Final 2009 Books: 68-77

Believe it or not, this was a slow reading year for me. I've said it before, but if you're a new reader, I read 130 books in 2008, so not even hitting 80 in 2009 was a huge personal disappointment for me. Well, maybe not huge, but I was disgruntled, believe it. My goal for 2010 is 100 books, which would be about 2 a week. I'm already off on a good foot, I finished my first book day before yesterday on the 1st. But before I can start to tell you about my 2010 books, I've got to finish up 2009 =)

You may have noticed a little Amazon link showed up over in my affiliate section in the right sidebar - starting with this post, if you're interested to purchase any of what I'm currently reading, the titles & book covers will be click-able for you to purchase through Amazon.com. I personally get the vast majority of my books from my local library, but if you're the type who likes to own their favorites, please consider starting here, as a little commission on my end would be pretty sweet =) If you are another heavy-using library patron & only care about the reviews, the links will be pretty unobtrusive & easy to ignore.

Last thing before the books is, I'm put up a poll (which I haven't for a while ) - I'm curious, how many books did YOU read over the past year? Are you pleased with what you read, wish you'd read more, feel like you wasted your time & should have read less? Please vote & feel free to leave a comment. Now on to the books:

#68

Must Love Hellhounds

Anthology

This anthology featured stories by Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brooks.

I mainly got it because I wanted to read the Charlaine Harris story, but I actually ended up liking that one least.  The Ilona Andrews story turned out to be my favorite, set in her Kate Daniels' universe but featuring one of her friends, Andrea.  This short fit really neatly into the established storyline - something which unfortunately isn't always true & can really lose an author points with me.

#69

The Titan's Curse

Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book 3

Rick Riordan

At first I thought I saw where this book was going, then there were a few turns & I started to doubt myself, then in the end it turned out I was right in the first place LOL.  The movie based on the first book in this series comes out in I think February, I would like to have finished the series by then, I think I have 2 books to go at this point.

#70

Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit

Mercedes Lackey

This is an Arthurian tale, and while I can't claim to have read very many, I quite enjoyed this one.  Might have something to do with the fact that Lackey is one of my favorite authors LOL, I don't ever really have to worry about disliking one of her books.

#71

Fantasy

Anthology

This anthology featured stories by Christine Feehan, Sabrina Jeffries, Emma Holly & Elda Minger.

I picked this up for the Emma Holly short - as it is the story that started one of her series - but most of the rest were OK.  Christine Feehan is not my favorite, although she seems to be pretty popular because I've run across her stuff in anthologies before.

#72

Lucinda, Dangerously

Demon Princess Chronicles Book 2

Sunny

The demon princess with a heart of gold, if that isn't too hard to believe.  This book finds her stripped of her powers & imprisoned.  This series is a spin off from Sunny's other series, the Monere.

#73

Moon Awakening

Children of the Moon Book 1

Lucy Monroe

This is the first paranormal book of Lucy Monroe's that I've read, and I think she handled herself pretty well.  The Children of the Moon are - no surprise here I'm sure =) - werewolves.  Seems like usually you find werewolves in a more modern, urban setting, but this is actually set a few hundred years ago in Scotland.

#74

Never After

Anthology

This anthology featured stories by Laurell. K. Hamilton, Yasmine Galenorn, Marjorie M. Liu, & Sharon Shin.

The weirdest part of this book, the part I (sadly) remember most at this point, is that it s not standard size.  It was a paperback, but it was a little narrower & an inch or two taller than most paperbacks.  I couldn't quite figure out what the point of that was, other than making it so that it wouldn't fit neatly on a bookshelf LOL

The other disappointment was that, despite the fact that she had top billing & her name is literally bigger than the title of the book, Laurell K. Hamilton's story was less than 40 pages.  Of a book that was nearly 400 pages., with only 4 short stories.  To say I was miffed is an understatement, I mean come on!  That's kind of like false advertisement.

#75

Kitty Raises Hell

Kitty Norville Book 6

Carrie Vaughn

In the last book, during her trip to Vegas, Kitty managed to piss a few people off - as usual I guess you could say, but these particular people decided to take their vengeance through a being that at first appears to be a demon.

#76

First Lord's Fury

The Codex Alera, Book 6

Jim Butcher

Ah, this book was bittersweet for me, I'd been waiting for it for about a year, anxious to see what happened next, but it's also the final book of the series, so I'm sad there won't be any more.  I always want to know what happens next, so maybe I'm never really satisfied when a story ends LOL.  This ending came close though, everything came together in the end & there were several last minute twists that I didn't see coming, unexpected confrontations & some that I'd been looking forward to that never ended up happening.  I think The Codex Alera is my favorite series I've read in a long time, maybe ever.  I can only hope Jim Butcher picks another story to tell in this world.

#77

Hot for the Holidays

Anthology

This anthology featured stories by Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Anya Bast & Allyson James.

I'd actually been on the waitlist for this one since last Christmas I think LOL, the timing was pretty good that I got it in time for the holidays this year.  Just a quick read, filler while I waited for a few other things that were in transit.

