SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Expired Challenges
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"Firsts" Challenge
Since I'm starting in August, I'm posting two this month
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn
November Did not finish :(
Warrior by Zoe Archer
Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant
January
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Progress 12/12 November -
1 + 4 for the ones I missed....
Finished 7/11 ***
Finished 9/11 ***
Finished 12/11 **** 
Finished 14/11 *** 1/2
Finished 24/11 **** December 2011
Finished 05/01 **** January 2011
Finished 26/1 ***February 2011
Finished 13/02 ***March 2011
Finished 06/03 3.5 *'sApril 2011
Finished 10/04 ****May 2011
Finished 14/05 3.5 *'sJune 2011
Finished 15/06 3.5*'s
SOS Firsts ChallengeJuly 2010-Out of Bounds7/20, also read The Hunger Games 7/24,The Darkest Night 7/29
August 2010-You Slay Me 8/10, also read Skin Game 8/18
September 2010-Wolf Signs 9/4, also read Slave to Sensation 9/6, The Surgeon 9/7, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula 9/11
October 2010-Vampire Academy 10/14
November 2010- Pack Challenge 11/10 also read Trey: Red Hot & Blue, Book 1 11/17
December 2010- Beyond the Highland Mist 12/8- also read On Fireand Simply Irresistible
January 2011- Three to Ride 1/5 also read Club Shadowlands 1/11
6 of 12 Read
July 2010
★★★☆☆ Jul 4 - Also read:
August 2010
★★★☆☆ Aug 4Also read:
September 2010
★★☆☆☆ Sep 5 - Also read
October 2010
★★☆☆☆ Oct 17November 2010
★☆☆☆☆ Nov 2 - Also read
December 2010 *smack!* Bad girl!
January 2011
★★★★☆ Jan 8
Update for JanuaryJULY '10:
Haunted(Harrison Investigations) -Heather Graham
Love Only Once Malory Family 1-Johanna Lindsey
Deadly Night(Flynn Bros, Bk 1)-Heather Graham
Cocaine Blues(Phryne Fisher, bk 1)-Kerry Greenwood
August '10
White Heather(White Regency) Jaclyn Reding
The Last Viking(Viking Saga II)-Sandra Hill
Deadly Love(Francesca Cahill, bk 1)-Brenda Joyce
River of Darkness(John Madden, Bk 1)-Rennie Airth
Covet(Fallen Angels, bk 1)-J.R. Ward
September '10
The Naked Duke-Sally Mackenzie 9/3
Jewels of the Sun-Nora Roberts 9/4-9/6
Key of Light-Nora Roberts 9/6-9/7
The Neon Rain-James Lee Burke 9/11-9/15
Across a Moonlit Sea-Marsha Canham
Dance Upon the Airm (3 Sisters Island)-Nora Roberts 9/27-9/28
October '10:
Murder on Astor Place (Gas Light, bk 1)-Victoria Thompson
Enforcer (Cascadia Wolves, Bk 1) Annie Windsor
Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey, bk 1) by Dorothy L Sayers
Kiss of Fire-Deborah Cooke 10/1-10/2
Death by Inferior Design-Leslie Caine 10/16
Candy Apple Dead-Sammi Carter 10/15
Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband Melissa Mayhue 10/21
Rushed to the Altar (Blackwater Brides #1) Jane Feather10/24
Ghost Shadow Heather Graham
November:
Wicked Appetite-Janet Evanovich 11/2
Poison Study-Maria V Snyder 11/26
Dragonflight-Anne McCaffrey 11/27
December:
:The Face of Deception-Iris Johansen 12/13-12/15 (Eve Duncan, bk 1)
January:
Darkfever (1st Fever book)-Karen Marie Moning 1/1/11
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious-Christie Craig 1/8 (Divorced/Desperate bk 1)
7/12 Completed (Done) July/2010 Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
August/2010 Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
September/2010 Beyond The Highland Mist
October/2010 Stray by Rachelle Vincent
November/2010 Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh
December/2010 Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire
Jan/2011 Storm Front by Jim Butcher
I'd love to join this challenged but I doubt I'll make it
Not to worry, CyberAlmu. I'm sure we'll have something similar again, once this one is done later this year. We'd love to see the new series you are reading, so be sure to post them over on the currently reading thread. We're always looking for great, new series to start.
