Time for a Frightfall Reading experience

It's a read-a-thon so you know I'd be there :-) I'm thankful to Melissa for posting her starting line, I was almost last to the party!

Official Time

Monday, September 30 at 12:00am EST

thru

Sunday, October 6 at 11:59pm EST

for me? Sunday, 9 p.m. to Sunday 8:59 p.m.

I missed the sign-up post so when you're ready to start reading, head to the starting line post and sign-up. We want to know what you're reading!

Read-a-Thon Twitter: #FrightFall
Me: @bookdragonslair

This is a week long fest of scary reading (well, at least one scary book anyway).  All you have to do to participate is read at least one horror/scary book.  For the faint-hearted among you, it can be a spooky mystery, a scary thriller, or something classically gothic.  Children's books are also allowed. It's not so much about the quantity of our reading, but the quality, right? But...if this read-a-thon helps you to mark a bunch of books off your TBR pile, so be it! No mini-challenges but there will be a big giveaway at the end.  And we will have a few scheduled Twitter chats again.

Here's the Twitter chat schedule:

• Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:00pm CST 
• Friday from 9:00 to 10:00pm CST 
• Saturday from 9:00 to 10:00pm CST 
• Sunday from 1:00 to 2:00pm CST 

Dang it, I was reading last night! Let's see if I can remember. . . yes!

Books I'd like to read this week

Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae (started before RaT)
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Hiding Place by David Bell (this will be my scary book)
Werewolf in the North Woods by Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Arrangement by Mary Balogh
What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries

okay, that's a good starting point

Books Read

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Reading Challenges for 2014

2014 Challenges

links to previous challenges . . .

2009 :: 2010 :: 2011 :  2012 :: 2013

Just until January, link to 2015 Challenges, here

It's only June and silly me, trying to control next year's reading. But only because this year's is so out of control! I'm a sucker for a RC or RaT and it looks like I should skip all of them (not happening) or go crazy again. ;-)

Crazy it is!

Yeah, that's right, I'm posting about next year's challenges in September! You'll notice I could have posted in June ;-) There is no way for me to control this, only herd it into some sort of order. There is still the problem with July's health issues continuing to mess up my reading/posting but I have bloggers for inspiration and real-world incentives for making this work.

The plan right now is to post about the challenges I'd like to do but only add the ones to this post that I official join (link up to). {edit 11-5: yeah, that worked . . NOT!}

I have no idea if this format will work for you or me, or how long it last before I redo the whole thing.



Off-Topic
Wear it or Toss it ~ shoes . . . over
Fitness Minutes/Mileage ~ here
New Year's Resolution ~ here

Possible Read-a-Thons, did I forget any?

Jan: Winter's Respite (Jan 27 - Feb 2) my post ~ hosted at Seasons of Reading
Jan:  Bout of Books 9.0 (Jan 6 - Jan 12)
Feb: Monster Review-a-Thon ~ hosted at The Book Monsters
Feb: VA-VA-VOOM read-a-thon ~ my post
Feb: Wicked Valentine's (Feb 7 - 17) ~ my post
Feb: Love for Books (Feb 17 - 23) ~
Mar: Clean Out Your eReader ~
Mar: March Madness ~ at Cedar Station, try it next year?
Mar: Spring into a Good Book (Mar 20 - 26) ~ my post
Apr: Pick-Your-Thon ~ hosted at The Book Monsters
Apr: Dewey's 24-hour (Apr 26) ~ here
Apr: Spring into Horror (Apr 28 - May 4) my post ~ hosted at Seasons of Reading
May: Clean Sweep/ARCs ~ hosted here and here
May: Bout of Books (May 12 - May 18) - my post ~ hosted here
Jun: Library Books (Jun 6 - 16) (Rachael Turns Pages)
Jun: Summer Library Books (Jun 16 - 22) hosted at The Book Monsters 
Jul: Once Upon a
Jul: Wicked Wildfire (Jul 14-24) ~ hosted at My Shelf Confessions
Jul: High Summer (Jul 21 - 27) - my post ~ hosted at Seasons of Reading
Aug: Bout of Books ~ hosted here
Aug: Summer Wrap-up 
Aug: Monster Review-a-Thon ~ hosted at The Book Monsters
Aug: Dog Days of Summer ~ hosted at The Estella Society
Aug: ARC August
Aug: Beat the Heat (Aug 11-Sep 1) - my post ~ hosted here and here
Oct: Wonderfully Wicked (Oct 17 - Oct 27) - my post ~ 
Oct: Dewey's 24-Hour ~ here
Oct: Frightfall ~ hosted at Seasons of Reading
Nov: Ho Ho Ho Holiday ~ host by two blogs, here and here
Dec: Christmas Spirit - here ~

