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Showing posts from November, 2012

November Wrap Up

  November is over!  How did that happen?!  November was a terrible reading month for me.  I only read 3 books and 300 pages in Les Miserables for a total of 103 books for the year.  I am going to be honest, I am in a terrible reading rut at the moment.  There has been a lot going on that has kept me from reading and I am having a really hard time finding something that I really want to read. Hopefully, I get back in my groove in December.  I still have two books to read for my challenges and I am positive that they won't get done this year. Here is what I read in December: 1.) Iced by Karen Marie Moning 2.) The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift 3.) The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning Part 3 of Les Miserables What did you read in November?

Stacking the Shelves (25)

  Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews .   I forgot to post a STS last week so this is what I have picked up in the last two weeks.   For Review: The Raven's Heart by Jesse Blackadder   The Midwife's Tale by Sam Thomas   What books did you pick up this week?  

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo-Part 3

Another 300 pages down!  I am now 3/4 of the way done with Les Miserables  and I must say that the last 300 pages were the best so far.  I loved that most of this section dealt with the characters and less of the historical events going on around them.  Cosette and Marius really come to the front of the story and there is a ton of excitment when Jean Valjean and Thenardier meet again.  I felt like I spent a lot of time on edge; there is always this fear that Javert is going to catch up with Jean Valjean and it is as though I'm holding my breath as I continue reading.  I have to say that before I started this section, I wasn't loving the book but now I have changed my mind.  It is such a deep, well-written story with so many characters that all have intertwining stories.  It's confusing at times but still an excellent story.  I can't wait to see how it will all wrap up! 

Review: "The Gilded Lily" by Deborah Swift

Synopsis:   A spellbinding historical novel of beauty and greed and surprising redemption. England, 1660. Ella Appleby believes she is destined for better things than slaving as a housemaid and dodging the blows of her drunken father. When her employer dies suddenly, she seizes her chance--taking his valuables and fleeing the countryside with her sister for the golden prospects of London. But London may not be the promised land she expects. Work is hard to find, until Ella takes up with a dashing and dubious gentleman with ties to the London underworld. Meanwhile, her old employer's twin brother is in hot pursuit of the sisters. Set in a London of atmospheric coffee houses, gilded mansions, and shady pawnshops hidden from rich men's view, Deborah Swift's The Gilded Lily is a dazzling novel of historical adventure. My Thoughts:  The Gilded Lily is a companion novel to Ms. Swift's first novel, The Lady's Slipper.  It features sisters, Ella and Sadie, as t

Stacking the Shelves (24)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews .   Happy Veteran's Day everyone!!  I only picked up one book this week which is fine because I am reading at a snail's pace lately.   From the Library:     The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning   What books did you pick up this week?       

Review: "Iced" by Karen Marie Moning

From Goodreads:  Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities. Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux. When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezin

Review: "The Lincoln Conspiracy" by Timothy L. O'Brien

Synopsis:   A nation shattered by its president’s murder. Two diaries that reveal the true scope of an American conspiracy. A detective determined to bring the truth to light, no matter what it costs him From award-winning journalist Timothy L. O’Brien comes a gripping historical thriller that poses a provocative question: What if the plot to assassinate President Lincoln was wider and more sinister than we ever imagined? In late spring of 1865, as America mourns the death of its leader, Washington, D.C., police detective Temple McFadden makes a startling discovery. Strapped to the body of a dead man at the B&O Railroad station are two diaries, two documents that together reveal the true depth of the Lincoln conspiracy. Securing the diaries will put Temple’s life in jeopardy—and will endanger the fragile peace of a nation still torn by war. Temple’s quest to bring the conspirators to justice takes him on a perilous journey through the gaslit streets of the Civil War–

Slowing things down....

I'm sure it's been pretty obvious but I definitely haven't been posting as often as I used to and my reading has slown down dramatically lately.  Life has kind of gotten in the way and there is a lot going on right now that is keeping my attention from reading and blogging.  I started City of Lost Souls  a few days ago and have hardly touched it.  I may put it back on the shelf and pick up something else because with my attention span being so limited right now, there is no way I will get through it.  I just wanted to let you all know that at least for the month of November, I will be taking a kind of break from blogging and reading. I am participating in several blog tours over the next few months (YAY!) and will be posting those reviews. If I manage to get through something else, I will post about it but don't be surprised if I am not around much in November.  I am still hopeful I will get through Les Miserables this year but right now it has kind of been pushed t

Stacking the Shelves (23)

  Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tynga's Reviews .   I haven't been reading very much or very quickly this week but I did pick up a few good books!   For Review:     The Gilded Lily by Deborah Swift (Pretty cover!!)   For Review (ebook):     Her Majesty's Will by David Blixt From the Library:     Iced by Karen Marie Moning (I can't wait to read this!!!)   What books did you pick up this week?

October Wrap Up

November is here!!  I feel like this year has just flown by!  I actually had a pretty good reading month which is surprising.  I had a hard time really getting into books this month so I am happy to say that I read 8 books this month (plus 300 pages in Les Mis) and am now at a grand total of 100 books for the year!  I had to look and see where I was at this time last year and WOW, what a difference!  Last year I read 18 books in October and was at a total of 163 for the year.  Don't ask me how I managed that because I have no idea where I found the time to read that much. I still have 2 challenge books left to read as well as the second half of Les Miserables.  I will definitely finish Les Mis this year!  But I honestly am not sure if I am going to get those other two challenge books read.  They are both difficult books and I have been having a hard time staying focused on a book if I would rather be reading something else.  We'll see what happens.  Here is what I read thi