100+ Reading Challenge Progress

So yay I'm a little more than a quarter of the way through my hundred book challenge! This really excites me because it's my first challenge on my pretty new-ish blog. I just wanted to check in with everyone else whose participating and see how everyones doing? I know I have yet to review a lot of the books on my list but I actually get 2 days off this week and will have plenty of time to start catching up ( I do apologize about my lax blogging it's Easter weekend in the bakeshop....more on that later). I am having so much fun with this challenge and I hope everyone else is as well. 100 BOOKS HERE I COME!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading The Chase by Clive Cussler. I was a little skeptical at first because a co-worker had loaned me this read. However; I'm growing more interested by the page. So without further ado here's my teaser:

"A terrifying wave of anxiety swept over her as she fought a losing battle. Her last barrier crumpled and along with it , her final grip on control."

~pg 197 The Chase by Clive Cussler

So far all I know on this book is that a detective is chasing down a notorious bank robber in the 1900's. I love a good mystery and although I'm only through page 60 I'm pretty intrigued . I'll have to let everyone know how this pan's out by my weekend off from work! I hope you enjoyed this little taste of whats to come. Let me know your thoughts, and as always let me know what your teaser is for the week!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Try Blog Hopping

I'm always looking for new ways to find fun and interesting blogs. Over at Crazy-For-Books they do a weekly blog hop which I discovered through Teens Read And Write's post. It's really awesome because each Link up shows what each blogger is interested in i.e YA, Sci-Fi etc. I think it's a great way to network and I definitely linked up and checked out a few great blogs. Check it out here!

LOL=Lots Of Love

The Boleyn Wife

Title: The Boleyn Wife

Author: Brandy Purdy
Reading level: All

Paperback: 320 pages

ISBN #: 9780758238443

Received From: contest @ Passages to the Past

Publisher: Kensington Books

Group Genre: Hit/Fic

Cover: A

Overall: A+

"Shy, plain Lady Jane Parker feels out of place in Henry VIII's courtly world ofglamour and intrigue--until she meets the handsome George Boleyn. Overjoyed when their fathers arrange a match, her dreams of a loving union are waylaid when she meets George's sister, Anne. For George is completely devoted to his sister, andcold and indifferent to his bride. As Anne acquires a wide circle of admirers, including King Henry, Jane's resentment grows. But if becoming Henry's queen makes Anne the most powerful woman in England, it also makes her highly vulnerable. And as Henry, desperate for a male heir, begins to tire of his mercurial wife, the stage is set for the ultimate betrayal...Encompassing the reigns of five of Henry's queens, THE BOLEYN WIFE is an unforgettable story of ambition, lust, and jealousy, of the power of love to change the course of history, and of the terrible price of revenge."

Jane Parker-Boleyn is a fascinating character in Tudor-esque England and very controversial as well. Most books paint her as an evil woman focusing on her testimony against her husband George Boleyn and sister-in-law Queen Anne Boleyn. However; few go into details of her life which catapulted her to this fate. Purdy's version of her life delves into all that makes her to become the immortalized, jealous wife!

I was thrilled when I heard about this novel finally someone is trying to set the record straight about Jane Parker. She was driven to madness by her uncle,her husband and the court itself. She was outcasted from the beginning and treated like a third wheel. In this book she is shown for who I to believe she truly is.....someone looking through a window at life passing them by! Purdy does an amazing job capturing Parker's torment and anguish over not being one of the "popular" kids so to speak. An she shows us the depth of Jane's madness as it seeps in through 5 wives of Henry VII. You begin to understand how someone could go insane from the pressures on Jane's shoulders and you even pity the poor woman hopelessly in love with a husband who doesn't even care if she exists!

I loved this book and could not put it down once I started! Every line is suspenseful and foreboding to the later events of the book. And although it tells the tale through 5 of Henry's wives it doesn't seem rushed or hurried along. I felt drawn to Janes character wanting to fight for her, wanting to comfort the character as if she were my own sister! The author does a beautiful job of capturing a more realistic version of Jane Parker and for anyone who thought she got the wrong end of the stick this novel will cast some light on a woman only deemed a liar and a husband -killler!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Pride And Prejudice And Zombies: Dawn Of The Dreadfuls

Title: PPZ:Dawn Of The Dreadfuls
Author: Steve Hockensmith
Reading level: All
Paperback: 287 pages
ISBN #: 9781594744549
Received From: FSB Media
Publisher: Quirk Books
Group Genre: Fiction/Horror
Cover: A
Overall: B-

"Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls -- Journey Back to Regency England—Land of the Undead! Readers will witness the birth of a heroine in Dawn of the Dreadfuls—a thrilling prequel set four years before the horrific events of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. As our story opens, the Bennet sisters are enjoying a peaceful life in the English country side. They idle away the days reading, gardening, and daydreaming about future husbands—until a funeral at the local parish goes strangely and horribly awry. Suddenly corpses are springing from the soft earth—and only one family can stop them. As the bodies pile up, we watch Elizabeth Bennet evolve from a naive young teenager into a savage slayer of the undead. Along the way, two men vie for her affections: Master Hawksworth is a powerful warrior who trains her to kill, while thoughtful Dr. Keckilpenny seeks to conquer the walking dead using science instead of strength. Will either man win the prize of Elizabeth's heart? Or will their hearts be feasted upon by hordes of marauding zombies? Complete with romance, action, comedy, and an army of shambling corpses, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls will have Jane Austen rolling in her grave—and just might inspire her to crawl out of it!"

Hilarious, gory, and action packed this is definitely not your average Pride And Prejudice sequel. I found the book charmingly amusing although if your a die-hard Jane Austen fan this one may not be for you. Although the characters are still present they hardly relate to the original counterparts. And I know the author didn't have a prequel to work from as he did in his first novel using Pride And Prejudice as the backbone for P&P&Z; however, I expected this novel to be just as great. The gore doesn't disappoint though and it still makes me giggle to think of Elizabeth as a ninja-like, sword wielding zombie killer. ( I kinda pictured Elizabeth as a 19th century Buffy the Vampire er...Zombie slayer) And I also enjoyed the pictures in the book that add to the amusement factor( if you can't picture whats occuring these will definitely give you a hilarious visual).But I really think Hockensmith's first take on Zombies in the 19th century was by far the better novel. P&P&Z imitated the original Austen writings even with the addition of zombies. So if your looking for quick, fun read definitely check out this spin-off but I suggest not trying to compare it to the original classic!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading To Ruin A Queen by Fiona Buckley. As most know I'm a huge fan of historical fiction/mystery. And Ms. Buckley's Ursula Blanchard series is one of the best I've read about Elizabethan England. So here's this weeks teaser:

"Once more the study was occupied, but not, this time by a pair of lovers. Only one person lay there on the floor, a rug pushed awry under his twisted body."

~pg. 117 To Ruin A Queen by Fiona Buckley

So far this book has it all historical facts, mystery, suspense, ghosts, and murders. I've read two other books in this series thus far and have not been disappointed. I will be posting my review shortly but if your as curious as I, I encourage you to try this series. That's my teaser hope your intrigued, let me know yours for the week!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Contest over at "Bloody Bookaholics"

So one of my favorite blogs is hosting an Amazing giveaway! Taschima over at Bloody Bookaholics is initially giving away to 7 winners 28 books. And taking a cue from Teens Read and Write, she'll be adding more books and more winners as her followers increase. (Not that you need a reason to follow because her blog is fantastic) Shes got a fabulous assortment of books so far and has pics up to make your mouth water. To check out more of the details on the contest or to enter click here to check out her site!

LOL=Lots of Love

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading The Alexandrian Link by Steve Berry. It's a roller coaster of a ride and I'm just going ovver the first hill. Lots of suspense and action here in this historical mystery! And it all surrounds the lost Library of Alexandria (or is it really lost?). But enough intro here's my teaser:

"It is a mystery, but visit the chapel beside Tejo, in Bethlehem, dedicated to our patron saint. Begin the journey in the shadows and complete it in the light,where a retreating star finds a rose, pierces a wooden cross, and converts
silver to gold."

~pg 260 The Alexandrian Link by Steve Berry

Confusing isn't it? Well this is just one of the riddles our heroes have to solve to find the lost library before the bad guys do. This book is rich with the what ifs? If your a Da Vinci code fan you'll love Berry's work mixing history and mystery you won't be disappointed. Well that's my teaser hope your intrigued and puzzled! Let me know yours for the week and your thoughts. Many thanks!

LOL=Lots Of Love

My Dearest Mr. Darcy

Title: My Dearest Mr. Darcy
Author: Sharon Lathan
Reading level: Adult
Paperback: 333 pages
ISBN #: 9781402217425
Received From: won through a contest
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Group Genre: Romance/Fiction
Cover: B
Overall: A+

"Darcy is more deeply in love with his wife than ever. As the golden summerdraws to a close and the Darcys look ahead to the end of their first year of marriage, Mr. Darcy could never have imagined his love could grow even deeper with the passage of time.Lizzy is full of surprises. She is unpredictable and lively, pulling Darcy out of his stern and serious demeanor with her teasing and temptation. Looking ahead and planning for celebrations and life events large and small, Lizzy can still catch Darcy unawares when he least expects it.But surprising events force the Darcys to weather absence and illness, and to discover whether they can find a way to build a bond of everlasting love and desire. The romance and bewitchment is never-ending..."

