Library Loot - January 28, 2009

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Eva and Alessandra that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries!

Here is what I got from the library this week:

The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein. A blurb from the cover states that it is a "Heart-wrenching but deeply funny and ultimately uplifting story of family, love, loyalty, and hope...it is a beautifully crafted and captivating look at the wonders and absurdities of human life...as only a dog could tell it."

The Cinderella Hour - Katherine Stone. A blurb from the cover: "Sixteen years ago, Snow Ashley Gable fled Chicago. She was running away - from the kind of loss that comes with love, from a friendship that turned into betrayal. Now thirty-one, Snow is bringing her successful late-night radio talk show home to Chicago. Except that not everyone wants her back..."

The Year of Pleasures - Elizabeth Berg. A blurb from the cover states that it "is about acknowledging the solace found in ordinary things: a warm bath, good food, the beauty of nature, music, friends, and art. Berg writes with humor and a big heart about resilience, loneliness, love, and hope. And the transcendence that redeems."

Tourist Season - Carl Hiaasen. I heard about this series from a Yahoo group that I belong to. This is the first book in the series (because I am one of those people that need to read a series in order). A blurb from the book says that it is "rollicking, exciting, exceptional, ferocious and ferociously funny...a wonderful achievement."

Beekeeper's Apprentice - Laurie R. King. The Library Journal states that it is an "amazing first novel with intelligence, intrigue, and intricacy...This work exhibits strong psychological undertones, compelling urgency, and dramatic action A necessary purchase and a writer to watch."

The Crown Crime Companion - selected by The Mystery Writers of America. This book lists the top 100 mystery novels of all time. I was just curious as to what they had picked and how many of them I had read. I might even make a personal challenge to read them all.

That's my haul from the library! What did you acquire?

Library Loot - January 28, 2009

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/library-loot-january-28-2009.html

Dark Dream - Christine Feehan

Title: Dark Dreamers
Authors: Christine Feehan, Marjorie M. Liu
Published: 2006
Publisher: Dorchester
Pages: 342 (182, 160)
Genre: Paranormal (Vampire, Psychic)

Dark Dream by Christine Feehan is the first novella in this anthology. It is part of her Dark Series - returning to the world of the Carpathians. This story can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend that you read the first 6 books of the series in order to appreciate the recurring characters that appear, and the history of the Carpathians.

I didn't read Marjorie M. Liu's portion of the book because it is part of the Dirk & Steele series and I am reading that series in order and haven't come to this novella yet.

Dark Dream is the story of one of the ancient warriors of the Carpathian race - Falcon. He rescues Sara from a street gang and discovers that she is the one who can keep him from the darkness threatening to take over his life. She is his lifemate.

Sara has spent fifteen years hiding from an ancient vampire who murdered her family. At first she thinks Falcon is that vampire, but after listening to his story and her heart, she realizes he is the one from her dreams, the one that has kept her going all these lonely years. Hoping to keep her safe, Falcon takes them to his homeland - the Carpathian Mountains - and asks for aid from his people. But will their love be enough to save her from the clutches of the vampire? Can she save Falcon from becoming a monster equal to the one that hunts her?

This was a fantastic novella. Christine Feehan does an excellent job in giving the reader enough background information to make it possible to read this book as a standalone. In such a short story, I was suprised at how well she developed her characters, and her attention to all the little details mades this a page-turning story. I was captivated by Falcon, and Sara bewitched me with her capacity to love Falcon in every way. They are both strong in ways that offset each other's weaknesses. I recommend this novella to those that already love the Carpathians and to those that want to try a sampling of this awesome series.

Rating: 4.5/5
Pages: 182
Completed: 1/26/09

Dark Dream - Christine Feehan

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/dark-dream-christine-feehan.html

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

Wow, what can I say about this book that hasn't been already said. I am still reeling from the last few chapters.

