First, thanks Trisha for saying I'm entertaining. Lol. For some reason that means a lot to me.
I have to say, I haven't really used my blog that much, as I can't imagine that people want to read my ramblings about books or my boring life.
Anyway, with that being said... Another update. I'm 35% of the way through Bittersweet Promises. It would seem the heroine lost the money she was traveling with and is engaged as the hero's daughter's teacher. Helped along by a well-meaning aunt, of course.
The writing is pretty smooth so far. I don't feel rushed or bored. Oh, and apparently the author is someone I've never heard of... Trana Mae Simmons. Another author I've never heard of, but not displeasing...so far.
As for myself, it's now hit late evening and I'm feeling the burn. The need for sleep is overwhelming, but after coming this far, I would hate myself to give up now! At this point I'm thinking I'll probably get through Bittersweet Promises and another book before time is up.
I also popped into the Dewey website to peek at some of the mmini challenges going on. While I didn't participate in any of them, I noticed the one that had a music theme. It really got me thinking about the new Carrie Underwood song. So, I thought I would post the Youtube link. I'm a big fan of the song. And it seems to fit the books I'm reading. Two fo the three historicals I've read have been westerns. Even one contemporary novel involved ranches and cowboys. I felt this song fit the mood.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu32vyCldh8
On a slightly different note, I'm shaking my head in amusement. I have headphones connected to my BookCourier in one ear and my other ear partially tuned to the radio. My university's football team is getting slaughtered. I haven't listened to the game at all as I've been doggedly reading. However, I did take moments when updating the blog to check the score. Good thing I knew we were going to lose this game anyway! Lol.
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Saturday, October 24, 2009
And yet another book
All right, one more book started. I seem to be jumping back and froth from contemporary to historical and back again. This time I started reading Bittersweet Promises. I can't remember off-hand who the author is, but when I finish the book I'll take a look at it just so I can get it down.
I'm not that deep into the book yet. BookCourier has me at 13% of the way through the book. I'm not exactly sure how many pages this novel is, but I'm guessing at least 300. I also can't quite remember what the synopsis said about it, but so far it would seem that the heroine is on the run and has had a near-escape when she and her little brother were caught in the middle of a bank robbery.
I was just taking a quick peek at the Dewey official page, and saw a list of questions. One of them said, "Are you tired yet?"
Why, yes, I am, thanks for asking! Lol. However, I feel strangely awake. As long as I don't cave in to the temptation of laying down to read. It'll be all over if I do that, so I'm walking around with my BookCourier, trying to keep active. I just came back from walking my dog and was reading the beginning to Bittersweet Promises.
Another question I saw was about interruptions. This was an amusing question. Fortunately, I haven't had too many of those. I think it also helps that my eyes and hands aren't engaged with a physical book. I've also got my parent understanding about what I'm doing, and she's been kind enough to not talk too much.
I still have several hours to go, so I'm already trying to mentally think about what I want to read next. I have a Julia Quinn romance that I'm tempted to read, but I don't want to burn myself out on historicals. I do have a few fantasy novels I've been meaning to read, so that's also an option.
Well, that's the latest update. Oh and hey, I just noticed that people are commenting on my posts. While I'm sure I'm not that entertaining, I appreciate people actually coming over here and looking.
I'm not that deep into the book yet. BookCourier has me at 13% of the way through the book. I'm not exactly sure how many pages this novel is, but I'm guessing at least 300. I also can't quite remember what the synopsis said about it, but so far it would seem that the heroine is on the run and has had a near-escape when she and her little brother were caught in the middle of a bank robbery.
I was just taking a quick peek at the Dewey official page, and saw a list of questions. One of them said, "Are you tired yet?"
Why, yes, I am, thanks for asking! Lol. However, I feel strangely awake. As long as I don't cave in to the temptation of laying down to read. It'll be all over if I do that, so I'm walking around with my BookCourier, trying to keep active. I just came back from walking my dog and was reading the beginning to Bittersweet Promises.
Another question I saw was about interruptions. This was an amusing question. Fortunately, I haven't had too many of those. I think it also helps that my eyes and hands aren't engaged with a physical book. I've also got my parent understanding about what I'm doing, and she's been kind enough to not talk too much.
I still have several hours to go, so I'm already trying to mentally think about what I want to read next. I have a Julia Quinn romance that I'm tempted to read, but I don't want to burn myself out on historicals. I do have a few fantasy novels I've been meaning to read, so that's also an option.
Well, that's the latest update. Oh and hey, I just noticed that people are commenting on my posts. While I'm sure I'm not that entertaining, I appreciate people actually coming over here and looking.
One more book finished
About an hour ago I abandoned Dream Guy by Candy Halliday. I'll probably go back to it later, but I had to stop. It wasn't appearling to me much.
After stopping Dream Guy, I started reading Behind Closed Doors. I have no idea how to spell the author, so I won't even try. It's not a Harlequin but a Loveswept novel. I remember in my younger days I used to really enjoy Loveswept. However, I eventually made the switch to Harlequins. I still like to go back and forth though. Keeps things from getting staid.