This is the third installment to Lathans Darcy Trilogy. And don't worry if you haven't read up to this point (although I recommend you do) because Dr. George Darcy gives a full summary of whats happened thus far at the beginning of the novel. Once again we find our lovers in the throws of what else but love. However; I think this novel may be my favorite so far because it shows so much more than their love.

My Dearest Mr. Darcy is packed with love, histories behind beloved characters and even some scandals to boot. I couldn't help but once again fall right back into Pemberly and become part of the family once more. I believe its the authors writing style but you feel a sense of belonging to the Darcy's world that I haven't experienced in other Pride & Prejudice sequels. And once again I give a great deal of credit to the strong characters who by themselves could stand alone and are furthermore enhanced through Lathans third book. I truly relished the emergence of George as a main character he adds life and knowledge to the novel. Not to mention he's a little bit of a comedian and I couldn't help but smile if he were on the page I was reading. Confession time: I think although I love Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam; George is my new favorite and I wish he were my uncle!

I've enjoyed my time with the Darcy's through the authors eyes immensely. It seems sad to know I have to wait for the next book to be released. This trilogy made me remember the first time I read Pride and Prejudice and renewed my love for all things Darcy. And I really enjoyed the way the author keeps the books authentic and realistic. She truly does a magnificent job capturing Austen's beloved characters and I can't wait to read what's next for my favorite couple!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Movie You've Got To Check Out: Alice In Wonderland

So in case you've been living under a rock for the past couple of months you've probably seen the trailer for Disney Alice In Wonderland. But if you have fallen in a rabbit hole you can check out the trailer here! I just saw the movie tonight and it was AMAZING!

And I know I'm not the most impartial person (as I work for Disney) but Tim Burton really hit a home run with this movie. Alice follows the style of the classic by Lewis Carroll but tells it's own story in a sequel form. I must admit I was a little skeptical going to see the movie at first, since I didn't like Burton's remake of Willy Wonka but I was pleasantly pleased with what he's done with Alice! Breathtaking and stunning Alice is a must see movie. My view on the movie is go see it or "off with your head"! Let me know if you've seen the movie and your thoughts on the new Alice!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Alice In Wonderland And Philosophy

Title: Alice In Wonderland And Philosophy
Editor: William Irwin
Reading level: Late Teen-Adult

Paperback: 210 pages

ISBN #: 9780470558362

Received From: FSB Associates

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Group Genre: philosophy/non-fiction

Cover: A

Overall: A-

"Alices Adventures in Wonderland has fascinated children and adults alike for generations. Why does Lewis Carroll introduce us to such oddities as blue caterpillars who smoke hookahs, cats whose grins remain after their heads have faded away,and a White Queen who lives backwards and remembers forwards? Is it all just nonsense? Was Carroll under the influence? This book probes the deeper underlying meaning in the Alice books, and reveals a world rich with philosophical life lessons. Tapping into some of the greatest philosophical minds that ever lived Aristotle, Hume, Hobbes, and Nietzsche Alice in Wonderland and Philosophy explores life s ultimate questions through the eyes of perhaps the most endearing heroine in all of literature. "

When I received the offer to review this book I was ecstatic for two reasons. One Alice In Wonderland is one of my all time favorite books. Number two with the movie coming out I figured what a great companion it would make!

The book itself takes the complex world Alice has fallen into and dissects the philosophy behind all the curious things that are occurring. At times the book was a little dry but it got me to question Carroll's writing. (As most of you I assumed he was on some good drugs or something) But after reading the philosophy (possibly) behind the novel I'm amazed at the connotations placed throughout the original! Afterwards I just had to pick up my copy of Alice and reread with a new insight I didn't have before. It was a real eyeopener and I never would have realized this fairytale could deal with so many of life's issues! I went to see the movie today (more on that later) and once again felt I had a better understanding of the world of Wonderland.

Overall I really enjoyed this book it's one that will make you think definitely! The book itself can drag at points which is why I suggest a little older audience. But if your a scholar or just curious, and curiouser about Ms. Alice definitely give this book a try!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading The Secret Diary Of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell. This teaser is a flashback as Elizabeth finds her mothers lost journal and is reading her mothers story. So here's my hit/fic teaser of the week:

"In fields, in muddy bogs her trances came, they said. She'd fall upon her knees and visions -Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, the souls who wandered there - were shown to her."

