Bossypants

by Tina Fey

My husband and I started this one back on July 4th weekend when we had a long car trip.  I finished it up last week and loved it.  It's very Tina Fey'ish and I laughed out loud multiple times.  I definitely recommend this as an audiobook because Tina Fey reads it herself and adds a bit to it.  It was delightful and passed the time quickly!

The Restorer (Graveyard Queen book 1)

by Amanda Stevens.

I really enjoyed this new series.  It's about Amelia, she can see ghosts but has a set of rules her father instilled in her - 1) do not acknowledge ghosts 2) do not get involved with those that are haunted etc.

She restores graveyards for a living and stumbles into a murder mystery with a handsome detective who is haunted by 2 ghosts.  Breaking her father's rules but trying to keep sane she helps to solve the mystery now that she has been sucked in full force.

I really enjoyed this one, it was a bit odd in parts.  Sometimes it felt like the author just jumped right into certain things without enough lead in so it felt forced and jumpy in places but all in all it was a great mystery and I look forward to more in the series.

Hounded (Druid book 1)

by Kevin Hearne.

This was an interesting new series.  It follows a 2100 year old Druid (the last) during modern times as he interacts with gods/goddesses, elementals, witches, vampires etc.  It's an action packed book with some great characters and was a fun read with a few laugh out loud moments.  I haven't gotten into the rest of the series yet but might come back to this at some point.  I have a lot of reading/catching up to do audio book wise for now.

Devil's Bride

by Stephanie Laurens.

I read this one a while back, it took a while because i wasn't commuting during my maternity leave.  I'm not sure how this one originally caught my eye, it was a new author but a historical romance.  I enjoyed it and thought the character development was good.  Honoria was a very strong female character as well which I liked a lot.

Copper Beach (Dark Legacy Novel)

by Jayne Ann Krentz.

A new paranormal series (no arcane) but it was a nice change to get away from the arcane society and nightshade.  This was her new book and I read it quickly, always enjoying the storyline of a JAK paranormal romance.

The Witness

by Nora Roberts.

Wow - this is a good book!  I love these suspense romances and this one didn't disappoint.  I liked it all the way, a good build up in the beginning, a good story, good characters and a good mystery/suspense (not really a mystery too much).  It was definitely hard to put down and I highly recommend this for a good stand alone read!

What Happens in London

by Julia Quinn.

I believe this is the 2rd in the Bevelstoke series, I only know of one other actual Bevelstoke book though, the   'third' is Sebastian's book - I guess since he's a cousin it counts.  Anyhow it's the last for me to read but it was a fun read.  It took me FOREVER to read this since I was listening to it and on maternity leave (which means I wasn't listening to it).  So I can't really say much about it, it was easy to pick up after a long period of time :)

Sleeping Beauty

by Elle Lothlorien.

Hoping for a second winner this one was okay but kind of twisted in the middle.  It's based on a woman Claire who has sleeping beauty syndrome which involves spells of fainting/blacking out leading up to a longer coma like state where she's semi-conscious but has complete amnesia.  Cue male doctor who meets her on the street during one of her episodes and I won't give more away.

I was kind of perturbed, there are some twists and turns that were hard to relate to in this book.  There are a lot of helpful characters around and while being unbelievable the overall book was good.  Just had to get through the middle part.  Recommended because the story was good, no where near as funny as Frog Prince but a good read if not disturbing for a bit.

The Frog Prince

by Elle Lothlorien

A new author to try out, this first book was very good if not unbelievable.  It was also interesting to see what fame can do to a relationship.  It was fun all the way.  Following the story of an un-crowned prince of Austria (they have no monarchy) living in America who falls for a hilariously quirky american.  Then all of a sudden the monarchy is re-instated and he becomes king - instant fame around the world to deal with and she's just a 'commoner' so the speculation about their relationship runs rampant.  Very fun story, I was happy I found this author!

Crystal Gardens (ladies of lantern street book 1)

by Amanda Quick.

