Contents of blog copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2023
I've been gone a while. I started reading fanfiction to escape and I got sucked in an abyss.

I have no idea if someone else is hosting similar challenges. I just grabbed some of what I have hosted before.

Here's to a happy year of great reading
Jan2023: Not much has changed. Writing a fanfiction now O_o as well as reading but I bought 7 new books in December and hope to get those read soon. Crossing fingers about adding challenges (late!)

Monday, August 31, 2009

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril IV

I've seen this challenge around and thought, nope, no way, I'm not adding another thing to do to my growing list. Except I've got this book to review and then I was looking over my shelves....

Fine. Here's some of what Stainless Steel Droppings has to say about the challenge.

It was a desire to celebrate and share that love of the elements of gothic fiction that inspired me to create the first R.I.P. Challenge, four years ago.

Readers Imbibing Peril, that is what it is all about. I hope you’ll consider joining us on this more eerie road less traveled.

Walk this way.

Mystery.
Suspense.
Thriller.
Dark Fantasy.
Gothic.
Horror.
Supernatural
.

The desire for the thrill that comes with this kind of reading drifts in on the autumn winds. You breathe it in and it takes hold of you, tempting you to late nights, book-in-hand, turning pages and starting at every unknown noise. Something wicked this way comes…

I find that kind of melodramatic fear to be a delicious intoxication, one that makes this time of year an especially enjoying time to be a reader. There is enough bad fear in the world: fear of losing one’s job, fear of the state of the world, fear of failure…the list is endless. It is time to reject that fear, embrace hope, and while doing so embrace the fun kind of fear–the kind that had us sitting around camp fires as children, listening to adults tell us ghost stories. The kind that made you want to stay up past your bed time to peek at the late night scary movie on television.

There are two simple goals to the R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge:

1. Have fun reading.
2. Share that fun with others.

As I do each and every year, there are multiple levels of participation that allow you to be a part of R.I.P. IV without adding the burden of another commitment to your already busy lives.

R.I.P. IV officially runs from September 1st through October 31st. But lets go ahead and break the rules. Lets start today!!!


Important info!
This is a two month challenge but you can start now.
There are FOUR levels, including a short story level.

What are you waiting for? Go! Be ready to read with the lights on!

I'm going for....
Read One book of any length, from any of the subgenres listed earlier in the post.

This is an option that I always hope will hook those of you who are thinking, “I’m just not sure this kind of reading is my cup of tea”.

My list:

1. Water Witch finished 9-8

yeah, it's a short list but I may add to it. It depends on my other challenges!

9-8: just realized that Fairyville fits this!

2. Fairyville finished 9-7
3. Casting Spells finished 9-20
4. Laced with Magic finished 9-27
5. The Midnight Twins finished 10-20
6. Wake finished 10-2
7. Vampire Academy finished 10-3
8. Fade finished 10-4
9. The Cat Who Lived High finished 10-22 (is this a cozy? detective mystery?)
10. The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare finished 10-23 (is this a cozy? detective mystery?)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office finished 10-23 (is this a cozy? detective mystery?)
12. Magic or Madness finished 10-24
13. Magic Lessons finished 10-24
14. Magic's Child finished 10-25



Mailbox Monday & What are you Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a Weekly Event hosted by
Marcia at The Printed Page
jump over to see what others have received this week.




Review books that have arrived this week:
Playing House
Health Beyond Medicine: A Chiropractic Miracle



Purchased at....: wow, I didn't purchase any!




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.


Monday, August 31
Finished this Week
DragonKnight
DragonFire
DragonLight
Pocket Pair
The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society
and 2 short stories
plus posted 1 reviews




Still Reading
Gone with the Witch
Always Looking Up
Fearless
Bridge to Terabithia
Sweetgum Knit Lit Society
DragonFire
A Gift to Last


Planning to Read/Start
Soft Spots (my oldest review book!)
and more of Only in New York, Darling!
Escape
The Awakinging
Snow Angel

Bitten

Library Books Now Available
Temptation and Surrender



and Reviews needed to Complete
Island of the Blue Dolphin
A Circle of Souls
The Right Side of the Tracks
True North
Dancing With Ana

plus any of the previous books read....



No list. Didn't work on three columns. Tried to build a website - stinks. Just trying to keep up with everyone here ;-)
I played around with three columns on a workbook site but if I convert this blog I'll lose my widgets. I think I can replace them all but.... Still no list of unread books in the house. I don't think I want it written down anywhere my husband might see it {blush}


I think that, for now, I'll just keep track of what books need to be read for reviews and/or challenges. I haven't kept this up-to-date. I've been drowning in reviews and haven't come up for air yet.


Looking forward to BBAW but nervous too. - Still nervous

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Borrowed from the library (Support Your Local Library) because of a ning group book club read.


Island of the Blue Dolphins
Scott O'Dell

The most recently published edition:
Publisher: Thorndike Press
Illustrated by: Ted Lewin
Release Date: February 2, 2005
format: hardcover, large print
pages: 183
genre: Children's Literature


Based on a true story of an Indian girl living on an island off the California coast. This book won the John Newbery medal in 1961.

A ship comes to the island to hunt Sea otters and when the village men try to enforce the deal that had been made, they're killed. Now the village women must take up the slack which doesn't sit well with the remaining men. The headman goes off in a canoe to find help.

