Library Loot and a Call For Recommendations

You've all probably figured out by now that I'm a "library nut" and I'm not afraid to hide it. I have a strong tendency to check out way more than I can possibly read and one of my favorite things to do is put books on hold. But I ended up clearing out my library pile this week and taking almost all of them back. Except Greywalker by Kat Richardson as that's the book I'm currently reading. All of this means that I only have 8 books checked out...yep, I mean EIGHT!! This is unheard of for me as I usually grab that many in one trip at the library...okay, maybe two trips in one week or something like that :) Since I haven't shared my loot in awhile I thought I better share what I've got now.

1. The City and The City by China Mieville - I've always wanted to read something by this author so I literally snatched this one off of the shelves.

2. Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter - Thriller...need I say more?

3. The Founding by Cynthia Harrod Eagles

4. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

5. The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan - Haven't a clue what this one is about but I was intrigued by the cover.

6. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin - Really, really want to read this one... I think I may read it next.

7. Urban Shaman by C.E. Murphy

and of course Greywalker but that leftover from my last library loot post.

All of these are PLENTY to keep me busy especially since it is summer and I'm busy running around to ball games, boating, spending as much time outside as possible, etc. So you would think that I would be satisfied but that doesn't seem to be the case. I'm in the mood for some recommendations and I'm not sure why or what I'm exactly looking for. I would like to say that I'm kinda going for the lesser known books that aren't all over the blogsphere (The Hunger Games I'm looking at you) and are maybe general fiction, women's fiction, literary fiction, or maybe just some speculative fiction. I really don't know to be honest...but if you would be so kind as to share any good reads that you've come across in the comments (that may or may not fit in with everything I said above) I would be eternally grateful. Seriously. And maybe I'll figure out this weird mood that I'm in.

To Tweet? and Other Random Book Musings

It has been awhile since I share some pics of the kiddos so here they are :) It really made me realize that I don't have enough of the three of them all together (except for maybe ones that are on my camera and not on the computer yet). I better work on that, huh? I'm so bad about actually doing things with the pictures I take...but that is a story for a different day.

First off, I joined Twitter. Not so much because I understand it ( I don't) but more because I keep seeing all of these posts about how people post questions and others help them out. So for purely selfish reasons, I'm joining in on the bandwagon... a bit late I may add :) But I really want to figure out how to create a header that isn't so plain and there are other things that I would like to be able to tweak on the blog as well. My username (?) is samsbooks1020. I tried to keep it as close to my email as possible but had to change it a little bit. And if you would like to follow me, feel free! Except I can't say that I'll be too exciting.

I'm falling behind in reviews again. Again! Not to complain but how do some of you do it??? Working, kids, baseball, reading, I must admit that I just can't keep up. And some days all I can think is what the heck am I going to do when I have two kids in sports..etc.? It is madness I tell you, but I love every day of it :)

I've been wondering about what types of posts are your favorites? Reviews, posts about books or reading in general, meme type posts...let me know in the comments what you like to read about best. I have been toying with making a few changes to the blog so would love to hear your input on it. Anyhoo, I'll leave you with a picture of my youngest. He is almost 5 months now and growing like a weed. He looks so much like my oldest son when he was a baby that you can't tell the difference when you compare baby pictures. Scary but cool :)

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

What to say about this book other than scary???? Seriously, this is one of those books that makes me thank my lucky stars for everything that I have including my parents, family, and the life that I was born into. Sometimes it is as simple as that. And books like this make me remember to appreciate what I have.

This is Carolyn Jessop's memoir of growing up and living in the FLDS (otherwise known as Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). The FLDS is a closed off religious group that keep to themselves and their community and are an offshoot of the Morman church. At 18, Carolyn was told that she was meant to marry Merril Jessop and become his third wife. He was thirty-two years older than she was. Carolyn's marriage was an unhappy one that was basically a power struggle between all of Merril's wives with Carolyn caught up in the mix even when she didn't want to be. It would take years before Carolyn would begin to realize that the religion and life that she grew up with might not be the life that she truly wanted. And it would take everything Carolyn had to escape.