Oh how i love amanda quick books, some of my very favorites.  This one is one of her paranormal romances, but not Arcane.  It's a new trilogy that will follow 3 women who are investigators.  The first follows Evangaline who is in danger and Lucas who decides to help her.  It was short and to the point but a nice easy quick enjoyable read for sure!

A Storm of Swords (song of ice and fire book 3)

By George RR Martin.
I did not finish this book, the longest of the series, I did make it more than halfway through and could guess where it was going.  Knowing that favorite characters easily die off unexpectedly I couldn't stomach another one so I quit.  I rarely if ever don't finish a book, especially a good one.  Maybe some day I'll come back to this but I feel like I've had enough, it was enjoyable but i don't need the rest of the series to feel satisfied.

A Clash of Kings (song of ice and fire book 2)

By George RR Martin.
The epic story continues and I really enjoyed this book althoughit ended really abruptly, luckily I had the third ready to go.  New characters join the fight for power and different sides to some characters are shown.

Shadows edge

By JT Geissinger.

This is a new series called the night prowler series and is a paranormal romance.  Book one follows a half breed shifter as she learns about what she is and her past.  I really enjoyed the book and look forward to future ones for sure! Highly recommend!

Fifty shades series

By E.L. James

I had no idea what I was getting into when I bought fifty shades grey.  First off I thought it was young adult, nope, no way.

This is hard core adult romance with a heavy dose of SnM.  I'm not sure I would have read them if I had investigated further but I'm glad I did.  The writing left much to be desired, I mean pick up a thesaurus sometime and people just do not "gasp" often in real life and certainly not almost continuously like in the first book.

I really didn't love the first book but I liked the ending and it was all a good setup for the second book which I did really like.  The third tired the stories up but was otherwise kind of boring.  All in all, the characters and overall story are great, the sex was not my style but wasn't too hard to stomach. 

These are not high in my recommendations list but if you are looking for a new type of romance and kinky doesn't turn you away you may enjoy these, just be sure to at least read the second.

Catching Fire (hunger games book 2) and Monkingjay (book 3)

By Suzanne Collins.

I heard the second and third books were not as good as the first and I have to disagree with that.  I think they were great but the second is a cliffhanger so be warned.  I can't say much about this without giving away the first so I'll just say the story continues and it's captivating and well done!

Let's Pretend this never happened

By Jennie Lawson (the bloggess)

This was witty and funny and a mostly true memoir.  It had some stories she mentioned in her blog I follow but lots of new stuff and history.  I really enjoyed it and it was a nice break.

Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire book 1)

by George R.R. Martin.

Well I just finished the first book in this series last night and wow what a great ending!  Definitely makes you want to start the second immediately and I can't wait to watch the tv series since I hear it's very good as well.  This book has a lot going on, multiple characters are followed so you get multiple perspectives and it's hard to choose who to get behind for this game of thrones.  It took a little while to get into because it was hard to follow with a different character each chapter but once I got to know everyone it really took off.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone!

Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins.

Wow, I won't spoil this for anyone but it is a captivating must read set in the future, a very controlled, bizarre future where people live in districts and are ruled by the Capitol.  Easch year, two young adults are chosen from each district to partake in the hunger games, a survival 'game' with only one winner, the last alive.  It's brutal and heart wrenching and a page turner.  Katniss is a wonderful protagonist, honest and easy to like.  I look forward to the rest of the trilogy and the movie now!

Game of Thrones (Song of Ice and Fire book 1)

by George R.R. Martin.

Okay this will be followed up later when I actually finish this book but I have much to say and I'm going to be putting it aside for just a bit to read the Hunger Games series so I thought I'd write this for now.

This series is epic and intense - think lord of the rings EXCEPT you don't get a core of characters to follow through an adventure. Characters you grow to like die, characters you hate you may start to like later, characters surprise you. This is much more real life - there is no hero, the strong/smart succeed unless they are unlucky or outnumbered. There is intrigue for sure.

I had a really hard time getting into the book at first because there is so much to learn about the new world and it switches between characters each chapter. Until you get to know the characters this can be confusing (I have no issues now).

There are parallel and intertwined stories going on and it's called Game of Thrones for a reason - the kingdom is in peril (it's only newly won anyhow). You really don't 'root' for anyone either, you just follow the story as it plays out - very different than any other book i've read but I'm definitely enjoying it.

