2013 A to Z Reading Challenge

I love this challenge.  I thought I joined last year, but I either mislabeled or I can't find the post, I'm going to do some more digging, but no matter, I'm joining for 2013.  Here's the info from Lori's site:

Technical Stuff
This challenge will run from January 1st, 2012 until December 31st, 2013.
You can join anytime.
Crossovers to other challenges are allowed and encouraged! 
So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z challenge.
A – Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example: A – The Azalea Assault B- Blue Monday C – Crops and Robbers D – A Deadly Grind etc.
OR
B – How I plan to do it: Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Hope that by the end of the year you have read one book for each letter. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.

I plan on joining at the B level.  I'll add books as I read them.

Ready to join??  Click on the button above or go to: http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/challenges-2/2013-a-z-challenge/


A - Abby Road by Ophelia London
B - Bittersweet Blood by Nina Croft
C - Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas
D - Divided in Death by J.D. Robb
E - Easter Bunny Murder by Leslie Meier
F - From This Moment On by Bella Andre
G - Gates of Paradise by Melissa de la Cruz
H - Hidden by P.C. Cast
I - Imitation in Death by J.D. Robb
J -
K -
L - The Look of Love by Bella Andre
M - Mind Games by Kiersten White
N - The Next Forever by Lisa Burstein
O - The Offering by Angela Hunt
P - The Prince by Kiera Cass
Q -
R - Recipe for Satisfaction by Gina Gordon
S - Saving Grace by Christine Zolendz
T - Tempting Acquisitions by Addison Fox
U - Unseen by Karin Slaughter
V - Vanished by Irene Hannon
W - With this Kiss by Eloisa James (Part 1, 2 & 3)
X -
Y - Yours at Midnight by Robin Bielman
Z -

Author Interview, Review and Giveaway: Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep (Mythos Academy #4)

Crimson Frost by Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington

Publish Date: December 24, 2012

Paperback, 384 pages
Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal
 ISBN: 9780758281463
Mythos Academy #4

Interview with Jennifer Estep

What three things do you need in order to write?

JE: I need my computer, my wireless mouse, and some quiet time to write.

 

What's your favorite season?

JE: I like fall and winter the best. I love the warm days and cool nights of fall, and then snow in the winter.

 

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

JE: I think it would be cool to go to Alaska. That’s one place that I’ve always wanted to go. Maybe I’ll get there someday.

 

What your favorite treat at Christmas?

JE: I love dessert, so I love all the sweets at Christmas, especially things like chocolate cake and chocolate fudge.

 

What's the first sentence of Crimson Frost?

JE: The first sentence of Crimson Frost is: “I have a confession to make.”

 

Tell us what is Crimson Frost about.

JE: Crimson Frost is the fourth book in my Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.

In Crimson Frost, Gwen is put on trial for crimes that she didn’t commit, so she has to deal with that, as well as figuring out what the bad guys are up to. Basically, the book and the series are about myths, magic, and monsters.

Dish, who’s your favorite character?

JE: Vic, Gwen’s talking sword, is one of my favorite characters to write. He’s just so snarky and so full of attitude. He’s a lot of fun for me to write.

Crystal: I like Vic too, he has this voice in my head, and it's always been clear.  I just find that funny. I love his snarkiness, now I want a snarky sword :)

 

As a NC girl myself, what made you choose Asheville for the setting for the Mythos Academy?

JE: I thought the area would be a cool setting for the book, so that’s why I came up with the fictional town of Cypress Mountain, where the academy is located.

 

What can we expect next from you?

JE: Crimson Frost will be out on Dec. 24. Midnight Frost, the fifth book in my Mythos Academy series, is set to be published in August 2013. Folks can visit my website at www.jenniferestep.com for more information on my books.

 

Thanks Jennifer!

JE: Thanks for hosting me on your blog. I appreciate it. Happy reading, everyone!

