~2014 Reading Challenge~ discussion

My goal is 50 books again this year. Last year I made it to 48, so hopefully I can reach 50 this time around.

JANUARY 2012

1. The Pawn by Steven James Read this for a Group Read. I don't read too many Crime Thrillers, but this one was pretty good, although a bit gruesome. It was the first in a series, so might continue with the series at a later date.

2. Surrender by Pamela Clare This was a great Historical Romance...quite "steamy". Will definitely be reading the next from this series.

3. Ice Station by Matthew Reilly This book was non-stop action from beginning to end. Definitely on to the next in the series.

4. Area 7 by Matthew Reilly. This is the second book in the (Shane Schofield) Series. Not quite as good as Ice Station, but still an excellent read if you like non-stop action.

5. Storm Front by Jim Butcher. This is the first in an Urban Fantasy series. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I enjoyed it. It has quite the following, so I will definitely continue on with the series to see what all the hype is about.

6. Hounded by Kevin Hearne. Another Urban Fantasy series that was not quite what I had expected (but in a good way)...druids, witches, vampires, werewolves and a whole lot more.

7. The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann. This was a great first book in the Troubleshooters series...a Navy Seal, some romance, and a little action. Will definitely read the next in the series.

8. Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir. Historical fiction taking place during the Tudor Period. The story is about Lady Jane Grey, who became queen for only nine days. The book was just ok for me...lots of Tudor facts (most of which I already knew) and a slow storyline. I usually love historical fiction, but this one just didn't work for me.

9. Sexiest Vampire Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks. Another book in the Love at Stake series...always a fun read.

10. Black Ice by Anne Stuart. I loved this book! Romantic suspense with a ruthless sexy hero. Will definitely be reading the next in the series.

11. The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann. The second in the Romantic Suspense Troubleshooters Series. I'm really enjoying this series about Navy SEALs.

12. State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Good story...a little slow to start for my taste, but picked up the second half of the book. I also felt the ending was a little abrupt and not completely satisfying. Overall, I did enjoy it and would recommend to others.

13. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Loved this story...combines fantasy, romance, magic, and mystery. Alot of character and background building because of it being the first of a trilogy, but I enjoyed all the wonderful details. Will definitely be reading the next in the series when it comes out!

14. The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry.Another book about the so-called missing Templar treasures. I did enjoy the mystery of it...kind of had a Da Vinci Code feel to it. This was my first book by this author, and I will definitely read another.

15. Lost in Shangri-la by Mitchell Zuckoff. This was my first non-fiction book in a while, but it had the feel of an action adventure novel. It is the true story about the crash of a plane full of military soldiers, out on a sightseeing trip over New Guinea, during World War II. The crash occurred in an extremely remote valley in New Guinea, which made the rescue very difficult. The story is about the survival and eventual rescue of some of those soldiers. The rescue was the most ingenious (and dangerous) attempt I have ever heard about.

16. Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward. Can't say enough about how much I love this series...another great installment! If you are a fan of paranormal romance, I highly recommend this series. The first book in the series is Dark Lover.

17. Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann. Another great installment to the Troubleshooter series...on to the next!

18. I Am What I Am by John Barrowman. A fun read for any John Barrowman fan. Some might complain that it is a bit disorganized and nonlinear...but that is exactly what I loved about it (maybe because I can relate). Have you ever started to tell a story to someone and gotten off on a tangent story, and another, and another, until finally, 5 or 6 stories later, you finally get around to finishing the original story. Well, that's kind of what this book is like...and it works! Many of the stories he tells of his friends and family had me in tears...a few were sad, but most were soooooooo hilarious. Two things I learned about John Barrowman from reading this book...He loves his family, and he loves life!

19. Cold As Ice by Anne Stuart. I did enjoy this story, but not near as much as the first book in the Ice series...just didn't care that much about the characters and what would happen to them. If I had read this book first, I don't think I would have continued the series. But because I enjoyed the first book so much, I will continue on to the third and hope for a little improvement.

