2010 Reading Challenges...

In January of 2010 I joined four reading challenges for the year and was still involved in a previous reading challenge that ran from 2009 into 2010. So I had a total of 5 reading challenges I participated in. And I then had my own annual "March Menage Month" reading challenge.

So this these are the challenges I joined and how well or not so well I did at them in 2010!

The Sookie Stackhouse Challenge 2009-2010
(re-read the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris along with any new books that come out during the challenge)
-Dead Until Dark
-Living Dead in Dallas
-Clud Dead
-Dead to the World
-Dead as a Doornail
-Dead in the Family
*completed in the time frame given*

The M/M Romance Challenge 2010
(read 5 m/m romances in 2010)
-How the West was Done - Adam Carpenter
-Polar Reaction - Claire Thompson
-Soul Mates: Bound by Blood - Jourdan Lane
-Nut Cream - Jade Buchanan
-Changing Perspective - Marilu Mann
*completed challenge*

The Romance Reading Challenge 2010
(read 5 romances in 2010)
-Morning Glory - LaVyrle Spencer
-The Fulfillment - LaVyrle Spencer
-The Making of a Gentleman - Shana Galen
-Highland Hellcat - Mary Wine
-Dragon Lord - Connie Mason
*completed challenge*

Re-read Challenge 2010
(re-read one book a month)
-White Lies - Linda Howard
-Come Lie With Me - Linda Howard
-Colters' Woman - Maya Banks
-Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
-The Fulfillment - LaVyrle Spencer
-Bluebird Winter - Linda Howard
-Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone- JK Rowling
-The Vikings Woman - Heather Graham
-Soul Deep - Lora Leigh
-Dreamfever - Karen Marie Moning
-Separate Beds - LaVyrle Spencer
-Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

The 2010 Romance Reading Challenge
(read 20 romance books)
-Scandal in Spring - Lida Kleypas
-Megan's Mark - Lora Leigh
-The Fulfillment - LaVyrle Spencer
-First Drop of Crimson - Jeaniene Frost
-The Making of a Gentleman - Shana Galen
-Highland Hellcate - Mary Wine
-Backstage Pass - Olivia Cunning
-Seduce me at Sunrise - Lisa Kleypas
-Dragon Lord - Connie Mason
**totally failed on this one**

Now for my own reading challenge. As followers of my blog already know, each March on the Moonlight to Twilight Blog becomes "MARCH MENAGE MONTH". My reading lists all include books with menage a troi sex scenes in them- aside from reading challenges that I have to read each month.

My 2010 March Menage Month Reads
(read as many menage books as you can in a month)
-Colters' Woman - Maya Banks (re-read)
-Tri-Omega Mates - Stormy Glenn
-Polar Reaction - Claire Thompson
-Wolf Tales - Kate Douglas
-Brazen - Maya Banks
-Alphas' Mate - Leah Brooke
-Soul Mates: Bound by Blood - Jourdan Lane
-Stranded - Eve Vaughn
*completed*

The 2010 year found me diving deeply into YA books and Urban Fantasy. While these books often contain some romance, I don't usually consider them A Romance Book which is the major reason I failed the last romance reading challenge. My reading time was consumed with UF and YA with a few romances and erotic reads tossed in along the way. It's interesting because in 2009 I read mostly romance and paranormal romance. Makes me wonder just what 2011 has in store for me!

What I Read in 2010...

What I read in 2010...

Favorite series

-Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

-Grave series by Jeaniene Frost
-Fever series by Karen Marie Moning
-Iron series by Julie Kagawa (YA)
-Pixie series by Carrie Jones (YA)

M/M reads...

-How the West was Done - Adam Carpentier (hot 'n dirty)
-Soul Mates by Jourdan Lane (favorite M/M read of the year)
-Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson (VERY close 2nd for favorite m/m of the year)
-Nut Cream by Jade Buchanan
-Changing Perspective by Mari Lu Mann

Favorite "new to me" authors...

-Lissa Matthews
-Julie Kagawa
-Jeaniene Frost
-Patricia Briggs
-Olivia Cunning

Favorite YA reads...

