Cheli's still on target in the 3rd Qtr

I've continued to find books that I love so my love affair will go on in the 3rd Qtr. Here is the link to 2nd Qtr. thread. I don't think that I'm going to manage to fill the bonus category but will leave it, just in case. I may try a few overlaps which will get me to the bonus category easier.

1. Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series / new authors / ER/ ARCs
2. Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series/favorite authors - these will be Mysteries and romances
3. The Engagement: this is getting serious - topics I'm seriously interested in - these will be Histories
4. Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment - can't live without romance
5. Something Borrowed/Something Blue - borrowed from the library or friends/sad or blue
6. Something Old - read those TBRs
7. Something New - books that were acquired in 2010-2011.
8. Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers
9. Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers - Crafts, cooking, and hobbies at home - these will be books I didn't get to in the last few years
10.The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
11. The good old days - Historical Fiction
Bonus - Anniversaries and remembrances - Let the tears flow - Overflows

Here are the finalists in the possibilities by categories. I may, of course, change my mind at any time, but these are the books that are standing front and center at present for reading in 2011. Thise that are struck out have been read. Let's see how well out stick to the list.



Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series / new authors / ER/ ARCs
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
At Home in Mitford
Lace Reader
Swan Thieves
Outlander
Pillars of the earth
The Sugar Queen
Size 12 is not Fat
A Great Deliverance
Heat Wave
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society
Death in Vienna
The Long Quiche Goodbye
Supreme Courtship

Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series/favorite authors
Burn
Hell Gate
In Big Trouble
The Sugar House
In A Strange City
knit the season
Deadly Decisions
Fatal Voyage
Grave Secrets
Bare Bones
Gingerbread Cookie Murder
Naked Heat Group Read March
The Riesling Retribution
The Viognier Vendetta
Murder on Gramercy Park
Dark Angel
Lord Carew's Bride
French Pressed
The Border Vixen
Crown of Destiny

The Engagement: this is getting serious - topics I'm seriously interested in
Lincoln by Gore Vidal
April 1865
The American Civil War : a military history by John Keegan
1864 : Lincoln at the gates of history
Mr. Lincoln's High-tech War
Southern storm : Sherman's march to the sea
The last full measure
Andrew Johnson by Hans Trefousse
Personal Memoirs of US Grant three parts
Rutherford B. Hayes: Warrior and President by Ari Hoogenboom
From the Towpath to the White House James Brisbin
The Chester A Arthur Conspiracy
THE RECONSTRUCTION PRESIDENTS
Mrs. Robert E. Lee: The Lady of Arlington

Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment - can't live without romance
Standin Groom
A Case of Love
The Untamed Bride
The Husband Trap
The Wife Trap
The Wedding Trap
Talk of the Ton
A Summer Affair
Summer in Sonoma
The True Darcy Spirit
The Second Mrs. Darcy**
Darcy's Temptation

Something Borrowed/Something Blue - from the library, friends/sad or blue
The Last Song
The Bonesetter's Daughter
The Red Queen
Fireworks Over Toccoa
South of Broad
The Postmistress
A Light in the Window
The Map of true Places
Any Bitter Thing
The Shape of Water
Murder with Peacocks
My Reading List

Something Old - read those TBRs
The necklace
Real Murders
Above Suspicion
Murder on Monday
Deadly Gamble
Defending Angels
Glazed Murder
Delicious and Suspicious
Call of the Wild
Canterbury Tales
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Sew Deadly
Everlasting
Irresistible @

Something New - books that were acquired or released in the last 12 months
A Murderous Procession
Pirate King
Lucifer Code
The Altar of Bones
The White Queen
The Alexander Cipher
The Exodus Quest
Hannah Swensen 2
Fit to Die
Chili Con Corpses
Stiffs and Swine
The Battered Body
Buffalo West Wing
Scones and Bones
Bedeviled Eggs
Crunch time

Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers
Paris Vendetta
Emperor's Tomb
The Amber Room
The Plantation
Sign of the Cross
Sword of God
Acqua Alta
Quietly in their Sleep
A Noble Radiance
Fatal Remedies
Touchstone
Queen's Bastard

Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers - Crafts, cooking, and hobbies at home
The Mournful Teddy
The Clockwork Teddy
The Crafty Teddy
The False-Hearted Teddy
Taste of Innocence
Lost Symbol
A Killer Stitch @
Hanging by a Thread @
Murder in miniature
Murder is binding
The Diva Runs out of Thyme @
Death at Bishop's Keep @

The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Harry, A History
The Red Pyramid
The Lost Hero
The Magician
Nicholas Flamel series - 3
Mister Monday
Grim Tuesday
Bridge to Terabithia
The Princess and the Hound
The Princess and the Bear
The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia

The good old days - Historical Fiction
Year of Wonders
The Masque of the Black Tulip
The Deception of the Emerald Ring
The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
Innocent traitor
Amelia's War
The Body at the Tower
Bleak House Group read February
Gates of Trevalyan

Anniversaries and remembrances - Let the tears flow - Overflows

I. Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series / new authors / ER/ ARCs

1. The Secret of the Pink Carnation 1/5/11 ★★★½
2. The Long Quiche Goodbye 2/10/11 ★★★
3. Heat Wave by Richard Castle 2/17/10 ★★★
4. Get Real and Stop Dieting 3/3/11 ★★★½
5. Outlander 3/21/11 ★★★★
6. Deadly Gamble 6/24/11 ★★★
7. Heat Wave by Nancy Thayer 7/1/11 ★★★½
8. Murder Most Persuasive 8/30/11 ★★★½
9. A Great Deliverance 9/4/11 ★★★★
10.Delicious and Suspicious 9/17/11 ★★★
11.

II. Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series/favorite authors

1. Gingerbread Cookie Murder 1/9/11 ★★★
2. Crown of Destiny 2/2/11 ★★★½
3. Naked Heat 3/28/11 ★★★½
4. Murder on Gramercy Park 4/6/11 ★★★½
5. The Border Vixen 5/15/11 ★★★½
6. Hell Gate 6/6/11 ★★★
7. Prophecy 8/8/11 ★★★½
8. If Books Could Kill - 8/19/11 ★★★½
9. Borgia Betrayal - 8/28/11 ★★★
10.The Riesling Retribution 9/11/11 ★★★½
11.

III. The Engagement: this is getting serious - Presidential Challenge and background

1. 1864: Lincoln at the gates of history 1/20/11 ★★★
2. Mr. Lincoln's hightech war 2/8/11 ★★★
3. Southern storm : Sherman's march to the sea 4/25/11 ★½
4. American Civil War: a military history 6/29/11 ★★★
5. The siege of Washington : the untold story of the twelve days that shook the Union 8/10/11 ★★★★
6. Journal of a Civil War Nurse 8/30/11 ★★½
7. Mr. Lincoln's forts : a guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington 9/7/11 ★★★
8. Uncle Tom's Cabin 9/7/11 ★★★
9.
10.
11.

IV. Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment - can't live without romance

1. Stand-in Groom 2/20/11 ★★★★
2. The Soldier's Wife 5/26/11 ★½
3. Sugar Queen 6/26/11 ★★★
4. A Case for Love 6/27/11 ★★★½
5. A Summer in Sonoma 7/24/11 ★★★★
6. The Husband Trap 9/14/11 ★★★½
7. Taste of Innocence 9/24/11 ★★★½
8. The Untamed Bride 9/30/11 ★★★½
9.
10.
11.

