Dulcibelle 2010: finally on a calendar year!

Finished book number 75 this morning - but I'm counting it for 2009!! First book for this year will probably be Vampire Sunrise.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2010 is what everyone wants it to be.

Welcome back!

Glad to see you back with us again for 2010!

1. Vampire Sunrise by Carole Nelson Douglas (Kindle) - I like this series, but this one didn't seem to go anywhere. There were changes in the characters (I'm not sure it was all growth) and new characters were introduced, but I didn't feel that the story was really advanced much. Of course, the entire series has taken place over the course of weeks. I don't know how much changing and growing anyone could do in that amount of time. I will continue with the series though. The characters are fun.

2. It's Been a Good Life by Isaac Asimov and Janet Asimov (Kindle) - Asimov was my favorite author when I was a kid (up thru high school, in fact). I enjoyed his books, but even more, I enjoyed the bits of himself he included in every short story or essay collection. When he started writing his auto-biography, I was enthralled - thru both volumes. For some reason, however, I never read the third volume. I was surfing thru the Amazon Kindle store and saw this book available. It's not the last volume of Asimov's autobiography, but it's a one volume abridgment edited by his wife after Asimov's death - the next best thing. I really enjoyed revisiting my youth - but truthfully, this one is only for an avid Asimov fan.

3. Kitty's House of Horrors by Carrie Vaughn (Kindle) - this series is on my auto-buy list. This was a wonderful entry in the series, a little darker than previous books but it advances the story well. I can't wait for the next installment.

4. Subterranean by James Rollins (DTB) - my first by this author, it was an enjoyable read. Lots of action and a satisfying ending. Maybe a little formulaic, but sometimes - that's what you want!

5. The Godfather of Poker by Doyle Brunson (DTB) - I've always been fascinated by poker players - and Brunson has always been one of my favorites. It was interesting reading of how poker has grown from an illegal past time played in back alleys to the entertainment powerhouse it is today. And, it was interesting look into the heart and mind of a big-time gambler.

#7: Rollins' books are exactly what you said - lots of action. I find them great fun.

6. Active Senior Living by Jan Curran (Kindle) - a self published ebook that was surprisingly good. It's a fictionalized memoir of the author's first year living in an "active senior living facility" while she recovered from radiation and chemotherapy for cancer. It's an interesting look at active seniors and the things that go on in those retirement homes. The author's voice reminds me a lot of Jan Karon and the Father Tim books.

#5 Just caught up with your thread! I had no idea that Asimov had written anything autobiographical - I've been enjoying his novels so will have to check those out - thanks!

The first two volumes are In Memory Yet Green and In Joy Still Felt. Asimov had intended to write a third volume but I'm not sure he ever did. He wrote a memoir I, Asimov but, if I'm reading the description correctly, it covers some of the information already in the first two books.

If you enjoy his writing, you'll probably enjoy the autobiographies. He was a fascinating man!

7. Street Magic by Caitlin Kittredge (Kindle) - I like Kittredge's Nocturne City series, so was interested in this new series. I'm afraid this one is just 'meh' for me. It took about half the book to get invested in the characters - they were just too whiny, gripy, complaining, SOMETHING. I did like the characters more by the end of the story however. The overall tone of the book was dark, very dark. I realize it's an Urban Fantasy (dark by definition), but it seemed a little much. I will probably read the next in the series sometime - just to see if things change a bit - but I'm in no hurry.

8. Survivor in Death by J.D. Robb (DTB) - It was time for another comfort read - and that's what I consider these. This one surprised me a little. It had me a touch weepy during parts of it. Amazing that a series going on as long as this one has that power.

9. Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb (Kindle) - Hobb is one of my favorite fantasy writers. She writes big, sprawling fantasies and builds wonderful worlds. Dragon Keeper is her newest and picks up the story where her Liveship trilogy leaves off. But, you don't have to have read any of her earlier books to start here. Hobb includes information that fills in the backstory just fine. My biggest complaint - at the end of this book you KNOW there has to be a sequel. There's no real ending - it feels more like you're given an intermission. Problem is, act two isn't available until May!! Still, it's a wonderful story of dragons and lost cities and I can't wait for more.