~pg 83 The Secret Diary Of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell

I haven't read this far yet as I'm recovering from vertigo and couldn't read for 5 days. But now I have so many questions and can't wait to finish the book. But I'll be taking it slow ugggh! Don't you hate getting sick. But let me know your teasers for the week!

LOL=Lots Of Love

Vertigo is Not Just a U2 song!!

Hey everyone sorry for being MIA this week! I' ve been in and out of the doctors office and hospital. Good News! I'm okay just a very bad ear infection( causing vertigo and loss of sight). But anything with letters was making me dizzy. So I had to lay off the reading and blogging. But I still have a few reviews to post, and will hopefully be my full self in a couple days! When I'm back to normal heres what I'll have for you guys:
~review of My Dearest Mr. Darcy
~review of Alice In Wonderland And Philosophy
~review of Pride And Prejudice And Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls

LOL=Lots Of Love

Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberly

Title: Loving Mr. Darcy

Author: Sharon Lathan

Reading level: Adult
Paperback: 425 pages
ISBN #: 9781402217418
Received From: won through contest
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Group Genre: Fiction/Romance
Cover: A-
Overall: A

"Darcy and Lizzy venture away from Pemberley to journey through England, finding friends, relatives, fun, love, and an even deeper and more sacred bond along the way. Having embarked on the greatest adventure of all, marriage and the start of a new life together, now the Darcys take the reader on a journey through a time of prosperity, enjoyment, and security. They experience all the adventures of travel, with friends and relatives providing both companionship and complications, and with fun as their focus. The sights and sounds, tastes and flavors of Regency England come alive. Through it all, Darcy and Lizzy continue to build a marriage filled with romance, sensuality, and the beauty of a deep, abiding love."

So cute, fun and heartwarming to see the Darcy's love for each other grow exponentially! In Lathans second book the Darcy's journey away from Pemberly to Darcy House their London Home where love, conflict, and chaos ensues. I love getting to know the Darcy's through the authors writings. It seems with each book they become a more cherished old friend.

I was happy to see the original and some of the old characters resurface. (As we all know and love Lady Caroline De Bourgh haha). But the real gems were getting to know Lady Anne (Catherine's ill daughter), Mary, Georgiana and Lydia's ex-right hand Kitty a little better. And of course meeting Raja and Fitzwilliams Uncle George was a delightful humorous episode in itself. You can't help but to fall in love with these characters all over again.

And once again I was flabbergasted as Sharon continually mixes the classic P&P, the 2005 movie, and historical significance into a novel that the reader can relate to today. Its seems to me I'm addicted to this series and the only prescription is ......more Darcy's.

LOL=Lots Of Love

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. This week I'm reading My Dearest Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan ( who consequently is my author of the month). I'm almost done so look for a review from me in a few days. But for now here's my teaser:

"No answer was forthcoming; in fact, she did not move. Alarm bells began to toll in his fogged mind and with a jolt he was wide awake."

~pg. 275 My Dearest Mr. Darcy by Sharon Lathan

Coincidentally this is exactly where I left off in the book. This is the authors third installment and I can't wait for the fourth to be released. I'm on pins and needles here! But I've got to get back to my book because I just have to find out what happens after these two sentences.

LOL=Lots Of Love

Author of the Month: Sharon Lathan

I've just recently discovered Sharon Lathan's Darcy Trilogy after winning the books over on Lucy's blog Enchanted By Josephine. And I have to say I'm hooked but before I go on and on let me give you a little author bio first:

Sharon Lathan is a native Californian currently residing amid corn, cotton, and cows in the sunny San Joaquin Valley. She divides her time as homemaker nurturing a husband and two children, plus the cat, dog, and fish; while also working as a Registered Nurse in a Neonatal ICU. Somewhere in there she finds time to write!

I've read her first two books thus far and am currently diving through the pages of My Dearest Mr. Darcy. I love the way she writes putting you in the story fully immersed in all things Darcy. Also she stick close to the original Pride And Prejudice which really struck a cord with me as it is one of or maybe my favorite book (shhhh! don't tell my bookshelf) of all time. In my personal opinion I think Lathans Darcy trilogy is one of the best sequels or spinoffs of P&P I've read to date. And I'm so excited because the trilogy will continue with Romancing Mr. Darcy, it will be released on October 1, 2010. If your still not fully convinced check out my reviews! And if you just need more on Sharon Lathan you can check out her webpage here!

LOL=Lots Of Love