V. Something Borrowed/Something Blue - from the library, friends/sad or blue

1. Lumby on the Air 1/16/11 ★★★★ BLUE
2. The White Queen 2/20/11 ★★★½ BORROWED
3. The Red Queen 2/24/11 ★★★ BORROWED
4. In the Woods 4/27/11 ★★★ BORROWED
5. Murder with Peacocks 5/20/11 ★★★★ BORROWED FROM TUTU/BLUE
6. The Last Song 6/19/11 ★★★★ BORROWED
7. The Body in the Transcept 7/10/11 ★★★ BORROWED
8. Heresy 7/15/11 ★★★★ BORROWED
9. The Last Boy 8/26/11 ★★ BORROWED
10.Edward's Eyes 9/10/11 ★★★ BLUE(SAD)
11.

VI. Something Old - read those TBRs


1. Murder is Binding 3/9/11 ★★★★
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 3/28/11 ★★½
3. Above Suspicion 4/30/11 ★★★½
4. Altar of Bones 5/19/11 ★
5. Glazed Murder 6/15/11 ★★★
6. Sew Deadly 7/4/11 ★★★★
7. Real Murders 7/19/11 ★★★½
8. Murder on Monday 7/31/11 ★★½
9.
10.
11.

VII. Something New - books that were acquired 2010 and 2011


1. A Murderous Procession 1/6/11 ★★★★
2. Bedeviled Eggs 1/22/11 ★★★½
3. Scones and Bones: A Tea Shop Mystery 3/17/11 ★★★½
4. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough 3/30/11 ★★½
5. Treacherous Teddy 5/7/11 ★★★★
6. Fit to Die 6/3/11 ★★★½
7. Beaglemania 8/17/11 ★★★½
8. Leading Questions in Bridge 8/30/11 ★★★½
9.
10.
11.

VIII. Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers

1. Acqua Alta 1/28/11 ★★★★
2. The Amber Room 4/5/11 ★★★½
3. Quietly in Their Sleep 4/8/11 ★★★
4. The Paris Vendetta 5/18/11 ★★★½
5. A Noble Radiance 5/31/11 ★★★
6. Poison 6/7/11 ★★★½
7. Fatal Remedies - 8/8/11 - ★★★
8.
9.
10.
11.

IX. Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers - Crafts, cooking, and hobbies at home

1. The Mournful Teddy 1/25/11 ★★★★ hobbies
2. The FalseHearted Teddy 2/5/11 ★★★★ hobbies
3. The Crafty Teddy 3/6/11 ★★★★ hobbies
4. The Clockwork Teddy 4/15/11 ★★★½ hobbies
5. Buffalo West Wing 4/10/11 ★★★★½
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

XX. The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books

1. Bridge to Terabithia 1/25/11 ★★★
2. The Princess and the Hound 5/9/11 ★★★½
3. Mister Monday 6/9/11 ★★★
4. Call of the Wild 6/27/11 ★★★½
5. Grim Tuesday 7/17/11 ★★★
6. Drowned Wednesday 7/24/11 ★★★½
7. Sir Thursday 7/31/11 ★★★½
8. Lady Friday 8/10/11 ★★★
9. The Lost Hero 8/23/11 ★★★½
10.The Red Pyramid 9/9/11 ★★★½
11.The Magician 9/26/11 ★★★½

CATEGORY COMPLETED

Favorite of the category
The Princess and the Hound
Least favorite
Bridge to Terabithia

XI. The good old days - Historical fiction
1. The Masque of the Black Tulip 2/13/11 ★★★½
2. Bleak House 2/24/11 ★★½
3. The Deception of the Emerald Ring 2/28/11 ★★★
4. The Seduction of the Crimson Rose 4/18/11 ★★★
5. Year of Wonders 5/2/11 ★★★
6. Amelia's War 5/3/11 ★★★★
7. The Seduction of the Night Jasmine 5/28/11 ★★★
8. The Betrayal of the Blood Lily 7/8/11 ★★★
9.
10.
11.

*********** Anniversaries and remembrances - Let the tears flow - Overflows

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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

#60 Heat Wave

Author: Nancy Thayer
Read: June 29 - July 1
Format: Uncorrected Proof 288 pages
Source: LibraryThing ER program for review
Subject: friendship, financial independence, love
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Fiction
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★½

When Gus dies of a heart attack from a congenital heart defect, Carley, a mother of two young girls, must find her own path to care for her home and family. Gus's parents want to take in the girls, but Carley is determined to make it on her own. The decisions that she makes are realistic at the same time as they are heart-wrenching but she manages to move forward with her life and bring joy and love to those around her.

I wasn't exactly sure that I like this book as I started it, but I got suckered in actually talking to the character as I read. As it went along, I was hooked and was thrilled with most of the ending. ***SPOILER*** I didn't like the way Vanessa's situation ended, that was the only down part for me.

#61 Sew Deadly

Author: Elizabeth Lynn Casey
Read: July 1 - July 4
Format: Paperback 275 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble 2009
Subject: stranger in a small town, acceptance
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Something Old - read those TBRs
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★★
When Tori moves away from her Chicago home and accepts the job as head librarian in Sweet Briar, SC, she doesn't expect to be the town pariah, but she soon finds out that not only are the people against her because she ousted the old librarian but she doesn't understand the Southern ways of behavior. Fortunately she is taken under the wing of a gentile Southern lady and welcomed (though not entirely) by the Sweet Briar Ladies Sewing Circle. She makes some friends and its a good thing because when she discovers the body of the town beauty in the library dumpster, she becomes suspect #1 and since no one else is interested in finding the murderer, she has to do it herself.

I loved this book. It was funny and light and talked about books and sewing. The characters were diverse and entertaining. The clues were well-spaced and well-hidden for the murder but right out there for you to play along as to the town meanie's identity. Can't wait for the next one - I may have to bump a few other books out of the way!

Sew Deadly sounds good to me too. Thanks for the review.

#62 The Body in the Transept

Author: Jeanne M. Dams
Read: July 8 - July 10
Format: Hardback 202 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: widowhood, acceptance, murder
Category: Something Borrowed - from the library
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

Dorothy Martin, after losing her husband Frank unexpectedly, decides to fulfill their retirement plans and moves to Sherebury, England, a small university town that they had visited together over the years. After her first Christmas Eve service in her new hometown, Dorothy discovers the body of the Cathedral's Canon and proceeds to get involved with the investigation in more ways than one.

Dorothy was a whimsical character who I can foresee getting involved more than maybe she should in the future. This first book does whet the reader's appetite for more.

Thanks to lindapanzo for the recommendation!

I love the Dorothy Martin series! I devoured the series fairly quickly once I became acquainted with it.

Glad you enjoyed the first Dorothy Martin book, Cheli. I picked up the next book in her other (historical) series at the library. I'd left off with two books to catch up on, I believe.

#63 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
Author: Lauren Willig
Read: June 30 - July 8
Format: Audiobook 12 CDs equivalent 512 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: spy network, India
Category: The good old days - historical fiction
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★

The Pink Carnation series continues in this tale of Penelope Stains who appear in the previous adventure and we found that she was married hastily to protect her reputation.

Lady Penelope lacks the same moral high ground that the other featured ladies have shone, instead she was sarcastic, opinionated, striving to be her own person. In this installment, Penelope and her new husband Freddy are off to India and an obscure province to represent the British government. Penelope, never comfortable in the social scene in London, exercises her new "independence" from the social swirl of London. Freddy becomes more irresponsible showing his laziness and arrogance while Penelope starts to shine.

