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, April 30, 2012

Happy Monday!

My parents didn't take me out to dinner during the Dewey RaT, they waited until Wednesday ;) Tuesday evening saw me at dinner out with BIL and his long-time girlfriend, here from out of town.

I'll be taking a weekend vacation soon but haven't made firm plans yet and other then the gym, I have nothing planned for this week.

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.

A big thank you to Anna at Diary of an Eccentric for hosting in March.... April's host is Cindy's Love of Books (blog link, not post link).


Received for Review:


Giveaway/Contest/Gift:


from Author:


Purchased/delivered:



kindle/ebooks (some titles were free or almost free):
Playing Doctor by Frances Stockton
Ancient Enemies by Matthew Bryan Laube
Forged in Fire by Trish McCallan
Down the Memory Hole by Bonnie Turner
Escape From Mount Moriah by Jack Engelhard
Drew in Blue by J.M. Kelley
My Little Pet Dragon by Scott Gordon
plus other free books





What are you Reading?


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:
Nobody's Safe by Richard Steinberg
Ancient Awakening by Matthew Bryan Laube
Holiday Hideout by Lynette Eason
Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank
Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank


Reading:
Probability of Murder by Ada Madison
A Graceful Death by Ann Summerville
Stay at Home Dead by Jeffrey Allen
The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden

Asgard Park by Ronald Simonar
Murder of a Creped Suzette by Denise Swanson

Started, not actively reading:
list not working! It was supposed to remind me to finish them....


Next up:


Reviewed:
Ancient Awakening


Did Not Finish, may try again later:
Edenville Owls by Robert B. Parker (gave away)



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

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Thoughts on...Ancient Awakening by Matthew Bryan Laube

Based on the description, I was looking for a read-with-the-lights-on kind of book. Instead I got something more like the movie The Frighteners. This is definitely a horror novel but not expecting the comedy part was a disservice to the experience.

I did feel for the three main characters, worried about their survival and cheered when they fought.
Ann, worried about her boyfriend searches the hospital looking for him, he's a doctor there. At first because he's not returning calls, then to give him a piece of her mind and finally to save him from the scary stuff she sees. She whines some and also freaks out, who wouldn't, but she also kicks butt.

Mike, single dad and police officer. Witness to the aftermath of a brutal killing that left the wife gutted, a child- ahem, mostly eaten, and the husband missing, sort of. Injured on a call, he ends up at the same hospital Ann is at.

Joseph, a newly awakened demon hunter. Yes, you read that right. Joseph "wakes up" when the seven do, and hunts them down.

There is plenty of blood, beheadings, shots fired and axes used to make this a great horror book. Add in vampires and werewolves and it should be a sure thing.

Only it wasn't for me. Joseph wakes up not knowing where he is or even what year it is. The first thing he does is get hit by a truck. Which puts him the hospital where the demons are. Great, our very existence depends on a man who doesn't know what a TV or car is and has a broken leg. Yes, an immortal that heals quickly can't seem to fix his leg and spends the rest of the book limping and having trouble with stairs.

While it is true I only gave the book a 'C', I am ready to purchase book two because of the ending, there are a few loose ends and a great twist. Now that I know the comedy part exists, I want to know what happens to Ann, Mike and Joseph. Book 2 is available for the kindle.


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 author and Barnes and Noble


Ancient Awakening
by Matthew Bryan Laube

publisher: CreateSpace
format: Trade Paperback
genre: Horror/comedy
234 pages

available for the kindle


Product Description:
Hell comes home to Jersey.
Seven ancient demons known as the Fallen have awakened in New Jersey after a hundred years. Fortunately for Mike and Ann, so has the one man who can stop them, Joseph Miller.
Trapped in a hospital filled with mythical monsters, only together can they unravel the mystery of the Cursed and escape with not only their lives but their very humanity.

This is the cover of my copy and I like it much better than the cover for the second edition.
copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011

Monday, April 23, 2012

DNF - Edenville Owls by Robert B. Parker

I picked this title for the Spring into Horror read-a-thon based on "There is something evil in the air."

I haven't read any of this author's books, figured if I liked his young adult stuff, there is a chance I'd like his adult stuff. Now I'm not sure.

Just being in middle school is hard enough but this group of boys wants to play basketball, there is no coach and they hitchhike to a lot of their games. Then there is the "just because you say she is your girlfriend doesn't mean she can't be my friend" stuff.

Throw in a strange man and a teacher who "fell down the stairs" and things are getting interesting. The teacher doesn't want the boys to tell anyone what they saw. The man threatened Bobby when he went to check out his car (don't all boys do that?). Except the strange man turns out to be a minister in the next town and he says things to the youth group like...."We were lied to. We were fighting to advance the cause of godless Communism" and calls the President Jewsavelt.

Okay, I can agree that "evil is in the air" but it makes me uncomfortable, I wanted to read some kind of thriller, and since I wasn't really liking the book anyways, I'm giving up.