July 2010: August 2010:
September 2010:
October 2010:
November 2010:
December 2010:
January 2011:
February 2011: A Perfect Darkness - Jaime Rush
March 2011:
April 2011:
May 2011:
June 2011:
08/12 DoneJuly -
August -
September -
October -
November -
December -
January -
February -
March -
April -
May -
June -
Other first in series books read (during this challenge):
*currently reading
January Update
SOS Firsts Challenge
November 1,2010 to June 30,2011
Goal: 7/12 books
November:This will be my catch-up month :)
2/11
3/11
6/11
26/11
29/11
December:
29/12
January:
17/01
February:
8.
March:
9.
April:
10.
May:
11.
June:
12.
SOS Firsts Challenge
November 1,2010 to June 30,2011
Goal: 7/12 books
November:This will be my catch-up month :)
2/113/116/1126/1129/11December:
29/12January:
17/01February:
8.
March:
9.
April:
10.
May:
11.
June:
12.
Since I'm starting in August, I'm posting two this month
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn
November Did not finish :(
Warrior by Zoe Archer
Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Here are all the firsts I've read for the month!7/12 Done
July 2010:
August 2010:
September 2010:
October 2010:
November 2010:
December 2010:
January 2011:
Also read these firsts...
Wow! WTG, Valorie! So...the important question...for which ones will you read the next book? Most of those are new-to-me, so I'm curious what you liked/didn't like. :D
Count me in! I checked which firsts I read in July through December and added them.Duration: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
6/12 Completed
July 2010:
7/20/10Also Read:
7/27/10
7/29/10August 2010:
8/9/10Also Read:
8/27/10September 2010:
9/17/10Also Read:
9/15/10
9/23/10
9/28/10October 2010:
November 2010:
11/3/10Also Read:
11/12/10
11/27/10December 2010:
12/1/10Also Read:
12/13/10January 2011:
1/5/11Also Read:
1/3/11
1/25/11
1/28/11February 2011:
March 2011:
April 2011:
May 2011:
June 2011:
Final January UpdateRead: 7/12
Jul/10
Read @ 3 Jul ★★★★☆
Also read (8):
Grimspace // Blood Oath // Embers // Black Dust Mambo // Some Girls Bite // Flat-Out Sexy // Spider's Bite // Unholy Ghosts
Aug/10
Read @ 2 Aug ★★★★☆
Also read (3):
Hearts at Stake // Fantasy Lover // Boys that Bite
Sep/10
Read @ 4 Sep ★★★★☆
Oct/10
Read @ 8 Oct ★★★☆☆
Also Read (4):
Enchanted, Inc. // Intertwined // Sins of the Heart // Strange Angels
Nov/10
Read @ 8 Nov ★★★★★
Also Read (3):
Assassin's Honor // Beautiful Lies // You Slay Me
Dec/10
Read @ 3 Dec ★★★★☆
Also Read (1):
Queen of Shadows
Jan/11
Read @ 1 Jan ★★★☆☆
Also Read (3):
Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye // Pack Challenge // Black Wings // Dark Embers // Kitty and the Midnight Hour // Afterlife
Feb/11
Mar/11
Apr/11
May/11
Jun/11
Add'l Reads:
SOS Group Firsts ChallengeJuly 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011
January 2011 Update
Note: See post 322 for July - October Reads
Completed: 7/12
Read 12 books, 1 per month, that are the first in a new to me series.
November
Assassin's Honor, Monica Burns, 11-18-10 I loved the concept and mythology. I loved Ares, Lysander & Phae. I could understand where Emma was coming from, even when she was being irritatingly illogical; finding out people you count as friends and colleagues might also be liars and murderers would throw anyone off. The book was well written and the action kept the pace mooving smoothly. It was easy to see what attracted Emma to Ares. The only thing I had a problem with: Why was Ares so attracted to Emma right from the beginning? What did he see in her that would cause him to ignore long years of tradition and training in order to take the actions he did? Even with that one niggling question, everything else about the book was fantastic and I will definitely read the next book.
Also read:
Afterlight, Elle Jasper, 11-22-10 One of my favorite finds of the year. Riley Poe is a strong female character with a dark, wild-child past that informs all of her actions. And yes, occaisionally her insistence that she's survived those days so she can survive anything can get annoying. At least it's a believable character flaw that fits her personality. Also, she usually admits when she's wrong and misjudged her ability to handle a situation. Hopefully in future books, she'll grow away from this habit. Since she's taken over raising her brother for a number of years, there are some cases where her leap before looking attitude will probably never change. Any "mother" seeing their child in danger, from himself or others, would likely do the same; it's instinct. The Gullah religion and Dupre family were both interesting and I look forward to learning more about them. Overall, an almost perfect read and I will definitely be buying book number two when it comes out in June.