Have you ever read a book where the characters stay with you long after the book is finished? Diana Gabaldon's Outlander has those kinds of characters - from the hero and heroine along with the secondary characters to the evil Randall -they all will be in my thoughts for a long time to come. They were realistic with their imperfections, real emotions, and an unbreakable sense of honor. She brings such life to her characters that you actually believe they truly existed. Her descriptions of the land and traditions of medieval Scotland were vivid and she captures the emotion, wit, and humor of the Scottish. She is definitely a fantastic historian, and we get a view of 18-century life through the eyes of Claire, a 20th-century woman.

Claire is an army nurse who is feisty, determined, compassionate, torn between two worlds, funny and down right likable. Jamie is a redheaded Scots warrior, who after the first time meeting him - you fall in love with him. He has a sense of humor, is an honorable man, and has just a touch of innocence about him that is endearing. I laughed with them, cried with them, and cheered them on through perilous, life-threatening adventures, tender romantic moments, and brutal honesty. There are several secondary characters that are just as memorable. Diana Gabaldon has created a world that I want to visit again and again.

As Jaime commented on one of my other posts..."I've had to have that same "There's 5 more books, you fool, stop crying!" conversation with myself about Outlander." This was so true.

To give you a very brief synopsis...Claire is on holiday in Scotland with her husband. She is hurled back in time from 1947 to 1743 medieval Scotland. After being taken to Castle Leoch by the MacKenzie clan, she becomes ensnared in an array of adventures. And by her side is the dashing Scots Warrior James Frasier. She is torn between fidelity to her husband and her desire for Jamie. As the story unfolds, we learn the true intent of her heart.

I wish I had the words and the ability to convey how great this book is. It grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let you go.

Rating: 5/5
Pages: 640 Hardcover (1557 ebook version)
Completed: 1/19/09

Outlander - Diana Gabaldon

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/outlander-diana-gabaldon.html

Musing Mondays

Musing Mondays question is....

How does your being sick (or injured) affect your reading? Do you read more? Less? Do you pick out a different book than you had already planned? Do you have a "comfort book" that makes you feel better?

I think being sick does affect my reading. I can't concentrate as well and my mind tends to wander so I know that I read less. However, if I feel like reading, I usually pick up a comfort read. They tend to make me feel better as well as being an easy read. If I have a few Harlequins sitting around, I may pick up one of those since they are quick, easy reads.

What about you...how does being sick affect your reading?

Musing Mondays

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/musing-mondays.html

Teaser Tuesday

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read.

Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.

You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

I am reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon...but it is in eBook format. So I opened the book to the first page, held down the "page turn" key and then randomly stopped.

Here are my two teaser sentences:

“You dinna need to be afraid of me,” he said softly. “I wasna going to jump on ye.” I laughed in spite of myself. “Well, I didn’t think you would.” In fact, I didn’t think he would touch me, until and unless I invited him to; the fact remained that I was going to have to invite him to do considerably more than that, and soon.

Teaser Tuesday

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/teaser-tuesdays-asks-you-to-grab-your.html

Off and Reading...

I started this year out determined to finish Outlander. I had partially read this book back in 2008 but got sidetracked somewhere along the line and ended up not finishing it. This had nothing to do with what I thought about the book - I LOVE the Outlander - I guess it had more to do with the fact that I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to see if she traveled forward in time to her own time period, or if she ended up staying with Jamie. But, I guess it doesn't really end as there are more books in the series - LOL. So, in order for it to count for my challenges, and because I wanted to recapture the essence of the book - I started at the beginning and am rereading it.

However, because I love to savour the relationship between Claire and Jamie and am trying to make it last, I have read a few quick reads in between chapters (and also I couldn't stand the fact that I hadn't finished a book yet in 2009).

I usually don't review my Harlequin Presents, but I joined both the Read & Review Challenge and the Harlequin/Silhouette Challenge - so, I need to post reviews of the 3 I read. I find it kind of difficult to review these books because they are so short, and I never know how much to write without traipsing into "spoiler land"...but I'll try.

