Sherlock Holmes Reading Challenge

For those of you going through Sherlock withdrawal like me, I have a reading challenge for you. I thought it would be fun, while we wait for Season 3, to go back to the originals and read Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock. Here is the list of all the Holmes books, minus a few short stories that I thought might be hard to get a hold of. You can find most of these as free eBooks.

A Study in Scarlet (1887) The Sign of Four (1890) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1894) The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902) The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905) The Valley of Fear (1915) His Last Bow (1917) The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1927)

To make this easy and give lots of options for participation you can choose your level of expertise in deduction from the 5 options below. 

Inspector
Read all 9 listed above. 
Lieutenant
Read 6 of your choosing. 
Detective
Read 3 of your choosing.
Officer
Read 1 of your choosing. 

The Challenge will run from June 1-Dec 31st. 

All who participate will be entered for a giveaway, one entry for each book read and reviewed. The more you read, the more chances you get to win a copy of Sherlock, Season 1 or 2 on DVD. 

Ready to join? 

Post what books you plan to read and sign up with the Mister Linky below. The post to link your reviews will be up June 1st. I hope you are all as excited to read these as I am.

Happy Reading! 

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FTC Disclosure: Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Bumped by Megan McCafferty
I bought this book awhile ago when it was at a special price for iBook. I wasn't too sure about it, the premise sounded odd- teenagers are paid to have sex and get pregnant by adults for the babies. You see, in this world that McCafferty has created, a virus causes people to become sterile once they hit adulthood. The only way to have children is to have a teen "bump". Crazy, right? 
I thought so, too. But is it really all so improbable? Right now, money is being made by showing young teens dealing with pregnancy and motherhood on television. 
Anyway, the real story here is about Melody and Harmony. Twins separated at birth and raised in completely lifestyles. One raised to be a paid teen surrogate, and the other raised with God and the plan to be a teen bride and mom. Both are not happy with their lots in life and with the help of each other and some friends they realize that maybe they don't have to do what their families have planned for them.
Interesting story, interesting new teen language (which I thought was a lot of fun) and an unresolved ending that left me wanting more. So different from the Jessica Darling series, but just as fun to read.
Source: ebook purchase

4/12

Happy Reading! _________________________________________  
FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

I'm planning a Challenge!

Look for more details soon!

April Book Group: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

It has been a year since I last posted about our Book group meetings! We are still going strong, thankfully. Yay! Here is the list of the books we have read so far:
2011 August- Austenland by Shannon Hale September- The Happiness Project by Gretchin rubin October- The Shining by Stephen King November/December- The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein 2012 January- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Sloot February- The Last Letter to Your Lover by JoJo Moyles March/April- Are You Somebody? by Nuala O'Faolain May- A Million Nightengales by Susan Straight June- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern July/August- Friday Mornings at Nine by Marilyn Brant September/October- Steve Jobs: A Biography by Walter Isaacson November/December- The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett 2013 January- The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh February/March- Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner April- Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl ______________________________  It was my turn to host again and choose our book. This months book was chosen because I really wanted something lighter than the previous month's book (Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner). I also really wanted to read a YA book with our group. I came to our March meeting with two choices: Beautiful Creatures and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Two very different style of YA books.  We went with Beautiful Creatures. Thoughts about the book:
Everyone seemed a bit torn about this one. They didn't think it was all that great, but they were all still going to get the next book in the series. Guess that is the good thing about not finishing your story in one book. Even those who aren't totally invested will get the next book so as not to be left with questions unanswered.
We all thought it was okay. It was a fast, light read-exactly what we wanted. There were just a bunch of little nit-picky things that kept everyone from truly enjoying it. The use of "casters" instead of witches, the ending or non-ending, Lena wanting to go to a party thrown by her evil cousin and the guests are all the kids that have been mean to her. 
Popular Question: The character of Ethan is a bit feminine. How would the book and the relationship between him and Lena be different had he behaved more like a teenage boy?
This was one of the nit-picky things. Ethan didn't act like a teenage boy. Perhaps due to a female writer, but I have read believable teenage boys written by female authors before. We all got confused when we started reading, thinking the narrator was female. Perhaps it is on purpose; Another reason why he is different than the other boys in town. I don't know. 
Next Months book: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Google+ Comments

Hi All,
I activated the Google+ Comment feature to see how it works. Please let me know if you have issues with it. I don't want to make leaving comments any harder than it needs to be. 
Have any of you started using it? How did it work for you?
Thanks!
Happy Reading! _________________________________________
 FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Review: Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

When this book comes out in June you need to go and get yourself a copy.