Secondhand Spirits, Juliet Blackwell, 11-23-10 Enjoyable paranormal mystery. Interesting characters and the storyline moved along well. Lily is a witch and not confined to the precepts of the Wiccan religion since the author draws a line between being Wiccan and being a witch. However, I still have a problem with one of Lily's actions. I was okay with Lily's use of powers for the most part; she may be making money but no one is being harmed. The sticking point for me is when she remembers winning an auction through the use of her powers and how unhappy the losing bidder was. No matter how unpleasant the other woman was, Lily's influence was in some way detrimental to the other woman. It was a minor point however and overall I enjoyed the book.
I'm the Vampire, That's Why, Michele Bardsley, 11-30-10 Quick, light-hearted read. The characters are funny and engaging, the romance is believable. It wasn't quite what I expected though. The title and blurb made me think that the plot would center around Jessica adjusting to life as a vampire mom. It doesn't; the kids barely make an appearance. The main focus is on Jessica learning to use her vampire abilities, Jessica dealing with issues from her failed marriage, the realationship between Jessica and Patrick and the struggle between two vampire factions. Overall it was enjoyable and I plan to read the next book in the series.
December
Goddess of the Sea, P.C. Cast, 12-4-10, The concept was very interesting, so I would have liked a little more depth to the plot. The characterizations were predictable. CC was a modern woman sent back to an uneducated time. All the men of the past, except the love interest, were unenlightened, condescending or just plain woman hating. The women of the time were all abused, misunderstood and taken advantage of, but still loving and accepting of CC. Somehow it came across as a little "preachy" on woman power/strength and yet still managed to be fluffy. Those issues aside, it was a fun and enjoyable read. I'm willing to try more in the series to see if it improves.
Also read:
Pack Challenge, Shelly Laurenston, 12-12-10, This book was a true guilty pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, even had a few laugh-out-loud moments. Sara and her friends were argumentative, mean and critical. And, that was just to each other. Despite that, you could tell that they truly loved one other and woe to the man (or pride member) that threatened any member of their group.
Playing With Fire, Katie MacAlister, 12-12-10, Actually a re-read, but still just as funny the second time around.
Shadow Marked, Anna J Evans, 12-20-10 So much potential. It frustrates me that the book fell so far short of the possibilities. The characters were interesting but just didn't quite connect for me, individually or as a couple. The plot wasn't as tight as it could be. Action scenes tended towards confusing and the final showdown could have been stunning but instead the imagery invoked was confusing. So many little elements that only needed a little extra push, but they eventually added up to make this book barely the 3 stars I gave it.
Queen of Shadows, Dianne Sylvan, 12-29-10 i>Received one of my rare 5 star ratings. Great read. Sylvan did a wonderful job of painting Miranda as tough, yet damaged at the same time. She's survived by learning fast and employing tricks to handle her gift, but Miranda is only hanging on by a thin thread when she meets David. Again, the characterization is wonderfully worked out. David is an interesting mix of ancient and modern, a vampire from the past who has pushed himself to change with the times. The vampire society itself is complex and interesting. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series.
January
Black Wings, Christina Henry, 1-7-11 Great first entry by a new author. Love the mythology. Maddie does too much talking before thinking, but hopefully she'll grow out of that. Looking forward to more.
Also read:
A Veiled Deception, Annette Blair, 1-9-11 Nice solid paranormal-mystery. Lots of fashion talk, but still a nice premise. Madeira sees visions when she touches vintage clothing. Also sees ghosts.
Scent of Darkness, Christina Dodd, 1-19-11 Fun read. Lots of overall story arc loose ends but I expected that for book one of a planned quartet. I want to know more about the family, so I plan to read the other three at some time.
Touched by Darkness, Catherine Spangler, 1-31-11 I tried to read this a couple years ago and gave up about halfway through. Looking for a challenge book, this was on hand so I started reading from the beginning again, thinking maybe this time would be different. Nope, not so much. The concept was interesting (isn't it always), but I just couldn't get involved. The characters didn't really interest me; it wasn't until the last 1/3 - 1/4 that things really picked up. Basically, I forced myself to finish.
February
Also read:
March
Also read:
April
Also read:
May
Also read:
June
Also read:
7/12July 2010 -
★★★ also read:
★★★
★★★
★★★August 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★★★★
★★★ September 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★
★★★
★★October 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★★
★★★November 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★December 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★ January 2011 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★February 2011 -
March 2011 -
April 2011 -
May 2011 -
June 2011 -
Always love the reviews Daffodil!
