2025 Reading Challenge discussion

1. The Charm School Susan Wiggs


Started: January 1, 2012
Completed: January 3, 2012
Rating: 5/5
Mini-Review: This was an excellent read and has everything a good romance should have. Isadora Peabody is the tall, dark haired, awkward daugther smack in the middle of a family of small, blonde and beautiful socialites. Ever the wallflower Isadora's skill at making herself invisible while attending social functions has also led to her overhearing numerous cruel comments regarding her looks and personality. After an exceptionally emabarrasing event with the man she thinks herself in love with she finally reaches her breaking point and manages to get herself hired as a translator on a ship sailing out of Boston to Brazil. It is on this trip that she meets our hero Captain Ryan Calhoun and begins to find herself. The best part about this ugly duckling story is that Isadora doesn't just remove her glasses and lose some weight and over night becomes a ravishing beauty. Isadora's beauty comes from the confidence she finds in herself once she gets away from Boston Society. I found the book did get a little slow in the middle but it was brief and picked right back up again to leave me reading it well into the middle of the night.

2. The Horsemaster's Daughter Susan Wiggs

Date Started: January 4, 2012
Date Completed: January 5, 2012
Rating:5/5
Mini-review: I wasn't quite ready to leave The Charm School after I finished it so I picked up the second book in the series right away. The Horsemasters Daughter was even better than the Charm School. Hunter Calhoun has hit rock bottom. His father died and left him nothing but debt, his wife is dead, he is left with two emotionally damaged children and he's an alcholic. He is desperately trying to turn their plantation into a sucessful horse farm and all his hopes are riding on a race horse from Ireland. When the new horse arrives completely crazed from the storms at sea all of Hunter's dreams seem to have gone up in smoke. His last hope is to go see the Horsemaster who lives on a remote island and is famed to have gift with horses. Upon arrival at the island Hunter is dismayed to find that the horsemaster has passed on and his sheltered daughter is living alone on the island. Luckily for Hunter she has inherited her fathers gift with horses and is willing to take on the challenge of healing not only the horse but Hunter and his family as well.
I love tortured heros - they're my favourite and Hunter Calhoun was no exception. I read this book in a day because I couldn't put it down. The only tiny tiny issue I had was that Eliza was just a little too perfect. I find this usually happens with tortured heros and it is bit of a pet peeve of mine but it wasn't enough to change my grade on the book. I was completely sucked into this book from beginning to end and I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series.

3. The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver
Date Started: January 6, 2012
Date Completed: January 11, 2012
Rating:3.5/5
Mini-review: There are already a crap-ton of reviews and summaries out there about this book so I'm just going to very briefly relay how I felt about it. This is not a book I would have ever picked up on my own but I ended up reading for a book club. Going into this it felt like a homework assignment but I'm surprised to say I actually liked it quite a bit - to a point. There is no denying Kingslover is a fantastic writer and the 5 distinct voices she creates for her narrators are incredible, however, the story just wouldn't end. Believe me I was ready for it to be over after they left the village with maybe a chapter or two each about where they ended up. Unfortunately, this didn't happen and I found the last 25% of the story grew tedious and it was a bit of a struggle to get through. Overall though I have to say it was an enjoyable read that was just a touch too long.

4. Long Hard Ride Lorelei James
Start date: January 11, 2012
Completed date: January 14, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: This was a meh read for me. The sex was hot - the story... not so much. It was okay - better than a lot of the erotica I've tried in the past but I still didn't find myself overly interested in the story or the characters.


5. Can You Keep a Secret? Sophie Kinsella
Start Date: January 12, 2012
Completed: January 13, 2012
Rating:4/5
Mini-review: After the poisonwood bible I needed something light and fun to read. This definetely fit the bill. It made me laugh, it made me smile and I really enjoyed Emma's voice in the novel. Sure the storyline might have been a touch silly but that's part of the magic that made it so enjoyable. I usually find that I don't connect with the charactes as much in lighter books but I no trouble in this one. This is my first Kinsella but it definetely won't be the last.