Their escort to the remote province is Captain Alex Reid and the relationship that develops eventually leads to a joyful conclusion.

This is probably my least favorite of the series. First I never heard anything about a Blood Lily, so where did the title come from. Penelope wasn't someone that I think I could respect even for her efforts, and lastly, I didn't get the connection with the Napoleonic war spy network at all. Hope the next one gets back on track.

#64 Heresy

Author: S.J. Parris
Read: July 5 - July 15
Format: Hardback 435 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: religious intolerance in the Middle Ages
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Category: Something Borrowed - from the library
Genre: Historical Fiction
Stars: ★★★★

The central character of our story is Giordano Bruno, an excommunicated Italian monk. Bruno fled the Inquisition because as a philosopher and scientist he has the same leanings as Copernicus - that the Earth revolves around the sun.

Bruno has come to England, Oxford in particular in search of a book which should clarify some of his philosophy but while there he is recruited into the service of the Queen Elizabeth looking for a band of Catholics seeking her demise.

As Bruno searches deeper and deeper for the book related to his research, he is caught deeper and deeper in the web surrounding the Catholics and the murders that have occurred. The mystery has many twists and some unexpected turns but the end is dramatically satisfying.

#65 Grim Tuesday
Author: Garth Nix
Read: July 14 - July 17
Format: Audiobook 6 CDs equivalent 321 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★

Arthor Penhalingon, our hero from the first book in this series, and the keeper of the key for the Lower House is drawn into a battle with Grim Tuesday to protect hs home and his family. Arthur needs to leave the Secondary Realm of Earth and travel to the Far reaches and defeat Grim Tuesday in a battle against greed and avarice. Again good (Arthur) must overcome evil (Grim) while helping the less fortunate.

Again a fun read for the youth, with introduction of several new characters - along with Suzy Turquoise Blue from the first book, Japeth the walking Thesaurus, Captain Shelvocke the sea-faring brother of the Pied Piper. Arthur sets sail with Captain Shelvocke to find the second fragment of the Will. Expecting the same type of character as the original will in Mister Monday, the reader is pleasantly surprised by this portion. I'm looking forward to the next book.

>22 cyderry: - Like the sound of that book - onto the wishlist it goes.

#66 Real Murders : Aurora Teagarden Mysteries
Author: Charlaine Harris
Read: July 15 - July 19
Format: Paperback 290 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: Copycat killers
Category: Something Old - read those TBRs
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★½

Just about everyone has seen on television those shows where they recreate events such as the Jack the Ripper murders trying to decide who was involved and what really happened. The producers take all kinds of sensational murders and try to show the viewers exactly how they believe the events took place. Well, in this book, Aurora Teagarden, the assistant librarian of Laurenceton, Georgia, and a small group take detailed looks at well-known murders. As the book opens, Aurora (ROE) finds one of their members dead but the staging of the body appears exactly the same as a murder that they are about to discuss.

The police are not particularly interested in the theory of someone copying the ancient murder, but when 3 other people are killed with connections/details replicating other renowned murders, the town starts to get a bit antsy and want the killer caught.

Through the book Roe is central because she either finds the body, finds the weapon, or arrives at the scene immediately after the event, not forgetting that they all seem to take place in her neighborhood.

I was really taken with this book. The characters, quirky names aside, definitely could be better developed but since this is the first in the series, there is time for the that. What seem to me the most realistic was that Roe is not the most "interesting" person on earth. She doesn't have much of a social life so when two men start showing interest, she doesn't know what to do. This little bit of romance helped to cool the drama of the murders as they were happening. Definitely look for the next.

#67 A Summer in Sonoma

Author: Robyn Carr
Read: July 6 - July 24
Format: Paperback 406 pages
Source: My Shelves
Subject: friendship, bankruptcy, cancer, non-communication,marriage
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Romance
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★★

Have you ever picked up a book knowing exactly what you expect from it and get that and so much more? For me, I knew when I picked up this book, that I was reading a romance, so I expected love and marriage and I got that. But what I also got was a kick in the teeth because of what it showed me about myself and others.

This is the story of 4 girls who grew up together and how through thick and thin they stick together. Their lives are all different but when trouble strikes they bond together and carry on.
Cassie, an ER nurse, is almost raped but is rescued by a big burly biker. A friendship develops and the two spend the summer visiting all over the Sonoma Valley on Walt's Harley.
Julie, a stay at home mother of 3, is married to Billy, a firefighter, and even though their love and marriage are strong, their financial situation is not, fighting constantly to make ends meet.
Marty, a hairdresser, is married to Joe, also a firefighter, and together with their son Jason, live in nice house and have all the toys that most men have - boat, big screen TV, etc.
Beth is a OB/GYN Doctor who shuts herself off from men because her previous fiancé left her after she had a battle with breast cancer in her mid-twenties.

Each of the character's stories could have been a book on their own but the tales are interwoven so that the comparisons of their lives is front and center.

SPOILER - I don't like to put spoilers in my reviews but in this instance, it wouldn't be fair not to. The reason why this book kicked me in the teeth is that it showed the characters' flaws and made this reader, at least, stop and think. Cassie doesn't want to get romantically involved with Walt because he's not what she envisioned the man in her life should look like. Billy is forever optimistic and gets a rude awakening when he realizes that the world doesn't react to a positive attitude. Marty and Joe hear but don't listen. Beth feels that she can't burden her friends with her problems but is there to help with theirs.

I can't believe how much this book made me stop and think about the people in the world around me. Our world/society seems so intent on physical appearance - that the people that are beautiful inside seem to be lost and that means we are missing out on so much. A possible attitude can be helpful but it is important to be realistic as well. Our relationships could be infinitely better if we learned to listen better - shouldn't this be a class in school? Lastly, I now understand an old saying I heard "A trouble shared is but half a trouble, a joy that's shared is a joy made double." If we are willing to help our friends and family through hard times, why should we expect them to be any different in helping us if we have hard times. This really was a very thought provoking book. Very well-written.

Lovely review -- isn't it wonderful when a book so completely surprises you?

You got a thumbs up from me.

#68 Drowned Wednesday
Author: Garth Nix
Read: July 23 - July 24
Format: Audiobook 7 CDs equivalent 321 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

This the 3rd installment of the Kings to the Kingdom series. Arthur has returned to his normal existence, in the hospital with a broken leg awakening Wednesday at noon, when he receives an invitation from Lady Wednesday to have lunch. Not given an opportunity to refuse, Arthur and his friend, Leaf, are swept away on a tidal wave to the Border Sea where they are separated, Leaf to imprisonment on the pirate ship of Feverfew, the enemy of Lady Wednesday, and he set adrift on a treasure buoy.

After being rescued, Arthur meets with Lady Wednesday, who has been transformed into a huge white whale with an insatiable appetite due to some curse put upon her by the morrow days. She has no idea where her portion of the will is, so Arthur has numerous tasks to perform - locate the third portion of the will, rescue Leaf, and resolve the curse and with these resolutions Lady Wednesday will hand over her key.

The characters in this installment were entertaining, the predicaments amusing - reminiscent of Jonah and the whale, and overall great for Arthur's development as our hero. The fun of Pirates and a scavanger hunt all rolled into one.

Hi, Cheli - lots of interesting books, as usual, I see. You got me with Heresy - your description was just too good to pass up.

Sandy,
I read Heresy because it was the first in the series and I won the second book Prophecy in the ER lottery in June. So I figured I better read 1 so I'd be prepared for 2. I thought it was a good book, Tina didn't like it, but I hope you do.