So I would recommend this but it's not light reading. I am looking forward to continuing it but will probably take breaks here and there because it's so long. Hopefully soon i'm on here saying i finished at least the first of the 4 books!

The Secret Diary of Miss Miranda Cheever (Bevelstoke book 1)

by Julia Quinn.

Trying out another new author (although i've read one of hers previously -- 10 thinks I love about you).

This one is part of a trilogy that follows the Bevelstoke family (2 brothers and a sister). The eldest brother Turner has been widowed by a horrible woman and declares he will never marry again but he is attracted to Miss Miranda Cheever, a dear and close friend of his younger sister's. Miranda has been in love with Turner since she was 10 and he walked her home the day they met.

First - the reader was a bit strange (and slow) but not horrible. In general this was very good. I kind of wish the main character had done more with writing/diary entries, but she literally just wrote down what she ate/did that day - didn't become a writer or anything.

All in all a good one and I look forward to Olivia's story which is next. I guess the third one doesn't follow the other brother though, so I wonder what happens to him in Olivia's story. I already read 10 things I love about you - dont' know how it ties with the Bevelstoke's though.

Ballad: A Gathering of Fairie

by Maggie Stiefvater.

The companion novel to Lament. This story takes place just after Lament when James is now at the Thornking-Ash school (for gifted students?) and meets Nuala a fairie who can make James even more exceptional at his music (bagpipes) in exchange for siphoning years off the end of his life.

While it's not a sequal to Lament (it doesn't follow the original 2 characters at all), it definitely continues the story from a fairie political point of view. Just like Lament, there is plenty of danger and action to keep the interest high and I finished this one very quickly (2 nights?). I thought it was a great companion book and I highly recommend both of these books. I do hope or wish that the author would write a third book sometime in the future because I feel that there is more to Dee's story as she has not met her potential in the least yet.

Lament: The Fairie Queen's Deception

by Maggie Stiefvater.

A new fairie book that was on sale one day for cheap on kindle so I purchased it. I loved it! This one is kind of a traditional fairie book, one where you don't speak of the fairies and therefore don't learn much about their world. It's about a young girl Dee who is very special and a young (man? or fairie? or what) Luke who is intrigued by Dee.

I won't give more than that away by stating what it's really about but it goes through some very interesting fairie lore. Dee caught the fairie's interest due to her music (she plays the harp) and I thought the story really was wonderful.

Dee's best friend James Morgan has a companion novel 'Ballad' which I'm reading now. Dee still makes appearances in Ballad but it's not a sequel. I'm enjoying this 'world' and these characters but I know there are only the 2 books unfortunately.

How to Marry a Duke ( how to book 1)

by Vicky Dreiling.

This is a new historical romance author and this is the first in a series it seems. This one follows a Duke (Tristan) who needs to marry (to beget an heir) and a self proclaimed match maker (Tessa). Tessa and Tristan meet at a ball and the Duke later asks Tessa to become his matchmaker. She decides to do a little match making a' la The Bachelor and invites 24 young women (much to the Duke's horror) to her place to meet the Duke and find out about the 'competition'.

Of course throughout Tristan and Tessa fall in love (although he doesn't want to marry for love and she won't marry without love of course). I found the book interesting, I liked the characters a lot. The competition part was okay, didn't really add much to the story like I was hoping (some humor maybe?), but in general I enjoyed the book and always looked forward to listening to it. It was kind of an easy historical romance with the 'will they/won't they' get together element of course.

The Iron Knight (Iron Fae book 6 - final)

by Julie Kagawa.

The final book (well for this series anyway). Let me first say - that I did like the ending of Iron Queen, for a trilogy it had kind of an epic ending - very Fae - perfect you could say. However due to pressure from her editors because people really like Happily Ever After endings she went on to write this essentially epilogue from Ash's point of view.