-Going too Far by Jennifer Echols
-The Iron King & The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
-Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
-Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (SUPERB)
-Beastly by Alex Finn (LOVED IT)
-Hail Caesar by Thu Huong Ha (great read!)

Still loving...

-Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris
-Grave series by Charlaine Harris

DNF's (I just could NOT get into ANY of these books-and I really tried)

-Riker's High by Paul Volponi
-Once a Knight by Christine Dodd
-Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison
-On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
-Man of her Dreams by Tami Hoag
-Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford
-Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viquie

Biggest Disappointments:

-Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
-Fallen by Lauren Kate
-On the Edge by Ilona Andrews
-Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
-Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare


Total books read 103 (some of the YA read below were reviewed only on my YA blog "The Cracked Spine):

-Moon Called by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-His Eyes by Renee Carter (YA)
-How the West was Done by Adam Carpentier (MM)
-Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-Fugitive by Cheryl Brooks (SciFi)
-One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (YA) **I really did NOT like this book, it barely rated 2 stars with me)
-Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-White Lies by Linda Howard (romance)-(Re-READ)
-Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas (Historical Romance)
-Come Lie With Me by Linda Howard (Contemp. Romance) Re-READ
-When a Friend Dies by Marilyn E. Gootman (YA)
-Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer (Historical Romance) Re-READ
-The Holding by Claudia Dain (His.Romance)
-100 Things Guys Need to Know by Bill Zimmerman (YA)
-At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers (YA)
-Colter's Woman by Maya Banks (Menage) Re-READ
-Tri-Omega Mates by Stormy Glenn (Menage)
-Polar Reaction by Claire Thompson (MM Menage)
-Wolf Tales by Kate Douglas (MM/MF Menage)
-Brazen by Maya Banks (Menage)
-Soul Mates:Bound by Blood by Jourdan Lane (MM Menage)
-Stranded by Eve Laughn (Menage)
-Teens Take it to Court by Judge T. Jacobs (YA)
-Teen Cyberbullying Investigated by Judge T. Jacobs (YA)
-Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-Megan's Mark by Lora Leigh (Romance)
-Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles (YA Romance)
-The Fulfillment by LaVyrle Spencer (Historical Romance) Re-READ
-Nut Cream by Jade Buchanan (MM)
-I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder (YA Verse)
-Riker's High by Paul Volponi (YA)
-Beastly by Alex Flinn (YA)
-New Blood by Peter McPhee (YA)
-Warrior's Song by Catherine Coulter (Historical Romance)
-Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (UF)
-Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning (UF)
-Faefever by Karen Marie Moning (UF)
-Hail Ceasar by Thu Huang Ha (YA)
-Separate Beds by LaVyrle Spencer (Historical Romance)Re-READ
-Sweet Caroline by Lissa Matthews (erotic)
-Once a Knight by Christina Dodd (Hist.Romance)
-Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning (UF)
-Sin Eater by Evangeline Anderston (Erotic)
-Desire in the Dark by Naime Simone (Erotic)
-Scoring by Mari Carr (Erotic)
-Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison (UF)
-Fallen by Lauren Kate (YA)
-Fade to Black by Alex Flinn (YA)
-On the Edge by Ilona Anderson (UF)
-Trick by Ellen Hopkins (YA)
-Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (YA)
-Need by Carrie Jones (YA)
-Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-Hush,Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
-Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroder (YA)
-Bluebird Winter by Linda Howard (Contemp.Romance)Re-READ
-Captivate by Carrie Jones (YA)
-Man of her Dreams by Tami Hoag (Contemp. Romance)
-Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (UF)
-First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost (UF)
-His Voice, His Command by Vonna Harper (Erotic)
-Not Just an Orgy by Sally Painter (Erotic)
-Changing Perspective by Marilu Mann (MM Erotic)
-Jekel Loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey (YA)
-Harry Potter & the Sorcerers Stone by JK Rowling (YA) Re-READ
-Hero by Cheryl Brooks (SciFi)
-Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers (YA)
-Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (YA)
-Carter Finally Gets It by Brent Crawford (YA)
-The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen (Historical Romance)
-Highland Hellcat by Mary Wine (Historical Romance)
-Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning (Erotic Romance)
-Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas (Historical Romance)
-The Dragon Lord by Connie Mason (Historical Romance)
-Crusade by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viquie (YA)
-The Vikings Woman by Heather Graham (Historical Romance)Re-READ
-I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (YA)
-Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (YA)
-Wildthorn by Jane Eagland (YA)
-Release by Beth Kery (Erotic)
-Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (YA) Re-read
-Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols (YA)
-The Iron King by Julie Kawaga (YA)
-The Iron Daughter by Julie Kawaga (YA)
-Soul Deep by Lora Leigh (Erotic) Re-READ
-Preaching to the Corpse by Roberta Isleib (Mystery)
-Grave Secret by Charlaine Harris (Mystery)
-Entice by Carrie Jones (YA)
-Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning (UF) Re-READ
-Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris (Paranormal)
-Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris (re-reads)'Dead until Dark', 'Club Dead', 'Dead to the World', 'Definately Dead', 'Dead as a Doornail', 'All Together Dead', 'From Dead to Worse' and 'Dead and Gone'.