I have a couple of Hobb's books set aside to read this year. I have not read any of hers before, so I am looking forward to them.

10. Rottweiler Rescue: a mystery for dog lovers by Ellen O'Connell (Kindle) - This one seems to be available in ebook only from the Kindle store. I really enjoyed it - in fact, I stayed up WAY too late last night because I couldn't put it down. I just HAD to finish it. I'm hoping there will be more from this author.

#16: I stayed up WAY too late last night because I couldn't put it down

I cannot tell you how many times that has happened to me!

11. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot (Kindle) - An absolutely fascinating book. Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer in the 1950's. She didn't survive treatment, but cells taken from her tumors are still being cultured and used in experiments today. This book is the story of how the Lacks family learned of Henrietta's "immortality" and the dialogues on bioethics the treatment of the Lacks family (and others) sparked. Skloot makes the science understandable and really stresses the human side of the story. Highly recommended.

I have already added that one to the BlackHole. I hope to have my hands on a copy soon.

I like fantasy novels... and dragons... so logically, I should enjoy Dragon Keeper. Okay, onto the list it goes!

20 - I hope you do enjoy it. If so, you'll need to read some of Robin Hobb's other books. They don't all contain dragons, but she's really good.

I was looking at this list and wondering why I haven't read more this year even though my actual time spent reading has increased. I think I've figured it out. I've been downloading samples of suggested books (LOTS of samples!) to my Kindle. When I finish a book, I read thru the samples I've accumulated before starting another book. Kindle samples sometimes contain 3 or 4 chapters of the book, so I'm probably reading a book's worth of material between each actual title. Wonder if there's some way to track that reading??

12. An Inconvenient Marriage by Ruth Nordin (Kindle) - a somewhat formulaic love story, but interesting character development and a wonderful (but expected) HEA. A fun way to kill an afternoon.

13. Origin in Death by J.D. Robb (DTB) - another about Eve and Roarke with a storyline that is a little creepy because it's almost possible. But, it was great to read about Roarke's family.

Back to more Kindle samples. I really need to figure out a way to count these. :-)

14. Harm None by M. R. Sellars (Kindle) - a new to me series. Mysteries set in St. Louis. The hero, Rowan Gant, is a practicing witch (Wiccan) and advises the local detectives when their cases involve pagan religions. Really pretty good and an interesting take on detective novels. I just downloaded the second in the series.

15. Memory in Death by J. D. Robb (DTB) - I love the ways the characters continue to grow and how we keep learning more about Eve's background.

16. Nice Girls Don't Live Forever by Molly Harper (Kindle) - I continue to enjoy this series. Jane is settling in to being a vampire and isn't as exasperating as she was at the beginning of the series. These are fun.

#25: Yes, I love the way the characters and their relationships grow throughout the entire 'In Death' series too.

I got in copies of the Nice Girls books today, so I hope to begin reading them some time soon. I need some fun every now and again, right?

It's really a fun series. Jane is a little whiny in the beginning (it's probably deserved when you read how she was turned) but stick with her. She grows up. :-)

#27: OK, if I get bored of her at the beginning I will remember your advice.

I noticed the titles of your Nice Girls Books when I logged in today, Stasia. My boyfriend likes vampire fiction more than I do, but the titles are fun.

#29: the titles are fun.

I thought so too!

The Nice Girl books are more chick lit than vampire fiction. The vampirism is just another aspect of Jane's character that causes conflict with family and friends. There are large chunks of the story where you may forget she's a vampire.

17. Haunted in Death by J. D. Robb (DTB) - I know, this is officially a novella. I figure with all the samples I'm reading on the Kindle, I can fudge a little. This was a neat little Halloween story with a shivery turn at the end. Somehow, I ended up with two copies of this story; one in Three in Death and one in Bump in the Night. I'll need to read the rest of the stories in "Bump" sometime, maybe this Halloween.

18. Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin (Kindle) - Temple Grandin fascinates me. I had read another book of hers, Animals in Translation a few years ago and was amazed at what her experience as a high-functioning autistic adult taught her about animals. She was brought back to mind recently when the HBO movie about her aired. Then my sister told me that she was speaking at a dog training conference this past weekend. So, I drove up to hear her speak and then had to read her auto-biography. I've got her newest book queued up (Animals Make Us Human), but may wait a bit to read it. As fascinating as she is, Temple is a little hard to read. She writes like she speaks, mostly in short, declarative sentences that can get just a little jarring.

19. Going, Gone by Laura Crum (DTB) - This was an Early Reviewers book and was part of a series. I was afraid that I might be lost starting at the end of the series, but I had no trouble. The author gave just enough backstory to get new readers oriented. I like the characters and like the setting, so I may have to find the earlier books in the series.

20. Born in Death by J. D. Robb (DTB) - Mavis had her baby!! Oh, and the mystery was good too. :-)

#35: The longest pregnancy in bookdom finally came to an end in that one - I felt so sorry for Mavis, lol.

I am glad you enjoyed the book!

21. Bite Me by Parker Blue (Kindle) - I read this one because I got the sequel Try Me from Early Reviewers. It's an entertaining paranormal about a part demon teen (with a snarky attitude) who is also a vampire slayer. Her sidekick is a terrier hellhound. Lots of action, lots of fun, and I can't wait to get the sequel.

22.Innocent in Death by J.D. Robb (DTB) - I'm on an Eve and Roarke kick. They're just the right thing for allergy season when I can't really concentrate.

23. Try Me by Parker Blue - the sequel to Bite Me. I got this from Early Reviewers. It's a good sequel. Gives enough of the back story that I think it could be read without reading the first one, but you don't want to miss the first part of the story. Val is a part demon teenager who is also a vampire slayer. In this second story, Val has found a job and a roommate, and maybe a boyfriend - all while helping figure out who's killing the "good" vampires. Val's "super power" is explained in this episode and that explanation leaves her with an interesting decision to make. A really fun book with engaging characters. I sure hope more books are planned.

#38: I am hoping to be on my own Eve and Roarke kick soon, too - if I ever get my copy of Fantasy in Death.

I hope your allergies let up for you soon!

24. Soulless by Gail Carriger (Kindle) - I really enjoyed this paranormal steampunk. It's a new genre for me, and seems like fun. I'll be looking for the sequel to Soulless and will be looking for others in the genre (I already have Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld on the TBR mountain.)

25. Creation in Death by J.D. Robb (DTB) - this one was a little intense, and with the things going on IRL right now, I need something more light-hearted. So, I'll be giving Eve and Roarke a little rest for now. Maybe Changeless will be next. It's a little lighter.

#41: I am a huge fan of the In Death series, but some of the books (especially the early ones) are intense, so I understand the need for something lighter.

I hope real life lightens up for you soon!

26. Changeless by Gail Carriger (Kindle) - WOW, even better than the first in this series. But she ended on a cliff-hanger and the next one isn't out yet!! I do like this series. I love the twist Carriger has put on the vampire and werewolf mythos, and the steampunk aspect just makes it that much more fun. It's got me on a steampunk kick now. Next up, Leviathan.

27. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld (DTB) - I really like Westerfeld, and Leviathan was great. Another steampunk, this one YA, but it's really fun. I can't wait for the sequel in October. The dust cover and line drawings on this one are gorgeous. If the sequel is the same, I'll be getting it in DTB instead of Kindle.

#44: Thank you for reminding me of that one. I can use it for my TIOLI challenge for May :)

28. The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Kindle) - I see what all the talk is about. This is a thoughtful book, one that makes you think about how things were and how they still are. Definitely makes you think.

29. The Cat who could Read Backwards by Lilian Jackson Braun (Kindle) - doing some rereading here. I picked up an omnibus edition for the Kindle - cheap - and couldn't resist visiting with old friends again.

I'm looking forward to reading Leviathan... I hear Westerfeld is back in his groove after the disappointing final few books in the Uglies series. Maybe steampunk is "his" niche...?

