelda Lockhart
*Something new
Ruthless Game by Christine Feehan
*Something borrowed
-Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz
*Something blue
Black Hills by Nora Roberts
You don't have to pick the books ahead of time! Be creative! While the other categories are self explanatory, 'Something blue' can mean a book with a blue cover, a book with the word 'blue' in the title, a book that takes place at sea...anything you want!

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

2011-01-17T12:04:00.006-05:00

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Rated 4.5 stars

I love the movie The Color Purple. Heck, purple is my favorite color. I have read this book once before but so fast that I didn't retain much. This time around I paid attention. There are so many difference between the book and the movie. I won't get into the differences because well...you need to read them for yourself. I will say this, the movie added things or changed things for dramatic effect. There were also other events that were more mild than in the book.

The relationship between Celie and Shug has more detail. In fact, all the relationships are deeper than those protrayed in the movie. Any opinions you may have formed about the character may just change as you get an expand view of them. The book is written in journal/letter form. If you remember the movie, Celie always said Dear God and then tell you about what's gonna on. Later when she finds Nettie letters Dear God turns to Dear Celie. This is how the entire books is written. There are no chapter just letter format. It is a fast read however, Celie's Dear God entries are written they way she speaks so words are not spelled correctly. This may slow you up a bit but not too much I think. This should go on you to be read list.

Challenges:

Heroines Bookshelf Reading Challenge

2011 Where Are You Reading?

Round The World Passage 2011

2011 Sexy Reading Challenge

2011-01-14T20:15:00.010-05:00

2011 Sexy Reading Challenge

Okay, we Broads have decided to offer a reading challenge for the next year-the 2011 Sexy Reading Challenge! Any book with sexy romance or erotica qualifies, so that means regency, Steampunk, paranormal (vamps, weres, shapeshifters), even sci-fi, if it's sexy. The goal is to read 12 books in 2011 that qualify.

The Sexy Reading Challenge will run from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

So what do you have to do? First, sign up with Mr. Linky. Then, read your books. When you post a review, use the 2011 Sexy Reading Challenge button and let us know so we can go read it. Each time we see a review, you'll be entered to win a prize that we'll randomly select at the end of the year from everyone who read all 12 books. It's that easy!

My List:

A Long Hot Christmas 01/13/2011

Fired Up 01/20/2011

Ruthless Game 01/28/2011

Dark Challenge 02/14/2011

Spontaneous 05/08/2011

A Long Hot Christmas by Barbara Daly

2011-01-14T19:18:00.005-05:00

A Long Hot Christmas by Barbara Daly

3 stars

from back of book:

SHE'D DO IT FOR HIM, IF HE'D DO IT FOR HER

Marketer Hope Sumner was forever dodging matchmakers, especially during the holiday season. This time, it was her own sisters trying to set her up. Their Prince Charming was apparently a drop-dead gorgeous workaholic who needed arm candy. Well, so did she.

Lawyer Sam Sharkey wanted the sort of date he could take to the boss's Christmas party and not have to propose to afterward. Hope was perfect - radiant and rational. This could work out...very well.

AND, BOY, DID THEY DO IT FOR EACH OTHER!

No one even suspected their lusty romance wasn't real, not after their lingering touches and hot glances started straying from the arm candy script...

My Review:

This is a fast paced romance. I like the characters though at times the shallowness of the two were more than a bit annoying. the story focus a bit more on Hope so you really get to see how she values status and credentials. Yes, when you are paying someone or expecting to pay a hefty sum of money for a service, you expect the person to know what he or she is doing.

However, when Hope heard that her interior decorator got her degree through a mail correspondence course she worried the woman would steal her belongings. Rich people or people who seem rich are just as likely to steal as she finds out later in the story.

I enjoyed the romance between Hope and Sam. Often in romance novels like this the two characters take too long to act on their feelings. I never got to the point where I was like "oh get on with it already." If you are a fan of romance novels put this book on your list.