Time goes by and a new ship arrives but not to hunt. It is there to take the villagers to safety. All are gathered with the best of their possessions and loaded up. All except one little boy who had run back to the village (against his sister's permission) to retrieve his spear. Fearful that he would not survive alone, his twelve-year-old sister & only remaining relative, jumps ship. Her basket of prized possessions is too heavy so she leaves it at the bottom of the ocean and swims to shore.

Eighteen years later another ship arrives at the island.


My Thoughts
So much of what I want to tell you would ruin the story if you haven't read it. The story is one of respect, love, survival, courage and plain old good luck. I was fearful at times, laughed at others and cried. The story is simply told & beautiful illustrated. I'm sure it could be read, a chapter at a time, to a small child.

I only read it because of book club but I'm glad I did.


amazon.com's sales rank as of 8-23: #31,620 in Books

#4 in Books > Large Print > Children's Books
#6 in Books > Large Print > Literature & Fiction
#77 in Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > Classics

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Contests at J. Kaye's Book Blog


Head on over for some GREAT contests!

Each book giveaway has the same basic rules: 18+, US & Canada only, must respond to blog post - winners will not be notified by email. Comment to enter then check out how to receive extra entries. The winner will be posted on September 26, 2009

Double check all the rules before entering.

August/September books are listed here with links to within the blog to enter for each book.

1. Ash by Malinda Lo, this is an ARC
2. I Can See You by Karen Rose - new audio CD
3. Flowers for Elvis by Julia Schuster - paperback, review copy
4. Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia - hardcover, review copy

Friday, August 28, 2009

Friday Finds

A Weekly Event hosted by mizb at Should be Reading
The idea is to share, every Friday, about books that you’ve recently discovered (never heard of before) that sound really good!

Every Friday, those who have blogs will write a post at their own blog, and then come back and leave others a link to follow on that week’s “Friday Finds” post here at Should Be Reading. For those who don’t blog, you can just tell us about your “Friday Finds” in a comment on that week’s post. )

Let’s try to keep this clean… that’s all I ask, okay?


I received a postcard in the mail the weekend after posting about 92 Pacific Boulevard. Debbie Macomber is being good to us this year....



Debbie Macomber's
Cedar Cove Cookbook




Harlequin
August 25, 2009
hardcover
130 of her treasured family recipes
50 full-color photographs 40 full-color illustrations


Debbie takes you inside the kitchens of Cedar Cove in a celebration of good friends and eating. Learn to make more than 130 dishes inspired by the series, and hear from some of your favorite friends in Cedar Cove. Head over to Debbie's site and download three recipes!

Debbie perfect gift size Christmas book this year is....


The Perfect Christmas

Debbie Macomber
MIRA

October 2009
Hardcover (7.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches)

from Debbie's site:

Christmas perfect?

For Cassie Beaumont, it’s meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing’s worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly not leaving love to chance. What’s left? A professional matchmaker. He’s Simon Dodson, and he’s very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a difficult, acerbic know-it-all, and she’s astonished when he accepts her as a client.

Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa’s elf at a children’s party and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all—and she’s finally ready to meet her match. But just like the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise!



Amazon.com Sales Rank as of 8-22: #3,949 in Books

Popular in these categories:
#4 in Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > Macomber, Debbie
#4 in Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > MacOmber, Debbie



A new Blossom Street book, sort of, this is "A Blossom Street Kids Book"

The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater...That Grandma Knit
Debbie Macomber & Mary Lou Carney

HarperCollins
September 29, 2009
hardcover
ages 9-12
32 pages

from amazon

Cameron loves his grandmother. She knows just what makes him tick. That's why he can't figure out why Grandma would send him a sweater—a truly terribly horrible sweater—for his birthday.

Cameron pours mustard on his sweater. He puts it on his dog (in the rain). He even tries to send it to the thrift shop. But nothing works.

Now Grandma is coming for the holidays, and Cameron has to wear her gift to him. But what's he going to say when she asks what he thinks about the sweater she made?

Debbie and Mary Lou have included simple knitting instructions and an original knitting pattern for Cameron's sweater. You can find them at the back of this book.


and because man can not live on novels alone, Debbie uses her faith to inspire us....


One Simple Act
Discovering the Power of Generosity
Debbie Macomber

Howard Books
November 3, 2009
hardcover
non-fiction
208 pages

from amazon.com
What if you, personally, could make the world a better place...by tomorrow?

Debbie Macomber knows the secret to doing exactly that! In a world that seems too often stingy and grudging, she has witnessed how one simple act of generosity can yield unforeseen miracles.

You are about to discover, through true stories, what happens when we commit intentional acts of generosity. Lives are changed in ways we never envisioned. Come with Debbie late one evening through the checkout line at the grocery store. Visit a midwestern train station. Discover the link between a submarine, a few bread crumbs, and some minnows. Visit ancient Galilee as a young boy volunteers his fishes and loaves to Jesus only to see his meager gift multiplied many times over to feed five thousand. Listen in on a touching phone call with an elderly widow. You will stand amazed at what God accomplishes when we make ourselves available through simple acts of generosity.

This blend of true stories and motivating messages will delight and surprise you as you discover how giving the gifts of time, encouragement, hope, laughter, prayer, hospitality, service, and even forgiveness can have lasting, life-changing impact, not only on the recipient of such gifts but on the giver as well.

Debbie Macomber, through the power of story, invites us to live with open hands, offering who we are and what we have to God, to use in the lives of others. When we do so, lives--including our own--are changed in ways we couldn't have imagined. All it takes is one simple act.
Amazon.com Sales Rank, as of 8-22: #90,899 in Books


buy links:


Thursday, August 27, 2009

Introducing....