Tina and I don't always agree, so maybe I will.

JULY RECAP
So here's my wrap-up for the Month of July. A few more library books this month, but still a good bit of my own.

July: 4 pre-owned: 6 borrowed: 0 new: 1 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Summer in Sonoma
The worst of the month - Murder on Monday

I hit the jackpot again this month, no really bad books!

I. Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series / new authors / ER/ ARCs 7/11
Heat Wave

II. Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series/favorite authors 6/11

III. The Engagement: this is getting serious - topics I'm seriously interested in 4/11

IV. Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment - can't live without romance 5/11
Summer in Sonoma

V. Something Borrowed/Something Blue - from the library, friends/sad or blue 8/11
The Body in the Transept
Heresy

VI. Something Old - read those TBRs 7/11
Sew Deadly
Real Murders
Murder on Monday TIOLI
VII. Something New - books that were acquired in 2011 7/11

VIII. Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers 6/11

IX. Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers - Crafts, cooking, and hobbies at home 4/11

X. The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books 7/11
Grim Tuesday
Drowned Wednesday
Sir Thursday

XI. The good old days - Histories 8/11
The Betrayal of the Blood Lily

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
0 books History
0 book Health

Fiction:
Novels: 2
Youth/Children: 3
Mystery: 5
Historical Fiction: 1
Classic: 0

The major push continued in July and I'm really hoping that I can keep it up in August.
Hopefully these books will help. I've done fairly well in not letting any category runaway but a few have fallen behind and I'm hoping they'll catchup this month.

Books for next month:
Prophecy
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Borgia Betrayal
Fatal Remedies
The Last Boy
The siege of Washington : the untold story of the twelve days that shook the Union
The Lost Hero
A Great Deliverance
If Books Could Kill
Lady Friday
Beaglemania
Fireworks Over Toccoa
The Red Pyramid

#69 Sir Thursday
Author: Garth Nix
Read: July 27 - July 31
Format: Audiobook 7 CDs equivalent 344 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

Arthur continues his exploits in the House after acquiring the third key from Drowned Wednesday. In this installment Arthur is drafted into the House Army by Sir Thursday who is the trustee in chargeof the military. All residents of the House are required to serve for 100 years and Arthur cannot avoid this obligation. While still a recruit in training he experiences first hand the praactice of being washed between the ears, in essence erasing all of his memories. He doesn't even know who he is. Graduallyhis memories return and he learns what he can in the army, but danger comes when the House is attacked by Super Nifflings lead by the Piper.

An interesting side of these adventures and series.

#70 Murder on Monday

Author: Ann Purser
Read: July 22 - July 31
Format: Paperback 288 pages
Source: My Shelves
Subject: rebelious teens, village secrets
Category: Something Old - read those TBRs
Genre: Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★½

Lois Meade lives in a small English village with her husband and 3 children. She has to deal with the normal problems of a rebellious teenager and making ends meet. To help financially, Lois heads over to a nearby village for 4 mornings a week - cleaning house for the vicar the village doctor, village, nurse, and resident artist. When another female resident is found murdered, Lois gets involved because she works for all 4 of the major suspects.

This book (first in the series) had a great premise but moved to slowly with too much filler without substance for my taste. I doubt I will continue on anytime soon.

Fatal Remedies

Author: Donna Leon
Read: Asugust 1 - August 8
Format: Audio 7 CDs equivalent 320 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: rebelious teens, village secrets
Category: Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers
Genre: Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★★

In this 8th installment of the Brunetti series, Guido's wife Paola throws a rock not once but twice through the window of a travel agency that specializes in sex tours as an act of civil disobedience. This results in Guido's being placed on administrative leave.

When the owner of the agency turns up dead (fortunately Guido and Paola were together when the murder occurred) Guido is called back in to investigate.

This book, not one of Leon's best IMO, was still a great read if just for the characters and their interactions.

#72 Prophecy

Author: S.J. Parris
Read: July 20 - August 8
Format: Hardback 435 pages
Source: LibraryThing ER program for review
Subject: religious intolerance in the Middle Ages
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series
Genre: Historical Fiction
Stars: ★★★½

This Historical thriller is the second in the series with excommunicated monk Giordano Bruno as the central character. Bruno, a "secret agent" of Walsingham (one of Queen Elizabeth's advisors), is part of the French embassy's delegation. Sent to England by King Henri to avoid religious repercussions, Bruno is drawn into the murders of two of the Queen's Maids of Honor as well as a plot on the Queen's life and replacement on her throne by Mary of Scotland.

The murders are vailed with the mystery of the Prophecy related to the great Conjunction - Saturn and Jupiter aligning - which foretells of the end of an age. Just as we all know from history, the rivalry of Elizabeth and Mary is also the rivalry of Catholic vs. Protestant. The investigation weaves together the occult of the period as well as the conspiracies of the characters.

Great characters as well as a great story.

#73 The Siege of Washington: The Untold Story of the Twelve Days That Shook the Union
Author: John and Charles Lockwood
Read: August 2 - August 10
Format: Hardback 249 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Begnning of the Civil War
Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★★★

At the time that the Union surrendered Fort Sumter and the war was starting, neither the Confederacy or the United States was prepared for war. Some of the southern states had yet to decide on secession (Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky) but the major issue for the North was the location of its capital. Washington City was surrounded by slave holding states. When Lincoln requested troops from the loyal states to defend the capital on April 15th, a crisis erupted. Baltimoreans attacked the troops as they attempted to transfer trains for the capital. Riots broke out.

The residents of Washington felt threatened for the first 12 days of the war until troops arrived for its defense. Any moment they expected the Confederate Army to attack, "blow up the Capitol and Treasury Building, to burn the President's house and other edifices, and to leave in the blackened wreck of the ruined city, proof to the world that the Union was ruined." Others in the Confederacy felt that occupation of Washington and conversion of the city to the Confederate Capital held the benefits of establishing "instant legitimacy" for the new nation as well as recognition around the world. This would help the Confederacy negotiate loans and if the Union Government officials were captured, the war could possibly be ended quickly with little bloodshed.

However, the South was not prepared to make that step toward Washington. Arms were scarce in Virginia and Maryland. The Union destruction of the arsenal at Harper's Ferry was a double blow - the destruction of the arms that the Virginians were hoping to capture as well as the morale of not defeating the Union troops that had been stationed there.

The details of the problems of getting the troops to Washington for its defense as well as the issues of housing, feeding, and sanitation are remarkable. The reader can almost feel and smell the air of fear throughout this book.

I've been reading a great number of Civil War books, but wish that I had found this one first. It would have been a great start, explaining the issues that effected both sides militarily as well as the social issues of the surrounding area. As a Marylander, I realize that my state fell below the Mason-Dixon line, but never realized until I read this book that there were actually skirmishes when the citizens tried to support the Confederacy. Most of all for me, it helped to enlightened me as to the areas in my home state that were directly affected by the war other than the battlefields.

A definite for anyone who wants to see the problems that greeted the Union and the Confederacy at the very beginning of the Civil War.

#74 Lady Friday
Author: Garth Nix
Read: August 9 - August 10
Format: Audiobook 6 CDs equivalent 304 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

Arthur Penhaligon remains in the House after defeating Sir Thursday in the Great Maze and retrieving the 4th key. Now he must locate Lady Friday and the 5th part of the will. Little does he know that his friend, Leaf, has returned from the Secondary Realm (earth) and is trapped by Lady Friday who has an addiction to the human experiences that she drains from their souls. At the same time as Arthur begins his search, Lady Friday sends a message to Arthur, the Piper, and Superior Saturday - stating that she is giving up her position as trustee and relinquishing the key - first come first serve. But they must find the 5th part of the will first.

