Hard to pass up a clearance sale

I was bad. I ordered books from Amazon again. I hadn't planned on it, it's just that someone mentioned on a Twitter post that there were some good books on sale. I mean really good deals. Hard to pass up. I know you all have the same problem- saying no to books when they are on clearance.

So, I bet you are wondering what I got?

School's Out-Forever by James Patterson
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison
Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter
Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Yup, lots of YA. These will be perfect for the Read-a-Thon.

One other book came from a fellow BookMoocher. Frenemies by Alexa Young.

Back on a Book Ban I go!

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page


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Sunday Salon (September Recap)

It's October already and I still don't have any Halloween Decorations up! What is wrong with me? :)

This is usually the weekend that it all goes up but most of our days are being spent out in the rain at ZIlker park enjoying some really good bands at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. So much fun. Should be heading out there soon for the last day. Today, on our lineup, the B52's, Dead Weather, Arctic Monkeys and Pearl Jam!

Here are my September totals:

71. Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls- Moving Day by Meg Cabot
70. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
69. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
68. Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs
67. Ghost in the Machine by Patrick Carman
66. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
65. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Many of these counted towards completing the RIP IV Challenge and one for the Everything Austen Challenge.
Hoping for better numbers in October, though, especially with the Read-a Thon coming soon!

Reviews to look for this month:

Moving Day (Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls) by Meg Cabot (and giveaway)
School's Out-Forever (Maximum Ride)by James Patterson
Thanksgiving at the Inn by Tim Whitney
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnely

Here's to a great October!


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Book Review- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in need of more brains"

What do you get when you add zombies to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice? Well, sometimes big laughs and other times some cringe worthy destroying of Austen's most famous of books.

Everyone knows the story of Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy and their great love story, right? I hope so, because that is still the main story here. Seth Grahme-Smith adds Unmentionables to the story and makes the Bennett sisters warriors, pledged to protect the people of Hertfordshire from the brain eating zombies.

I enjoyed this mash up for the most part. There are some really funny parts and that first line is just great-funniest line of them all. However, as mentioned above, there were parts that made me squirm in my seat while reading. Really, how could Jane Austen's work be so defiled with vomit filled scenes, zombie feeding fests and killing sprees? Sometimes it worked, though, and I actually had fun reading it.

3.5

RIP IV Challenge
Everything Austen Challenge






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Miami Book Fair Authors

The Miami Book Fair is coming up soon. November seems like a long time from now, but you know it will get here sooner than you expect. If you are thinking about going to a Book Fair this year, definitely look into attending this one!

Go here and check out the list of participating authors.





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Yay! Books!

I knew there were books on the way!
Tuesday saw two Giveaway wins in the mail from Hatchett.

Julie & Julia by Julie Powell (Thanks, Bonnie!)
Daniel X: Watch the Skies by James Patterson (Thanks, April!)

Also in the mail was a book from my father in law. He is reading it with his book group and thought so highly of it he sent it to the hubby and I.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Not my usual type of book but it sounds interesting.

In this profoundly affecting memoir from the internationally renowned author of The Caged Virgin, Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells her astonishing life story, from her traditional Muslim childhood in Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya, to her intellectual awakening and activism in the Netherlands, and her current life under armed guard in the West.

Have any of you read this? Heard of it?

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page
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Book Review- The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Lost Symbol is very similar to The Da Vinci Code. It's just a different city (Washington D.C. instead of Paris), a different girl (not a granddaughter but a sister this time), different secret society (The Freemasons) and a different creepy antagonist (not an albino). The entire book takes place over one busy night of reading symbols and breaking codes throughout D.C. so the story is definitely fast paced and exciting most of the time. Each short chapter ends with a cliffhanger which makes you need to continue.

By the amount of time it took me to finish The Lost Symbol,though, I would have to say that it didn't capture my interest quite as much as The Da Vinci Code. When I read it, I couldn't put the book down and read it over a couple days. This one took me a week. It was, however, interesting enough to keep reading to the end. The history of the Freemasons and the founding of our country was compelling. I love conspiracy theories and reading about secret societies so that part was fun.

Yes, the book is formulaic and yes, I figured out the bad guy's secret pretty early on but it was still fun to read and see if I was right.

3/5

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Wedding Shawl Delivered

I delivered the shawl to the bride this morning. She loved it. Yay!

It looked quite lovely over her pink robe. :) 

Can't wait to see it with her wedding dress tomorrow. I will definitely be taking lots of pictures.

Have a great weekend!

Book Review: Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

Devil Bones begins with the finding of a cauldron filled with the bones of a young woman. The items surrounding said cauldron suggest a ritual. Satanic? That is the question that Dr. Brennan must answer as her role of forensic anthropologist.

I was a bit disappointed with this latest book in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. The mystery was not that interesting, and the personal story was slow and didn't hold my interest. Not being set in Quebec, there was definitely not enough of Detective Ryan. Also, Brennan seemed a little out of character-more emotional, not as strong. Perhaps this was an attempt at growing her character a bit but it just seemed wrong.

There were also little things that annoyed me. I don't need to know what kind of lotion or shampoo Brennan uses. I really didn't see the point of her standing around naked with her underwear in her hands while talking on the phone. Mentioned once-okay. Mentioned over and over-annoying.

I have enjoyed every other book by Reichs so I am not going to give up on Temperance Brennan just yet.

2/5

RIP IV Challenge


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New Read: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

One new book this week. 

That's it! 

And, it is the only book I have gotten in the last few weeks. Crazy, huh? I know there should be some on the way to me... I think. I will let you know next week. 

Anyway, Friday night I went to Border's for a look around and somehow came home with The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. I blame it on the 40% OFF sticker and the two appletinis I had at happy hour. Whatever made me buy it, I am glad I did. So far it is quite enjoyable, entertaining and hard to put down. Great literature? No, of course not. I read Jane Austen for that. :)

Will you be reading Dan Brown's newest?


Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia of The Printed Page


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Book Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

After the events in City of Bones, Clary now knows who her father is, has an unexpected brother and that her mother has been keeping secrets about her past and the skills she has passed on to Clary. In City of Ashes, Clary must deal with these new revelations and also save the Clave from being destroyed by her father.

I have some issues with these books, as I mentioned in my review of City of Bones, but the books are still a bit addictive. A good thing about this one, the similarities to other books are less. And once I got started reading City of Ashes, I had a hard time putting it down, wanting to see what was going to happen in the end. However, the story line I want resolved, and what I want not to be true, has not been addressed as of yet. I feel that the resolution in my head has to be true since, otherwise, it would be a little too Flowers in the Attic for me. I guess I shall have to wait until I read the next book to find out.

I haven't picked up City of Glass yet despite it being on my nightstand. Not sure when I will get to it. I find that I am not in too much of a hurry. I will read it, though.


3/5

RIP IV Challenge
Serial Readers Challenge


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