Seasonal, not Read-a-Thons

~*~ open ones ~*~

2014's Christmas Spirit (to Jan 6) - here ~
Come Sit a Spell (Sep 22 - Dec 20) - here ~  
COYER (Dec 20 - Mar 6) - here ~

~*~ over ~*~

Cozy Mystery Week (Dec 8 - 13) - here ~ . . . over  
Thankfully Reading Weekend (Nov 27-30) - here ~ . . . over 
Chill Baby, Chill (to Mar 20) - here ~ . . . over
Christmas Spirit (to Jan 6) - here ~ . . . over
Fall into Reading - here ~
Gothic September - here ~ . . . over
Once Upon a Time - here ~ Mar 21 - Jun 21 . . . over
R.I.P. (Aug 29 - Oct 31) - here ~ . . . over
R.I.P. group read - here ~ discussion Oct 1 ~ . . . over
The Sci-Fi Experience (to Jan 31) - here ~  . . . over 
Sequel Spring - here ~ Mar 20 - Jun 20  . . . over
Spooktacular Paranormal (Oct) - here ~ . . . over
Spring Mini-Challenge (Apr) - here ~ four tasks and/or spell out a word/s  . . . over
Spring into a Good Book - here ~ . . . over



Perpetual/Multi-Year Challenges
101 Fantasy Project ~ 101 books in 10 years from 8-15-13
Non-Fiction Adventure ~ 50 books in 5 years from 8-10-13
Monthly Mix-up Mania ~ 74 books in 2 years to 3-31-15 (need: Y, Y, Y) 
My other Perpetual Challenges, here


Keeping track of all of them
Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks, Jan - Apr - May - Aug  Oct - Dec ~
Several together  - here  page two  page three  page four  page five page six page seven ~

• Number of Books ~ 200 books (counting all of them) . . . challenge completed
• Pages Read ~ 50,000 pages
• GoodReads ~ 200 books

Page Requirement
Men in Uniform, here ~ 16+ books over 100 pages . . . challenge completed
Outdo Yourself, here   page two  page three ~ 6-10 more books than 2013, over 100 pages
 . . . moved up a level, 16+ more books . . . challenge completed . . . page four
Quick Fix, here ~ 30 books under 300 pages . . . challenge completed
In the Middle, here ~ 300-450 pages . . . challenge completed
Mammoth, with Chunkster Reads ~ 6 books over 450 pages
Chunky, with Chunkster Reads ~ 12 books over 450 pages
Chunkster Reads, here ~ 6 books over 500 pages


I Love My Library . . . ~ here and here ~

• I Love Library Books
• Summer Library Challenge at The Book Monsters . . . over
• Library Books Read-a-Thon (Jun 6 - 16) . . . over
• Summer Library Read-a-Thon (Jun 16 - 22) . . . over

Location, Location, Location . . . ~*~ Location ~*~
State by State
Where are You Reading?



To-be-Read Pile . . . ~*~ TBR page ~*~
(purchased prior to 1-1-14, pre-orders okay)
Double Dog Dare ~ 3 months read only from your TBR pile or library requests from 2013
TBR Pile ~ First Kiss, 21-30 books
Mount TBR ~ 12 books, maybe 36
The Rewind Challenge ~ 12 books published before 1-1-14, reviews too!
Dusty/Buying Ban ~ 12 books owned before 1-1-13 (that's right 2013)
Dusty/Buying Ban ~ no print purchases except pre-orders for as long as possible . . . challenge completed


All Things Paranormal . . . ~*~ here ~*~
Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling Read-a-Long (starts Dec 15) . . . challenge completed
Ethereal (Feb 1, 2014 - Feb 28, 2015)
Shifter . . . challenge completed
Fur and Fangs
Witches and Witchcraft


Love is in the Air . . . ~*~ here ~*~
Contemporary ~ 10 books
Romantic Suspense ~ 10 books
The Romance Challenge ~ 5 books with reviews
Historical ~ 12 books with reviews
Erotica ~ 12 books with reviews
M/M ~ Surprise Me! . . . page two   page three  page four  page five  page six  

Challenges Attempting . . . some new, some repeats

A to Z (titles) - here ~ 26 books (need: Q, X)
and Alphabet Soup (need: Q, X)

ARC/Review Pile - here ~ 11-20 reviews (then move up a level)

