Elsewhere Online: March 2011

As you may have guessed from my In My Mailbox posts, I review for another website (bookloons.com). As I cannot post my reviews there and here, but I would still like to count the books I read for the challenges, I am going to have a post like this at the end of the every month listing the books I reviewed and what challenges the went towards.

Title: Montooth and the Canfield Witch

Author: Robert Jay

Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, YA Historical Fiction, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Red Riding Hood

Author: Sarah Blakely-Cartwright

Challenges: Debut Author, iChallenge, 100 Books in a Year

Title: I Am J

Author: Cris Beam

Challenges: Debut Author, Young Adult Contemporary, 100 Books in a Year

Title: Summer

Author: Eden Maguire

Challenges: Mystery & Suspense, YA Series, Horror & Urban Fantasy 100 Books in a Year

Once Upon a Time Challenge

I love books that have a "once upon a time" feel, so I was absolutely giddy when I saw Stainless Steel Droppings's Once Upon a Time Challenge. This is a three-month challenge, but there are many ways to participate. Even though I love these type of books, I can only think of one on my immediate TBR shelf that fits, so I am going to do The Journey (at least 1 book).

1. Huntress by Malinda Lo

Pride and Prejudice

Title: Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Publisher: Kobo (I think)

ISBN: eBook

Why Read?: Book Club

Challenges: E-Book, Book Blogger Recommendation, Classics, International, Show Me the Free (Borders.com), 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I had no desire to read Pride and Prejudice until I read the Marvel graphic novel version. And then I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. When my book club picked Pride and Prejudice, I was actually looking forward to now reading the real thing. I enjoyed it. Some parts - mainly the pacing - did make it seem like a classic, but it is just a great story all around.

Rating: 4 stars

Note: Cover featured is not of the free Borders edition.

In My Mailbox 3/20-3/26

For Possible Review Elsewhere Online:

Spellweaver by Lynn Kurland

Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper

Seven Kinds of Ordinary Catastrophes by Amber Kizer

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

Department Nineteen by Will Hill

Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue

Won:

Ravenous by Sharon Ashwood

The Attitude Girl by Mila Bernadkin

Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut

Foresight by Sherry D. Ficklin

Pucker Up by Rhonda Stapleton

Swaps on Swap-Bot:

Washington Square by Henry James

Second-Hand from My In-Laws:

The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

All images come from Goodreads.

Over Sea, Under Stone

Title: Over Sea, Under Stone

Author: Susan Cooper

Publisher: Simon Pulse

ISBN: 978-1-4169-4964-0

Why Read?: For fun

Challenges: TBR Pile, 1st in a Series, YA Series, Fantasy, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I had forgotten how much I love older - British - fantasies until I started reading this. The mood set with the twisty, secretive Grey House is just right for a fantasy adventure, especially when you through in the enigma of a great-uncle and the mysterious strangers. An excellent read, but slower than more modern YA fantasies.

Rating: 4 stars

Cozy Mystery Challenge

What? I'm signing up for another challenge! I love cozies and the Cozy Mystery Challenge is only a six-month challenge, so I thought why not? I only have one currently in my TBR pile, so this will probably be an epic fail, but I'll try the Only Required Amount level (6 books).

1. Missing Persons by Clare O'Donohue

2. Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber

3.

4.

5.

6.

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Alice in the Country of Hearts 2

Title: Alice in the Country of Hearts Volume 2

Author: Soumei Hoshino & Quinrose

Publisher: Tokyopop

ISBN: 978-1-4278-1770-9

Why Read?: For fun

Challenges: Manga, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: I think I may have enjoyed the volume more than the first one simply because the story became more complex and takes a very dark turn at the end of the volume - great cliffhanger. I highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a slightly twisted take on Alice in Wonderland.

Rating: 4 stars

In My Mailbox 3/13-3/19

For Review Elsewhere (bookloons.com):

The Hunt of the Unicorn by C. C. Humphreys

Tortall and Other Lands by Tamora Pierce

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

Huntress by Malinda Lo

Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong

Won:

Hex by Ramona Wray

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Swaps on Swap-Bot:

Men of the 9th Ohio by

From Paperbackswap:

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

A Dog Named Christmas by Greg Kincaid

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

All images come from Goodreads.

Mini-Challenge COMPLETED!

I just completed Lazy Girl Reads' Mini-Challenge today!

1. Something Old - The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

2. Something New - Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

3. Something Borrowed - Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

4. Something Blue - Maid Sama! 4 by Hiro Fujiwara

Cleopatra (Audio Book)

Title: Cleopatra: A Life

Author: Stacy Schiff; read by Robin Miles

Publisher: Hachette Audio

ISBN: 9780307877383

Why Read?: For fun

Challenges: Audio Book, Non-Fiction, Mini-Challenge, 100 Books in a Year

Thoughts: This was an interesting biography. However, having read and reported on both Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra and Dryden's All for Love multiple times throughout my college career, I found the second half not nearly as engaging as the first as I already knew the "story". What fascinated me the most where the parts that related more to life at the time rather than specifically Cleopatra's. I am glad I listened to this rather than read as I did so faster, but the track and disc breaks were rather odd, some almost seeming to stop mid-paragraph.

Rating: 3 stars

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop - CLOSED

St. Patrick's Day and Ireland always make me think of fantasy, so for the Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop, I will be giving away an unread copy one of my favorite fantasies - Jonathan

Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clark.

(This is a very heavy book, so US only.)

To enter, fill out this FORM.

+1 for becoming a GFC follower

+1 for following my onGetGlue

+1 for friending me on Goodreads (see sidebar)

+1 for telling me your favorite fantasy novel

Don't forget to check out the other great giveaways:

In My Mailbox 3/6-3/12

Bought a lot at Borders this week (so sad that the one closest to me is going out of business :( ).

For Possible Review Elsewhere Online:

Exposed by Kimberly Marcus

Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best by Maria Padian

Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

The Queen of Water by Maria Virginia Farinango & Laura Resau

The Dark-Hunters 4 by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Western Classics by Graphic Classics

Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber

The Haunted by Jessica Verday

Secrets in the Attic by Damian Serbu

Fire by Robin McKinley & Peter Dickinson

Won:

Eve by Elissa Elliott

Swap on Swap-Bot:

When You Go Away by Jessica Barksdale Inclan

Bought at Borders:

Another Faust by Daniel & Dina Nayeri

Eighth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer

Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson

The Hound of Rowan by Henry H. Neff

The Second Siege by Henry H. Neff

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

This fun weekly meme comes from The Story Siren.

All images come from Goodreads.