"Dreamfever" by Karen Marie Moning (re-read)

Title: DreamFever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever series Bk#4
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Published: 2009

Synopsis: MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master’s spell.
He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister’s murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac’s every thought—and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.
As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V’lane vie for her body and soul, as she rallies the sidhe-seers to fight an impossible battle and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac’s greatest enemy delivers a final challenge...

**This is a RE-read for me** First review can be read HERE.

I wanted to re-read this book for three reasons 1) the next book in the series is coming out next month and I wanted to refresh my memory of where things left off and 2) because I needed a final book for the Re-Read 2010 Reading Challenge I had joined and 3) because I FRIGGIN' LOVE THIS SERIES!!

I think this might be the most amazing fantasy world building book since Harry Potter. I just can't get enough of the amazing world and events that author Karen Marie Moning has instilled in this series. It's just amazing. And the characters are fantastic! I know many people boo-hooed the heroine in the first book for being so caught up in her looks and clothes, but that is a MUST for this character to show her growth! In the first book "Mac" (MacKayla Lane) is a young carefree naive girl who goes through life rather easily. Then her sister is murdered and Mac is tossed into a world she didn't even know existed. By the fourth book "Dreamfever" not much of the "old Mac" is left. In her place is an amazing kick-ass heroine who is determined to fight evil at all cost and help the human race regain the world as we've always known it to be. Mac is amazing and I love her. My heart breaks for the suffering she's endured while at the same time she has me laughing out loud at her wit and ability to quickly cope with all life is tossing at her. She's an amazing character who grows by leaps and bounds in this series.

The men in this series are mysterious, dangerous and sexy as can be. Jericho Barrons, the nonhuman super amazing being is the most mysterious of all. He's powerful, the most powerful being Mac or anyone else has seen in the books so far. Mac has no idea just WHAT Jericho Barrons is but she's determined to find out. While Barrons teaches Mac what he believes she needs to know, he struggles with keeping her close and keeping her at a safe distance from himself. The battle between these too is only exceeded by the lustful chemistry they stir up with each other. A fantastic mix!

As each book answers a few more questions, each book also tosses in more questions yet to be answered. But for fans of the book, the main questions we want answered are 1) WHAT is Jericho Barrons and 2) will Mac and Barrons have a future together? Oh and one more, who or what was the 'beast' that Mac killed at the end of "Dreamfever". That one has me completely stumped! (but I don't want to know until I read the final book so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE absolutely NO spoilers or hints! I won't even read the author's website because I do NOT like hints! I want to be surprised!)

I simply can NOT wait to get my greedy hands on the final book of this series "Shadowfever".

I HIGHLY recommend this series for fans of kick-ass fantasy fiction heroine books! You won't be disappointed!!