My Review:
Another high-octane installment in the Mythos Academy series, Crimson Frost starts with Logan and Gwen's first date that goes all wrong and the end result has Gwen on trial for setting Loki loose. Gwen and her friends know she didn't do it, but can they prove it in time to save her?

I loved this book. I have loved this series from the start. I adore Gwen and her "not-so-sure about herself" self. I love that she has friends that will stick with her through thick and thin and I love that she has a snarky sword that Jennifer mentions in my interview with her.  I love that all of this can tie together in book after book and keep me reading.  I will confess to being scared before I read this. I read a review that kind of scared me, but then I read the book myself and found out that that review did not apply to me. Again we're all different.  I felt this book was fresh even though it did have Gwen on trial and reviewed things she had done.  I felt the characters continued to grow and were more developed and as most of you know that is one of my favorite things.  And it added some characters as well.  There was a lot of fresh material, and plenty to keep you interested from beginning to end.

The action definitely keeps the book moving.  This is another example where my husband was watching You Tube videos and usually I am easily distracted, but I was so absorbed in Crimson Frost I was able to tune out all that was going on around me.  That is the mark of a truly good book to me.  Ms. Estep brought me right into Mythos Academy and among Gwen and her friends and gave me a front row seat.  I was hooked from the first page until the last and I will be eagerly awaiting Midnight Frost.  Do I really have to wait until August?

If you enjoy the Mythos Academy books, then this is another solid installment that reveals more about the world and the characters.  The writing and pacing is solid.  The book is intriguing and very hard to put down once you start.  And it will leave you eager for the next book in the series.  Thank you Ms. Estep for another entertaining book in this series!


My Rating: 4.75/5.0


About the Book:
For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes—the most hideous face I’d ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki—the evil god that I’d helped set free against my will.

I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin adult urban fantasy series for Pocket. Books in the series are SPIDER'S BITE, WEB OF LIES, VENOM, TANGLED THREADS, SPIDER'S REVENGE, BY A THREAD, and WIDOW'S WEB. THREAD OF DEATH, an e-novella, is also available.

HAINTS AND HOBWEBS: AN ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN SHORT STORY can be found in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF GHOST ROMANCE.

DEADLY STING, the eighth book, is set to be released on March 26, 2013.

Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington.

Books in the series are TOUCH OF FROST, KISS OF FROST, and DARK FROST. CRIMSON FROST, the fourth book, is set to be released on Dec. 24, 2012.

FIRST FROST, a prequel e-story to the series, is available as a download. HALLOWEEN FROST, an e-short story, is available in the ENTANGLED e-anthology.

Jennifer is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. Books in the superhero-themed series are KARMA GIRL, HOT MAMA, JINX, and NIGHTINGALE. A KARMA GIRL CHRISTMAS, an e-story, is also available.
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Giveaway:
Thanks to Jennifer, I have one copy of Crimson Frost (paperback) to give away (US only).  Just use the Rafflecopter below.  Ends 12/31, I'm giving this one a little more time due to the busy holiday season. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FTC Information: I received this book from the author through her publisher for an honest review. 

Book Review: Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington

Pub Date: May 29, 2012

Paperback, 352 pages

ISBN: 9780758266965

Mythos Academy #3

My Review:
Snarky swords, insecure yet coming into her own heroine, hunky hero-to-be (maybe), a sweets baking grandma with mad skills and then really bad guys who are out to let the ultimate bad guy free. I think that's the makings of a good book, don't you?

Dark Frost is another solid installment into the Mythos Academy series. I started the book and quickly found myself absorbed into the story. I was back at the academy and the surrounding town with Gwen, Logan, Daphne, Carson, Gwen's Grandma and the assortment of teachers and other students at the academy. And we are sucked right back into the story. This time Gwen is on the hunt to find the Helheim Dagger before the Reapers find it and set Loki free.

