Babbling Book Reviews

2013 FrightFall Read-a-thon Sign-Up

Posted on September 24, 2013 by ChristinaSeptember 24, 2013

frightfall 2013

What: FrightFall 2013 Read-a-thon
Who: Michelle @ Seasons of Reading
When: 30 September – 6 October 2013
Goals: 3 Books; 900 pages; 24 hours

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I’ve already picked out the books I plan to read for this challenge. If I’m in the middle of a book when the read-a-thon starts, I’ll count it, too. I’ve chose a paranormal romance, a cozy mystery, and a supernatural suspense book — The Prophet by Amanda Stevens (The Graveyard Queen #3). Last year, I read book 2, The Kingdom, and it was creepy — perfectly suited for the FrightFall Read-a-thon. I’m hoping the third book is, too!

The Prophet (Amanda Stevens)
The Diva Paints the Town (Krista Davis)
Eye of Heaven (Marjorie M. Liu)

There is a Graveyard Queen novella that I’ll probably read, if time permits. As with the previous read-a-thon, I plan to update at the midpoint, not daily.

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Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon Wrap-Up

Posted on September 22, 2013 by ChristinaSeptember 22, 2013

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Read-a-thon Tackle Your TBR

What: Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon
Who: Tressa’s Wishful Endings & Colorimetry
When: 8 – 21 September 2013

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Update for: Sunday, 15 September 2013
Current Read: A Touch of Midnight (Lara Adrian)
Starting page: NONE
Ending page: NONE
Number of pages read: NONE
Total time: NONE
Books completed: NONE

Notes: Spent most of the day doing other things, including writing the midpoint update, I was too tired to read before bed.

Update for: Monday, 16 September 2013
Current Read: A Touch of Midnight (Lara Adrian); Ice Blue (Anne Stuart)
Starting page: A Touch of Midnight (Lara Adrian) — 55/166; Ice Blue (Anne Stuart) — 1/378
Ending page: A Touch of Midnight (Lara Adrian) — 166/166; Ice Blue (Anne Stuart) — 95/378
Number of pages read: 205
Total time: 4 hours, 00 minutes
Books completed: A Touch of Midnight (Lara Adrian)

Notes: Much better.

Update for: Tuesday, 17 September 2013
Current Read: Ice Blue (Anne Stuart)
Starting page: 96/379
Ending page: 379/379
Number of pages read: 283
Total time: 7 hours, 00 minutes
Books completed: Ice Blue (Anne Stuart)

Notes: Home sick

Update for: Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Current Read: Love at First Flight (Marie Force); Books Can Be Deceiving (Jenn McKinlay)
Starting page: Love at First Flight (Marie Force) — 1/383; Books Can Be Deceiving (Jenn McKinlay) — 1/282
Ending page: Love at First Flight (Marie Force) — 383/383; Books Can Be Deceiving (Jenn McKinlay) — 29/282
Number of pages read: 412
Total time: 7 hours, 30 minutes
Books completed: Love at First Flight (Marie Force)

Notes: Home sick. Again.

Update for: Thursday, 19 September 2013
Current Read: Books Can Be Deceiving (Jenn McKinlay)
Starting page: 30/282
Ending page: 282/282
Number of pages read: 253
Total time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Books completed: Books Can Be Deceiving (Jenn McKinlay)

Notes: Went to work, but still got more reading in than expected.

Update for: Friday, 20 September 2013
Current Read: NONE
Starting page: NONE
Ending page: NONE
Number of pages read: NONE
Total time: NONE
Books completed: None

Notes: Since I completed the previous book very late in the evening before, I planned on choosing the next book after work on Friday. Did not get around to picking the next book.

Update for: Saturday, 21 September 2013
Current Read: Midnight Reckoning (Kendra Leigh Castle)
Starting page: 1/334
Ending page: 199/334
Number of pages read: 199
Total time: 4 hours, 00 minutes
Books completed: None

Notes: Started reading later in the evening.

Totals from the Midpoint:
Pages: 628/1,800
Hours: 16 hours, 34 minutes (48 Hours)
Books: 2/6

FINAL:
Pages: 1,980/1,800 (180 pages MORE!!)
Hours: 43 hours, 34 minutes (48 Hours) (short by nearly 4 1/2 hours)
Books: 6/6 (MET GOAL!)

Lament for a Lost Lover (Philippa Carr)
After the Funeral (Agatha Christie)
A Touch of Midnight (Lara Adrian)
Ice Blue (Anne Stuart)
Love at First Flight (Marie Force)
Books Can Be Deceiving (Jenn McKinlay)

Thoughts: Not bad! Had I not been home sick for two days, I don’t think I would have done as well as I did. It made up for the two days that I did not read.

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Spotlight On. . .The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin

Posted on September 18, 2013 by ChristinaSeptember 14, 2013

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Inspired by the many weekly memes about books.

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I was scrolling through my book database, looking at the covers and hoping for inspiration for this week’s Spotlight. I was tempted to feature a book due out in early 2014, but decided that I would leave that one for December (it was the next White House Chef mystery). Then I thought about featuring one of the books I planned to read in the next few weeks, but I couldn’t decide on which one.

Finally, I decided to just pick one with a pretty cover.

Jeannie Lin’s Tang Dynasty books from Harlequin have such lovey covers. In fact, I think Harlequin’s historical category has the best covers of all their lines. The uniqueness of this series being an Asian historical is an added bonus.