Nicole Barker grew up in Portland, Oregon and attended Southern Oregon State College in the town of Ashland. Nestled in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains, Nicole took to writing while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities with a strong emphasis on early child development. Shortly after graduation, she spent several months traveling around the United States and parts of Canada. Nicole now lives in South Florida with her husband, two kids, two dogs, toads, frogs, hermit crabs and fish. She is currently working on her second YA book.



Thank you to Nicole for sending me a copy of Dancing with Ana to review. My review has been donated to the local public library.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Wednesday memes

"Waiting On" Wednesday ~~ A-Z Wednesday ~~ Wishful Wednesday



Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts "Waiting On" Wednesday, a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



Even Money
Dick Francis, Felix Francis


Putnam Adult
August 24, 2009 (hey, that's today!)
hardcover
368 pages


I usually purchase and read any book by Dick Francis within the week of it's release. Sad it say I haven't read the last one. Will I still buy this one? Oh, Yeah. Just not in the first week :-)

from the publisher:
On the first day of Royal Ascot, the world’s most famous horse race, the crowd rejoices in a string of winning favorites. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker— taking over the family business from his grandfather— so he knows not to expect any sympathy from the punters as they count their winnings, and he his losses. He’s seen the ups and downs before—but, as the big gambling conglomerates muscle in on small concerns like his, Ned wonders if it’s worth it any more.

When a gray-haired man steps forward from the crowd claiming to be his father, Ned’s life is thrown into far deeper turmoil. He’d been told since he was a baby that his parents had died in a car crash.

Barely an hour later, his newly found father is stabbed by an unknown assailant in the Ascot parking lot. Blood oozing from his abdomen, his father warns Ned to “be very careful.” But of whom? Of what? Ned finds himself in a race to solve his father’s riddle—a race where coming in second could cost him more than even money—it could cost him his life. . . .
additional formats:
Microsoft Reader
eReader
Adobe reader
Unabridged CD

Even Money's amazon.com's sales rank as of 8-19: #559 in Books

#1 in Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( F ) > Francis, Dick
#40 in Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers > Suspense


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A-Z Wednesday is a Weekly Event
hosted by Vicky at Reading at the Beach.
Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!!
To join, here's all you have to do:
Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)
4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments
If you've already reviewed this book you can the review also.
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment. (We all love comments, don't we?) Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.
This week's letter is "C"

Circle of Souls by Preetham Grandhi

This was sent to me, by the author, for review on my blog. Sad to say I haven't done that yet but the book was fabulous.

from the publisher:
"The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.

The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.

In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder."
Here's the book at Cedar Fort
here's the link to amazon.com: A Circle of Souls


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MizB at Should be Reading hosts this weekly event.
What books have you been wishing to buy/get lately?

I'm going to (mostly) use this to share what's on my wish list, most of which I have no idea where I found first.


I found this one on MizB's blog tour list and added it to my wish list.

The Great Christmas Bowl

Susan May Warren

Tyndale House Publishers
August 17, 2009
176 pages
Trade paperback

"Marianne Wallace is focused on two things this holiday season: planning the greatest family Christmas ever and cheering on her youngest son’s team in their bid for the state championship. Disaster strikes when the team loses their mascot—the Trout. Is it going too far to ask her to don the costume? So what if her husband has also volunteered her to organize the church Christmas tea. When football playoffs start ramping up, the Christmas tea starts falling apart. Then, one by one her children tell her they can’t come home for Christmas. As life starts to unravel, will Marianne remember the true meaning of the holidays?"

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Teaser Tuesday

MizB at Should Be Reading hosts this cool weekly event.

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:

--Grab your current read
--Let the book open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
--You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from… that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

With Dad driving me home, in his Members Only jacket and with the smell of Old Spice, I almost feel normal again...almost.


pg 96, Wait Until Twilight by Sang Pak

Monday, August 24, 2009

Mailbox Monday & What are you Reading?

Mailbox Monday is a Weekly Event hosted by
Marcia at The Printed Page
jump over to see what others have received this week.


I was given the opportunity to review Fearless by Max Lucado and downloaded the pdf copy. It has been hard to read on the computer and I really didn't want to print out 200+ pages but felt that was the only way. I was in the middle of printing another chapter when I received the hardcover in the mail. Yea. It's a beautiful book and I'm looking forward to finishing it. Review should be posted September 5, the release date.

Two review books I don't think I told you about:
Dancing With Ana
Possible Futures: Creative Thinking for the Speed of Life


Purchased at Friends of the Library:
Of Mice and Men
Goose Chase
Anne of Avonlea
Pay it Forward (for BBAW giveaway)



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by J. Kaye at J. Kaye's Book blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.


Monday, August 24
Finished this Week
Bedside Manner
Tempting the Beast
Forever Christmas
Hot Cargo
Wait Until Twilight
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Room at the Inn
and 7 short stories
plus posted 5 reviews



Still Reading
Gone with the Witch
Looking Up
Fearless
Hot Cargo


Planning to Read/Start
Soft Spots (my oldest review book!)
and more of Only in New York, Darling!
Three Hundred Sixty Degrees
Escape
and my library books


Library Books Now Available
The Awakinging
Snow Angel
Bridge to Terabithia
Sweetgum Knit Lit Society
Dragonfire
Dragonsknight
Bitten
A Gift to Last



and Reviews needed to Complete
Magic Strikes
Tempting the Beast (am giving this away - bottom of review)
Island of the Blue Dolphin
A Circle of Souls
The Right Side of the Tracks
True North
Hot Cargo
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Dogs and Goddesses

plus any of the previous books read....




