Monthly Wrap-up : March 2011

Recent reads:

• About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken
• What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken
• By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan
• The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

Top 3 Favourites :

Published Reviews:

• The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
• World Without End by Ken Follett
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman
• Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken
• About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken
• What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken

Upcoming Reads :

• Bandits by LM Preston
• Rook Trilogy by Paul Stewart

Completed Challenges :

• Romance Reading Challenge 2011
  
  [5/5 books]
• Historical Fiction Challenge 2011
  
  [5/5 books]

Ongoing Challenges :

• 2011 Fantasy Reading Challenge
  
  [5/6 books]
• Science Fiction Challenge II
  [3/4 books]
• What's in a Name Challenge 4
  
  [3/6 books]
• Chunkster Reading Challenge
  
  [2/4 books]
• 2011 New Authors Challenge
  
  [6/15 authors]
• Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge 2011
  
  [4/12 books]
• 2011 100+ Reading Challenge
  
  [14/100 books]
• 2011 The Read-a-Myth Reading Challenge
  
  [0/4 books
• Harry Potter Reading Challenge
  
  [0/7 books]

Books added to my Wish List :

• Aiken, G.A.: Last Dragon Standing

Books added to my To-Be-Read pile :

• Cashore, Kristin : Graceling
• Cashore, Kristin : Fire
• King, Stephen : Under the Dome
• Lee, Harper : To Kill a Mockingbird
• Preston, LM : ARC of Bandits
• Yovanoff, Brenna : The Replacement

Teaser Tuesdays : The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.

Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers

***

For a moment she looked quite entranced. "It is so," she said. "It is always harder to make time for the truly precious experiences, there is always the ordinary to do."

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted at The Story Siren.

Anyone can participate. IMM is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

***

Bought:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• Under the Dome by Stephen King
• The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
• Graceling by Kristin Cashore
• Fire by Kristin Cashore

[ What I spent on the books : RM 140.70]

Of the 5 books that I've bought, 1 is on my wish list and 3 are for challenges I've signed up for. Can you guess which books and which challenges ?

On My Wishlist

On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted at Book Chick City.

Do you have any books that you desperately want but haven't bought yet? The books can be old, new or forthcoming.

***

I loved the first 3 books in the Dragon Kin series. So, I'm adding the next book to my wish list.

From Amazon:

I know what they see when they look at me. The charming, soft-spoken dragoness bred from the most powerful of royal bloodlines. A disguise stronger than any battle shield that allows me to keep all suitors at tail's length. A technique that's worked until him. Until Ragnar the Cunning, handsome barbarian warlord and warrior mage from the desolate Northlands. Unlike those who've come before him, he does not simply submit to my astounding charm and devastating smile. Instead, he dismisses me as vapid, useless and, to my great annoyance, rather stupid! Yet I'll allow no male to dismiss me. Soon he'll learn my worth, my many skills, and the strength of my will. For this one challenges me enough to make me want to ruthlessly taunt him, tease him and, finally, when the trap is set, bring him to his knees.

Review : What a Dragon Should Know by G.A. Aiken

Title : What a Dragon Should Know Author : G.A. Aiken Reading Dates : 5 Mar - 7 Mar 2011
Dragon Kin
Book in the series so far: Dragon Actually About a Dragon What a Dragon Should Know Last Dragon Standing The Dragon Who Loved Me
From Amazon :
Only for those I love would I traipse into the merciless Northlands to risk life, limb, and my exquisite beauty. But do they appreciate it? Do they say, 'Gwenvael the Handsome, you are the best among us - the most loved of all dragons?' No! For centuries my family has refused to acknowledge my magnificence as well as my innate humility. Yet for them, and because I am so chivalrous, I will brave the worst this land has to offer. So here I stand, waiting to broker an alliance with the one the Northlanders call The Beast. A being so fearful, the greatest warriors will only whisper its name. Yet I, Gwenvael, will courageously face down this terrifying...woman? It turns out the Beast, a.k.a. Dagmar Reinholdt, is a woman - one with steel-gray eyes and a shocking disregard for my good looks. Beneath her plain robes and prim spectacles lies a sensual creature waiting to be unleashed. Who better than a dragon to thaw out that icy demeanor? And who better than a beast to finally tame a mighty dragon's heart?