Lots of action, more character development with Gwen, Logan and Daphne too. Some more backstory is brought out and the story continues to move forward at breakneck speed. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that I thought the pacing was spot on. Never a dull moment.  Things also get a little more dark in this one.  The characters were great with more development as I mentioned and I found the story line interesting and it left me satisfied yet ready for book four, Crimson Frost which comes out in December 2012.

Another excellent installment with a few new faces and of course the old ones. Lots of surprises and excitement in this one to keep you turning the pages. If you like this series, then keep reading, you will enjoy this one and be anxious for Crimson Frost as well!

Stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Jennifer, my review of Crimson Frost, and a giveaway of Crimson Frost.

My rating: 4.5/5.0

About the Book:
I've seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I'm supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I'm just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me again. Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I'm also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can't use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me and I'm in for the fight of my life.

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, prowling the streets of her imagination in search of her next fantasy idea.

Jennifer writes the Elemental Assassin adult urban fantasy series for Pocket. Books in the series are SPIDER'S BITE, WEB OF LIES, VENOM, TANGLED THREADS, SPIDER'S REVENGE, BY A THREAD, and WIDOW'S WEB. THREAD OF DEATH, an e-novella, is also available.

HAINTS AND HOBWEBS: AN ELEMENTAL ASSASSIN SHORT STORY can be found in THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF GHOST ROMANCE.

DEADLY STING, the eighth book, is set to be released on March 26, 2013.

Jennifer also writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington.

Books in the series are TOUCH OF FROST, KISS OF FROST, and DARK FROST. CRIMSON FROST, the fourth book, is set to be released on Dec. 24, 2012.

FIRST FROST, a prequel e-story to the series, is available as a download. HALLOWEEN FROST, an e-short story, is available in the ENTANGLED e-anthology.

Jennifer is also the author of the Bigtime paranormal romance series. Books in the superhero-themed series are KARMA GIRL, HOT MAMA, JINX, and NIGHTINGALE. A KARMA GIRL CHRISTMAS, an e-story, is also available.
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***I won this book in a giveaway, therefore my opionions are of my own volition.  ***

Recipe Special: Lara's Church Lady Maple Cookies (compliments of author Mary Burton)

Book Review: All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen

All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Publish Date: December 11, 2012

ebook, 304 pages
Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
 ISBN: 9780761462750

My Review:
I'm not sure I can do justice to this book and not give anything away.  I loved this.  It enthralled me, I did not want to put it down and when I had to put it down to sleep, go to work, cook, you know do all those mundane things, I could not wait to pick it back up again to find out more about Liv.

Liv is intriguing from the start. She awakes from the coma and does not recognize her Mom or her Dad and has no real memories.  So of course the reader, being me, was intrigued and wanted to know more.  Ms. Madsen then proceeded to give me more in little bits and pieces through dreams and things that Liv remembers at various times, but are they true?  Liv isn't sure, I wasn't sure.  Thankfully to keep her from going crazy Liv has Spencer to lean on.  But of course things aren't that simple.  Liv is also trying to walk the line between being friends (and possibly more) with Spencer and remaining with the popular crowd that seems to have singled her out from the first day.  I like how Ms. Madsen used typical high school situations as a backdrop in this book while Liv is trying to figure out who she is.  It made it all the more powerful to me.  Spencer is also a great character and friend for Liv because he has demons of his own and to find out more about him, you must read the book. But I will tell you I loved Spencer even though I wanted to choke him at times.

The plot speeds along with the memories, and Liv and Spencer's friendship growing against the backdrop of fitting in or not fitting in at high school.  I enjoyed every page of this book.  Though I felt the ending was just a bit rushed, I still felt it was a satisfactory and bombshell conclusion that was fitting of how the book was paced and plotted.  When I walked away from this I was kind of sad it was over, but happy with the conclusion of the book.

All the Broken Pieces was a stellar contemporary Young Adult novel to me.  It was suspenseful, it had romance (and not a love triangle) and an interesting premise.  It's an interesting novel about finding yourself even beyond the amnesia angle and that's one of the reasons I loved it.  The amnesia just added to it to make it suspenseful.  If I read books for a second time, this would quickly go on my list to read again, it was just that good to me.  So check it out if the premise interests you, I don't think you will find your time wasted while reading this one and I think you will find a new author to add to you shelf when you are done like I have.