I think so - he definitely does it well, at least in this first effort. He's built an interesting world and created a couple of really likable characters. I enjoyed the Uglies series but never really LIKED the characters. They frequently struck me as whiny.

Of course, the kids in Leviathan are a little younger - or at least, they feel that way. Perhaps that's the difference.

30. The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern by Lilian Jackson Braun (Kindle) - another reread, another comfort book. I feel like I'm "cleansing my palate" for something a little more substantial - but I have one more of these I want to read first. :-)

31. The Cat Who Turned on and off by Lilian Jackson Braun (Kindle) - OK, that's it. I'm ready for something with a little more oomph - but it was fun revisiting old friends.

I know what you mean about The Cat Who books. They are fun to revisit for a bit, but after a while, you just need something with more meat on the bone :)

32. Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon (DTB) - I'm still on the comfort read kick, but this has a little more meat. It's been a while since I visited with Father Tim. I'm glad that this book has him going home and coming to grips with some of the events of his childhood. I'm looking forward to getting to know the new characters introduced in this book.

33. Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O'Connell (Kindle) - this was written by the same woman who wrote Rottweiler Rescue (book #10 above). I really enjoyed that one, so thought I'd try another by her. This is a romance - not a mystery. It's a sweet story set in the Old West (Colorado in the late 1800's), and a little more mature than many romance novels. Character growth is the driving force of this story - with a little family turmoil thrown in - but it all leads to a very satisfying HEA.

34. Elizabeth Street by Laurie Fabiano (Kindle) - the author says this is a fictionalized version of her family history. Her great-grandmother immigrated to the US from Italy in the early 1900's after the death of her first husband. It's an interesting story, full of the flavor of the times and the setting. Fast paced and well-written, it's highly recommended.

#55: I already have that one in the BlackHole. I hope I can get my hands on it soon. Thanks for the reminder!

35. Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready (Kindle) - the author is one of my auto-buy authors. This is her first YA outing, and she hits the ball out of the park! Shade is sweetly romantic with a little paranormal twist. It's refreshing to see teens who aren't "over-angsting". It's also nice to see YA novel that isn't filled with dysfunctional adults. I loved the world building and really want to learn more about the Shift. Luckily, I think there's a sequel planned. I just wish it was available NOW!

#57: Another one I already have in the BlackHole. My local library just does not have it yet.

I hope they get it in soon for you. This one is REALLY terrific!

I hope so too!

36. The Goddess of Fried Okra by Jean Brashear (DTB) Got this one from Early Reviewers and quite enjoyed it. It's typical Southern women's lit in the style of Fannie Flagg or Billie Letts. The story is set in Texas and each chapter starts with the text of a real historical marker found in the state. That was kind of fun for me because I've actually seen some of these markers "in the wild".

37. Moon Sworn by Keri Arthur (Kindle) - this is the last of the Riley Jensen series. I'm sorry to see the series end, but it's ending on a good note and I like that Riley got her HEA. Now I need to catch up on Arthur's other series.

#36 sounds good. On the pile it goes!

38. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (Kindle) - Well, I'm not sure what all the excitement is on this one. It just wasn't my cup of tea at all - and I usually like dytopian SciFi. I can't put my finger on just what I didn't like - I didn't connect with the characters at all, and never got a real sense of place in the book. And, the author wrote in present tense which always rubs me wrong (for some reason).

Congratulations on hitting the halfway point of the challenge!

Thanks! I feel like I'm reading a little slower this year - but I'm enjoying most of what I read, and that's the most important thing.

Definitely!

39. A Bad Day for Pretty by Sophie Littlefield (DTB for LTER) - I enjoyed this one. It's second in the series, but works as a stand alone. It's sort of a cozy (all the elements are there - amateur detective, small town, kooky assistants) but it's a little darker than most cozies. Stella Hardesty's husband abused her. She took care of the fellow, and now earns her living by convincing other men that they shouldn't abuse the women in their lives. Her methods are not exactly legal, but she gets results. That, however, is not the main plot in this book. One of Stella's reformed abusers is now being accused of a murder he didn't commit. His wife asks Stella to find the real killer. Stella agrees, but she's got to work around the town's sheriff - who she's also dating.