Book Review of What a Dragon Should Know.
If About a Dragon made me laugh, this third book made me laugh and cry.

Like its predecessors, I enjoyed the humour and the bonds the characters in the book shared. Additionally, I loved reading about what happened to the characters after the events in the earlier 2 books. Like real life, heartbreaking things do happen and the family has to learn to cope. Thankfully, things do turn out relatively well in the end.

Another reason to like the book, is how the characters always stay true to form. Each character is unique with their own idiosyncrasies and they don’t suddenly change their spots to become likeable. I just learned to appreciate them as they are, craziness and all.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? I've added it to my wish list.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Definitely.
• Who would I recommend this too? Paranormal romance fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, Romance Reading Challenge, Fantasy Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays : The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.

Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers

***

I could smell the sweat of his terror as acrid as smoke, and it frightened me. I brushed the back of my hand under my cheek, as if to wipe away the smuts from a fire.

It's Monday What Are You Reading ?

It's Monday What Are You Reading ? is hosted at Book Journey.

Where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.

***

What I Read:

• By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan

What I Reviewed:

• World Without End by Ken Follett
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman
• Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken
• About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken

What I’m Reading:

• The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

What I Plan to Read next:

• The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
• ARC of Bandits by LM Preston

Review : About a Dragon by G.A. Aiken

Title : About a Dragon Author : G.A. Aiken Reading Dates : 2 Mar - 5 Mar 2011
Dragon Kin
Book in the series so far: Dragon Actually About a Dragon What a Dragon Should Know Last Dragon Standing The Dragon Who Loved Me
From Amazon :
For Nolwenn witch Talaith, a bad day begins with being dragged from bed by an angry mob intent on her crispy end and culminates in rescue by - wait for it - a silver maned dragon. Existence as a hated outcast is nothing new for a woman with such powerful secrets. The dragon, though? A tad unusual. This one has a human form to die for, and knows it.According to dragon law, Talaith is now his property, for pleasure...Or otherwise. But if Lord Arrogance thinks she's the kind of damsel to acquiesce without a word, he's in for a surprise...Is the woman never silent? Briec the Mighty knew the moment he laid eyes on Talaith that she would be his, but he'd counted on tongue-lashings of an altogether different sort. It's embarrassing, really, that it isn't this outspoken female's magicks that have the realm's greatest dragon in her thrall. No, Briec has been spellbound by something altogether different - and if he doesn't tread carefully, what he doesn't know about human women could well be the undoing of his entire race...

Book Review of About a Dragon.
I loved About a Dragon. This was the decider for me, the one that has me adding the rest of the books in the series to my wish list.

As to why I loved it, well there are several reasons. The first is the pairing of Briec and Talaith. I never imagined someone could be so arrogant as to be actually charming, but Briec actually accomplished that. And no one else could have handled him as well as Talaith. I spent more than half the book laughing hysterically at their very unorthodox and unacknowledged courtship.

Then, there’s the return of Briec’s dragon kin. They get in each other’s way and are regularly tempted to kill each other but when push comes to shove, they’re there for each other. The only ones allowed to beat up their family are themselves, even the ones they don’t get along with.

And of course, it was more than nice to read about Fearghus and Annwyl again. They actually make being bloodthirsty seem sweet.

As a bonus, there was an intriguing plot in play which could lead to war with the gods. It has certainly left me curious for more.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ?Definitely, yes.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Another resounding yes.
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes, yes!
• Who would I recommend this too? Anyone looking for a light read.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy this. Better yet buy the series.