2011 Public Domain E-book Challenge

2011-01-14T08:02:00.004-05:00

2011 Public Domain E-book Challenge

January 1, 2011-December 31, 2011

(This is the first challenge she has ever hosted so please bear with her if she make any errors-any help/suggestions appreciated)

I received a Nook about 6 months ago and I love it. My favorite thing is discovering new (to me) book offerings under the various sites that promote their organization's scanning and saving of these otherwise vanishing books once they hit the "public domain". All of these books are FREE-a bonus to a thrifty reader.

A few sites with public domain books (there is lots of overlap between the sites):

Google Books-

to find the public domain books, search for a book under any subject, after the items come up, click "full view" on the left hand side of the page (these are the free books).

The Internet Archive -
Search under "Texts" header.

Manybooks.net-
Very "newbie" ereader friendly.
Note: after so many downloads they do have a non offensive "if you'd like to help please donate" pop up-that is up to you. (I'm in no way affiliated with this site.)

Project Gutenberg-
the site that started it all.

Project Gutenberg Australia

www.classicreader.com-

this site has almost 4000 public domain books that you can read on site-no downloading or ereader required:) (thanks Mommy Wants to Read)

The one problem I saw was that many or even most of these books-there is little to no information of what they are about, or even reviews to let others know what they are about. But, that's part of the fun!

I feel it behooves us as the reading community to help these volunteers "save" these books-simply by giving them "press". Read them, review them, and by doing so, get the word out to other readers about these undiscovered gems.

The Rules:

1-Pick a level of participation for the year:

"newbie"level-read and review 3 public domain books (non bloggers will just post reviews in the reviews comments page)

"advanced" level-read and review 6 public domain books (non bloggers will just post reviews in the reviews comments page)

That's about it-easy peasey:) You pick the book, genre, length, etc. Readers who don't own a e-reader are welcome as well (e-reader apps on phones, etc or just read on your PC). You can cross this over with other challenges as well.

I'm going to start at the "newbie" level - 3books

Readers of Romance Book Challenges

2011-01-12T09:47:00.006-05:00

Readers of Romance Book Challenges
is a Shelfari group that has quarterly challenges

It's that time again! Here is your list for the Winter ‘11 (December, January and February) Reading Challenge! (December 1-February 28)
RULES:
1. Select ANY number of books to read that fit the category.
2. Post your list on the discussion board and blog (Name’s Winter 11 Challenge List)
3. If you need title suggestions please use the Discussion titled WINTER TITLE SUGGESTIONS if you don't see it please search (to try and minimize number of discussions)
4. Once you have read a book please find the corresponding discussion by searching you can search by 11 Winter # and use the number that corresponds with the list. (one will be created for each number on December 1, again, to try and minimize number of discussions) and post the book and title you read and rating, and review.
5. It is not required, but if you could post your review on the blog that would be great.
6. Reviews on the blog please include labels list the rating, author, and # of challenge only.
7. Audio books are okay
8. Rereads are okay
9. You can change your list at anytime

THE CHALLENGE:
~~1. Reader’s Choice~~
2. Reader’s Choice
3. Reader’s Choice
4. Read a book by an author you’ve been wanting to try, but haven’t yet
5. Choose a cover with a headless model
6. Read an Enemy story http://likesbooks.com/enemy.html
7. Read a book by Jill Shalvis or Nancy Warren
8. For MLK Day: Read a Title with 'Dream' in it
9. A book where one of the main characters has a weird/uncommon name.
~~10. Read a Christmas themed book OR an author that first or last name begins with C http://likesbooks.com/christmas.html~~
~~11. Read a book that has 2 words in the title~~
12. Read a book by picking one off your Shelfari’s friends shelf (and list who you got it from to make it fun!)
13. Read an American Indian themed book http://likesbooks.com/native.html
~~14. Read a book that has been on your shelf for a while (Out with the Old!)~~
15. Read a book that was published in 2011 -or Dec of 2010 (In with the New!)