"Entice" by Carrie Jones

Title: Entice
Author: Carrie Jones
Series: Need Series book #3
Published: 2010
Genre: YA Paranormal

Synopsis: Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie. . . She's Astley's queen.


In a few words: dragged out

I first have to say that I ADORE this series. The characters and plot are excellent. The twists and turns unseen and surprising. That said, this book of the series seemed to drag on about nothing much. I honestly think I could have read the first few chapters and final two chapters and not missed a thing. The middle was completely dispensable, unfortunately. My guess is that this series was supposed to be a three book deal, then someone had the bright idea to drag it out further. I think it was a mistake. This book could have ended here. I am not giving up on the series because I still love the characters and want to know how it all will end, but this book was disappointing on several levels.

Entice starts where 'Captivate' ended. Children are missing, a school bus full of teens has been attacked by evil pixies and the main characters are going to a school dance. That just rubs me all wrong. The town is in chaos, the police can't figure out why so many kids are missing. The FBI is moving in and they aren't any closer to figuring things out either. But that is not heroine Zara's biggest problem. Her problem is she kissed the Pixie King Astley and with that kiss she has turned into the Pixie Queen. She's blue with vicious shark-like teeth in her mouth. She must keep up a glamour so she doesn't scare people away, even her own friends- who are trying to figure out if she can be trusted or not. You see pixies feed off humans- males mostly but any human blood with do in a pinch. Zara's other problem...her were-wolf boyfriend died and was taken up to Valhalla and she is determined to find a way to bring him back- even at the cost of other lives. This didn't sit well with me either.

Zara is so pigheadedly stubborn that she is willing to jeopardize her life and her friends lives in order to just find a clue as to how to get into Valhalla and retrieve Nick her boyfriend. People are injured, people die and still Zara is determined to go after Nick. I get that she loves the guy, it was first love. They were only dating a matter of weeks and now she's willing to risk her life and the lives of everyone around her, to bring back a dead boyfriend. I didn't get that. It would be one thing to martyr herself, but she continually put everyone else at risk. I didn't like that.

My opinion, while I really liked Nick, he died. Let him go. There are other more important things happening in this story. I just never saw Nick as vital to the story. He was great, but the Pixie King Astley is far more interesting and he's in love with Zara. Zara just can't see anything beyond Nick. (Remind anyone of Bella Swan? But Bella was all about protecting people and Zara is all about risking people to get what she wants.) I lost some respect for Zara in this book, I hope to get it back in the next one.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5.


Buy it: AMAZON.COM or BARNES & NOBLE

On the island...come visit me!

I'm over on DIK today. Stop by and check out my funny town names post.

http://dikladiesrule.blogspot.com/2010/12/who-named-these-places.html

"Grave Secret" by Charlaine Harris

Title: Grave Secret
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Harper Connelly Series Bk#4(final)
Published: 2009
Genre: Mystery/Crime

Synopsis: Lightning-struck sleuth Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver take a break from looking for the dead to visit the two little girls they both think of as family. But as they travel to Texas, memories of their horrible childhood resurface. Family secrets ensnare them both, as Tolliver learns his father is out of jail and Harper finally discovers what happened to her missing sister Cameron so many years before. And what she finds will change her world forever.

In a word: Riveting

I just LOVE this mystery series. Harper was struck by lightning when she was a teenager. Her stepbrother, Tolliver did CPR and saved her life. After that event, Harper has been able to "read bones". When she walks over a grave, the dead cry out to her telling her who they are and how they died. Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver have made a living off her abilities, travelling all around the country locating dead/missing people for a fee.

When their latest job takes them back to Texas, they decided to spend some time there visiting with their siblings who were adopted by their aunt. Harper's childhood had started off wonderful, with two loving parents. Then her parents fell into heavy drugs, split up and tore the children's world apart. Harper's mother hooked up with Tolliver's father when the kids were teens and they become very close. It was their job to look after the younger children because their parents wouldn't in their doped up states.