Book Bingo - here ~ 55 books

Cloud of Witnesses - here ~

Color Coded - here ~ 9 books

Cruisin' thru the Cozies - here ~ 6 books 

Dystopia ~ here - 1 - 6 books 

Eclectic ~ here - 12 books

eBooks - here - part two - part three ~ 100 books . . . challenge completed . . . part four  part five 
eBooks, Read Your Freebies! - here ~ 24 to start 

Foodies Read - here ~ 4 - 8 with reviews

Full House - here ~ 25 with reviews 

Getting to Know You - here ~ 4 books per month

Jumble Your Genres ~ here - a specific genre each month

The Mad Reviewer ~ here - 12 reviews minimum

Meet the Protagonist - here ~ 8 books . . . challenge completed

Mind Voyages - here ~ 9 books 

Monthly Key Words - here ~ 12 books

New-to-Me Authors - here ~ 15 new to me authors with reviews

Nonfiction - here ~ 6-10 books

Perpetual Challenges - here ~ read at least one book for each challenge, overlaps encouraged

Picture Books - here ~ 

Pre-Printing Press - here ~ (unable to sign up :-( don't have a google+ profile)

Read it Again, Sam - here ~ 8 re-reads :-)

Reading Challenge Addict - here ~ 16+ challenges

Reading Outside the Box (The Cheap Reader) - here ~ 25 comfort zones
Reading Outside the Box (Musings) - here ~ 3 - 4 books with reviews

Real Books (print books only) - here ~ 41 - 50 books . . . 50+ books

What an Animal - here ~ 13 animal related  . . . challenge completed

What's in a Name - here ~ 5 books specific title requirements . . . challenge completed

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Happy Monday

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

Thank you to the summer's hosts:
Jun ~ Bellezza at Dolce Bellezza
Jul ~ Tasha at Book Obsessed
Aug ~ Penelope at The Reading Fever

September's host is Yolanda at Notorious Spinks Talks

and me in October ... I'm so excited!

Received for Review:


Giveaway/Contest/Gift:


from Author:


Purchased/delivered:
Getty Rowdy by Lori Foster
Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery
365 Slow Cooker Suppers by Stephanie O'Dea (and a blog)
Just a Cowboy and His Baby by Carolyn Brown
Always on My Mind by Jill Shalvis



added to my ereader: (kindle app, html, etc.)
Onward! by Brook Kreder (Marathon training) 
Six Times a Charm (Paranormal Romance bundle)


Also went shopping through the free section, added a bunch then clicked Pin It
(still not finished pinning all of them)

Current Library books at the house:
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae
Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich
Eat & Run by Scott Jurek (read, need to make notes)
The Girl Who Played Go by Sa Shan
The Sky is Everywhere by jandy Nelson
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Tower at Stony Wood by Patricia McKillip
Town in a Lobster Stew by B.B. Haywood
A Werewolf in the North Woods by Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Arrangement by Mary Balogh
The Boy Who made Dragonfly by Tony HIllerman
The Hard Way by Lee Child
One Shot by Lee Child

 
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!


Finished:

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Quinn's Hart by Cassandra Gold
Animal Instincts by Kim Alan
Male Seeking Male by Kathleen Lee
Mission: X by Kim Alan
One Shot by Lee Child
The Hard Way by Lee Child
Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery
Candy and the Cankersaur by  Jason Sandberg


Books stacked by my reading chair:
What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries
The Reluctant Santa by Sylvia McDaniel
Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae
While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo
Pegasus by Kate O'Hearn
Dragonwriter edited by Todd McCaffrey
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 
. . . and about 16 other unread library books



Next up:
Cat and the Lady Killer by Lisa Orchard
Finding the Voice Inside You by Jill Birth
The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club by Duncan Whitehead
The Weight of Deeds by Eli Thorpe
Howard's Gift by Eric C. Sinoway with Merill Meadow
The Holder's Dominion by Genese Davis




Reviewed:
Candy and the Cankersaur by  Jason Sandberg ~ review



Did Not Finish, may try again later:



Happy Reading!

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Candy and the Cankersaur by Jason Sandberg (#192)

Fun and colorful, playful with a message. I really liked Candy, didn't like the neighbor boy, Chucky (he's not nice but really, Chucky?), wanted to slap the Dad upside the head.

This is a children's book so I am happy to report there was a happy ending.

Candy's dad travels all over the world and always brings home a new toy for her but when she wants to play with her Dad he sends her outside. Chucky pesters his parents for a larger and cooler version of the same toy.