This book did more than just complete the story though, it really resolved a lot between Puck and Ash and gave a lot of the history that is between them. All the characters really grew and it was a nice adventure with a good group of Fae. Parts were sad, parts were nerve wracking but because I can't handle suspense I made sure and read the spoilers so I'd know how it turned out - I HATE suspense, especially if I'm reading at night, I won't stop reading otherwise and then I'm up half the night.

So instead I got 3 good nights/mornings of reading in and finished up this wonderful series. I'm so glad I read this series, I loved the worlds and the characters and I thought the author did a wonderful job with a unique (yet not new) world of the Fae. She didn't sugar coat anything and I thought it wonderfully done. I would definitely recommend this series and hopefully I haven't given too much away about it so that it's still enjoyable.

Summer Crossing (Iron Fae book 5)

by Julie Kagawa.

This is a short one - from Puck's point of view! Puck and Ash are together again, on a short adventure into Arcadia. It was neat seeing Puck's point of view and some of just Puck and Ash together - since they have such a long history. It's a good setup for the final book from Ash's point of view too.

Iron Queen (Iron Fae book 4)

by Julie Kagawa.

The conclusion of the original trilogy. Meghan and Ash are together at last in the mortal world but it seems they can not live on contentedly and see where life takes them. The Iron Fae are still trying to take over the never never and Meghan is the only one that could 'fight' them with her peculiar Iron magic.

This one was fantastic as well. Meghan finally becomes a bit stronger, learning to fight and becoming much more decisive and confident. There were some tragic, sad parts of the book but the journey all made sense and seemed necessary. If this was really the end I'd be very very sad about that, while the ending was almost epic, it wasn't ideal and I'm hoping the last book (after the short story) makes things a bit 'happier' - we shall see - she has some options here. Either way, Meghan's story is really done now and we get to see Ash continue on with Puck so I'm looking forward to that!

Blood Born (Vampire book 1)

by Linda Howard and Linda Winstead Jones.

This is the start of a new series, so far only the first book is out. I have mixed feelings on this one, now that it's finished I can say I REALLY liked it a lot and I can't wait for a second! However the first half was very slow with a lot of new stuff to 'learn'. I wasn't sure at the time if I was going to like it or not.

Another problem was that the first few chapters were from the perspective of different characters - who then died in that chapter. So it took a while to get to the main characters (there was a reason for all of that but it was confusing at first).

This is yet another Vampire story with a few small twists and some interesting concepts. In the end I really loved the characters and the story and the second half was quite gripping.

Iron Daughter (Iron Fae book 3)

by Julie Kagawa.

I really loved this one in the series. Lots of questions were resolved. While the beginning was kind of slow and I didn't see where it was all going it soon picked up and adventure ensued.

It starts with Meghan at the winter court dealing with her feelings for prince Ash who won't acknowledge her (you are beating your head against the wall because he warned her that he couldn't acknowledge his feelings for her but of course she starts doubting them etc. - teenage angst).

Then an event occurs that throws the Unseelie Court against the Seelie Court (they are always looking for a reason) and Meghan must intervene with the help of her friends again to save the Fae world as they know it from the Iron Fae (again). She learns some new tricks and becomes a bit braver I thought which made this book very interesting.

We also meet a bunch of new characters (although some don't last long) including the self proclaimed queen of the mis-fits who was exhiled by Queen Titania. I personally love the historical fairy references myself :)

I really loved how this one wrapped up and was quite content but I know the story continues and the battle with the Iron Fae is not over yet.

Winter Crossing (Iron Fae book 2 - short)

by Julie Kagawa.

This book follows immediately from book 1, Meghan's adventure is over and she must keep a promise she made (a deal) from the first book. A short adventure awaits on her journey to the Unseelie Queen's court (Queen Mab) with Queen Mab's youngest son Prince Ash.

Short but satisfying, it definitely set up the 'second' book in the trilogy well.

Iron King (Iron Fae book 1)

by Julie Kagawa

Hmm... not sure how I skipped writing about this one back when I read it. This is a young adult series, mostly a trilogy but it has 2 shorts and then an epilogue/follow on from another character's point of view.