I played around with three columns on a workbook site but if I convert this blog I'll lose my widgets. I think I can replace them all but.... Still no list of unread books in the house. I don't think I want it written down anywhere my husband might see it {blush}


I think that, for now, I'll just keep track of what books need to be read for reviews and/or challenges. I haven't kept this up-to-date. I've been drowning in reviews and haven't come up for air yet.

Looking forward to BBAW but nervous too.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Dark Divine contest

Bree Despain was able to do the coolest thing. She found someone to manufacture the fingernail polish color to match her book.

link:
Countdown to THE DARK DIVINE contest and purple toes too!




Prizes:

Qualified participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of three prizes:

1. A pedicure kit complete with my new THE DARK DIVINE nail polish! + An autographed ARC of THE DARK DIVINE + $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble.
2. Signed copy of MY BIG NOSE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS by Sydney Salter + Signed copy of LIFE IN THE PIT by Kristen Landon
3. A $30 gift card to Barnes & Noble

So jump over and see if you too are a Qualified participant and cross your fingers!

Contest ends midnight Aug. 29th. I'll post winners the following day. (She didn't say what time zone so get it in the day before!)

book list: Garrison Allen

I have a list of "must reads" for challenges and another for reviews but am I reading them? Noooo - I want to read cat sleuth books, a challenge that doesn't end until 2010. Not just 2010 but June 30, 2010. Plenty of time to get the other 10 books in but, dang it. When you want a specific book or even kind of book and you read something else, its like tell yourself "I know you want chocolate but have some lettuce". Still food but yikes, not what you want.

So, all this leads up to.... Garrison Allen. Author of the "Big Mike" mystery series. There are six and I've got them all. I'm pretty sure I've read them all but its been more than five years.

Penelope Warren calls her bookstore Mycroft & Co., in honor of the cat who presides there. Tough and macho, Big Mike is ready to match wit and claw with the most cunning of critter. For when it comes to catching a killer, this lethal weapon is always up to scratch.


Desert Cat
Royal Cat
Stable Cat
Baseball Cat
Dinosaur Cat
Movie Cat



Desert Cat, 300 pages
It isn't every day it rains cats and dogs in the Arizona desert. And it isn't every day that Penelope Warren and her Abyssinian alley cat, Mycroft, lock up their cozy bookstore, and come home to a corpse on their doorstep.

Meddlesome, mean-spirited Louise Fletcher was high on everyone's least-liked list. An expert at backstabbing, she is found with a knife between her shoulderblades and a death grip on a bright new penny. Everyone in Empty Creek has a motive, but the pouce are stymied. So it's up to Penelope and her felicitous feline partner to sniff out Louise's secrets, paw through her past-and pounce on a deadly killer who seems to have nine lives.


Royal Cat, 287 pages
The annual Elizabethan Spring Faire has transformed Empty Creek, Arizona into Merry Olde England. Everyone is turned out in doublet and hose to relive the revelry of a lively era. Minstrels mae music, bawdy bards abound and wanton wenches cavort with lusty cavalier. Anyone who misbehaves may be sent summarily to the stocks.

But more than mischief is afoot when Carolyn Lewis, the less-than-popular retired teacher playing the Virgin Queen, is excuted in the dark of night. Her crown passes to Penelope Warren, bookstore owner and amateur sleuth extraordinaire. Then the murdrer takes an encore, and it's up to Penelope and her awesome Abyssinian cat, Big Mike, to take their sleuthing behind the scenes...where death treads the boards and a cunning killer refuses to be upstaged.




I'll get to the others in a bit..... tired

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

This was one of the choices for a book club read. It wasn't chosen so I read it on my own


Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
Chris Crutcher


Publisher: Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins)
Release Date: March 2003
format: paperback (5x7)
pages: 304
Ages: 12 and Up
genre: teen fiction



from the publisher
"Sarah Byrnes and Eric have been friends for years. When they were children, his fat and her terrible scars made them both outcasts. Later, although swimming slimmed Eric, she stayed his closest friend.

Now Sarah Byrnes -- the smartest, toughest person Eric has ever known -- sits silent in a hospital. Eric must uncover the terrible secret she's hiding, before its dark currents pull them both under."


My thoughts
This is high school with a few extreme characters thrown in. Dave, the boy who prays before every swim practice and condemns you for not believing his way. The tolerant minister who's son drives a "God Mobile". The hateful Vice-Principle. The one teacher that they can always to go for help. The Bully.

Then there is the CAT class. An elective on Contempory American Thought where all subjects are open for discussion, much to the dismay of Dave who can't get it through his thick skull that there is more than one way to believe. Throw in one mother who is dead, another who ran away, a mental dad and you've got it.

I laughed and cried, wanted to hug and comfort. I also wanted to hide. I didn't want to believe that parents and kids could be this cruel. I loved the car and the relationship the minister had with his son. There were several "huh" moments where I had to stop and think. This is a novel about friendship, courage, perserverance and hope.