Mister Wellington loved his daughter very much, but he’d forgotten that having fun was more important than having things. He decided Candy needed an amazing, spectacular and fantastic pet for companionship.

Chucky is so jealous of Candy's new pet he sells it to the circus only to realize he just wants her attention. He didn't want to hurt her.

I liked watching Candy train her Cankersaur to be a good pet. I like the lesson her dad and Chucky both learned. The Cankersaur finally learns rule #1 and when he can break it. There is even a lesson for us to learn. Candy decides to train her cankersaur to be a good pet. Too many times the pet comes home and the training doesn't happen.

The quote above is all the words on a page but each page has this many words. I don't believe it will be a quick read for the younger children but the pictures are great and they could make up stories with you.

This is a book I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinion expressed is mine. Book details and synopsis are from the publisher or amazon.


Candy and the Cankersaur
Jason Sandberg
978-0615655796
Jason Sandberg June 2012
32 pages
ebook (kindle, nook, kobo and iTunes)
age range: picture book, 4-8?


fiction, dinosaurs
source: author (in exchange for an honest review)


Grade: C
This is the sweet and funny tale of a young girl named Candy and her Cankersaurus Rex! Candy receives a dinosaur as a gift and is determined to train him to be a good pet.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

I should pass on this but what the heck! Let's . . .

You've got all month and there are several levels. This isn't a food/craft challenge only, it's all about finding something on Pinterest and trying it out.

sign ups are here, also more about the challenge and levels.

Twitter: #PinitDoit

I'm going for Timid Pinner and hope to get at least one pin complete, but am going for three.

{quick edit: link here after you post about a project. Don't forget to visit everyone else!}

These flowers are made with book pages. She's also made them with felt and used 3-5 as the bow on a gift. I usually cringe when I see book crafts but I can't of at least one book I don't like that I could use for this :-)

More info and instructions here











What are you going to do?

edited to add more. . .

Melted Snowman Ornament

Suncatcher

Ribbon Wreath

Brown Sugar Softener

Chicken Crescent Rolls (scroll down)

Flaky Appetizer Cream Cheese Biscuits

Mug Cinnamon Roll Cake

Pumpkin Sugar Cookie

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

The Unicorn Princess by Babette Cole (#172)

What horse/pony-crazy girl wouldn't like to be a Unicorn Princess? I can already see parents in an uproar over the magic used to fight the evil Devlipeds. No, that isn't a misspelling but based on my introduction it could very well have had the other spelling.

I would have loved this book as a child, lovingly kept it with the rest of my horse books. The are four books in the series now, I would have had them all. And lucky me, my parents had no problem buying me books.

Penny's parents can't afford the riding lessons that Penny so desires (she's not an only child) but has no problem with Penny working at the stable in trade for lessons. Too bad she's so good. Her instructor tells her about a boarding school where she could really shine!

Wait a minute. Penny's parents can't afford riding lessons, how are they going to afford boarding school? Penny qualifies for a scholarship and off she goes.

Everyone is great, except for three students. Three full-pay students with wealthy parents, multiple ponies and bad attitudes. In short, spoiled-rotten, rich bullies. The head mistress would love to kick them out but their fees are what is keeping the school afloat! Dang it.

To make matters worse, the three kids are willing to work with the Devlipeds.

I loved the relationship between Penny and everyone at the school, ghosts included, and am hoping the library has the rest of the series. . . they do! I'm a happy camper.

The opinion expressed is mine. Offered purely to tell you about a book I checked out of the library. Book details and synopsis are from the publisher or the back of the book. Except for the page numbers, that came directly from the copy I read.

The Unicorn Princess
Fetlocks Hall #1
Babette Cole
9780747599319
Bloomsbury Press 
October 2010
149 pages, illustrated
paperback
Age range: 7-10
 
fiction, horse/pony related, magic, unicorns
source: public library


Grade: B

"It's not the usual kind of pony school, you know, Penny," said Bunty Bevan. "It's . . . well, how can I explain . . . other-worldly?"

Pony-mad Penny Simms is overjoyed when she wins a place at the pony school Fetlocks Hall. Now she can learn everything about horses! Penny soon finds out that she also has the chance to acquire secret knowledge about horses and discover the magical unicorn world of Equitopia. Penny's arrival at Fetlocks Hall is very timely - is she the Unicorn Princess whose appearance is predicted by the King of the Unicorns? Can she overcome the sinister threat from the Devilpeds and save the unicorns and the pony world?