6. On the Edge Ilona Andrews
Start Date: January 14, 2012
Completed Date: January 16, 2012
Rating: 4/5
Mini-review: If this series is anything like the Kate Daniel's series I only expect it to get better as the series goes on. Again there are a whole slew of reviews already out there for this one so I won't say too much. This was definetely a page turner and I loved the characters (especially Jack). My own littly teensy quibble was the relationship aspect of Rose and Declan was given as much attention as it could have and came a little too easy. I may just be spoiled by the anticipation that came with Curran and Kate in the Kate Daniels series though. Over all it was entertaining and I've already downloaded the next one.

7. The Bronze Horseman Paullina Simons
Start Date: January 16, 2012
Completed: January 27, 2012
Rating: 3.75/5
Mini-Review: as much as I loved Tatiyana and Alexander and as compelling and heartbreaking I found their love story I just can't give it a four out of five. I got bored too often to give it an A. I never considered not finishing it but the pages and pages of days repeating themselves led to me putting down the book and not picking it up for days at a time. It's really too bad because the story, writing and characters all spoke to me they just spoke a little too much for a little too long. Obviously this hasn't been a problem for many people considering the following this book has and I imagine it has more to do with my attention span than the book.

8. Among the Living Jordan Castillo Price
Start Date: January 28, 2012
Completed Date: January 29, 2012
Rating: 4/5
Mini-review: This was a really good short M/M novel. I've been looking for something similar to the Adrien English mysteries by Josh Lanyon and so far this is the closest I've found. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

9.Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Ransom Riggs
Start Date: January 29, 2012
Completed: January 30, 2012
Rating: 2.5/5
Mini-Review: I liked the pictures and the first half of the story quite a bit. I had a problem with the second half of the book because it seemed to go from a young adult book to a middle grade book very quickly. It just seemed a little too young and got a bit boring after Jacob arrives on the island.

10. Proven Guilty Jim Butcher
Rating 5/5
Started: january 31, 2012
Completed: February 4, 2012
Mini-Review: I'm pretty sure this is my favourite installment of the Dresden files yet. Harry is much darker than he was when the series first started but it doesn't make him any less of a hero. I've loved every installment of the dresden files and this was no exception. If you are a fan of urban fantasy and haven't tried these yet I strongly urge you to pick up the first book Stormfront and get started.

11. Criss Cross Jordan Castillo Price
Started: Febraury 5, 2012
Completed: February 6, 2012
Rating: 4/5
Mini-Review: This was as good as Among the Living and I'm really liking Victor. I just wish they were longer.


12. The Leopard Prince Elizabeth Hoyt
Start Date: February 7, 2012
Completed: February 8, 2012
Rating:4/5
Mini-Review: This was a really fun and cute story. I really liked Harry and Georgina. If you are a stickler for historical accuracy there may be a few hot button issues for you in here but I was able to over look them and just enjoy the story. I found the last bit of the book a tad frustrating and thought George acted quite out of character for the sake of a conflict but I still really enjoyed the book overall.

13. Bloodsucking Fiends Christopher Moore
Started: February 8, 2012
Completed: February 12, 2012
Rating:3/5
Mini-Review: This was pretty entertaining and I enjoyed it but it still wasn't nearly as funny as A Dirty Job. I'm not sure if I was in just the right sort of mood for Moore's humour when I read A Dirty Job but Blood Sucking Fiends was just sorta funny for me. I also didn't really connect with the characters at all. Overall though it was entertaining and I laughed out loud a couple of times.

14. The Splendour Falls Susanna Kearsley
Date Started: February 13, 2012
Date Completed: February 19, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-Review: As much as I enjoyed the mystery and atmosphere of the book I found the characters to be a touch under developed. I also didn't really care for the main character and couldn't figure out why so many people in the book liked her. I also didn't really see the point of including the relationship in the story. Aside from some mental longing it was given almost no time until the last few pages when everything was crammed in.

15: Switch Megan Hart
Date Started: February 17, 2012
Date Completed: February 19, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: This was an odd book. It was certainly compelling and after reading a preview I ended up downloading it and finishing most of it before I even went back to the book I was currently reading. As with the previous book I read I enjoyed the story a lot more than the characters. Paige was unlikeable to me and I was not a huge fan of the ending which seemed to wrap up way to easily much to quickly.