There are sooo many books I'm looking forward to in the next year =)  Here's to meeting & beating my goal.  Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Books 62 -67

#62
The Phoenix Transformed
The Enduring Flame Book 3
Mercedes Lackey & James Mallory

This Enduring Flame trilogy is set a few hundred years down the timeline from the Obsidian trilogy, which was also a collaboration between Lackey & Mallory, and so I was waiting for this conclusion for quite a long time, and it was well worth it. I would classify this not just as high fantasy, but epic fantasy, because the quest they're on will, basically, determine the fate of the entire world.

There were a few times in this book where I kind of doubted if the heroes actually would manage to pull it off, and the authors managed to surprise me right up until the end when everything got neatly tied up. I mean, there were a few loose ends, relationships that I wanted to see resolution to, & wanting to know what would happen when the survivors actually finally made it home, but overall I was satisfied.

#63
Cold Moon Rising
Tales of the Sazi Book 7
C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

It's been a long time, I want to say over a year, since this author duo has had a book set in this world. The Sazi are shapeshifters - not just wolves, but lions, bears, snakes - pretty much any animal. And while the series has had books from the viewpoint of various characters, this book takes us back to Tony - one of my favorites - that was a hit man for the mob before one of his targets took offense to being shot with a non-silver bullet, mauled him, and he ended up becoming a wolf. But there's plenty of room in the Sazi's organization for someone who knows how to help clean up messes.

#64
Night's Edge
Anthology (Charlaine Harris, Maggie Shayne, Barbara Hambly)

Kind of a quick fill-in book, that I mainly picked up for the Charlaine Harris short. I actually enjoyed it more than I quite expected, because while it's set in her Sookie world, none of the characters from those books showed up, we got to be introduced to a whole new group in another city.

#65
A Touch of Dead: The complete Stories
Charlaine Harris

One of my problems with Charlaine's short stories is that sometimes they fit awkwardly into the overall timeline (which is why I liked the other one above better). But I still wanted to pick this up & read the few short stories that I had been unable to locate in their original anthologies.

#66
The Lightning Thief
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 1
Rick Riordan

This book is being turned into a movie that is set to release in February 2010. I found out about it from my friend Sam at work, and if you are a fan of the Harry Potter books I would recommend checking out this series. It's the same kind of story, even though they don't have much in common, if that makes sense. It was a quick, fun read, and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

#67
The Sea of Monsters
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Book 2
Rick Riordan

Hmmm, hard to say much about this one without giving away spoilers for the first book like about who Percy's dad turns out to be ... but I guess I can say that he does return to his old stomping grounds, but not for long before he has to go on yet another quest to save his best friend.

As usual, even after all of these, I've got a considerable pile of books out from the library, and I think 3 right now just waiting to be picked up. I'm doubting at this point I'll even hit 100 by year end, but I'm hoping that I'll make it to 80. Time will tell.

I also didn't get around to answering comments last night. I started, then my mom had to use the computer to order some tickets for my dad. I lay down to wait for her, and, well ... never quite got back up again LOL. So I'll try to finish up tonight or tomorrow. And hope you'll forgive me if I fail =) Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Books 57 - 61 & Read For The Record Day

I thought Read For The Record Day would be a good time to catch up on my books. This event is a worldwide campaign to share the joy of reading with children, and this year's book was The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

When I was young, and my parents lived in my grandparent's basement after they moved back to this state, my grandfather used to read to me every morning before he went to work. I can't say I even have any really clear memories of it, but I've never lost my love of reading, so I know firsthand that this kind of effort really can make a lifelong difference =)

#57
Kitty Takes A Holiday
Kitty Norville Book 3
Carrie Vaughn

Hmm, of course these books get harder & harder to talk about without spoilers the farther it goes ... I'll just say that she didn't take the vacation I was expecting & half hoping for (with one of the characters from the last book), and the vacation she did take was not a very restful one. Which I guess is good, since that would probably have made a pretty boring book LOL.

#58
Kitty And the Silver Bullet
Kitty Norville Book 4
Carrie Vaughn

In this book, Kitty tries to fly under the radar when she heads back to the home she's been basically exiled from in response to her mother's sudden illness, but she's not too good at going unnoticed. She has to choose between running, leaving her family, or making a stand and getting involved in the local supernatural politics.

#59
Mean Streets
Anthology

I didn't make it all the way through this one, but I'm giving myself credit because I honestly did try ... but I only really got this for 1 out of the four novellas (the one by Jim Butcher), and I ended up reading 2, but the others I just couldn't get through, before I had to return this ... and I don't think I'll ever bother to get it again to finish them either.