Judithe wrote: "Wow! WTG, Valorie! So...the important question...for which ones will you read the next book? Most of those are new-to-me, so I'm curious what you liked/didn't like. :D"I will probably continue with all of them, but I'm not going to rush out for the next books after these...
or
Febuary Update
Firsts Challenge(Post#360)
SOS Firsts Challenge
November 1,2010 to June 30,2011
Goal: 8/12 books
November:This will be my catch-up month :)
2/113/116/1126/1129/11
December:
29/12
January:
17/01
February:
02/02
March:
9.
April:
10.
May:
11.
June:
12.
Firsts Challenge(Post#360)
SOS Firsts Challenge
November 1,2010 to June 30,2011
Goal: 8/12 books
November:This will be my catch-up month :)
2/113/116/1126/1129/11December:
29/12January:
17/01February:
02/02March:
9.
April:
10.
May:
11.
June:
12.
5/10July 2010-None
August 2010-
September 2010-
October 2010-None
November 2010-
December 2010-
January 2011-
February 2011-
March 2011-
April 2011-
May 2011-
June 2011-
Also Read
SOS Firsts ChallengeJuly 2010-Out of Bounds7/20, also read The Hunger Games 7/24,The Darkest Night 7/29
August 2010-You Slay Me 8/10, also read Skin Game 8/18
September 2010-Wolf Signs 9/4, also read Slave to Sensation 9/6, The Surgeon 9/7, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula 9/11
October 2010-Vampire Academy 10/14
November 2010- Pack Challenge 11/10 also read Trey: Red Hot & Blue, Book 1 11/17
December 2010- Beyond the Highland Mist 12/8- also read On Fireand Simply Irresistible
January 2011- Three to Ride 1/5 also read Club Shadowlands 1/11
February 2011- Darkfever 2/3
What's the Rush? Firsts:Duration: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
Read 12 books that are the first novel in a new-to-you series. Read one book per calendar month (that means, can't read and count 3 new ones in ONE month...)
For those joining later: You may include "extra" firsts in your first month of the challenge to reach a total of 12 books by June 30, 2011. After the first month, only ONE book per month will count!
Revision for people joining later: 1 book for the month you join, plus 3 or more back books along with your monthly first until you're caught up.
Example:
Joining in December: Read Dec. book, plus 3 books (July, Aug, Sept), read Jan. book plus 2 books(Oct, Nov).
Please post the date you finish the book you're counting.
July Book:
August Book:
September Book:
October Book:
November Book:
December Book:
January Book:
February Book:
March Book:
April Book:
May Book:
June Book:
Lots of lovely books on those lists, everyone! And fantastic catch-up, Amanda! How are y'all enjoying your firsts? Any ones you think should be added to the "must-read" shelf?
I gave 5 stars to
, which I thought was an excellent read,Rowen has built a great new vampire world that I can't wait to continue reading!. I also gave 4 stars to
, I thought the heroine had lots of spunk when standing up to the Alpha Werewolf hero in this book it was also very humerous. I would recommend both to any of my friends here on GR
, which I thought was an excellent read,Rowen has built a great new vampire world that I can't wait to continue reading!. I also gave 4 stars to
, I thought the heroine had lots of spunk when standing up to the Alpha Werewolf hero in this book it was also very humerous. I would recommend both to any of my friends here on GR
Glad to hear that, Kat. Both of those are on my wish list.
Judithe wrote: "Lots of lovely books on those lists, everyone! And fantastic catch-up, Amanda! How are y'all enjoying your firsts? Any ones you think should be added to the "must-read" shelf?"
I am a major fan of Sylvan's
and
. I am also enjoying
quite a bit too. Others I've only just started, but I know others like as well are:
and [bookcover:Pack Challenge|112539.
7 of 12 Read
July 2010
★★★☆☆ Jul 4 - Also read:
August 2010
★★★☆☆ Aug 4Also read:
September 2010
★★☆☆☆ Sep 5 - Also read
October 2010
★★☆☆☆ Oct 17November 2010
★☆☆☆☆ Nov 2 - Also read
December 2010 *smack!* Bad girl!
