December 2008 Reads

Fun Reading Facts for December

Total Books Read: 12

New Author: 7

Mystery: 4

Fiction: 7

Non-Fiction: 1

DNF: 0

Audio: 0

Pages: 3359

Damage Control by J.A. Jance

Thursday Next, First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde

Confessions of a Contractor by Richard Murphy

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber

Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

The Chocolate Snowman Murdersy by JoAnna Carl

One More Year by Sana Krasikov

'Tis the Season! By Lorna Landvik

Takeover by Lisa Black

The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

Good Design Can Change Your Life by Ty Pennington

Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall

Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall

Copy Right: 2008
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 308

New-to-me author? yes

Simple description:
I took the following from the author’s website:
There are some girls who have everything…She has the right clothes, the right friends, and the right last name, but fifteen-year-old Maddie Crane sometimes feels like an outsider in her clique in the wealthy, seaside town of Hawthorne, Massachusetts. And when her gorgeous, eccentric cousin Cordelia LeClaire moves to town, Maddie is drawn toward her ethereal, magical spirit and teeters even more toward the edge of her friends’ tightly-knit circle...Then there are the jealous ones…Kate Endicott and the Sisters of Misery—a secret clique of the most popular, powerful girls in school—are less than thrilled by Cordelia’s arrival. When Kate’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Trevor takes an interest in Cordelia, the Sisters of Misery become determined to make her pay…Now Maddie must choose between the allure and power of the Sisters of Misery and her loyalty to her beloved cousin. But she’ll have to give up on ever fitting in and accept the disturbing truth about the town, her friends, her mysterious cousin, and even herself as she faces the terrifying wrath of the Sisters of Misery…

Why did I read this book?
One of the quote’s on the book said “Exciting, dangerous, and mysterious!”
Who can pass up a book with a quote like that? Plus, the story did sound interesting.

About the book:
Maddie Crain is a 15 year old girl who does what is expected of her. Her mother wanted her to be friends with the girls she hangs out with, but Maddie doesn’t really like them. She especially doesn’t like Kate Endicott. Kate is mean and “makes” the other girls who are involved in Sisters of Mercy do things they don’t want to do. Then Maddie’s aunt and her cousin, Cordelia, come to the small town to live. Cordelia is beautiful. She’s also an outsider. She is immediately on Kate’s sh*t list.
Then one night, things go too far and Cordelia disappears. Maddie knows the Sisters of Mercy had something to do with it, but she can’t remember most of the night. She doesn’t tell her family or the authorities about where Cordelia really was that day or what happened. She knows that if she does, Kate will make her life hell.
As can be expected, Maddie’s family crumbles and falls apart. After several months she decides to try and figure out what happened to Cordelia herself. Then she starts to get threatening letters in the mail. Soon she begins to find out stuff that she didn’t know before, including some family secrets.

What I liked most:
Nothing. I know, that’s being mean, but I didn’t like the book. I finished it only because I actually did want to know what happened to Cordelia and how the story would end.

Was there something I didn't like?
Maddie was a very week character. She knows that some of the stuff she does and that happens is wrong, but doesn’t do anything about it because she’s afraid of what Kate will do to her. I wouldn’t let most of this stuff happen, no matter what the consequences were to me. She doesn’t even like these girls, yet goes along with whatever they say and do. So I really didn’t like Maddie and that ruined the whole book for me. Most of the time I wanted to tell Maddie to grow up and stand up for herself and what she believes.

Do I recommend the book?
Not really. Unfortunately I didn’t like the writing very much either. I wish I had something positive to say. Hmm…oh..I got it. I think the story itself was a good idea, I just didn’t like the characters or how the story was really told. I do hate to give negative reviews. So hopefully one of you has read this one and had better views, then I can link it below and feel better.

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below.
Sorry, no linked reviews yet

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

Good Design Can Change Your Life by Ty Pennington

Copy Right: 2008

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: House & Home/Non-Fiction

Pages: 240

New-to-me author? Yes

 

Simple description:

I took this from Amazon.com, Ty Pennington does have his own website but when you click on the book it takes you to amazon, so that's where I copied this from: ocusing on the three most important parts of your home -- sleeping spaces, living spaces, and working spaces -- Ty offers low-cost, high-impact ideas for every budget. You'll learn how to express your personality and your passions in your design and how to get the most out of small spaces and limited time. Whether you want to create a welcoming living room that helps you connect with friends and family, a restful bedroom that lets you face the day energized and optimistic, or a streamlined home office that keeps you productive, Ty has some great ideas to share. From the elegant to the funky, the whimsical to the restful; from walls, floors, and lighting to storage, wallpaper, and fabric -- it's all here, infused with Ty's vitality and great style, along with the emotional stories of the people who changed his life as much as the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew changed theirs. 

 

Why did I read this book?

As most, if not all, of you know, Husband and myself moved into a new house this past April and immediately re-did the entire kitchen. I was also excited to know that I would get to re-do every room. While in some rooms, such as the bedroom, this meant just painting it and getting new window treatments, in others, such as the dining room, it meant new flooring, new lights, etc. We still have the bathrooms and some other rooms to tackle too. I thought this would be an interesting book to read because it would include stories of the homes he has done for Extreme Makeover Home Edition as well as tips on decorating your own home.

About the book:

Basically..this book is Ty's ideas on how you can transform a room to be functional but cool, an expression of yourself. He gives tips on how to find your style and make it work in a room. He also includes stories about some of the work he has done for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. He'll mention a family or person and why they were selected, then tell you what his special project was. He explains what he did and how he came up with the idea. While most of the ideas wouldn't work for me, I loved reading about it and seeing pictures. I admit to liking the show, but not watching it a lot. Why don't I watch it? No idea, it's just one of those weird things about me. The book made me really think about my house and how it's decorated so far and what I could possible do to make it more "us". Ok, fine, I admit that the room I've thought of the most is the one that will be my library. Haha!