Wow! That is all I had to say after reading this one. I can't even begin to imagine all of the things that this woman has had to endure...it is just too much. First of all, being told who you are going to marry, having no choice or say in the matter, it is almost too difficult to fathom. And how sad to go into a marriage and know that you may never love the person you are married to. Carolyn's marriage was a constant struggle from the beginning. All of Merril's wives were constantly competing for his attention which just made me a bit sick. Sex and the number of children that a woman had gave them status within their marriage. In other words, the more kids you had in comparison to the other wives gave a woman a better standing in this society and within her "family". Pretty scary in my opinion. Carolyn had no say in the life that she led and was constantly told what she could or couldn't do. And when Warren Jeffs came to power, things in the FLDS got even worse. Carolyn is very frank in the book and shares the reasons why she was content with living there for so long. I mean she grew up thinking that all of this was normal, was taught that the "outside world" was evil and meant for an apocalypse, and that she was one of the "chosen ones" by God. It took her a really long time before she began to think differently and realize that she wanted something else for her and her children. I must say that I think that Carolyn Jessop is an amazing woman!

All in all, one of those books that really makes you think. About the life you live and the freedoms that we have. Because not everyone has these freedoms so for me this kind of book makes me appreciate my everyday life just a little bit more.

Disclosure- Checked out from my local library.

*I read this book for the following challenges:

Women Unbound Challenge

Social Justice Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

Support Your Library Reading Challenge

New Author Challenge

"E" Title for A-Z Challenge (personal)

What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn

What an unusual reading experience for me! I adored the first half of the book, was "meh" about the second half, and ended up liking the book altogether. Interesting, huh? Let me share my thoughts but first a little bit about the book.

What Was Lost is the story of a young girl named Kate who goes missing (and no that isn't a spoiler, it is on the back of the book). Anyways, Kate is a different child and wants to grow up to be a detective. She practices every day by going to the mall and observing the people there looking for criminals. And then one day she disappears to never be heard or seen from again. Fast forward to 30 years later, and we are introduced to a security guard named Kurt that works at the mall where Kate used to spend much of her time at. Kurt is unhappy with where his life is at but doesn't seem to have the motivation to change anything. And then he sees a little girl on camera and his life begins to change in ways that he couldn't have forseen.

The first half of this book is Kate's story and I just loved it. Kate is such a sad little girl but she doesn't see it that way. Her dad has died and she uses her crime detection to avoid thinking about her loss and the feelings that she is repressing. She's a quirky character that the author paints in such a realistic light...I just loved her! I loved reading about her adventures and even though I knew what was going to happen to her (kinda, sorta, the disappearing part), I couldn't help but hope for a different outcome. The second half of the book was more of Kurt's story along with Lisa. Lisa is the sister of the man who was accused of kidnapping Kate. Lisa works at the mall also and along with Kurt seems to be more passive in life than anything. Neither character was very relatable to me which was part of the reason why that I didn't care so much for the later half of the book. I just wanted to shake them at times and say "If you are so unhappy, make a change!!!!" or something to that extent. The ending was different and not quite what I expected but all in all, I ended up realizing that I liked this book. It is an unusual read but a good story nonetheless. Recommended to those who enjoy general fiction.

Disclosure- From the library :)

*I read this for the following challenges:

Orange Prize Reading Project (longlisted in 2007)

New Author Challenge

Support Your Library Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

Book Awards IV Challenge

"O" Author for A-Z Challenge (personal)

Soulless by Gail Carriger

Alexia Tarabotti isn't your typical high society matron and in fact, she is almost the complete opposite. Alexia has no soul and that is just one of the things that is different about her. Without meaning to Alexia accidentally kills a vampire and stumbles upon more trouble than she could have ever counted on. Alexia meets her match though when Lord Maccon, the werewolf, begins to investigate. The two of them are going to get more than they bargained for while the tension between them mounts.

How to classify this book?? It is a little bit of everything which makes this book such a good read. There is paranormal (a favorite of mine), steampunk, mystery, romance, and historical aspects to name a few. The dialogue between the characters, especially Lord Maccon and Alexia, is witty and made me chuckle a few times. The storyline itself was interesting and kept me entralled within the pages. What I liked most about this book is that it is so original. The details and the storyline are just a bit different than anything that I've read. I think that the multiple genres really adds to the book. And the book is fun! I would definitely recommend this one especially if you are looking for something that is just a bit different than what you would usually read. I can't wait to read more by this author and see what kind of trouble Alexia gets herself into next.

Disclosure: I picked this one up from the library.

*I read this for the following challenges:

1st in a Series Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

Speculative Fiction Reading Challenge

New Author Challenge

Support Your Library Challenge

"C" Author for A-Z Challenge (personal)

Library Loot

Library loot is where we share the treasures we find at our local libraries :) This week the Linky is at Marg's blog if you want to join in as well.

