7th Challenge Completed

As the summer starts winding down, so does the Summer Reading Challenge. I was so happy with the results of my challenge - I read 20 books this summer. To me, that was a great number since I also went to school and have 4 children.

Here is what I read:

1. Lake News - Barbara Delinsky 8/7/08
2. Summer by the Sea - Susan Wiggs 8/20/08
3. Blue-Eyed Devil - Lisa Kleypas 8/22/08
4. Taming the Highlander - Terri Brisbin 8/15/08
5. The Dream Thief - Shana Abe 6/29/08
6. Blue Dahlia - Nora Roberts 6/16/08
7. The Face of Deception - Iris Johansen 6/18/08
8. Grand Passion - Jayne Ann Krentz 6/21/08
9. Nauti Boy - Lora Leigh - 6/24/08
10. Talk Before Sleep - Elizabeth Berg 6/25/08
11. Rules of Prey - John Sandford 7/8/08
12. Irish Thoroughbred - Nora Roberts 7/12/08
13. Irish Rose - Nora Roberts 7/17/08
14. Untamed - Nora Roberts 7/20/08
15. Sam's Letter to Jennifer - James Patterson 7/21/08
16. The Rescue - Nicholas Sparks 7/28/08
17. The Australian's Housekeeper Bride - Lindsay Armstrong 7/30/08
18. Legend - Jude Deveraux 8/28/08
19. Winner Takes All - Nora Roberts 8/30/08
20. Summer Pleasures - Nora Roberts 8/3/08

My original list and links to my thoughts on these books can be found here.

Thank you Kathleen for hosting another great challenge. You can find Kathleen at Rock Creek Rumblings.

2nds Challenge

COMPLETED 12/31/08

Another day another challenge!! I just have to join this one - I have read so many new authors this year and some I would love to read their other books. This challenge will help me accomplish it.

The 2nds Challenge rules are to read 4 books by authors that you have only read one other. It runs from September 1 to December 31, 2008. The challenge is being hosted by Joy at Thoughts of Joy.

The authors that I am going to choose from are...

1. Margaret Moore - My Lord's Desire 11/30/08; Review
2. Amanda Ashley - Night's Kiss 11/6/08; Review
3. Terri Brisbin - Surrender the Highlander
4. John Sandford - Shadow Prey
5. Catherine Anderson - Only By Your Touch 11/18/08; Review
6. Lisa Kleypas -
7. Luanne Rice - Summer's Child 9/12/08; Review
   

Blue-Eyed Devil - Lisa Kleypas

What a great book by a "new to me author," Lisa Kleypas. Blue-Eyed Devil is filled with emotionally challenging moments, heartbreaking events, and passion filled scenes. Lisa Kleypas writes with understanding, indepth knowledge, and heart-felt sensitivity.

Besides being a contemporary romance, Blue-Eyed Devil is about abuse and narcissistic personality disorder. It encompasses domestic abuse and the journey to recovery.

You can read my full review here.


Rating: 4/5
Pages: 333
Completed: 8/22/08

Ghostly Challenge

I've have been trying not to join any more challenges - wanted to read at my leisure - but this one was too good to pass up. It is being hosted by Callista of smsbookreviews. Here is the link for the challenge.

The rules are to read 2 books by October 31, 2008 that has to do with something ghostly. All books are allowed: audio, picture, non-fiction, fiction, and short stories. A book of short stories count as one book.

I have to think about what I want to read - I just wanted to get this challenge posted so you would know about it before the start date. I will come back and update this post with my choices.

1. Stardust of Yesterday - Lynn Kurland - 9/26/08 - Review
2. A Babe in Ghostland - Lisa Cach - 10/7/08 - Review

Summer by the Sea - Susan Wiggs

Summer by the Sea by Susan Wiggs is the perfect summer read. With a rich array of characters, delicious Italian recipes, and intricately woven relationships, you will enjoy relaxing with this book.

I love to read Susan Wigg's books. Her characters are believable, emotions run deep, and passions ignite.

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 3.75/5
Pages: 303
Completed: 8/20/08

Taming the Highlander - Terri Brisbin

I absolutely LOVED this book. What a great cast of characters and an emotional love story between two strong personalities. I am impressed how Terri Brisbin stayed true to the history of the times. This is the first time that I have read this author, and I am definitely coming back for more!

Jocelyn is the sharp-tongued, proud heroine of the story who clashes with the sexy, dangerous Connor known as The Beast of the Highlands. Written around life in the highlands, Taming the Highlander is a novel laced with danger, intense emotions, and sweet, passionate romance.

You can read my full review here.


Rating: 5/5
Pages: 304
Completed: 8/15/08

Lake News - Barbara Delinsky

I enjoyed Lake News by Barbara Delinsky, but it wasn't one of my favorites by her.

The book examines the complex emotions involved when the media invades a person's privacy and destroy's their life. It also looks at the complicated relationship between a man and a woman who are struggling to find a new purpose and a new life in a small town they once called home. Dynamic family relationships are also explored.

While it is a beautifully crafted story with believable characters and rich descriptions of the lake and life in a small town, I just didn't connect with the characters as well as I have in her other novels.

You can read my full review here.

Rating: 3.5/5
Pages: 514
Completed: 8/7/08

Book to Movie Challenge

Another day...another challenge. This one is being hosted by Callista and it is the Book to Movie Challenge.

The rules are simple: Choose 3 books that were made into movies. You can also include books that will be made into movies in the future (they've started work on them). It is not required that you watch the movie and compare it to the book. Although, that would be a great idea too.

She has created a link to a wonderful site that lists books that were made into movies. You can find that list here.

The challenge lasts from September 1 to December 1, 2008 (just 3 months).

Here is my list:

The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

This sounds like a great challenge and good luck to those that are participating!!!

Naming Conventions Challenge

I discovered a new book challenge hosted by Maria at Reading My Way Through Life. It is the Naming Conventions Challenge.

It starts on September 1st and lasts as long as your first name is (if your first name is 4 letters - then it lasts 4 months). You'll see why by reading further.

Write down your first name (or the name you go by). Then you choose which one you want to do (or you can do all three):

1. For each letter in your name - pick an author whose last name begins with that letter.

2. For each letter in your name - pick an author whose first name begins with that letter.

3. For each letter in your name - pick a book that starts with that letter.

Easy...right?? The books can be read in any order and at any time during the challenge...the books can only be used once - but the author can be repeated.

Here is my list:

I go by the name of Kara so...

K - Kurland, Lynn - Stardust of Yesterday 9/26/08; Review
A - Anderson, Catherine - Annie's Song 9/1/08; Review
R - Rice, Luann - Summer's Child 9/1/08; Review
A - Andersen, Susan - Cutting Loose 9/19/08; Review

and since I have 4 letters in my name, the challenge will last 4 months for me.

I am going to do the last name of the author first - then if I have time - I am going to do the other two choices.

Thanks Maria for hosting this challenge!!!

Here is the first name of authors...

K - Kresley Cole - If You Dare 2/18/09; Review
A - Amanda Ashley - Dead Sexy 2/12/09; Review
R - Robyn Carr - Virgin River 2/17/09; Review
A