Arthur has several battles both external and internal in this installment which brings a greater since of drama to this one, but the ending still was a bit rushed, flat. The series still holds interest though, as the reader foresees the coming battles.

Well, Cheli, I already had Siege of Washington on the wishlist (maybe from you - can't remember), and already have the first book in the Giordano Bruno series on the wishlist. Thanks for the nudge to get back to the Donna Leon series - I've sort of neglected it lately. So, all in all, a pretty painless visit here today!

#75 Beaglemania

Author: Linda O. Johnston
Read: August 15 - August 17
Format: e-book equivalent 304 pages
Source: Nook Barnes & Noble
Subject: animal cruelty, animal rescue
Category: Something New - books acquired in 2011
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★½

This new cozy mystery series centers around Lauren Vancouver the administrator of a privately funded animal rescue shelter that specializes in no killing. She works with public agencies to rescue and find homes for the overflow of unwanted pets. At the start Lauren is seen at the site of a raid on a puppy mill, nothing strange for her except that one of the people, Efram, identified as being involved, is a worker from her center HotRescues.

Lauren is angry with Efram and they argue, he is told not to return, he threatens her and her facility, so when he is found dead on at HotRescues and she is bending over the body, Lauren becomes the #1 suspect.

This was a nice little cozy which introduced the reader to the agency and characters involved, nothing too over the top or complicated. It did give a warm fuzzy feeling, mainly because of all the little puppies and kitties involved. I will look for the next one.

#76 If Books Could Kill

Author: Kate Carlisle
Read: August 16 - August 19
Format: Paperback 290 pages
Source: my shelves
Subject: rare books, Robert Burns
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★½

When Brooklyn Wainwright arrives in Edinburgh for an International Book Festival she is immediately caught up in literary intrigue. Her former main squeeze, Kyle McVee accosts her and talks her into validating a controversial book and several hours later he turns up dead, murdered with one of Brooklyn's binding hammers. The Scottish police lean toward Brooklyn as the prime suspect so she feels that she needs to exonerate herself.

Brooklyn is IMO a delightful character who has flaws that only make her more endearing. The mystery is not too over the top, leading the reader with numerous possible culprits. The manner in which the bookbinding world is woven in with many interesting and educational facts, also eases the reader through the adventure.

>40 cyderry: - NO! NO! Not another series...my shelves are starting to bend under the weight of all the series I've started/intend-to-start because of you. And I love dogs too. How can you do this to me?

> OK- this one I knew about already...

Betty,
Don't blame me.... it was lindapanzo...she started it.

I'm sure there's plenty of "blame" to go around. I'm pretty sure that the real culprit is the friend who pointed me in the LT and BM direction. I had things pretty much under control up to then. Of course I wouldn't have known or tried as many new authors except for LT. SO - I guess it's all good.

heh-heh. I love starting people on new series.

I was going to start the beagle book today but it's an actual book, not one on my Kindle. Thus, I decided to start a re-read of an old favorite, Agatha Christie's At Bertram's Hotel.

Rereads are a rarity for me.

I'm currently trying to finish The Lost Hero before I start the Last Boy. Four books at a time is tough. I thought I had brought Last Boy with me the other day but all I had was my Nook so I started Great Deliverance instead.

Cheli, I thought you were reading The Last Hero, the Howard Bryant bio of Henry Aaron.

Even I would agree that reading two substantial baseball bios, back to back, is a bit much.

No, I'm reading the pig boy challenge book by Rick Riordan The Lost Hero. Typo on my part, sorry.

#77 The Lost Hero
Author: Rick Riordan
Read: August 16 - August 23
Format: Audiobook 6 CDs equivalent 304 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world, mythology
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

For those readers of the Percy Jackson series, who felt lost since Percy vanquished the Titans, we come again to that world but with 3 new demigods - Jason, Piper, and Leo. On their arrival at Camp HalfBlood, Jason, who has been robbed of his memories by Hera, is identified as the son of Zeus by tattoos on his arms, Leo is immediately claimed by Hephaestus, and Piper by being claimed by Aphrodite understands why her mother deserted she and her father. All three have secrets that blend them together as a team when they head out on their quests to rescue Hera and prevent further intrusions by the giants.

Each of these demigods has abilities - Jason can fly and hurl lightning bolts, Piper can hypnotize mortals with her "charm speech", and Leo and handle Fire and fix anything mechanical. We find that Jason is actually a son of Jupiter (Zeus' Roman persona) and in this way the Roman mythology is interwoven with the Greek. We are also introduced to Aeolus, God of Wind, who is a one-man Weather Channel,

Old friends appear in this book as well - Annabeth who is worried about a missing Percy Jackson, Chiron, Rachel Dare, and Thalia - who turns out to be Jason's older sister. They all join forces to complete the quests as well as other tasks that pop up.

Definitely a great start for a new series!

#78The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America's Childhood
Author: Jean Leavy
Read: August 23 - August 25
Format: Overdrive equivalent of 553 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Mickey Mantle Bio
Category: Something Borrowed from the library
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★

This is a biography of New York Yankee Mickey Mantle. I'm not exactly sure how to review it so I will just tell you my feelings. I am an avid baseball fan - mostly the Baltimore Orioles therefore, you do hear about the dreaded Yankees. So I really expected to hear more about baseball, but what I read was basically about injures and inappropriate behavior by Mantle and his teammates. He couldn't seem gather his excellence from the field and continue it in his private life.

The first few chapters were interesting, but then it just seemed to be the same over and over - play great, injury, bad behavior, repeat. I guess hearing the life of another pro player who just died there was a great contrast - maybe Mantle was a great player who was denied his full potential by an early injury, but the injury wasn't what stopped him from being a great man.

#79 The Borgia Betrayal

Author: Sara Poole
Read: August 11 - August 28
Format: Paperback 389 pages
Source: LibraryThing ER Program for review
Subject: Papal security, scientists vs religion
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series
Genre: Historical Fiction
Stars: ★★★

This book was the second in the Poisoner series. The story picks up shortly after book 1 ends and Francesca is again trying to protect Borgia, Pope Alexander VI from being murdered by Morozzi, a mad priest who favors another for the Papal throne. It seemed rather repetitive at the beginning but toward the end there some interesting developments that carried me along to the end.

Some of the passages were so filled with descriptions that I lost where or what was happening so overall I felt it needed more editing, but still it was an interesting tale.

Glad I stopped back in. Good to see another review of If Books Could Kill and another reminder why I want to start that Garth Nix series! I read Murder on Monday a few years ago and was also unimpressed.

#80 Murder Most Persuasive

Author: Linda O. Johnston
Read: August 28 - August 30
Format: Paperback 293 pages
Source:LibraryThing ER Program for review
Subject: inheritance, embezzlement, second chances
Category: Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series ER
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★½

Elizabeth Parker is staying with her pregnant sister while work is being done on her apartment and her boyfriend is out of town. Sisters can rub each other the wrong way so when Elizabeth has a chance to escape to visit with her cousin who just lost her father, she grabs it and gets involved in mishaps that weave around her cousin's family and a missing former fiancé.

This book is the third in a series but my first exposure to the characters and author. They were amusing and entertaining so think I will have to locate the first two and catch up.

