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, October 3, 2016

Happy Monday - September edition




Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.  ;-)

Don't forget to link up your list




~ The newest review book in my house ~


~ The newest books in my house ~
The Survivor by Vince Flynn
Mitch Rapp, 2016, mass market paperback

When Joe “Rick” Rickman, a former golden boy of the CIA, steals a massive amount of the Agency’s most classified documents in an elaborately masterminded betrayal of his country, CIA director Irene Kennedy has no choice but to send her most dangerous weapon after him: elite covert operative Mitch Rapp.

Rapp quickly dispatches the traitor, but Rickman proves to be a deadly threat to America even from beyond the grave. Eliminating Rickman didn’t solve all of the CIA’s problems—in fact, mysterious tip-offs are appearing all over the world, linking to the potentially devastating data that Rickman managed to store somewhere only he knew.

It’s a deadly race to the finish as both the Pakistanis and the Americans search desperately for Rickman’s accomplices, and for the confidential documents they are slowly leaking to the world. To save his country from being held hostage to a country set on becoming the world’s newest nuclear superpower, Mitch Rapp must outrun, out think, and outgun his deadliest enemies yet.

Aesop's Fables by Aesop
Fables, 1994, trade paperback

While scholars are uncertain about the identity of Aesop or whether he was even an actual person, there is no doubt that the stories originally collected under his name over 2,000 years ago in Greece are among the world's most beloved tales. combing a moral lesson with an entertaining story, the fables still retain their power to charm and instruct.






Alice's Adventures in Wonderland &  
Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
Classics, 1984, mass market paperback

In 1862 Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a shy Oxford mathematician with a stammer, created a story about a little girl tumbling down a rabbit hole. Thus began the immortal adventures of Alice, perhaps the most popular heroine in English literature. Countless scholars have tried to define the charm of the Alice books–with those wonderfully eccentric characters the Queen of Hearts, Tweedledum, and Tweedledee, the Cheshire Cat, Mock Turtle, the Mad Hatter et al.–by proclaiming that they really comprise a satire on language, a political allegory, a parody of Victorian children’s literature, even a reflection of contemporary ecclesiastical history. Perhaps, as Dodgson might have said, Alice is no more than a dream, a fairy tale about the trials and tribulations of growing up–or down, or all turned round–as seen through the expert eyes of a child.


Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
Children's book, 2013, hardcover

From dressing the chicken to drawing the drapes, Amelia Bedelia does exactly what Mr. and Mrs. Rogers tell her to do. If things get a bit mixed up, well, that's okay. When Amelia Bedelia is involved, everything always turns out perfectly in the end!

This special fiftieth anniversary edition of the very first book restores the original text, page design, jacket, and palette of the original volume. What else is the same? Well, the dressed chicken, dusted furniture, and that delicious lemon meringue pie, among other things. An additional eight pages of behind-the-scenes sketches, photographs, and information about the beginnings of this iconic character, the author, the artist, and Amelia Bedelia's exploits throughout the years is included.

Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski
Whatever After, 2013, paperback

Mirror, mirror, on the basement wall . . .

Once upon a time a mirror slurped up me and my brother, and magically transported us inside Snow White's fairy tale.

Then we stopped Snow White from eating the poisoned apple. Hooray! Or not. If Snow White doesn't die, she won't get to meet her prince or get her happy ending. Oops.

Now it's up to us to fix Snow White's story. And then, fingers crossed, find our way home.


Pandora Park by Anthony Piers
fantasy, 2013, ebook

In Albany, New York, Mark hates getting dumped at the mall park while his mom shops. It's so embarrassing! But Mark quickly changes his mind after he discovers a mysterious path leading to a magical forest. In Bejing, China, Kelsie finds a similar path, and somehow, she meets Mark in the same magical world! Now the two friends must work together to unravel the origins of Pandora Park. This wild adventure crosses the globe and is packed with magical powers, dragons, talking unicorns, candy trees, on a roller coaster ride that never stops.


My Heart's Desire by Andrea Kane
Romantic Suspense, 2016, trade paperback - 25th anniversary edition

Never were there two more unlikely people to fall in love...

Lady Alexandria Cassel scorned London's frivolous social whirl, seeking adventure as a stowaway aboard a merchant ship. Drake Barrett was the vessel's powerful captain -- and a cynical duke who disdained a noble's shallow life. At sea he revealed neither his origins nor his wealth, and to Alexandria he was simply a man who made her cool reserve fly with the winds...whose desire for her was as wild as the ocean they sailed.

