Book Dragon's lair: 2011

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Happy New Year!

May the new year be everything you dreamed!

Be Safe. Be Happy. Be Loved.

Happy Reading, Gina

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon

A Winter's Respite
Read-a-Thon

January 23 - 29
hosted by Michelle at the True Book Addict
sign up here

Rules:

RaT starts at 12:00 CST on the 23rd and ends at 11:59 CST on the 29th
There will be (a) mini-challenge(s) and a giveaway
book length: Novellas/Novels
Young Adult or Adult (no children's books)

Twitter #WintersRespite

I don't believe I'll need a "week of relaxed reading" but I do need a kick start on my TBR pile! I hope to get at least one review book read & reviewed during the week. I'm assuming, but will double check, that by children's books, she means picture books, early readers, and beginning chapter books.

Will need to do updates (blog and/or Twitter) and a wrap-up post. do not currently have a possibilities list.

me at Twitter #bookdragonslair

2012 Challenges

ALL open Challenges for 2012

Welcome! Each name is a link to my post about the challenge/s. That is where you'll find where it is hosted, what the basic requirements are, the time frame and my progress/list of books. Or a link to wherever my book list is.

Grrr...trying something new this year, not sure if it's working

edited to add:
Open Challenges link

Read-a-Thon

Jan: Winter's Respite
Apr: Dewey's 24-Hour
Apr: Pick Your Thon & Spring into Horror
May: Bout of books
June: Pick-Your-Thon
June: 48 Hour Book Challenge at MotherReader
June: Wicked Wildfire
Summer: Shelf Discovery Reading Project Jun 4 to Aug 20 ~ failed ;-)
July: Once Upon a Read-a-Thon (9th to 11th)
July: High Summer (July 16 - 22)
July/August: Summer Read-a-Thing (7-26/8-2)
August: Summer Wrap-Up Read-a-Thon (4-12)
August: Pick-Your-Thon at The Book Monsters (13-18)
August: Bout of Books 5.0 (13-19)
Aug/Sep: Back to School (8-27/9-2)
September: BBAW (10-14)
September/October: R.I.P.
September/October: Banned Books Week (9-30/10-6)
October: Two Read-a-Thons - FrightFall (1-7) and Fraterfest (5-8)
Oct: Dewey's 24-Hour

Reading Challenge Addict!

Keeping track of number/format

150+
~~Two ebooks challenges~~
One Million Pages Read

Location

50 States & Where are you reading?

Genre specific

Art :: Cozies, Suspense, Criminal Plots:: Dewey Decimal :: Dystopia :: General :: Memoirs :: Mind Voyages :: ~~Paranormal~~ :: ~~Romance~~ :: RIP (upcoming) ::

Author/series specific

Harry Potter :: Chronicles of Narnia :: Dean Koontz :: Game of Thrones :: ~~Pern~~

To-Be-Read

~~Mt. TBR~~ :: ~~Read Your Own Book~~ :: ~~Off the Shelf~~ :: ~~Double Dare~~ :: The Unread Book

Free Books

~~Free Reads~~ :: Why Buy the Cow?

Whittle Down Your Perpetual TBR List

100 Best Novels :: ~~101 Fantasy~~ :: Cedar Cove :: ~~Cardathon (Orson Scott)~~ :: Disney Lit :: Landover :: ~~Banned Books~~ :: ~~PB&J~~ :: Prey :: Redwall

Specific Requirements

~~Harlequin~~ :: Color Coded :: ~~Foodies~~ :: ~~What's in a Name~~ :: ~~What an Animal V~~ :: Read Your Name :: Toss Me a Frosty One :: ~~Girl Power~~ :: ~~Spring Reading Challenge~~ :: ~~Summer Book Challenge~~ :: ~~Summer Reading Challenge~~ :: ~~Big Book Summer~~ :: ~~Dewey Decimal~~ ::

52-52-52, 6-1-12
52-52-52 (6-2-12/6-1-13)
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks & ~~A to Z mini-challenge~~
Monthly Mix-up Mania, 3-31-13
ALA's Top Ten Banned/Challenged books of 2010, 4-1-12 ~completed 4-13-12
ALA's Top Ten Banned/Challenged books of 2011, 4-1-13ish
ARC
Alex Awards
Fall into Reading, 9-22/12-21
Getting Lost in a Comfortable Book
Read & Review
~~Spring Reading Thing~~ & Spring Reading Challenge
Review Copy Wipeout, 10-1/12-31

PLUS, ~~10 perpetual challenges~~, several upcoming challenges, three I'm still thinking about and 38+ I decided against!

The End is Near

Challenge 1: Dystopia at Bookish Ardour

I'll be Asocial and will read 5 books.

Challenge 2: Read Dystopia at Book Journey

I'm a Beginner and plan to read 1-3 books
Possible prizes!

Dystopian Description

Dystopian Societies - Themed Book List
Part One, (A - L)
Part Two, (M - Z)

Sheila/Book Journey also has a list.