#81 Leading Questions in Bridge

Author:
Read: July 14 - August 30
Format: Paperback 198 pages
Source: Bridge Website
Subject: advice for defense to bridge
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Something New - books acquired in 2011
Genre: reference
Stars: ★★★

This is not the typical book with a plot,characters, etc. Basically, it is a help guide for those bridge players that want to improve their defense. I found the format and descriptins extremely helpful and look forward to implementing the tips and tricks that were illustrated into my game.

#82 Journal of a Civil War Nurse
Author: Georgiann Baldino
Read: August 30 - August 30
Format: Nook equivalent of 15 pages
Source: B&N
Subject: Civil War nursing - Gettysburg
Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI
Stars: ★★½

This was a short story telling of the difficulties related to nursing after the Battle of Gettysburg. It was informataive but I felt that it should have been a bit longer.

August RECAP A little late...
So here's my wrap-up for the Month of August. It was my best month number-wise yet.

August: 1 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 3 new: 3 ARC - 12 books.
Best of the Month: Murder Most Persuasive
The worst of the month - The Last Boy

Here's What I read this month:

Prophecy ★★★½
Fatal Remedies ★★★
The siege of Washington : the untold story of the twelve days that shook the Union ★★★
Lady Friday ★★★
Beaglemania ★★★½
If Books Could Kill ★★★½
The Lost Hero ★★★½
The Last Boy ★★
The Borgia Betrayal ★★★
Murder Most Persuasive ★★★½
Leading Questions in Bridge ★★★½
Journal of a Civil War Nurse ★★


I. Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series / new authors / ER/ ARCs 8/11
Murder Most Persuasive

II. Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series/favorite authors 9/11
Prophecy
If Books Could Kill
The Borgia Betrayal

III. The Engagement: this is getting serious - topics I'm seriously interested in 6/11
The siege of Washington : the untold story of the twelve days that shook the Union
Journal of a Civil War Nurse

IV. Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment - can't live without romance 5/11

V. Something Borrowed/Something Blue - from the library, friends/sad or blue 9/11
The Last Boy

VI. Something Old - read those TBRs 8/11


VII. Something New - books that were acquired in 2011 9/11
Beaglemania
Leading Questions in Bridge

VIII. Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers 7/11
Fatal Remedies

IX. Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers - Crafts, cooking, and hobbies at home 4/11

X. The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books 9/11
Lady Friday
The Lost Hero
XI. The good old days - Histories 8/11


Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
3 books History/Bios
1 book Health/Hobbies

Fiction:
Novels: 0
Youth/Children: 2
Mystery: 4
Historical Fiction: 2
Classic: 0

The major push continued in August and I'm really hoping thatI can stay on schedule in September. Hopefully these books will help. I should be able to complete 3 categories if I get these read.

Books for next month:
A Great Deliverance
At Home in Mitford
Delicious and Suspicious
The Riesling Retribution
Mr. Lincoln's forts : a guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Taste of Innocence
Any Bitter Thing
Case Histories
Lost Symbol
The Husband Trap
The Red Pyramid
The Magician

#83 A Great Deliverance

Author: Elizabeth George
Read: August 19 - September 4
Format: Nookbook 547 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: unrequited love, incest, abandonment
Category: Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series ER
Genre: Police Procedural Mystery
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★★

Roberta Teys is found sitting in the barn over the headless body of her father and she freely admits "I did it. I'm not sorry.” But the residents of the small village cannot believe that Roberta could possibly do such a thing and so Scotland Yard is brought in to determine if Roberta really is the murderer.

As the story unfolds the reader is taken through the village seeing Roberta as a pathetic unloved creature. Her mother abandoned the family when she was very small and her beloved older sister ran away leaving her on the farm with her overly zealous father. Her only escape appeared to be in books and time spent with her dog Whiskers and a small child in the village. However, the evidence appears to point to Roberta as the murderer because the dog's blood is all over the clothes that she was wearing and since the dog's body is beneath Farmer Teys' body, he had to be killed before her father.

The deeper that Inspector Lynley and DS Havers dig to find out the true nature of the events, the deeper the reader is drawn into the lives of not only the villagers but Havers and Lynley as well.

This book is the beginning of the Inspector Lynley series. I had watched several of the episodes that were shown on PBS and decided that I wanted to get more of the background of the characters so I'm starting at the beginning, but I got more than I bargained for.

The beginning of the book seemed a bit disjointed to me, jumping around from one character and place to another, but in the end it all came together like a flash of lightning to explain how all the characters were impacted by the events that led to the murder.

Definitely have to continue with the books - the characterizations are tremendous as well as the plot twists for the reader. I admit to being completely stunned by the ending.

#84 Mr. Lincoln's forts : a guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington

Author: Benjamin Franklin Cooling
Read: September 5 - September 8
Format: Hardback 234 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: defenses of the Federal Capital
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious
Genre: HISTORY
Stars: ★★★

This book documents the 68 forts and 93 unarmed batteries that surrounded the city of Washington during the Civil War. The details include maps, drawings, anecdotes concerning the construction, and directions to find the locations since many have "no visible remains" today.

An excellent volume for a Civil War buff and as a nearby resident I was easily able to visualize the locations by the directions supplied.

#85 Uncle Tom's Cabin

Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
Read: September 5 - September 8
Format: Nookbook 312 pages
Source: Barnes & Noble
Subject: slavery, cruelty, separation,
Category: The Engagement: this is getting serious
Genre: Historical fiction
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Stars: ★★★

This book, written by a Northern woman, has been read by thousands and reviewed by many. Whether I can add any incite from this book, is hard to believe but here are my thoughts. The men say one thing and do another, i.e. slavery is bad but I'll still own slaves. The majority of the women in this story are the moral backbone of the families that they are members of. There is a strong Christian theme throughout from the slaveholders and the slaves.

There also appears to be a great deal of symbolism in the book - Eliza's leap to freedom, Uncle Tom's Cabin, South as cruelty and North as freedom, Eliza's escape versus Uncle Tom's sale into deeper oppression.

The Christian population of the North, this book ignited a flare against the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and slavery in general.

#59 Cheli, had you read this book before now? It is one I've never read, but have always felt that I should. I see you only gave it 3 stars - not a glowing recommendation - but I think I'll take the nudge from you and at least add it to the wishlist.

Sandy, I had never read Uncle Tom's Cabin but felt that I should include it in my reads related to the Civil War since Lincoln himself felt that it was instrumental in the starting of the war. The story and structure were very good with all the symbolism, however, my issue was personal, in that I had a hard time with the dialects that were part of the conversations, not just for the negroes but for the southerners as well. It is amazing that in an age when women just sat around "and looked pretty" Ms Stowe was able to construct this tale. It really is a well-written book, it just didn't sit well with me because it didn't flow easily for me because of that issue.

I had always thought it was a pretty short book and was surprised when I went to the library catalog to discover how long it really is. With the dialects, I wonder if it would be better in audio than in print - what do you think?

Audio might make it easier.

#86 The Red Pyramid
Author: Rick Riordan
Read: September 2 - September 9
Format: Audiobook 12 CDs equivalent 516 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Alternate world, mythology of Egypt
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, AUDIO, SYLL
Stars: ★★★½

The Kane Chronicles, of which this is the first installment, tells of Carter Kane and his sister Sadie and their special abilities and destinies. Carter lives with his father, Julius, an Egyptologist. Due to his father's occupation, they travel constantly spending only 1 day, twice a year with Sadie, Carter's sister, who lives with their grandparents in London.