20. Wool Omnibus Edition by Hugh Howey. All I can say is WOW!...Great book! It's one of those books that you can't really talk about without giving anything away...If you like Science Fiction that takes place in an apocalyptic or dystopian future (or even if you don't), then just go read it!!!

21. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. This is a tough review for me because I am not a big fan of YA books (Teenage angst and emotion is just not my cup of tea)...Of course, that is not the authors fault. I can't really say anything too negative about this story. Overall it was an enjoyable read...just not spectacular for me. I did like the fact that even though this is a series, the story felt complete. There were a few loose ends for the next book, but not too many. No great cliffhangers to worry about. I probably will not go on to read the next book in the series, but that is just because of my own personal YA hang-up. I'm sure most readers would more than likely want to continue on with the intriguing world that the author has created. This book opens up many possibilities for future books.(less)

22. Firelight by Kristen Callihan. I always base my star ratings on pure enjoyment of the book, and in my opinion, this one was a five star winner! It had everything that I enjoy from a story. A Beauty and the Beast theme is one of my favorites…add a bit of paranormal to it and make it doubly fun. I loved the sizzling chemistry between Archer and Miranda…there was no denying their attraction to each other, and they were a strong couple from the very beginning (No wishy-washiness about their relationship…they would die to protect each other)! The verbal sparring between the two of them was always entertaining. I loved the mystery of what was behind the mask...I had some ideas, but never really figured it out until it was revealed. And I loved the mysterious storyline that brought it all together. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series!

23. Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann. Another great book in this series!

25. The Darkest Night by Gena Showalter. I think I enjoyed the idea of this story much more than the actual story itself. I don’t think the book quite lived up to its full potential. First of all, the author assumes that the readers know all about Greek Mythology, the gods, and Pandora’s Box. It would have been nice to have had a little background on this, since it is what the entire story is based upon. Another thing that bothered me was a lack of action. Here you have all of these big-muscled, tough guys and nothing for them to do. A few small scuffles amongst each other and that was it. They came home bloodied on a few occasions, but no descriptive details of what actually took place. These guys are warriors for goodness sakes…show at least a few true warrior moments! I felt like I was just hanging out with some guys in a frat house the whole time. I think what it just boils down to is this…the book had a good storyline but needed more details, details, details!!! Even with these negatives, I did like the relationship between Maddox and Ashlyn (although I did think it developed a little too quickly for my taste), as well as the different personalities of the other warriors. I can definitely see a lot more story and relationships developing with each one of them in future books. Sometimes I have found that the first book in a series is not necessarily the best. I am hoping that this is true for this series and that the books just get better and better. My interest has at least been peaked, and I will definitely read at least the next book to find out.

26. Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. This book started off as a 3 star read for me, but somewhere around the halfway mark it switched over to a 4 star. Even though Cat kicks some vampire rear-end in the beginning of the story, she still seems really young and naive to me. Her personality just didn't seem to fit with what she was doing and I didn't like her very much. Even with an explanation as to why, it still wasn't very believable. However, once she had Bones as her teacher and mentor (as well as other things), she finally seemed to mature and become the really great, strong, kick-butt female heroine that she needed to be; and I thought she was exceptional. The action scenes were first-rate and I enjoyed the storyline twist at the end. Definitely makes me want to read the next in the series.

27. Bloodline: A Sigma Force Novel by James Rollins. I did enjoy this 8th book in James Rollin's Sigma Force Series...But I must admit that it is my least favorite of the bunch. It was fast-paced and action-packed just like I like. I really enjoyed the two new characters, Tucker and Kane immensely, as well as the inclusion of Kat and Lisa back into the action. The characters are one of the things that I find so enjoyable about James Rollins books. I think it was just the subject matter of the storyline this time that I wasn't as drawn to as in his other books. Overall a fun read as usual!(

28. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh. I really wanted to like this book but it was just so-so for me. It started off soooooo slow...I understand world building, but really, nothing was happening. Sascha would talk to her mom for a while, go talk to Lucas for a while, go back and talk to her mom, go back and talk to Lucas, and so on and so on. I did enjoy the gradual character development of Sascha from thinking she was falling apart and that something was terribly flawed with her, to understanding that she was exceptional and that the rest of the Psy were the flawed ones. I think the immediate attraction to her from Lucas was a bit much, but it seems to be a fairly common occurance in many of the paranormals these days, so I have learned to accept it and move on. I really enjoyed hearing details about the individual lives of the changeling pack members. This was the most interesting part of the story for me and I wished there was more of it...maybe this will develop more in future books. If it weren't for the last third of this book, I would have had to say that I didn't like it. However, I was finally drawn into the mystery of who the killer was once plans were finally discussed about what could be done to catch him. The anticipation of the trap that was set to catch him caught my interest until the very end. I might go on to read the next book in this series to see what might happen, but only because of the many high recommendations from others, not from my own experience from reading this book...Hoping the next one is better.

29. Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake by Laurie Brown. This was a cute, quick summer read...nothing deep and awe-inspiring, but fun nonetheless. Ghost hunter Josie goes back in time to debunk the charlatan who has been stealing money from Lord Deverell's family estate. Josie first meets Deverell as a ghost in modern times while working a job. He hires her to go back in time to help save his family fortune. Of course adventure and romance ensue. Deverell the ghost and Deverell in the flesh are both present in the past, which makes for a confusing time for Josie and her emotions. I love the heroine Josie because she is not a weak, overly emotional female...she can definitely take care of herself. Deverell is just what you expect for a studly hero, without being too over-the-top. There is a HEA albeit a bit confusing at first. Overall a fun read!

30. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness. Shadow of Night is the second book in the All Souls Trilogy and begins exactly where the first book, A Discovery of Witches, leaves off. I enjoyed it just as much as the first book in the series, however, it is a little different. The first book takes place in modern day, and this one in the year 1590. One of the things I loved most about this book was the history. The author did a wonderful job of taking the reader back in time…I felt as if I were right there with Diana and Matthew in Elizabeth’s England. However, there is a lot of history here, and if you are not a fan, then this book might not be for you. If you are the type who loves to immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of another era, then you will feel right at home here. Matthew and Diana are still the central characters in this story but there are quite a few charming new characters to meet as well. Many of the other familiar characters from the first book appear during flashes of modern times. This book has everything the first book had including magic, fantasy, romance, adventure, and mystery. The story is not over however, and there is no neat closure here. Deborah Harkness is one of my new favorite authors, and I am hoping the time will pass quickly until the final book of this series is released.

31. One Foot in the Grave by Jeaniene Frost. Another great book in this series!

32. Into the Night by Suzanne Brockmann. I'm loving this series more and more with each book!

33. At Grave's End by Jeaniene Frost. This is the third book in the Night Huntress Series and, as with the first two, it didn’t disappoint. I think what I really liked most about this one was all the action…pretty much nonstop from beginning to end. I also love the fact that some new, interesting, vampire “skills” were introduced. Cat and Bones are an awesome couple, and their relationship continues to develop here. Tate is another of my favorite characters that is highlighted in this book. I was hoping for a little more about Cat’s friend Denise in this one, but hopefully more will come for her in the next book. Vlad also made an appearance, and I suspect there will be more from him in the future as well. Some of the secondary character’s stories are beginning to get more interesting, as more new characters are being introduced. Overall a satisfying edition to the Night Huntress Series…However, there is so much more story to tell, and I look forward to the next installment

34. Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost. This is the fourth installment of the Night Huntress series and another hit with me. I think one of the things I like best about this series is that each book adds new characters and new elements to the story, which keeps it interesting and fresh. In this book we meet Gregor who is a Dreamsnatcher with some past history with Cat. Also, Cat develops some interesting new talents of her own that she must deal with. The relationship between Cat and Bones goes through some bumpy roads along the way, which I think were unnecessary. But I guess some think perfect relationships are boring to read aout, so the author felt the need to messy it up a bit. There is a lot more action again in this one which always makes me happy. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely be moving on to the next in the series.