16. The Red Wolf Conspiracy Robert V.S. Redick
Start Date: February 20, 2012
Completed: February 25, 2012
Rating:3.75/5
Mini-review: This was a pretty good start to a fantasy series. I'm not sure if it was intended to be aimed at a young adult audience or not but it seemed to be aimed at a slightly younger audience then your standard fantasy. The world building and set up at the beginning took a bit to get through but it picked up and became quite the little adventure story. My only issue was that the conflicts tended to be taken care of too conveniently. i.e. someone who was supposed to be dead shows up right in the nick of time to save one of the characters etc. Otherwise I really enjoyed it and will be picking up the next one in the series.

17. I've Got Your Number: A Novel Sophie Kinsella
Date Started: February 25, 2012
Date Completed: February 27, 2012
Rating 3.5/5
Mini-reivew: It was a cute story but I just could not get behind the heroine. She did so many stupid ridiculous things I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. The ending was actually really great but the decisions the heroine had to make to get there frustrated me way too much for me to fully enjoy it.

18. Body and Soul Jordan Castillo Price
Date Started: March 3, 2012
Date Completed: March 4, 2012
Rating:4/5
Mini-review: This was another solid entry in the Psycop series. My only complaint is that I wish the books were longer!

19. Postmortem Patricia Cornwell
Date Started: March 5, 2012
Date Completed: March 8, 2012
Rating: 3.5/5
Mini-Review:I really enjoy well done thriller/suspense novels but I find it very rare that I come across really good ones. Often I find the balance between characterization and plot is poorly executed. A book may have great characters but the plot is lacking or flat out ridiculous on the other hand the plot could be great but the characters are two dimensional cardboard cut outs who seem like nothing more than place holders in the story.

Luckily I didn't have these issues with Postmortem and was able to really enjoy the book. Kay was a strong female struggling to gain respect in a very male dominated profession and her character reflected that.

The plot definitely worked for me - I was constantly sneaking in chapters while at work because I couldn't wait to find out what would happen. I was really drawn into the story and more than once found myself double checking that all my windows were locked before going to bed and reminding myself that no one was going around raping and strangling women in my neighbourhood.

My only slight issue with the book was the info dump that seemed to come up whenever they discussed a new forensic technique. Obviously with the popularity of shows like CSI everyone (including me) thinks they are an expert in forensics so the descriptions were a little boring. The book was also a bit dated since it was published in 1990 but I knew that going in so I wouldn't consider that a negative for my reading experience but for someone who that would bother you may not enjoy this book quite as much as I did.

20.Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live
Start Date: March 3, 2012
Completed: March 16, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-Review: This reads like a book aimed at teenage boys to try and get them interested in history and was quite interesting but what started as amusing violent and immature hyperbole was used too frequently and got old really quick. For example here is the intro for Harald Hardara - HARALD SIGURDSON WAS THE LAST OF THE VIKINGS AND ONE OF THE MOST INSANELY BADASS ADVENTURERS TO EVER SAW A DUDE IN HALF FOR LOOKING AT HIM CROSS-EYED AND THEN DRIVE OVER HIS CORPSE WITH A RIDING LAWN MOWER - yes amusing for the first 5 - 10 entries but then not so much. Maybe it's because I'm a girl but I do think he laid it on a little thick. It was definetely not boring though.

21. Haunting Beauty Erin Quinn
Start Date: March 11, 2012
Completed: March 16, 2012
Rating:5/5
Mini-review: I had no idea what this book would be like going into it but it turned out to be really great. The beginning was a bit frustrating since the author doesn't let you know anything more then what the heroine knows is going on (which is nothing) and there was a whole lot of WTFing going on. Once the story got moving though it still was a mystery but not a frustrating one. Erin Quinn's is one of those authors whose writing style just sucks you right into the story. I loved Sean and Danni and though the mystery part of it was really well done. I figured it out pretty early but still wasn't a hundred percent sure until the end.

22. Sunshine Robin McKinley
Date Started: March 16, 2012
Date Completed: March 23, 2012
Rating: 2/5
Mini-Review: This book was hard to get through - so much potential awesomeness in the storyline but I just could not get into the authors voice. I was constantly having to go back and re-read paragraphs to figure out what the heck Sunshine was actually saying. Sunshine was constantly going off on tangents in her own mind (seperated from her usual tedious introspection by the introduction of the dreaded dashes) and her tangents went on for so long I'd have to re-read the paragraph without the - blah blah blah - because I couldn't remember what the heck she was talking about prior to that bloody dash. I did think Constantines character was well done but unfortunately most of this book focused on Sunshines internal monologues and was actually really boring.