As usual, I've gone a bit overboard with checking books out from the library. I just can't seem to help myself even when I know I shouldn't. If I stayed away from the library for a month, I might (might being the keyword here) be able to make a dent in my library pile. But I can't seem to do that...in fact I happen to know that The Glass Room is sitting at the library waiting for me to pick it up as I write this. And the temptation of browsing for a few minutes while I grab my holds is usually too much. LOL! Here is what I've picked up since my last library loot post from a couple weeks back.

*EEK* I've just realized that is ten books. And I still have a bunch from my last post...oh dear. I went on a bit of a dystopian kick which is where a few of these came from. Monique and the Mango Rains is my next nonfiction pick and will be the first book I read for the Nonfiction 5 challenge. I hope. They all look so good that I'm pretty sure I don't know where to start. I'm open for suggestions ;) In other reading news, I just finished Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder and am already chomping at the bit to pick up the next book in this trilogy. So glad that I finally picked it up! I'm currently reading The Keep by Jennifer Egan which was longlisted for The Orange Prize a few years back. Looks like I better get back to reading...

All The Pretty Girls by J.T. Elllison

From Goodreads:

"When a local girl falls prey to a sadistic serial killer, Nashville Homicide Lieutenant Taylor Jackson and her lover, FBI profiler Dr. John Baldwin, find themselves in a joint investigation pursuing a vicious murderer. The Southern Strangler is slaughtering his way through the Southeast, leaving a gruesome memento at each crime scene-the prior victim's severed hand."

My Thoughts:

I was in the mood for a good thriller and had heard good things about this author which is why I gave this book a try. It is the first in a series and it was a good start in my opinion. The mystery surrounding the killer was fast-paced and bodies were turning up left and right as soon as the book started. But what made this book unique is that there were other ongoing investigations that Taylor (the main character) was dealing with that I found myself interested in as well. Taylor was a strong main character and I liked how the book switched viewpoints from her to her lover John Baldwin who was mainly investigating the serial killer. The book itself was good although I didn't find myself instantly pulled into it as I had hoped. The ending was strong and I didn't figure out who the serial killer was until close to the end which is always a good thing. All in all, a good read if you enjoy thrillers. I know that I'll be reading more of this author at some point.

Disclosure- Requested this one from the library!

*I read this for the following challenges:

Suspense/Thriller Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

Support Your Library Reading Challenge

New Author Challenge

1st in a Series Challenge

"E" Author for A-Z Challenge (personal)

The Mage In Black by Jaye Wells

Last year one of my absolute favorite urban fantasy reads was Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells. So it should come as no suprise that I was itching to get my hands on The Mage In Black and see what Ms. Wells had in store for us with the 2nd part of this trilogy. The Mage In Black begins where Red-Headed Stepchild left off so I was instantly drawn back into the story and the world that was created with the first book.

***There may be minor spoilers within this review (I'll try to keep them to a minimum) ***

The second book begins with Sabina going to New York to meet her twin sister for the first time. She is going to learn about her mage side of the family for the first time as well which means exploring magic and the part of herself that has always been shunned. But of course trouble follows Sabina wherever she goes and soon she is dealing with werewolves, faeries, and an old flame all of which are ready to stir up trouble for Sabina.

This book was filled with action just like its predecessor. Sabina is an amazing main character that I just can't seem to get enough of. She always seems to get herself into trouble and I love reading about all of her adventures. She also has a kick-ass attitude that is a bit of a front for her softer side that she so rarely shows. I loved that we got to know Sabina's sister in this book and I liked how different she was from Sabina. I wanted more when I finished reading this book which is always a good sign...it shows just how much I enjoyed it. The storyline was fast paced and sucked me instantly within the pages of the book. There is one caveat and that is you REALLY need to read the first book before giving this one a try as you would be lost otherwise. All in all, an amazing urban fantasy read and now I'm dying to see how it all ends in the last book! I will be reading anything/everything that Ms. Wells writes in the future after enjoying these first two books so much :)

Disclosure- I was lucky enough to receive this book from the publisher. Thank you!!!!

*I read this book for the following challenges:

Speculative Fiction Challenge

Once Upon a Time IV Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

2nds Challenge

"M" Title for A-Z Challenge (personal)

Because Your Vampire Said So by Michelle Bardsley

So I was trying to type out another review for a different book and it just wasn't flowing for me. I really, really liked the book so I'm not sure what the trouble is other than I felt like I was saying the same things that I've said before. Hmm...apparently I just needed to get this review out of me first.