January 2011
★★★★☆ Jan 8 Also read
February 2011
★★☆☆☆ Feb 3 - Also read
Update for FebJULY '10:
Haunted(Harrison Investigations) -Heather Graham
Love Only Once Malory Family 1-Johanna Lindsey
Deadly Night(Flynn Bros, Bk 1)-Heather Graham
Cocaine Blues(Phryne Fisher, bk 1)-Kerry Greenwood
August '10
White Heather(White Regency) Jaclyn Reding
The Last Viking(Viking Saga II)-Sandra Hill
Deadly Love(Francesca Cahill, bk 1)-Brenda Joyce
River of Darkness(John Madden, Bk 1)-Rennie Airth
Covet(Fallen Angels, bk 1)-J.R. Ward
September '10
The Naked Duke-Sally Mackenzie 9/3
Jewels of the Sun-Nora Roberts 9/4-9/6
Key of Light-Nora Roberts 9/6-9/7
The Neon Rain-James Lee Burke 9/11-9/15
Across a Moonlit Sea-Marsha Canham
Dance Upon the Airm (3 Sisters Island)-Nora Roberts 9/27-9/28
October '10:
Murder on Astor Place (Gas Light, bk 1)-Victoria Thompson
Enforcer (Cascadia Wolves, Bk 1) Annie Windsor
Whose Body? (Lord Peter Wimsey, bk 1) by Dorothy L Sayers
Kiss of Fire-Deborah Cooke 10/1-10/2
Death by Inferior Design-Leslie Caine 10/16
Candy Apple Dead-Sammi Carter 10/15
Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband Melissa Mayhue 10/21
Rushed to the Altar (Blackwater Brides #1) Jane Feather10/24
Ghost Shadow Heather Graham
November:
Wicked Appetite-Janet Evanovich 11/2
Poison Study-Maria V Snyder 11/26
Dragonflight-Anne McCaffrey 11/27
December:
:The Face of Deception-Iris Johansen 12/13-12/15 (Eve Duncan, bk 1)
January:
Darkfever (1st Fever book)-Karen Marie Moning 1/1/11
Divorced, Desperate and Delicious-Christie Craig 1/8 (Divorced/Desperate bk 1)
February
Riding Wild-Jaci Burton 2/6
SOS Firsts July 2010 to June 2011Read the first book in a series new to you, one book per month.
8/12 Completed
July I've also got 5 new ones in July challenges, it'll be one of them
6/7/10 ★★★August
2/8/10 ★★★★★September
4/9/10 ★★★★★October
10/10/10 ★★★★★November
6/11/10 ★★★★December
16/12/10 ★★★January
5/1/11 ★★★★February
3/2/11 ★★★★March
April
May
June
Also Read
08/12 DoneJuly -
August -
September -
October -
November -
December -
January -
February -
March -
April -
May -
June -
Other first in series books read (during this challenge):
*currently reading
Firsts Challenge: Duration: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
8/12 Completed
July 2010:
August 2010:
September 2010:
October 2010:
November 2010 :
December 2010:
January 2011:
February 2011:
March 2011:
April 2011:
May 2011:
June 2011:
Challenge:
Also read:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
January:
February:
Since I'm starting in August, I'm posting two this month
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Kitty and the Midnight Hour by Carrie Vaughn
November Did not finish :(
Warrior by Zoe Archer
Dangerous Highlander by Donna Grant
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Also Read:
,
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Also Read:
8/12 CompletedJuly 2010 - 7/6/10 ***
July Also Read:
August 2010 - 8/1/10 ****
August Also read:
September 2010 - 9/5/10 ***
September also read:
October 2010 10/3/10 ***
October also read:
November 2010 - 11/18/10 **
November also read:
December 2010 - 12/2/10 ***
December also read:
[image error]
January 2011 - 1/1/11 ****
January also read:
February 2011 - 2/19/11 ***
8/12 Completed (Done) July/2010 Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
August/2010 Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
September/2010 Beyond The Highland Mist
October/2010 Stray by Rachelle Vincent
November/2010 Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh
December/2010 Edge of Sight by Roxanne St. Claire
Jan/2011 Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Feb/2011 Heart of the Wolf by Terry Spear
SOS "Firsts" Challenge
Duration: 07/01/10 thru 06/30/11
July 2010 =
August 2010 =
September 2010 =
October 2010 =
November 2010 =
December 2010 =
January 2011 =
February 2011 =
March 2011 =
April 2011 =
May 2011 =
June 2011 =
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
8/12 DoneJuly 2010:
August 2010:
September 2010:
October 2010:
November 2010:
December 2010:
January 2011:
February 2011:
March 2011: The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack by Mark Hodder
Also read these firsts...