23. 10 Ways To Steal Your Lover Dee Tenorio
Start Date: March 23, 2012
Finish Date: March 24, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-Review: This was a cute little novella. I think as a full novel it would have worked better for me because I really wanted to see more of Kane and Delilah prior to waking up together plus the whole issue with Delilah's fiance and Kane's best friend just seemed to be taken care of a little to easily. Again probably had somethign to do with the length of the book but then again maybe I'm just selfish:) Either way I did really enjoy it and I'll be picking up the next ones.

24. Tempted Megan Hart
Start Date: March 25, 2012
Completed: March 26, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: I don't really know what to say about this one - I read it in one day and stayed up until 1:00 am to finish it so it must have been compelling but at the same time I was a little disappointed in the book. I think there may have just been a little to much drama all around, her parents, all three of her sisters, his mother, Alex, Anne, James. They all had major issues going on during the book and the ambigous ending just kind of left me feeling a bit deflated. I don't know this is the second Megan Hart book I've read (I still haven't ready Dirty or Broken) and both have had be compulsively reading them but I end up putting them down with a bit of a meh feeling. I'm not really sure I can put my finger on why.

25. By Design Madeline Hunter
Start Date: March 26, 2012
Completed: April 1, 2012
Rating: 3.5/5
Mini-Review: I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as By Arrangement (which is one of my favourite books) I found the first half quite boring and couldn't warm up to Joan until the book was almost over. I had a very similar reaction to this book as I had to By Possession and I'm glad I read By Arrangement between the two. If I had just read By Design and By Possission I probably would not have picked up By Arrangement. I will probably read the next book and hopefully it's closer to By Arrangement.

26. Hearts in Darkness Laura Kaye
Started: March 29, 2012
Completed: March 29, 2012
Rating: 4/5
Mini-Review: This was a great little novella I loved Caden and the unique set up for this story.

27. A Game of Thrones George R.R. Martin
Started: April 2, 2012
Completed: April 13, 2012
Rating: 4.5/5
Mini-Review: It's been awhile since I read a really good fantasy. This one was a great big soap opera of a fantasy novel and if you like that type of fantasy you will probably really enjoy this book. My only problem was the way the book was broken up into chapters from 8 different characters prespectives. The chapters would always end on cliff hangers and then jump to someone else. I found it really easy to put the book down between chapters because of this.

28. The Dark Farewell Josh Lanyon
Start Date: April 14, 2012
Completed: April 15, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: This book was really disappointing for me. I normally love Josh Lanyon but the characterization in this book was lacking a bit and the mystery was disjointed.

29. A Clash of Kings George R.R. Martin
Start Date: April 15, 2012
Completed: May 4, 2012
Rating: 4/5
Mini-review: Another very good fantasy novel - again the perspective changes from one chapter to the next hampered my enjoyment a bit and I found it took awhile to get into this one.

30. That Thing at the Zoo James R. Tuck
Start Date: May 4, 2012
Completed: May 4, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: For an intro novella to the series this wasn't bad. I have the first book already so I will probably read it. The main characters inner monologue is slightly grating for me - he thinks in constant similes and metaphors I mean who does that?

31. City of Bones Cassandra Clare
Start Date: May 5, 2012
Completed: May 7, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: This was an easy entertaining read but left me with a meh feeling. I'm not sure what I'm missing since so many love this book but it really didn't grab me. I doubt I'll read the next one.

32. Wild Ride Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer
Start Date: May 5, 2012
Completed: May 9, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: I was expecting more with this book after Agnes and the Hitman. It was still entertaining but it didn't have the same chemistry as Agnes. The two main characters written by Mayer and Crusie only interacted for a few scenes of the book (which were really great I thought) but the rest of the characters and interactions felt flat to me.

33. Lover Mine J.R. Ward
Start Date: May 10, 2012
Completed: May 15, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: I'm surprised I made it through this one. It was a snooze fest. Which is something I've never equated with the brotherhood. There were two other story lines interspersed with the main story line and I found myself skimming through them almost right from the get go. The rest of the book had me skimming by the half way point.

34. Ice Storm Anne Stuart
Start Date: May 9, 2012
Completed: May 16, 2012
Rating: 5/5
Mini-review: Were there problems with the heroine? Yes. Were there problems with plot holes? Yes Do I really care? Nope. Anne Stuart can do no wrong in my eyes with the ice series. These books have that strange magic ingredient that some books have that just suck you in and to hell with the things that would normally push your buttons. This book was awesome.