My Rating: 4.75/5.0


About the Book:
What if your life wasn’t your own?

Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember.

Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.

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FTC Information: I received this book from Entangled Publishing for an honest review. 

Book Review: Political Suicide by Michael Palmer

Political Suicide by Michael Palmer

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publish Date: December 11, 2012

Hardcover, 384 pages
Fiction, Suspense
 ISBN: 9780312587550
Lou Welcome #2 (but reads as a stand-alone)

My Review:
I have enjoyed Michael Palmer books in the past so I was thrilled to accept Political Suicide for review.  One of my first loves is adult suspense reads and while I believe Michael started with medical thrillers, he has branched out into more political-type suspense thrillers.  This is military centered and is a definite thriller.  While it is the second book to feature main character Dr. Lou Welcome, it does not have to be read in order, I have not read in Oath of Office (I did get it from the library to read next) but I did not feel the least bit lost reading Political Suicide.

The characters are fascinating in Political Suicide.  Dr. Lou Welcome is the center of the book.  He is brought in to help his friend and the doctor that he is helping in the program he is involved in, Dr. Gary McHugh who is accused of murder of a Congressman who's wife he was sleeping with.  But there is more to the story than meets the eye.  Along with Lou there is also Sarah, Gary's attorney who I really enjoyed getting to know.  Both characters were really great and interesting and well-developed and worked really well in the story.  I liked how well they fit in the story and how they never felt forced.

The plot is captivating.  It starts with a bang and never quits.  It keeps delivering new twists and turns with each turn of the page.  I could not put it down.  I loved that this one was slightly different. No serial killers, I liked the elite military angle.  A little scary but definitely interesting and mind-blowing at the same time.  Mr. Palmer paces this one perfectly to keep your interest and not give too much away too soon.  You know what is going on, but you really can't guess what is coming next, or at least I couldn't.  I really like how this book is done and how it all turns out.

I love Dr. Lou Welcome, he has a great moral compass, he's a good friend, and he has a sense of humor.  He really  makes the book.  This is definitely one of my favorite suspense books of the year just based on the great characters and the interesting premise.  Pick it up, it's a new release from last week (don't let goodreads throw you, it's out now) and it would make a great Christmas present for the suspense lover in your life or for yourself.  Hey we all deserve a great book!


My Rating: 5.0/5.0


About the Book:

From The New York Times bestselling author of Oath of Office comes a gripping thriller at the crossroads of politics and medicine

Dr. Lou Welcome, from Palmer's bestselling Oath of Office, is back in this heart stopping medical thriller. A desperate phone call embroils Lou in scandal and murder involving Dr. Gary McHugh, known around the Capital as the “society doc.” Lou has been supervising McHugh, formerly a black-out drinker, through his work with the Physician Wellness Office.  McHugh has been very cavalier about his recovery, barely attending AA and refusing a sponsor. But Lou sees progress, and the two men are becoming friends. Now, McHugh has been found unconscious in his wrecked car after visiting a patient of his, the powerful Congressman Elias Colston, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Soon after McHugh awakens in the hospital ER, Colston's wife returns home to find her husband shot dead in their garage. She then admits to the police that she had just broken off a long-standing affair with McHugh.

Something about McHugh's story has Lou believing he is telling the truth, that the Congressman was dead when he arrived and before he blacked out. Lou agrees to look into matters, but when he encounters motive, method and opportunity he is hard pressed to believe in his friend—that is until a deadly high-level conspiracy begins to unravel, and Lou acquires information that makes him the next target.

