Thursday, December 2, 2010

Towers of Midnight


Wheel of Time # 13: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson, Unabridged Audio, 30CDs

I love this series. I want to read the next (and last) book, but then I don't want it to end. Sanderson is doing an awesome job with the writing in Jordan's stead, but did I find a mistake this time? Aviendha's children being small and dark like their wetlander relations?? Isn't Rand a full blood Aiel? Anyway, can't wait for book 14.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Hunger Games

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Read by Carolyn McCormick
Unabridged audio 9CDs

One of the best, if not the best, book I've listened to all year.

"In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. "

This does not sound like the kind of book I would like, but it was awesome!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Wonderful book! Josey is a very young old lady. Her mother married the richest man in town, had Josey very late in life and now keeps her around so she won't be alone. Then Della Lee shows in Josey's closet and decides it is nicer to live there than with the mean boyfriend. She begins pushing Josey to rebellion and soon Josey finds a new best friend and a boyfriend. A book with just the right blending of mystery, romance and magic.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Barnes and Nobles Nook


On a recent trip, I told my husband that I could read books on my iTouch. "Oh," he said. "Then I could download a book on your Kindle and read it and you could read on you iTouch." Well, it took me 2 months to get back my Kindle. My husband loved it. With the recent drop in e-reader prices and an upcoming planned trip to Europe, we decided to go ahead and buy another e-reader. Since we already had a Kindle, we decided to try the Nook. The jury is still out on which I like better. The Nook has a couple of neat features, but took longer to learn how to use. Reading the manual didn't even help much, I had to call. When you call about an issue with your Kindle, service is almost immediate. When I called about the Nook, I was on hold for almost 30 minutes before getting to speak with a real human. I don't like any of the covers I've tried so far and most are far to expensive to try. It is heavier and thicker than the Kindle and a bit smaller around the outside so I can't use a Kindle cover. But overall, I do like it and it and it is nice being able to have an e-reader back.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Dead in the Family


Southern Vampire series #10: Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris

Charlaine Harris never disappoints! Awesome installment in the Sookie series. Now that I have watched Sookie on TV, I could hear her voice as I read this one. The body of Alcide's new second is dumped on Sookie's land and police arrive shortly after Sookie and friends move the body to a safer place. A thought to be dead member of the Russian royal house turns out to be Eric's little vamp brother and Sookie's life is it's usual chaos.

Monday, April 26, 2010

A Year in the World


A Year in the World by Frances Mayes
Unabridged audio read by the author

I love Frances Mayes books. They always take me to a quaint, beautiful out of the way places and make me feel like I've not done enough in my life.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Scarpetta


Kay Scarpetta #16: Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
Unabridged audio, 12 CDs, read by Kate Reading

I really like this series. I think they should be read in order because of the background information one would miss, but each are unique enough that they could be read singly. It has probably been a couple of years since I read a book in this series, but the books are memoriable and I have no trouble knowing who is who and how their lives intertwine. I actually did two in a row this time, reading The Book of the Dead (book #15) then going right into this one. I actually figured out who did it this time, but that did not take away from the enjoyment.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Open Season

Open Season by Linda Howard
Abridged audio - 4CDs


Rarely have I laughed so hard at a book that I almost have to pull over on the side of the road. Mousey little 34 year old librarian (of course, she would have to be a librarian :s), Daisy, decides to change her appearance and her life. While sitting in the parking lot of the local honky tonk, Daisy witnesses something she shouldn't see, but really doesn't realize what she saw and goes about life as usual. Meanwhile, people follow her around plotting her death and the local police chief has his hands full trying to keep her safe.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Gathering Storm


Wheel of Time #12: The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Unabridged audio, 26 CDs read by Kate Reading and Michael Kramer


A lot has been written about this latest installment in the Wheel of Time series. The transition from Robert Jordan writting his own books to Brandon Sanderson writting from his notes and outlines was an easy one for me. I don't think I've ever really "read" these books. I've always listened to them on audio. The decision to continue using the two outstanding narrators had me go from one book to the next with no problem at all.

I made myself wait until the book was definitely going to be released and then began at the first, listening to "New Spring", then "Eye of the World", then on through all 11 others before opening the box for "Gathering Storm". I have to say, I have listened to this series in it's entirety at least 3 times. I enjoyed it as much this time as I did the first time, the second time, the third time I listened to it. This is really an outstanding story. I can't wait for the next book. Please Brandon, don't make me wait very long!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Moonlight


Dark Guardian #1: Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne

Kayla returns to the park where her parents were killed when she was a child to face her past and discovers she is not really the ordinary teen she thought. Great beginning of a new series. I look forward to book #2 Full Moon. Interesting, the author lives in a town just northeast of me.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Blue Diablo


Blue Diablo by Ann Aguirre

Corine is a handler. She picks up an object and can tell where its been. Problem is, it burns her hands and leaves scars. Her ex's mother disappears and he brings Corine something of his mothers to try and discover what has happened to her. Much as Corine wants to forget that side of her life, she loved his mom and knows she will have to help. Along the way she discovers old feelings for her ex are still there, lurking in her heart. Great book. I hope to read more from this author soon.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Audiobook giveaway