Caught in the crossfire of war, they were shipwrecked on an idyllic island, where they tasted perfect passion...and tenderness. But Drake dreaded the day of their rescue -- when his love would discover that the virile man she adored was at the pinnacle of the aristocracy she despised. Hardly did they suspect the base treachery that would soon threaten them...and the dangers each would brave to join forever their hearts and lives!

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
fantasy, 1993, mass market paperback

The book that inspired the movie.

When Bastian happens upon an old book called The Neverending Story, he's swept into the magical world of Fantastica--so much that he finds he has actually become a character in the story! And when he realizes that this mysteriously enchanted world is in great danger, he also discovers that he is the one chosen to save it. Can Bastian overcome the barrier between reality and his imagination in order to save Fantastica?


Happily Never After by Kathleen O'Brien
Romantic Suspense, 2010, ebook

No one could believe that Thomas Beckham was the kind of man to leave a woman at the altar, but he couldn't marry his bride-to-be. Not after what he'd seen her do. His only choice was to leave and never look back--and to keep to himself everything he'd witnessed.

After the wedding-that-wasn't, everyone, including Kelly Ralston, went on to other things. Or so it had always seemed. But ten years later, Kelly finds herself attending the funeral of another one of the bridesmaids--the third member of the wedding party to meet a tragic death. Kelly can't help but wonder if the deaths are a coincidence. Or are they linked? If so, who will be targeted next?

Thomas Beckham may be her only chance to find the killer. Before the killer finds her...


Quiet As The Grave by Kathleen O'Brien
Romantic Suspense, 2006, ebook

Whispers of foul play circulate through an upscale community when beautiful Justine Milner disappears. But only when her body is discovered more than two years later is her ex-husband Michael Frome accused of murder.

Portrait artist Suzie Strickland learned firsthand how manipulative and cruel Justine could be when they were rivals for Mike’s affection in high school. She believes in Mike's innocence and suspects she's found a chilling link to a darker side of Justine's privileged life. How deep was her involvement with a mysterious group called The Coffin Club and their seductive, dangerous games? The answers may come too late. Because the truth about what happened to Justine is proving just as deadly as the secrets she kept . . .

Last Man Standing by Vince Flynn
Mitch Rapp, 2013, mass market paperback

The head of clandestine operations in Afghanistan has been kidnapped, his four bodyguards executed in cold blood. With the CIA plunged into crisis mode, Rapp is dispatched to find his missing friend, Joe Rickman, at all costs. He isn’t the only one looking for Rickman; an FBI special agent is at his heels, determined to blame Rapp for the bloody debacle. Rapp is, however, the only one who knows certain things about the vanished black ops master—secrets that in the wrong hands could prove disastrous. With elements of his own government undermining him—and America’s security—at every turn, Rapp must be as ruthless and deceitful as his enemies to complete this razor’s-edge mission.


Hard Glamour by Maggie Marr
The Glamour Series, 2014, ebook

Small town girl, Lane Channing is alone in this world with nothing left to lose when she sets out across the country to make her LA dreams come true. The 'big risk' to move to LA isn't such a risk when you've already lost everything. Bad-boy movie star, Dillon MacAvoy, has a dark past and a goal to be the biggest star in the world. He doesn't have the time or the inclination for love. A bad-boy that can't-be-tamed, Dillon is on the brink of superstardom when Lane Channing enters his life. She's young and naive and he's hard and experienced. Their attraction wild and undeniable, a fierce fire that heats up the LA night and could destroy both their lives.


Two Tall Tails by Sofie Kelly and Sofie Ryan
Magical Cats/Second Chance Cats, 2016, ebook

The Cat Burglar, A Magical Cats Mystery Novella
Kathleen Paulson has her hands full in Mayville Heights, Minnesota, running the public library, and taking care of her two uncanny cats, Hercules and Owen. Kathleen’s good friend Maggie says items are being stolen from the local artists’ co-op. She doesn’t want to call the police, because the main suspects are all close friends. Luckily, Kathleen and her faithful felines are there to put their paws on the truth!

No More Pussyfooting Around, A Second Chance Cat Mystery Novella
Sarah Grayson lives in charming North Harbor, Maine, where she owns the Second Chance shop and sells beautifully refurbished items, but she’s also given a second chance to black cat Elvis. Sarah and her elderly friend Edmund Harris are having some issues with the nephew of a neighbor. With the neighbor recovering from a suspicious fall in the hospital, her nephew is being openly hostile and suspiciously secretive. Is he just a pain in the neck, or actually a threat to his aunt? Sarah and Elvis are on the case.


Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers . . . Dorothy L. Sayers Society
Lord Peter Wimsey Mysteries, 2013-reprint, ebook

Lord Peter Wimsey spends his days tracking down rare books, and his nights hunting killers. Though the Great War has left his nerves frayed with shellshock, Wimsey continues to be London’s greatest sleuth—and he’s about to encounter his oddest case yet.

A strange corpse has appeared in a suburban architect’s bathroom, stark naked save for an incongruous pince-nez. When Wimsey arrives on the scene, he is confronted with a once-in-a-lifetime puzzle. The police suspect that the bathtub’s owner is the murderer, but Wimsey’s investigation quickly reveals that the case is much stranger than anyone could have predicted.

Published in 1923, during detective fiction’s Golden Age, Whose Body? introduced a character and a series that would make Dorothy L. Sayers famous. To this day, Lord Peter remains one of the genre’s most beloved and brilliant characters.



A Witch's Guide to Murder by Aubrey Harper . . . at Facebook
A Book & Candle Mystery, 2015, ebook

When Rory Wiltz inherits her grandmother's house and shop, she sees it as sign to move back to her hometown of Hazelville, Ohio. She convinces her best friend Scott to come with her, not knowing what awaits for them there.

It seemed that her grandmother was a witch of sorts, because the shop she left her, Book & Candle, definitely caters to the occult community. Things get even weirder when her grandmother's ghost appears and demands that her murder be solved.

Rory is in over her head, but with the help of her mystery-loving friend Scott and her witchy cousin Rhi, she's determined to track down her grandmother's killer. Jack, the sexy new detective in town, and Hunter, the mysterious new arrival only complicate matters more. Will Rory uncover the killer before the killer comes for her?


Tempest in a Teapot by Amanda Cooper
A Teapot Collector Mystery, 2014, mass market paperback

Tucked away in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York is the charming town of Gracious Grove, where time moves slowly, gossip spreads quickly, and the scones are to die for…

When her fashionable Manhattan restaurant goes under, Sophie Taylor retreats to her grandmother’s cozy shop, Auntie Rose’s Victorian Teahouse, where serenity is steeped to perfection in one of her many antique teapots. The last thing Sophie expects is a bustling calendar of teahouse events, like her old friend Cissy Peterson’s upcoming bridal shower.

Not everyone is pleased with the bride-to-be’s choice of venue—like Cissy’s grandmother, who owns a competing establishment, La Belle Epoque, and has held a long-simmering grudge against Rose for stealing her beau sixty years ago. Tensions reach a boiling point when Cissy’s fiancĂ©’s mother dies while sampling scones at La Belle Epoque. Now, to help her friend, Sophie will have to bag a killer before more of the guest list becomes a hit list…


Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, 2011, hardcover

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.


Bless Her Dead Little Heart by Miranda James
A Southern Ladies Mystery, 2014, mass market Paperback

Miranda James returns to Athena, Mississippi, with an all-new mystery featuring Miss An’gel and Miss Dickce Ducote, two snoopy sisters who are always ready to lend a helping hand. But when a stressed socialite brings murder right to their doorstep, even they have trouble maintaining their Southern hospitality…

With the Mississippi sun beating down, An’gel and Dickce are taking a break to cool off and pet sit their friend Charlie Harris’s cat, Diesel, when their former sorority sister, Rosabelle Sultan, shows up at their door unexpectedly, with her ne’er-do-well adult children not far behind.

Rosabelle’s selfish offspring are desperate to discover what’s in her will, and it soon becomes clear that one of them would kill to get their hands on the inheritance. Suddenly caught up in a deadly tangle of duplicitous suspects and deep-fried motives, it will take all of the sisters’ Southern charm to catch a decidedly ill-mannered killer…


Every Single Second by Tricia Springstubb
children's book, 2016, hardcover (illustrated by Diana Sudyka)

Twelve-year-old Nella Sabatini’s life is changing too soon, too fast. Her best friend, Clem, doesn’t seem concerned; she’s busy figuring out the best way to spend the “leap second”—an extra second about to be added to the world’s official clock. The only person who might understand how Nella feels is Angela, but the two of them have gone from being “secret sisters” to not talking at all.