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Happy Monday

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

Thank you to the summer's hosts:
Jun ~ Bellezza at Dolce Bellezza
Jul ~ Tasha at Book Obsessed
Aug ~ Penelope at The Reading Fever

September's host is Yolanda at Notorious Spinks Talks

and me in October ... I'm so excited!

Received for Review:


Giveaway/Contest/Gift:


from Author:


Purchased/delivered:
Sometimes a Rogue by Mary Jo Putney
Mistletoe Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
Woof at the Door by Laura Morrigan
How to Date a Dragon by Ashlyn Chase
Dark Lycan by Christine Feehan
The Hiding Place by David Bell



added to my ereader: (kindle app, html, etc.)
One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown
Call Me Sir, Boy! by Kim Dare
Once a Brat by Kim Dare
Squeaky Clean by Kim Dare


Also went shopping through the free section, added a bunch then clicked Pin It
(still not finished pinning all of them)

Current Library books at the house:
Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas
The Enemy by Lee Child
Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae
A Race like no Other by Liz Robbins 
While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo
Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich
Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich
Dick Francis's Refusal by Felix Francis
Eat & Run by Scott Jurek (read, need to make notes)
The Girl Who Played Go by Sa Shan
Posted to Death by Dean James
The Sky is Everywhere by jandy Nelson
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
The Tower at Stony Wood by Patricia McKillip
Town in a Lobster Stew by B.B. Haywood
A Werewolf in the North Woods by Vicki Lewis Thompson
The Unicorn Princess by Babette Cole
The Enemy by Lee Child

 
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!


Finished:

Lucky in Love by Carolyn Brown
Love Drunk Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
Red's Hot Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
One Hot Cowboy Wedding by Carolyn Brown
The Unicorn Princess by Babette Cole
The Enemy by Lee Child
Mistletoe and Submission by Kim Dare
Call Me Sir, Boy! by Kim Dare 
Once a Brat by Kim Dare
Squeaky Clean by Kim Dare
Under One Roof by Diana DeRicci
Flack Jacket Love by Sean Michael
With a Kiss by Kim Dare


Books stacked by my reading chair:
What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries
The Reluctant Santa by Sylvia McDaniel
Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae
The Enemy by Lee Child
While My Pretty One Knits by Anne Canadeo
Pegasus by Kate O'Hearn
Dragonwriter edited by Todd McCaffrey
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 
. . . and about nine? other unread library books



Next up:
Cat and the Lady Killer by Lisa Orchard
Finding the Voice Inside You by Jill Birth
The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club by Duncan Whitehead
The Weight of Deeds by Eli Thorpe
Howard's Gift by Eric C. Sinoway with Merill Meadow
The Holder's Dominion by Genese Davis
. . . plus two waiting for me at the library



Reviewed:




Did Not Finish, may try again later:



Happy Reading!

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Romance isn't just for us girls

M/M Romance

Reading Challenge

2013

hosted at Walkabout, sign up here

continued from here

I was going to read ONLY 40 m/m romance books.

Didn't work.

I had 40 read by July 30 and 80 read by Sep 10. Now I'm wondering just how many I'll read for the year. . .