35. Feed Mira Grant
Start Date: May 17, 2012
Completed: May 22, 2012
Rating: 5/5
mini-review: Wow the ending of this book really packed a punch. Was it perfect? No there were long boring sections of info dump that dragged and some of the secondary characters were under developed but do I care? Nope. It had that intangible quality that some books have that just suck you in and no matter how many things should be bothering you they just don't. Excellent book and I'll definitely be reading the next one.

36. Soulless Gail Carriger
Start Date: May 22, 2012
Completed: May 26, 2012
Rating: 4/5
Mini-review: What a delightfully fun little book. I really enjoyed this especially after such an emotional wringer like Feed. The only thing keeping it from a 5/5 was that it was just a little too light and fun to really have me emotionally invested in the characters but regardless I will be reading the rest of the series.

37. Untraceable Laura Griffin
Start Date: May 26, 2012
Completed: May 27, 2012
Rating: 2/5
Mini-review: I'm sorry to say I don't get the love that surrounds this book. The main character Alex was one of the most unlikable heroines I've read in a long time. Throughout the book I just wished the Nathan would just wash his hands of her and walk away. It's not like the book showed us why the heck these two even liked each other outside of his nice biceps and her non-pornstar like hotness. The plot despite being filled with holes actually moved along quite quickly and I was able to finish the book based solely on that and the hope that Nathan would smarten up and leave her sorry ass.

38. Cut & Run Abigail Roux
Start Date: June 1, 2012
Completed: June 4, 2012
Rating: 3.5/5
Mini-review: This was a really uneven book for me. Sometimes I would love the interaction between Ty and Zane and other times the dialogue would really get on my nerves. I found the mystery part to be a bit lacking as well. The story would stall out at times and I really think two competent FBI agents should have had at least a suspicion of who the murder was before the big reveal not to mention the supposed super slick law enforcement agent murder did some pretty obvious things for someone who was supposed to be outsmarting the NYPD and FBI every step of they way. Then again if your best agents are as clueless at Ty and Zane I guess you don't have to be super slick to trick them up for months. Over all though Ty and Zane's relationship kept me in the story for the most part and I'll probably pick up the next one since I heard it's supposed to be better.

39. Magnolia Creek Jill Marie Landis
Start Date: June 7, 2012
Completed Date: June 11, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: This was okay. I just didn't buy all the angst. They meet (for a total of 5 minutes) and fall in insta-love when Sara is only 17 and Dru is leaving for medical school. Fast forward two years (and no they haven't spoken or corresponded at all during this time) and they have a two week courtship + rushed wedding the night before he leaves to go fight in the civil war. Sara is told from a very reliable source the Dru is dead and a year after ends up seeing another man who gets her pregnant and then leaves her. So fast forward and it's now 5 years since Dru left and miracle of miracles he had amnesia in a Yankee prison camp but has been alive all this time without being able to contact his family back in Magnolia Creek. Dru shows up and sees Sara with a child who is obviously not his and loses his shit and much angst ensues. I mean come on you were together for two weeks and she moved on after a year when she believed you were dead! I can understand being upset a first but seriously his sulking around moaning about betrayal got old really fast.

Thanks Sara,

Work around the house now that the weather is nice has taken a bit of a bite out of my reading time but I'm still ahead of where I should be to make 75 by the end of the year.

40. The Shadow Queen Anne Bishop
Start Date: May 28, 2012
Completed: June 6, 2012
Rating 4/5
Mini Review: I really loved Cassie and Gray's story and I enjoyed seeing more of Damian and Janelle up to a point and then I got sick of them and wanted them to get the heck out of the way of Cassie and Gray's story. It was just a little too much of characters I've already seen so the book gets docked a star. If more of the focus had been on Cassie and Gray (especially closer to the end) it would have been close to perfect.

41. Summer of Night Dan Simmons
Start Date: June 12, 2012
Completed: June 19, 2012
Rating 4/5
Mini-review: I think this book could have been a tad shorter but overall I really enjoyed it. It was perfectly creepy in a noises under the bed type way and the relationship between the kids was done fantastically. The pacing of the scary bits was bang on as well. Just as I'd begin relaxing from the last scary part a new one would come in and take it's place. I was up until the wee hours of the morning finishing this one and don't regret the missed sleep at all - the ending was outstanding.

42. Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson
Start Date: July 1, 2012
Completed: July 3, 2012
Rating: 4/5
Mini-review: This was a very good (but sad!) middle grade book. The tone of it reminded me a lot of Where the Red Fern Grows. I'm not sure if it's just because of the age group it's aimed at or not but it reminded me of how I felt listening to my fifth grade teacher read Where the Red Fern Grows to us.

43. Sentence of Marriage - Shayne Parkinson
Start Date: June 28, 2012
Completed: July 4, 2012
Rating: 2.75/5
Mini-review: Ugh. I really didn't like the authors writing style when I first started this book but eventually I got used to it and the story-telling pulled me in to the train wreck that was Amy Leith's life. I couldn't put it down I just had to see what the heck was going to happen to the poor girl next. I was torn between being sympathetic with her (she was only 12 when the story started) to being frustrated with her and wanting to shake her. Most of the characters in the book are frustrating and down right hateful as well. The only ones I really came out of the book liking were Amy's brothers. I was so angry the entire time I was reading this book I just wanted to throw it at the wall (luckily I didn't as I was reading it on my computer). I was also kind of annoyed at how the story just stops and you have to buy the next book to continue it on. I think the book could have been wrapped up a little bit at least as opposed to just stopping.

44. The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess Lou Schuler
Completed: June 6, 2012
Rating 4/5
Mini-review: As far as diet and exercise books go this one was entertaining enough to get me to read the whole thing cover to cover (which I never do). I've started stage 1 of the exercises and I'm noticing a big difference in my arms so - so far it's working :)

45. Animal Magnetism Jill Shalvis
Start Date: July 6, 2012
Completed: July 8, 2012
Rating 3.5/5
mini-review: I really love Jill Shalvis's writing and her hero's but I just couldn't really enjoy this book because of the heroine. EVERYONE just loved the heroine - seriously every eligible man in town was just waiting around hoping she would fall in love with them. I just couldn't get past it everytime a new male character would enter the picture it was solely for the purpose of showing just how much they all loved her. I'm surprised my eyes didn't get stuck in the back of my head they were rolling so much as I read this.

46. Cry No More Linda Howard
Start Date: July 9, 2012
Completed: July 10, 2012
Rating: 5/5
Mini-review: Probably one of my favourite books so far this year. I finally understand all the Linda Howard love and I wrote a mini-review up right after I finished it and didn't save it and now I can't remember everything I wanted to say. I'm normally not a fan of kids/parents/babies being the main focus of a story but it worked for me in this book. Probably because it wasn't your typical single parent coping with precocious and bratty children story line. Either way I loved Diaz and like Diaz and thought this book was excellent.

47. Purgatory: A Novel of the Civil War Jeff Mann
Start Date: July 11, 2012
Completed: July 17, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: This was a hard book for me to keep picking up. Not because it was a bad book but one of the main characters is horribly tortured throughout most of the book and it was really difficult for me to read. I'm all for angst in my books but this was a little too much for me. It was also quite bleak and depressing in the way realistic war stories/movies tend to be. I was just so... drained reading this and was relieved when I finished. It was well written but came across as a literary fiction tone to me which I find takes me out of the story a little bit.

48. The Monstrumologist Rick Yancey
Start Date: July 17, 2012
Completed: July 24,2 2012
Rating: 3.5/5
Mini-review: This is another one of those books where I can't quite put my finger on what was missing. I enjoyed the story, thought the plotting was well done, loved the characters but it still seemed like there was a bit of a disconnect from the book for me. I was always very aware that I was reading a book - I just wasn't sucked in. I will probably pick up the next one anyways because I did enjoy Will Henry, the doctor and Kearns quite a bit and I want to know what happens next.

49. Too Hot To Touch Louisa Edwards
Start Date: July 25, 2012
Completed: July 30, 2012
Rating: 1.5/5
Mini-review: Ugh this just pushed all of my romance novel hot buttons.

Insta-lust - check. I just don't buy the "Oh My God I find this person so attractive I'm going to completely ignore my personal rule about not getting involved with co-workers (because it's turned out badly before) and totally jump you in the pantry while everyone waits for us upstairs". Please how old are you? Nobody is that hot.

