2013 BOOK CHALLENGE! Are you in?

[nemofans]

What frustrates me even more is when the author throws out a prequel after the series is over.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I'm the same way as you guys. I started the Mortal Instruments series but got bored. I tried to pick the series back up and just aren't that into it.

I really want to start the new Nora Roberts series, I have even purchased the first one. If I like or though I'll have to wait for them to come out!

It's like binging a TV series. I don't know how I could ever make it watching a television series week by week for months/years! LOL!

 

[3smithboys]

#49- Gone by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge - This is another book in the Michael Bennet series and was great!

#50- Prodigy by Marie Lu - This is the 2nd book in the Legend series...I am enjoying this series... If you like The Hunger Games, I think you will enjoy this one!

.....and I AM AT GOAL!!!!.....and have started Champion, the 3rd book in the Legend series. At first, I set my goal at 25 - I never thought that I would have read 50 books this year!

 

[portia9]

Goal 120

#119 Olivia's Luck by Catherine Alliot. Another good read, good characters and humour. I really like this author.

And I think I might need to up my goal for the second time! I'll have to think.

 

[keenercam]

133/150- Girl Least Likely to Marry by Amy Andrews (cute romance)

134/150 - Wedding Dress Diaries by Aimee Carson (sequel to #133)

135/150 - The Witness (R.C. Investigations) by V.R. Marks -- Good suspense

136/150 - If the Shoe Fits by Laurie LeClair (first in a series; I'll definitely read the next one)

137/150 - If I Return by Sawyer Bennett (novella) - I like this author. The stories may be too "hot" for some readers but the intimacy is not gratuitous and the characters are well-developed.

138/150 - Found by Nadia Simonenko - This is the second and, I believe, final book about these characters, though I hope the author writes more either about these two main characters or some of the others in the story line. I thought the stories and characters were interesting and unique. Again, some "intimate" scenes and ironically, the author seemed awkward and uncomfortable writing those scenes, which I tended to skip.

139/150 - Storm Shells by G.J. Walker-Smith. This is hands-down the best new author I have found in a while and one of the most enjoyable series I've ever read. This was the third in the series and I will definitely re-read all three again. The first one, Saving Wishes, may still be free on Kindle. Grab it while you can. I think there's a good chance you'll by the second and third books in the series.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #77- Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I really liked the 1st 2 books, but this one didn't do it for me. Again, it could be b/c I read it separate from the other 2. I was bothered on how it ended, but thinking about it the next day, I guess I can accept it.

Next book- City of Lost Souls (book 5 of Mortal Instruments series)

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#76 Dr. Sleep by Stephen King

Loved this book!! SK doesn't disappoint. Altho you do have to read The Shining to know the background.
Imagine little Danny Torrance all grown up with new 'ghosties' (and a few of the old ones too). And that's about all I can say without spoilers.

 

[Swimnoid]

Wow! I havent posted since August! I have a lot of catching up to do.

81. Growing Up Amish by Ira Wagler--Non fiction memoir about the authors struggles with being Amish. Very interesting

82. Second Son by Lee Child--Actually more of a long short story about an incident in jack Reacher's childhood. Good read for Reacher fans

83. Spinning Forward by Terri Dulong--Nice story about a widow making a new life for herself in a new community.

84. A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love and Faith in Stages by Kristen Chenoweth--Autobiography about Chenoweth written with wit and humor. LOVED it!

85. Third Degree by james Patterson--3rd book in the womens murder club series. This was better than #2 I thought.

86. Code by Kathy Reichs--3rd in a series about a group of teenagers with unique powers who solve crimes. I really like this series.

87. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom--Fictional account of the lives of the 2 main characters; one a slave and one an Irish orphan who was taken in by a rich southern family and "given" to the kitchen maid to take care of. Based in the early 1800s. LOVED IT!

88. Insurgent by Veronica Roth--continues the Divergent series. I am so-so on this series but I will finish it.

89. Bombshell by Catherine Coulter--Part of the Savage and Sherlock series. Pretty good

90. Deep Storm by Lincoln Child--Something has been found under the ocean. The government has a top secret mission to find out what. Good science type thriller.