There are enough twists to keep things interesting and the ending is satisfying. I'm looking forward to hearing more from Stella.

40. Kitty Goes to War by Carrie Vaughn (Kindle) - I LOVE THIS SERIES! Read this one in less than a day, and I still want more. This time, Kitty has to help rehabilitate an Army werewolf when he comes back from the Middle East. Lots of character development, lots of world building, lots of action, lots of fun!

41. 16 Lighthouse Road by Debbie Macomber(Kindle) - a light read, sort of like a soap opera with a happy ending. I picked up a bundle of the first 6 in this series and will probably tear right through them.

42. 204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber (Kindle) - more mind candy. About all I can concentrate on right now. I'm in my summer doldrums. :-)

#71: Well, if you have to have summer doldrums, you might as well be reading! Brain candy books still count!

>69 dulcibelle:: Does the 'Kitty' series have to be read in order? I've seen plenty of banner ads for Kitty Goes to War, and it sounds interesting, but I don't know if I want to spend the time tracking down the entire series. Unless, of course, it's absolutely worth it.

I think the series is worth it (it's not great literature, but it's a really good series), but it's not absolutely essential that you read them in order. Each story stands alone. What you'll miss out on is the character growth. References to things that happen in previous books are usually given enough explanation to catch you up.

It may not be that hard to find the complete series. They're all still in print, available in paperback. Amazon has them on their 4 - for - 3 promotion.

43. 311 Pelican Court by Debbie Macomber (Kindle) - I'll probably just list the rest of these as I finish them with no comment.

44. 44 Cranberry Point by Debbie Macomber (Kindle)

45. 50 Harbor Street by Debbie Macomber (Kindle)

46. 6 Rainier Drive by Debbie Macomber (Kindle)

My daughter Catey likes Debbie Macomber books. I will have to track down that series for her.

47. Feed by Mira Grant (Kindle) - my first Zombie novel. I just don't like zombies; they creep me out. But I heard so many good things about this one that I tried the Kindle sample. And couldn't stop reading. This is a fantastic story about the world after a zombie outbreak. But the emphasis isn't on the zombies - it's on the folks living in the aftermath as the US is having its presidential campaigns. The first of a trilogy, I can't wait for the next installment.

#77: I may have to try that one. I am not big on zombies either, but surprised myself by loving Max Brooks' World War Z a couple years back. You may want to give that one a shot some time.

I highly recommend Feed, Stasia. Its zombie-ness is on par with Z. Even the wife liked it a lot.

#79: Thanks for the input, Jim. I will see if I can find it.

I'll have to take a look at World War Z then. Comparison to Feed (or visa versa) is high praise indeed.

Well, let me be clear. Z is a different story, told differently. My comment is more about the amount of focus on the story spent on the zombies themselves. On the other hand, I do think you should check out Z!

48. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin (DTB) - got this one as an LTER. It was OK, but I just never connected with the characters. And, the point of view kept shifting - each chapter was told, first person, by a different wife (or sometimes Baba Segi). Then there'd be a chapter written in third person, then back to first. It was a little confusing. The story was interesting, but felt a little unfinished at the end, as if the author just got tired of writing. I did enjoy the look at life in another culture.

#83: I think I will skip that one.

I hope you enjoy your next read more!

It's getting rave reviews from some LTER folks, it just didn't do anything for me.

49. Bring on the Night by Jeri Smith-Ready (Kindle). One of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors. Big changes in this "episode" and I'm not real sure how I feel about those changes. I definitely didn't see them coming! The story (taken by itself) is very good - up to the author's standards - and could be read as a stand alone. But, you'll miss all the nuances of character development if you don't read the earlier books first.

I hope book 50 is a better one for you!

Thanks - 49 was good, I just still haven't decided if I like the changes. It will definitely take the series in a different direction!

50. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb (DTB) - good, comforting read. But, it means I'm not too far from the last of the available books. I'll soon have to start waiting for the next to be released. OH NO!!

#88: I know exactly how you feel. I am caught up with the series so I have been waiting for the next installment for a while now.

Congratulations on hitting 50!

51. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory (Kindle) - An Indie author found on Amazon, this one was good enough that I bought it after reading the sample and I finished the book. I feel no urge to continue the series or read anything else the author has written. It was an OK story, but felt to me like it could have used a little more editing. Some of the phrasing was awkward, and parts of the story seemed to run on a little long.

52. Deeply, Desperately by Heather Webber (Kindle) - a sweet little chick lit series with a touch of the paranormal. This is the second book. Unfortunately, the third isn't due out until Feb. 2011. I can't wait, I LOVE Lucy Valentine.

#91: I read the first book in the series. I need to pick that one up too. Thanks for the reminder!

53. How Not to Make a Wish by Mindy Klasky (Kindle) - not as good as her Jane Madison series (starting with Girl's Guide to Witchcraft), this was still a fun read. I'll be downloading the next in the series soon.

I'm glad to see someone else who seems like she is loving her Kindle.

You guys have me really excited to read Feed. Wookiebender had already praised it highly enough for it to be on the Wishlist, but now it is moved up.

Definitely loving the Kindle - so much so that I'm having trouble getting into one of my LTER books that is trade paper size. It feels so AWKWARD!

54. Zoo Story by Thomas French (Kindle) - an interesting look at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa over the years. French covers the triumphs and tragedies at the zoo while discussing issues that face all zoos. I like how he frequently uses "zoo talk" to describe how the humans are interacting (i.e. describing the zoo director as an alpha male and showing how the other humans defer to him, etc.). Very highly recommended.

#95: Looks like my local library has that one! Thanks for the recommendation.

55. Promises in Death by J.D. Robb (DTB) - Loved the bridal shower - only Dallas could end up solving a murder with the shower guests! The next in the series (Kindred in Death) will be the first I'll read on my Kindle. Wonder if it will change the Dallas experience?

#97: I have not found that reading on my Nook has changed my experience with reading all that much, so I doubt that your Dallas experience will change. I get immersed in the books no matter what the format.

56. Blameless by Gail Carriger (Kindle) - not quite as good as the first two, or maybe I'm just getting a little tired of the genre. Still a fun, steampunky romp. The next in the series isn't due out until next year.

57. The Cailiffs of Baghdad, Georgia by Mary Helen Stefaniak (DTB) - an Early Reviewers book and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Parts of it dragged but parts were really gripping. I'm going to give it a day or two before writing my review for ER.

edited to add review: I was never sure exactly where this book was going. And, after finishing it, I'm still not sure. It's the story of a small Georgia town shaken up by a new teacher who introduces her students and the town to The Arabian Nights. But the last half of the book is a story within a story within a story of how part of an ancient book from old Baghdad came to be in Georgia. The parts were interesting enough, but I never figured out exactly what the connection between those parts was.

58. The Lost by J.D. Robb and others (DTB) - I can't make this one come up with a touchstone. A collection of 4 novellas - one an Eve Dallas - that made for light reading when I only had a couple of minutes.

#101: I have still only read the J.D. Robb novella in that book. One of these days I will get around to the others I am sure.

59. Dracula, My Love by Syrie James (DTB) Another LTER book. I LOVED this one. Just need to figure out what I'm going to say in my review.

I have a confession to make. I've never read Dracula. After reading this book, I intend to rectify that mistake. But, I am familiar with the story. Dracula, My Love is a wonderful retelling from Mina Harker's viewpoint. The book has a Gothic feel that I really enjoyed. Mina is a strong character, but has her faults. Those faults and her misreading of Dracula's intent is what drives the story. Quite enjoyable even if you haven't read Dracula, I can only imagine it would be even better if you have read it.

#103: I look forward to your review once you have decided what to say!