My books
1. A Very Cougar Christmas (ebook)
10. A Christma Hookup (ebook)
14. A Long Hot Christmas
11. Dark Challenge (audio book)

Mini Challenges

2011-01-11T17:22:00.012-05:00

Mini Challenges

This is the last Hogwarts Challenge for me as such it will be more involved and hopefully more fun. Here are the Mini Challenges with dates and info. I am not announcing any prizes other than the $15 gift card to a random winner for participating in the main challenge with the 5 book minimum met. However, there will be a drawing for a prize for all those who are able to accumulate 450 plus points and well as participate in all the mini challenges as well as read 7 books from one series (in honor of the 7 HP books). This final challenge (all the mini challenges, the points, and the 7 books) is called the Triwizard Tournament. All prizes will be given out any time after the mini challenge or right around the same time as the main challenge but if you win you will get your prize.

*Prizes are Harry Potter related
**A series is when the main character is the same in all subsequent books. Ex: Eve Dallas in the Death in…, James Patterson Alex Cross books. When in doubt, ask me. Have fun and Happy Reading

Perfect Mini Challenge
Time frame is Jan 14th to Feb 13th
So what do you have to do?
*First way: read at least 3 books with the word Perfect in the title.
or
*Second way: read at least 3 books that you give a perfect rating to. You do not have to blog the books but you do have to tell me why you gave it a perfect rating.
Points - 10 points (max 30 points) an additional 25 points for completing the challenge. Meaning you read all 3 will receive 30 points plus 25 bonus points for a total of 55 points. 15 points for each additional book (for every 3rd book you get an extra entry in the Triwizard Tournament Drawing)
***Yes, you can do any combination of the two options. Ex: read 2 books with perfect in the title and 1 book that you have given a perfect rating to.
Have Fun and Happy Reading!!!

Winner of Perfect Mini Challenge Melissa of Hufflepuff used Random.org

the Prize: choice of House Pin

Book in the Day Mini Challenge
Time frame is Feb 14th to March 13th
Throughout the series the characters are constantly delving into the past so in this challenge we will too. You task is to read 3 books that were published in 1999 or earlier.
Points - 10 points (max 30 points) an additional 25 points for completing the challenge. Meaning you read all 3 will receive 30 points plus 25 bonus points for a total of 55 points. 15 points for each additional book (for every 3rd book you get an extra entry in the Triwizard Tournament Drawing)
*Yes, books set in the past count but it still have to be set in a time period on or before 1999.
Have Fun and Happy Reading!!!

Winner of Book in the Day Mini Challenge is Tenia F (shelfari I Love Reading Challenge member) of Slytherin used Random.org

Prize: Time Turner Keychain

Hide and Seek Mini Challenge
Time frame March 14th and April 30th
There are times when one must hide while seeking out the next move to make. Harry and friends had to this on many occasions like when they can to sneak and learn Defence against the Dark Arts on their own. For this challenge, you must read 3 books that are related to hide and seek. These books can be mysteries, detective stories, crime, have the words hide or seek in the title. When in doubt ask me.
Points - 10 points (max 30 points) an additional 25 points for completing the challenge. Meaning you read all 3 will receive 30 points plus 25 bonus points for a total of 55 points. 15 points for each additional book (for every 3rd book you get an extra entry in the Triwizard Tournament Drawing)
Have Fun and Happy Reading!!!

Winner of ide and Seek Mini Challenge Kari of Gryfffindor used Random.org

Prize: Marauder's Map

Flight or Fight Mini Challenge
Time frame May1st to June 30th
We all know that at the end of the series Harry Potter must either fight Voldemont or forever run in hiding. For this challenge read 3 books that have to do with fighting, boxing, military, or aviation. Books with the words flight or fight will count as will. Books with the word bird or a type of flying bird will count. So books about an ostrich will not count, they do not fly. When in doubt ask me.
Points - 10 points (max 30 points) an additional 25 points for completing the challenge. Meaning you read all 3 will receive 30 points plus 25 bonus points for a total of 55 points. 15 points for each additional book (for every 3rd book you get an extra entry in the Triwizard Tournament Drawing)
Have Fun and Happy Reading!!!

