Monday, January 9, 2012

Harlequin Silhouette 2012 Reading Challenge


I saw this one while reading through my feeds today and I knew I had to join.  I have stacks of Harlequin/Silhouette books from the past that I have not read so this will help me read a few of them.  I am sure it will be easy to meet the challenges below.  This challenge is the Harlequin Silhouette 2012 Reading Challenge at Islandgirl Reads Romance.  Below are the rules and you can go here to sign up with the linky.


Rules:
1) This Challenge is from Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2012.
2) All of the books must be from the Harlequin family of imprints (includes Mira books as well)
3) Read one book for each of the following requirements:


  • The name of a place in the title (whether a country or small city or town)
  • A weather condition in the title (snow, rain, storm etc.)
  • A Title must be in the title of the book (Prince, Countess, etc)
  • The author's first or last name beginning with the letter M
  • A Holiday/Season in the title (Valentine, Christmas, Summer, etc)
  • A color must be in the title (red, blue, green etc)
Other information:
1) Please join the challenge by signing up with Mr. Linky. The link must be the one announcing
     your participation on your blog - not just the link to your blog in general.
2) You can grab the button above and post it on your site.
3) A list ahead of time is not necessary and may be changed at any time
4) Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebook
5) Books may be used for other challenges
6) Go to eHarlequin for book information, anything you can purchase there counts for the challenge.

There will be a raffle and prize at the end of the year using the names of everyone who completed the challenge.

I'll list my books as I finish.



YA Contemporary Challenge 2012


I just can't seem to quit joining challenges!  I saw this one and had to join.  It's the YA Contemporary Challenge 2012 hosted by Katie's Book Blog and Reading Angel.    Here is a brief overview from her website, but you can go here for more info and to sign up.
 
Levels:
Level 1: 5+ books
Level 2: 10+ books
Level 3: 15+ books

Rules:
You can read any contemporary YA novel that is published between January 1, 2012 and December 30, 2012 but you must read them in 2012! (All formats accepted: paperback, ARC, e-book)

Books included:
We have created a spreadsheet (organized by release date) for contemporary YA books published in 2012. If there is a book that is not on the spreadsheet that you know fits the guidelines, let us know and we will add it.  There is also a Goodreads list.  You can use either one.  Currently the spreadsheet has more books on it.

Spreadsheet
Goodreads list
I'm joining at Level 2 and hoping to make Level 3 because I love contemp YA books.  I'll list them as I finish.  Funny thing is as I was looking over the list, I have already read about 4-5 of the books but I read them last year because they are tour books.  Oh well there is still lots of great books to choose from!

  1. One Moment by Kristina McBride
  2. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
  3. Burn for Burn by Jenny Han
  4. Crazy by Amy Reed
  5. All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen

Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2012



My next challenge is the Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2012  at Book Chick City.  Specifics on what defines an ARC and sign-ups can be found here.  Otherwise here is an overview of the rules and the levels from her blog:

Challenge Details

• Timeline: 01 Jan 2012 - 31 Dec 2012

• Rules: There are TWO LEVELS you can choose from:

 - Read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2012 
 - Read TWENTY FOUR (24) mystery & suspense novels in 2012 

• You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

• You can join at anytime. All books read in 2012 count towards the challenge regardless of when you sign up.

• At the beginning of Jan 2012, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews.

Audiobooks do not count, but all other formats are accepted.

This challenge can crossover to other challenges.

• You DO NOT have to write reviews of the books you read, but if you decide you would like to then Mr Linky will be available each month so you can link up your reviews.

• You don't have to have a blog to join in - for those without a blog but who use Goodreads, Amazon, LibraryThing etc, you can add the URL to where you track your books. If you don't have a URL at all then choose a name you would like to use and then copy and paste the following link: 

http://www.bookchickcity.com/2011/12/sign-up-mystery-suspense-reading.html

You can choose from the numerous sub-genres of mystery and suspense, from cosy mysteries such as Agatha Christie to the more hard-boiled kind like V I Warshawski by Sara Paretsky, or romantic suspense written by the likes of Linda Howard, forensic crime such as those written by Kathy Reichs and even paranormal/supernatural suspense such as Kelley Armstrong. I'm sure this challenge will have something for everyone! :)

I'm doing the read 24 books challenge.  I'll list them as I finish.