Besides the having pretty covers, I’ve also loved the other books in the series. I have no knowledge of the time period and very little understanding of the culture — only what one might see on television, in movies, or read in novels. Yet, I had no problem visualizing the setting or getting into the story. I look forward to reading this book and I hope she gets the opportunity to write more.

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Spotlight On. . .The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin

Title: The Sword Dancer
Author: Jeannie Lin
Series: Harlequin Historical, Tang Dynasty Pages: 281
Published by Harlequin Year: 2013
Genres: Historical Romance
Format: Paperback

Sword dancer Li Feng is used to living life on the edge of the law—a woman alone in the dangerous world of the Tang Dynasty has only her whirlwind reflexes to trust. She will discover the truth about her past, even if that means outwitting the most feared thief-catcher of them all...

Relentless, handsome and determined, Han sees life—and love—as black and white. Until he finally captures the spirited, courageous Li Feng, who makes him question everything he thought he knew about right and wrong. Soon he's faced with an impossible choice: betray the elusive sword dancer he is learning to love, or trust his long-disregarded heart and follow her to dangerous, tempting rebellion...

Goodreads

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REVIEW – Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh

Posted on September 16, 2013 by ChristinaSeptember 14, 2013

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REVIEW – Archangel’s Kiss by Nalini Singh

Title: Archangel's Kiss
Author: Nalini Singh
Series: Guild Hunter #2 Pages: 323
Published by Berkley Year: 2010
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback

Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel, Raphael, is used to being in control—especially when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority.

They've barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel, Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena.

Goodreads

DISCLAIMER: I purchased this book.

(Note: I read this book for a game of Bookshelf Bingo on GoodReads. This is the same review I posted for the challenge. I have not modified it for my blog)

It took me a bit to get into the story, mostly because I was trying to read it while in Georgia. Once I got back home, I almost finished it in one sitting.

One of the things I liked about the book was that Elena didn’t come out of her coma knowing how to be an angel and she wasn’t all-powerful. It seemed more realistic, especially since the book begins shortly after she awakens. Had the book started after she’d already learned everything and was fully recuperated then that would have been fine, too, and I would have expected her to be more capable based on how much time had passed from her awakening.

However, I also thought it was a bit of a hindrance. Because Elena was still weak, it limits what she could do. There isn’t a lot of action for her. She trains with various members of Raphael’s Seven, and she’s called upon to use her hunter skills to help solve a mystery, but she can only do so much. She hasn’t learned to fly yet and she wouldn’t last long against older, more powerful beings.

I will continue this series. Of the two, the Psy-Changeling series is still my favorite. I enjoy the author’s writing and I look forward to reading more from her.

4 Stars

Start: 21 July 2013
Finished: 31 July 2013

Challenges:
Baker’s Dozen
Sequels Challenge
GoodReads Group: SOS Bookshelf Bingo

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Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon Midpoint Update

Posted on September 15, 2013 by ChristinaSeptember 15, 2013

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Read-a-thon Tackle Your TBR

What: Tackle Your TBR Read-a-thon
Who: Tressa’s Wishful Endings & Colorimetry
When: 8 – 21 September 2013

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Update for: Monday, 9 September 2013
Book Title: Lament for a Lost Lover (Philippa Carr)
Starting page: 1/365
Ending page: 129/365
Number of pages read: 129
Total time: 3 hours, 00 minutes
Books completed: None

Notes: I started a day late. Also, I’m reading the ebook version, but I have a paper copy I’m using to track pages read.

Update for: Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Current Read: Lament for a Lost Lover (Philippa Carr)
Starting page: 130/365
Ending page: 244/365
Number of pages read: 115
Total time: 3 hours, 00 minutes
Books completed: None

Notes: Started later in the evening.

Update for: Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Current Read: Lament for a Lost Lover (Philippa Carr)
Starting page: 245/365
Ending page: 365/365
Number of pages read: 94
Total time: 3 hours, 00 minutes
Books completed: Lament for a Lost Lover (Philippa Carr)

Notes: Started late again. At least I finished the book!

Update for: Thursday, 12 September 2013
Current Read: After the Funeral (Agatha Christie)
Starting page: 1/208
Ending page: 97/208
Number of pages read: 97
Total time: 3 hours, 00 minutes
Books completed: None

Notes: A Poirot mystery. Also, an ebook. I’m using what my Nook says is the last page of the story. The Agatha Christie books tend to have something like 20 pages more listing her ENTIRE back list. Twice.

Update for: Friday, 13 September 2013
Current Read: After the Funeral (Agatha Christie)
Starting page: 98/208
Ending page: 208/208
Number of pages read: 110
Total time: 3 hours, 00 minutes
Books completed: After the Funeral (Agatha Christie)

Notes: Another great read.

Update for: Saturday, 14 September 2013
Current Read: A Touch of Midnight (Lara Adrian)
Starting page: 1/166
Ending page: 55/166
Number of pages read: 55
Total time: 1 hours, 34 minutes
Books completed: None

Notes: Not a good reading day. I did read a lot of sample chapters. In some ways productive, but it didn’t put a dent in what I currently own. Meant to read after I got back from a grocery run, but ended up doing other things around the house.

Progress Toward Goals:
Pages: 628/1,800
Hours: 16 hours, 34 minutes (48 Hours)
Books: 2/6

Thoughts: Not doing as well as I hoped. The stats for today (Sunday) are going to be low, since I haven’t taken the time to read yet.

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