2010 Books 34-38

Getting behind posting books again, I don't think I posted any at all in August!  And although everyone teases me, I feel so far behind my normal pace for the year - so here are a few to start catching up: 

 

#34

Running With The Pack

Anthology

Werewolves, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

This anthology featured short stories by:  Carrie Vaughn, Steve Duffy, Marie Brennan, Jeffrey Ford, Samantha Henderson, C.E. Murphy, Stephanie Burgis, Laura Anne Gilman, Molly Tanzer, Mike Resnick, Genevieve Valentine, Lawrence Schimel, Maria V. Snyder, Karen Everson, N.K. Jamison, Geoffrey H. Goodwin, Mike Brotherton, Amanda Downum, Jesse Bullington, Peter Bell, Erzebet YellowBoy, & Susan Palwick.

 

& no, this wasn't a particularly thick anthology with that many authors - the short stories were mostly all just really short.  Normally that would not be my thing, but I enjoyed almost every single one which is rare with a collection of this many authors, many of which I hadn't read before.

 

#35

Some Girls Bite

Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires Book 1

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

This is me judging a book by it's cover again - although it was actually the cover to the 3rd book that caught my attention, then I had to go back & find the first book.  I like this series, it's not like "Oh my God best thing I've read lately" but it was a fun read, if a bit quick.

 

#36

Naamah's Curse

Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Legacy Book 8 (Moirin Book 2)

Historical Fantasy

 

I know I have some readers who've also read this series, and I just have to say, I was really uncertain if I was going to enjoy the narration for Moirin's POV, but she gets into just as much trouble as Phedre (the narrator for the first 3 books).  I can't wait to read the third book of this trilogy, yet at the same time can't help but wonder what will come after Moirin's tale is told ... I love this world & I certainly hope Jacqueline finds another muse & continues to write in it.

 

#37

Undead & Unfinished

MaryJanice Davidson

Queen Betsy Book 9

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

I was confuzzled by the time I finished this one.  Time travel can do that - and the epilogue didn't help matters any.  Still, I like these books, they always make me laugh out loud.  I love MaryJanice's writing style - and found I can get even more of it over at her self titled blog, which you can check out by clicking HERE.

 

#38

Friday Night Bites

Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires Book 2

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal

 

Kind of a lull in the 2nd book, lots of setup-type stuff going on ... I wasn't exactly bored, but I felt I could have been more entertained.  I've got the 3rd book out from the library right now but haven't started it yet.

 

This is not fully caught up, but it's a start =)  I'm off the next 2 days from work so I'll try to fit a few more in - especially since my internet seems to be fixed now - the service tech that came out on Monday ran a new line from the pole to the house after finding the signal in the yellow zone, and I haven't had any problems since so far (*knock on wood*).

 

Thanks for reading.

 

~Colette

NOTD: PHD Book Cover Challenge

So, the PHD's challenge this past week was the Book Cover Challenge.  You can check out the Challenge Gallery HERE.  I actually thought I might have trouble picking a book, but I got my mom started recently on the Kushiel series, and the cover for the first book fit right into my red & blue for the 4th theme that I've been using this week:

I started out with just one coat of Orly Snowcone, then I started sponging it with Sally Hansen Silver Lining.  Silver Lining really didn't change the color much, just added some cool sparkle, and I'm looking forward to trying it like this over more colors, since I know it's pretty sheer all by itself:

Then I did more sponging with Sally Hansen DVD, kind of just around the bottom edge & the tip.  I used Nubar Unfaithful Red to stamp with Konad plate m36:

What do you think?  It's my favorite mani of the week, and I've still got it on.  I'm about to head off & see Eclipse, I might change it when I get back & do one more 4th of July mani.  If you're already celebrating, have fun & keep it safe!  Thanks for reading =)

~Colette

Books 11-22

Sooo behind with books, both posting & reading.  So I'm going to get caught up with at least the posting part =)  But in the interest of doing so quickly, I'm going to keep my commentary mostly on the short side:

#11

The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

Anthology

Paranormal Romance

This anthology featured short stories by:  C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp. Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, Anya Bast, Meljean Brook, Rachel Caine, Alyssa Day, Lori Devoti, Jeaniene Frost, Lynda Hilburn, Allyson James, Dina James, Jean Johnson, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Holly Lisle, Sara Mackenzie, Cheyenne McCray, Catherin eMulvany, Mary Jo Putney, Michelle Rowen, Eve Silver, Maria V. Snyde, Carrie Vaughn, & Anna Windsor

#12

Blood Magic

Eileen Wilks

World of the Lupi Book 6

Urban Fantasy

There were a couple of times I literally could not put this book down - I think I finished it in like 2 days, which used to be more normal for me but is super-quick compared to my pace lately.