What I liked most:

Oh, well, I kinda mentioned it above. I liked reading about the person he designed the room for, where he got his inspiration, and seeing pictures of the finished room.

Was there something I didn't like?

While I understood why there were several pictures of Ty Pennington in the book, I could have done without it. Sure, put his picture on the front and back cover, but not on the inside. I would rather see pictures of the work he has done, not him. That's what the books about after all.

Do I recommend the book?

I do. While I don't see the need to hang onto this book, I think it's a great book to read and pass on to others. I think it might help you get an idea of what you would like to do with a room or at least point in the direction to find what you might want to do.

 

 

Ok..and here's some fun. On one page of the book it lists your primary colors and what kind of mood it sets and what it says about a person who loves that color. So here is what it says about the color green. I figured at this point I just have to admit that green is my favorite color because I noticed awhile ago that I was beginning to buy a lot of green items…purses, shoes, clothes, wall color, etc. So…it's got to be my favorite right?

Green:

Mood: Balanced, restful

Who loves it: Green lovers are usually tree huggers; that is, they're outdoorsy and into the environment. If green is your favorite color, you're probably very down to earth.

Hmm…I can't decide if that describes me or not. I'm very much into recycling and doing things that are earth friendly. I wouldn't say I'm very outdoorsy though. Sure, I grew up backpacking and camping, but that's really not my cup of tea. I like to visit places such as Yellowstone, etc, but I prefer to take a hike while there or sleep in a tent.

 

Ok, here was another fun thing. It was a test on your style. There were 8 questions, answers were A-F. You then read what style you are based on which letter you selected most often. I actually was tied between two letters, "A" and "C".

A: style is minimalist. I'm not going to type everything it said..but here's a snippit: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you probably don't have lace curtains in your dining room, fringe on your pillows, or Grranimals in your closet. Chances are, you like a home that's clean and modern and maybe you even stick to a palette of all white. You're undoubtedly up on the latest in art, music, and design. You're hip, your mod, you know what's going on.

C: style is traditionalist. You tend to keep things the same. I'm willing to bet that you've got lots of family heirlooms in your home and those pieces that haven't been handed down look like they could have been.

 

Ok…so A is more like me that C. So I went back to the questions that I answered "C" on and found it funny that with 2 of them, I had been torn between A and C. So A is definitely more fitting for me. Except..I love color. I like bold, dark colors. In the rooms we have worked on, almost all the white walls were changed. One room is orange, another brown with blue accent pieces. The kitchen is a beige but I'm sure I'll change that in a couple of years. The family room has white on most walls, but grey-blue on the accent wall. So yeah, I'm a minimalist, but one who loves a splash of color.

 

 

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below.

Sorry, no linked reviews yet

 

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

Copy Right: 2008

Publisher: Harper Collins Children

Genre: Fiction/Children (ages 4-8)

Pages: 40

 

Simple description:

I took the following from the author's website:

Forget Frosty. Forget Rudolph. Forget Santa. The next generation holiday hero is small, dark, and flammable.

Will this lump of coal get the holiday miracle he deserves? Or is he just going to get burned? You don't have to wait until Christmas morning to find out. Stuff all of your loved ones' stockings with this uproarious, irreverent new picture-book collaboration from the bestselling author and illustrator of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Why did I read this book?

I had actually wanted to get this book, seeing as how I loved The Series of Unfortunate Events by the author, but kept forgetting whenever I was at the bookstore. As luck would have it, my thoughtful Mom saw it and bought it for me for Christmas.

About the book:

This is basically a Christmas story about a lump of coal. The lump of coal wants to be artistic, but seeing as how he is a lump of coal, that's hard to do. So he starts to wonder around town to try and be useful and of course on Christmas…..his dreams come true. So yeah, that's it in a nutshell. It's a very fast book, it's for a younger audience. I thought it was a cute story that younger kids would like. I didn't like it as much as The Series of Unfortunate Events, but I still liked it.

What I liked most:

Um, actually, nothing really stands out. The artwork was pretty darn good though. The artwork is by Brett Helquist.

Was there something I didn't like?

Not really.

Do I recommend the book?

I do, I think young kids will enjoy it. The parents and older kids might not..but then it wasn't intended for that audience.

 

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below.

Sorry, no linked reviews yet

 

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

Takeover by Lisa Black

Copy Right: 2008

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 337

New-to-me author? Yup

 

Simple description:

I took the following from the author's website:

Takeover is the first in a series from William Morrow.  Forensic Scientist Theresa MacLean is investigating an early-morning murder when she gets word that her fiancé has been taken hostage with seven others in a bank robbery at Cleveland's Federal Reserve. The city's best negotiator, high-profile Chris Cavanaugh, hasn't lost a victim yet, but Theresa wonders if he might be too arrogant to save the day this time around. Once she gets inside the bank, Theresa must use all her smarts, experience, and forensic skills to get control of the crisis

Why did I read this book?

I love mysteries and this one sounded good. It's the first in a new series, so the perfect time to start.

About the book:

The entire book pretty much takes place in one day. Theresa MacLean is called to the site of a murder. Her fiancé and his partner, her cousin, are working the case. While they are working this murder, they get notified that there is an attempted bank robbery at the federal reserve bank, where there murdered man worked. The robbers are still inside, with hostages. One of the hostages happens to be her fiancé. The famous police negotiator, Chris Cavanaugh, is called in. The problem is that while he expects all negotiations to be different, this one isn't going as expected. The robbers are either very dumb, or very smart. When Theresa's fiancé is shot in the leg, she recognizes it as being a wound that could be fatal if left alone. She ends bringing the robbers their car back and exchanging herself and the car, for her fiancé. Things go from bad to worse and Theresa isn't sure any of them will get out alive.

