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!)

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

ebook RC part 5


eBook Reading Challenge
2014

hosted at Workaday Reads

For more information and to sign up, click here

Basic Requirements: Any length, any genre but only ebooks count for this one. There are seven levels to choose from. I chose "Human Brain" last year (2013) and made it in November. I'm hoping to read more from my print tbr shelf so I'm not doing that again. I'm going for . . . Server . . . and hope to read 100 ebooks during 2014. I can always move up a level :-)

Moving up a level to . . . Human Brain . . . because it looks like I'll be reading more than 150 ebooks during 2014. . . . book #151 finished on June 4, now I'm just keeping track of titles.


continued from part 4 


~ Books Read ~
152. Defeated by Love by Samantha Kane
153. International Kittens of Mystery by Chris Dolley
154. Not Safe for Work by Michael S. Booker
155. Dark Prince by Christine Feehan
156. Dark Desire by Christine Feehan
157. The Suitor by Mary Balogh
158. Taken by Two by April Andrews
159. Captured by Three by April Andrews
160. Chased by Four by April Andrews
161. WBI: Witches Bureau of Investigation by Richard Capwell
162. The Wicked Wallflower by Maya Rodale
163. Wallflower Gone Wild by Maya Rodale
164. Liam's Unexpected Alpha by Alice Cain
165. Aiden's Accidental Beta by Alice Cain
166. Cody's Eternal Sheriff by Alice Cain
167. The Mormon and the Dom by Nix Knox
168. Arlo's Epiphany by Jane Oldaker
169. Fight for Love by Samantha Kane
170. Brian's Mate by Hollis Shiloh
171. Dark Horse by Kate Sherwood
172. Out of the Darkness by Kate Sherwood
173. Worth Waiting For by Kim Dare
174. Another Six Months Later by Kim Dare
175. Worth a Shot by Kim Dare
176. The Cop and the Criminal by Nix Knox
177. Diomedes by Amber Kell
178. Mate Hunt by Amber Kell
179. Mate Test by Amber Kell
180. Mate Dance by Amber Kell
181. Mate Healer by Amber Kell
182. On Fire by Drew Zachary
183. Bodyguard to a Sex God by RJ Scott
184. Three's Company by N. R. Walker
185. The Ex Factor by RJ Scott
186. Dragon's Lair by Pelaam
187. Forbidden Waters by L. M. Brown
188. Family Connections by N.J. Nielsen
189. Dark Nights and Headlights by Bailey Bradford 
190. Bitter Creek's Redemption by T. A. Chase
191. Broncs and Bullies by Bailey Bradford
192. The Cat Who Spied on Me by Jane Oldaker
193. Blinding Light by Renae Kaye
194. Catching Eagle's Eye by Samantha Cayto
195. A Bid for Love by T. D. McKinney & Terry Wylis
196. On the Green by Nicole Dennis
197. Liam's Unexpected Alpha by Alice Cain
198. Aiden's Accidental Beta by Alice Cain
199. Cody's Eternal Sheriff by Alice Cain
200. Losing Sight Of The Target by T. A. Chase





copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Review: For All Time by Jude Deveraux

For All Time
A Nantucket Brides Novel
by Jude Deveraux

Ballantine Books
978-0345541826
currently in stores
hardcover, ebook, CD audio, audible audio
Romance
400 pages

Grade: A

author's website

GoodReads

from GoodReads:
The wedding of Alix Madsen and Jared Montgomery is a glorious affair at an elegant little chapel in the woods, followed by dinner and dancing, all while moonlight blankets the festivities in a romantic glow. While most guests are fixed on the happy couple, Jared’s cousin Graydon can’t look away from a bridesmaid, Toby Wyndam. It’s not just her quiet beauty that enthralls him or the way she makes him laugh. Toby possesses the truly remarkable ability of being able to distinguish Graydon from his identical twin brother, Rory. According to family legend, such a gift marks her as Graydon’s True Love.