91. A Catered Thanksgiving by Isis Crawford--A cozy about 2 women who own a catering company and are hired to cater Thanksgiving for a family. Murder ensues and they must figure out who the murderer is since they are all snowed in at their house. Had potential but the characters talk too much and a lot of it was silly.

92. Nano by Robin Cook--Brings back Dr Pia Gradzani, a research scientist, in her second outing. Becomes dangerously entangled in murder and intrigue. Has a different ending than most Cook books...didnt know what to think.

93. Daddy's Gone a Hunting by Mary Higgins Clark--Who can resist Mary Higgins Clark. Typical fare. Pretty good.

94. Peter and the Sword of Mercy by Dave Barry--Continuation of Peter and the Star Catchers series. OK but not as good as the original book.

95. Never Go Back by Lee child--Jack Reacher again. I really liked this installment.

96. On the Run by Irena McCortney--3rd in the series about senior citizen Ivy Malone who travels around the country in a motor home trying to stay away from the Braxton Brothers who are trying to kill her for testifying against their brother. Every book has her settling someplace out of the way for a little while, getting involved in a murder and solving it. Cute, and light and interesting enough to make you want more.

97. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich--Evanovich is just not for me. Couldnt get into her Plum Novels and wasnt in love with this character either. Tried to be too witty which was just irritating.

98. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins--A re-read in prep to see the movie. It was as good this time through as the first. Loved it

99. Death Match by Lincoln Child--Another science based thriller this one based on computer intelligence. Child's books are all really different and really good. I liked this one a lot.

Whew!

I have 4 more sitting around at different stages of finish and hopefully I'll be back sooner next time.

 

[nemofans]

Goal 72

#76 Dr. Sleep by Stephen King

Loved this book!! SK doesn't disappoint. Altho you do have to read The Shining to know the background.
Imagine little Danny Torrance all grown up with new 'ghosties' (and a few of the old ones too). And that's about all I can say without spoilers.

I just read The Shining last month in preparation for this book. I am currently on hold for it at my library. Can't wait!

 

[zippitydoo]

Book 43 of 45

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Did not care that much for the ending.

 

[portia9]

#120 The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Armin. This book was written a while ago and made into a movie a few years ago. It was beautifully written. It was pretty cheap on the kindle and I later realised all her books were available on the kindle as a treasury so may be worth downloading the lot.

#121 Long Spoon Lane by Anne Perry-always a good read.

 

[jenny105]

Book 43 of 45

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Did not care that much for the ending.

Ugh. This was how I felt about the Hunger Games trilogy. Allegiant is the last book right?

 

[nemofans]

Yes, although, there's an advertisement for a book of short stories about Four's (Tobias) life growing up from his point of view.

 

[jenny105]

Oh a tie in. Big surprise.

 

[willowsnn3]

Goal 72

#77 The Accident by Linwood Barclay

Was just ok. Not as good as some of his other books. This one had too much going on I think.

 

[portia9]

#122 The Novel In The Viola by Natasha Solomon- this is the same author as Mr Rosemblum's List. It didn't have the quirkiness of MRL but was well written and I lied the heroine.

#123 The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen-I really loved this. Heroine is a 27yo under her mother's thumb and it's a coming of age story as she meets a woman who encourages her to live her own life. It is whimsical and I really recommend it.

I have Ian McEwan's Sweet Tooth, Kate Atkinson's Life After Life and The Rosie Project by Graeme Stinson that I downloaded to my kindle so looking forward to them.

 

[Meetmeinmontauk]

Goal: 12

#6 Allegiant by Veronica Roth - Meh. I'm a little bummed by how this book ended. I loved the first 2, though.