I checked this out of the library but it is well worth having in your personal library.

content warning there is a suicide attempt and an abortion discussion with the kids going over the "when does life begin" argument. Also one of the dad's is seriously mental so there is violence. (scare tactics, car jacking, knife to the throat) it fit in with the story.



amazon.com's buy link


Amazon.com Sales Rank, as of 8-22: #27,961 in Books

#2 in Books > Teens > Authors, A-Z > ( C ) > Crutcher, Chris
#2 in Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( C ) > Crutcher, Chris
#7 in Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Dysfunctional Relationships

Dogs and Goddesses


Dogs and Goddesses
Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, Lani Diane Rich

St. Martin's
February 2009
mass market paperback
400 pages
Paranormal Romance/comedy

First off, this is not an anthology, it is a joint novel


Summerville, Ohio is about to go through some major changes and there is a lively cast of characters. Abby has just arrived with her placid Newfoundland because she inherited her grandmother's coffee shop. Daisy's mom has left her Jack Russell with her "just until my allergies clear up" then rushes off to New York for shopping. Then there is Shar. Professor of ancient history trying to fulfill a promise to her mother (dead) to finish her grandmother's (also dead) book. Shar has a dachshund and one morning she wakes up to growling, there's a god in her bedroom.

And to top if all off, an ancient goddess has moved into the History department. Rumor has it used to be a temple before it was dismantled and brought her as one of the school buildings. Too bad the top floor became the professors house. You know, the one with a god in the bedroom!

Shar has a boyfriend, another professor who lives above the coffee shop. Abby's grandmother promised him cookies so stuffed-shirt that he is, he demands Abby fulfill the commit or return the deposit - a deposit that was given to her dead grandmother!

Noah, handsome assistant to none other than Kammani Gula, Mesopotamian Goddess of Love, Goddess of Life and Goddess of Healing. And modern-day trainer of dogs.

Then there is Mina. Mortuary Mina, Grad student in the history department. Writes all her papers on disasters. If someone died horribly in history, Mina's your woman.

There are seven women in the dog obedience class, each with baggage ;-) Noah, Kammani, the god Samu-el and various community members complete this outrageous cast.

This is a fun, fast-paced and quirky book. There are misunderstandings, unlikely friendships, betrayals, enlightenment and talking dogs. Oh, did I forget to mention that? Kammani seems to be a dog worshiper and after drinking a "tonic" in the obedience class the girls can hear their dogs talk. Not over done, more of a four-legged character.

I read this earlier this year and I'm ready to return to Summerville.


Dogs and Goddesses at amazon.com and at the publisher

update: I should have said the coffee shop was dusty and Abby doesn't know how to bake!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Friday Finds

A Weekly Event hosted by mizb at Should be Reading
The idea is to share, every Friday, about books that you’ve recently discovered (never heard of before) that sound really good!

Every Friday, those who have blogs will write a post at their own blog, and then come back and leave others a link to follow on that week’s “Friday Finds” post here at Should Be Reading. For those who don’t blog, you can just tell us about your “Friday Finds” in a comment on that week’s post. )

Let’s try to keep this clean… that’s all I ask, okay?


Two found at eHarlequin.com while searching for info on another book. Added to my wish list, if someone's interested.... ;-)


The Weight of Silence

Heather Gudenkauf


Mira
mass market paperback
July 28, 2009
384 pages


from the publisher:
It happens quietly one August morning. As dawn's shimmering light drenches the humid Iowa air, two families awaken to find their little girls have gone missing in the night.

Seven-year-old Calli Clark is sweet, gentle, a dreamer who suffers from selective mutism brought on by tragedy that pulled her deep into silence as a toddler.

Calli's mother, Antonia, tried to be the best mother she could within the confines of marriage to a mostly absent, often angry husband. Now, though she denies that her husband could be involved in the possible abductions, she fears her decision to stay in her marriage has cost her more than her daughter's voice.

Petra Gregory is Calli's best friend, her soul mate and her voice. But neither Petra nor Calli has been heard from since their disappearance was discovered. Desperate to find his child, Martin Gregory is forced to confront a side of himself he did not know existed beneath his intellectual, professorial demeanor.

Now these families are tied by the question of what happened to their children. And the answer is trapped in the silence of unspoken family secrets.

amazon.com's sales rank as of 8-18: #950 in Books

#26 in Books > Romance > Contempory
#55 in Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers > Suspense
#84 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Literary





The Perfect Couple

Brenda Novak
The Last Stand, book 4

Mira
mass market paperback
July 28, 2009
448 pages


from the author's website:
A mother faces her greatest fear.

Zoe Duncan’s thirteen-year-old daughter goes missing from her own backyard while she's home sick from school. The police suspect Samantha’s a runaway—she’s not happy about her mother’s upcoming marriage—but Zoe knows Sam would never do that.

Terrified of losing the person she loves most, Zoe is willing to do anything to bring Sam home, even if it means giving up her job, her nice home and her relationship with the man she thought she wanted….

A detective faces his hardest case.

Jonathan Stivers is a private investigator who donates his time to The Last Stand, a victims’ charity in Sacramento. He’s good at what he does, the best. Which is why he’s called on to help Zoe Duncan find her missing daughter. But never has he had fewer leads to work with—or been more attracted to a client. He’s sure of only one thing: Sam was taken by someone close to the family. He doesn’t realize how close until he realizes that the “perfect” couple next door is anything but…

The author's website also has an excerpt.

amazon.com's sales rank as of 8-18: #21,547 in Books


The Last Stand: Trust Me, Stop Me, Watch Me, The Perfect Couple, The Perfect Liar (Sep 09), and The Perfect Murder (Oct 09)




Amy at Addicted to Books had such a glowing review I had to tell you about it.