  1. Gun Games by Faye Kellerman
  2. The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
  3. In Peril by Suzanne Hartmann
  4. Dead and Not So Buried by James L. Conway
  5. When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason
  6. Lovesick by Spencer Seidel
  7. Partials by Dan Wells
  8. The Defector by Mark Chisnell
  9. Blood Orchids by Toby Neal
  10. A Darkly Hidden Truth by Donna Fletcher Crow
  11. Frantic by Mike Dellosso
  12. On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane
  13. What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen
  14. One Moment by Kristina McBride
  15. A Perfect Storm by Lori Foster
  16. Malice by Griffin Hayes
  17. Night Season by Chelsea Cain
  18. Deal Breaker by Harlan Coben
  19. Come Home by Lisa Scottoline
  20. Stay Close by Harlan Coben
  21. The Lost Years by Mary Higgins Clark
  22. Eyes of Justice by Lis Wiehl
  23. Guilty Wives by James Patterson
  24. Gone Girl by Gillian Flyn
  25. Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
  26. One Breath by Heather Gudenkauf
  27. Seizure by Kathy Reichs
  28. Wake by Amanda Hocking
  29. Legal Legacy by Irene Hannon
  30. And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman
  31. What the Heart Remember by Debra Ginsberg
  32. When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason
  33. Conjure by Lea Nolan
  34. The Witness by Nora Roberts
  35. Placebo by Steven James
  36. Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson
  37. The Racketeer by John Grisham
  38. Invisible Boy by Cornelia Reed
  39. Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent
  40. The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener
  41. The Last Victim by Karen Robards
  42. Heaven's Fury by Stephen Frey
  43. Political Suicide by Michael Palmer
  44. Merry Christmas Alex Cross by James Patterson
  45. All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen

Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publish Date: January 24, 2012
Hardcover, 384 pages 
Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal
 ISBN: 978-0062071132






buy the book from The Book Depository, free delivery
My Review:
Wow, this is a story that can transport you away, suck you in and enthrall you all-in-one.  I had a hard time making myself go to work on Friday.  I really wanted to stay home and read this.  Instead I spent the morning Saturday finishing this up.  What an amazing book.

I was captivated by Nikki (Becks) from the first page when she is separating from Cole in the Everneath.  I was left wondering why she was there, did she love Cole, but then bam, she's thinking about another boy and he's the reason she wants to leave.  Wow.  As the book goes by, I found myself more and more under her spell.  She really wants to do what is right.  She has made mistakes.  I also found myself really liking Jack, the mysterious boy who lures her back to the real world and Jules, her best friend from before as well.  Cole makes a great "bad guy" of sorts.  He seems bad, but is he?  I found his character interesting in the book even if I never could like him.

The plot was amazing.  I love how Ms. Ashton goes back and forth in time to show what happened in the past to lead up to what is going on now.  She handles the back and forth masterfully so I was never confused.  She also paces it well, never giving away too  much and keeping the reader enthralled and wanting to turn pages to figure out what made Nikki make that final decision.  And the ending, wow, what can I say.  You know I won't give it away, but it's just astounding. 

I loved the book as a whole, the characters, the plot, the pacing, it was all masterful.  The incorporation of mythology was a nice touch as well and made the book have even more depth.  I found myself enthralled by the mythology angle.  I loved mythology in school and wasn't as familiar with the stories she used.  The great thing, this is Ms. Ashton's first book.  I can't wait to read her next book.  So if you are looking for a great YA book from a debut author that has mythology, suspense, great characters and a well-paced plot, then give Everneath a read.  And make sure you don't have to go to work or school the next day.

My Rating: 5.0/5.0

Parental guidance: No bad language, some references to sex, but it's very vague. Characters kiss and things do heat up, but again this is vague and "off camera" and handled well I think.  It's a book best for 14+ I think.  But overall it's a clean book.

About the Book:
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...


About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
I write Young Adult novels. I eat cinnamon bears. I love me some Diet Coke.

My debut book EVERNEATH (the first in a trilogy) comes out Winter 2012 with Balzer and Bray (Harper Collins).

I'm represented by Michael Bourret at Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.


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FTC Information: I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository and B&N.com, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.