~Books Read~

81. Safe Words by Jodi Payne & Chris Owen 
82. Mistletoe and Submission by Kim Dare 
83. Call Me Sir, Boy! by Kim Dare 
84. Once a Brat by Kim Dare
85. Squeaky Clean by Kim Dare
86. Under One Roof by Diana DeRicci
87. Flack Jacket Love by Sean Michael
88. Handcuffs and Leather by Kim Dare
89. Building Sandcastles by Carol Lynne
90. Packing Leather by Kim Dare
91. With a Kiss by Kim Dare
92. Animal Instincts by Kim Alan
93. Male Seeking Male by Kathleen Lee
94. Mission: X by Kim Alan
95. Quinn's Hart by Cassandra Gold
96. Jaynell's Wolf by Amber Kell
97. Journey to Hope by J.P. Bowie
98. Str8te Boys by Evangeline Anderson
99. Teammates by M. Durango
100. Hunter’s Hunt by Chris T. Kat
101. Pour Me a Triple By Sean Michael
102. Saddles and Memories by Bailey Bradford
103. Dragon's Heart by Stephani Hecht
104. Bar None, anthology
105. Truth or Lie by Lynn Lorenz
106. Soldier Mine by Amber Kell
107. Duke Betrayed by Amber Kell
108. Hidden Passions by Emma Holly
109. The Case of the Wicked Wolf by Amber Kell, RJ Scott
110. The Case of the Dragon's Dilemma by Amber Kell, RJ Scott
111. The Case of the Sinful Santa by Amber Kell, RJ Scott
112. Breaking Point by N. R. Walker
113. Flipped by Olivia Brynn
114. Attracting Anthony by Amber Kell
115. Baiting Ben by Amber Kell
116. Trials of Tam by Amber Kell
117. Courting Calvin by Amber Kell
118. Denying Dare by Amber Kell
119. Enticing Elliot by Amber Kell
120. Finding Farro by Amber Kell
121. Getting Gabe by Amber Kell
122. Hunting Henry by Amber Kell
123. Inflaming Inno by Amber Kell
124. Judging Jager by Amber Kell
125. Keeping Kylen by Amber Kell
126. Broken Boundaries by Evangeline Anderson
127. Amethyst Moon by Ann Mayburn
128. Christmas of White by Devon Rhodes
129. Kevin's Alpha by Amber Kell
130. Fences & Freedom by Bailey Bradford
131. Unconventional in Atlanta, Anthology
132. Wicked Gift by Sean Michael
133. Post Traumatic Tendencies by Azza Mitchell
134. Fingerprints and Muddy Feet by Carol Lynne
135. The One that Got Away by TC Blue
136. Falling by M. L. Rhodes
137. Velvet Song by Sean Michael
138. The Night Before Thanksgiving by M. Durango
139. Home for the Hollandaise by Julia Talbot, BA Tortuga
140. Trials of Tam by Amber Kell

~ I have now read 100 books more than I had planned! ~

141. Lessons for Lewis by Amber Kell
142. How I Met Your Father by L. B. Gregg
143. A Little Bite of Magic by M.J. O'Shea
144. A Collar for Christmas by A.E. Lawless
145. Grey's Hidden Fire by Draven St. James
146. Last Chance by Viki Lyn
147. Fire and Mistletoe by Draven St. James
148. Beautiful Disaster by Willa Okati

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Tackle Your TBR pile Read-a-Thon Wrap-up

The Tackle Your TBR Read-a-Thon

Wrap-Up

Thank you to our hosts:

 Colorimetry and Tressa’s Wishful Endings

Sign up here

Twitter: #TackleTBR

Goals: Read two books that count for Gothic September (they will also count for RIP), read two library books. Yes, 13th Tale counts for all three.

Results: I had a massive amount of books to choose from and two weeks to complete my goals. Did I do it?

No.

Wait. No? Just what the heck was I doing?

Well, I was reading. . . I got 17 books read (4,571 pages!), let's see how many are from my TBR shelf. . .

~ Books from my TBR shelf ~

Heart Search by Robin D. Owens
The Dragon Egg by Michael Yu
Darn Good Cowboy Christmas by Carolyn Brown
Lucky in Love by Carolyn Brown

and library books . . .
The Unicorn Princess by Babette Cole
The Enemy by Lee Child


Did I get anything read from my goal list?

Well, two library books read out of 19 checked out. I also started reading The Hound of the Baskervilles that I can finish before the month is over. I'm just excited I got Heart Search read, I bought it in July 2011!  

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Don't tell me what my kids can't read

Protect your freedom to read whatever the heck you want! Maybe I'm preaching to the choir with this. So be it, I'll just add one more voice, one more head shaking, one more confused look. WHY would you want to tell me what my kids can't read? You don't want your kids reading something? Fine. Just don't get your nose in my business. The one that really confuses me are the administers that listen to one (or a couple) or loud voices and remove a book, here's the kicker, without reading it. Wait a minute. You're not even going to read more than the paragraph the complaint is about?

...stepping off my soapbox, sort of ...

The ALA says, 

A challenge is defined as a formal, written complaint, filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. The number of challenges reflects only incidents reported. We estimate that for every reported challenge, four or five remain unreported. Therefore, we do not claim comprehensiveness in recording challenges.

So how many reports are not reported? How many children have been robbed of a good read because of a couple of complaints?

The ALA does banned books week up pretty good and this year they're having a twitter party! Use #bannedbooksweek, read more about it here.

Top Ten Challenged Books - 2012

American Library Association

Out of 464 challenges as reported by the Office for Intellectual Freedom

1. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey.
   Reasons: Offensive language, unsuited for age group
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie.
   Reasons: Offensive language, racism, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
3. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher.
   Reasons: Drugs/alcohol/smoking, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited for age group
4. Fifty Shades of Grey, by E. L. James.
   Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
5. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson.
   Reasons: Homosexuality, unsuited for age group
6. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini.
   Reasons: Homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit
7. Looking for Alaska, by John Green.
   Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group
8. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
   Reasons: Unsuited for age group, violence
9. The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls
   Reasons: Offensive language, sexually explicit
10. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
    Reasons: Sexually explicit, religious viewpoint, violence

My thoughts on the list.