15 recommended novels from Bookish Ardour

Possiblilities:

Hunger Games trilogy,

Books Read:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (4-13)
2. Xenofreak Nation by Melissa Conway (5-26)
3.
4.
5.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011

It's All About the FREE baby!

I have downloaded so many free books that are never read, this is perfect! When someone wants to give me a gift but doesn't know what, I get a bookstore giftcard :D I've also won several books that count.

Challenge 1: Free Reads at Bookish Ardour

Any book that you own but did NOT purchase. Gifts, ARCs, and contest winners count but library books do not. I'm going for For Me? and plan to read 5 books. I can move up, but not down.

1. The Hawk and His Boy by Christopher Bunn (free download)
2. Deep Disclosure by Dee Davis (gift)
3. Carrots by Colleen Helme (free download)
4. Nitt Witt Hill by Sebastian Gibson (ARC)
5. The Book of Deacon by Joseph Lallo (free download)

~Challenge Completed~
February 10

Blood Oath - planned

Challenge 2: Why Buy the Cow? at The Unread Reader

No library books, books you've won, or ARCs. This is strictly for ebooks you've downloaded LEGALLY for FREE. I'm going to be a Coupon Clipper and read 12 Books.

1. The Hawk and His Boy by Christopher Bunn
2. Carrots by Colleen Helme
3. The Book of Deacon by Joseph Lallo
4. How Lego Built a Comeback by the editors of New Word City
5. Pieces of a Rainbow by Maria Savva
6. Blood Faerie by India Drummond
7. Seduced by the Wolf by Terry Spear
8. Amy's Adventure by Mark & Victoria Freeman
9. Cowboy Billy and the Smelly Bank Robber by Lily Lexington
10. Oscar's First Bicycle by Vincent Cornell
11. Death by a Honeybee by Abigail Keam
12. Bearing All by Tiffinie Helmer

Challenge - Harlequin Books

Harlequin/Silhouette Reading Challenge

2012
hosted by Evy at Islandgirl reads Romance
sign up here

Rules:

The main rule is that ALL the book must come from Harlequin (Mira counts!). Visit Harlequin's store online and anything you can purchase there (but you don't have to) can be used for the challenge, provided it has one of the following requirements.
1. The name of a place in the title (country, small city or town)
2. A weather condition in the title (snow, rain, storm etc.)
3. A Title must be in the title of the book (Prince, Countess, etc)
4. The author's first or last name beginning with the letter M
5. A Holiday/Season in the title (Valentine, Christmas, Summer, etc)
6. A color must be in the title (red, blue, green etc)

Every year, one of the requirements stumps me. Wonder which one will do me in this time?

Possibilities (all are Mira):
The Perfect Christmas by Debbie Macomber
Against the Storm by Kat Martin
The Widows of Wichita County by Jodi Thomas
The Summer We Came to Life by Deborah Cloyed
Blue Twilight by Maggie Shayne
Paradise Valley by Robin Carr - own
Orchard Valley Brides by Debbie Macomber
The Bikini Car Wash by Pamela Morsi
Little Town, Great Big Life by Curtiss Ann Matlock
Hannah's List by Debbie Macomber - own
Waking Up in Charleston by Sherryl Woods
The Winter Lodge by Susan Wiggs (also What's in a name)
Queene of Light by Jennifer Armintrout (also Paranormal)
Protecting the Princess by Rachelle McCalla (Feb12)

Books Read:

1. Place Name - Virgin River by Robyn Carr
2. Weather - Winter Knights by Harper Fox
3. Title - Princess in Peril by Rachelle McCalla
4. "M" - Protecting the Princess by Rachelle McCalla
5. Holiday/Season - Christmas Haven by Hope White (1st book of the year!)
6. Color - Just a Little White Lie by Lynette Hallberg

~Challenge Completed~
April 20

Romance is in the Air!

Who can resist a good romance? I can't!

Challenge 1: Sports Romance at Crazy Book Slut

Time Frame: 2012

Basic Requirements: Read romance with a strong sports related element. I know I have a couple on my wish list and several that I've read. There are several levels but I'm going for Pee Wee and plan to read 1-3 books.

sign up here*
*this is an "adult" blog so you'll need to okay that you really want to go there.

Books Read:

1. Taking Love in Stride by Donna Fasano
2. Dance with Me by Heidi Cullinan
3. Home Ice by Kate Sherwood

possibility...Line of Scrimmage, ~~Taking Love in Stride~~, ~~Home Ice~~

~Challenge Complete~
April 7

Challenge 2: Paranormal Romance at Tales from the Crypt

Time Frame: 2012

Basic Requirements: Romance with a strong paranormal element. Shifter, psi abilities, Vampires, etc... I enjoy this sub-genre but am still going for level 1 and plan to read 1-5 books.