Out of the Pocket

Bill Konigsberg


Dutton Juvenile
hardcover
September 18, 2008
272 pages


from the publisher:
Star quarterback Bobby Framingham, one of the most talented high school football players in California, knows he’s different from his teammates. They’re like brothers, but they don’t know one essential thing: Bobby is gay. Can he still be one of the guys and be honest about who he is? When he’s outed against his will by a student reporter, Bobby must find a way to earn back his teammates’ trust and accept that his path to success might be more public, and more difficult, than he’d hoped. An affecting novel about identity that also delivers great sportswriting.
This is available directly from Penquin.com in hardback, adobe and ereader.


Or shop at amazon.com for Out of the Pocket in hardcover and for the Kindle


Amazon.com Sales Rank as of 8-18: #80,159 in Books

#13 in Books > Teens > Social Issues > Homosexuality > Fiction
#15 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Activities > Sports > Football > Fiction
#52 in Books > Teens > School & Sports > Fiction

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Tempting the Beast

Purchased this year and used for the What an Animal II challenge.


Tempting the Beast
Lora Leigh
Feline Breeds 1

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Release Date: 2003
format: trade paperback
pages: 252
genre: Paranormal Romance



from the back cover
"Callan Lyons is a genetic experiment. One of six fighting for freedom and the survival of their Pride. Merinum Tyler is the reporter who will tempt him, draw him, until the fury of the "mating frenzy locks them into a battle of sexual heat there is no escape from.

Deception, blood, and the evil Genetics Council are hot on their trail. Callan will use his strength to try and save them both...and do all in his power to keep his woman in the process."
My Thoughts
I read a great review and purchased the book from amazon without checking out the publisher. The review gave no indication as to the level of sex involved so here is fair warning. The storyline is quite engaging and the sex is smoking. And frequent. There is no way to skip one to read the other. Ellora's Cave publishes erotic and this is a fine simple of that genre.

Who would have thought a kiss could do so much damage? Sure it was earth-shattering but it also unleashed Callan's mating instinct and a hormonal reaction in Merinus and in doing so set off a chain of events that could lead to disaster, even death. Callan is the ultimate alpha male and Merinus has seven very protective, alpha brothers-and a father!

Merinus thinks she can save Callan and that her family can do anything. I got the impression that the father owned a "National Enquire" type magazine so I felt that he wouldn't have the impact or protection needed for this. The story ended well and I can see where there were questions but I won't be buying the other two books. This one just didn't have enough story for me, I'd like to see more character development and less sheet-time. Although, book three is Kane and Sherri's story and I'd like to hear that.

amazon.com's sales rank as of 8-20: #4,124 in Books

#3 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Erotica > Adult Fiction
(adult fiction in erotica, as opposed to what?!)

amazon.com buy link: Tempting the Beast (Feline Breeds, Book 1)



Now, if you've made it though all that and you still want to give the book a try....

+1 Comment why
+1 follow my blog
+1 tell others (on your blog, tweet, etc....) and send me the link

Use a separate comment for each, leaving your email so I can find you. I'll do that random.org thing and let you know! Contest closes at 5 am PST on September 1.

shipping: for now, USA only, sorry. I can see why someone would ship only to their country, it isn't easy finding out shipping restrictions for books and this one is erotica on top of that...unless someone knows where to find the info I need? grrr, I don't seem to be able to. I'm sure you're alright but some countries don't allow printed matter to be shipped in.

Tuesday Thingers

...on Thursday
Tuesday Thingers is hosted by Wendi at Wendi's Book Corner.

The meme was originally created as a way to network with other bloggers and to learn about Library Thing! I may be an long-time member (well, 2006) of LT but for much of that time I had forgotten about it. Come join us at LT and in the meme - it's been fun reading everyone's answers.

This week, I'd like to take a quick peek into the Groups section. For anyone who hasn't visited the groups section, it is a place that is very much like a normal forum, or a place you can post comments and reply to what others have posted. Some groups are topic oriented, and others are more relaxed. LT has sections for Standing Groups (I think this means that they were created by LT and will always be available), Groups with the Most Members, Most Active Talk, Member Projects, etc.

The great thing about these groups?? If you want to talk about a book or author, there is probably a group or thread available for you to read, join, or comment in. There are even some great Book Challenges (75 Books Challenge for 2009)!! You can read about a group and then read the "threads" (topics/conversations), join the group, watch the group, or recommend it to a friend.

When you join or watch a group, you can have it show up on your home page on LT if you haven't taken it off your settings (mine shows up under my Connection News).

Questions: Have you recently browsed any of the groups? Are you actively participating in any groups? Do you have any favorites?
Answers: I haven't been back to LT except for EarlyReviewer since the last time I did this. I have browsed the groups, in fact, I belong to the 999 Challenge. Other than signing up, I haven't been participating. Dang, looks like I need to add LT to my weekly schedule just so I can answer the questions! ;-)


Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Cat Who Went into the Closet

From my personal shelves for the Cat Sleuth and Re-read and What an Animal II challenges.


The Cat Who Went Into the Closet
Lilian Jackson Braun
James Qwilleran book 15

Publisher: Jove
Release Date: March 1994
format: mass market
pages: 257
genre: cozy mystery? detective fiction?