February UpdateRead: 8/12
Jul/10
Read @ 3 Jul ★★★★☆
Also read (8):
Grimspace // Blood Oath // Embers // Black Dust Mambo // Some Girls Bite // Flat-Out Sexy // Spider's Bite // Unholy Ghosts
Aug/10
Read @ 2 Aug ★★★★☆
Also read (3):
Hearts at Stake // Fantasy Lover // Boys that Bite
Sep/10
Read @ 4 Sep ★★★★☆
Oct/10
Read @ 8 Oct ★★★☆☆
Also Read (4):
Enchanted, Inc. // Intertwined // Sins of the Heart // Strange Angels
Nov/10
Read @ 8 Nov ★★★★★
Also Read (3):
Assassin's Honor // Beautiful Lies // You Slay Me
Dec/10
Read @ 3 Dec ★★★★☆
Also Read (1):
Queen of Shadows
Jan/11
Read @ 1 Jan ★★★☆☆
Also Read (6):
Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye // Pack Challenge // Black Wings // Dark Embers // Kitty and the Midnight Hour // Afterlife
Feb/11
Read @ 2/4/11 ★★★☆☆
Also Read (5):
Mind Games // Birthmarked // Song of Scarabaeus // Serengeti Heat // Kiss of Moonlight
Mar/11
Apr/11
May/11
Jun/11
Add'l Reads:
SOS Group Firsts ChallengeJuly 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011
February 2011 Update
Note: See post 322 for July - October Reads
Completed: 8/12
Read 12 books, 1 per month, that are the first in a new to me series.
November
Assassin's Honor, Monica Burns, 11-18-10 I loved the concept and mythology. I loved Ares, Lysander & Phae. I could understand where Emma was coming from, even when she was being irritatingly illogical; finding out people you count as friends and colleagues might also be liars and murderers would throw anyone off. The book was well written and the action kept the pace mooving smoothly. It was easy to see what attracted Emma to Ares. The only thing I had a problem with: Why was Ares so attracted to Emma right from the beginning? What did he see in her that would cause him to ignore long years of tradition and training in order to take the actions he did? Even with that one niggling question, everything else about the book was fantastic and I will definitely read the next book.
Also read:
Afterlight, Elle Jasper, 11-22-10 One of my favorite finds of the year. Riley Poe is a strong female character with a dark, wild-child past that informs all of her actions. And yes, occaisionally her insistence that she's survived those days so she can survive anything can get annoying. At least it's a believable character flaw that fits her personality. Also, she usually admits when she's wrong and misjudged her ability to handle a situation. Hopefully in future books, she'll grow away from this habit. Since she's taken over raising her brother for a number of years, there are some cases where her leap before looking attitude will probably never change. Any "mother" seeing their child in danger, from himself or others, would likely do the same; it's instinct. The Gullah religion and Dupre family were both interesting and I look forward to learning more about them. Overall, an almost perfect read and I will definitely be buying book number two when it comes out in June.
Secondhand Spirits, Juliet Blackwell, 11-23-10 Enjoyable paranormal mystery. Interesting characters and the storyline moved along well. Lily is a witch and not confined to the precepts of the Wiccan religion since the author draws a line between being Wiccan and being a witch. However, I still have a problem with one of Lily's actions. I was okay with Lily's use of powers for the most part; she may be making money but no one is being harmed. The sticking point for me is when she remembers winning an auction through the use of her powers and how unhappy the losing bidder was. No matter how unpleasant the other woman was, Lily's influence was in some way detrimental to the other woman. It was a minor point however and overall I enjoyed the book.
I'm the Vampire, That's Why, Michele Bardsley, 11-30-10 Quick, light-hearted read. The characters are funny and engaging, the romance is believable. It wasn't quite what I expected though. The title and blurb made me think that the plot would center around Jessica adjusting to life as a vampire mom. It doesn't; the kids barely make an appearance. The main focus is on Jessica learning to use her vampire abilities, Jessica dealing with issues from her failed marriage, the realationship between Jessica and Patrick and the struggle between two vampire factions. Overall it was enjoyable and I plan to read the next book in the series.
December
Goddess of the Sea, P.C. Cast, 12-4-10, The concept was very interesting, so I would have liked a little more depth to the plot. The characterizations were predictable. CC was a modern woman sent back to an uneducated time. All the men of the past, except the love interest, were unenlightened, condescending or just plain woman hating. The women of the time were all abused, misunderstood and taken advantage of, but still loving and accepting of CC. Somehow it came across as a little "preachy" on woman power/strength and yet still managed to be fluffy. Those issues aside, it was a fun and enjoyable read. I'm willing to try more in the series to see if it improves.
