2011 Books: 1-10

So, I realized a week or so ago that I hadn't posted ANY books yet in 2011.  Some of these it's been so long I'll admit I'm a little fuzzy on all of the details LOL, but I do know I enjoyed them all at the time.  So here's some of what I've been reading so far this year:

 

#1

Mob Rules

Cameron Haley

The Underworld Cycle Book 1

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

I read the prequel short story for this series in the Harvest Moon anthology.  As much as I enjoy reading an established, long-running series, there's also still a thrill in discovering a fun new author.

 

#2

Prince of Ice

Emma Holly

Tales of the Demon World Book 3

Historical Paranormal Romance

 

I was on the edge the whole book waiting for something ... well, horrible to happen & cause all kinds of problems.  I was both a little relieved & a little upset when everything actually went smoothly.

 

#3

Devil At Midnight

Emma Holly

Fitz Clare Chronicles Book 9

Historical Paranormal Romance

 

This was a good book, filling in some of Durand's history from his human life, and I enjoyed it right up to the end, when (***SPOILER***) Grace looses her memory of the entire thing!

 

#4

Demon's Delight

Anthology

Paranormal Romance

 

This anthology featured stories from MaryJanice Davidson, Catherine Spangler, Emma Holly, & Vickie Taylor.

 

#5

Archangel's Consort

Nalini Singh

Guild Hunter Book 3

Paranormal Romance

 

Talk about mommy issues - Elena & Raphael both have plenty, although since hers is dead & his still alive, he may actually have the opportunity to work his issues out.

 

#6

Fairyville

Emma Holly

Paranormal Romance

 

Would you be surprised if I told you there were fairies?  No?  LOL, well there are ghosts & many other fey creatures also in this strange little town.

 

#7

Master of Smoke

Angela Knight

Mageverse Book 7

Paranormal Romance

 

Another one with one of the main characters running around with memory loss.  Seems like I've had quite a few of those lately, including some that are not included in this part of the book list.

 

#8

Angel at Dawn

Emma Holly

Fitz Clare Chronicles Book 10

Paranormal Romance

 

This book picks up almost right where Devil at Midnight left off.

 

#9

Finding the Way & Other Tales of Valdemar

Anthology

Fantasy

 

This anthology featured stories from Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon, Rosemary Edghill & Denise McCune, Elizabeth A Vaughan, Mickey Sucker Reichert, Elisabeth Waters, Kristen Schwengel, Brenda Cooper, Stephanie Shaver, Kate Paulk, Sarah A Hoyt, Tanya Huff, Fiona Patton, Judith Tarr, Nancy Asire, Michael Z. Williamson, & Gail Sanders.

 

#10

Blood Challenge

Eileen Wilks

World of the Lupi Book 6

Paranormal Romance

 

I always wish for just a bit more romance in this series, but the whole storyline is so deep that I forgive the author.  This one ended on a bit of a cliffhanger - not as bad as some that have had me tearing out my hair lately, but bad enough & with an ominous prophecy to go along with it.

 

So, that's what I read through the end of February =)  I'll try to post up some more later - I am approaching 30 overall for the year but it gets harder & harder sometimes to fit in, it's like there's always something I could be doing online & I will feel a tiny bit guilty if I am reading when I know there are things like email I could/should be getting caught up with.  But sometimes I just need to relax.

 

Thanks for reading about what I'm reading ;)

 

~Colette

Final 2010 Books: 62 - 66

Well, as I said around the new year, I didn't meet my goal of 100 books.  There are a lot of things I could blame this on, from the blog, YT channel, work, etc, etc, but I know the real reason & it is poor time management.  I haven't gotten around to making any official resolutions for 2011, but at least unofficially, better time management is at the top of my list.  I think I'm doing better.  We'll see how it goes as the year progresses. 

 

#62

Harvest Moon

Anthology

Fantasy/Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

This anthology included novellas from:  Mercedes Lackey, Michelle Sagara & Cameron Haley

 

Of course Mercedes Lackey has been a favorite of mine for some time.  The other 2 I had not read before, but Cameron Haley immediately caught my attention with a mobster sorceress - does that not just have a cool ring to it?  I requested her full-length novel right away & it was my first book of 2011 that I finished so stay tuned for me to start my next book list later this month.

 

#63

Strange Attractions

Emma Holly

(Slightly Paranormal) Romance

 

Romance plus .... wait for it ... quantum physics.  Oh, and kinky stuff.  Which is kind of par for Emma Holly but she manages to fit in a real story along with all the sexy bits, which is why I like her.

 

#64

The Sleeping Beauty

Mercedes Lackey

Five Hundred Kingdoms Book 5

Fantasy

 

So I realized I'd had this on hold for like, months, after I read Lackey's novella in Harvest Moon (above).  I un-held it, and breezed through in only a few days; I like this series because it puts such hilarious twists on so many traditional tales.

 

#65

Legacies

Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill

Shadow Grail Book 1

Teen Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

I thought that this book was either going to be trying to be Harry Potter, with the poor orphan sent off to school to discover their magic - but it didn't give me that feel at all.  Looking forward to the 2nd installment.

 

#66

The Iron Duke

Meljean Brook

Iron Seas Book 1

Steampunk

 

I haven't delved a whole lot into steampunk.  When I first heard the premise for the genre, I wasn't too impressed - but this was at a time when I really hadn't read any good historical fiction.  Since then I have not only read good historical fiction, I've come to appreciate a good alternate history as well, and I like the twists that steampunk ads to the "normal" world.  Taking that "what if ...?" and running with it.

 

Do you keep track of your reading?  & if so how many books did you devour in 2010?  I'm off to a slow start for 2011 (only 2, the second just finished this evening), which is a shame considering how sick I've been - I feel like even if I am too weak to do anything else, I should have picked up a book more often than I did.  I just finished my 2nd book for the year.  I'd like to read more in 2011 than I did in 2010, but other than that I'm not aiming for any particular milestone amount.

 

Thanks for reading =)

 

~Colette