But Graydon knows there is no possible way that they can ever be together, for he is heir to the Lanconian throne and is to marry a noble woman who has been chosen for him. Yet, intrigued by Toby, he asks her to help him hide on Nantucket for a week away from regal responsibilities. In exchange, he’ll assist her with planning acclaimed novelist Victoria Madsen’s lavish wedding. Since they both know their union is impossible, the pair promises that they will never be more than just friends.

But there’s more going on between Graydon and Toby than her unique power to tell him apart from his twin. At work are forces beyond their control, which are ruled by time itself. Combine that with the magical island of Nantucket, and a seductive spell is cast over Graydon and Toby. If they are to be together, they must change what once was, as well as what will be.

~ My Thoughts ~
This is book two of a trilogy and brings back the Taggert/Montgomery families. It was nice to see familiar people while being introduced to new characters (of course, now I want to go back and re-read the series). Disclaimer: I loved book one! ;-)

Book one of the trilogy was True Love and ends with the wedding of Alix Madsen and Jared Montgomery. I tell you this because For All Time starts at the wedding. There is a little bit at the end of book one where we were introduced to Jarad's cousins Graydon and his twin but I haven't read enough yet to know how it is brought up in book two.

off to read . . . .

I forgot to mention there were places where the characters of book one spent time in the past. This is NOT a paranormal but some of the characters spent time at a significant event in the past that helped with the current time. Oh, I guess that's the "magical" part spoken of above.

Now I'm off to read . . .

Have you ever wanted to re-read a book you just put down? I was going to be all funny and say something about the sun coming up but I'm still sniffling.

The story stands as a complete and satisfying story all on its own. Yes there are overlaps from book one. The story doesn't quite end yet it does and I can see the beginning of book three. The only thing you need to know, and it is mentioned several times, is that the woman who can tell the twins apart is the woman he should marry. In a previous novel the twins had won "most alike" awards but the girl could still tell one from the other and she didn't know he had a twin!

There were lots of "I've got to tell them that" places but some of them would have been spoilers and as I have an uncorrected proof, I've been asked not to quote without checking the published work.

So what can I tell you? Well. . . . . it's Jude Deveraux. It's the next generation of the Taggert and Montgomery families. Royalty is involved. So is a virgin main character. Poor Toby goes back in time several times and has sex with Grayson but she spends most of the book as a virgin. um, was that a spoiler? ;-)

This is a case of both characters being who'd you want your children to marry. Heck, you'd want your children to be them. They are fun, caring, responsible, loyal and honorable. Both of them putting the needs of others before themselves. I've fallen in love with the characters and Nantucket,  I"m adding this series to my list of fictional places I'd like to live. Yes I know there really is a Nantucket but the real life island doesn't have the families on it.

I'm very disappointed that I have to wait for the next book.


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 GoodReads and Barnes and Noble.


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Monday, July 21, 2014

Beat the Heat Read-a-Thon

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

High Summer Read-a-Thon!


High Summer Read-a-Thon
July 21 - July 27

Challenge runs from Midnight to 11:59 CST

Michelle at The True Book Addict brings us the High Summer read-a-thon. There is a dedicated blog for her RaTs and lots of information on the Guidelines tab but basically she wants us to spend a "week of relaxed reading during which we can personally challenge ourselves and whittle away those ever looming TBR piles/shelves/libraries."

I've got a couple of books to finish and review but other than that, I don't know what I'll be reading this week. I'll update here then do a wrap-up.

