2013 Mammoth Book Challenge-- Original Goal Completed

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level
~Finished Walrus so trying for Hippopotamus

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
3. Wait for You by J. Lynn
4.  Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
5.  

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge--December Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  

Book Review- Cress

Last night I finished reading Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

I love how these series are related to fairy tales!  This book was so easy to see the how it was supposed to be related to Rapunzel.  The long hair.  Being trapped alone in a satellite (her tower).  The evil female adult.  And a captain to rescue her (the captain.)

This book was quite large and while I enjoyed it, I found it taking me a long time to get through.  It wasn't one I could fly through but really  had to think about what I was reading.  But that didn't stop me from liking it.

I liked the twist with the Doctor and who his child was.  And I liked what happened with Emperor Kai.  And I loved all the characters--Cinder and Scarlett and Wolf and Iko.  (Iko cracks me up!  Her humor is hilarious!)  The plot was really interesting but I feel like I can't say much without giving it away.

Even though the book was so large, there still seems to be a lot left to happen.  There is a fourth book in the series that will involve Snow White and take place on the moon!  I can't wait to read it!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

Cress will be released on February 4, 2014.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 56
2013 ARC Reading Challenge: 33
2013 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 45
2013 Mammoth Book Challenge: 4

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge-- November Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level
~Finished Walrus so trying for Hippopotamus

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
3. Wait for You by J. Lynn
4.  
5.  

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge- October Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level
~Finished Walrus so trying for Hippopotamus

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
3. Wait for You by J. Lynn
4.  
5.  

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge- September Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level
~Finished Walrus so trying for Hippopotamus

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
3. Wait for You by J. Lynn
4.  
5.  

Book Review- Wait for You

I finished reading Wait for You by J. Lynn, Jennifer Armentrout for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

First off, I have to say that for some reason, I thought this was a Young Adult book.  It is NOT.  It definitely New Adult.  Which is fine (and a genre I'm enjoying!) but I just want to make sure that if any mother is reading this, I would not advise teens to read it.  There are lots of explicit sexual scenes.

Okay.  That being said.  I really enjoyed this book.  I was engaged right away and couldn't wait to read about Avery and Cam.

Avery is a great main character.  I knew right away what her secret was, but it was even more horrible than I thought.  And Cam.  Yum!  A player turned good-boy.  Cam and Avery's connection was there, right off.  I loved that Avery didn't just jump into a relationship with him like so many female characters seem to do.  And I loved that Cam waited her out.  They just clicked and were such a sweet couple.

But it wasn't all a romance story.  It dealt with a very serious topic.  I won't give it away but it broke my heart the way that Avery's parents dealt with the issue.

I want to get my hands on Trust in Me, which is a novella, and then Be With Me, which comes out next year!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

Wait for You will be released on September 3, 2013.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 43
2013 ARC Reading Challenge: 24
2013 Mammoth Book Challenge: 3

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge-- August Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge-- July Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge-- June Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge--May Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Book Review- The Storyteller

I finished reading The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult yesterday on my cruise.

From Goodreads:

Sage Singer befriends an old man who's particularly beloved in her community. Josef Weber is

everyone's favorite retired teacher and Little League coach. They strike up a friendship at the bakery where Sage works. One day he asks Sage for a favor: to kill him. Shocked, Sage refuses…and then he confesses his darkest secret - he deserves to die, because he was a Nazi SS guard. Complicating the matter? Sage's grandmother is a Holocaust survivor.

What do you do when evil lives next door? Can someone who's committed a truly heinous act ever atone for it with subsequent good behavior? Should you offer forgiveness to someone if you aren't the party who was wronged? And most of all - if Sage even considers his request - is it murder, or justice?

I've read all of the books by Jodi Picoult so far and loved almost every one so I couldn't wait to read this one.  But I had such I hard time with it.  Jodi Picoult's books always deal with moral choices, as did this one.  But it was about such a serious topic. I've always been intersted in the Holocaust.  And that's what this book deals with.  So I couldn't just plow through it like I normally do.  It seemed like it was almost more of a non-fiction book and those take time for me to read.

Sage was only okay to me.  She was a loner and honestly, I never really got that into her.  But I really liked Leo.  He was perfect for Sage and his humor cracked me up.

 And you  know what?  I know that the Holocaust was truly horrifying.  I've done so much studying on it but there was a part of me that felt bad for Josef Weber.  And I was conflicted.  On one hand, I thought Sage was too cruel to such an old man who wanted forgiveness.  But on the other hand, I didn't want him to seem like such a nice old guy.  I wanted him to seem more like the monster that he seemed to be during the war.

And the grandmother--reading her account of what she went through was gut wrenching and horrifying.  So much so that I can't say that I enjoyed this book.  Like I said before, yes, its fiction, but it just read too real for me.  And I need a difference in my books.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 20
2013 Mammoth Book Challenge: 2

 *FTC Disclosure: I traded this book with a friend.

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge-- April Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge-- March Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge- February Update

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  

Book Review-Shadows in the Silence

I finished reading Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allsion Moulton on Monday night for an Around the World ARC Tour.

From Goodreads:

Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .
Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:

She must fight for Will.
The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

She must fight for humanity.
As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world’s darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.

And Ellie must save herself.
Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.

In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion.

While I enjoyed the first two books in the Angelfire series, this book had a hard time keeping my attention.  There was too much religion stuff, names of Angels and Demons and things I couldn't remember or keep straight.  And there was lots of action but I couldn't remember why certain things had to happen.

I found a lot of the things Ellie said or thought to be cheesy.  And I feel like everything came to Ellie too easy.  She needed some hard-to-get item from some scary angel yet the angel gave it up easily.  She needed to find a relic--she found it and was given it freely.  It just seemed all too neat.

Maybe I'm just in a cranky mood, but I was hoping for more in this final book in the trilogy.  Unfortunately, I just couldn't stay interested.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

Shadows in the Silence will be released on January 29, 2013.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2013 150+ Reading Challenge: 5
2013 ARC Reading Challenge: 4
2013 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 4
2013 Mammoth Book Challenge: 1

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Around the World Tours.

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

Here are the challenge details:

1. This challenge will run from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013.

2. You can join the challenge at any time. All books read in 2013 count for the challenge, regardless of when you sign up.

3. This challenge can cross-over to your other reading challenges.

4. You do not need a blog to participate! If you are not a blogger, you can post your reviews at Goodreads, Shelfari, or LibraryThing and link them up here.

5. All formats of books are acceptable: Bound copies, e-books, and audiobooks as long as they meet the guidelines of Point #6 below!

6. Important Information About E-books and Audiobooks: If you are using an e-book or audiobook for the challenge, the bound format equivalent must be a minimum of 450 pages. Only unabridged audiobooks will count!

7. Both adult and children's literature are allowed: As long as it meets the minimum page count of 450 pages.

8. About large-print books: Same rules apply as noted in Point #6. As long as the regular-bound format equivalent is a minimum of 450 pages, this format will count.

9. No anthologies, short story collections, or poetry: Just novels.

10. There are four levels for the challenge:

a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

11. When you write your sign-up post, you must choose your level. You can go up, but you cannot go down!

12. There will be a link-up for your reviews, which will be posted on THIS page.

13. There will be a link for your wrap-up post at the end of the year.
~I will start off trying for the walrus level
~Finished Walrus so trying for Hippopotamus

1.  Shadows in the Silence (Angelfire #3) by Courtney Allison Moulton
2.  The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
3. Wait for You by J. Lynn
4.  Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer
5.