What I liked most:

I actually liked that the entire story was one day. It was different from what I usually read, from most mysteries actually. At least, that's this reviewer's opinion. So I liked that it was different. I thought Theresa was a very brave and smart woman. I really like her character and I'm hoping that she is the main character for the rest of the series. I liked being so involved with a hostage negotiation. In this book you get to be on both sides, you are outside with Chris as he tries to learn about the robbers and use this info to get the robbers to give up the hostages. You also get to be inside the bank with the robbers to see how they react to everything and everyone.

 

Was there something I didn't like?

Unfortunately, there was. I think if somebody had warned me about this, it would have been better. So I'm going to warn all of you. One of the cops is Officer Frank Patrick. Now, I don't know if that was mentioned in the beginning or not. If it was, I totally missed it. At first this cop is referred to as Frank. Then suddenly somebody named Patrick is in the story and I had no idea where that person came from. Then I realized that it sounds like Patrick is supposed to be Frank. Then it was finally there was a part where the character was referred to as Officer Patrick, and Frank answered. That's when I realized that Patrick was Frank's last name. So I was rather confused and thought it was a typo for awhile. I thought the author changed the character's name and it was never corrected in every spot. I'm glad to know that wasn't the case. So…you've been warned. When you read this book, if somebody is referred to as Patrick or Frank..it's the same person.

Do I recommend the book?

Definitely! I thought this was a great book and it really held my interest. I can think of several bloggers that I think would enjoy this book. One being Heidi's Books.

 

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below.

Sorry, no linked reviews yet

 

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

‘Tis the Season! By Lorna Landvik

Copy Right: 2008

Publisher and genre: Ballantine Books/Fiction

Pages:223

Challenges: none

Simple description:

I couldn't find a website for the author, which really baffles me, so I took the following from Bookreporter.com:

The novel hits directly on the timely topic of celebrity and our culture's obsession with it. The main character is Caroline "Caro" Dixon, a wealthy heiress whose hard-partying, alcohol-fueled lifestyle is food for the entertainment media's biggest bottom-feeder tabloids. After a particularly wild bender, she finds herself ostracized by her entire circle and decides to finally dry out and get some help. She begins tentatively reaching out to some people from her past with whom she had genuine relationships --- Astrid Brevald, her Norwegian nanny from her teenage years, and Cyril Dale, a cowboy and owner of an Arizona dude ranch where Caro spent some time during an especially rough patch in her childhood. Through these reconnections, the story of these characters begins to unfold, and 'TIS THE SEASON! explores what it means to forgive and be forgiven.

Why did I read this book?

I have read other books by the author and really enjoyed them. I didn't have any Christmas books to read this season and I saw this and knew it would be perfect.

About the book:

Basically it's a story about one a young girl is out of control. She is ruining her own life and others, and it's blabbed about all over the internet and in the papers. The good thing is that she realizes she's out of control and decides to go into rehab and get help. As one of the 12 steps she contacts people she has wronged. She contacts her nanny, Astrid, from when she was 13. She also contacts a cowboy, Cyril, that she met when she was sent to his ranch when her family wanted to get her out of their way. These two individuals appreciate Caro contacted them and write her back. This starts a series of emails where the three of them connect and the two adults help Caro get her life back on track. Things come together close to Christmas when they all meet at the ranch to spend the holiday together.

This book is written in email format, for the most part. I really like that format. The very beginning it's somewhat confusing trying to keep track of everyone, but pretty soon it makes sense.

What I liked most:

I just liked the story. It's one where you assume it's going to have a happy ending, but that's what I expected and wanted. I loved the charactors, I wish I could meet Astrid and Cyril, they sounded wonderful. I would also like to visit Cyril at his ranch. It sounded like a very relaxing place to be and live.

Was there something I didn't like?

Well, no, not really.

Do I recommend the book?

Absolutely! If you are in need of a book that has a happy ending, this is a great book. While the book doesn't take place entirely at Christmas time, it does end during the Holiday, which in my book makes it a great read for December.

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below

This book has been reviewed by:

Bookfan-Mary

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

Etsy shop - a bit of advertising

Last month I created an account at Etsy to try and sell some of the Christmas cards and bookmarks that I've made and haven't used.  Then, when December hit, I decided to post these quilling/paper snowflakes that I make.  I was surprised, and excited, by the orders that I received.

I decided to add more items to my shop.  I added baby shower invitations and baby announcements.  Why those two?  Easy answer!  I made both of them earlier this year and had examples already made and so it was easy to list them!

I then played around on Etsy and realized I could create a little advertising to put on my blog, which I have done to both now.

So why am I also creating a post about it?  Well...a little advertising.  I wanted to point it out and ask my faithful readers to keep me in mind next time announcements or invites are needed.  I can do almost any kind, not just baby.   So if you know if somebody who might be in need, please direct them to my shop.  I would really appreciate it!    And....if you are invited to a baby shower, might I suggest giving the Mom-to-be a coupon that says you'll pay for the announcements made by yours truly (aka: ME!) LOL!   No really, I did this for my sister.   I gave your a coupon that said it was good for handmade baby announcements.  I truely believe this is a gift that any Mom-to-be would appreciate it.  It's one less thing they have to worry about once the baby arrives.

Thanks in advance for any word of mouth you provide for me!

oh, and click here to be taken to my store on Etsy. 

2009 TBR Challenge

I'm ready for this challenge again in 2009. I created my list for 2009 a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of signing up for this challenge. I actually read 13 books on my list for last year, so this is one challenge I know I can do again. Once again, I want to read all 24 books – meaning both the TBR list and the alternative list, but, we'll see what happens.