I think I may have gotten the first book free or something and really loved it right away. Meghan Chase is turning 16 and finds out that she's 1/2 faerie and that her biological father is King Oberon of the Seelie Court and her best friend Robbie is actually Robin Goodfellow or Puck from Shakespeare's Midsummer's Night's Dream. Her little brother (1/2 brother) is kidnapped by the fairies and Meghan goes in the Nevernever to get him back.

What she finds is a world we expect with a new twist. First we have the Seelie (Summer) Court and the Unseelie (Winter) Court that share power but don't really get along. However due to human's lack of belief in the 'other' these courts aren't as strong as they once were and a new Fae has cropped up called the Iron Fae, born out of progress. Since regular Fae can't be around Iron this is a neat twist. Since Meghan is a half breed she doesn't have an Iron weakness.

The book is full of adventure, a little youthful romance and some very gruesome scenes (Fae are vicious). I loved it, I loved all the characters that Meghan runs into and the world in general that the author depicts. Very well done, it really captured my attention!

Maid of Fairborne Hall

by Julie Klassen.

A MUST READ. I love Julie Klassen books and this one did not disappoint!!! With a wonderful perspective from a servant's life it was filled with people and relationships and a little mystery. I loved the characters and I loved how the story moved along. I loved seeing the main character evolve as a person into a wonderful woman.

I can't recommend this one enough - seriously!

Death Comes to Pemberly

by P.D. James.

Another Christmas gift via Kindle. I actually didn't love this one. While parts of it were interesting and the mystery was great (as was the basic story). I felt the author tried too hard to make it jive with Pride & Prejudice. Some references were fine, others were too 'explained' for someone who has read P&P even once I'd think (although I've read it many times). I also felt that the author tried to have the characters do and say things that resembled what they did in P&P and it felt forced to me.

I am glad I read it and would recommend it if you love P&P and want to see a little mystery with a lot of Mr. Darcy but it wasn't a favorite.

Sing You Home

by Jodi Piccoult.

What a horrible book to read when you're pregnant, at least the beginning. I don't want to give much away but the beginning is HARD to read. The basic premise of the book deals with infertility, and then later religion and alternative lifestyles (lesbian).

Honestly, parts of the book were hard to listen to, I think the author did an amazing job being as objective as she could but it's hard for me to listen to someone's point of view that is so closed minded. The religious parts were not bad, it's the hatred that underlies it that were hard for me to stomach.

In general though the book was great as usual and while I think the ending was kind of 'convenient', it was heart warming. While not a surprise, the characters acted more quickly than i would have thought based on the rest of the book so it didn't seem too realistic to me.

All in all I'm very glad I read it, even with the beginning being hard to get through. I really liked the song tracks at the start of each chapter and the very first song is SO touching as it's sung to her unborn child and brings tears to my eyes whenever I listen to it now!

A Weekend with Mr. Darcy

by Victoria Connelly.

Another Christmas gift in kindle book form, this one was touching. Taking place in england, with a weekend away for some Janeites (Jane Austen fans). The main story revolves around 2 women and their relationships. The main romance is tough to stomach sometimes due to the deceit of the hero who is keeping a large secret.

The other story line was a little more fun, even though the woman had a long standing relationship that she had intended to end, so it wasn't without it's complications. All in all I really enjoyed the book and it went quickly.

Love, Come to Me

by Lisa Kleypas.

I got this one for Christmas from my mom and as soon as I needed a kindle break i pulled this one out.

This is a civil war era romance that Lisa Kleypas wrote when she was young (her first novel maybe?) and she is finally releasing it. It takes place just after the civil war up in Concord, MA and definitely brings up the politics of the time which I found very interesting.

All in all I really liked the book, it wasn't as predictable as usual which kept me reading till the very end quickly. There was one part in the middle that I really didn't like (an act of dominance/force) which really didn't seem necessary and quite frankly almost out of character considering the rest of the book. There was definitely an interesting side relationship going on with another character that I'm curious to see if she does a book about later.

Now back to the kindle to read some of the Jane Austen inspired books I got for xmas!

My (not so) Storybook Life

by Elizabeth Owen.

I got this as a Christmas gift off my wishlist on Kindle and it's a book of friendship. It's an interesting take on life and friendship as you navigate through something like cancer (her best friend gets cancer).