But one day, Harper's sister Cameron just disappears and now it's eight years later and Harper still hasn't given up on finding her sister- dead or alive. With Tolliver at her side, they dig into their families ugly past and find things they never dreamed of. Betrayal, deceit, hatred, murder and lies.

This mystery was wonderful and heartbreaking. After reading the first books in the series I knew what finding Cameron meant to Harper and reading as it all unravelled was both heartbreaking and refreshing in that it was over now. Harper could finally find some sort of peace and move on with her life. She needed that and deserved that, so I was happy for her.

While some people were icked out by Harper and Tolliver being together as a couple (this occured in the 3rd book), I loved it. They were perfect for each other. While they were raised as siblings, they were not blood related at all. So there was no 'ick' factor for me. I liked this part of the story because these two were like soul mates, no one else could be better for them than each other are.

A wonderful mystery/crime series with a paranormal twist. I highly recommend this series. These books really should be read in order.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

AMAZON.COM

BARNES AND NOBLE

"Preaching to the Corpse" by Roberta Isleib

Title: Preaching to the Corpse
Author: Roberta Ileib
Series: Advice Column Series Bk#2
Published: 2007
Genre: Mystery

Synopsis: It's Christmas in postcard-perfect Guilford, Connecticut, but the season is anything but peaceful. When a church member dies under suspicious circumstances, the minister starts looking for higher power...
Psychologist/advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman gets a call in the middle of the night from the minister at her church. He's in custody after going to a parishioner's home-and finding her freshly dead. The murdered matron was the leader of a search committee charged with finding a new assistant pastor after the previous one left in a rush. Rebecca learns that the committee was divided- Did someone try to eliminate the competition? Now she's putting her analytical skills to work to track the killer, while resisting the urge to break the seventh commandment with a very married detective and praying she's not the next victim."

In a word: OK

*possible subtle spoilers*

While I enjoyed the mystery part of this book and the setting (Christmas time in New England) I didn't really like the heroine much. The heroine is Dr. Rebecca Butterman, a divorced successful psychologist who writes an advice column. What I didn't like about her, was she was so judgemental of people. She came across as being self righteous and looking down her nose at the people around her. I didn't like that. Also, she was crushing on a married cop whose wife was dying of Lou Gehrig's disease- how freaking low can a person go? Every time she saw him she'd blush like crazy and act all stupid. The guy wasn't showing any interest in her that way, yet she acted like a little school girl around him. Totally irritating.

While I couldn't solve the "who-done-it" mystery part (which is a good thing, I hate figuring it out early in a mystery book), the mystery its self was sort of ... bizarre. I just didn't see why anyone would commit murder just to keep a good preacher in their church. That made no sense to me. I was thinking there was some deep dark secret as to why someone would be murdering people or trying to murder people and the only reason given was the preacher was so good, the nut job didn't want someone else taking over. Total disappointment.

What carried the book for me, was the setting and the numerous 'could-be' killer characters. There were a few people who looked like they might have motive and that carried the mystery along. Unfortunately for this book, the people with the 'might have motive' ended up having far better motives to commit murder than the actual murderer. It was just weird and disappointing.

This was the second book in a series and I did not read the first book. Perhaps I would have liked it better if I had, but this was a stand alone mystery so it should have worked, but it did not.

The best thing about the book: the cover art
Rating: 2 stars out of 5.

All that said, the book is rated highly on AMAZON.COM.

Here's an AMAZON.COM review of this book that I agree with by "MIMI-MIMI"

Jumping Rob (Pattinson) Meme

I came across the "Jumping Rob Meme" back in Novemeber and knew I wanted to play around with doing my own "Jumping Rob Meme" at some point in the future.


These photos (by other bloggers and tweets on Twitter) gave me a good chuckle and I had to think about what I wanted to do with "Jumping Rob"- if and when I ever figured out how to do it.




After a brief lesson from my teenager in using "GIMP 2", I tried my hand at the Jumping Rob Meme. Below are my holiday theme Jumping Rob Meme efforts, I hope you like them.