(purchased March 2000 and read several times)

from the back cover
"Qwill's moved into the old Gage mansion--and the cats are on a treasure hunt! The house's fifty closets are crammed with several generations of junk, and while Qwill investigates two recent deaths--those of the mansion's former occupant and a local potato farmer--Koko investigates the contents of the closets. Qwill and the cats are unearthing some surprising skeletons--and bringing long-buried secrets to light...

Meet prizewinning reporter Jim Qwilleran and his extraordinary Siamese cats, KoKo and Yum Yum,--the most unlikely, most unusual, most delightful team in detective fiction!"
Between 1966 and 1968, LJB published three novels to critical acclaim; The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern and The Cat Who Turned On and Off. In 1966, The New York Times labeled Braun, "the new detective of the year." Then, for reasons unknown, the rising mystery author disappeared from the publishing scene.

It wasn't until 1986 that the Berkley Publishing Group reintroduced Braun to the public with the publication of an original paperback, The Cat Who Saw Red. Within two years, Berkley released four new novels in paperback and reprinted the three mysteries from the sixties.

My thoughts
This is book 15 of an ongoing series. Do you need to read them in order? Not really. It is always best of course, you get the full impact of character growth and relationships. As well as the why of missing or new ones. My recommendation is to read book 1, The Cat Who Could Read Backwards to get a general feel for the characters and find out how Qwill becomes owner of KoKo (Yum Yum is introduced in book 2). Book five, The Cat Who Played Brahms is where Qwill takes a vacation and ends up the wealthiest man in the county. The funny thing is the in The Cat Who Lived High, Qwill is in the hospital and has memory loss. His best friend comes to visit and we learn more about Qwill and how he got to where he is. The series was first published in the 1960's and you can tell by the way Qwill is shocked to hear electric pencil sharpeners in the newspaper office. You can also tell by the sex. Qwill dates but anything that brings a smile to his face happens behind closed doors.

The cats don't do anything extraordinary like talk, not even to each other. Its just that Koko will do a cat-like thing that Qwill will notice and use to jumpstart his thinking process. For instance, in one of the books, a twin is killed and KoKo is licking stamps. Turns out the wrong twin was buried. The killer glued the mustache on - hence the glue from the stamps. Yes that's a spoiler but the murders are not the whole of the book.

All of the books are like this, what's amazing is the rest of the story. In The Cat Who Went into the Closet Qwill has found a treasure trove of historical documents and it is used to create a one-man show about a piece of county history that most had forgotten about because the records were gone!



The Cat Who Went into the Closet's amazon.com's sales rank as of 8-20: #330,495 in Books

#52 in Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Braun, Lilian Jackson


This book is also available on amazon's Kindle:
Amazon.com Sales Rank, as of 8-20: #4,253 in Kindle Store

#2 in Kindle Store > Kindle Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Cat Sleuths
#2 in Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Braun, Lilian Jackson
#5 in Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Cat Sleuths

Magic Strikes

Someone's blog had a post about the author having way too many copies and they'd send it out to 200 bloggers for review. Thank you!

Magic Strikes
Ilona Andrews
A Kate Daniels Novel, Book 3

Publisher: ACE
Release Date: March 31, 2009
format: mass market
pages: 310
genre: Urban Fantasy






from the back cover
"When magic strikes and Atlanta goes to pieces, it's a job for Kate Daniels...
Drafted to work for the Order of Knight of Merciful Aid, mercenary Kate Daniels has more paranormal problems these days than she knows what to do with. And in Atlanta, where magic comes and goes like the tide, that's saying a lot.

But when Kate's werewolf friend Derek is discovred nearly dead, she must confront her greatest challenge yet. As her investigation leads her to the Midnight Games~an invitation-only, no-holds-barred, ultimate preternatural fighting tournament~she and Curran, the Beast Lord, uncover a dark plot that may forever alter the face of Atlanta's shapeshifing community..."

My thoughts
This is book three and I didn't read the first two. When Magic Strikes was first sent to me to review, I almost read the first two but wondered if I could enjoy the book without knowing what went before. Answer? Yes.

I had trouble at the beginning. This alternate Atlanta is strange. Magic coming in waves desrupting technology. Werewolves fine but wererats? It soon passed and I wanted to crawl into the book. I wanted to be Kate. Tough, beautiful, resourceful, deadly. Not just dangerous, Kate is a mercenary and extremely deadly. I'll need to go back and read the first two books to find out why a mercenary is working for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid but I didn't feel lost. I love that the story hangs but still ended. (how would be a spoiler)

The writing is detailed and picturesque. The characters well-developed and sometimes scary. I look forward to reading more from this fantastic author.

On a side note: I read Silent Blade, from Samhain Publishing. It is also available on the Kindle.


Magic Strikes amazon.com's sales rank as of 8-19: #4,050 in Books

#11 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Magic & Wizards
#52 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Contemporary

another challenge?


Samantha at Bookworms and tea lovers is hosting a challenge I'm thinking about joining.
The goal:

To read one book in the following genres: crime fiction, detective fiction, mystery fiction, horror fiction, thriller fiction, romance fiction, science fiction, action/adventure fiction, fantasy fiction, realistic fiction, historical fiction, and western fiction.
The challenge started in November 2008 so I'm a little late but I was wondering if I've read each of these....

She's given us three levels: read one book from each, delete the one you read the most & the one of your choosing, delete the one you read most. There is a link with specific descriptions.