Winner of Flight or Fight Mini Challenge Andrea of Ravenclaw used Random.org
Prize: choice of Dumbledore's Knife or Bellatrix Dagger

Winner of Triwizard Tournament Tenia F of Slytherin used Random.org
Prize: choice of wand &

Chick Porn Reading Challenge

2011-01-10T16:29:00.007-05:00

Chick Porn Reading Challenge 2011
Another I Love Reading Challenges group exclusive

With a name like that, you know this may not be a challenge for everybody! Now that you've been warned on with the challenge...

Chick porn is chick lit, romance and/or erotica. In this challenge you will be required to read 2 books for each rating. This may be the steamiest reading challenge you'll be all year!
Okay! Time frame Jan 11 to Dec 11overlapping with other challenges as always is fine

Ratings
G - very light on kissing scenes if it has any. This is young love or even just a crush.
PG - kissing, mild "love" scenes maybe only a couple of love scenes in whole book
PG-13 - kissing, mild "love" scenes 2 to more love scenes
R- kissing, "love" scenes, more nudity 3 or more love scenes
X- you would not recommend this book to anyone under 18. In fact you feel a little naughty for reading it yourself!

The ratings are just a guide. Use you judgment as to which rating your book goes under.
Happy Reading

My Books:
G:
PG:
PG-13:
R: A Long Hot Christmas 01/13/2011
Dark Challenge 02/14/2011
X: Ruthless Game 01/28/2011

A to Z Around The World Challenge

2011-01-10T16:27:00.007-05:00

A to Z Around The World Challenge 1Jan11-31Dec11 *Fill in Countries A to Z. There are countries for every letter except X.*The letter X is an exception to this challenge. Try to include at least one country for each letter of the alphabet during your reading journey! The book must take place in said place HAVE FUN PS. for an extra layer of fun make it 80 BOOKS AROUND THE WORLD!! My List A: B: C: D: England - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling 02/02/2011 F: G: H: I: J: K: L: M: N: O: Panama - Wild Fire by Christine Feehan 04/14/2011 Q: R: S: T: United States of America - A Long Hot Christmas 01/13/2011 V: W: X: Y: Z:

Freedom Fighters Reading Challenge 2011

2011-01-10T16:21:00.002-05:00

Freedom Fighters Reading Challenge 2011

I Love Reading Challenge group exclusive! (2nd year for this challenge)

Nearly every country at some point has had people who were bold and brave enough to stand up and fight for their freedom as well as the freedom of others.

The challenge is to read at least 4 books about 4 different Freedom Fighters.
Challenge runs Jan 1 11 to Dec 31 11

overlapping with other challenges is ok

*this year fictional freedom fighter will count as well - just indicate next to the title that it is fictional

Round the World Passage 2011

2011-01-10T16:11:00.006-05:00

Round the World Passage 2011

This challenge is the brain child of member Tien H
*only two changes have been made from the original...I up the max mileage by 10k and there is a set time frame

Round the World Passage
January 1, 2011 - December 31, 2011

This idea is a combination of the 7 continents / Olympic challenges and Round the World Tickets (real tickets you can purchase to travel round the world).

Read a book (or more if you’d like to) that is located in certain city / country or by an author of that city / country. You decide which city / country you’d like to ‘visit’ however the following conditions (similar to the RTW tickets) apply:

1. Maximum Mileage: 50,000 miles* (Unlimited stops – see how generous I am) with a minimum of 20,000 miles (5 stops)
2. The start and end of the journey have to be located in the same country
3. Choose a direction you’d like to take (East or West only) mainly when jumping continents, you can go north & south when you're within a continent
4. One crossing each of the Atlantic and Pacific must be included in the itinerary (but only one crossing allowed over each)
5. Do not to backtrack within a continent - the idea is to keep that forward motion