This challenge is hosted by MizB and there is a blog for the challenge, TBR (to be read) challenge.

The Rules:

To remind you of the rules:
* the challenge is to read 12 TBR books in 12 months -- you can read those all in one month if you want, or one a month, or however you wanna do it.
* you need to have a list posted somewhere for others to see (even if it's in a comment here)
* you CANNOT change your list after January 1st, 2009!!!
* you can create an Alternates list of MAXIMUM 12 books, if you want, in order to have options to choose from (you can read these in place of books on your original list).
* audiobooks and e-books ARE allowed
* re-reads are NOT allowed, as they aren't TRUE "TBRs"
* you CAN overlap with other challenges
* OPTIONAL: you can join the Yahoo! Group created for participants of the TBR Challenge, if you want to have a place to keep your list, or just to share with others about how you're doing! :)

My selections:

Main List:

Remember Me? By Sophie Kinsella

Playing With Fire by Derek Landy

Death Reins in by Michele Scott

An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris

Killer in High Heels by Gemma Halliday

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Tall, Dark, and Deadly by Heather Graham

Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

A rose from the Dead by Kate Collins

Motif for Murder by Laura Childs

Peppermint Twisted by Sammi Carter

Secrets in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Alternative List:
Feint of Art by Hailey Lind
Too Pretty to Die by Susan McBride
Fine-Feathered Death by Linda O. Johnston
Design for Murder by Carolyn Hart
The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen
The Big Over-Easy by Jasper Fforde
The Main Corpse by Diane Mott Davidson
Fowl Prey by Mary Daheim
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
Hold 'Em Hostage by Jackie Chance
Size 14 is not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews

One More Year by Sana Krasikov

Copy Right: 2008

Publisher and genre: Spiegel and Grau, Fiction

Pages: 229

New author being featured on this blog

Challenges: None

Simple description:

I couldn't find a website for the author (seriously!) so I took the following from Random House's website:

The characters who populate Krasikov's stories are mostly women–some are new to America; some still live in the former Soviet Union, in Georgia or Russia; and some have returned to Russia to find a country they barely recognize and people they no longer understand. Mothers leave children behind; children abandon their parents. Almost all of them look to love to repair their lives, and when love isn't really there, they attempt to make do with relationships that substitute for love.

Why did I read this book?

I don't read a lot of short story books, but this one piqued my interested. I thought it would be interesting.

About the book:

It's always hard for me to describe a book when it's a collection of short stories. I can't very well tell you about each story can I? Basically the majority, of the stories are from a women's point of view. All the women seem to be looking for love somewhere, they might be married, they might be younger and still dating. The women are all of Russian descent. Actually, I think I'm just telling you the same things I posted in the Simple Description area. Oh well….I warned you it was hard for me to describe books like this. My favorite story was Better Half. It's about a 22 year old girl who comes to the states and gets married in order to be able to stay here. Her husband ends up being a bit abusive and she kicks him out and talks to a lawyer about getting a visa without him. Oh, and Debt was another favorite. Debt is about a girl who shows up at her Uncles house with her new husband. He can't figure out why they are visiting him, until he realizes they want to borrow money.

What I liked most:

Well, I thought the book was just ok. I can't really pick out what I liked most about it. I thought the stories were pretty fast reads. Some of the stories I ended up really liking the characters and understanding the situation they were in and how they could feel and react the way they did.

Was there something I didn't like?

I don't think I really "got" all of the stories. In several of them I was confused on where the story was taking place. Some took me awhile to figure out what was going on. Maybe I just wasn't focusing on it enough.

Do I recommend the book?

Even though I didn't like every story or feel like I really "got" it, I think others will like the stories. I think this is the type of book that I can see people really enjoying and learning from. You definitely walk away with a new feeling about what it's like for current immigrants.

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below

Sorry, no reviews yet

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

Ben Furman giveaway

Just wanted to post a short message regarding the Ben Furman giveaway.

I have only heard from one person, I need the other person to contact me TODAY.

Thanks!

The Chocolate Snowman Murders by JoAnna Carl

Title: The Chocolate Snowman Murders

Copy Right: 2008

Publisher and genre: Obsidian/Mystery

Pages: 228

 

Simple description

(I stole this from the Author’s website)

Lee McKinney is involved with one of the pillars of small town America– a committee. She’s treasurer of the Warner Pier Winter Arts Festival planning committee. This is a minor inconvenience until the juror for the arts show winds up dead in his motel room, and Lee was the person who dropped him off there. How do a small-town grand dame, a choir director, a sculptor, a shy publicist, and a sinister snowman fit in? Can even Aunt Nettie’s chocolate keep Lee from being a suspect?

Why did I read this book?

If you have been a follower of my blog, than you already know this answer.  For those who are kinda new: I read this book because I adore this series.   I’ve been with Lee since day one, or close to it.  These are fun mysteries that are usually a pretty quick read. 

About the book:

Basically, Lee gets involved in another murder.  This time she tries to find the murdered because the police in a small town where the juror was killed believe either Joe or herself killed this man and also a local women who was murdered soon after the juror was found.  She really decides she needs to figure out who the murder is when the juror’s missing cell phone shows up her coat pocket.  She knows she is being framed.  Luckily Aunt Nettie’s new husband is the Chief of Police and he knows Joe and lee would never do something like this.

What I liked most:

I just like being back with friends.  I love Aunt Nettie – she’s a wonderful lady.  I really like Lee too.  This is the 8^th in the series and by now I know the main character’s pretty well and like reading about them.   The books aren’t that big, so they are a quick read for when I need something that’s not going to take a long time.

Was there something I didn’t like?