Sign-up here

Books Read:

1. Under the Willow by Kari Jo Spear
2. Amethyst Moon by Ann Mayburn
3. The Longest Stride by TA Chase
4. Levi by Bailey Bradford
5. Trinity by Deena Remiel

~Challenge Complete~
February 25

Possibilities....Kiss of Snow

Challenge 3: Romantic Suspense at The Eclectic Bookshelf

Time Frame: 2012

Basic Requirements: Romance books that have a strong suspense element. I'm going for level 1 and hope to read 4 books.

Sign up here

Books Read:

1. Christmas Haven by Hope White (1st book of the year!)
2. Deep Disclosure by Dee Davis
3. A Seal in Wolf's Clothing by Terry Spear
4. Princess in Peril by Rachelle McCalla

Possibilities.... ~~Deep Disclosure~~, ...

~Challenge Complete~
April 7

Challenge 4: Romance at The Eclectic Bookshelf

Time Frame: 2012

Basic Requirements: Romance. Any kind of romance.

sign up here

Books Read:

1. The Ladybug Jinx
2. Virgin River by Robyn Carr
3. Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr
4. Wife by Wednesday by Catherine Bybee

Possibilities....The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae, plus all the other romance challenge books ;)

~Challenge Complete~
February 4

Monday, December 26, 2011

Reading Challenge - Completed!

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks

2011

Hosted at it's own blog

Challenge Completed
June 3, 2011

My original post about the challenge

Quick recap:

read 52 books during 2011

Final List:

check out the original post for details

This challenge was more stressful for me than I thought it should be. I originally thought it was a book a week and I missed week 5! Realizing it was 52 a year made it much easier to complete. I've joined again for 2012 and am hoping to actually read one a week (and them some)

Reading Challenge Wrap-Up Questions asked by Robin

Did you reach the goal of 52 books or did you manage to beat your own personal best?
- Yes to the 52 but no to the personal best.

What book are you ending the year with?
- Currently reading The More the Terrier, and
- Before I Fall, and
- Nitt Witt Hill
- BUT, I think my last book recorded was So This is Christmas

Did you discover a new author or genre? Did you love them or hate them?
- lots of new authors, way more then I would have read without challenges. I liked most of them.

Did you challenge yourself to read more non fiction if prefer fiction or more fiction if you prefer non fiction?
- I read at least four memoirs and a couple of non-fiction that I wouldn't have picked up except for blogging. I plan on reading 5 memoirs next year and have several non-fiction on my TBR list

Did you read from a list or wing it?
- yes. ;) I had a list but more often then not, I'd pick up what sounded good.

How many classics did you read? What did you think of the writing style or author?
- classics {shudder} not good with classics but two are on my TBR list for 2012. Oh, wait, there was a kate something short story....it was weird.

Name one book that you thought you'd never read and was pleasantly surprised you like it.

What are your top ten favorite books?

What are your ten least favorite books?

Did you start any books that you just simply couldn't finish?
- Quickstep to Murder (hoping to try again in 2012, we'll see)

What did you think of the mini challenges and did you join in or complete any?
- No, but I have a Mind Voyages list (from when it was it's own challenge) and am doing the A to Z mini-challenge in 2012.

Did your family join in on the fun?
- no, they don't read like I do. They all read but not quite at this level.

How many books have you added to your wishlist since the beginning of the year?
- lol

What was your favorite thing about the challenge?
- reading the weekly posts

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable day yesterday! We basically repeated Thanksgiving but with more people, gifts, and birthdays.

Spent some time with my parents and brother/SIL. Not as long as I'd like but that's what happens during the holidays. Almost need to go on vacation at a different time in order to spend time with them.

Lunch with Daughter, shopping with Mom, trip to the Post Office {shudder}, I'm ready for a break!

Hope everyone has a great week planned.

Mailbox Monday is a place to share all the wonderful books that have come to live in your home– including paper books, e-books and audio books. Started by Marcia of The Printed Page, the mailbox is currently on tour. Check it out so you know where to go next month.

The December's host is Jenny Q at Let Them Read Books (blog link, not post link).

Received for Review:

Giveaway:
Edenville Owls by Robert B. Parker (Karen at Grab a Book From Our Stack)

from Author:

Purchased:
The Dragon and the Turtle by Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark (picture book)
Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul
only found one at Target (it's a gift) but went to a thrift store.....
Marley & Me by John Grogan
Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle/JAK
Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr
Dark Rivers of the Heart & Whispers by Dean Koontz (both for a challenge)
A Capital Holiday by Janet Dailey
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley with Ron Powers
PLUS Dark Towers books: The Waste Lands, Wolves of the Calla, Song of Susannah, The Dark Tower
then at Costco....
Locked On by Tom Clancy
Betty & Friends My Life at the Zoo by Betty White
and another gift ;-)

kindle/ebooks:
Soul Search by Amber Scott (219 pages, Fantasy, Horror, Shifter) - can hardly wait!
Fantasy & Science Fiction, Free Exclusive Digest (should be interesting!)
Sparkle and Purr by Stormy Glenn (NOT a sparkly vampire - Fae and Shifter!)
Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back

I went shopping through the FREE section at amazon.... 179 books later O_o! 'Course some of the "books" are only 5 pages long {shrug} and dang it, 3 were only free for prime members! You be careful, I clicked too fast!