All are fiction (dang, After Etan won't count):
crime:
detective: The Cat Who Went into the Closet reviewed
mystery: Dashing through the Snow reviewed
horror: The Summoning reviewed
thriller: A Circle of Souls
romance: Dogs and Goddesses reviewed
science fiction: Heartmate
action/adventure: The Spy Who Came for Christmas
fantasy: A Book Dragon
realistic: The Accidental Mother
historical: It's In His Kiss (historical romance) sniff, sniff
western: The Man from Nowhere


Oh My! I've only got two genres to read! I wonder if I can before the end of November....maybe not, she wants them reviewed!

IF, and I do mean IF, I do this, I'll choose level A
A: Read 10 books, drop the genre you read the most and one of your own choosing.
I'd drop Historical because of all the historical romance I read. It's a toss up as to which of the other two I'd drop, depend on what book looks good. I'm not reading Carrie or Cujo nor do I want the book to be from the murder's point of view. ummm, I'm sure there will be something I can read. Is there such a think a "light" horror?

here's some more info.
The rules

You may not read more than 1 book per genre

All books must be read within the challenge period

No crossovers within the challenge, each genre should have a separate book

Crossovers with other challenges are allowed

Audio books are allowed, graphic novels are not

You may make a list of books, but that’s not mandatory and you can change your picks at any time before or during the challenge

A-Z Wednesday

A-Z Wednesday is a Weekly Event
hosted by Vicky at Reading at the Beach.
Welcome to A-Z Wednesday!!
To join, here's all you have to do:
Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)
4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments
If you've already reviewed this book you can the review also.
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment. (We all love comments, don't we?) Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.
This week's letter is "B"



Bookends by Jane Green

This is the cover I have (paperback) and is no longer available at amazon.com although they have a different edition. Read in 2009 after having it on my shelf forever (it seems). I loved the cover but the book was, for me, just so-so.

from amazon.com:
A few friends meet at university: Simon, the chirpy gay character; Portia, the glamour girl; Josh, the adorable, unpretentious catch; and Cath, the overweight, insecure narrator. Portia strays from their crowd, but the other three remain friends into their 30s. Now successful Londoners, each faces a personal crisis: singleton Cath leaves a secure job to start a bookstore; Simon looks for love; Josh's marriage goes through growing pains. And then Portia, as intimidating and elegant as ever, wanders back into their lives--with surprising results.

here's the link to amazon.com: Bookends: A Novel

100+? How about 200 and counting....

I joined a "100+" reading challenge in January thinking that I would be reading that many during the year, might as well get "credit" for them.

Well, August isn't over yet and I've hit 200. Four more months, think I can hit 300?

Waiting on Wednesday

Jill at Breaking the Spine hosts "Waiting On" Wednesday, a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



92 Pacific Boulevard
Debbie Macomber
A
Cedar Cove Novel

Mira
August 25, 2009
mass market paperback
400 pages

product description:

92 Pacific Boulevard

Cedar Cove, Washington

Dear Reader,

I'm not much of a letter writer. As the sheriff here, I'm used to writing incident reports, not chatty letters. But my daughter, Megan—who'll be making me a grandfather soon—told me I had to do this. So here goes.

I'll tell you straight out that I'd hoped to marry Faith Beckwith (my onetime high school girlfriend) but she ended the relationship last month, even though we're both widowed and available. There were a few misunderstandings between us, some of them inadvertently caused by Megan.

However, I've got plenty to keep me occupied, like the unidentified remains found in a cave outside town. And the fact that my friend Judge Olivia Griffin is fighting cancer. And the break-ins at 204 Rosewood Lane—the house Faith happens to be renting from Grace Harding…

If you want to hear more, come on over to my place or to the sheriff's office—if you can stand the stale coffee!

Troy Davis


amazon.com's sales rank as of 8-18: #198 in Books

#10 in Books > Romance > Contempary



I still haven't gotten around to reading all of these but one of these days I'm going to start at the beginning and go straight through. Maybe when review books and challenges are complete? HA

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

BBAW New Participant Meme


I'm really glad Jenny Girl stopped by - I would have missed this!

I’ve seen some questions floating around about Book Blogger Appreciation Week, so here’s a way to learn more about it from people who participated last year!

If you were a part of BBAW last year, please answer these simple questions on your blog and drop your link into Mister Linky so that others can learn all about BBAW! Feel free to tag other bloggers to play along!
1) What was the highlight (something that happened, a post, an activity, etc.) of BBAW for you last year?
2) What is one new blog you discovered during BBAW last year?
3) What tips would you share to help others get the most out of their BBAW experience?

But wait!! We don’t want those of you who didn’t participate to feel left out, so if you didn’t participate last year, how about these questions?
1) What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?
2) What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?
3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

Now, I didn't participate last year, wasn't blogging, so I'm thrilled Amy has new questions....

1) What has been one of the highlights of blogging for you?

I'm meeting new people! I'm reading outside my comfort zone but I may have done that eventually but really - it's the people.

2) What blogger has helped you out with your blog by answering questions, linking to you, or inspiring you?

everyone has been very nice to me but when I was stuck about something or had stupid questions J. Kaye really came through for me.

3) What one question do you have about BBAW that someone who participated last year could answer?

How? Really, how do I do this?




now, to visit everyone else....
Disclaimer

In accordance to the FTC guidelines, I must state that I make no monetary gains from my reviews or endorsements here on Book Dragon's Lair. All books I review are either borrowed, purchased by me, given as a gift, won in some kind of contest, or received in exchange for an honest review.