If you have read this series than you know that Lee has a bit of a problem…she often uses the wrong words when she is nervous.  While  I get it, it’s probably the only thing I don’t like and it’s in all the books.  Luckily I’ve noticed the author usually does it a bit in the beginning and then not so much for the rest of the book.

Do I recommend the book?

Definitely!  If you like cozy mysteries, then I suggest reading this series.  I would, of course, start with the first book.   The first is called The Chocolate Cat Caper.

 

 

Have you reviewed this book on your blog?  If so let me know and I’ll link it below

This book has been reviewed by:

Heidi’s Books

 

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by!  Kris

 

Books for nephew

Thanks to everyone who commented about what type of books to get a 1 year old!

I meant to print the suggestions, but then totally forgot before I went to the store. I did remember that almost everyone suggested board books, so that's what I focused on.

I got:
The Foot Book Dr. Seuss's Wacky Book of Opposites
It's a small board book. I happen to love Dr. Seuss, so of course it caught my attention.

That's not my dragon...it's ears are too tufty
It's listed as an Usborne touch-feel book. It's a board book but has something on each page for the child to touch, such as fluffy ears, a rough tongue, etc. I thought this would be fun because there are different textures for him to touch.


Thanks again for the suggestions. I really hope they don't already have these books..and of course that he likes them!

Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

I thought I would try something new. I love the book reviews that Bookfool does on her blog, so I thought I would steal her idea. I don't think she'll mind, it's a compliment!!!

Book: Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

Copy Right: 2008

Publisher and genre: Hyperion, Fiction

Pages: 368

Simple description:

Anna Taggart graduates from Columbia University and gets a teaching position at a private school in the Upper East side of Manhattan. Her parents believe she is wasting her education, but she is passionate about teaching and knows this is what she wants to do with her life. Then she meets the students and worse, their mothers. She soon realizes that the majority of the students don't do their own work; the tutors do it. The parents get upset whenever she sends homework home. The school gets upset if she appears to be actually teaching. She soon realizes that her dream to inspire young children is being halted. Plus, the pay check sucks. Then, she is asked to tutor a child at another school. She realizes that if she tutor's for $200 an hour, she can afford some nice furniture and designer clothes and accessories. However, she has to turn a blind eye to the work her students turn in and she also has to stop really teaching them.

Why did I read this book?

Honestly, I was asked to review it. I know, I don't normally admit that in my reviews. Why you ask? I don't want readers to think that I'm giving a book a positive review just because I got it for free. I'm honest, no matter what. So that being said…I guess I could answer the question of: Why did I accept this book for review? I thought it would be a fun book. On the back cover it says "In the tradition of The Nanny Diaries, a vibrant debut novel about a young teacher in an elite private school who walks into a windfall—and a world she never could have imagined—when she becomes a homework tutor to the children of New York's super-rich." How could I possibly pass up this book?

About the book:

Anna struggles with trying to do what she loves, teaching, and also fitting in at the school. Oh, and let's not forget making the Mom's happy. She soon realizes that if she gives the students homework, she'll have a voicemail from every mother by the time she gets home. It's not fair to give the kids that much work. When she see's another teacher actually doing one of her students work, her world crumbles. Could it possibly be that the kids aren't actually doing the work. Then she is asked to tutor and realizes there is a lot of money to be made. However, she struggles with making lots of money and buying name brand clothes, but then not actually teaching the children anything and not doing what she set out to do.

What I liked most:

I thought it was a fun book. Parts of it were funny, parts were serious. It's a book that seems to be making fun at the ubber rich, yet sometimes I wondered if parts were actually true (but just embellished). For me, it was a great book that kept my interest but didn't make me think to much. During the Holidays, that's the perfect type of book for me.

Was there something I didn't like?

Well, this was a review copy, so there were grammatical errors and other errors I noticed. However, not that many. My hope is that official published version doesn't contain any of it.

Do I recommend the book?

I do, really, honestly, I do. I have read The Nanny Diaries and enjoyed it. This seems like the same type of book. So if you have read that one, give this one a try. I really enjoyed this one and tried to think of ways to sneak in reading at work. I actually took my allowed breaks a couple of times just so I could read more of this story.

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below

Sorry, no reviews yet

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

(new author.fiction.368pages)

Books for a 1 year old?

So I've decided that we are getting my 1 year old nephew books for Christmas. However, I don't know what books a 1 year old would enjoy. I don't remember being 1, and I don't have any kids, so I'm turning to my faithful readers.

I have no idea which books Tommie already owns seeing as how he lives in Ohio. I'm also not sure what books he currently has that he enjoys having his parents read to him.

So...what books do you faithful readers feel a 1 year old would enjoy?

Winners picked for the book giveaway

I picked the winners for the giveaway for Ben Furman's books. I used random.org to pick the numbers for me.

The winners.....

Robin_Titan

Ruth

Congratulations!!!!!

Please leave a comment with the title of the book you want and your mailing address. Since I have to approve all comments before they get published, I will reject your comment. That way I get the info needed and the rest of the world doesn't.

16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber

This story takes place in Cedar Cove, Washington. It's a small town and throughout this story you'll learn about many of the people who live there. Olivia is a judge. She has two children and is divorced. One day she is asked to grant a divorce to a young couple who haven't even been married for a year. It seemed they lost their child and can't see past it. She decided to deny the divorce for now because in her heart she knows the two should be together and that they still love each other. The new newspaper man writers a story about her, and soon she is seeing him every once in awhile.

The young couple, Cecile and Ian, has a lot to work out. He is in the Navy and was away when their daughter was born and then passed away. Cecile blames him for not being there for him and he doesn't know how to express his feelings for her. Now they aren't allowed to get a divorce just yet and have to figure out what to do. They both still love each other, but don't see how they can get past the death of their daughter.

