The Sequels Challenge 2012

Mist over at Bookaholics Book Club has just come up with an awesome challenge that sounds perfect for me! It is based all around reading sequels which is ideal as I have a ton of series that I've started and then fallen behind on (some of which have now finished and have spin-off series of their own. Vampire Academy I'm looking at you!)

It isn't that I didn't enjoy the books that I've read, it's just I tend to get distracted by shiny new books and series and then before I know it I've got 4 or 5 books to catch up on in a series that I loved (like the Otherworld books by Kelley Armstrong). The other factor is series I start and then realise there are loads of books for me to read (*cough* Discworld *cough*).

The rules of the challenge are really simple: read at least 24 sequels next year! There will be a giveaway at the end of the year which for me is just an awesome bonus plus motivation to keep reading those sequels!

If you'd like to join, Mist's post can be found here.

Angels Everywhere by Debbie Macomber

Title: Angels Everywhere
Author: Debbie Macomber
Publisher: Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-050830-2
Pages: 640
Series: Angels Everywhere #1 and 3
Type: Adult Chick Lit
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

This book features two of Debbie Macomber's angel stories, although strangely it contains the first and third books in the series. The Trouble with Angels actually falls between the two. There aren't any spoilers here that would ruin it, but there are several references to the last two years of cases that may seem a little odd if you don't know about the second book.

***A Season of Angels***

During the holiday season, three peoples cries for help have fallen on heavenly ears: Leah's prayers for a baby have gone unanswered for years, Monica's prayers for a husband are hindered by her self-righteousness and all Timmy wants for Christmas is a father. Three young angels, Shirley, Goodness and Mercy, have been sent to act as guardians but they'll soon find out helping humans is harder than they expected.

This was a really fun read with a great storyline. I was a little worried that it could end up being overly religious and preachy, but my fears were unfounded and I loved getting to know Shirley, Goodness and Mercy. The angels bring a great uplifting feel to the tale and their encounters with modern technology are hilarious (who thought angels could enjoy riding escalators so much?).

I loved the uniqueness of each character and their story and I ended up glued to the page, hoping everything would work out for them in the end. Each character has their own struggles and it was great to see the characters grow and change so they could make themselves happier, with a little divine help of course. The ending does come together very quickly, and I found one story's conclusion to feel a little contrived but on the whole this is a great read.

Plot: 8/10; Characters: 10/10; Ending: 8/10; Enjoyment: 10/10

***Touched by Angels***

Shirley, Goodness and Mercy are back and this time they're bringing their heavenly guidance to New York. Shirley struggles with the case of an optimistic young teacher at a tough inner city school, while Mercy tries to help Jenny decide whether to cling to her dream of Broadway stardom or return home to Montana and Goodness decides that Gabriel is wrong about her case. He insists Hannah's fiancee is perfect for her, while Goodness thinks attorney Joshua is a far better match.

I really enjoyed this story but I found it took me a little while to connect with the characters. Unlike the previous angel books, Gabriel is around more so Shirley, Goodness and Mercy have to be a little more controlled (although they still manage to pull off some hilarious pranks). The cases are harder this time, especially Shirley's which is focused on the idealistic Brynn who is determined to make a difference at a Dangerous Minds-esque school.

I loved the progression of the stories, and again the switching focus created lots of mini cliffhangers. The storylines ran concurrently which meant the reader only sees what is relevant. I did feel that the ending was a little rushed and I'd have liked to have seen the motivation and consequences behind some decisions, but all in all this was a great read.

Plot: 10/10; Characters: 10/10; Ending: 9/10; Enjoyment: 9/10

***********************************************************
This is a really uplifting book that is full of the Christmas spirit and I heartily recommend it.

Average plot: 9/10
Average characters: 10/10
Average ending: 8.5/10
Average enjoyment: 9.5/10
Cover: 9/10

Overall: 46/50

Shelf Candy Saturday (8)

Shelf Candy Saturday is an awesome weekly meme hosted by Five Alarm Book Reviews where each Saturday bloggers defy the saying "never judge a book by its cover" and showcase one that really catches their eye. Covers play a huge role in the books I choose so it's great to have the opportunity to showcase the pretties :)

My shelf candy for this week is Home for the Holidays by Lisa Plumley.

Jet set stylist Rachel loves her job and her life. But the good times come to a halt when Rachel learns that her best client has been sleeping with her boyfriend--a perk that's definitely not included in her services! Impulsively, Rachel gets her revenge--thanks to a hideous designer mashup of an awards show ensemble--but her satisfaction comes at too high a cost. Blackballed from the glamorous life forever, she heads home to the last place she ever thought she'd return, her snowy, tiny, totally UNsophisticated Midwestern home town. A Christmas fling might be just the thing to put the jingle back in her bells...

This cover is gorgeous and super cute! Not only does it have snow and snowflakes, it's sparkly as well. The sparkles aren't really clear on pictures but in person the book has a layer of glitter over the snowflakes, hearts, title and the tree scene at the very bottom. In addition to snow, I'm a sucker for anything sparkly so sparkly snow is brilliant for me.

I also love the cartoon look to the cover, especially as it's a lot more tempting than some of the standard photo-based cheesy covers that appear on contemporary romances. The cute snow couple and floating hearts let you know this is a romance, but without looking like something I'd feel uncomfortable buying in a store.

The contemporary pastel colours chosen give the book a modern feel which I really appreciate, and I love the flash of hot pink on the snowwoman's scarf and beret (not to mention the fact that there is a female snowperson in a hat and beret! Yay for snow equality lol!).

So what's your shelf candy this week?