 I stayed up until 4am reading this book despite the fact that a two year old would be up at 7 ready to start her day. It was so worth it. The ending itself was just perfect. Last two words of the book got the tears flowing. 

From the very first pages, I was intrigued by Nastya, the new girl in school that doesn't talk and Josh, the one everyone avoids. Millay gives nothing away at the beginning and slowly divulges more and more information about the two of them as they get to know each other. Both are going through some really tough things that no kids should have to deal with. They are lucky to find some solace and saving from each other while woodworking in Josh's garage.

This was such a beautiful story about second chances. I will be getting myself a copy in June as well and sharing with everyone I know who loves a good book.

Source: Net Galley

Emotion: tranquility

Happy Reading! _________________________________________  
FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
I have been wanting to read this book for quite awhile. It has been on my bookshelf for so long. Finally got a chance to read and I am glad that I finally opened it. The photos alone were pretty cool. Even cooler, they are actual photos found by collectors. I love how they have been taken and woven into a very creative and entertaining story.
Jacob has never been quite sure if he believed his grandfather's stories about his childhood. Tales of children with peculiar gifts and monsters hunting them. One night, Jacob gets a glimpse of one of these monsters. His parents thinks he is losing his mind, and he is not sure if he isn't.
In search of answers, Jacob and his dad travel to the island where his grandfather lived as a child. Here, Jacob discovers the secret and the truth his grandfather kept and shared with him and a very interesting group of children still living in Miss Peregrine's home.  Source: purchased

3/12

Happy Reading! _________________________________________  
FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Mailbox Monday (4/29/13)

It has been great having you all here at MariReads, Mailbox Monday-ers! Next month will be hosted by Abi at 4 the Love of Books. 
For those of you who may not be familiar with the meme, here is what it is all about:

"Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. It was started by Marcia, previously of The Printed Page and is now a Blog Tour, hosted by a different book blog each month."

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One book for me this week. I think it's time for me to stop getting books. My TBR pile is getting ridiculous. Anyway, I bought Amy Hatvany's Best Kept Secret at the book store downtown on sale. Woot! I enjoyed Heart Like Mine. Can't wait to read this one. ___________________________
So, what did you get this past week? Enquiring minds would like to know. Happy Reading! _________________________________________  FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

BlogHer TV

Hi All! Almost six years of blogging with no revenue for my efforts was fine when I had a job and income coming in that way. I have now been home with my daughter for two years and finding it a little more difficult to hold giveaways, buy books for review, etc., which impacts the blog more than I thought it would. I have been an Amazon Affiliate for a few years but have never actually made any money from that. Does anyone?
Anyway, I have joined BlogHer Promotions and have installed the BlogHer TV over in the left column. It is actually pretty cool. I chose the food and cooking channel which has recipes and cooking techniques, which I find useful. Hope some of you do as well. Any revenue will be used towards the blog. Thanks guys!
Happy Reading! _________________________________________  
FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.

Special Promotion: Chance to win a Victorian Choker

To celebrate the release of her new book, Seduction, author MJ Rose is giving readers a chance to win the beautiful Victorian choker seen on the cover of the book. Here's a better look at the actual necklace.

So, how do you enter?  It's easy.  Place Seduction on your TO READ list on Goodreads or Pre-Order your copy here.
This is open to US Residents only.  Be sure to let me know your username on Goodreads if you added it.  Email a copy of your receipt to mjrosewriteATgmailDOTcom if you pre-order a copy.  Good luck!

Happy Reading! _________________________________________  
FTC Disclosure: Clicking on book title and/or image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page.