Charlotte is Olivia's Mother. She has befriended a man who is in assisted care at one of the senior centers in Cedar Cove. He has had a stroke and can't really talk, but she is able to understand what he means to say. The soon became friends, but when he has another stroke and passes away, she learns who he really is and tries to get in touch with his long lost relatives.

Grace is Olivia's best friend. Her marriage has always been tough, but they stuck together for their children. Then one day her husband disappears and when he comes back the next morning, he gets upset that she contact the police and others looking for him. Then, he disappears again but this time doesn't come back. Grace has to deal with this sudden change as do both her daughters.

If you have read any of Debbie Macomber's books, then you have an understanding about what they are like. I have read the books in one of her series and really enjoyed them. I picked up this book because I thought it was just what I needed, but once I started reading it, well, it wasn't what I was looking for. So, it took me awhile to really get interested in the story. However, once I did, I loved the book. I like the authors books because you always walk away feeling like you know the characters. I know there is more to this series and I'm anxious to get my hands on them. While things were wrapped up for most characters at the end of this book, I know there is more that needs to be said. Haha! I can't wait to see what happens to each of them.

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below

Sorry, no reviews yet

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

(fiction.377 pages)

Book Giveaway: Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal

*****sticky post to remain at top until 12/14*****

The author, Ben Furman, has decided to give away a couple copies of his young adult books. I offered to host one of the contests on my blog because I have read both in his series and enjoyed them. So..now is your chance! I'll be able to offer two books. I'm going to leave it up to you to decide if you want the first in the series, Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal, or the second in the series, The Royal Trident.

Rules:

1)There will be two winners

2)Each winner receives only 1 book

3)Winner gets to choose which book they wish to receive

4)You can only enter once

5)The last day to enter is 12/14

6)Enter by leaving a comment!

I will announce the winners either on 12/15 or 12/16. I will then gather the mailing address of the winners and email them to the publicist, either the publicist or Ben will mail the books.

I'm stopping mine earlier than required because I thought I would give people the chance to win these as a Christmas gift for a young reader they think would enjoy the book. Of course, you can always enter to win it for yourself too...I know I would. haha!

Here's some info on the books for you, or rather links for you to go check them out yourself:

Black Hawk Press - for info on the books

Sam's Quest for the Crimson Crystal - my own personal review

The Royal Trident - my own personal review

Guest Post - Ben's guest post on my blog

Confessions of a Contractor by Richard Murphy

Henry is a contractor in LA. He has loyal employees, Miguel and Hector. Things begin to get complicated when Henry and his crew finish at Sally Stein. Why would things get complicated? Because Henry is attracted to her and it appears that she is attracted to him. She invites him to a dinner she throws to show off the new house and have her friends met Henry. When she sits next to him at the dinner table, a meal that is served in the dark while they are wearing blind folds, things get a little out of control. To sum it up, they become an "item" after that. Meanwhile, Henry takes on a job at Rebecca Paulson's house. He knows he shouldn't have, but he couldn't say no. At the same time, Sally has asked him to convert her garage into a guest house. Hector and Miguel know it's a bad move to try and do both jobs, but Henry does it anyway.

Things get even more complicated when Henry realizes that Sally and Rebecca used to be friends. Things get even more complicated when Henry realizes he is falling for both women. He tries to not like Rebecca and not get involved, but it's hard. The husband also seems to be pushing him towards his wife, which seems really strange.

Now for my thoughts, I know you are dying to know what I thought. Honestly, I loved this book. It was the perfect read for me right now. It was light and fun. The style of writing was very easy to follow. I felt like Henry was telling me the story, like he would tell a friend. There were times when he would back track and talk about how he ended up in LA or about other jobs that had been down. This didn't take away from the story though. I think it went well with how the author wrote it. If I was telling a story to a friend about something that happened in my life, I would be very likely to interrupt it to talk about something else that happened to me because I thought it relevant to the story. It felt like the author was doing the same thing.

I really like Henry. Sure, he makes some mistakes; he might not even be the best boyfriend. But..you can't help really liking the guy and hoping for the best.

I think this is a great debut book by the author, and hope to see more from him soon.

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below

Sorry, no reviews yet

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

(new author.fiction.273pgs)

1st in a Series Challenge 2009

I know...same thing with this one...I somewhat failed this year, but I'm giving it another shot in 2009. I have a bunch of books that are the 1st in a series so this will help me finally read them. I mean, I really do want to read them, I just tend to not pick them up. I'm sure I'm missing some great ones!

J. Kaye is hosting this one as well. The post about the challenge is here.

Guidelines for 1st in Series Challenge 2009
1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
2. Read 12 books that are the first in any series. You may read & list your chosen books any time during the year.
3. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.
4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.


Here's my possible list of books you'll see me read for this challenge:

The Remains of the Dead by Wendy Roberts
Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth by Tamar Myers
A Murderous Glaze by Melissa Glazer
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett
Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
The Big Over-Easy by Jasper Fforde
Feint of Art by Hailey Lind
Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Carbs and Cadavers by J.B. Stanley

Series Challenge Season 3

Kathrin at Crazy Cozy Murders is hosting the Series Challenge Season 3.

I didn't join in the other seasons because the time frame was too short for me, but this time it runs for a year. While I think I'm at the point where I have too many challenges started, I'm hoping I can do well with this one. I love mystery series and I have a ton started that I want to finish, so this seems like the perfect challenge for me. Plus, to complete the challenge, I really only have to read 4 books. How hard can that be? Right…I shouldn't have said that.

The rules are easy:

1) Pick a couple series you already started and now want to finish (meaning, you'll be all up to date with the series when it ends).

2) Read at least 4 books, more are also okay, of course!