*To help you in calculating your mileage, the below site may be useful:
http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

My trip:
starting in New York: Possession in Death by J.D. Robb 1/3/2011 miles traveled 0
Georgia: The Color Purple by Alice Walker 1/19/11 miles traveled 737
California: In Sheep's Clothing by Mary Monroe 01/29/11 miles traveled 3015

Reading Challenge Addict Challenge

2011-01-10T11:06:00.006-05:00

Here are the rules and criteria:
ABOUT:
Some of us have a bit of a problem. Some of us have a huge problem.Cheryl from CMash Loves to Read, Gina from Hott Books,and Kate from Midnight Book Girl are three such people. We each can stand proudly and say,I am a Reading Challenge Addict.

So they are challenging each of you who can also say that you also are a Reading Challenge Addict. They'll be giving away quarterly prizes and recognizing those who are meeting their own expectations by completing the challenges entered.

How addicted are you? How many Challenges have you signed up for?

Easy as Pie: 1-5 Challenges (Entered & Completed)

On the Roof: 6-10 Challenges (Entered & Completed)

In Flight: 11-15 Challenges (Entered & Completed)

Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)

RULES:They're not making this a difficult challenge, actually, it's going to be very simple!This challenge will begin on January 1, 2011 and end on December 31, 2011. Write a starting post joining the challenge and outlining your challenges. Track all of your challenge accomplishments - good & bad. Stop by here to join in the mini-challenges, updates & extra giveaways throughout the year. Easy, right? Who wants to be in on the fun? What else will they be doing? They'll have giveaways for their participants to enter and unannounced special drawings for commenters on the site so be sure to leave your email address with your comment! Are you ready?

I am doing Out of This World: 16+ Challenges (Entered & Completed)
go to here for list of all the challenges I am in
one challenged completed

Hogwarts Reading Challenge 2011 - The Houses

2011-01-10T09:47:00.030-05:00

House Cup goes to
SLYTHERIN
picture is from here

Gryffindor - 1126

Student List

Robin - 2

Kari - 803 (PMC+1) (BMC) (HMC+3) (FFC+5)Triwizard Tournament status: 803/450pts, 7/7books in series, 4/4 mini challenges

Lah - 251 (PMC+1) (BMC) (HMC) Triwizard Tournament status: 251/450 pts, 5/7 books in series, 3/4 mini challenges

Celeste - 30

Barmybex - 6

Jen - 34 (OHP)

Ravenclaw - 887

Student List

Andrea - 274 (PMC) (BMC) (HMC) (FFC) Triwizard Tournament status: 274/450pts, 7/7 books in series, 4/4 mini challenges

Kate - 90 (3HP)

Roof Beam -35

Christine T - 267 (HMC+1) (FFC) (2HP)

Tiff - 62 (PMC)

April - 11

Aylssa - 40 (HP) (OHP)

KateBydie - 25 (HP)

Joi W (I Love Reading Challenge Member) - 83 (3HP)

Hufflepuff - 887

Student List

Melissa - 522 (2HP) (2OHP) (PMC) (BMC) (HMC) (FFC+1) Triwizard Tournament status: 522/450 pts, 7/7 books in series, 4/4 mini challenges

Anja Kasap - 354 (7HP) (3OHP) (FFC)Triwizard Tournament status: 354/450 pts, 7/7 books in series, 1/4 mini challenges

Faith B - 5

Night Owl - 6

Slytherin - 1561

Student List

Tenia (I Love Reading Challenge Member) - 1135 (PMC+2) (BMC+4) (HMC+7) (FFC+4)Triwizard Tournament status: 1135/450 pts, 7/7 books in series, 4/4 mini challenges

fakesteph - 426 (PMC) (BMC) (HMC) (FFC) Triwizard Tournament status: 426/450 pts, 7/7 books in series, 4/4 mini challenges

*** mini challenge points will be added after the mini challenge end date