60. Steamed by Katie MacAlister (Kindle) - just OK. It's steampunk, but with a modern twist and a little more romance than I would like. Nothing offensive, just a little jarring - maybe because my first steampunk books were YA. However, I enjoyed MacAlister's voice and see that she's a prolific writer. I'll have to try her other offerings.

#105: MacAlister is heavy on romance in most of her books - at least the ones I encountered during my romance reading days, so if you find that off-putting, you might want to try another author.

Thanks for telling me. I don't mind the romance - it's one of my guilty pleasures - it just feels wrong to me when mixed with steampunk. I don't know why - just doesn't seem to fit.

Of course, I don't know what I expected. The subtitle was "A Steampunk Romance"! :-)

I do not think I would care for romance mixed with my steampunk either, so I cannot blame you there.

61. The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein (DTB) - I won this whole series (signed) in a blog contest. Stein is a new-to-me author. So far, I love the series. She has an interesting take on vampires and a good, strong female lead. I may zip thru the whole 6 book series.

#109: Congratulations on winning the blog contest! And great news that it is a series you love.

Yes, congrats on winning the series of signed books! :)
--BJ

62. Blood Drive by Jeanne C. Stein (DTB) - pretty good sophomore effort. Anna Strong (the main character) pulled a couple of bone head moves, but I think it's because she's still learning how things work. Besides, without bone head moves, the story can't move forward. :-) Now if she KEEPS making the same bone head moves, I may have to rethink.

63. The Watcher by Jeanne C. Stein (DTB) - Anna is getting smarter. I have to remember that these books (so far) are taking place in a short span of time, so she hasn't had a chance to learn exactly what's happened to her yet. Anyway, this is a good entry in the series, and I'm looking forward to the next one.

64. Legacy by Jeanne C. Stein (DTB) - another good entry for this series. Just two more left in what I have, then I'll have to wait for the next one.

65. Retribution by Jeanne C. Stein (DTB) - WOW!! This series just keeps getting better. I'm really enjoying it. So glad I won these books!

I am glad you are still enjoying the series!

66. The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel (Kindle) - I've read this before, but it's been many years. The newest in the series is due out in March (finally!!), and Amazon had this one for the Kindle really cheap, so I decided it was time for a re-read. The story has held up well, and I really enjoyed visiting with Ayla again. Guess I'll be reading thru the series now.

The Clan of the Cave Bear is near the top of my reread pile. I hope the last book in the series will be as good as the first.

67. The Valley of the Horses by Jean M. Auel (Kindle) - second in the series. I've got to download the next books, but I've got an LTER book to read first.

68. The Tale of Applebeck Orchard by Susan Wittig Albert (DTB) - I LOVE this series. Albert gives it just the right tone, and it sounds like Beatrix Potter is telling the stories herself. I've got the next one to read, and then I think there's just one more to the series. I'll be sad when this one ends.

I saw Albert speak recently about the Cottage Tales series. She has to have each book approved by the Beatrix Potter Society in England before it can be published. I think that's interesting.

#120: I have not yet read that one in the series. I will have to track down a copy. Thanks for the recommendation!

69. The Illustrated Guide to Texas Hold'em by Dennis Purdy (DTB) - I played in my first live poker cash game in Vegas earlier this month. LOVED IT!!! I got this book because it gave LOTS of illustrations of how to play certain hands in a limit game (which is what I learned to play). The book was really good in explaining what you play and why.

70. A Small Furry Prayer by Steven Kotler (DTB) - ARC for LTER and not exactly what I was expecting. It wasn't bad, it just took a bit for me to realign my expectations with the reality. I'll be posting the review in a day or two.

Here's the review: This book was not what I expected. I was expecting stories about the author's experience with dog rescue and the sad and funny things that can happen with rescued dogs. There is a little of that here - but there's so much more. Kotler uses each little snippet of a tale as a jumping off point to explain some of the science (and metaphysics) behind how and why dogs became domesticated in the first place, why we respond to each other as we do, why dog rescuers rescue, and other mysteries of the doggie world. Kotler manages to make this understandable to the layperson. So, while I didn't get the warm and fuzzy dog stories I was expecting, I did get an interesting read and many concepts to ponder.