The Brazilian Boss's Innocent Mistress by Sarah Morgan is a book about reaching out and grabbing what you want no matter what obstacles are in your way. Grace has built her business from the ground up with the help of an investment from Rafael Cordeiro. He is a billionaire who invests in small businesses that interest him. Until recently, things had been flowing smoothly, but Mr. Cordeiro is threatening to call in his loan and Grace has ten minutes to convince him to help her.

But Rafael thinks all women are deceitful and dangerous. He is convinced that Grace is a liar and a thief. He gives her an ultimatum - leave and lose - or settle her debts with her body.

I enjoyed this story. The attraction between Grace and Rafael was all-consuming and the build-up was intense. I liked Grace's attitude and tenacity. She overcame great odds to become a successful business owner. She showed extreme courage in her dealings with Rafael and had a mind of her own. Rafael, on the otherhand, is ruthless and cold-hearted. His Brazilian heritage makes him irresistible to women with his bronze skin and wide, powerful shoulders.

Rating: 3

The Billionaire Boss's Secretary Bride by Helen Brooks is a tale of unrequited love. Gina knows that her billionaire boss, Harry, has never shown more than a professional interest in her. Why should he...she is plain and plump, hardly trophy wife material. However, Harry has noticed Gina's generous curves, and he'll have to act fast because she has taken another job.

Helen Brooks writes romances that pulls at the heart-strings. For those of you that like stories that have some angst, men that have a tough time loving, and the women who love them, then you'll like her books. The romance is tender, they wait till marriage to consummate their union, and the woman always gets her man.

I really liked this story. Gina describes to Harry a fictitious man in her life. Harry believes that she is leaving because this man broke her heart. When in reality, it is Harry that has broken her heart. Helen Brooks does a great job of letting you into the minds of both Gina and Harry. Trying to get the two of them together and admit their love for one another is an emotional roller-coaster ride.

Rating: 3.5

The Greek Tycoon's Disobedient Bride by Lynne Graham. I didn't like this book as much as I did the other two. I didn't really connect with Ophelia and Lysander was a little bit too arrogant for my tastes. Lysander wants to reclaim the family home, Madrigal Court. According to Gladys Stewart's will, the only way he can accomplish this is to marry her granddaughter, Ophelia. There is too much bitter history between these two families for it to be a easy union. Ophelia tries to leave Lysander several times, and he can't seem to understand why, or why he wants her to stay.

It was an okay story, but I have read better by her.

Rating: 2.5

Now...back to reading Outlander!!!

Off and Reading...

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/off-and-reading.html

My Hopes for 2009

Happy New Year everyone!! Just thought I would stop in and blog a bit about my hopes for 2009. I want it to be a year of new beginnings, personal growth, job opportunities, and reading.

I want to devote more time to broadening my reading into genres I don't normally explore.

I want to reach out to others in the book blogging community by commenting more, posting more, and begin to participate in my Yahoo groups instead of being a lurker.

I want to take out time for myself and READ.

I want to learn to accept myself for who I am and not change to what others want me to be.

I want to build the confidence within myself to go out there and grab the job I want...the job I deserve. I am graduating in the Spring and will be looking for employment in the paralegal field.

I want to repair and strengthen the relationships that I have with my kids. I have two "sets" of kids - 2 that are in their teens and two that are early elementary age. I want to bridge the gap between them and bring us all closer together.

I want to get a handle on my irritability and put into place techniques to control it, deal with it, and learn what triggers it.

My wish is that 2009 be a year of great change for me and my family, a year of great reads, and a year of financial stability.

I want to take a moment to thank all the people who took the time to comment on my blog this past year. I love reading all your comments and they mean a great deal to me. I have met some wonderful people and hope to continue those relationships in 2009.

I hope everyone had an awesome holiday and here is to hoping the best for you in the coming year. I look forward to visiting your blogs, hearing about your reading/life experiences, and reading your reviews.

My Hopes for 2009

http://worldaccordingtobooks.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-hopes-for-2009.html