Jackie's 75 Book Challenge and Counting

[Jackie]

Thanks Kay!

[Jackie]

78. Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas
Finished: 12/3/09

I was recommended the Wallflower Series many times here on GR, so I decided to give it a try after reading The Hathaway Series. I was not disappointed. This series seems to be just as addicting as The Hathaway’s.

The Wallflowers consists of four desperate girls looking for husbands. After sitting against the wall for a couple of seasons without any luck Annabelle, Lillian, Diane and Evangeline all decide to pull their resources together by helping each other land a husband. As the oldest in the group Annabelle is first. Annabelle is considered the beauty of the group but her family’s financial problems doesn’t make her attractive. Enter Simon Hunt. This eligible and very wealthy bachelor is highly interested in Annabelle. Annabelle, is physically attracted to Simon despite her saying otherwise, however she keeps turning him down due to his common blood lines and reputation. Together these two have some steamy and funny interactions.

I think this book is a good introduction to the series. The character interactions are pretty funny. It has a pretty good love story; however, the ending became a bit boring and cheesy. I also hated the over use of the word quiver, which is why I gave this book 3 stars.

[Jackie]

79. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Finished: 12/7/09

I give this book 3.5 stars. At first I was not really feeling the characters all that much. I found Grace a bit reminiscent of Bella from Twilight. She’s this goody two shoes girl, whose parents are in their own world so she’s very independent (until she meets Sam) and pretty much left to her own devices. She comes off as very obsessive as she searches the woods for “her wolf.” Sam is a werewolf who realizes that he needs to stay away from Grace, but of course can’t help himself. Just like Edward, he’s the perfect sentimental and musically talented Emo boyfriend pining over his human girlfriend. *vomits* Together these two share a desperate love for each other in which they are willing to go against all supernatural boundaries.

What separated this book from Twilight for me was the writing. I thought it was much better written. There were some very cheesy lines and events along the way, however, as the story progressed I thought it actually became better and more interesting. I liked Stiefvater’s idea of putting the temperature in the beginning of the chapters. It made the reader actually feel the coldness described in the book. I also found the werewolf lore, as well as the secondary character stories interesting enough to want to continue onto the second book when it comes out.

[Jackie]

80. It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas
Finished: 12/11/09

This is the second installment in the Wallflower Series. This book focuses on Lillian, the fiercely independent American heiress, and Marcus or Lord Westcliff, the stubborn, snobbish, yet very eligible English bachelor. Together these two have some serious chemistry. Unfortunately, most of the romance built up between these two occurs in book one, so it appears as if the romance happens rather quickly in book two. I could have done with a bit more back and forth between these two since there was some pretty good laugh out loud moments during their bantering. My only complaint is Kleypas’ insistence on using the word quiver once again. It’s used so much the word seems misplaced. I’m interested though in continuing onto Evangeline’s and St. Vincent’s romance.

[Jackie]

81. A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon
Finished 12/11/09

I read a little over 200 pages of this book and just lost my steam. I’m not sure this was the right time to pick this brick up. Normally I love Galbaldon’s writing, but this time I found myself annoyed with all the details she included. How Jaime’s hair flows, how he has a smudge on his cheek, how Jaime’s top button is undone and on and on and on. No wonder this tomb is well over 900 pages! That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy some events, but I’m not enjoying it enough to suffer another 600 pages…so I’ll pick this one up again when I’m in a better frame of mind.

[Jackie]

Not sure if I'm going to get to write reviews for these but I want to get them in my thread before the year ends:

82. The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters
Finished: 12/14/09

83. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Finished: 12/16/09

84. Rumors by Anna Godbersen
Finished: 12/20/09

85. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Finished: 12/26/09

86. Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas
Finished: 12/27/09

[Karol]

What a great finish, Jackie!

[Jackie]

Thanks Kay! It's been a great reading year.