Anyway, so I finished Behind Closed Doors. It's more or less a book about a woman who's (tada!) in love with her sister's husband. The sister passes on because of some illness, but not before the heroine is roped into being a surrogate mother. The baby is apparently the heroine and hero's.
I keep using the word predictable when writing about the books I've read, but it's the only word that comes to mind. I have to admit I saw what was coming before it happened. Sometimes doing that is a b*tch, but at least I'm not surprised at the end.
But going back to predictable... I don't think that has a whole lot to do with the authors and their writing style, but my choice of books. Perhaps I just gravitate to books with predictable plots. Despite that, they're always enjoyable. This title was no different. It was a very pleasant and entertaining read. No struggling like with Dream Guy.
I'm not sure what I'm going to choose next, but I'll just dive in like I've been doing. I don't feel like going back to Dream Guy, so I'll check out my other options. Maybe now is the time to get some of my school readings out of the way?
After stopping Dream Guy, I started reading Behind Closed Doors. I have no idea how to spell the author, so I won't even try. It's not a Harlequin but a Loveswept novel. I remember in my younger days I used to really enjoy Loveswept. However, I eventually made the switch to Harlequins. I still like to go back and forth though. Keeps things from getting staid.
Anyway, so I finished Behind Closed Doors. It's more or less a book about a woman who's (tada!) in love with her sister's husband. The sister passes on because of some illness, but not before the heroine is roped into being a surrogate mother. The baby is apparently the heroine and hero's.
I keep using the word predictable when writing about the books I've read, but it's the only word that comes to mind. I have to admit I saw what was coming before it happened. Sometimes doing that is a b*tch, but at least I'm not surprised at the end.
But going back to predictable... I don't think that has a whole lot to do with the authors and their writing style, but my choice of books. Perhaps I just gravitate to books with predictable plots. Despite that, they're always enjoyable. This title was no different. It was a very pleasant and entertaining read. No struggling like with Dream Guy.
I'm not sure what I'm going to choose next, but I'll just dive in like I've been doing. I don't feel like going back to Dream Guy, so I'll check out my other options. Maybe now is the time to get some of my school readings out of the way?
The next book
So I said I wanted to go contemporary and I did. The next book I chose is called Dream Guy by Candy Halliday. I've never read this author before, but I thought I would give her a try. You can't find new authors to sample unless you...well, sample their work. The synopsis seemed interesting enough. Our heroine gets dumped by her boyfriend and comes up with an idea to make the perfect boyfriend in video game format. She does have a history with her boss though, which adds a little something to the story.
However—there usually is a however with me—I'm not sure if the book is to my taste. It seems very contemporary. By that I mean it seems the twenty-first century lifestyles are cropping up, and while it makes for a more realistic and engaging story... I'm just not enjoying it as much. This book fits in stuff like going to bars and getting trashed and meeting strange people in bars, etc. Personally, that's a little too out there for me. A personal preference for sure. So I'm just not into this kind of thing and I read books that reflect that. Or downplay certain things. It's probably why I shy away from Harlequi's "Blaze" series these days. Way too much bed-hopping and alcohol consumption for my taste.
But, as I say, this is a personal preference. I can't deny the book is engaging me, but the hero is making me want to smack him. He's acting like a complete ass and I'm sure hoping something comes in the end where he redeems himself.
Right now I'm about 30% of the way through the book, according to BookCourier. I may or may not stick with this book. If anything I'll stop and pick up something else and maybe come back to it. I've still got a lot of hours to go.
However—there usually is a however with me—I'm not sure if the book is to my taste. It seems very contemporary. By that I mean it seems the twenty-first century lifestyles are cropping up, and while it makes for a more realistic and engaging story... I'm just not enjoying it as much. This book fits in stuff like going to bars and getting trashed and meeting strange people in bars, etc. Personally, that's a little too out there for me. A personal preference for sure. So I'm just not into this kind of thing and I read books that reflect that. Or downplay certain things. It's probably why I shy away from Harlequi's "Blaze" series these days. Way too much bed-hopping and alcohol consumption for my taste.
But, as I say, this is a personal preference. I can't deny the book is engaging me, but the hero is making me want to smack him. He's acting like a complete ass and I'm sure hoping something comes in the end where he redeems himself.
Right now I'm about 30% of the way through the book, according to BookCourier. I may or may not stick with this book. If anything I'll stop and pick up something else and maybe come back to it. I've still got a lot of hours to go.
Three books and twelve hours gone
I just finished reading Tempt Me at Twilight. I have to say it was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. While I'm not expert, I thought the pacing was good. I didn't get irritated like I usually do that the main characters are dancing around each other and getting ticked off. I have to say though, that if there was any flaw with this book, it was the first love scene. It was comprised of staccato-like sentences. One of the things I have issues with is staccato sentences. Short, choppy sentences. One or two in a paragraph isn't so bad, but when two or three short paragraphs are like that, it disrupts my reading.