What are you Reading?
is a weekly Monday meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Post what you read last week and what you're planning to read this week then link to Shelia's post. Then visit, visit, visit! She has a comment contest going on each week tied to the meme.

Finished:
Sparkle and Purr
Dragon's Alphabet Soup
Mouse and the Christmas Cake (kindle, missing last pages!)
So This is Christmas, anthology
A Squeak and a Roar (re-read)

Reading:
Nitt Witt Hill
The More the Terrier
Before I Fall
~~So This is Christmas, anthology~~

Next up:
Time Slice (Feb blog tour)
A Place to Die (Feb blog tour)
Escape

Reviewed:

Did Not Finish:

Need to Review-keep a running total and cross off as completed:
(this list is way too long and if they've been reviewed I didn't label them correctly!)

Spin the Plate, short story (current read)
A Modern Witch (current read)
Kekula (current read)
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
True North
Whiskey Gulf
A Circle of Souls
Benny & Shrimp
The Right Side of the Tracks
Second Chance

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Secret Santa & Holiday Wishes

I hope your holiday season is filled with lots of
love, friends and family

Secret Santa Came!

I sent a list in, expecting them to pick one or two....Oh. My. Gosh. Look at what I got!

And in case you can't read it....
Lovely Bones on audio (I still haven't read it), The More the Terrier (loved the first in the series), Deep Disclosure by Dee Davis and Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (both blogger recommendations)

plus a lovely note, jingle bells and pine cones! And chocolate but it wasn't eaten before the pictures were taken!

Thank you so much :-)

Monday, December 19, 2011

End of Year Reading Challenge Updates

I am not going to finish a challenge, sigh. There were four books on my short list (read 3, reviewed 2) and nine books on an alternate list (read 8, reviewed 3). The thing is, I didn't read the short list :-( so my challenge isn't complete. The last open challenge to end in 2011 and I'm not going to finish.

So close.

The following are the challenges still open

52-52-52: requires one more book read between the 21 & 27

ALA's Top Ten 2010: read one book from the list but I have until 4-1-12 to read it. I've picked Hunger Games and it fits three other 2012 challenges so I'm waiting

Fall into Reading: One book short.

Monthly Mix-up Mania: This one has a closing date of 3-31-13! Just Nine more books but most of them are E's

Where Are You Reading? & 50 States: Not only did I fail to read a book from every state, I failed to do a google map to keep track of them! I've joined both for 2012 and am hoping for better luck.

I guess I should add Declutter and 400 Mile challenges. Those aren't being completed either.

There were 42 challenges on my 2011 challenge page plus 7 on my perpetual challenges page.
I have made little progress as far as perpetual challenges go but have completed .... 30!

Not bad.

I'm not sure if I really want to know how many I've already signed up to do next year, let along the one's I'm planned on signing up for.

Happy Monday!

What has happened to the year? My parents, Husband's parents, Daughter and Boyfriend all came over for dinner, Son too but he lives here. Husband wasn't able to come home early so this time I did most of it. Turned out nice, good food and great company. Bought a new tablecloth and serving dishes ;) The serving dishes were so nice, my MIL is going to purchase them also.

I plan on finishing up gift wrapping this week, going to the post office with everyone else, and taking my Mom shopping since I've got the week off, plus delivering a couple of gifts that didn't get taken care of this week. I also hope to experiment with some new recipes :)

I'm also going to re-vamp my challenge blogs so apologies for the huge amount of posts/duplicates.

Happy Holiday, be safe!

Hope everyone has a great week planned.

Mailbox Monday is a place to share all the wonderful books that have come to live in your home– including paper books, e-books and audio books. Started by Marcia of The Printed Page, the mailbox is currently on tour. Check it out so you know where to go next month.

The December's host is Jenny Q at Let Them Read Books (blog link, not post link).

Received for Review:
Tuesday Night Miracles by Kris Radish
Nitt Witt Hill by Sebastian Gibson

Giveaway:
Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer Express (so it's not a book but it was a blog I follow and it's cool!)

from Author:
Tinsel and Frost
Happy Hour

Purchased:
Virgin River by Robyn Carr (can't believe I didn't have book 1!)
The Guardian by Sherrilyn Kenyon
A Place Called Home by Jo Goodman
The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance, a Memoir by Elna Baker
The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford
The Snow Angel by Glenn Beck
Zero Day by David Baldacci
Micro by Michael Crichton & Richard Preston
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

kindle/ebooks (good thing most of these were free or near free):
Final Price
Trapped
Three Moons Over Sedona
Daddy, Daddy and Me
The Christmas Dog
The 10/60 Diet (lose 10% in 60 days)
A Boyfriend Before Christmas
A Simple Amish Christmas
Judgment
Seattle On Ice
Sand
Permanent Interests
A Kingdom's Cost, a Historical Novel of Scotland
The Cloud Roads
Christmas with Family & Friends Cookbook
Pride's Run
The Misanthrope's Guide to Life: (Go Away!)
Harmonics: Rise of the Magician
Kiss of the Christmas Wind
Samantha Loses the Box Turtle
Fathers and Sons
The Lonely Christmas Tree
Jacob
Cherished
Without Mercy
The Clinch Knot

Finished:
Purrfect Mates series, 1 - 7 (amazon list
9 books from the Midnight Matings series
Tristan by Joyee Flynn
Daddy, Daddy & Me by Sean Michael (sweet romance)
Tinsel and Frost

Reading:
flitting around, so far everything fits a challenge for next year!