Also read:
Pack Challenge, Shelly Laurenston, 12-12-10, This book was a true guilty pleasure. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, even had a few laugh-out-loud moments. Sara and her friends were argumentative, mean and critical. And, that was just to each other. Despite that, you could tell that they truly loved one other and woe to the man (or pride member) that threatened any member of their group.
Playing With Fire, Katie MacAlister, 12-12-10, Actually a re-read, but still just as funny the second time around.
Shadow Marked, Anna J Evans, 12-20-10 So much potential. It frustrates me that the book fell so far short of the possibilities. The characters were interesting but just didn't quite connect for me, individually or as a couple. The plot wasn't as tight as it could be. Action scenes tended towards confusing and the final showdown could have been stunning but instead the imagery invoked was confusing. So many little elements that only needed a little extra push, but they eventually added up to make this book barely the 3 stars I gave it.
Queen of Shadows, Dianne Sylvan, 12-29-10 i>Received one of my rare 5 star ratings. Great read. Sylvan did a wonderful job of painting Miranda as tough, yet damaged at the same time. She's survived by learning fast and employing tricks to handle her gift, but Miranda is only hanging on by a thin thread when she meets David. Again, the characterization is wonderfully worked out. David is an interesting mix of ancient and modern, a vampire from the past who has pushed himself to change with the times. The vampire society itself is complex and interesting. I'm definitely looking forward to more in this series.
January
Black Wings, Christina Henry, 1-7-11 Great first entry by a new author. Love the mythology. Maddie does too much talking before thinking, but hopefully she'll grow out of that. Looking forward to more.
Also read:
A Veiled Deception, Annette Blair, 1-9-11 Nice solid paranormal-mystery. Lots of fashion talk, but still a nice premise. Madeira sees visions when she touches vintage clothing. Also sees ghosts.
Scent of Darkness, Christina Dodd, 1-19-11 Fun read. Lots of overall story arc loose ends but I expected that for book one of a planned quartet. I want to know more about the family, so I plan to read the other three at some time.
Touched by Darkness, Catherine Spangler, 1-31-11 I tried to read this a couple years ago and gave up about halfway through. Looking for a challenge book, this was on hand so I started reading from the beginning again, thinking maybe this time would be different. Nope, not so much. The concept was interesting (isn't it always), but I just couldn't get involved. The characters didn't really interest me; it wasn't until the last 1/3 - 1/4 that things really picked up. Basically, I forced myself to finish.
February
Truthseeker, C.E. Murphy, 2-6-11 Highly entertaining read. Lara's ability has made life and forming relationships difficult for her. It's apparent that Murphy put thought into the details of Lara's surroundings, career and friendships. The one place where it felt wrong was Daffyd. Lara's initial attraction was to a person who would always tell her the truth and never cause discomfort with lying. However, on the whole, Daffyd comes across as a much weaker character than Lara (and I don't mean physically). I'm definitely looking forward to book 2 and am hoping that Daffyd's portrayal is much stronger.
Also read:
Water Bound, Christine Feehan, 2-8-11 The connection between Lev and Rikki forms almost instantly, but the relationship building that follows is not completely smooth sailing. LOL. Kidding aside, Lev and Rikki both come from turbulent paths and are in some way damaged by past events, so even though at core level they have instant trust, there are still issues to be worked out between them.
Feehan does a beautiful job of painting the world as seen through an autistic's eye. The imagery and sensory descriptions give the reader a small glimpse into the difficulties and obstacles even a high functioning autistic faces in day to day life.
Darkfever, Karen Marie Moning, 2-17-11 Reread. Still a great read the second time around. I'd forgotten about Mac's funny side comments, so had a few good laughs mixed in with the darker aspects.
Love in the Time of Dragons, Katie MacAlister, 2-20-11 Wonderful book. MacAlister managed to take a lot of "facts" and information we learned in the other two dragon series and turn it upside down. All entirely plausible and all with her trademark humor; at one point I was laughing so hard, I went into a coughing fit. After Me and My Shadow, I was a little down on Jim. But its appearances in this book were managed much better and I didn't feel as if I were about to OD on its crude comments. I cannot wait to see what's next for Ysolde/Tully and Baltic.
Right Hand Magic, Nancy A Collins, 2-27-11 Ugh! I intensely disliked Tate. I could care less about the rest of the characters. Won't be reading any more in this series. Which is a shame, because I remember really enjoying Collins' Sonja Blue books.