First up: Jumping Rob visits Santa Claus...(clearly he's excited-and under dressed)

Next up: Jumping Rob stars in The Nutcracker Ballet (who knew he was so talented?)

That's it for me and Jumping Rob.

Now how about YOU give the Jumping Rob Meme a try? Come on, you know you want to! Create your own Jumping Rob Meme then leave a link here to share it!

Have fun with Jumping Rob!!

You say it's your birthday...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
IAN SOMERHALDER!!!!!!

What's up with me...

Sorry I haven't been around. Life has gotten in the way of my blogging and reading time lately. I only read 5 books in the entire month of November- two of which were re-reads. I think that was one of my worse reading months to date since I began blogging. *sigh* Which by the way just occurs to me, my blogoversary is coming up! Where does the time go?? I began this blog on December 19, 2008! Now it seems like my time is so short I am barely here anymore. I do hope to change that after the holidays are over. As winter sets in, I should be home more and reading more (that's the plan anyway!).

November reads:
-"Going Too Far" by Jennifer Echols (YA) 5 stars
-"The Iron King" by Julie Kagawa (YA) 4.5 stars
-"The Iron Daughter" by Julie Kagawa (YA) 5 stars

Re-read 2010 Challenge
Re-read: "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer
Re-read: "Soul Deep" by Lori Leigh

I just got back from the library and here's what I've got to read this week.

Title: Preaching to the Corpse
Author: Rebecca Isleib
Published: 2007
Genre: Mystery

Synopsis: It's Christmas in postcard-perfect Guilford, Connecticut, but the season is anything but peaceful. When a church member dies under suspicious circumstances, the minister starts looking for higher power...
Psychologist/advice columnist Dr. Rebecca Butterman gets a call in the middle of the night from the minister at her church. He's in custody after going to a parishioner's home-and finding her freshly dead. The murdered matron was the leader of a search committee charged with finding a new assistant pastor after the previous one left in a rush. Rebecca learns that the committee was divided- Did someone try to eliminate the competition? Now she's putting her analytical skills to work to track the killer, while resisting the urge to break the seventh commandment with a very married detective and praying she's not the next victim."

I picked "Preaching to the Corpse" for three reasons 1) It's a Christmas time story and I haven't yet read a Christmas book this year 2) It's set in Guilford, CT a place I go all the time and 3) I was really, really, REALLY wanting to read a good mystery book. I love mystery and have neglected this area too long now.

The next book I borrowed from the library is...
Title: Sixteen Brides
Author: Stephanie Grace Whitson
Published: 2010
Genre: Historical Frontier Woman

Synopsis: Sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising "prime homesteads" in a "booming community." Unbeknownst to them, the speculator's true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledging community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival!
Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances--especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.


I picked this book because it was a new release and because I love 'frontier women' fiction and this one sounded interesting.


The last book I borrowed is a re-read for me. I ADORE, ADORE, ADORE the "Fever" series by Karen Marie Moning and she's got the final book of the series coming out soon (but not soon enough dammit!). Anywho...I really wanted to re-read the last book "Dreamfever" before the next and final book is released.

Title: Dreamfever
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever series (bk#4)
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Fiction (with romance)

Synopsis: They may have stolen my past, but I’ll never let them take my future.
When the walls between Man and Fae come crashing down, freeing the insatiable, immortal Unseelie from their icy prison, MacKayla Lane is caught in a deadly trap. Captured by the Fae Lord Master, she is left with no memory of who or what she is: the only sidhe-seer alive who can track the Sinsar Dubh, a book of arcane black magic that holds the key to controlling both worlds.
Clawing her way back from oblivion is only the first step Mac must take down a perilous path, from the battle-filled streets of Dublin to the treacherous politics of an ancient, secret sect, through the tangled lies of men who claim to be her allies into the illusory world of the Fae themselves, where nothing is as it seems—and Mac is forced to face a soul-shattering truth.
Who do you trust when you can’t even trust yourself?

So that's it for my library books this week.
Have you read any of these books? What have you borrowed from the library recently?