1. My kids were above this reading level by the time I saw this one in their school library so I didn't bother reading the series.

2. review/thoughts here

3. Suicide? Hard subject, maybe this will be the one I read this year.

4. Nope, no way! Subject matter has nothing to do with this one, I didn't like Twilight, why should I read a book that started out as Twilight FanFic? Besides, based on reviews, I've read much better written books on BDSM - The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty anyone?

5. review/thoughts here and here

6. hasn't come across my radar

7. no interest in reading this one

8. I haven't read them but when a 5th grader who usually checks out nothing, or car magazines, brings this to me to check out I'm not going to ask questions. Hey, the kid is reading!

9.  I recently added this one to my wish list

10. no interest is reading this one


Other posts that may interest you:
(all from my blog)

and Tango Makes Three, here and here

Perks of being a Wallflower, here and here

10,000 Dresses, here and here

Are you there God? It's me, Margaret, here

James and the Giant Peach, here (with a rant) and here

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, here

Links and a review of Bookbanning in America: Who bans books? And Why?

2011 post on my censorship, here

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Fall into Reading Kick-off post

Fall into Reading

September 22 to December 22

hosted by Sandra at The Musings of a Book Addict
filling in for Katrina at Callapidder Days

Sign ups and more information are coming soon (Sunday?). 


I was looking and looking before I remember Sandra did the Spring Reading Thing. Here's hoping all is well with Katrina.

Goals

• 2 review books
• 2 library books
• 2 TBR books (pre-2013) - from the pile, not the list
• 2 non-fiction
• 2 challenge specific books
• 2 new purchases (I'd like these to be over 100 pages)
• 2 from the stack next to my chair  
• 2 "up next"

Specific books I'm hoping to read

• What the Duke Desires
• Candy and the Cankersaur. yes
• Sugar Daddy
• The Thirteenth Tale
• Split Second
• The Reluctant Santa by Sylvia McDaniel
• Dragonwriter edited by Todd McCaffrey
• The Weight of Deeds by Eli Thorpe
• The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club by Duncan Whitehead

. . . still thinking

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

The Enemy by Lee Child (#173)

My SIL doesn't read quite as much as I do but was very excited about a series she was reading. I had heard of it but hadn't read any of them but she mentioned it over several visits (she isn't local). Then the announcement about the movie comes and she's still talking about the books.

I bit.

I'm now reading the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. I started at the beginning and am currently on #8. So far I know this about each book.

1. Someone is going to die
2. Reacher, not Jack, will investigate
3. Someone will want it covered up
4. Reacher will get even and figure out what happened
5. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it

I started Wednesday and the only reason I didn't finish very early Thursday morning is I needed to go see my Mom. Trust me, I would have finished it and then gone to bed otherwise. In The Enemy, Reacher is still in the military and yes, someone has died. Four someones actually but the first one looks to be of natural causes and the second was his wife (not natural causes).  Reacher has a man in handcuffs that he is questioning but I don't want to tell you his name. I just really liked this part. . . .

[name] didn't move. He sat absolutely still. He was hunched way forward, with his wrists fastened to the chair down near his knees. I sat still too. I wasn't sure what to do. Our own Delta guys were trained to resist interrogation. I knew that. They were trained to counter drugs and beatings and sensory deprivation and anything else anyone could think of. Their instructors were encouraged to employ hands-on training methods. So I couldn't even imagine what [name] had been through, in five years with the GRU. There was nothing much I could do to him. I wasn't above smacking people around. But I figured this guy wouldn't say a word even if I disassembled him limb by limb.

So I moved on to traditional policing techniques. Lies, and bribery.

The Soviet GRU was a kind of cross between a military police corps and Delta Force so I'm reading along wondering what Reacher will need to do to break this guy. There is so much left of the book but he seems perfect for it. Number 1 has already happened and I think there are more to come. Number 2 is in the works but remember number 3? Yeah, his direct boss is all about PR and "the big picture", "the Army must look good" so the over the top gay bashing was just a training accident. Poor guy's head was hit when his jeep fell on it while he was changing a tire.

back to reading. . . .

and for the Back to School challenge. . . US snipers are right-handed because of the way the rifle is built. Sounds right, how to I check if this is fact.

not good words to read...