Description (from author's website):
There is something evil in the air. Fourteen-year-old Bobby senses it. Who is that man he saw arguing with his pretty, new English teacher? And what was the real reason she missed school for days afterward? Bobby knows he should mind his own business, but times are confusing. World War II has just ended and the world is changing. Bobby's world, especially. There's his relationship with Joanie, for one-why does being her friend feel awkward all of a sudden? And then there are his buddies, the junior varsity Edenville Owls-a group of basketball players in need of a leader. Can they help each other off the court as well as they can on it? They will need to. Something evil is in the air.


Book Stats

Title: Edenville Owls
series:
Author: Robert B. Parker
publisher: Philomel
ISBN: 0399246568
ASIN:
(Amazon Standard Identification Number)
date published: April 2007
format: Hardcover
genre: Mystery/Thriller, Teen
pages: 224
ages: Young Adult
Grade: DNF


Challenges it could have counted for:
Spring into Horror RaT
PB&J
Mystery & Suspense
Criminal Plots
Monthly Mix-up Mania
Mt TBR
Spring Reading Thing
...dang



copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Happy Monday!

A link from Dear Author, Cats Imitating Art, some of these are spot on, my favorites will show up on a Purrsday.

50 books! I have more than 50 books listed on my 150+ challenge, only 100 to go. ;)

Read-a-Thon, Read-a-Thon, Read-a-Thon, Read-a-Thon, ....yea, just a little happy to participate in Dewey's 24 hour Read-a-Thon.

Totally wiped from Saturday and Spring into Horror started Sunday!

Another family birthday party :D This one was much more casual with store bought cake and finger foods. I asked if we were coordinating the food and when the answer was no, I said great, maybe we'll all bring brownie bites! I made finger Jello...don't really care for the orange when it is all by itself.

Watching the news at the gym, forgot my music, the Feds are still searching for Etan. Need more info? check out my review of After Etan

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.

A big thank you to Anna at Diary of an Eccentric for hosting in March.... April's host is Cindy's Love of Books (blog link, not post link).


Received for Review:
Adam Orser by Daniel Armand (review date June 20)

Giveaway/Contest:
The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin ~ thanks Heather!
Town in a Blueberry Jam by B. B. Haywood ~ thanks Heather!

from Author:
Rear View Mirror The Contemporary Romance by C. Callinsky

Purchased/delivered:
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Blueberry Hill by Marcia Evanick
Crazy for the Storm by Norman Ollestad
Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke


kindle/ebooks (some titles were free or almost free):
The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan
Odd Jobs by Ben Lieberman
19 Dragons by SM Reine
Fallenwood by Leslie Soule
Chasing Faeries by E.W. Saloka
Feeding Malachi by Abigail Hilton
plus 5+ other free titles






What are you Reading?


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:
The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey
The Christmas Proposition by K.A. Mitchell
Blueberry Hill by Marcia Evanick
Loving the Highlander by Janet Chapman
Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey
Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber (for Dewey's RaT)
The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin (for Dewey's RaT)
The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card (for Dewey's RaT)


Reading:
Probability of Murder by Ada Madison
A Graceful Death by Ann Summerville
Stay at Home Dead by Jeffrey Allen
The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden
Loving the Highlander by Janet Chapman
Just a Little White Lie by Lynnette Hallberg





Started, not actively reading:
list not working! It was supposed to remind me to finish them....


Next up:
finish something I'm currently reading
finish something I started

Reviewed:



Did Not Finish, may try again later:
Dark Peril by Christine Feehan (think I've already read it)



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

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Time to Spring into Horror!

The Spring into Horror RaT started, for me, at 10 p.m. last night. Wish I had worked that out ahead of time, the last book I read for Dewey's RaT could have counted here too ;)

Now don't be alarmed by the word "horror", just read one scary-to-you book then you can read whatever you want!

There is still time to sign up, here, why don't you join us!


~Book Possibilities~
Town in a Blueberry Jam by B.B. Haywood (reading)
Edenville Owls by Robert B. Parker
Code Blood by Kurt Kamm
Unwelcome by Michael Griffo
Asgard Park by Ronald Simonar (reading)
Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Death of a Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis
Double Booked for Murder by Ali Brandon
Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair
Buzz Off! by Hannah Reed (started)
Murder of a Creped Suzette by Denise Swanson (reading)
Mariposa by Greg Bear
Nobody's Safe by Richard Steinberg


There is no way I'll be able to finish all of these but I'd like to read the top two plus one. Last night I was posting upstairs and was ready to start reading again but didn't want to continue the book I had started so I grabbed several books off the shelf and came downstairs. I just added to that pile for this week :D I ended up finishing the one I had started.

~Books Read~
Edenville Owls DNF
Nobody's Safe by Richard Steinberg - espionage, conspiracy
Ancient Awakening by Matthew Bryan Laube - horror, comedy, first in a trilogy
Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank - paranormal romance
Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank - paranormal romance



copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Good Morning and Good Night....and one last mini-challenge


Twitter: @bookdragonslair & #readathon

4:55 a.m.

Whew. Cutting that a little close.

So it's several hours later and the Read-a-Thon is over. But not before I finished my book!