On the visitation, Julius takes Carter and Sadie to the British Museum for a private showing, and there they see a transformation that totally floors them. Julius is involved in a battle with a magical being, engulfed in a golden sarcophagus and disappears.

Carter and Sadie have to flee London and are taken into the care of their Uncle Amos and several Egyptian gods. The adventures that follow are fun and entertaining.

This new series by Riordan has all the entertaining factors as the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series but I think that it would be more fun if the gods that were introduced were more well-known. Egyptian mythology is not that widely recognized, so more background of the gods would be helpful. But a good start for this new series.

#87 Edward's Eyes
Author: Patricia MacLachlan
Read: September 10
Format: Audio Playaway equivalent 116 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: family, organ donation
Category: Something Borrowed/Something Blue - from the library, sad or blue
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Stars: ★★★

Two brothers, Jake and Edward, are close - Jake was handed Edward as a baby and in essence made his little brother's guide in life. Early in Edward's life, Jake helped in the potty training ritual by teaching him a love of reading and baseball. As Edward grew up, baseball was their bond.

SPOILER

Then when family news was related of the impending addition of another child, Edward knew immediately it was a girl, named her and was made her guide at birth. However, on one fateful day, Edward went into town on his bicycle and was killed. His parents decided to donate his organs including his eyes. Jake's recovery from the tragedy was completed by the relationship with the recipient - a young baseball player.

Thanks to countrylife for recommending this book.

#88 The Riesling Retribution

Author: Ellen Crosby
Read: September 7 - September 11
Format: Hardback 259 pages
Source: Public Library
Subject: Civil Reenactment, cold cases, wine
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, SYLL
Category: Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? Ongoing series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★½

Lucie has trouble in abundance at Montgomery Vineyards with the animosity between Quinn and Chance, her brother's impending divorce, credit card thefts and items disappearing, so what more could happen…how about a tornado that rips through the vineyard uncovering a thirty-year old skeleton which turns out to be an enemy of her father all at the same time as she is supposed to be hosting a Civil War re-enactment?

This mystery was fun and funny and sad and serious altogether. I love most of the characters - some I could do without but overall, a definite plus to the series.

#89 The Husband Trap

Author: Tracy Anne Warren
Read: September 11 - September 14
Format: Paperback 358 pages
Source: My shelves
Subject: Arranged Marriage, deceptions, secrets
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Romance
Stars: ★★★½

Jeannette Rose and Janette Violet are identical twins - both are extremely beautiful but Jeannette is vivacious and entertaining and Violet is quiet and studious. When Adrian Winter, Duke of Raeburn chooses his bride, he selects Jeannette because of her outgoing personality. But Jeannette decides at the last minute she can't marry the duke ad persuades her sister to take her place at the altar.

The ensuing charade is worthy of Shakespeare (well maybe not that good but definitely entertaining).

#90 Delicious and Suspicious

Author: Riley Adams
Read: September 6 - September 17
Format: Paperback 269 pages
Source: My shelves
Subject: Southern BBQ, blackmail, murder,
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Stars: ★★★

Lulu Taylor produces the best BBQ at Aunt Pat's Restaurant in Memphis according to most of the customers so the Cooking Channel is checking her out to see if it's true. Rebecca Adrian is sent to Memphis to find the best BBQ but has little time for tasting when she is found dead in her hotel room - poisoned.

So while Lulu tries to clear the name of her family restaurant, she is also bombarded with problems from her friends the Graces (they visit Graceland every week) and some elderly gentlemen who make Aunt Pat's their second home.

The mystery wasn't that difficult to solve but my main issue with this book is that there were entirely too many characters so that at times I was confused as to who went with who. But still I enjoyed the southern "flavor" of the book and will look for the next in the series.

Cut the cast list and beef up the mystery (No pun intended.) Sometimes the start of a new series is hampered by the introduction of all the characters and this could have been the case in this one.

>68 cyderry: Cheli, I think I was being very generous when I gave Delicious and Suspicious a 3 star rating because several months later, I'm surprised I gave it more than a 2 star rating. I really don't think I'll ever read the others in that series.

#91 The Taste of Innocence

Author: Stephanie Laurens
Read: September 17 - September 24
Format: Paperback 436 pages
Source: My Library
Subject: Love, Marriage, investments, land deals
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Romance
Stars: ★★★

Stephanie Laurens has been writing the Cynster novels since 1998 and in this book we find a new connection as well as seeing old friends. In this installment , Charles, Earl of Meredith decides that it is time to marry and choses Sarah Conningham the daughter of a neighbor. They have known each other since childhood, but when he returns to his ancestral home and applies for Sarah's hand, he is startled when she states that she wants a marriage of passion and excitement and that she will give him 2 weeks to show that he can give her that before she will respond to his proposal.

What Charles learns is that Sarah is not just a passionate woman but kind-hearted and gentle of spirit devoting her time and efforts to the local orphanage.

Sarah learns that her long ago infatuation with Charles may have been more and together they embark on a life of secrets to be revealed and love to be cherished.

Sarah's orphanage plays a vital role in the story as well as identifying Charles' character and eccentricities. Cynsters never fail in entertaining.

#92 The Magician: Secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel

Author: Michael Scott
Read: September 18 - September 26
Format: Paperback 464 pages
Source: Borrowed from a young friend
Subject: magic, Paris, Alcatraz
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI,
Category: The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books
Genre: Young Adult
Stars: ★★★★

This is the second installment of the adventures of Josh and Sophie Newman who are the prophesied twins who are to save the Earth from the Dark Elders who are basically a group of evil immortals trying to take over the world and enslave mankind.

Sophie in the first book was awakened to her powers and immediately fled with her brother, Nicholas Flamel, and a vampire Warrior guardian Scathach where this book starts in Paris.

Flamel with his wife, Perenelle, lived in Paris centuries before but modern day Paris is quite different leading to difficulties for the quartet that are fleeing from the evil Machiavelli and Dr. Dee. Perenelle is already being held captive on Alcatraz and they must save her before Flamel and she age beyond the immortal elixir's magic. In Paris, Flamel meets up with Comte deSaint-Germain, an immortal alchemist of his past and he with his wife, Joan of Arc, teach Sophie the powers of Fire Magic.

As the adventures progress and Josh learns of his powers, the battle between good and evil rages. Will the twins learn enough in time to save the world and their friends?

What a fun series, and my young friend and I will definitely have fun discussing these adventures. Definitely a series for family entertainment.

>71 cyderry: - I keep looking at this series. Glad to see you enjoy it. I will keep it in mind when I am in the mood for something fun.

Lori,

I loved Harry Potter. Granted, this is not in the same caliber as HP but if you loved the magical world and unusual creatures and children learning about mystical powers, you'll enjoy this. I have a son of friend (11 yrs old) who loves to read and we discuss books. He lent me these. I was very touched when this young man included a note to me in the book that said "I am quite honored to have an adult take interest in the books in my possession. Thank you for asking to borrow them." I almost cried when I read it. I felt that reading really does improve the lives of our children, I only wish that more children had such a love of books.

I've added the first book of the Nicolas Flamel series to my wishlist now.

#73 Cheli, what a wonderful note that lovely boy wrote to you! It will mean even more to him to have you spend time discussing the book with him and actually listening to his opinions. I don't think grown-ups do enough of that.