About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Michael Palmer, M.D., is the author of the forthcoming A Heartbeat Away (2011), The Last Surgeon, The First Patient, The Fifth Vial, The Society, Fatal, The Patient, Miracle Cure, Critical Judgment, Silent Treatment, Natural Causes, Extreme Measures, Flashback, Side Effects, and The Sisterhood. His books have been translated into thirty-five languages. He trained in internal medicine at Boston City and Massachusetts General Hospitals, spent twenty years as a full-time practitioner of internal and emergency medicine, and is now an associate director of the Massachusetts Medical Society's physician health program.

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FTC Information: I received this book from Lizzie McQuillan at Scratch Marketing + Media for an honest review.  I do make money from purchases made at The Book Depository, but all money is used to fund giveaways and shipping for giveaways from the blog.

Week in Review 12/16/12

What went on in my life:
We were in our local parade last Sunday (it's our friend's daughter's truck not ours), then it was pretty much a normal week. I had flare-up issues again so it was a good reading week. I made progress on gift-buying for the boys who have been next-to-impossible to buy for this year. I have a little more buying to do, but I am mostly done. Now all that is left is to finish cleaning the house in preparation for Christmas celebration of my husband's family at our house on Christmas morning.  But first I hope the repairman can fix our oven before then so I can make the super-easy overnight french toast I always make.  So please send good vibes for the repairman tomorrow.  I thought that free Jenn Air stove was a blessing last year, but now I'm not thinking it is so much ;)

How was your week?

What I read (links take you to my reviews or to Goodreads page):
Heaven's Fury by Stephen Frey (library) -I haven't read Stephen Frey in awhile and decided to pick this one up. It was pretty good. Hope to review it in the next week or so.
A Million Suns by Beth Revis, Across the Universe #2 (library) -Oh my gosh, this was so great and I was so relieved to see the third book comes out next month. I don't think I could have waited much longer.  Review to come, but there was no second book lag in this one!
Baby It's Cold Outside by Heidi Rice, Amy Andrews, Kate Hardy and Aimee Carson (review) - what a great Christmas/New Year's romance anthology. I loved this, check out my review and giveaway.
All-Together Dead by Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse #7 (audiobook) - Pretty good, I love the audios of these and all entertain, not one of the best, but a so-so Sookie book is still a worthwhile read!
Political Suicide by Michael Palmer (review) - I received this for review and have read Michael Palmer in the past, and let me tell you this did not disappoint.  I loved this book. Good characters and great plot twists. Review on Monday or Tuesday.

What I received (links take you to Goodreads page):
S.E.C.R.E.T. by L. Marie Adeline - through Edelweiss from Broadway (a division of Random House), publishes February 5, 2013, review 2/5/13.
The Impossibility of Tomorrow by Avery Williams - through Edelweiss from Simon and Schuster  Books for Young Readers, on sale 6/4/13, review 6/4/13
A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy - through Edelweiss from Knopf, this is an author I have been meaning to read for a long time so I am excited to get this for review, on sale 2/12/13, review 2/8/13
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay - through Edelweiss from Atria Books, I read a review of this one and it sounds really good, on sale 6/4/13, my review 5/31/13.
A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash - ARC from William Morrow , on sale 1/22/13, review 1/18/13
Reckless by S.C. Stephens - SQUEEE!!! - ARC from Gallery Books (Simon and Schuster) and I was so excited to get this one, now I can read Effortless!  Releases 3/5/13, review 3/1/13

Vicious Circle, Hallowed Circle, Fatal Circle, Arcane Circle, and Wicked Circle by Linda Robertson - from Pocket Books. I'm very excited to receive the whole series in preparation for release of the sixth book, Shattered Circle (which I should receive soon) on 1/29/13.  Look for my reviews of each of these books between now and the end of January.

What I'm Reading Now:
Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson (library)- I love Alex Cross and continue to read the books every year.
All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen (review) - This one is from Entangled Teen and I'm excited to read it, my review will be coming this week.
Imitation in Death by J.D. Robb (audiobook) - I realized I haven't read one of her books in awhile and it was time to read one.  I love these on audio.



What are you reading?