Because Your Vampire Said So is the 3rd book in the paranormal romance Broken Hearts series. I loved, loved, loved the first book in this series and really enjoyed the 2nd book as well. So I admit that I went into this one with high expectations which made me think that I was going to love this one. Sadly, not so much!

Because Your Vampire Said So features Patsy, a single mother, and newly turned vampire that is the town hair dresser. But even though she is part of the undead crowd, she still has to deal with her teenage son that is growing further and further apart from her. And there is an evil ancient vampire that is causing trouble for all of the Broken Heart residents. Before Patsy knows it she is being targeted by that ancient vampire and her savior comes in the form of a shapeshifter named Gabriel. It looks like there is going to be a huge supernatural showdown.

I'm going to state once more how much I enjoyed the first two books in this series. I feel that it is important to say because I don't want my review of this book to come off as too negative. So let's start off with my dislikes. I disliked Patsy. Immensely. To be quite honest it seemed to me that the author created a stereotypical character and in the worst way. Patsy was a "country loving" hairdresser who lives in a trailer, has an alcoholic ex, and comes across as uneducated as she doesn't like to read. I mean, really? Could you throw any more stereotypes into one character? Oh but you can if you listen to the way Patsy talks with "Whoo-wees" and crap like that. She never once believed in herself and her character didn't have much depth which is unfortunate as she is the main character. The storyline itself had potential but fell flat. I think (and of course this is my opinion) that this was because the author didn't flesh it out enough. There were a few times that I was reading where all of a sudden I would feel like I missed something so I would go back and reread. I didn't miss anything...the details just weren't there. I wanted more about the Ancients, more about the prophecy, just more in general that would have made the story better. My final dislike was the relationship between Patsy and Gabriel. They were just thrown together with no actual building of their relationship. It was more of attraction, sex, and we're in love forever. Seriously? The whole point of a romance is to root for the couple and I didn't care about this couple getting together at all. The sex scene itself was just shoved into the story and I had to stop and say WTF? It didn't fit for me at all.

Wow, after reading all of that back it makes it seem like I hated this book but I really didn't. I flew through it in just two short days which doesn't happen all that often. I really thought the story itself had a lot of potential but it just didn't get there. And I was glad to see the characters from previous books included within this story as well. I was just disappointed to not have enjoyed this one more. All in all, a read that was ok but I would definitely recommend starting with the first book in this series instead of this one.

Disclosure- From the library as usual.

*I read this for the following challenges:

Romance Reading Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

Support Your Library Reading Challenge

BTW- I leave you with a link to my review of the first book in this series...and just to let you know I still do plan on continuing on with the next book at some point.

Waiting For Columbus by Thomas Trofimuk

Sometimes (well maybe a lot of the time) a book comes up in the blogsphere that sounds too good to pass by. That's what happened when I first heard about this book....I couldn't resist and just had to request a copy from the libray. I'm so glad I did as I really enjoyed this book.

Waiting For Columbus begins with a man being admitted into a mental instituion claiming that he is Columbus. Nobody seems to know who he really is and the stories he tells are all about exploring new lands, his ships, and the journey he plans to undertake. Before she knows it, Nurse Consuela is caught up within Columbus' stories and finds herself believing him. But the question of Columbus' real identity is a mystery that is just waiting to be solved.

The book started off a bit confusing for me as we are instantly thrown into Columbus' stories and supposed "memories". So it took me a bit to really catch on and immerse myself within the book. Before I knew it though I was swept away into the stories that Columbus was telling to Consuela. This book just had a wonderful atmosphere to it and although it wasn't historical fiction, it did have a historical feel to it. The author's note afterwards said that he based some of the stories on research that he had read on the real Columbus. I loved Columbus' character and was curious about him from the very beginning. Who was he really? And why did he believe he was Columbus? These were questions that were constantly running through my head. Because you know that he isn't the real Columbus. And it didn't really matter because halfway through the novel I felt myself kinda/sorta believing that he was Columbus even when I knew that it wasn't possible. That is how caught up in the story that I was. The writing was beautiful and really helped to make this novel even better. The ending was strong and although it left things open a bit, I wasn't left feeling unsatisfied at all. All in all, a great read and one that I would recommend.

Disclosure: From my local library. Again.

*I read this for the following challenges:

New Author Challenge

100+ Reading Challenge

Support Your Library Reading Challenge

"W" Title for A-Z Challenge (personal)