There is one last mini-challenge to do, End of Event

End of event meme–
A Readathon tradition! In your final Readathon post, answer these questions and then link to it with the Mr. Linky, below.
Which hour was most daunting for you?
about hour 12 but it might have been the cat in my lap

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
I did well with The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card. Almost gave up on it but stuck it out until after page 50 and I lost all track of time while reading. But if you don't like fantasy and magic, forget it. Also strong on Mythology.

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
If it's not broke, don't fix it!

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
I didn't go around as much as last time so I only noticed a couple of mini-challenge links that didn't work.

How many books did you read?
3

What were the names of the books you read?
Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber
The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin
The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card

Which book did you enjoy most?
do you really want me to tell you which is a favorite niece/nephew? (ahem, Ice Dragon)

Which did you enjoy least?
:/ same answer

If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
n/a

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
Yes! I'll always be a reader but I'd like to host a mini-challenge and eventually try being a cheerleader


Finished my third book (same number read as last time) but it put my page count over what I did last time so I'm happy.

Finally had my French Dip sandwiches, yummy :)

Didn't eat as much junk food but had more caffeine today then I've had in a while.

I'm glad I didn't FB/FV, make jello or iron after my last post, I wouldn't have had the time to finish my book. I also didn't visit much and did hardly any mini-challenges.

I do think I'll lurk around some during the coming week/s see how everyone did, congratulate some winners, check out your reading lists.

end of event progress:

5 blog posts
2 links
20ish visits (some duplicated blogs)
919 pages
3 books finished
three chores ;)
Breakfast
Lunch
Nap
another nap
Dinner
a couple of snacks
I even worked on my tan for a while ;)


Good Morning and Good Night! See you in October


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Dewey's Read-a-Thon Check-in: Progress Report 2


Twitter: @bookdragonslair & #readathon


10:20 p.m. It's hours from now and I haven't done much. Stretched out in the recliner and the cat curled up in my lap. Dang, down for the count!

since I last posted.....

Commented about a library memory (after the challenge closed)

Finished The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin

Had a snack of Red Onion Dip from Knott's Berry Farm with some Wheat Thins

Had a nice nap with the cat ;)

Started laundry :/

Started The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card

played FarmVille

Tweeted

Did a "Finished Reading" post for both books

Game Plan:
I think I'm going to do another finger Jello for tomorrow and start a different book. Too bad I didn't get the other two Hunger Games books out of storage :(

Be back in several hours.




Progress:

4 blog posts
1 link
14 visits (some duplicated blogs)
464 pages
2 books finished
three chores ;)
Breakfast
Lunch
Nap
another nap


Happy Reading!




copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Dewey's Read-a-Thon Check-in: Progress Report


Twitter: @bookdragonslair & #readathon


12:10 p.m. Streeeeetch ;)

Not quite ready to get up mentally but apparently it's time.

Grabbed a soda and started visiting before doing any reading.

Lunch was Tuna with tomato and shredded carrot plus a banana and Root Beer. Yummy but tuna does have a distinctive odor which the husband noticed when he walked in the house after shopping. Sweetheart that he is, he went by himself for supplies and cards for tomorrow plus a treat for me for later tonight. :)

4:30 p.m. Finished my first book!

I'll complete a "Finished Reading" post, rough out a review and start a load of laundry before taking a break. Then I'll visit readers, check out the mini-challenges before starting the next book.

The next post should be a mini-challenge or hours from now.


Progress:

3 blog post
1 link
11 visits (some duplicated blogs)
387 pages
1 book finished
two chores ;)
Breakfast
Lunch
Nap


Happy Reading!




copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Dewey's Read-a-Thon Check-in: Hour 3


Twitter: @bookdragonslair & #readathon


Still awake!

5 a.m. found me cooking breakfast then reading Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber. So far I've eaten breakfast, emptied then loaded the dishwasher and visited some blogs.

Whew!

What is in store at the RaT's blog?

Hour One: Introductory Questionnaire (cute kitty!)
1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
West Coast, USA
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to?
That would have been Dragondrums (I started/finished it before we even started!)
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
French Dip sandwich and strawberries
4) Tell us a little something about yourself!
I'm a hermit that likes to party
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?
Not eat as much junk food and drink more water.


Hour Two: TWO mini-challenges!
Reading in Translation at Reading Through Life.
If I could read any book that has been translated into English IN IT'S ORIGINAL LANGUAGE what would it be?
~ it would help if I could read a second language! That being said....the Bible. I'm sure if I gave this some serious thought I could come up with a more mainstream favorite but I'm tired already and I would like to be able to do this.
Introductory Meme hosted by us! check.
Hour Three: Book Puzzle
passing on this one, my brain is not fully engaged! Hope to visit some of the other puzzles later



Progress:

1 blog post
1 link
4 visits
88 pages
two chores ;)


Not bad. See you after my nap.

Happy Reading!








# blog visits: 4 (which includes the official blog)


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Dewey - aaaand we're off!


Yawn.

Oh, sorry, it's 5 a.m. here!

Actually, it's Friday morning {blush} but I'm thinking about the read-a-thon, making a game plan for the day.