Next up:
Nitt Witt Hill (Jan blog tour)
Time Slice (Feb blog tour)
A Place to Die (Feb blog tour)

Reviewed:

Did Not Finish:

Need to Review-keep a running total and cross off as completed:
(this list is way too long and if they've been reviewed I didn't label them correctly!)

Spin the Plate, short story (current read)
A Modern Witch (current read)
Kekula (current read)
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
True North
Whiskey Gulf
A Circle of Souls
Benny & Shrimp
The Right Side of the Tracks
Second Chance

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Thoughts on...Janeology by Karen Harrington

Oh, man, you've got read this excerpt! I knew it would be a hard book to read but I didn't realize just how difficult it could be.

Ms. Harrington has taken a hard subject, infantcide, and brought it out into the bright, harsh light of day. Just reading the prosecutor's opening statement had me thinking "but for the Grace of God". You see, I had post-partum depression and am bipolar, which wasn't properly diagnosed for years. It also wasn't talked about like it is now, I had a beautiful child, what was there to be sad about! No one understood, no one talked about their own experiences. They are now and that has to be a good thing.

I've only read the prologue and the very first of Part 1 and my stomach is clenched tight and there are tears in my eyes. Looks like it's going to be a great novel.

Just listen to this: "Here Dave paused long for the effect, and I found myself waiting to breathe. I noticed a young female juror glance at Dave and smile. It probably didn't hurt my defense that he was so good-looking. It's not that I am unattractive. I'm tall, fit, green-eyed and still have all my hair. But cast us together in a movie and Dave is James Bond and I'm Man in elevator #2. Can't you just see them?

Off to read some more.......

Jane, and what she did is a small part of the novel and yet it is everything. Most of the novel is the aftermath. Tom dealing with only having one twin, questioning why he didn't stop it, being charged with child endangerment. What? That's right, the great state of Texas, in her ultimate wisdom, has decide that Tom is guilty of leaving his children in the care of their mother.

Wow, how do you defend against that? And the big question....is he guilty?

After getting over the OMG factor of it could have been me, I enjoyed the novel very much. I had to take it in small doses, open my mind (as does Tom) to retro-cognition. That's right, most of the story is flashbacks while Tom. his attorney, and a clairvoyant dig through Jane's possessions listening to the stories they tell.

Okay, I confess, I actually love the idea that you could do this. Haven't you ever looked at a picture or a ratty stuffed animal and wondered what stories they could tell?

I cried, cringed, wanted to shake some characters and slap some sense into others. But in the end, I have to ask myself if it was worth spending the time to read this book, was I satisfied at the end, did I want more?

My answer is yes. Hey, Karen? I'd really like to know what happens to Sarah.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book without any obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of Ms. Harrington's website, and amazon.

Janeology
by Karen Harrington

publisher: Kunati Inc.
ISBN: 978-1601640208
Release date: April 2008
Hardcover
family drama, courtroom, nature vs nurture
256 pages

also available in paperback and for Kindle

Product Description:

After his wife Jane commits an unthinkable murder, her grieving husband struggles to find a possible explanation for her actions – were they due her lack of nurturing as a child? Did she inherit a tendency toward violence from her ancestors, some with dark, criminal lives? Did he miss the signs that she was about to unravel?

When a prosecutor decides Jane's husband Tom is partially to blame for the death and charges him with "failure to protect," Tom's attorney proposes a radical defense. He plans to create reasonable doubt about his client's alleged guilt by showing that Jane's genealogy is the cause of her violence, and that she inherited her latent violence in the same way she might inherit a talent for music or a predisposition to disease. He argues that no one could predict or prevent the tragedy, and that Tom cannot be held responsible.

With the help of a woman gifted with the power of retrocognition—the ability to see past events through objects once owned by the deceased—the defense theory of dark biology takes form.

What unfolds is an unforgettable journey through the troubled minds and souls of eight of Jane's ancestors, spanning decades and continents, this debut novel deftly illustrates the ways nature and nurture weave the fabric of one woman's life, and renders a portrait of one man left in its tragic wake.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Terrific Tuesday

Under the Willow and Janeology . . . .

Hosted at Bibliophile by the Sea
Every Tuesday, she'll be posting the opening paragraph (maybe two) of her current read. Why don't you join us?

