Challenge Uncompleted--Failure

Here are the 2 challenges that I didn't complete this year.

I had 14 books left to read!

Description: 9 books in 9 different categories, all read in 2009.
For an added challenge, try completing your books by 9/9/09!
This group is to help you track your progress on the Paranormal 999 challenge.
You choose your own categories.... but you must have 9 categories and they must be paranormal....some examples are:
Vampires
Werewolves
GhostWitches
Wizards
Demons
Psychic

If you join, please leave a comment here with a link to your challenge page, and click on the image above to leave a comment on the original page as well.

So, here's my list:

Vampires

1. Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson
2. Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (can also be used as were-animals)
3. Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye
4. Dead and Dateless by Kimberly Raye
5. Your Coffin or Mine? by Kimberly Raye
6. Just One Bite by Kimberly Raye
7. Revelations by Melissa De La Cruz
8. Accidentally Dead by Dakota Cassidy
9. Real Vampires Get Lucky by Gerry Bartlett (can also be used as shape-shifters)

Witches/Wizards/Sorcerers/Magicians/Mages

1. Competition's A Witch by Kelly McClymer
2. She's A Witch Girl by Kelly McClymer
3. Modern Magic by Anner Cordwainer
4. 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover by Linda Wisdom (can also be used for vampires, ghosts)
5. Mysteria Lane by MaryJanice Davidson, Susan Grant, Gena Showalter, and P.C. Cast (can also be used as demons, fairy, vampires)
6. Thirteenth Child by Patricia C. Wrede
7. Laced With Magic by Barbara Bretton (can also be used for Fae)
8. Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells (can also be used for Vampires, demons, fairy)
9. Witch High edited by Denise Little

Demons

1. The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox
2. Demons Are Forever by Julie Kenner
3. Deja Demon by Julie Kenner
4. Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
5. Succubus On Top by Richelle Mead
6. Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead
7. Jennifer's Body by Audrey Nixon
8. Speed Demon by Erin Lynn
9. Awakening by K. Lippi

Were-animals/ Shapeshifters/ Mermaids

1. The Accidental Werewolf by Dakota Cassidy
2. In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell
3. Real Vampires Don't Diet by Gerry Bartlett (can also be used as vampires)
4. Wild Blue Under by Judi Fennell
5. The Accidental Human by Dakota Cassidy
6. Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom (can also be used as witch, vampire, ghosts)
7. Barbie & the Beast by Linda Thomas-Sundstrom
8. Last Vampire Standing by Nancy Haddock (can also be used as vampires)
   

Fae/Fairy

1. How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

Psychics/Sensitives

1. Another One Bites the Dust by Jennifer Rardin (can also be used as vampires)
2. Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin (can also be used as vampires)
3. Countdown by Michelle Maddox
4. Bitten to Death by Jennifer Rardin
5. Fade by Lisa McMann
6. Gone with the Witch by Annette Blair (could also be used as witches)
7. Never Been Witched by Annette Blair (could also be used as witches, ghosts)
8. One More Bite by Jennifer Rardin
9. La Vida Vampire by Nancy Haddock (can also be used as vampire, shape-shifters)
   

Ghosts/Angels

1. Demon's Delight by MaryJanice Davidson, Emma Holly, Vickie Taylor, & Catherine Spangler (can also be used as witch, vampire, demon)
2. Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
3. First Night by Tom Weston
4. The Hollow by Jessica Verday
5. What's A Ghoul To Do? by Victoria Laurie (could also be used as Psychics/Sensitives)
6. Demons Are A Ghoul's Best Friend by Victoria Laurie (could also be used as Psychics/Sensitives)
7. The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore
8. Sex and the Psychic Witch by Annette Blair
9. Swoon by Nina Malkin (could also be used as Demon)

Dragons

1. Jennifer Scales and the Ancient Furnace by MaryJanice Davidson and Anthony Alongi (can also be used as were-animals)
2. Jennifer Scales and the Messenger of Light by MaryJanice Davidson and Anthony Alongi (can also be used as were-animals)
3. The Silver Moon Elm by MaryJanice Davidson and Anthony Alongi (can also be used as were-animals)
4. Wait Till Your Vampire Gets Home by Michele Bardsley (can also be used as vampires, were-animals)
5. Playing With Fire by Katie MacAlister
6. Up in Smoke by Katie MacAlister

Misc (doesn't fit into a category:)

1. Oh My Goth by Gena Showalter (alternate reality)
2. Untamed by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast ( Gods/Goddesses)
3. My Soul To Take by Rachel Vincent (bean sidhes)
4. The Demon King and I by Candace Havens (Guardians)
5. My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent (bean sidhes)
6. Road Trip of the Living Dead by Mark Henry (Zombies)
7. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves (Alternate Reality)

AND

Chick-lit Challenge 2

I had 2 books left to read

I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap. So of course I have to blog about it here!

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.-- Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot

2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien

3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes

5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick Lit Challenge 2- December Update

Chick Lit Challenge 2
I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap.
So of course I have to blog about it here!
Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.

2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien

3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes

5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick Lit Challenge 2- November Update

Chick Lit Challenge 2
I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap.
So of course I have to blog about it here!
Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.

2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien

3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes

5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick Lit Challenge 2- October Update

Chick Lit Challenge 2
I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap.
So of course I have to blog about it here!
Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien
3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick Lit Challenge 2- September Update

Chick Lit Challenge 2

I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap.

So of course I have to blog about it here!

Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien
3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick Lit Challenge 2- August Update

Chick Lit Challenge 2
I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap.
So of course I have to blog about it here!
Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien
3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick Lit Challenge 2- July Update

Chick Lit Challenge 2

I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap.