There will be a family party Sunday afternoon and I need to bring food, that has to be made ahead of time. Dang we need cards too....adding to grocery list.....wondering if my parents are going to take me out to dinner again (birthday). That happened last year :D

I started a good book for the read-a-thon but didn't put it down and finished it. Started Dark Peril by Christine Feehan too, :/ can I wait?

I'm going for page count here even if I don't finish 3 books so I guess I could read Under the Dome, wonder if I could do it without breaks? It has been known to happen

Several books are in a storage unit so I'd better get cracking or part of my reading day will be spent going through boxes.

Hope to do several challenges again this year.

Be back later (once I'm awake), hoping I'll have a picture of snackage and books.

Happy Reading,

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



Twitter: @bookdragonslair & #readathon


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Counting down to . . . .


Too excited to sleep, sort of. My sleep pattern is all messed up and I've been sleeping while you're at work. So what to do about a Read-a-Thon that starts at my bedtime? Stay up and read!

I have a small platform on my desk where my laptop lives. Earlier today it had a pile of books on it when my husband came into the room. He laughed a bit that I even had books piles where the computer goes. I said it was my read-a-thon pile, I was taking a picture. "No way are you going to get all that read," well, no but I'm hoping I can do 800 pages which is slightly more that last time. "Oh, you can do that easy." Isn't he great?


The funny thing about me and reading plans....I don't always follow them! This may look like a great selection but it doesn't mean that I'm going to get any of them read!

Oh, wait a minute, I already read one of them ;)


~Possibilities~
Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister
Paranormalcy
The Book Lover
Edenville Owls
The Christmas Shoppe
Adam Orser
Pathfinder
The Lost Gate
Mariposa
Dakota Born
Dragondrums, finished before RaT even started!
The Probability of Murder
Devil's Food Cake Murder
Stay at Home Dead


Two are re-reads, five have been started recently, two are books for review, one was a gift, most are for challenges and several are young adult or middle grades.

Goals:
1. read more than 757 pages.
2. do 4 mini-challenges
3. complete "Finished Reading" posts for books read.
4. Complete reviews if I finished the two review books.
5. Take a break to make finger jello for party


Not bad considering I've already been up (with a short nap) for over 12 hours. I didn't get all my errands done and may have to do a couple later today.

I think I'm going to have a blogroll just for RaT blogs. Not all of them of course but several, especially the ones I already follow.

Are you excited? See you in a couple of hours!


Twitter: @bookdragonslair & #readathon


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Terrific Tuesday

Stay at Home Dead and A Graceful Death

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?

The dead man in the backseat of my minivan wore a T-shirt that read "It's not a beer belly. It's a fuel tank for a sex machine."
...
"Daddy, who's the man in my car?" Carly asked, leaning over in the shopping cart to get a better look through the window.

Stay at Home Dead
Jeffrey Allen

I didn't want to type out the description of the fat man or the wound but loved the 4th paragraph. :D



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!


“This will be our home for a while,” she said to Daisy. “You’ll love having your own garden.”

Along the pathway spring flowers bloomed. They waved in the wind beckoning Giovanna. She pictured her Aunt opening the door and welcoming her with slender arms. Those arms that hugged her, protected her, loved her. But Aunt Grace was dead.

As she removed the key from her pocket and inserted it into the door, a loud crash came from inside the house. She froze.

A Graceful Death
Lowenna Series
by Ann Summerville


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Monday, April 16, 2012

Happy Monday!

I've been super busy with Book Monster's Pick Your Thon.

Went to the gym and I want to go on record.....I hate my personal trainer.....seriously, he worked me hard but my thighs still hurt two days later...having trouble sitting and standing up again....well, walking too ;) It wasn't until Friday that I could do stairs without pain

Just as well I was so busy reading

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.

A big thank you to Anna at Diary of an Eccentric for hosting in March.... April's host is Cindy's Love of Books (blog link, not post link).


Received for Review:

Giveaway:

from Author:


Purchased/delivered:
O_o

kindle/ebooks (some titles were free or almost free):
15+ free
The Last Letter by Kathleen Shoop
Duct Tape Bags
Land with no Sun: A Year in Vietnam With the 173rd Airborne by Ted G. Arthurs
A Week at the Beach by Virginia Jewel
Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker
Catnapped by A. M. Knott & Illustrated by Danielle Sellers




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:
Splash and Elegance by Gabrielle Evans
Quinn by R. C. Ryan
Protecting the Princess by Rachelle McCalla
Hiss of Death by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie
Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The 4 Phase Man by Richard Steinberg


Reading:
Probability of Murder by Ada Madison
Quinn
Hiss of Death

A Graceful Death by Ann Summerville
Stay at Home Dead by Jeffrey Allen
The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
The Book Lover by Maryann McFadden






Started, not actively reading:
The Priest and the Peaches
Fairytale by Maggie Shayne
Dating Mr. December by Phillipa Ashley
A Place to Die by Dorothy James
Before I Fall
52 Small Changes
Redwall
Always
The Eighty Dollar Champion
Murder on Monday

Next up:


Reviewed:
Quinn


Did Not Finish, may try again later:
A Sheetcake Named Desire (not a problem with the book but with the printing....some of the pages are missing ink!)


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

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Pick Your Thon Wrap-up










Wrap Up
How did you do?