35. Covet by J.R. Ward. After reading J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series and loving every second of it, I couldn’t wait to jump into her Fallen Angel’s Series. I think that I assumed, as many others did, that it would have a similar feel as the BDB series. Well it does not…in fact it is nothing like it…and I was pleasantly surprised! There are a few familiar places and faces, but the story is completely original. I enjoy the theme of good vs. evil and angels going to earth to save human souls. This story reminded me of Touched By An Angel WARDen style! It is Angels versus Demons and the ultimate fate of the world is in Jim’s hands. Jim is the main character, chosen to save seven souls from one of the seven deadly sins, and he is definitely not your typical angel. Although he is rough on the outside, he is pretty much a big softy on the inside. I loved the part in the story where he meets Dog (once you read the story you’ll know what I mean)…I think this reveals a lot about his true nature. This first story revolves around a guy named Vin and the sin of greed. I am assuming that Jim will visit the other seven deadly sins in the remaining books of the series. If you are expecting BDB, this is not it. But if you are looking for an originally entertaining story of good versus evil, I can highly recommend this book. I am definitely looking forward to the next one in this series.

36. First Drop of Crimson by Jeaniene Frost. I’m so glad Jeaniene Frost wrote the Night Huntress World books. I love the world of Cat and Bones, but it was really fun getting to know a little more about some of the other characters from the original Night Huntress series. This book features Spade and Denise. Spade was an intriguing, mysterious character in the Night Huntress series. We really didn’t know much about him, except that he was a best friend of Bones, and that they had been together for a long, long time. His background story is finally revealed, and I loved his character in this book-even more than Bones I think. Denise, on the other hand, I was a little disappointed in-and I had such high hopes for her story. In the Night Huntress series she was Cat’s best friend, who never seemed to mind being in and around Cat’s world. In this new series, she suddenly turned into a wimpy, weak, frail girl who was scared of her own shadow. I understand that (view spoiler), but I don’t think she had to be quite so scared, as a result of it. And it was a little unbelievable that Spade would be attracted to someone like that. She did try to redeem herself in the end, but at that point in the story, even that was a little unbelievable for me. Overall, I did enjoy the story though, and will continue to read the next installment to the series.

37. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews. All I could think about when reading this book was that Kate reminded me so much of a female version of Harry from the Dresden Files Series. (This, of course, is a good thing)! I enjoyed Kate immensely…her independence, her toughness, and her mischievous sense of humor. I think she found some good allies with Curran and the rest of the Pack, and I can see them working together in future books. Not sure about any romance here, but you never know. The world was a little confusing at first…not a lot of details and left me wanting to know more. On the other hand, the book had plenty of action and moved along at quite a quick pace. Still some unanswered questions at the end though, which leaves lots of room for more in the next installments. Overall for me, not an exceptional read, but good nonetheless; and will definitely be reading the next in the series.

38. Shadow Game by [author:Christine Feehan|6This book is the start of what I perceive will be a great series! I loved the whole idea of the Ghostwalkers, and their numerous psychic “talents”. There was quite a bit of background information, but it was completely warranted and kept me engaged the entire time. It was definitely necessary in order to introduce the characters, their “talents”, the company, and to explain the “whys” and “hows” of the research going on. I am a bit of a science nerd myself and found the technical/research stuff quite fascinating. I loved the bond between Ryland and Lily and the fact that, no matter what, Ryland would always be there for her. I like that Lily is a very strong independent women, but still has a vulnerable side. I thought they made for a great couple and I was routing for them the entire time. Most of all, I love the fact that these Ghostwalkers all come from the Special Ops arena…that always translates into lots of action, which I always enjoy in a story. We get to catch glimpses into the lives and personalities of some of these other Ghostwalkers as well, and I look forward to hearing their stories in later books. I am definitely looking forward to the next one in this series.