Shane was just eighteen and a senior in high school when it happened, and it happened so slowly and with so much pleasure that he wouldn’t have stopped it even if he could have, even if he’d known what would come later.

Under the Willow
Kari Jo Spear

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme,
hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
1. Grab your current read Open to a random page
2. 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!
3. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

....Of course, there was Jane's jail room confession. I was done being a mother. Jane didn't tell this to anyone else, and I kept it to myself, convinced it was the right thing to do for Sarah. Later, I would wonder if it might have helped me to mention it.

Janeology
Karen Harrington

Monday, December 12, 2011

Challenge - Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks & A to Z (titles)

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks
Reading Challenge

2012
hosted by Robin at 52 Books in 52 Weeks
sign up here

Rules:

The goal is to read 52 books. How you get there is up to you.

There is a little bit more to it than that and there are Mini-Challenges so check out the blog and happy reading!

The hard part is reading one a week, 52 a year is no problem. I'm also doing this as a personal goal but I like linking my reviews ;)

Week 1: Christmas Haven by Hope White (1-4)
Week 2 The Hawk and His Boy by Christopher Bunn (1-9)
week 3 Carrots by Colleen Helme (1-16)
week 4 Nitt Witt Hill by Sebastian Gibson (1-24)
week 5 Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr (1-30)
week 6 Opening Moves by Sean Michael (2-5)
week 7 The Longest Stride by TA Chase (2-12)
week 8 Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr (2-20)
week 9 The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens (2-28)
week 10 The Unlikely Wife by Debra Ullrick (3-4)
week 11 Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis (3-12)
week 12 Dance with Me by Heidi Cullinan (3-19)
week 13 A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing by Terry Spear (3-25)
week 14 Redwood Bend by Robyn Carr (4-5)
week 15 Pieces of a Rainbow by Maria Savva (4-8)
week 16 The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser (4-16)
week 17 Nobody's Safe by Richard Steinberg (4-24)
week 18 Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank (4-29)
week 19 Zero Day by David Baldacci (5-6)
week 20 The Candlestone by Bryan Davis (5-13)
week 21 The Blind Side by Michael Lewis (5-22)
week 22 Hard Tail by JL Merrow (5-27)
week 23 Dragon's Keep by Janet Lee Carey (6-7)
week 24 Consent to Kill by Vince Flynn (6-11)
week 25 Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods (?)
week 26 The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson(6-29)
week 27 Catching Fireflies by Sherryl Woods (?)
week 28 Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery (7-13)
week 29 Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn (7-17)
week 30 Home in Carolina by Sherryl Woods (7-23)
week 31 The Long Stitch Good Night by Amanda Lee (7-30)
week 32 Sweet Tea at Sunrise by Sherryl Woods (8-5)
week 33 Edge of Forever by Sherryl Woods (8-13)
week 34 Dream Lake by Lisa Kleypas (8-19)
week 35 Kill Shot by Vince Flynn (8-26)
week 36 A Soldier's Fate by D.L Warner (9-2)
week 37 Courting Carolina by Janet Chapman (9-9)
week 38 Don't Ask, Don't Tell by Sean Michael
week 39 Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
week 40 50/50: Secrets I Learned Running 50 Marathons in 50 Days-and How You Too Can Achieve Super Endurance! by Dean Karnazes with Matt Fitzgerald
week 41 Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss by Dean Karnazes
week 42 The Barefoot Running Book by Jason Robillard
week 43
week 44
week 45
week 46
week 47
week 48
week 49
week 50
week 51
week 52

Mini-Challenge: A to Z (title ~~or author~~)
A - Animal Attraction by Jill Shalvis
B - The Hawk and His Boy by Christopher Bunn
C - Carrots by Colleen Helme
D - Deep Disclosure by Dee Davis
E - The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae by Stephanie Laurens
F - Spellbound Falls by Janet Chapman
G - Great Short Poems edited by Paul Negri
H - Christmas Haven by Hope White
I - The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin
J - The Ladybug Jinx by Tonya Kappes
K - Copycat Killing by Sofie Kelly
L - How Lego Built a Comeback by the editors of New Word City
M - Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis
N - Nitt Witt Hill by Sebastian Gibson
O - Opening Moves by Sean Michael
P - Princess in Peril by Rachelle McCalla
Q - Quinn by R.C. Ryan
R - Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr
S - Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr
T - A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
U - Under the Willow by Kari Jo Spear
V - Virgin River by Robyn Carr
W - The Unlikely Wife by Debra Ullrick
X - Xenofreak Nation by Melissa Conway
Y - When You Call My Name by Sharon Sala
Z - Zero Day by David Baldacci

Challenge - Memorable Memoirs

Memorable Memoirs Reading Challenge

2012
hosted by Melissa at The Betty and Boo Chronicles
sign up here

Rules:

Books, e-books, audiobooks, ARCs, NetGalley books are allowed.
Overlaps with other challenges are also allowed.
Re-reads are allowed.
No need to create a list of books in advance (but if you want to, please feel free!)
You don't need a blog to participate.
You must select a level. You can increase your level, but you can't go back down.