Then Angela’s idolized big brother makes a terrible, fatal mistake, one that tears apart their tight-knit community and plunges his family into a whirlwind of harsh publicity and judgment. In the midst of this controversy, Nella is faced with a series of startling revelations about her parents, friends, and neighborhood. As Angela’s situation becomes dangerous, Nella must choose whether to stand by or stand up. Her heart tries to tell her what to do, but can you always trust your heart? The clock ticks down, and in that extra second, past and present merge—the future will be up to her.


Wish by Barbara O'Connor
children's books, 2016, hardcover

Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all.


The Year One Challenge for Women
by Michael Matthews
Fitness, 2016, spiral bound (oversized hardcover)

The Year One Challenge for Women is a workout journal companion to the bestselling book Thinner Leaner Stronger.

This book contains a full year's worth of workouts, properly laid out so you can record and track your progress, as well as some of the author's favorite motivational quotes and recipes

If you're ready to build muscle and lose fat faster than you ever thought possible, buy this journal today, get started on the program, and watch your body transform week after week.


Barre Fitness by Fred DeVito, Elisabeth Halfpapp
fitness/exercise, 2015, spiral bound
Barre Exercises You Can Do Anywhere for Flexibility, Core Strength, and a Lean Body

Infused with elements of ballet, barre classes were introduced by Lotte Berk in the 1970s as a new way to combine dance with traditional exercise. Just about any barre class will involve a lot of reps of small, pulsing movements (lifting and lowering limbs a mere inch or two) at the barre, with a heavy focus on the legs, glutes, and core and emphasis on form and alignment.

Barre Fitness provides 100 at-home barre exercises from the fundamentals to more complex moves with a focus on building strength and improving technique--no barre required!


Snowfall on Haven Point by RaeAnne Thayne
Haven Point, 2016, mass market paperback

It's been two rough years since Andrea Montgomery lost her husband, and all she wants is for her children to enjoy their first Christmas in Haven Point. But then Andie's friend asks a favor—to keep an eye on her brother, Sheriff Marshall Bailey, who's recovering from a hit and run. Andie will do anything for Wyn, even park her own misgivings to check on her grouchy, wounded bear of a brother.

Marshall hates feeling defenseless and resents the protective impulses that Andie brings out in him. But when a blizzard forces them together for the holidays, something in Marshall begins to thaw. Andie's gentle nature is a salve, and her kids' excitement for the holidays makes him forget why he never wanted a family. If only he and Andie can admit what they really want—each other—their Christmas wishes might come true after all.


The Christmas Angel Project by Melody Carlson
Holiday/Christian Romance, 2016, ebook

Five women from different walks of life have become close friends through their book club--enjoying one another's company even more than they enjoy the books. So when the leader of the book club unexpectedly passes away on the cusp of the Christmas season, the four remaining friends are stunned. They relied on Abby for inspiration and motivation. She was the glue that held them together, and they're sure that without her the group can't continue.

When the group gathers "one last time" to open a bag Abby's husband gives them, they find Abby had made each of them an angel ornament for Christmas, crafted especially for each woman and accompanied by a sweet and personal note. Inspired by their beloved friend, together Cassidy, Louisa, Grace, and Belinda decide to commit themselves to becoming Christmas Angels to others in need. Each woman will use her life situation and talents to reach out and help others in her own unique way--little knowing that her own life and her relationships will be changed forever.
~*~*~*~*~
I haven't received any review books, won any contests or received any books as a gift. I have added a couple a day from amazon's free bestseller lists. I've pinned some here.





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 others and be prepared to add to your TBR pile!




Finished:
Upside-Down Magic by S. Mlynowski, L. Myracle, E. Jenkins
Wide Open Spaces by Renee Stevens
Lifeline by Brynn Stein
Haunted by Brynn Stein
Perfect by M. A. Church
Real World by BA Tortuga
The 4 Phase Man by Richard Steinberg
Housekeeping by Kim Fielding
Animal Magnetism anthology
Son of Money by Brandon Witt
Threefold Love by Ki Brightly
To Keep and to Love by Serena Yates
Cuffed by Aiden Bates
Dawn in the Orchard by Cooper West
Sticks and Stones by S. Mlynowski, L. Myracle, E. Jenkins
A Good Feeling by S.A. Meade
Rory's Last Chance by Bailey Bradford
Food for Thought by Amy Lane
Holiday Hotel Hookup by Jeff Adams
Dragon Groomer by Amber Kell
A New Haven Christmas by Angelique Voisen
You In My Arms by A.C. Katt
Bobby's Old Man by A. C. Katt
Liam's Unexpected Alpha by Alice Cain

Happy Reading!


copyright Book Dragon's Lair 2009-2016

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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.