I hate to post this one cause I want this book all to myself, but my friend Terra is hosting a free audiobook giveaway on her blog, Yankee Romance Reviewers. She is giving away 3 copies of "The Swan Thieves" by Elisabeth Kostova. http://yankeeromancereviewers.blogspot.com/2010/01/swan-thieves-unabridged-3-copy.html

Friday, January 15, 2010

My Soul to Lose


My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent

Everyone I know seemed to be reading this short story. I had it on my Kindle, so I gave it a try. I really liked the story, but it leaves you wanting more. Since I assume this is a teaser for a new series, I'm sure that was the intention, but I would have preferred a story that had a definite end. Kaylee sees shadows around people who are going to die soon. This causes her to have panic, screaming attacks that causes her to wind up in a mental facility. There seem to be some other patients there that understand her problem, but of course none of the adults do.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Farseer Triology






Farseer Triology by Robin Hobb


Awesome triology! This is not a new series, the last book published was in 2002, but it is the kind of fantasy I like to read and am amazed I had not picked it up before now. The main character goes by "Boy", "Newboy", "Fritz" and "Thomas". His father was a prince, his mother unknown. His grandfather leaves him with the royal family and says he is their duty to raise him. He is schooled in the arts of fighting and letters during the day and at night, he is taught the finer points of assassination. A group of raiders are attacking the coast and are "forging" it's citizens. Forged people no longer recognize friends and family. They roam about in a kind of fog, acting like animals and uncaring about anyone or anything. In order to try to stop the raiders, Prince Verity leaves on a quest to contact the Elderlings, beings that helped rid the coastline of invaders once before. While on his quest, his younger, half-brother murders their father, seizes the throne and proclaims Verity dead. After being abused, beaten and left for dead, Fritz sets out to find Verity and return him to his throne. He is aided in his quest by the court Fool, Verity's Queen, a bard, his wit-brother wolf, and a very strange old woman who is a great deal more than she seems.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

The Dark Devine


The Dark Devine by Bree Despain

I really hope that the first book I finished this year is an indication of how my year of reading will go. This was an awesome book.

Grace Devine is the daughter of a minister. On the surface, their family is just what they appear to be, happy, caring and loving, not only to each other, but to the world at large. But as families often do, they harbor a secret. One that no one will let Grace in on. The family next door is troubled. Grace and her brother Jude's childhood playmate, Daniel, is abused and eventually comes to live with her family. Then one night, Jude comes home covered in his own blood, Daniel disappears and no one will tell Grace what really happened. A few years later, Daniel returns. Her father tries to help him, her mother and brother refuse to even speak of him, and Grace finds herself falling in love with him. Then mysterious things begin to happen all over the neighborhood. People are turning up dead with what appear to be animal bite marks all over them. Jude blames Daniel, Daniel remains silent. What really did happen the night Daniel disappeared all those years ago? Why won't anyone tell her?

Series

Oh, I get a headache just thinking about books in a series. Have authors forgotten how to write nice, stand alone books?? Seriously, if a series can't be as great and awesome as Wheel of Time or Lord of the Rings, then why bother? It has gotten to the point where I read a book, really like it, look forward to another book by the same author, then realize the next book is the second in the series. IF (and this is a big IF) I can remember what the last book was even about, then I might buy it. Come on authors - get a new idea. Quit using the same one over and over and over and over and over.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Best of 2009

Thought I would do my best reads and/or listens of 2009. It seems this year it was either feast or famine. I probably started more books than I finished and at first glance, I did not think there were many I would care to call favorites. I also got my Kindle this year, so several books I read were actually long short stories (is there such a thing?) or novellas that introduce a new author or series. I tend to read a lot of these as they are free. It was a year of 61 print books and 176 audiobooks. It's an eclectic list, but I've always tended to read most anything. So here is my list (in no particular order):

Books
Several series made the list this time.
House of Night series by PC and Kristin Cast
Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost
Chintz n China series by Yasmine Galnorn
Farseer series by Robin Hobb

Single stand alones or first in a series where I haven't read more yet.
Wild's Call by Jeri Smith-Ready
Midnight Predator by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Along Came a Demon by Linda Welch
Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry
Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways by Traci E Hall
The Walk by Lee Goldberg
The Road to Woodstock by Michael Lang

Now for my favorite audios. As you can probably tell by the numbers, I am a huge audio fan. I can listen to them while I drive to work, take a road trip, lunch at work while I play mindless computer games, while I seriously play World of Warcraft at home, and just about anytime I don't have sit down, quite time. I listened to some old favorites again and found new ones to love.

Audiobooks
Harper Hall series by Anne McCaffrey (read by Sally Darling)
Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan (will make the list again next year cause I'm in the middle of it right now)(read by Kate Reading & Michael Kramer)
Cemetary Dance by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (Pendergast series - read by Rene Auberjonois)
Playing for Pizza by John Grisham (read by author)
Austenland by Shannon Hale (read by Katherine Kellgren)
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (read by author - wonderful book)
Murder Room by PD James (read by Charles Keating)
Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson (read by author)
The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir (read by Rosalyn Landor)