Smarmy hero - Seriously what is with the prevalence of hero's who won't take no for an answer and just keep coming up with these icky pick up lines you wouldn't hear anyone saying outside of the 2 am scramble at a night club. Just eww.

Weak heroine who everyone keeps saying is soooo strong? Really how about showing me once in awhile rather than just having every other character beat me over the head with it. Someone who looses her shit at an international cooking competition that is supposed to save the future of the restaurant and family she claims is so important to her is not strong when she is loosing said shit because the guy she's been screwing for a matter of weeks tells her he likes her. Also, strong women also don't all the sudden manage to get their shit together thanks to the presence of the aforementioned douche bag just standing beside them. Puh-leese.

Honestly, I could go on for ages about theses two thoroughly unlikeable characters. I wouldn't be surprised if the author had written YA novels before because these two had all the maturity of a couple spoiled 15 year olds.

Ugh. I'm just glad it's over. The only saving grace was the cooking parts which were actually much more interesting than the actual characters.

50. Haunting Jordan P.J. Alderman
Start Date: August 1, 2012
Completed: August 6, 2012
Rating: 3.75/5
Mini-review: This was an entertaining little cozy mystery. I enjoyed the jumping back and forth in time periods even though I didn't understand how Jordan was getting so much information from one person's journal but I went with it. This may have bothered me more if I hadn't been reading it while on a road trip with my husband's distracting talk radio blaring in my ears... I will be picking up the next one though to see if it works when I'm not distracted half the time.

51. The Book of Tomorrow Cecelia Ahern
Start Date: August 1, 2012
Completed: August 14, 2012
Rating: 2/5
Mini-review: This book was disappointing - I loved P.S. I Love You but this book was full of unlikable characters, plot holes, WTF moments and the pacing was off.

52. The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater
Start Date: August 10, 2012
Completed: August 16, 2012
Rating: 5/5
Mini-review: I loved this book - the atmosphere, the characters, the horses and the lovely subtle romance between Puck and Sean. It is very rare that I'm reading a book and not trying to fly to the finish. I really didn't want this one to end. The closer we got to the races the slower I read. I can see how this book may not work for some people and seem rather slow especially if you were expecting a long cross country type race but for me it was perfect.

53. My Dearest Enemy Connie Brockway
Start Date: August 16, 2012
Completed: August 19, 2012
Rating: 4.5/5
Mini-review: This was another charming story from Connie Brockway. As burned out as I can be on the European Historical Romance Connie Brockway always entertains. Lillian and Avery were both charming and witty. This was a nice light, happy read. I've only docked 1/2 a star because I wish there had been more of Lily and Avery's letters in it.

54. The Cloud Roads Martha Wells
Start Date:August 17, 2012
Completed August 23, 2012
Rating: 4/5
Mini-review: I don't remember too many details about this book since I read it quite some time ago but I do remember loving Moon but being slightly annoyed by the names of the characters. It was a very good story and I will be reading the next one.

55. Haunted Kelley Armstrong
Start Date: August 24
Completed: August 26
Rating: 4/5
Very Mini-review: This was another good solid read in the women of the underworld series. I didn't find myself as drawn to the characters as I normally am but overall still a very good book.

56. SEALed with a Kiss Mary-Margret Daughtridge
Start Date: Aug 26
Completed: Aug 29
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: I don't remember much about this book outside of it being very meh.

57, Skirting the Grave Annette Blair
Start Date: August 30
Completed Sept. 2
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: It is only my fondness for the previuos books in this series that keeps the grade at a 3 out of 5. Madiera was completly unlikable in this one and the direction the love triangle went made no sense at all. I'm still annoyed when I think of this book and I'm not even sure I want to read the next one.

58. Deadline Mira Grant
Start Date: September 3
Completed: September 20
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: Another let down. I did not like Sean in this book and the twist at the end was just ugh. Not cool Mira Grant. I loved the first one but after this one I probably won't be picking up the third.

You're doing great Danielle! Hey, I just noticed (I'm a little slow) that you read Bridge to Terabithia earlier this summer. I saw that movie; so sad!

Trevor wrote: "You're doing great Danielle! Hey, I just noticed (I'm a little slow) that you read Bridge to Terabithia earlier this summer. I saw that movie; so sad!"