 

[Glynis]

Goal - 100 books
Book #65 - "The Woman in Black" by Susan Hill

From Goodreads: Set on the obligatory English moor, on an isolated causeway, the story has as its hero Arthur Kipps, an up-and-coming young solicitor who has come north from London to attend the funeral and settle the affairs of Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. The routine formalities he anticipates give way to a tumble of events and secrets more sinister and terrifying than any nightmare: the rocking chair in the deserted nursery, the eerie sound of a pony and trap, a child's scream in the fog, and most dreadfully--and for Kipps most tragically--The Woman In Black.

My review:

I read this book because I saw the play recently, and it was a spine tingling evening. I wanted to see if the book would be as good... and it was. I have not seen the recent movie with Daniel Radcliffe, but I really want to, now. This was a pure ghost story, that left me peering over shoulder when I read at night! Loved it!

Next up: "The Telling Pool" by David Clement-Davies

 

[wilma-bride]

Book #77 - Defending Jacob by William Landay

This book has been well discussed and publicised here but, for anybody who doesn't know what it's about...

Andy Barber's job is to put killers behind bars. And when a boy from his son Jacob's school is found stabbed to death, Andy is doubly determined to find and prosecute the perpetrator.

Until a crucial piece of evidence turns up linking Jacob to the murder. And suddenly Andy and his wife Laurie find their son accused of being a cold-blooded killer. In the face of every parent's worst nightmare, they will do anything to defend their child. Because, deep down, they know him better than anyone. Don't they?

I found this book pretty hard to get into. It is very wordy and, for a long time, I wasn't sure where it was going. I was impatient to get to the crux of the story. But, boy, when we got there, we really got there. Once I was about half way through, I was hooked. I couldn't wait to carry on reading, to find out whether Jacob really was guilty. And the ending did not disappoint...

Book #78 - A Tap on the Window by Linwood Barclay

When Cal Weaver stops at red light on a rainy night while driving home, he ignores the bedraggled-looking teenaged girl trying to hitch a lift. Even when she starts tapping on his window. But when she says, 'Hey, aren't you Scott's dad?' and he realizes she's one of his son's classmates, he can't really ignore her. OK, so giving a ride to a teenage girl might not be the smartest move, but how much harm could it do?

Over the next 24 hours Cal is about to find out. When the girl, Claire, asks to stop at a restroom on the way home, he's happy to oblige. But the girl who gets back in the car seems strangely nervous, and it's only when they get nearer their destination that Cal realizes she no longer has the nasty cut that he noticed on Claire's hand. After he's finally let her out of the car he remains puzzled and intrigued. But it's only the next morning that he starts to really worry. That's when the police cruiser turns up at his door and asks him if he gave a lift to a girl the previous night. A girl who has now been found brutally murdered.

If Cal is going to clear his name he's going to have to figure out what Claire was really up to and what part he played in her curious deception. But doing so will involve him in some of the small town of Griffon's most carefully kept secrets - and a conspiracy as bizarre as it is deadly.

I am an avid fan of Linwood Barclay and, yet again, he did not fail to disappoint with his latest book. From start to finish, there were so many twists and turns, keeping you hanging right till the very end. A great book!

Book #79 - Just What Kind of Mother Are You by Paula Daly

What if your best friend's child disappears? And it's all your fault.

This is exactly what happens to Lisa Kallisto, overwhelmed working mother of three, one freezing December in the Lake District. She takes her eye off the ball for just a moment and her whole world descends into a nightmare. Her best friend's thirteen-year-old daughter Lucinda has gone missing and now, devastated by this and publicly blamed, Lisa sets out to right the wrong.

But as she begins peeling away the layers surrounding Lucinda's disappearance, Lisa learns that the quiet town she lives in isn't what she thought it was, and her friends may not be who they appear to be, either.

The title of this book alone grabbed my attention. But once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. This was completely unputdownable - the writing style, the storyline, everything had me gripped from start to finish. I loved the characters, loved the drama and the twists and turns. Fab book!

Currently reading...What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

 

[portia9]

#124 Looking for Captain Wentworth by Jane Odiwe. A modern day story of Persuasion involving time travel and Jane Austen. I have read others by this author and she writes well.