Levels:

Diarist: read 1-4 memoirs
Autobiographer: read 5-9 memoirs
Memoirist: read 10+ memoirs

I'm going for Autobiographer

That's at least one more than what I committed to for 2011 but I have several on my shelves and a couple that may work.

Possibilities:

The 80 Dollar Champion - Where Men Win Glory - ~~The Gardner Heist~~ - The Man Who Loved Books Too Much - ~~The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance~~ - Inconceivable - Behind the Smile ...
edit: Dancing with My Father - A Dog Named Slugger

Books Read:

1. A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
2. The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
3. An Accidental Athlete by John "The Penguin" Bingham
4. Running on Empty by Marshall Ulrich
5. Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

~1st level completed~

September 23

6. 50/50 by Dean Karnazes with Matt Fitzgerald
7. Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss by Dean Karnazes
8.
9.

~Challenge Complete~

date

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone has a great week planned.

Finished:
Half Pass
Not My Wolf

Reading:
52 Small Changes
Before I Fall

Next up:
something from my "read this year" list, or
something from my review pile, or
something from my "Read but Still Need to Review" list ;)

Reviewed:

Did Not Finish:

Need to Review-keep a running total and cross off as completed:
(this list is way too long and if they've been reviewed I didn't label them correctly!)

Spin the Plate, short story (current read)
A Modern Witch (current read)
Kekula (current read)
The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
True North
Whiskey Gulf
A Circle of Souls
Benny & Shrimp
The Right Side of the Tracks
Second Chance

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Challenge - Foodies!

Foodies Reading Challenge

2012
hosted by Margot at Foodies 2
sign up here

Guidelines:

The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2012.
You don’t need a pre-selected list of books.
It’s okay to cross over with other challenges.
Any book format is allowed (print, audio, ebook)

Levels:

Short-Order Cook: 1 to 3 books
Pastry Chef: 4 to 8 books
Sous-Chef: 9 to 13 books
Chef de Cuisine: 14 to 18
Cordon-Bleu Chef: More than 19

I did Nibbler (1-3) last year because I didn't know how many food related books I would read. Turns out, quite a few! Many of my cozy mysteries are food related so this year I'm bumping up a level.

I'm going for Pastry Chef
and plan to read 4-8 books.

Possibles:

A Cookie Before Dying :: Liver Let Die ::Huckleberry Finished

Books Read:

1. Carrots by Colleen Helme (1-16)
2. A Cookie Before Dying by Virginia Lowell (1-30)
3. Liver Let Die by Liz Lipperman (3-14)
4. Blueberry Hill by Marcia Evanick (4-18)

~~~Challenge Completed - first goal anyways ;) ~~~
5. Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates (5-5)
6. Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke (5-24)
7. Town in a Blueberry Jam by B. B. Haywood (5-25)
8. A Deadly Chocolate Pi by Cynthia Gallant-Simpson (6-1)

~~~Challenge Completed - woo hoo, all 8 ~~~
June 1

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Reading Challenge - Completed!

The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

Nov 21 to Jan 6

Hosted at it's own blog

Challenge Completed
December 8, 2011

My original post about the challenge

Quick recap:

read one book and watch one or more movies that are Christmas related

Final List:

check out the original post for more details but I ended up reading 3 books, watching one movie and one comedy special.

This challenge was more stressful for me than I thought it should be. I had already read a couple of Christmas books, had a hard time waiting for the challenge to start for the next one, and when it did? Didn't feel like reading Christmas books!

Snowy Days Read-a-Thon Wrap-up

Snowy Days Read-a-Thon

December 5 - 7, 2011
hosted by Lindsay at Turning the Pages
information page

That was fun but I missed a day :-(
I was watching movies :-) and cleaning house :-(
Ready to do this one again in 2012!

None of my "possibilities" were read during this read-a-thon. Instead I read several ebooks, most of which were paranormal gay romance :)

1. Matchmaker, Matchmaker by Amber Kell - Vampire, trio

2. Kelan's Pursuit by Lavina Lewis - Wolf

3. Aaron's Awakening by Lavinia Lewis - Wolf/Cat

4. Wounded Cowboy by Jan Irving - wolf/human, D/s

5. A Plain, Ordinary Cowboy by Jan Irving - wolf/human, D/s

6. Half Pass by Astrid Amara - this one was not a paranormal but still gay romance

7. Not My Wolf by Eden Cole - wolf

8. Fur and Flightless by Joyee Flynn - wolf/penguin

Snowy Days Read-a-Thon Twitter: #SDRAT
My Twitter: #bookdragonslair

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Virtual Advent Tour-Day 8

Welcome to Day 8
2011 Virtual Advent Tour

Don't forget to check out the blog for all the tour stops.

It's not even December yet as I write this, haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet! This is my first year participating and as I haven't read any of the entries from this year, or {blush} the others, I'm hoping this is what you were looking for.