This is scheduled and I've been adding to it through the week. I don't know if The Book Monsters will have wrap-up post requirements or not. If they do, I'll just write another post ;)


Books read (goal 3):
Pieces of a Rainbow (4-8)
Splash and Elegance by Gabrielle Evans (4-9)
Protecting the Princess by Rachelle McCalla (4-9)
Quinn by R. C. Ryan (4-9)
Hiss of Death by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown (4-12)
Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey (4-12)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (4-13)
The 4 Phase Man by Richard Steinberg (4-14)
wow, 1,919 pages!
plus on page 77 of The Gardner Heist by Ulrich Boser
edited: It's closing in on midnight....I'm on page 155 of The Gardner Heist

Reviews Posted (goal 2):
Pieces of a Rainbow
Quinn

Mini-Challenges:
1. draft review posts. yes (The Gardner Heist, Adam Orser, The Book Lover)
2. Cast your characters. yes
3. ??
4. Redesign a book cover. no
5. Book recommendations. yes
6. Reading Challenges/NetGalley. yes


Non-read/review goals:
1. update the progress I've made on challenges. yes
2. Change around my blog roll. no
3. Read something from my TBR pile instead of brand new purchases. yes (The Hunger Games & The Gardner Heist)
4.
5.
6.


Original Book List:
anything on my Read but not Reviewed list
anything on my Started ... Finish & Review list
Harper trilogy (Pern)
The Lost Gate
....

At least I read the first book in the Harper trilogy



and through it all I was able to post my (semi-)regular posts on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

That was fun! See you next time.


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Pick Your Thon Mini Challenge #6



Reading Challenges


Emily at Red House Books talks about NetGalley Read-a-Thons. Explains the w's of it and how to join. For this mini-challenge....
To participate in today's mini-challenge, simply leave us a comment either telling us about other 2012 challenges that you are participating in, or if you use Netgalley, give us a quick helpful tip / trick that you use when requesting books or organizing them.



1. Other 2012 challenges that you are participation in
ahem, my 2012 challenge page is here. Between review books and reading challenges, I'm having a hard time re-reading the books I love. Every year I've said "no more" then find another challenge that would be fun.

This is the second read-a-thon I've done this year plus I'm signed-up for two more and another is planned for October.

There are five romance related challenges alone and the best part are the words "challenge overlaps allowed".

Yes, I participate in reading challenges. It's a love/hate thing for me. One, I don't have the time to re-read my favorites but, two, I find so much to enjoy that I wouldn't have read on my own.


2. Do I use NetGalley
Yes, but not recently. I have a hard time using the reading program and reading the books before they expire. No tips or tricks, I've gotten every book I asked for and one I didn't. Because of the time factor, I've stopped asking for them.


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Friday, April 13, 2012

Pick Your Thon Mini Challenge #5



Book Recommendations


Kate has fallen behind in her reading and has asked for help....

For your mini-challenge today, I am looking for some book recommendations. It can come in the form of stand alones, series, a book you read yesterday or even years ago. The sky is the limit.

To complete the mini-challenge, create a post or leave a comment giving us your top 5 (or more if you have it) books/series guaranteed to please.

Books I still think about...books I'm rushing to get the next one.....books I read again and again


Quinn by R. C. Ryan
Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas
Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas
Stephanie Laurens: Devil's Bride (Cynster series), The Lady Chosen (Bastion Club)
The Quick and the Dead by Amanda Lee
Curiosity Thrilled the Cat by Sofie Kelly
Eyewall by H.W. "Buzz" Bernard
A Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas
Cookie Dough or Die by Virginia Lowell
Mistaken Identity by Don & Susie Van Ryn, Colleen Nowell, Whitney Cerak with Mark Tabb
Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz
The Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (finally read it today....Book 2 tomorrow)
Tamora Pierce: Wild Magic, First Test, Alanna (first books in series)


Whether this will stay my "top 5" I don't know, but this is what I got right now. Just realize, what I love you may not but it's a place to start

edited to add:
The 4 Phase Man by Richard Steinberg
Greg Iles: Dead Sleep, 24 Hours, Blood Memory



copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

ALA's Top ten most frequently challenge books....


2011's Top Ten Most
Frequently Challenged Books


Last year, Lee Wind at I'm Here. I'm Queer. What the Hell do I read? has asked us to join him in reading the American Library Association's Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books for 2010. (see my post here.)

I had already read two books from the list and I'm happy to say that I finally read something else. Hunger Games.

Now, it's time to read something off 2011's list.....



1. ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: offensive language; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

2. The Color of Earth (series), by Kim Dong Hwa
Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

3. The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: anti-ethnic; anti-family; insensitivity; offensive language; occult/satanic; violence

4. My Mom's Having A Baby! A Kid's Month-by-Month Guide to Pregnancy, by Dori Hillestad Butler
Reasons: nudity; sex education; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: offensive language; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit; unsuited to age group

6. Alice (series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Reasons: nudity; offensive language; religious viewpoint

7. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: insensitivity; nudity; racism; religious viewpoint; sexually explicit

8. What My Mother Doesn't Know, by Sonya Sones
Reasons: nudity; offensive language; sexually explicit

9. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily Von Ziegesar
Reasons: drugs; offensive language; sexually explicit

10. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Reasons: offensive language; racism


#3: I own all three books and have recently read Hunger Games

#5: Purchased because it was on 2010's list, on my TBR list

#7 & #10: Own both, both on my TBR list for this year.