So of course I have to blog about it here!

Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien
3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick-Lit Challenge 2- June Update

Chick-lit Challenge 2

I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap.
So of course I have to blog about it here!
Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien
3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick Lit Challenge 2- May Update

Chick-lit Challenge 2
I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap. So of course I have to blog about it here!
Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien
3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Book Review- The Friday Night Knitting Club

I finished reading The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs last night.

From the back cover:

Once a week, an eclectric group of women comes together at a New York City yarn shop to work on their latest projects--and share the stories of their lives.

At the center of Walker and Daughter is the shop's owner, Georgia, who is overwhelmed with juggling the store and single-handedly raising her teenage daughter. Happy to escape the demands of her life, she looks forward to her Friday Night Knitting Club, where she and her friends-- Anite, Peri, Darwin, Lucie, and K.C.--exchange knitting tips, jokes, and their deepest secrets. But when the man who once broke Georgia's herat suddenly shows up, demanding a role in their daughter's life, her world is shattered.

Luckily, Georgia's friends are there for encouragement, sharing their own tales of intimacy, heartbreak, and miracle making. And when the unthinkable happens, these women will discover that what they've created isn't just a knitting club: it's a sisterhood.

I have to be honest: when this book first came out, I had no interest in reading it. The title and cover just wasn't appealing to me. And neither was knitting. But boy did I miss out! This story was really heart-warming. I loved how the author gave us insight into all of the characters lives. But I have to say that I did not see the end coming. I thought it was going to completely go one way, but it went another and left me crying but enjoying the story all the same. I can't wait to read the sequel, Knit Two.

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fullfilled requirements for the following challenges:

Chick-Lit Challenge: 4

Chick-Lit Challenge 2: Start a Series

Chick-Lit Challenge 2- April Update

Chick-lit Challenge 2

I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap. So of course I have to blog about it here!
Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien
3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it)
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Book Review- The Agency

I just finised reading The Agency by Ally O'Brien.

From the back cover:

Meet Tess Drake

She has everything she needs.

Now it's time to get what she wants...

I really enjoyed this book. There wasn't much heavy-duty substance to it. But I found myself thinking about the book when I wasn't reading it and I couldn't wait to get to the end to find out what happened. For some reason, I just really enjoy reading about the entertainment industry. And it doesn't hurt that the Florida Gators (I graduated from UF and am a die-hard Gator fan) and Westies (I grew up always having a Westie puppy).

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fullfills items for the following challenges:

Chick-Lit Challenge: 2

Chick-Lit Challenge 2: 2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it.

Thank you to Booking Mama and St. Martin's Press for this book!

Chick-Lit Challenge 2- March Update

Chick-lit Challenge 2

I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap. So of course I have to blog about it here!

Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it.
3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it)
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Book Review- American Wife

I just finished the book American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld.

From the back cover:

On what might become one of the most significant days in her husband's presidency, Alice Blackwell considers the strange and unlikely path that has led her to the White House--and the repercussions of a live lived, as she believes, "almost in opposition to itself."

A kind, bookish only child born in the 1940s, Alice learned the virtues of politeness early on from her stolid parents and small Wisconsin hometow. Alice candidly describes her modest upbringing and the tragedy that shaped her identity; she recalls her early adulthood as a librarian, and her surprising courtship with the man who swept her off her feet; she tells of the crisis that almost ended their marriage; and she confides the privileges and difficulties of being first lady, a role that is uniquely cloistered yet public, secretive yet exposed.

As her husband's presidency enters its second term, Alice finds herself increasingly conflicted. Ultimately she must confront contradictions years in the making and face questions nearly impossible to answer.

I enjoyed this book. It was a nice break from all of the paranormal books that I have been reading. It really kept my attention and flowed well. Several time, after reading for a while, I would have to stop and remind myself that this is a fiction book. I kept thinking that maybe this book was about Barbara Bush because there are so many similarities, but I knew that it wasn't true.

And as it says on Barnesandnoble.com, " A word of advice before reading American Wife: put Laura Bush firmly out of your mind. While bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld has waxed rhapsodic about her admiration for the first lady, she insists that in this novel, her most ambitious work to date, protagonist Alice Blackwell is most certainly not Laura Bush. Sittenfeld has conceded that she drew on some major events in Mrs. Bush's life, such as the horrific car accident that killed a fellow student in high school and her marriage to a man who is eventually elected president and steers the country into a controversial war. The rest, she says, she invented within the framework of that reality."

So I know its not just me that was thinking about the similarities. The way the story was written really made me connect with the main character and there was one part where I gasped out loud!

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

This book fullfills requirements for the following challenges:

Chick-Lit Challenge 2: 3) Read a new to you author

What's In A Name? Challenge: Relative

Read Your Name Challenge: A

Chick-Lit Challenge: 1

Chick-Lit Challenge 2- February Update

Chick-lit Challenge 2
I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap. So of course I have to blog about it here!

Here is a link to my original post: Chick-Lit Challenge 2

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.
2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it.
3)Read a new to you author
4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes
5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it)
6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)

Chick-Lit Challenge 2

Chick-lit Challenge 2

I am participating in another Chick-lit Challenge on Paperback Swap. So of course I have to blog about it here!

1) Pick a Chic Lit book that's been on your TBR for a year or more.-- Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot

2)Pick a book that hasn't had a movie made from it. --The Agency by Ally O'Brien

3)Read a new to you author--American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

4)Read a book with a hair color in the title example: Bergdorf Blondes

5)Start a series! (you don't need to finish it) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

6)Read a book with some kind of beverage in the title (i.e.:Cocktails for Three, Milk Run)