3) Post your review of the books on your blog or in the comment section, no matter how long. If you post the review on your blog, please post a link to the review in the comment section so that everyone else can check out your review.

4) Have fun!

The dates for the challenge are December 1, 2008 – November 30, 2009

I'm going to make a list of books I would like to read for this challenge. I'm going to tell you right now that I'll change as I see fit in order to complete this challenge, but I do hope to stick to this list. I'm going to only pull books that I already own. I might run into a problem if the authors publish new books for the series in 2009 and I don't get them, but I'll have to deal with that when it happens.

Meg Cabot – Size 14 is not Fat Either (#2)

Sammi Carter – Peppermint Twisted (#3)

Jackie Chance – Hold 'em Hostage (#3)

Laura Childs – Motif for Murder (#4), Frill Kill (#5)

Kate Collins – A Rose From the Dead (#6), Shoots to Kill (#7)

Heather Graham – Deadly Harvest (#2), Deadly Gift (#3)

Charlaine Harris – From Dead to Worse (#8)(Sookie series), An Ice Cold Grave (#3)(Harper series)

Tim Myers – At Wick's End series: Snuffed Out (#2), Dead Waxed Over (#3), A Flicker of a Doubt (#4), Lighthouse series: Booked for Murder (#5)

Michelle Scot – Horse Lover's Series: Death Reins In (#2), Tacked to Death (#3), Wine Lover's series: Silanced by Syrah (#3), A Vintage Murder (#4)

Ok…we can all clearly see that I listed a lot more than 4. Will I get to this entire list? Probably not. Would I love to get through this list? Yeah, I would. Do I think I can read at least 4 (the rules set by the challenge owner) from this list? I really do.

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

2009 Young Adult Challenge

I know, I know…you are asking why I would even attempt to do this challenge again since I failed miserably in 2008. It's simple, I like the challenge. I have acquired a bunch of YA books that I'm anxious to read, but haven't yet. That leads me to believe that I'll do much better with the challenge in 2009.

J. Kaye is hosting the challenge again this year. The challenge post is found here.

Here are the rules:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

2. Read 12 Young Adult novels. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

3. Challenge begins January thru December, 2009.

4. You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009.

Here is my list of YA books I hope to read for this challenge. Per the challenge rules, I'm at liberty to change this whenever I want, but these are ones that I hope to read for the challenge. You might also notice that some were on the challenge list for 2008 that I never go to. Here's hoping I get to them this time around.

Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

Awakening by Wendy Corsi Staub

The Naming by Alison Croggon

Trickster's Choice by Tamora Pierce

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

The Debs: Love, Lies, and Texas Dips by Susan McBride (released June 2009)

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

The Clique by Lisa Harrison

The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan

Steel Trapp: The Challenge by Ridley Pearson

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

20 in 2009 Challenge

This challenge is being hosted by Lynn at the blog 20 in 2009.

Challenge Rules:

• You must have a website since you have to keep an online progress page. You can get free ones from wordpress.com or blogspot.com if you need to.
  


• You must create a progress page, which will be updated each time you complete one of your 20 books. For more information about progress pages and an example of how you can do them, click here.
  


• You can read as many books as you want by an author or in the same series.
  


• If the book is a re-read, it must be from a year ago.
  


• If you begin the book in 2008 and finish it in 2009, it does count for this challenge.
  


• The following do not count: comics, catalogs, manga, journals.
  


• You must link back to this challenge with the button provided or one that you make for your own personal use, or even a text link.
  
  


• If you intend to participate, leave a comment on the main entry stating so. You will then be added to the participants list.
  


• Everyone who successfully completes the 20 in 2009 challenge will win a small award graphic to display on their website
  

I thought about not doing this one, because I read well over 20 books in a year. Then I thought, you know what, I'm going to do this challenge. Why? Because I know I can complete it and it will be good to actually complete a challenge. Haha!

I'll be keeping track of the books read on this blog, since, well, I do that already.

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

Booking Through Thursday - Time is of the Essence

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?
(I’m guessing #1 is an easy question for everyone?)

Of course not! I admit that there are a lot of times when I can be found watching tv instead of reading, but that doesn't mean I still don't want more time to read.

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?

I would read the same things I can be found reading on any given day. I don't tend to read magazines very much. I doubt it would be educational. haha! It would be the mysteries and the fiction and the odd non-fiction that catches my interest.

Thursday Next First Among Sequels by Jasper Fforde

I think it would be really hard for me to explain this book to you and actually make sense, so I'm going to type what is on the back of the book:

Fourteen years after she pegged out at the 1988 SuperHoop, Thursday Next is grappling with a host of problems in the BookWorld: a recalcitrant new apprentice, the death of Sherlock Holmes, and the inexplicable departure of comedy from the once-hilarious Thomas Hardy novels. The Council of Genres is trying to broker a peace deal between certain antagonistic genres: racy Novel has been recklessly placed between Ecclesiastical and Feminist, and they are at each other's throats. Meanwhile, back in Swindon, the government is reporting a dangerously high stupidity surplus, and Thursday's idle sixteen-year-old son would rather sleep all day than follow his destiny as a member of the ChronoGuard. Not only does she captain the ship Moral Dilemma to the very limits of acceptable narrative possibilities, but Thursday also finds she must face down her most vicious enemy yet: herself.

Ok, so that is what the back cover says. If you haven't read the others in this series before, that might not make much sense to you. I personally haven't read the others yet either. I have wanted to, but well, you know how that goes. So I was given the chance to read this one and snatched it up. It took some getting used to, took a bit for me to get into the story because it's so different from anything else I have read. Also…as some of you might know, I'm getting over a very nasty cold. That means I haven't been doing much but staring at the tv in my free time. Basically this series sheds a whole new light into the word of books. There is a separate bookworld, where the characters do live and interact with each other when you aren't reading their tales. You might think what you read is fictional, but in the bookworld, it's real. Sometimes these characters go rouge and cause trouble and it's up to those in the jurisfiction department to set it all straight. I think this is a series that booklovers would find fun and amusing. It definitely puts a different spin on books and reading. And what about starting the series at the beginning? I think that's a pretty good idea. I was able to follow the story and it made sense to me, but I think maybe starting at the beginning would probably be best.