...it was still a bad decision.

off to continue reading to find out just how bad of a decision it was. . .

This one had twists on top of twists. Spots of panic, never Reacher of course, just me. There were tears and satisfaction. I'm so glad I've got the next in the series in the house :-)

Dang, I need to read a couple of others first but One Shot is waiting for me

The opinion expressed is mine. Offered purely to tell you about a book I checked out of the library. Book details and synopsis are from the publisher. Except for the page numbers, that came directly from the copy I read.

The Enemy
Jack Reacher
Lee Child
978-0385336673
Delacorte Press - Random House
May 2004
393 pages
hardcover (ebook, audio, paperback, large print)
Age range: high school
 
Military related Mystery/Thriller
source: public library

finished reading: September 20
Grade: B+

Jack Reacher. Hero. Loner. Soldier. Soldier’s son. An elite military cop, he was one of the army’s brightest stars. But in every cop’s life there is one case that changes everything. For Jack Reacher, this is that case.

New Year’s Day, 1990. In a North Carolina motel, a two-star general is found dead. His briefcase is missing. Nobody knows what was in it. Within minutes Reacher has his orders: Control the situation. Within hours the general’s wife is murdered. Then the dominoes really start to fall.

Somewhere inside the vast worldwide fortress that is the U.S. Army, Reacher is being set up as a fall guy with the worst enemies a man can have. But Reacher won’t quit. He’s fighting a new kind of war–against an enemy he didn’t know he had. And against a conspiracy more chilling, ingenious, and treacherous than anyone could have guessed.

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013

Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery (#83)

We met Felicia in the previous Fool's Gold novel but it isn't necessary to read it first. Felicia is beautiful and wicked smart. Reading at two and mixing chemicals at four smart. I've got a couple passages of the book for you. Just know this is a happy-ever-after romance and I cried. Of course, the road isn't easy, Felicia has a history with Gideon and Gideon has nightmares and other troubles from his days in the military. The town comes through for him too.

"I don't understand," Felicia whispered. "You want me to be in charge of the festivals?"

"Yes," the mayor said firmly.

"But they're important to the town. I know you have other industries, but I would guess that tourism is your main source of income. The university and the hospital would be the largest employers, but the visitors are the real money."

The town of Fool's Gold puts on at least one festival a month, several more during the winter holidays. Vendors come and set up booths, there is music and parades. The best ones are several days long and fill up the hotel rooms and the bed & breakfast places. Felicia spent several years doing logistics for black ops missions but she grew up in a university setting, spending most of her time in a lab since she was four-year-old. Felicia just doesn't have the social/people skills she thinks she needs to pull off the job.

As an introduction to the town, she missed work because of a sick child and forgot to schedule the workers needed to decorate for one of the festivals. In a manner of hours, people poured into town to help with banners, ribbons, planter boxes and water dishes (it was the Dog Days of Summer Festival) and everything was back on schedule. This town support is important later. . .

She leaned against the counter and told herself that everything would be fine. She was strong and capable and she had a support system. As soon as her friends found out what had happened, the would surround her with love and encouragement. And, most likely, casseroles.

We've met several characters that I'm sure will have books and I'm sure I'll be purchasing them all but I'm really looking forward to Consuelo's story and crossing my fingers that she gets one.

The next book comes out in July and I've already ordered it.
 

Two of a Kind
Fool's Gold
Susan Mallery
978-0373777686
Harlequin
June 2013 (6-25-13)
379 pages
mass market paperback (ebook, audio)
Age range: high school
 
Romance
source: private library

finished reading: June 27
Grade: A

Felicia Swift never dreamed she'd hear a deep, sexy voice from her past in tiny Fool's Gold, California. The last time Gideon Boylan whispered in her ear was half a world away…on the morning after the hottest night of her life. Her freaky smarts have limited her close friendships, and romance, but she came to Fool's Gold looking for ordinary. Gorgeous, brooding Gideon is anything but that.

Black Ops taught Gideon that love could be deadly. Now he pretends to fit in while keeping everyone at arm's length. Felicia wants more than he can give—a home, family, love—but she has a lot to learn about men…and Gideon needs to be the man to teach her.

As these two misfits discover that passion isn't the only thing they have in common, they just might figure out that two of a kind should never be split apart.

~*~*~

Challenges this counts towards:
150+
Where are you reading
Outdo Yourself
Library Books Read-a-Thon
In the Middle

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2013