Going back to the plot, it was something I hung on. Naturally it followed a formula I've seen used in the past. With characters that hold emotions or secrets back from each other, there's always a period in the middle or near the end of the book where things are calm. The author lulls you into a false sense of security, then yanks the rug out from under you. That was the way this book was for me. Granted, the rug being yanked was tamer than other romances I've read, but what can I say? I like tame. Anything more is bad for my heart!
I'm now going to look for something else to read. I'm not sure what I'm going to choose next. The way I've been doing things is running through the books I've got on my BookCourier and then picking one without giving myself time to think about it. So far I've done a historical, a contemporary and another historical. I think I'll go back to contemporary, just so I don't get stuck in a historical novel rut.
Going back to the plot, it was something I hung on. Naturally it followed a formula I've seen used in the past. With characters that hold emotions or secrets back from each other, there's always a period in the middle or near the end of the book where things are calm. The author lulls you into a false sense of security, then yanks the rug out from under you. That was the way this book was for me. Granted, the rug being yanked was tamer than other romances I've read, but what can I say? I like tame. Anything more is bad for my heart!
I'm now going to look for something else to read. I'm not sure what I'm going to choose next. The way I've been doing things is running through the books I've got on my BookCourier and then picking one without giving myself time to think about it. So far I've done a historical, a contemporary and another historical. I think I'll go back to contemporary, just so I don't get stuck in a historical novel rut.
9 1/2 hours in to the read-a-thon
So I'm now 9 1/2 hours into my reading. Feeling tired, but hanging in there. Will need to take the dog for his afternoon walk soon, but BookCourier will be coming with me.
I Just finished page 145 of Tempt Me at Twilight. I'm enjoying the book so far. However, I only realized about twenty pages ago that one of the secondary characters is a secondary character from Kleypas's other novel, Devil in Winter. I wondered if that character has his own novel! I must go and find the novel that he was in, as I liked his character. Funny how she took that character from one series and stuck him in another. I'm interested in finding out the story.
Just a little bit of where I am in the book... It appears that our hero has compromised our heroine. Not sexually, but by tarning her reputation a bit. I don't know why, I love stories like these. Now that I've gotten to this part, I remember why I wanted to read it. Anyway, I've stopped at the beginning of the wedding day. Let's see what's going to happen next.
I Just finished page 145 of Tempt Me at Twilight. I'm enjoying the book so far. However, I only realized about twenty pages ago that one of the secondary characters is a secondary character from Kleypas's other novel, Devil in Winter. I wondered if that character has his own novel! I must go and find the novel that he was in, as I liked his character. Funny how she took that character from one series and stuck him in another. I'm interested in finding out the story.
Just a little bit of where I am in the book... It appears that our hero has compromised our heroine. Not sexually, but by tarning her reputation a bit. I don't know why, I love stories like these. Now that I've gotten to this part, I remember why I wanted to read it. Anyway, I've stopped at the beginning of the wedding day. Let's see what's going to happen next.
Nearing the end
I'm just a few pages shy of finishing Joan Johnston's Outlaw's Bride. I have to say that it was a very good book. The things I suspected went 50/50. I was led to believe one thing, then made to think my initial suspicion was incorrect. Then the author dragged it back to what I originally thought.
Overall, I was pleased with this book. I can't say it's a book that I'll read over again, but a good read for sure.
I haven't yet decided what book to start next. Will finish off these last few pages and then flick through my options. I might stick with the Joan Johnston theme. We'll see though.
Overall, I was pleased with this book. I can't say it's a book that I'll read over again, but a good read for sure.
I haven't yet decided what book to start next. Will finish off these last few pages and then flick through my options. I might stick with the Joan Johnston theme. We'll see though.
Reached page 210
I've now reached page 210 in Joan Johnston's novel. It would seem the intrigued is getting a little stickier. I'm starting to believe the plot has more than one enemy. It's a familiar pattern I've seen with previous romance novels involving a mystery.
My opinion up until now is that the story is good. I can't say great, because I'm finding it a struggle to keep going. However, this is a strictly personal opinion. I know most intrigue novels go this way, but oftentimes, I find more enjoyment in a romantic suspense novel when the main characters aren't the direct target. Of course, this is kind of silly as most novels are better for having the targets the hero/heroine. I suppose I'm a little eccentric that way.
BookCourier has me at 53% of the book. I'm doing about 25% per hour, so I should have this book done in another couple of hours. Just in time to give my dog a morning walk. BookCourier will of course be accompanying me.
My opinion up until now is that the story is good. I can't say great, because I'm finding it a struggle to keep going. However, this is a strictly personal opinion. I know most intrigue novels go this way, but oftentimes, I find more enjoyment in a romantic suspense novel when the main characters aren't the direct target. Of course, this is kind of silly as most novels are better for having the targets the hero/heroine. I suppose I'm a little eccentric that way.
BookCourier has me at 53% of the book. I'm doing about 25% per hour, so I should have this book done in another couple of hours. Just in time to give my dog a morning walk. BookCourier will of course be accompanying me.
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