Have you read any of these? Planning on it?


Finally! I've read another and can consider this one complete. Doesn't mean I won't read another one, just that the pressure is off.

Read: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

~Challenge Complete~
October 1

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Pick Your Thon Update










Happy Friday
How are you doing?



Update on where my posts/plans are.....

Goal 1: Read three books

Pieces of a Rainbow (4-8)
Splash and Elegance by Gabrielle Evans (4-9)
Protecting the Princess by Rachelle McCalla (4-9)
Quinn by R. C. Ryan (4-9)



Go me! All were started after the beginning of Pick Your Thon. Wonder how many others I can finish? (reading Hiss of Death, The Probability of Murder and Dragonsong)

Hiss of Death by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown (4-12)
Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey (4-12)


Goal 2: Post two reviews...not scheduled but posted and the one scheduled for this week doesn't count!


Pieces of a Rainbow (posted Wed)
Quinn (posted Mon)









Mission accomplished.

wait

Mini-challenges?

1. (here) gather info for three reviews and create at draft post for each
2. Cast Your Character. check.
3. ???
4. Book covers? no

Be back for a wrap-up on Sunday


Original plan (with changes):
Sunday: Happy Easter...a funny & Ready, Set, Go
Monday: Mailbox Monday & What are you reading?, review of Quinn
Tuesday: Teaser & 1st Paragraph PLUS Mini-Challenge post
Wednesday: review of Liver Let Die, review of Pieces of a Rainbow, Mini-Challenge #2
Thursday: Purr-sday plus
Friday: Update
Saturday:
Sunday: RaT wrap-up

Books on my list:
anything on my Read but not Reviewed list
anything on my Started ... Finish & Review list
Harper trilogy (Pern)
The Lost Gate
....
Yeah, that worked! Read four books by Monday night and none of them were on the list


I also need to update the progress I've made on challenges. check

Change around my blog roll. nope, too busy reading

Read something from my TBR pile instead of brand new purchases. yeah....about that....Pieces of a Rainbow wasn't a just purchased book....does that count? Started A Grateful Death...on my shelf since April 2011.


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Purr-sday plus

Thursday is a busy place! Purr-sday and Cat Thursday are self-explanatory and so is Third Sentence Thursday but Thursday Three? It's a love/hate thing ;)


a place to share the cute/funny/weird pictures I find while surfing....when I should be doing a whole range of things ;)







Someone has an actual meme for "Cat Thursday" so head over to The True Book Addict and see who else is sharing.








Hosted at Proud Book Nerd
1. Take the book you are currently reading and post the third sentence.
2. Share your thoughts on the sentence.
3. Post a link to your blog post in the link list. If you don’t have a blog, just leave it in the comments here.
4. Visit one or two of the other blogs to check out their third sentence.


It gave him time to speak to every man who could keep rhythm and pitch, and they all give him the same answer.
Thoughts: What is the answer? What was the question?

This is an old favorite and while the dead must have a song, it isn't a girl's proper place to sing it. She does :)


Hosted at Book Obsessed
Take your current read, or book you previously finished, and tell me the following 3 things about it.
1. Character from the book you LOVE (This can be a character you want as your BFF or someone you want to take home to meet the parents)
2. Character from the book you HATE (This character does not have to be the villian, just someone you disliked)
3. Your overall LOVE/HATE of the book. (If you haven't decided your feelings for the book yet, or if you prefer, just provide a snippet from the book containing either the word "LOVE" or "HATE")
and, where the story is located for those of us doing the 50 States challenge. ;)

1. Cheyenne, the female lead. Smart, strong, beautiful
2. Austin. Too slick
3. grade B+ Loved it - Share with your friends and hope you get it back

Quinn by R. C. Ryan. This story takes place in Wyoming and is a western romance


~*~*~*~

Now, on to the pictures......


off to meet a lover!

I'd love a nook like this! I think the whole wall would be bookshelves with knick-knacks or a least a half shelf with artwork above.


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Pick Your Thon Mini Challenge #2



Cast Your Character
Mini Challenge #2


I like to watch movies but I don't usually remember who anyone is. :(

I went to google and while my main character is in her 20's, I searched for actresses in their 30's. Yahoo had a wonderful article about sexy actresses in their 30's so I checked out images and came up with ..... Penelope Cruz




She's a little older than my main character and her coloring is different but she has the strong, sexy, independent vibe going for her. Plus, I've seen her as a blond and it works.











My main character lost her mother when she was little. Grew up on a cattle ranch in Wyoming with her older brother and father. Her idolizes her older brother and they were friends. She even followed him to university. He died two years ago in a car accident.

Her father died last year in a freak ranch accident when his ATV rolled on top of him while looking for stranded cattle. He froze to death.