Check out the authors website for more info.

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below

Sorry, no reviews yet

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

(new author.mystery.362pgs)

Booking Through Thursday - 5 for Favorites

1. Do you have a favorite author?

I have several authors that I really like. I wouldn't say that is one author that is at the very top though. J.A. Jance, Joanna Fluke, Charlaine Harris, and Susan McBride come to mind. I suppose I can't get away without mentioning J.K. Rowling either. I've loved all the Kay Hoopers books I have read. I could say the same for Heather Graham too. Oh...um....shoot..what's the name.....ah..Victoria Laurie. I love her books. There are also several authors where I've only had a chance to read one or two of their books and while I loved them, I can't call them a favorite until I've read all or most of them.

2. Have you read everything he or she has written?

For the most part - I have read all the books by the majority of the authors mentioned above. There are a couple where I have only one or two left to read and I'm saving them for when I need a pick me-up.
3. Did you LIKE everything?

I can honestly say that I did.
4. How about a least favorite author?

Oh, this one is harder. It would have to be somebody that I attempted to read a book by them and just couldn't do it. Isabel Allende comes to mind. I have only tried to read Paula, but couldn't finish it.
5. An author you wanted to like, but didn’t?

This is one of those questions where if I was reviewing a book, this is something I would say. I wanted to like it, but didn't. However, since you are asking me, I can't come up with any. haha!

sparkly vampires and a cold

I thought my readers might enjoy this story, well, not the cold part, but the sparkly vampire part. I'm currently battling a cold, probably like half of you are. I had a sore throat for 4 days. On the fifth day the sore throat finally went away but caughing was really really bad. So today, the 6th day, I'm stuffy and am having trouble talking. This normally wouldn't be a problem, except that I work in IT on a helpdesk. So I answer the phone all day long and try to help people with pc problems. As you can imagine, as the day has worn on, it has gotten harder and harder for me to talk. My throat feels fine, but my voice goes in and out.

So, I'm sitting here teasing one of my co-workers about sparkly vampires. At this point it's just a joke, I mention it often throughout the day just to bug him. haha! (my favorite is to text him pictures of Pattison as Edward, or send him links to picturse on IM) I got to thinking...if I was a sparkly vampire, I wouldn't ever have a cold again! So I decided to share this with him. His response you ask? You just want Edward to bite you. lol! But really...wouldn't it be nice to never have a cold again?

I will say, though, that we have some really nice people that call us. I was going to have to walk one lady through installing a program from the internet. I knew I would never be able to get through it. I tried to control to her pc but the stupid program didn't work right. So I finally just told her I would email her the directions so she could try it herself, since it would be too hard for me to get through it with my voice. But..if she had trouble to please call back and somebody else could help her. She didn't complain at all. She even emailed me and told me that it all went great and she was back up and working. See...some people are nice.

Damage Control by J. A. Jance

This is the latest in the Joanna Brady series.

Joanna Brady is back from maternity leave and trying to be a full-time sheriff, as well as a full-time Mom to the new baby. Luckily Butch is able to take care of the baby most of the time, however it's still tough on both of them.

Things start out with what appears to be a suicide pact between spouses. They drive over the side of a cliff, with a suicide note in the car. Things get worse when the two daughters come to town. The two daughters haven't talked to each other in something like 40 years, so things are easy for them. When they end up getting in a fight and assaulting a police officer, Sheriff Brady has them thrown in jail. In the same cell. It appears that the girls are finally getting along once they are released, but soon after they get a call from the parents' house. One of the daughters is holding the other hostage…and at gunpoint. Joanna seems to think that something caused one of the daughters to lose it, and believes it might be something in the food at the house. She believes this might have also been why their father thought he had alzheimer's, when he didn't. But..who would be behind this? Things just go from bad to worse at this point.

While all this is going on, she is also dealing with some bones that were found after a big rain. They were able to identify the victim without too much trouble but finding the killer is another story.

This is one of my favorite series. I'm glad I can say that it's one series I'm caught up on too. I don't get to say that very often. If you have read books in this series already, than you know what to expect and won't be disappointed. I thought it was just as good as the others. If you haven't read any in the series, I do recommend you start with the first one. I think it's Desert Heat. This is a series that I believe should be read in order. I noticed she has another book coming out later this year, but it's for the Ali Reynolds series. While I do like that series, I like the Beaumont and the Brady series better.

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? If so let me know and I'll link it below

Sorry, no reviews yet

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris

(mystery.374pg)

Twilight - oh yes...another post

I found this link on Under a Blood Red Sun and decided to check it out now that I have seen the movie.

Trust me..if you have seen the movie, it's really funny. If you haven't see Twilight yet, I wouldn't recommend clicking on the link because there are some spoilers.

28 Reasons that Twilight the movie is better than Twilight the book

November 2008 Reads

Fun Reading Facts for October

Total books read: 7

New authors: 4

Mystery: 4

Fiction: 2

Non-Fiction: 1

DNF: 0

Audio: 0

Pages: 2,395

 

Sam's Quest: The Royal Trident by Ben Furman

Deadly Night by Heather Graham

In the Woods by Tana French

Sweet Mandarin by Helen Tse

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Mercy Street by Mariah Stewart

Fisherman's Bend by Linda Greenlaw

 

 

Happy Reading…and thanks for stopping by! Kris