2012 wasn't my best effort in the history of me, but sometimes life lands you in a high pile of steamy just to see what happens, and the only available option is to soldier through it.  So I did.  

Soldier.  Soldier.  Soldier.

Reading, blogging, fun stuff fell away as I trudged.  

Life sucked.  I did read some, but 17 books feels insignificant.  I didn't reach my reading goal of 35 books, intentionally set low back in "Black January 2012", named thus because that's the time stamp on my personal Mount Vesuvius.

But things have been gradually getting better.  I'm now able to loosen my fraying boot straps.  A few weeks ago I thought I'd log on to my blog to get back into the swing. Blogger had different plans.

What's that you say Blogger?  My blog doesn't exist?
  

Frustrated, I emailed Google, Blogger, and everyone in my contacts.  I questioned neighbors, colleagues and drilled the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker, and the cashier at Target and Dash In.  I unleashed vitriolic posts on forums such that the inter webs have never seen.  Apparently my lovely blog is Keyser Soze.  



There was much pain and gnashing of teeth.  

Fortunately, there is a happy ending to this little fish in a little pond drama.  My blog is back.  Well, it actually never left, but apparently my higher brain function did.

To me, it really did feel as if the world was ending in 2012.  I guess in a way, it did.  I've learned a lot.  My perceptions have changed.  I am changed.  My world is not the same.  A newness stretches out before me.

Looking forward to wonderful 2013.

Hello and Children's Choice Awards

It's been so long.  I wish I could say my life has been filled with wildly exciting adventures, but alas, no.  Life has been rough since October.

When did Life get so tough, and don boxing gloves?  Anyway, things are finally starting to get better, and I decided to poke my head out to let any YA followers know they can vote for their favorite book at Children's Choice Book Awards

Stop back in and let me know who you voted for.

Happy Spring and Happy Reading!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

Last Minute Gift Ideas: Most Overlooked Books of 2011

(Don't you just love this book tree?)

Need ideas for last minute gifts?  Check out NPR's list of the Most Overlooked Books of 2011.  If you have 13+ minutes to spare, listen to the podcast rather than read the article as you really get a sense of how the guest editors and bloggers feel about the books they're nominating.

There are quite a few excellent suggestions ranging from novels, memoirs, non-fiction, graphic novels to young adult.  Much to my surprise, Rick Yancy's Monstrumologist series is hailed as better than Harry Potter and The Hunger Games.  Those are some mighty big shoes to fill.

Earlier this year Yancy's award winning series was dropped by Simon & Schuster, but later given the green light due to overwhelming fan complaints.  The third book in the series, The Isle of Blood, was published this year and is considered the best thus far.

Here's the NPR link with free samples of the books.

I'm definitely getting The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancy.  I simply can't resist the comparison to Harry and Katniss.

Incognito by David Eagleman sounds amazing and I'm such a nerd when it comes to books like this.

World Enough and Time: on Creativity and Slowing Down by Christian McEwan.  Time for me to slow down and get centered.

I love reading new authors and discovering gems. Do you think you'll give any of these books a try?  If so, which ones?

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Teaser Tuesday: Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.  This meme is simple and fun, you just pick up your current read, flip to a random page, and choose 1 or 2 teaser sentences to share!  Here are the guidelines:

• Grab Your Current Read
• Open to a random page
• Pick two “teaser” sentences from that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO SHARE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn’t give too much away.  You don’t want to ruin the book for other readers)
• INCLUDE the TITLE & AUTHOR too, so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR and wish-lists!  If possible, add the page number.

I LOVE this cover!  Strong heroine with a crossbow in a kick-ass gown with a castle in the background. What's not to love?

I'm reading this on my kindle as it is an ARC, so I have to choose sentences that are on the screen for fear of losing my place! Here goes:

"The clash of Duval's and Hivern's gazes as they meet is as loud as the opening parry of any duel, but what makes my breath catch is the brief glimpse of pain I see in Duval's face before he shutters it.  It is so fleeting, I cannot help but wonder if I have imagined it"  (location: 1288-93)

From Goodreads:

"Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?"

Rating details

rating	frequency	%	#
5		45%	21
4		41%	19
3		10%	5
2		2%	1
1		0%	0

all editions:	4.30 average rating, 46 ratings, 31 reviews, added by 1337 people, 1141 to-reads
this edition:	4.31 average rating, 45 ratings, 30 reviews, added by 1273 people, 1090 to-reads

So what are you reading these days?

I Heart Sam and Dean

Vote for your favorites!

And the Winner is:

The gods of random.org have chosen a winner of The Savannah Vampire series by Raven Hart,

Gena R.

Congratulations Gena!

In her email, Gena confesses to letting out a surprised joyous shriek while reading the news of winning.  It must've been the mother of all shrieks because her family came running to see what was wrong, ready to rescue or resuscitate, as need be, because that's what families do.  I can picture it now: everyone running in stocking feet into the room not knowing what to expect, popcorn flying, dogs barking, cat hissing.  Perhaps a mouse was involved.  And a golf club.  Alright, so I embellished just a tad, but she did tell me she screamed.  And she is very happy, and that has made my day.

I hope you enjoy the books as much as I did.  It really is a great series, dramatic yet funny, and well written.

Happy Holidays, and thank you to all who entered.