Cheyenne has grown up in the rough, male dominated, world of cattle ranching. Even the cook is male (and a good friend). She's had to continue running things after her fathers death and now there are unexplained fires. First her house, then a neighbors barn, her bunkhouse then she's kidnapped and the cabin she's held in catches fire.



Sure she had help but she had to be confident enough to be boss, make the hard decisions of life and death. I can totally see her in this role.
That was fun! Thanks Heather.

Dang, forgot to tell you which book!

Quinn by R. C. Ryan

The Truth Can Be an Irresistible Temptation . . .

As a young boy, Quinn Conway was shattered by his mother's mysterious disappearance. Today, as the oldest of the Conway brothers, his only concern is protecting his family and their ranch. One look at beautiful, strong-willed Cheyenne O'Brien tells him she's also no stranger to tragedy. A series of increasingly dangerous "accidents" are plaguing her and her land, and Quinn can't stand idly by while a woman is in danger. Fiercely independent, Cheyenne isn't one to lean on others, yet she can't deny her attraction to the rugged rancher offering help. Soon, the passion building between them proves as wild and untamed as the land she loves-and just as impossible to resist. But a relentless enemy is about to make one final devastating move. To survive, Quinn and Cheyenne must put their cherished freedom-and their hearts-at risk . . .

my review




copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on...Pieces of a Rainbow

Not sure of my thoughts on this one.

Each story feels like a diary. You don't get the whole picture, just pieces. I can tell you that Mystic Purple and Forever Blue were my favorites but that may be because I didn't have to think deeply. They were more lighthearted than the others, still thought provoking, just more lighthearted.
Love is like the ocean.

The ocean is so wide and deep, no one really knows its limits. That’s just like love. If you jump in, you don’t know if you’re going to fall in too deep, or if you’ll ever come out alive.
then later....
They never saw each other again, although Jeremy often thought of her when he thought of the sea.


Most of them are sad even if there is a sort of happy ending. Except Seeing Red. That one was a tearjerker. I think this one will be with me a while.


Disclaimer: This title was free at amazon, maybe it still is. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of amazon


Pieces of a Rainbow
by Maria Savva

publisher: Rose and Freedom Books
format: ebook (also Trade paperback)
genre: fiction, short story collection
150 pages


Product Description:
A collection of seven short stories, each one based on a different colour of the rainbow. You will find a full spectrum of emotions within the stories. Some are sad, some uplifting. There are not always happy endings, but the tales reflect the real world, and the forces of nature at work in our lives; sometimes beyond our control. The stories are diverse in style, and the characters, although fictional, are true-to-life. There is something for everyone in this inspired collection.
copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on...Liver Let Die by Liz Lipperman

I had high hopes for this book but it took me just over a week to read it. The writing was nice and I loved the storyline. It's just that I knew a key piece of information very early (which doesn't usually happen) plus, there were places that felt like a cheesy horror movie....you know, when the actor goes to do something that you know will end up badly. I really wanted to shake some sense into Jordan.

I may be a little harsh, after all the author did engage me with a great cast of characters. There was a twist I didn't see coming and didn't feel rushed at the end. I'll still be handing this one off but will have no problem picking up the next in the series.


Disclaimer: I purchased this title for myself. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of author and publisher


Liver Let Die
A Clueless Cook Mystery
by Liz Lipperman


publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery
ISBN: 978-0425244043
date published: October 2011
format: Mass Market Paperback
genre: Cozy Mystery
pages: 264 plus recipes
ages: 18+
Grade: C


Product Description:
Jordan McAllister dreams of becoming a popular sports columnist but gets stuck in a po-dunk town writing personal ads for a small time newspaper. When she's offered a chance to fill in for a local food critic off on sick leave, she jumps at the chance rationalizing that it's one step closer to her dream. However, when a dead body is found underneath her apartment stairwell with her name and number along with it, she becomes the prime suspect, as well as the main course on the murder menu.
Challenges

150+
One Million Pages
Cruisin' thru the Cozies
Mystery & Suspense
Off the Shelf
Mt. TBR
Foodies
What an Animal
Where are you Reading? (Texas)
Read & Review
Cozy Mystery

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Terrific Tuesday

Princess in Peril

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?

The royal motorcade lurched to an unexpected stop. Her Royal Highness Princess Isabelle of Lydia glanced at Levi Grenaldo, her recently appointed bodyguard, expecting him to make some reassuring gesture that would indicate nothing was amiss.

He didn’t look her way. In the silvery sheen of his mirrored sunglasses, Isabelle saw only the rear bumper of her brother’s limousine sitting still on the road in front of them. The seconds ticked by and they sat, unmoving, in the narrow streets of Sardis, Lydia’s capital city.

Princess in Peril
Rachelle McCalla





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!

dang, WordPress is not letting me post comments

Isabelle rubbed her temples, the whole ugly mess making her head throb. “I need to sort out how the generals were involved. My father trusted them. How could all three of them betray his trust?”

Levi’s hand covered hers. “I’m afraid your research will show you more than you ever wanted to see of the potential for evil in the human heart.”

Princess in Peril
Rachelle McCalla


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Monday, April 9, 2012

Pick Your Thon Mini Challenge

This is not a new idea. Pieces are from experience, others from Bloggiesta.