Hope you can join us!

twitter: #HSreadathon
me: @bookdragonslair


~ Books to Read ~
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Hard Way by Cathi Stoler

~ Books Read ~
  1. The Wicked Wallflower by Maya Rodale (384 pages) - tweet
  2. Wallflower Gone Wild by Maya Rodale (389 pages) - tweet
  3. Liam's Unexpected Alpha by Alice Cain (140 pages)
  4. Aiden's Accidental Beta by Alice Cain  (128 pages)
  5. Cody's Eternal Sheriff by Alice Cain (142 pages)
  6. The Mormon and the Dom by Nix Knox (233 pages) - tweet
  7. Arlo's Epiphany by Jane Oldaker (35 pages) - tweet
  8. Fight for Love by Samantha Kane (207 pages) - tweet
  9. Brian's Mate by Hollis Shiloh (118 pages)
  10.  

~ Pages Read: 1,776 ~
O_o



~ Wrap-Up ~

I didn't finish book ten but I did read 157 pages (out of 370) of it. Dang, that would have put me over 2,000 pages!

sigh, that's okay, I had a wonderful time at the live children's theater production that my daughter was involved in.

See you next summer for the High Summer Read-a-Thon but check in to see what's up next.

Happy Reading

copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Saturday, July 19, 2014

delayed review . . . Spotlight on The Hard Way by Cathi Stoler

The Hard Way
by Cathi Stoler

Camel Press
April 2014
978-1603819497
ebook, paperback
mystery & crime
280 pages

author's website - blog - Twitter - Facebook

GoodReads

About the Book
Private Investigator Helen McCorkendale’s childhood friend, Jimmy Scanlan, has just opened January, the most lavish casino and hotel resort on the Las Vegas Strip. After attending the grand opening, Helen returns to New York and encourages her friend, Laurel Imperiole, Senior Editor at Women Now magazine, to create a get-away contest for readers offering a weekend at the hotel as the grand prize. The winner, Dawn Chapman, a jewelry store employee from Cincinnati, denies entering the contest and initially refuses the trip. Finally persuaded by Laurel to accept, she arrives at the hotel and nearly faints when she passes the hotel’s elite meeting rooms where the International Diamond Dealers Consortium is holding its annual meeting. She insists on returning home immediately.

Suspicious of her behavior, Jimmy visits her suite to encourage her to attend the Saturday afternoon pool party, saying she can leave on his private jet the next day. Later in the afternoon, he finds Chapman’s dead body by the pool. She’s been murdered—an unusual double poisoning by cyanide and diamond dust.

Dawn Chapman was not who she appeared to be, and therein lies a mystery. But to Helen and Laurel, the main task is to take Jimmy Scanlon off the suspect list and clear his name. Will their luck hold? Or will it be a crap shoot, as they roll the dice and do it ‘the hard way,’ going for doubles when the odds are against them. Losing may mean losing their lives.

About the Author

Cathi Stoler’s mysteries feature PI Helen McCorkendale and magazine editor, Laurel Imperiole. The Hard Way is the third book in the series. The first, Telling Lies, took on the subject of stolen Nazi art. Book 2, Keeping Secrets, delved into the subject of hidden identity. Stoler’s short stories include: “Magda,” in the Criminal Element Anthology Malfeasance Occasional: Girl Trouble, “Out of Luck,” in the Anthology, Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices, “Fatal Flaw,” a finalist for the Derringer for Best Short Story and “Money Never Sleeps” both published at Beat to A Pulp. Cathi is working on a novella, Nick of Time, which features International gambler, Nick Donahue. She is also starting a new series, Bar None, A Murder On The Rocks Mystery, with female bar owner, Jude Dillane. Cathi is a member of the New York/Tri State chapter of Sisters In Crime. She is also a member of Mystery Writers of America.


Check out the book tour blog to find others who are reading/have read The Hard Way and to enter a giveaway!





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 Tribute Books


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Happy Summer, see you this Fall :-)


well, I may be back early September but I'm taking July and August off. There may be read-a-thon posts or reviews but not any of the other stuff I do.

I've got plans to read, I don't believe I'd ever give that up, but I'm going to spend more time getting healthier and relaxing. And I'll update my challenges with whatever reading I get done.

At least that's the current plans ;-)

Have a great summer, and. . .

Happy Reading,

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






copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2014
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.