Thanks Trevor! I've got several more books to add to the list now that were read in August but I've been doing so much reading I haven't had a chance :)

Bridge to Terabitha was sad and even though I knew going in it would be sad I was still shocked when it happened. I don't know what I was expecting but it wasn't that!

I can appreciate that! Even knowing what's going to happen sometimes can't lessen the surprise! ;)

Oh my it's been awhile since I updated this list. I haven't had much time to read since I went back to work full time with an hour + commute each way it's taken a big chunk out of my personal time. So hear we go with some very brief reviews.

59. Absolute Trouble - Michele Albert
Start Date: September 21
Completed: September 28
Rating: 2/5
Mini-review: Was super excited to read a story about a male stripper then was super disappointed in the execution. Julien was very meh (although there was a pretty sexy stripping scene which was the only highlight of the book). Dulcie our heroine was pretty much rage inducing and foolish. How you can not use a condom when you have sex with a strange exotic dancer who you barely know and has done nothing but lie to you since you met him???? And I'm sorry but (view spoiler)[ having a back injury which may make it difficult to carry a child to term does not equal not needing to use condoms because you can't have children. Newsflash - your girly bits don't automatically shut down because your doctor tells you that you may have trouble carrying to term. (hide spoiler)] .
There were just way too many problems with this one.

60. White Night - Jim Butcher
Date Started: September 3
Date Completed: October 8
Rating: 4/5
Review: I want to marry Harry Dresden and I love Chicago so I can't complain about this book. Wasn't my favourite out of the series but still excellent.

61. Somebody Killed His Editor - Josh Lanyon
Start date: October 9
Completed: October 13
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: I think the Adrien English mysteries have spoiled me for all other Josh Lanyon books. I liked Christopher but couldn't warm up to J.X. The relationship just didn't do it for me. The mystery was okay.

62.A Hunger Like No Other - Kresley Cole
Date Started: October 17
Date Completed: October 20
Rating: 4/5
Mini-review: It took me close to 75 pages before I even started to warm up to the hero. Then it took me a further 50 pages or so to really get into the story. Once I did though I was hooked. I really enjoyed the last half and am looking forward to book two.

63. Rampage - William P. Wood
Start Date: October 28
Completed: November 15
Rating: 1/5
mini-review: Ugh - I don't even know why I bothered trying to finish this one. Head hopping, uneven pacing, unlikable characters. Just everything i don't like in a book.

64. Dirty - Megan Hart
Start Date: November 18, 2012
Completed: November 21, 2012
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: I like Megan Hart but can't get super excited about this one. There was nothing wrong with it I just didn't love it.

65. Nekropolis - Tim Waggoner
Start Date; November 15
Completed: November 29
Rating: 3/5
Mini-review: This was a fun read. I liked Matt and Devona was okay. I found the love story lacking and didn't really buy it but that was okay. The rest of the book was great fun and I like the world that Waggoner has built.

66. Motorcycle Man - Kristen Ashley
Start Date: November 29
Completed: December 3
Rating: 2/5
Mini-review: Ugh dude - what is with the love for this book? I don't care how cracktastic it is there is no way I can ignore the terrible writing and lack of editing. I can't get into a book with that kind of writing enough to even call it a crack tastic story. The same plot device was just repeated over and over again with a slightly different catalyst. Don't even get me started on Tack - I mean I love a good bad boy but seriously this guy needed a kick in the junk.

67. Sweet as Sin - Inez Kelley
Rating 3/5
Start Date: December 3, 2012
Completed Date: December 6, 2012
Mini-review: This was okay. I liked the hero but the heroine was kinda meh.

68. Cinder - Marissa Meyer
Rating: 4/5
Start Date: December 6/12
Completed: December 8, 2012
Mini-review: Loved Cinderella with cyborgs. I cannot wait to read the next one.

69. Ilona Andrews - Magic Slays
Rating: 5/5
Start Date: December 9, 2012
Completed: December 17, 2012
Mini-review: Another awesome addition to the Kate Daniels series.

70. Into the Fire - Anne Stuart
Rating: 1/5
Start Date: December 17, 2012
Completed: December 24, 2012
Mini-review: By far this book has the worst heroine I've read in my life. I can't even tell you if the hero was any good because her inability to behave with even an iota of common sense ruined the story for me. There were also a lot of WTF moments which could have been campy and fun if I hadn't hated the heroine with every fiber of my being.