March
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April
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May
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June
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Future Plans:
8/12 July 2010 -
★★★ also read:
★★★
★★★
★★★August 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★★★★
★★★ September 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★
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★★October 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★★
★★★November 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★December 2010 -
★★★★also read:
★★★★
★★★
★★★
★★★ January 2011 -
★★★★also read:
★★★
★★★★
★★★
★★February 2011 -
★★★ also read:
★★★★
★★★March 2011 -
April 2011 -
May 2011 -
June 2011 -
SOS Firsts July 2010 to June 2011Read the first book in a series new to you, one book per month.
9/12 Completed
July I've also got 5 new ones in July challenges, it'll be one of them
6/7/10 ★★★August
2/8/10 ★★★★★September
4/9/10 ★★★★★October
10/10/10 ★★★★★November
6/11/10 ★★★★December
16/12/10 ★★★January
5/1/11 ★★★★February
3/2/11 ★★★★March
2/3/11 ★★★★April
May
June
Also Read
SOS "Firsts" Challenge
Duration: 07/01/10 thru 06/30/11
July 2010 =
August 2010 =
September 2010 =
October 2010 =
November 2010 =
December 2010 =
January 2011 =
February 2011 =
March 2011 =
April 2011 =
May 2011 =
June 2011 =
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8/12 CompletedJuly 2010:
7/20/10Also Read:
7/27/10
7/29/10August 2010:
8/9/10Also Read:
8/27/10September 2010:
9/17/10Also Read:
9/15/10
9/23/10
9/28/10October 2010:
November 2010:
11/3/10Also Read:
11/12/10
11/27/10December 2010:
12/1/10Also Read:
12/13/10January 2011:
1/5/11Also Read:
1/3/11
1/25/11
1/28/11February 2011:
2/15/11March 2011:
April 2011:
May 2011:
June 2011:
8 of 12 Read
July 2010
★★★☆☆ Jul 4 - Also read:
August 2010
★★★☆☆ Aug 4Also read:
September 2010
★★☆☆☆ Sep 5 - Also read
October 2010
★★☆☆☆ Oct 17November 2010
★☆☆☆☆ Nov 2 - Also read
December 2010 *smack!* Bad girl!
January 2011
★★★★☆ Jan 8 Also read
February 2011
★★☆☆☆ Feb 3 - Also read
March 2011
★★☆☆☆ Mar 1 -also read
What's the Rush? Firsts:Duration: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
Read 12 books that are the first novel in a new-to-you series. Read one book per calendar month (that means, can't read and count 3 new ones in ONE month...)
For those joining later: You may include "extra" firsts in your first month of the challenge to reach a total of 12 books by June 30, 2011. After the first month, only ONE book per month will count!
Revision for people joining later: 1 book for the month you join, plus 3 or more back books along with your monthly first until you're caught up.
Example:
Joining in December: Read Dec. book, plus 3 books (July, Aug, Sept), read Jan. book plus 2 books(Oct, Nov).
Please post the date you finish the book you're counting.
July Book:
August Book:
September Book:
October Book:
November Book:
December Book:
January Book:
February Book:
March Book:
April Book:
May Book:
June Book:
My Self Challenges!Challenge #3: Firsts: Completed 9/12
Duration: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
Read 12 booksthat are the first novel in a new-to-you series. Read one book per calendar month (that means, can't read and count 3 new ones in ONE month...)
July 2010 7/7/10*****
Also Reads
August 2010 8/2/10*****
Also Reads
September 2010 9/2/10 *****
Also Reads
October 2010 10/2/10 ****
Also Reads
November 2010 11/4/10*****
Also Reads
December 2010 12/4/10****
Also Reads
January 20111/1/11****
Also Reads
February 2011 2/4/11 ****
Also Reads
2/19/11 5*March 2011 3/4/11 4*
April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
Series I Want to Read/Am Interested in/May Use for This Challenge:
Firsts Challenge: Duration: July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011
9/12 Completed
July 2010:
August 2010:
September 2010:
October 2010:
November 2010 :
December 2010:
January 2011:
February 2011:
March 2011:
April 2011:
May 2011:
June 2011:
Challenge:
Also read:
July:
August:
September:
October:
November:
December:
January:
February:
Glad you loved Ender's Game Kerstin.
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
Jenny Pox (other topics)Heroes Die (other topics)
Wild Magic (other topics)
Nightshade (other topics)
Tyger Tyger (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Suzanne Enoch (other topics)Lorraine Heath (other topics)
Katie MacAlister (other topics)
Robin Kaye (other topics)
Karen Marie Moning (other topics)
More...
July 2010
August 2010
Also read:
September 2010
Also read
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010 *smack* Bad girl! Damn, my ass is sore from all this punishment.
January 2010