Getting Your Review Post Ready

Book reviewing is fun but the "paperwork" can be a real drag. I started off with a notebook and a sheet for each book received. That was nice for a while, put it's hard to put an electronic note in a physical notebook.

I'm on the computer....most of the information is on the computer....how do I take advantage of this?

Most of the books have been organized (which would be a whole post, or two, by itself) but there was still the pesky stuff needed before a review could be posted. Things like, publisher, ISBN, number of pages.... Stuff that could be gathered ahead of time, stuff I was writing in my notebook, stuff that could be looked up once AND ENTERED INTO A DRAFT POSTING!

I have blogger and am able to schedule posts years in advance. My post is saved as a draft with a far off date so it always shows up at the top. Waiting for me to fill in my thoughts and hit publish.

I wanted a more uniform look to my reviews. I played around with what information I'd like to tell you and how I wanted things to look and started typing.

The post "Thoughts on...title by author" is saved as a draft to be copied and then pasted into a new post for each review. There is a generic picture where the cover goes. A listing of possible labels. The general layout is ready for whatever info I have. I put "Title", formatted how I wanted the title to look with size and color, where I wanted it to go. Don't forget the FTC declaration. It's all ready to go, including reminders to myself.

It is wonderful to be able to fill in my thoughts on a book and hit publish without having to look up publishing details.

The Mini Challenge is this.....

Complete three drafts of books you'll be reviewing
AND
write a post about the experience
(if you already do something similar, tell us what you do to keep on top of your reviews)


Reward? You mean besides the satisfaction of a job well done? ;-) You'll get an extra name in the pot for Book of Choice at The Book Monsters!



I guess it should start off with....Do you have a uniform format for your book reviews? Even if your reviews look different, do you often include the same information? Seeing the draft at the top of my listings is also a great reminder that I haven't gotten the review posted yet.

Now, back to why we do this...











copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2012

Thoughts on...Quinn by R. C. Ryan

Sometimes I pick up a book simply because I like the cover. Isn't that what the publishers want? A cover/title that catches your attention?

Quinn....perfect title for an A to Z Reading Challenge and I've found two of them. The other was the middle book in a trilogy and this one was the first in a series.

Sexy cowboy? Spy?

New to me author? Favorite?

The deciding point came down to.... I needed to read a western this year. It doesn't hurt that this one sound just right for the mood I was in. ;-)

Book finished. Disappointed? Yes.

WAIT..... disappointed because the next book doesn't come out until October! ...wiping my brow that I don't have to wait until next year...

Quinn caught my attention at the prologue and didn't want to let go. How best to tell you about it?

The brothers have been wondering around their ranch and the neighboring countryside when they come across a den of wolf cubs. No mother? Play time! Have you seen a litter of puppies and small boys playing? Same thing. Sigh, only when the boys leave to go home, excitedly talking about the fun they had with the cubs, glad they had seen the mother coming back, wishing their mother would, they hear gunshots.

Racing back to the den, they find the rancher who owns that area with a shotgun, having just done what ranchers have done for years. Once he leaves the boys bury the mother and cubs before heading home themselves.

I know the rancher was protecting his cattle but I ached for the boys. Reading more, hoping I'd learn about their mother, chapter one starts with the boys all grown up. And, wow, have they grown up!

Quinn is now a wolf researcher, studying a pack for the last five years. When the alpha is shot by a rancher, he's no boy to stand by and marches to avenge the wolf.

So, um, romance novel right? So, yeah, the rancher is female. Strong, smart, beautiful, stubborn.

They face off, sort it out, get to know each other, ahem, what's with the fire? Another one?

I know ranching can be hard but there seems to be an unusual amount of bad luck at Cheyenne's ranch.

And old foe? New suspects? Nice twist! Rescue and happy ever after. No spoiler, romance novel, remember? Don't they always have a HEA?

I absolutely love Quinn's family and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Josh. He does search and rescue and is the man to call when other efforts fail.


Disclaimer: This title is from my personal library. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and may differ from yours. Book information courtesy of publisher.


Quinn
by R. C. Ryan

publisher: Grand Central Publishing
series: Wyoming Sky
format: Mass Market Paperback
genre: romance, western
319 pages
age range: 16+

Grade: B+


Product Description:
The Truth Can Be an Irresistible Temptation . . .

As a young boy, Quinn Conway was shattered by his mother's mysterious disappearance. Today, as the oldest of the Conway brothers, his only concern is protecting his family and their ranch. One look at beautiful, strong-willed Cheyenne O'Brien tells him she's also no stranger to tragedy. A series of increasingly dangerous "accidents" are plaguing her and her land, and Quinn can't stand idly by while a woman is in danger. Fiercely independent, Cheyenne isn't one to lean on others, yet she can't deny her attraction to the rugged rancher offering help. Soon, the passion building between them proves as wild and untamed as the land she loves-and just as impossible to resist. But a relentless enemy is about to make one final devastating move. To survive, Quinn and Cheyenne must put their cherished freedom-and their hearts-at risk . . .

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2011
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.