This will be our 26th Christmas together and little has changed, except the size of the crowd! We like to put our Christmas tree up the second weekend of December. We started with a small tree because we were in an apartment then with the arrival of Daughter, the small tree went on top of something to keep her out of it. As the years went by, and with the addition of Son, a card table fit perfectly into a playpen and worked really well, for the dog. Children would push a chair next to the playpen! Several of my favorite ornaments will have been around since year one, glass bells and ceramic doves being at the top of the list. I made the kids stockings but only one hangs now, Daughter took hers with her when she moved out :)

We have so many ornaments collected through the years and made each year in school, that we started switching decorations. One year we'd have a smaller tree with the glass and other delicate decorations. The next year we'd get a big tree and put everything we could on it. The children each receive an ornament from grandparents and I started doing this also. Daughter has a nice collection for the tree in her apartment. Son's collection is still mixed up with ours.

Stockings: Traditionally, there is an chocolate orange in the toe reminiscent of the orange Husband had in his stocking growing up. At the beginning, it was a real orange but the kids didn't eat it so we switched. And share with extended family. Chocolate, nuts, fruit wraps and small toys filled up the rest. As the kids got older, the extras were placed in bowls on the table. And the toys got too big for the stockings ;)

Both of our parents live close so holidays are split between the two. We've started spending Christmas Eve with my folks so there was no need to eat and run. Mostly it's just me and mine now as we're the only ones living close but I remember having a video camera set up at the end of the room to record the unwrapping....what we got most of was each of our "back sides" bending over at the far side of the room. That's where my dad kept the See's Candy box! Yum yum. My parents, their three adult children, spouses and grandchildren all took a turn, or two, going to the end of the room and bending over that box of See's. Then we opened the next box!

As the extended family grew we started drawing names on the Husband's side of the family. First just the adults then in later years the kids drew kid names too but now everyone gets thrown in the hat so you never know who you'll be buying a gift for until Thanksgiving.

Christmas is like Thanksgiving, all about food and family, except there are gifts! The kids who have moved away have a longer break to come home to visit. And in some cases, we haven't seen them for a couple of years.

Several years ago, my sister-in-law introduced me to a salsa at Thanksgiving. It has become a favorite "winter" salsa and I've been known to eat the whole recipe by myself. It took several days but I'm not sorry and I'll do it again if I'm given half a chance. {evil grin}

Cassie's Cranberry Salsa

1 package (16 oz) fresh Cranberries

1/2 Jalapeno without seeds
1/2 bunch green onion
2-4 tsp Cilantro

Chop & mix together

Stir in
1/2 tsp cumin
3/4 C sugar

Serve over cream cheese with crackers

I omit the Cilantro and green onion and use a food processor for all of it. Thinking of using a sugar substitute but haven't tried that yet. I place a block of cream cheese in the middle of a serving plate and dump all the salsa on top of it. Wheat Thins are my cracker of choice and are placed in a nearby bowl. We had this at Thanksgiving this year but I forgot to take a picture. Gosh, darn, I had to mix up another batch to photograph. It was Delicious

As Christmas is on a Sunday this year, we'll be starting the day in church. With just the three of us living here now and Son being much older, we'll purchase a big thing for the family. Last year it was a new television. I think that this year it will be a sound system. There may be small gifts but mostly we just get the one big thing. Daughter will get something since she won't be able to use the sound system, and the extended family.

Next year I'll ask for a date later in the month so I can get pictures of the tree and other decorations. Or, maybe, I'll get the pictures taken this year and will remember where they are to post next year!

Have a very Merry Christmas. Be Safe. Be Loved.

Happy Reading,

Gina, a book dragon
because books are a treasure worth protecting

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Challenge - A Song of Ice and Fire

I've had book 1 of the A Song of Ice and Fire series in my to-be-read pile for a couple of years now. I think it's about time I read it....Target has the rest of the series at 25% off ;) And to top it off....there is a challenge!

Game of Thrones

2012
hosted at The Lit Bitch
sign up here

Rules are simple. Read the series during 2012. There are others, check out the sign up page for more information.

Books to Read:

A Game Of Thrones
A Clash of Kings
A Storm of Swords
A Feast For Crows
A Dance With Dragons

Challenge - Off the Shelf - moved

sorry....I've moved the progress page to here

Off the Shelf

2012
hosted by Bonnie & Friends at Bookish Ardour
sign up here

Rules:

lots and lots of info on the sign up page...The main rule is NO BOOKS FROM 2012.... kind of defeats the purpose ;)
Tempted– Choose 5 books to read
Trying – Choose 15 books to read
Making A Dint – Choose 30 books to read
On A Roll – Choose 50 books to read
Flying Off – Choose 75 books to read
Hoarder – Choose between 76-135 books to read
Buried – Choose between 136-200 books to read

This year, I'm going for Trying and hope to read 15 books. I failed my Making a Dint last year but hope that be choosing TBR books for other challenges joined, I can do this.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Monday, December 26, 2011

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Monday, December 12, 2011

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

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