Total Books Read So Far

Since I am working more now, I won't be doing reviews right now. I'll simply state what books I have read and how many pages there were in the book.

I'm reading books quickly now for the Year of the Readers. I'll probably be posting once or twice a month with my totals. Here are my totals for 2009 so far.

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris - 292 Pages

Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris - 304 Pages

Club Dead by Charlaine Harris - 258 Pages

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris - 291 Pages

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris - 304 Pages

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris - 323 Pages

All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris - 323 Pages

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris - 359 Pages

Total Books Read in 2009 So Far - 8
Total Pages Read in 2009 So Far - 2454

I won't disclose how much money I've raised until the end of the year.

Review for Divine by Choice by PC Cast

Divine by Choice
by PC Cast

Published: December 2006
Pages: 432
Rating: 5/5

After being mistaken for a goddess in the mythic world of Partholon, high school English teacher Shannon Parker settled in. She adores her sexy centaur husband, is getting used to her connection to the powerful goddess Epona and thoroughly enjoys the pampering from both! All is looking very right in her world…until she is wrenched from Partholon and sent back to Oklahoma.

As she struggles to return to the world and the husband she loves, Shannon discovers she is not alone.

A great evil has followed her. Now more than just Shannon's future is at stake, and she needs to somehow tap into our world's dormant magic. Her only ally is her husband's mirror image in Oklahoma--a man who loves her too much. Shannon must figure out a way to vanquish the ancient evil and not lose her life, her soul or her heart.

Along the way she discovers that being divine by mistake is a lot easier than being divine by choice...

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Fiction or non-fiction? Fiction

Genre? Fantasy/Mystery

What led you to pick up this book? I love the House of Night series by PC Cast and her daughter, Kristin Cast.

What did you like most about the book? I loved the writing style. It was informal and as though the main character were talking directly to you through the writing.

What did you like least? I wish I would have been able to start this series from the beginning, so it would be a bit easier to understand in the beginning... but that is my fault, not the author's.

Which of your readers are most likely to enjoy this book? People who enjoy fantasy novels would probably like this novel.

What did you think of the main character? She was realistic and funny. I loved her!

What is the central character’s biggest problem? Trying to get back to Partholon, where she is the Goddess Incarnate, after being sucked back into Oklahoma, where she is nothing more than an ex-English teacher at a highschool.

What strengths does she have that help her cope? She has an affinity for the earth's magic, specifically trees.

Share a favorite scene from the book: When our main character is talking to her friend, a female centaur warrior, and is asking her how centaurs mate... the centaur is describing it the same way the horses mate and our main character is like, "Yeah?!?" The centaur simply says, "It's nothing like that." and walks away. -- This scene had me laughing out loud.

What did you think of the ending? I liked it. It made me want to dive right into the next book in the series.

Do you recommend this book? Anyone who likes fantasy-mysteries... you might want to read the previous novel first! :-)

Review for Chosen by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

Chosen
by PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Published: March 2008
Pages: 320
Rating: 4.5/5

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird's adventures at the school take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey's mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn't have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity. Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster. Just when it seems things couldn't get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey's horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

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This was better than Marked, but not quite as good as Chosen. I loved it, though. I can't wait to read Untamed (patiently waiting for it from the library).

I read this in one sitting... I just could NOT put it down. Definitely a good read!

Once again, the repetition of things that happened in the past books gets to be annoying, but you learn to ignore it.

I'm really in love with the style of writing, it's very informal... as though Zoey is telling her story directly to you.

Zoey has really developed as a character after reading this book, and I can't wait to learn more about her and the other characters. Once again, this one had me laughing & crying!

Review for Betrayed by PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Betrayed
by PC Cast & Kristin Cast

Published: October 2007
Pages: 320
Rating: 5/5

Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird has managed to settle in at the House of Night finishing school. She finally feels like she belongs, even gets chosen as the Leader of the Dark Daughters. Best of all, she actually has a boyfriend... or two. Then the unthinkable happens: Human teenagers are being killed, and all the evidence points to the House of Night. While danger stalks the humans from Zoey's old life, she begins to realize that the very powers that make her so unique might also threathen those she loves. Then, when she needs her new friends the most, death strikes the House of Night, and Zoey must find the courage to face a betrayal that could break her heart, her soul, and jeopardize the very fabric of her world. Betrayed, the second book in the House of Night series, is dark and sexy, and as thrilling as it is utterly shocking.

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I read this book in one sitting and I loved it! It made me keep turning pages and kept me on the edge of my seat.

The repeating of things that happened in the first book is a bit annoying, but that is only for the first few chapters, and I can see that it would help someone to simply start reading the series with this book, instead of the first (Marked). However, I honestly believe you wouldn't get as much out of this series by skipping the first book.

This story had me feeling the emotions that Zoey (the main character) was feeling. I felt betrayed, so that is absolutely the perfect title of this novel. It is very well-written and perfect for anyone who enjoyed the first book in the series.

I would say that young adult readers aged 16 and up would enjoy this. I am 21 and I have fallen in love with Zoey and her eclectic group of close friends. As long as you are young at heart when you read this novel, you sould be able to enjoy it for what it truly is... a wonderfully written tale that will capture your attention, tug at your emotions, and have you reading until the very end.

I'm going to count this as my Drama Thriller for the 08/09 Suspense & Thriller Challenge.