#60
The Storm Witch
Dhulyn & Parno Book 3
Violette Malan

I love this author, and I really wish she had more books =( Dhulyn & Parno are Mercenary Brothers (although Dhulyn IS a girl, she's still a Brother), and before they can wrap up the loose ends & issues left over from the last book, they're roped into a quest pretty much clear across the world. But they're badass of course, so nothing they can't handle =)

#61
Kitty And the Dead Man's Hand
Kitty Norville Book 5
Carrie Vaughn

I think this title must be a reference to something I don't know, because most of the other titles have been self-explanatory or at least obvious by the end of the book. She goes to Vegas in this one, maybe it's a reference to something there? I've never been ... hmmm, if anyone happens to know, drop a comment.

That's what I've finished up until now ... I kind of wonder if I'll even hit 100 books by the end of the year. For those of you who think that's a ridiculous goal, it's not that so much as knowing last year I ended up reading 130. So I feel behind, even though I'm reading pretty much everything I want to. Just not as much time to explore new authors I guess. Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Books 53-56

Have I mentioned lately how behind I am with my reading? I don't think I can blame just the blog anymore, I guess I've got a lot of other stuff going on right now too, but I'm way down from last year's 3-book/week average. Still, I manage to fit in the really good stuff ... and slog my way through some not quite so good stuff too (referring mostly to anthologies, which I have not had very good luck with lately but am too stubborn to put down once I pick up).

#53
Grave Sight
Harper Connelly Book 1
Charlaine Harris

Since Harper's special gift is being able to find the dead, I expected this to be more entertaining than it actually was. Aside from that ability, this was really just your run of the mill murder mystery. The only thing that really tickled me was that Harper's hobby is doing her nails LMAO.

#54
Something From The Nightside
Nightside Book 1
Simon R. Green

I actually had an omnibus edition with the first 3 Nightside books in it, because when I read the premise I thought it sounded for sure like something I would like. Looking back, I still think it sounds like my kind of thing ... but I just couldn't get into it. I gave up after I forced myself to finish the first book, & even though there were some unanswered questions, I don't care enough to pick up the 2nd book unless I honestly have nothing else on hand to read.

#55
Hunting Ground
Alpha & Omega Book 2
Patricia Briggs

Kind of funny, I had just finished saying I couldn't think of any other werewolf protagonists after reading the first Kitty book, and then this showed up at the library for me LOL. Although as they are only on their 2nd book I suppose I can be forgiven for forgetting about them? This series is a spin off from Patricia' Briggs' Mercy Thompson series, following the wolves Anna & Charles.

#56
Kitty Goes to Washington
Kitty Norville Book 2
Carrie Vaughn

I'm still learning this world, but I'm liking it very much. I know I like it very much because I read this one in about 2 days, which used to be my norm but is pretty rare lately. After the events in the first book, she's forced to travel, and I really hope some of the people she got to know in this book will make further appearances as the series goes on, because I really liked most of them. But her travelling all the time makes that problematical ... I guess I'll see soon, I have books 3 & 4 in transit to the library right now.

I'm currently in the middle of an omnibus of novellas (shorter than an actual novel, longer than a short story) that I picked up because it had a Jim Butcher story in it... the 2nd story was set in the Nightside (see my thoughts above ...) and the other 2 authors are new to me. So it's slow going, something I've read, put down, read something else & picked up again. I'll finish it soon - because it's almost due back to the library LOL.

That's it for now. As always after I see how slow I'm going I'm making resolutions to read more, but we'll see how that goes. Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Books 49-52

#49
Naamah's Kiss
Kushiel's Legacy Book 7
Jacqueline Carey

This is a book in the same series as what I am re-reading with my friend T, but this one is brand-new, and set a few generations up the timeline. I think being in the process re-reading the first books, it was extra-nice to be able to have a new "episode" to enjoy.

#50
Kushiel's Avatar
Kushiel's Legacy Book 3
Jacqueline Carey

Man, I could go on at length about this book, but it probably wouldn't make much sense if you haven't read it. Even T hasn't finished it yet & one of the reasons I started it was because she swore up & down she was going to read it in like 3 days & beat me to the finish for once. So much stuff from the 1st & 2nd books come around full circle, and Phedre's musings on the ways of the gods & her place in the grand scheme of things, and what part her free will plays in that grand scheme ... I don't know what to say beyond it kind of suited my mood at the time & came back in other areas of my life too.

#51
Strange Brew
Anthology
Edited by P.N. Elrod

Almost all of the authors in this anthology are favorites of mine, and the 3 that I hadn't read before lived up to the company they were keeping & (if I ever get the time ...) I'd like to check out some of their full-length novels. Sometimes anthologies are a challenge for me to get through but this one went pretty smoothly.

#52
Kitty & the Midnight Hour
Kitty Norville Book 1
Carrie Vaughn

You know it seems like a lot of times werewolves come along when I'm reading about vampires, but off the top of my head I can't think of another book where there's actually a were as protagonist. Kitty is a werewolf, trying to hold on to the human side of her life & her mundane job as a late night DJ in Denver.

On a side note, last year at this time I was up to 91 books... just in case I had any doubts as to how much time blogging has claimed from my other hobbies LOL. Thanks for reading.

~Colette