Almost to 75! Good going!

Thanks!! I'll probably read more than 75 this year - unless something happens in the next two months to slow me down.

71. The Mammoth Hunters by Jean M. Auel (Kindle) - so far, my least favorite of the series. It's more "romancy" and I spent lots of time yelling at the characters "Just TALK to each other!!" Also reams of explanation in this one. I don't remember that bothering me the first time around, but I found myself skimming this time.

72. Chosen by Jeanne C. Stein (DTB) - now I have to wait for the next in the series. However, this one finished a story arc so there's no "cliff hanger" ending. I'm still really liking Anna Strong, so this series goes on my "auto-buy" list.

#127: Glad to see you found a series you really enjoy! Nice that you won so many of them, but I know what you mean about the waiting.

I have been wanting to try out the Auel series. I read the first one over 20 years ago and never found the rest. Now I am wanting to give the series a try.
--BJ

73. The Plains of Passage by Jean M. Auel (Kindle) - FINALLY!!! This one just seemed to drag on forever. I realize that Ayla and Jondalar had a long way to go, but Auel didn't have to take us EVERY step of the way. The funny thing is, I don't remember it dragging so much the first time around. Of course, I didn't read all of them in immediate succession the first time either. I still want to read the last one in prep for the new volume, but think I'll wait a bit to start.

74. Murder Past Due by Miranda James (DTB) - a good entry to a new cozy series. Main character is a part time archivist/library volunteer with a Maine coon cat (just a regular cat, not special like KoKo). While I figured out who did it early, character development was good and the folks were nice to visit. I'll be checking for the next book (when it's written).

Looks like my LTER book will be book 75 this year. I just started it, but I should finish it this week.

#131: Looks right up my alley. I will have to look for that one.

ETA: I hope that book 75 turns out to be a great one!

75. The Gladiator by Harry Turtledove(DTB) - well, this book snuck in as number 75. (I'm still reading my LTER book). This is part of Turtledove's YA Crosstime Traffic series. This series does NOT need to be read in order. The only thing connecting the stories is the idea of parallel universes and the fact that one of the universes has the ability to visit other universes. Turtledove is great at alternate history, and this series lets him explore lots of "what if".

Congratulations on reaching 75!

Congrats!

76. Galveston by P.G. Nagle (Kindle) - My Oct. LTER book, it's the story of the Civil War battle of Galveston Bay and what led up to it. This is the third book by Nagle about Civil War battles that took place west of the Mississippi, but the books don't need to be read in order. Each book is a stand-alone story. The book centers more on describing life during the War than on battles. Nagle only includes a couple of skirmishes and one real battle, but the stories of life in wartime are interesting.

#137: I will look for the Nagle books. I am always interested in Civil War books.

77. Spinning Forward by Terri Dulong (Kindle) - I won the sequel to this for the Nov. LTER, so I figured I ought to read this one first. It's a cozy little book, similar in feel to Debbie Macomber. The main character is a woman who starts the book beaten down and unsure, and becomes a strong, sure person by the end. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

78. The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel (Kindle) - finished with the series - and I found I didn't remember much of this book. I wonder if I ever got around to reading it the first time? Anyway, now to wait on the new installment.

The 2011 group is up and running. I hope to see you there!

http://www.librarything.com/groups/75booksin20111

79. The Valley-Westside War by Harry Trutledove (DTB) - I really didn't like this installment of the series. It seemed rather disjointed - the chapter would start out from person A's POV, then switch to person B's POV, then switch back again - multiple times in each chapter. There was very little interaction between the two "main" characters and there really wasn't much of a story. I still like the premise of the series, but I'm wondering if Turtledove is running out of steam.

I don't know if I'll get another book finished before 2011. I'd like to, just because I like even numbers, but I'm running out of time.

Congrats on passing 75! Wishing you all the best in 2011!
--BJ

Congratulations on reaching the 75 mark. I also like even numbers makes no sense but I know where you coming from. Good Luck in 2011

I'm trying again in 2011. Come visit me there! http://www.librarything.com/topic/105779