The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore

Title: The Stupidest Angel
Author: Christopher Moore
Publisher: Orbit
ISBN: 978-1-84149-618-4
Pages: 243
Series: N/A
Type: Adult Humour
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

When young Joshua Barker sees Santa take a shovel to the head, he desperately prays for a Christmas miracle. Archangel Raziel has been assigned (okay well Michael was, but Raziel won it in a card game) to perform a Christmas miracle, but unfortunately for Josh Raziel doesn't have the brightest halo in the bunch. Before you can say 'Merry Christmas' Raziel had botched his mission and sent the residents of Pine Cove heading into Christmas chaos.

I've never read anything by Christopher Moore before, but this sounded so funny I had to pick up a copy. I'd heard Christopher Moore's writing described as a ruder Terry Pratchett, and having read this I definitely agree. The humour within this book is similar to Terry Pratchett in that it is sarcastic and quite dark at times, although Christopher Moore does take the jokes that little bit further. There is a note at the front of the book that sums up the writing style perfectly and reads: "If you're buying this book as a gift for your grandma or a kid, you should be aware that it contains cuss words ss well as tasteful descriptions of cannibalism and people in their forties having sex. Don't blame me. I told you."

In terms of the story itself, this is a great break from the usual saccharine Christmas fare (not that I don't enjoy that). IKEA obsessed zombies, talking fruit bats, bizarre experiments, dense angels and nutty retired actresses make for a hilarious read. Yes it's a little dark and disturbing at times, but sometimes black humour is exactly what you want.

Apparently several of the characters have appeared in Christopher Moore's other books, but I didn't feel like I'd really missed out on anything by not reading them. There is quite a wide cast of characters here, and I'm impressed that they were all quite well developed. However my favourite characters are Molly (a slightly nuts retired actress), Skinner (the dog) and Roberto (the talking fruit bat - who wears ray bans!)

One thing to note about this edition is that it is a UK version of The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror, Version 2.0 - which is basically the same as The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror just with a bonus chapter at the end showing the following Christmas in Pine Cove. I enjoyed the bonus chapter, and actually prefer the book ending with that to the original ending. There are also extras in the form of a brief Christmassy interview with the author and a sneak peek at The Portable Door.

All in all this is a dark and funny Christmas read, well worth picking up if you want a break from the 'oh so sweet' usual Christmas fare. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for some of Christopher Moore's other books.

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
Ending: 9/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Cover: 8/10

Overall: 44/50

Guest Blog (4)

My latest guest blog post has just been published over at the awesome E&K Family Book Review where I reviewed How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss. If you'd like to see what I thought, click here.

Top Ten Tuesday (14)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by the Broke and the Bookish where a new top ten list is posted each week. This week is: Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts (and to who...even if you won't actually give them!)

I was actually going to sit out this week seeing as the majority of people I've brought books to give as gifts know where my blog is, until I saw Mist's very clever post over at Bookaholics Book Club where she picked ten of her favourite books that she would be happy to give as gifts. My list is in the same spirit as hers and I've marked all the books as YA or Adult :)

1. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Definitely one of my favourite books of 2011, I really enjoyed this book! Written in Maggie Stiefvater's normal atmospheric style I quickly fell in love with the world and the characters. Plus creepy water horses aid an air of danger that I adored. (YA)

2. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
I tried reading this as a teen and couldn't get into it. When I tried again as an adult (after seeing the TV adaptation) I ended up totally hooked. It's an incredible world full of depth and ideal for any fantasy fan, or anyone who would love luggage that walks by itself. (Adult)

3. Tomorrow When the War Began by John Mardsen
This isn't my usual type of book but I picked it up after seeing the movie and realising I'd read it a few years earlier. It tells the story of a group of Australian teens who come home from camping in the outback to find their country invaded. Action packed and great for pretty much anyone. (YA)

4. Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
This was the first fantasy novel I read and liked. I adored Yelena and ended up ordering the rest of the trilogy and rationing this until they arrived. The story is action packed from the start and goes from strength to strength throughout. (Adult)

5. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher is one of the few male authors I read, and Harry Dresden is probably my favourite male protagonist. This book focuses on a wizard for hire who takes on a case that gets out of hand. Cleverly written with a believable world, this is a great read. (Adult)

6. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine
One of the most unique urban fantasies I've ever read, Ill Wind focuses on Wardens who can control the weather, earth or fire. The book starts right in the middle of the action and the pace doesn't let up throughout. The series is now complete at 9 books which is handy in a genre where some series go on forever. (Adult)

7. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong
My first urban fantasy and one that really sucked me into the genre. Elena is the only female werewolf in the world and she gets sucked back into the paranormal world when her pack needs her help. A great action packed read. (Adult)

8. Wither by Lauren DeStefano
I read this recently and thought it was brilliant (my review will be posted soon). It's one of my favourite dystopian novels and is set in a broken world where women die at 20 and men die at 25. Rhine is trying to escape her forced marriage and I was glued to the page throughout. (YA)

9. Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh
I love the whole Psy-Changeling series and, despite the cheesy cover, I like recommending this to people. There is an amazing depth of world building alongside the romance and the author manages to set up two distinct species of character with believable histories without info dumping. (Adult)

10. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The ultimate Christmas book that everyone should have read, at least in my opinion. I own two copies and I gave my niece her own copy last Christmas, despite the fact she was only a month old. I read it every year (and watch the movie) and I'm hoping to include my niece in the tradition as her Mum is not a Grinch fan. (Everyone!)

Teaser Tuesdays (15)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

My teaser:

"This is my gift to you."
"What," she sobbed, "breaking my heart?"

 

~ Page 224, Angels Everywhere by Debbie Macomber