It was a quick read and enjoyable. It's focused a lot of faith and God but not so much that it turned me off (and I'm not Christian). I liked it for the interpersonal relationships and it moved along nicely. It also gave some funny stories about being a homeowner/newly wed/dog owner. I liked the little shorts that took from common stories and made the characters go through more realistic life problems.
I would recommend this as a quick read if you have the time, makes you think about life a bit and if you are religious in any way this is probably inspirational.

Baby 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice For Your Baby's First Year

by Denise Fields and Dr. Ari Brown.

I got this one as a christmas gift from my sister on Kindle and started it up early (which is good because the beginning is about decisions you need to make before you have the baby). I really love the format and the information given and have highlighted multiple sections and notes. Very practical advice based more on science than some theory.

I definitely recommend this book - I loved the section on infections as well as breastfeeding (very informative). I made multiple highlights and bookmarks and can see going back to this book or checking their website for quick reference information.

Artisan Bread in 5 minutes a day

by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois.

I got this one as a Christmas gift and while most of it is recipes, I did read through the rest of it (even some of the recipes). I loved it. I don't know if I have the energy to try this just yet but I'm hoping to soon. What a great idea, no kneading involved, just make up a large batch of dough, store it in the fridge and then pick off a chunk and let it rise then bake that day. Awesome.

There were even recipes on how to use the basic dough for pizza dough and desserts. I was definitely impressed and would love to try this out. Lot's of great information on ingredients to use and how they change the breads etc.

Death Angel

by Linda Howard.

Parts of this one actually made Prey sound enjoyable. Again - the female character was annoying and constantly repeated herself. The story again was very interesting but parts were drawn out and at the end I wanted to just stop listening.

This one follows an assassin and a woman who rips off his employer (she was his girlfriend). She changes her identity and goes into hiding and the assassin is hired to find and kill her. She actually dies at one point (very strange) and as I said, the story itself is actually quite interesting but could have been done better with less chatter from the main female character.

Unfortunately can't really recommend this one either :(

Prey

by Linda Howard.

What a strange book - not one of my favorites of Linda Howard's. Parts of it were from a Bear's point of view which was very strange but the bad part was that so much of the dialog inside Angie's head was annoying and repeated constantly. It was very slow moving and while the overall story was interesting it was dragged out in many places. Even as an audiobook I was bored most of the time. I finally sped up the reader (love that feature on android) and that made it easier to get through the end.

Not sure I could really recommend this one although parts of it I was really glad to have read.

Lady Sophia's Lover (Bowstreet Runners book 2)

by Lisa Kleypas.

A very good book for many reasons, the characters are great, the setup for book 3 is great (Nick Gentry) and Sophia is wonderful. I definitely enjoyed this one although I did find it annoying that she had so much trouble trusting Ross even after he had proven himself to her so many times. Even though i knew where most of it was going (since I read book 3 first) I still really enjoyed it.

Someone To Watch Over Me (Bowstreet runners book 1)

by Lisa Kleypas.

The first in the trilogy, this one follows Morgan (a runner) who saves Vivien after she nearly drowns and has completely lost her memory. His plan is revenge on her (she is a courtesan that he has a history with) but of course ends up falling in love with her. But someone tried to kill her so there's a mystery to solve.

While predictable as to who the villain would be it was still very enjoyable and introduced us to Ross Canon who is the hero of the second book.

Worth Any Price (Bowstreet runners book 3)

by Lisa Kleypas.

I got this trilogy on Kindle (Bowstreet runners) but wasn't sure of the order. Of course I accidentally read the 3rd book first - all well :) The bad thing is that this one did actually give away quite a bit about the second book since the hero in this one is actually a 'bad guy' in book 1 and 2 kind of. Luckily I don't mind knowing the end of a book so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This one follows Nick Gentry, a runner with a dark past and Charlotte, a runaway bride that Nick is paid to find. Lord Westcliffe is introduced (he makes an appearance in a later book called "Again the Magic" and then has his own story told in the Wallflower series "It Happened One Autumn").