#13

Flirt

Laurell K. Hamilton

Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Book 18

Paranormal Romance/Thriller

Lots of zombies in this one, which is kind of nice, since the whole animator side of Anita's life sometimes gets put on the sidelines while she's dealing with killing things, rather than raising them from the dead LOL.  Kind of short, which was disappointing, but as the author explained in the afterword, this is really an "extra" book on the year - the inspiration for it interrupted her when she was writing the last book for her other series (Divine Misdemeanors if you're curious like me) and so she put out this book which at under 200 pages is more of a novella, in addition to the regularly-scheduled Anita book that will be out in June

#14

Kushiel's Scion

Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Legacy, Book 4

Historical Paranormal

The first time I read this, I was really disappointed that the protagonist from the first 3 books was no longer narrating the story.  This time I think I actually enjoyed the book more, because I knew when I started that it was told from Imriel's point of view.

#15

Moon Craving

Lucy Monroe

Children of the Moon Book 2

Historical Paranormal Romance

Werewolves, as you might guess, this second book took a couple of minor characters from the first book & expanded on their story.

#16

Silver Borne

Patricia Briggs

Mercy Thompson Book 5

Urban Fantasy

Things seem to finally be settling down a little for Mercy, although I can't help but wonder what the vampires are up to since they didn't make an appearance in this book.

#17

Demon Angel

Meljean Brook

Guardians Book 2

Paranormal Romance

Although this is technically the 2nd book of the series, this was actually the first full-length novel.

#18

Master of Fire
Angela Knight

Mageverse  Book 6

Paranormal Romance

Her last couple of books have been in other series, so it has been a while since the last book in this world & I hope it's not so long again because one of the characters disappears at the end & I'd really like to find out what happens next.

#19

Wild Thing

Anthology

Paranormal Romance

This anthology featured short stories by:  Maggie Shayne, Marjorie M. Liu, Alyssa Day, & Meljean Brook

#20

Serpent Moon

C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp

Tales of the Sazi Book 8

Urban Fantasy

This book wrapped up a lot of loose ends that had been left in the earlier books, kind of bringing everything together for a conclusion, although I don't think it's the last book in this series.

#21

Changes

Jim Butcher

Dresden Files Book 12

Urban Fantasy

Damn right changes.  I know I have several readers who also read this series so I especially don't want to give any spoilers, but let me just say that while I was happy he managed to keep from killing off too many of my favorite characters, EVERYTHING else changes in this book.  And it's also the first one that ended on a genuine, heart in my throat cliffhanger.  A cliffhanger so worrisome let me just say I immediately went to the author's website to reassure myself that there would in fact be another book.  Which there will be - but there's no release date out there yet.  I want it like yesterday LOL, but I'm thinking more likely somewhere between October & December if I'm lucky, or sometime in 2011 if I'm not.

#22

The Mystery Writers of America Presents:  Crime By Moonlight - Mysteries From The Dark Side

Anthology

Paranormal Mystery

This anothology featured short stories by:  Charlaine Harris, William Kent Krueger, Margaret Maron, Brendan Dubois, Harley Jane Kozak, S.W. Hubbard, Jeffrey Somers, Elaine Viets, Barbara D’Amato, Lou Kemp, Martin Meyers, Terrie Farley Moran, Jack Fredrickson, Steve Brewer, Mike Wiecek, Dana Cameron, Carolyn Hart, Max Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane, Parnell Hall, Toni L.P. Kelner

I actually really enjoyed this anthology, even though with so many authors the stories were extremely short.  Shorter than I'd prefer really.

So!  That's what I've been reading the past couple of months.  Not exactly on track for my goal this year of 100 ... maybe I'll read another 30 books by the end of June?  But I doubt it.  Apparently I'm busier than I used to be =)

Thanks for reading.

~Colette