39. Brainrush, a Thriller by Richard Bard. I really enjoyed Brainrush…fast paced, lots of action, never a dull moment! I love stories that have me racing around the world, and this one didn’t disappoint. Books that include special ops are also some of my favorites (probably because they usually contain a lot of action, and are full of cool weapons and gadgets). This book had both(especially in the second half of the book)…just a little overkill on the descriptions of said weapons and gadgets though. I like a little explanation, but when it starts taking me out of the story, then it’s too much! If I had to find a negative to this story, I would have to say it had to do with the ending. First of all, not everything was wrapped up in a nice neat package... There is still much more of this story to be told. Also, something was revealed in the end (don’t want to spoil anything) that came out of nowhere, and didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the story. Hopefully all will be revealed in the next installment…which of course I am going to read soon. Overall an enjoyable read, that I would recommend to any action enthusiast like myself!

40. Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann. This is my favorite book in the Troubleshooter Series so far. They just keep getting better and better. Looking forward to the next in the series.

41. Glimpses of Heaven: True Stories of Hope and Peace at the End of Life's Journey by Trudy Harris

42. Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost. This is the second of the Night Huntress World books, which are a part of the Night Huntress Series. I do recommend reading these two series in the correct order together, instead of as two separate series. As much as I love Cat and Bones, I have really enjoyed taking a short break from them, and hearing about some of the other intriguing characters in the NHW books . This book focuses on Mencheres, and I have to say, he is nothing like what I had imagined him to be in the first few books. I didn’t really think he would make a great “leading man” for a story, but he definitely surprised me. I loved everything about his character (sweet, caring, and protective of his “family”; yet strong, powerful, and deadly when needed), and I think he is my new favorite of the series. Kira was the perfect match for him (strong, independent, yet totally devoted). I hope to see more of these two in future books. This story was not quite as fast-paced as some of the other books in the series, but there was still some action to enjoy. (I will never think of Disneyland in the same way again). I will definitely be reading the next in this series.

43. Resurrected: An Adam Wolf Thriller by Steve Trotter.

44. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre. I definitely have mixed feelings on this one. I began reading this story with high hopes…it sounded like it had all the makings of a great story…and it does. It was all just put together awkwardly. I found the writing style to be quite uncomfortable in the beginning, until I got use to it. It was all first person, written from Sirantha’s head. I also was unable to like Sirantha…She was very self-centered and not very friendly. I never could accept the relationship between her and March, because I couldn’t understand how he could like her so much when I couldn’t. March was one of my favorite characters, but I was left knowing hardly anything about him. In fact, I new hardly anything about his crew either. The storylines introduced were interesting, yet incomplete. The book jumped around, introducing lots of amazing secondary characters and ideas, but only telling parts of their stories. I definitely was left wanting much more detail. Overall I did enjoy the story, just not quite how it was told. I’m willing to give the next book in the series a try to see if it might lose some of the awkwardness. But if not, then that will probably be the end for me.

45. Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockmann. What more can I say except another great installment in Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters Series. I love her writing style, and each of her stories is entertaining and original. Each book contains some old familiar characters along with some new ones. I think this formula works, because it makes the stories comfortable, but at the same time unique and interesting. This one was a little different from the first six in the series, but just as good. Instead of involving the U.S. Navy SEAL team as the previous books do, this one involves Tom Paoletti’s new private company called Troubleshooters, Inc. A few of the old characters were still there, along with quite a few new ones. It included the same familiar action/ adventure (maybe even more so than with previous books) along with a little romance thrown in on the side. The only thing I felt was missing was the WWII flashback story that usually runs parallel to the main storyline in all Brockmann’s previous Troubleshooter books. Those are usually some of my favorite parts in her books, and was not included here. I hope she chooses to include these flashbacks in all future series books, of which I will definitely be reading the next soon!

46. Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia. There’s no deep story or intricate plot here…This book is just pure high adrenaline fun. If you’re afraid of the dark, then this book may not be for you; but if not, then buckle up and hang on for a wild ride. This book starts off with a bang and keeps on going….Lots of monsters, lots of guns, and lots of fun! I will definitely be reading the next book in this series soon!

47. Wanted: Undead or Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks. This was another fun book in the Love at Stake series. I’m happy that Phineas finally got his story and his HEA. We get to learn a little more about the wolf pack and Phil and Brynley’s pasts in this one; as well as more about Phineas’ background and character. I also enjoyed that fact that several new characters joined the bunch. I especially liked the little twist at the end (gotta read the book to find out)…It will be interesting to see how things evolve. I’ve really enjoyed this series and hope there will be many more to come.

48. Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre. I read Wanderlust (book two of the Sirantha Jax series), because I thought the first book, Grimspace, showed a lot of potential. Even though there were a lot of things that bugged me about the characters and writing style of Grimspace, I did enjoy the story and wanted to know a little more. That being said, Wanderlust still had the same first person writing style that I found so annoying in the first book; but since I am use to it now, it didn’t bother me quite as much. Since we were always in Sirantha’s head, I still feel I was missing out on a lot of the story involving the other characters when they weren’t in Sirantha’s vicinity. For example, there was quite the battle scene going on with March and some of the others, but we have no idea what happened, because Sirantha wasn’t there. I must say that I really liked Sirantha much better in this book; not sure how her transformation took place, but she showed a much softer, caring, less selfish side this time around. The story itself was entertaining enough that I might pick up the next in the series. However, I still come away feeling that this book could have been so much more than it was.

49. Crave by J.R. Ward. Crave, the second book in J.R. Ward’s Fallen Angels series, did not disappoint. The game is still afoot with the fates of Heaven and Hell at hand. Jim is still trying to save seven souls before they can be lost to Devina, a demon. In this book we meet Isaac and Grier, both trying to understand and escape things from their pasts. Isaac is Special Ops (which always makes for a great story IMO). The romance between the two was very quick and intense, but believable; which is sometimes tricky to pull off. Again we see Adrian and Eddie (Jim’s “helpers”)… A couple of “tough guys” who happen to be two of my favorite characters; and I hope we get to learn much more about them in future books. The story only takes place over a few days, but the pace is good with several battle scenes to keep things exciting. This book is a little darker than the first, and one scene in particular may be quite disturbing to some. Also, the ending to this book was unexpected, but seemed to work for the series. Overall though, another great installment… I will definitely be reading the next in the series!

50. Mind Game by Christine Feehan. As much as I loved Shadow Game, the first book in Christine Feehan’s GhostWalkers series; this second book, Mind Game, just fell flat for me. Although this book picks up where the first left off, I felt as if I were reading a story from a completely different writer. All the intrigue, excitement, action, and adventure that was in the first book, was just not there in this one. In the first book we were introduced to the GhostWalkers and learned about their creation and special abilities. This second book focuses on one of these GhostWalkers, Nicolas, and another newly discovered GhostWalker named Dahlia. The first problem for me was that I just couldn’t like these two characters at all. Dahlia was described as being a brave, strong, fearless secret agent involved in many extremely dangerous missions; but I didn’t find her to be brave and fearless at all. When we meet her, she is actually very nervous and scared all the time, as well as extremely whiny and emotional. There is no believable way that she could ever have survived on her own as long as she did without someone like Nicolas to take care of her. Because of this, the story just didn’t make sense. Nicolas was also described as being extremely independent and a loner, as well as one of the best special ops out there; but as soon as he meets Dahlia, all he seems to be able to do is either have sex with her, or think about having sex with her, 24 hours a day. I’m not saying that I don’t like a good sex scene every now and again, but this was definitely overkill. The storyline really dragged on with a little action sprinkled in every now and then amongst all the talking, whining, crying, and sex. Bottom line is I was bored throughout most of the story, and had a difficult time finishing. I was so excited to read this book after the first in the series, but now I’m not so sure I want to go any further.