#93 The Untamed Bride

Author: Stephanie Laurens
Read: September 24 - September 30
Format: Paperback 448 pages
Source: My Library
Subject: Love, Marriage, espionage
Challenges: 11 in 11, 75 Book, TIOLI, BOYS
Category: Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment
Genre: Romance
Stars: ★★★

Stephanie Laurens has created a new series that utilizes characters from her Cynster series. It's great to see characters that you already feel comfortable with who will come to the aid of the new characters in this series.

Derek Delborough and four of his friends are serving in India when they come across information that could end the reign of the Black Cobra. They make copies of the letter, separate, and head back to England to try to bring down the villain. When Del in arrives in Southampton, he is enlisted against his will to escort Deliah Duncannon north.

The Black Cobra's minions try to intercept them as they travel and gain the letter. The relationship that develops and the adventures involved are entertaining along with the chance t o see old friends.

SEPTEMBER RECAP
So here's my wrap-up for the Month of SEPTEMBER. It was a very good reading month number-wise and I finished my first category for the 11 in 11 Challenge. (I promised myself that this year I would try to spread out my reading throughout my categories so that when one seemed to be running away, I'd concentrate on the others that were falling behind. Three more are awaiting their last book.)

September: 5 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 1 new: 0 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Great Deliverance
The worst of the month - Edward's Eyes not really bad but it could have been more expanded.

Here's What I read this month:

Red Pyramid
Edward's Eyes
The Riesling Retribution
The Husband Trap
Delicious and Suspicious
Taste of Innocence
The Magician
Untamed Bride


I. Blind dates: Will I like them? - New series / new authors / ER/ ARCs 10/11
A Great Deliverance ★★★★
Delicious and Suspicious ★★★

II. Going steady: Should we keep seeing each other? - ongoing series/favorite authors 10/11
The Riesling Retribution ★★★½

III. The Engagement: this is getting serious - topics I'm seriously interested in 8/11
Mr. Lincoln's forts : a guide to the Civil War defenses of Washington ★★★
Uncle Tom's Cabin ★★★

IV. Love and Marriage: a lifetime commitment - can't live without romance 8/11
The Husband Trap ★★★½
Taste of Innocence ★★★
Untamed Bride ★★★½

V. Something Borrowed/Something Blue - from the library, friends/sad or blue 10/11
Edward's Eyes ★★★

VI. Something Old - read those TBRs 8/11

VII. Something New - books that were acquired in 2011 8/11

VIII. Honeymoon - foreign settings/thrillers 7/11


IX. Setting up Housekeeping/ Leftovers - Crafts, cooking, and hobbies at home 5/11

X. The Kids have it - Young adult and children's books 11/11 COMPLETED
Red Pyramid ★★★½
The Magician ★★★★

XI. The good old days - Historical Fiction 8/11


Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
1 books History/Bios
0 book Health/Hobbies

Fiction:
Novels: 2
Youth/Children: 2
Mystery: 3
Historical Fiction: 2
Classic: 1

The major push continued in September and I'm really hoping that I can stay on schedule in October.
Hopefully these books will help. I should be able to complete 3 categories if I get these read.

Books for next month:

At Home in Mitford
A Light in the Window
Wild Rose : Rose O'Neale Greenhow, Civil War spy
April 1865
Elusive Bride
Why Shoot the Magistrate?
Supreme Courtship
Swan Thieves
Secret Lives of the Supreme Court
Case Histories
Death in Vienna
Lost Symbol
Skeleton Letters

Quarterly totals
Books Read Owned 15 (Pages: 5,277)
Books Read Borrowed 6 (Pages: 1,843)
Audio Books heard 10 ( 101 hours, equivalent 3,959 pages)

Total Completed
21 books and 10 audio books - 11,079 pages
28 fiction; 3 nonfiction

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
3 books History
0 book Health

Fiction:
Novels: 3
Youth/Children: 6
Mystery: 11
Historical Fiction: 6
Classic: 1

July: 4 pre-owned: 6 borrowed: 0 new: 1 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Summer in Sonoma
The worst of the month - Murder on Monday
August: 1 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 3 new: 3 ARC - 12 books.
Best of the Month: Murder Most Persuasive
The worst of the month - The Last Boy
September: 4 pre-owned: 4 borrowed: 1 new: 0 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Great Deliverance
The worst of the month - Edward's Eyes not really bad but it could have been more expanded.

Yearly total
Books Read Owned 50 (Pages: 17,169)
Books Read Borrowed 12 (Pages: 7,599 )
Audio Books heard 31 (376¼ hours, 9,656 equivalent pages )

Challenge progress
75 book Challenge 93/75
11 in 11 Challenge 1 category completed
50 State Challenge 30/50 + DC
Endless European Challenge 11/48

Total Completed
62 books and 31 audio books - 22,914 pages
86 fiction; 7 nonfiction

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
9 books History
1 book Health

Fiction:
Novels: 13
Youth/Children: 10
Mystery: 38
Historical Fiction: 19
Classic: 3

Quarterly totals
Books Read Owned 15 (Pages: 5,277)
Books Read Borrowed 6 (Pages: 1,843)
Audio Books heard 10 ( 101 hours, equivalent 3,959 pages)

Total Completed
21 books and 10 audio books - 11,079 pages
28 fiction; 3 nonfiction

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
3 books History
0 book Health

Fiction:
Novels: 3
Youth/Children: 6
Mystery: 11
Historical Fiction: 6
Classic: 1


July: 4 pre-owned: 6 borrowed: 0 new: 1 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Summer in Sonoma
The worst of the month - Murder on Monday
August: 1 pre-owned: 5 borrowed: 3 new: 3 ARC - 12 books.
Best of the Month: Murder Most Persuasive
The worst of the month - The Last Boy
September: 4 pre-owned: 4 borrowed: 1 new: 0 ARC - 11 books.
Best of the Month: A Great Deliverance
The worst of the month - Edward's Eyes not really bad but it could have been more expanded.

Favorites of 2011: (so far)

Buffalo West Wing ★★★★½
A Murderous Procession ★★★★
A Great Deliverance ★★★★
Lumby on the Air ★★★★
Summer in Sonoma ★★★★
Murder with Peacocks ★★★★
Murder is binding ★★★★
The Mournful Teddy ★★★★
Stand-in Groom ★★★★
Acqua Alta ★★★★
Sew Deadly ★★★★
Princess and the Hound ★★★★
Outlander ★★★★


Yearly total
Books Read Owned 50 (Pages: 17,169)
Books Read Borrowed 12 (Pages: 7,599 )
Audio Books heard 31 (376¼ hours, 9,656 equivalent pages )

Challenge progress
75 book Challenge 93/75
11 in 11 Challenge 1 category completed
50 State Challenge 30/50 + DC
Endless European Challenge 11/48

Total Completed
62 books and 31 audio books - 22,914 pages
86 fiction; 7 nonfiction

Genre Summary

Nonfiction:
9 books History
1 book Health

Fiction:
Novels: 13
Youth/Children: 10
Mystery: 38
Historical Fiction: 19
Classic: 3

I am looking forward to your review for At Home in Mitford. I managed to pick up 8 of the 9 books in that series at my favorite annual book sale earlier this year - I am missing book 6 A Common Life: The Wedding Story - someone probably beat me to it at the sale or it was never there to begin with, hard to tell with book sales! I am thinking of starting this series next year.

I see you have a couple of the Mitford books on your list for this month. I've enjoyed them - hope you do too.

I've continued to find books that I love so my love affair will go on in the 4th Qtr. Here is the link to 4th Qtr. thread.