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, Romance Reading Challenge, Fantasy Reading Challenge

Review : Dragon Actually by G.A. Aiken

Title : Dragon Actually Author : G.A. Aiken Reading Dates : 27 Feb - 2 Mar 2011
Dragon Kin
Book in the series so far: Dragon Actually About a Dragon What a Dragon Should Know Last Dragon Standing The Dragon Who Loved Me
From Amazon :
It's not always easy being a female warrior with a nickname like Annwyl the Bloody. Men tend to either cower in fear - a lot - or else salute. It's true that Annwyl has a knack for decapitating legions of her ruthless brother's soldiers without pausing for breath. But just once it would be nice to be able to really talk to a man, the way, she can talk to Fearghus the Destroyer.Too bad that Fearghus is a dragon, of the large, scaly and deadly type. With him, Annwyl feels safe - a far cry from the feelings aroused by the hard-bodied, arrogant knight Fearghus has arranged to help train her for battle. With her days spent fighting a man who fill her with fierce, heady desire, and her nights spent in the company of a magical creature who could smite a village just by exhaling, Annwyl is sure life couldn't get any stranger. She's wrong...

Book Review of Dragon Actually.
Dragon Actually actually consists of 2 stories; Dragon Actually and Chains and Flames. The first focuses on Fearghus and Annwyl while the second has as its main protagonist, Fearghus’s parents, Rhiannon and Bercelak.

Of the 2, the one I liked best was Dragon Actually. Fearghus and Annwyl were a joy to read. Fun, sweet and challenging describes both their temperament and relationship. It’s so rare to read a romance where the male protagonist doesn’t just say that he believes in the heroine’s strength but actually behaves as if he believes that. Fearghus does just that. Not only does he not intend to fight Annwyl’s battles for her, he practically insists that she must fight them herself. Yet, they both have just the right hint of vulnerability to be believable.

Chains and Flames however doesn’t sit too well with me. This is the kind of romance which irritates me no end. Why ? Because while everyone says that the heroine is a force to be reckoned with, it is amazing how selective their behaviour can be. She’s terrifying most of the time, but a pussycat with her lover the moment he comes on to her. Yet, he has disgusted her for a long time. I just couldn’t see that they had a connection beyond the physical. What I did like though was Bercelak’s family. The way Bercelak and his siblings were raised by his father was definitely funny. It’s just too bad there wasn’t more of them.

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes
• Would I want to read the next book in the series ? Yes
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes
• Who would I recommend this too? Paranormal romance fans.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. This should make for some fun, light reading.

Read another review on the book by :

• Michelle's Book Blog

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, New Author Challenge, Romance Reading Challenge, Fantasy Reading Challenge

Teaser Tuesdays : By Fire, By Water by Mitchell James Kaplan

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted at Should Be Reading.

Share 2 teaser sentences from your current read. Be careful not to include spoilers

***

A man with a gouged-eye reached towards him, mumbling. A small one-legged woman, her hands chained to the wall, her hair twice as voluminous as her head, implored Gabriel with mad eyes. "This," the inquisitor explained to the child, "is the fate we want you and your father to avoid."

Review : Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Title : Coraline Author : Neil Gaiman Reading Dates : 25 Feb - 27 Feb 2011
From goodreads :
When Coraline steps through a door to find another house strangely similar to her own (only better), things seem marvelous. But there's another mother there, and another father, and they want her to stay and be their little girl. They want to change he and never let her go. Coraline will have to fight with all her wits and courage if she is to save herself and return to her ordinary life.

Book Review of Coraline.
From the get-go, I enjoyed Coraline very much. The language was simple. Yet, it easily managed to bring the characters and the world they inhabit to life. I alternated between being charmed, scared and excited as I followed Coraline on her "adventures".

Best of all, Coraline reminds me of how contrary people can be. Unhappy when things don’t go the way we want them to. Still, we don’t want them handed to us on a silver platter either.

What about you ? Have you read Coraline and if you have, what did you think of it ?

My conclusions :

• Would I re-read the book ? Yes.
• Would I want to read the next book in the series if there were one? Yes
• Would I want to own my personal copy if I didn’t already own it ? Yes
• Who would I recommend this too? Everyone who enjoys fiction.
• For those looking to read the book, would I recommend buying or borrowing the book? Buy it. It's definitely worth it.

Read another review on the book by :

• a thousand Books with Quotes
• Aleksandra's Corner
• Just Books

In My Mailbox

Teaser Tuesdays

Challenges : 100+ Reading Challenge, Fantasy Reading Challenge