Blogging/Reading Challenges for 2014

I really want to reach out into the blogging community and meet people - there's some truly fabulous folks reviewing books!

So, part of my effort is going to be to join some of the ongoing blog challenges!  

First up:

The 2014 Rewind Challenge !

This is hosted by Coffee Bean Bookshelf, a blog I just recently discovered and really enjoy! I love Bree's voice, and I'll definitely be following her blog in the future. I also love some fo the features she has going, and they may inspire some new features here! 

Anyways, the 2014 Rewind Challenge is all about clearing out some of your TBR shelf.

I have huge TBR shelves - not including the books in my husband's collection that I want to pick up, I'm sitting at about 75 physical books, and maybe another 75 ebooks, not including review copies.  

I'd like to power through 40 of these books already sitting on my shelves this year - 20 from each pile would be fantastic!

Second:

2014 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge

Hosted by Bookmark to Blog, I like the interpretative quality of this one. Every month there's a new set of keywords to choose from, and you need to read a book with one of those words in the title. The twist is that you have a bit of leeway - a book with the word 'cake' in the title would be okay for the keyword food. I'll be curious to see what other people come up, and to see if there's any overlap or connection between what everyone selects as their book that month.

January's words are "Angel, Secret, Clock, Black, Day, Wild" and I think have a "Secrets" book coming up later this month, so I've already got a plan for this month!  

Are you participating in either of these challenges? What are your goals/book for January? Which other challenges should I be joining? Do you have a favourite?

Hatshepsut's Collar by A.W. Exley

The Basics:.
Hatshepsut's Collar by A.W. Exley
Curiosity Quills
Book Two in the Artifact Hunters series
Steampunk romance
Published December 15, 2013

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

An ancient Egyptian artifact is driving Queen Victoria insane, and that's not top of Cara Devon's growing list of problems.

Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is a man of numerous secrets, but there is one in particular that threatens his fledgling relationship with Cara. Stunned by Nate's revelation, and before she can absorb the ramifications of his actions, he is arrested, charged with treason and imprisoned in the grim Tower of London. He stole something the mad queen wants, and only has days to deliver, before his date with the executioner.

Although sorely tempted, Cara can't let him die on Tower Green, not when their connection means she would share his fate.

Only together can Cara and Nate figure out how to wrestle Hatshepsut's Collar from around the queen's neck, before she plunges Britain into a world war. The search for answers sends Cara to the opulent Winter Palace of St Petersburg and the frozen depths of Siberia, with every step shadowed by an enemy with his own dark plans.

Why I picked up this book:

I loved the first one - and reviewed it a few weeks ago. I was thrilled to receive a copy of the second book.

My thoughts:

An amazing sequel, Hatshepsut's Collar exceeded my expectations. Exley writes in her goodreads.com review of the book that "it is easy to fall in love with someone, but then you have to figure out how to live with all their little quirks, and whatever they have buried in the basement". This is definitely an accurate description of the romance portion of this novel, which is one part of the book. The other part deals with the dangers wrought by Hatshepsut's collar.

I think the romance is fantastic - it hit all the notes I wanted. Nate is a very protective, strong-willed criminal lord used to getting his own way. Cara's a wild soul, embracing her freedom after a horrific childhood experience, unwilling to be caged for any reason, even her own protection. Now, I've read a few comments that suggested that there's a disturbing, overly controlling aspect to the relationship, that Cara has no choice but to bend because of the circumstances. My experience of the book was definitely *not that.* Cara is presented as a supremely capable woman who could escape from Nate if she so desired (and there are many points in the book when he reflects on her ability to slip away). It never even occurred to me while reading that there was anything unequal about the relationship, and I think it's a disservice to Cara's character to think that she can't eke out whatever life she desires. I love these two together - very strong, clearly defined characters who need to cope with each other's rough edges.

I enjoyed the sprinkling of Nate's perspective alongside Cara's. Often in these urban fantasy-type books we don't get the hero's thoughts and that can make them seem more foreboding, let's say, than intended. Nate's inner struggle was satisfying, and there's a moment at the end when everything comes to a head that's just... perfect. It's not the obvious moment, but... yeah.

The collar plot is also a good one (and really the driving force of the book, even though I've fixated on the romance). There were some twists and turns that seemed obvious to me, but that didn't reduce my enjoyment of the novel at all. I like the way that mythology and fantasy are woven into the storyline. There's a ton of action in this book, with the appropriate gizmos and gadgetry. I think the action component is stronger, and there's less mystery, when compared to the first book. I wanted to soak this book up more quickly than I was physically able.

The story ends with new opportunities and opens things up for many sequels, which I wholeheartedly approve of. I'm looking forward to Cara and Nate's numerous adventures over the years to come!

Also: I am on board with a romance for Loki. Just saying.

Bottom line:

I enthusiastically recommend this novel - get the first one, Nefertiti's Heart to start!  It's an excellent book as well, and you don't want to shortchange yourself! 

5 stars
For fans of steampunk, romance, intrigue, Nefertiti's Heart (Book One in the series).

Top Ten Tuesday - 2014 Resolutions

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme from The Broke and the Bookish in which they post a book-related top ten every - you guessed it! - Tuesday.

This week the theme is Top Ten Goals/Resolutions for 2014.

I've chosen to focus on reading/blog related goals, though I'll toss in a few non-book ones:

1. Read 150 books. I've signed up for the 50 Book Pledge so you can follow my progress here.

2. Research upcoming titles so I can be more thoughtful about selecting books for review. I've avoided this in the past because I tend to want every book I read about, but as I review more and more, I'd like to think that I'm becoming more discerning. An increased awareness of what's coming onto the market will, I think, improve my ability to select and review books overall.

3. Read at least three books every month just for me. It's easy to get bogged down by books I've committed to reviewing for the blog. 

4. Expand my blog's purview to include a regular feature, as well as participating in at least one feature hosted by another blog every week. I want to post an opinion piece, possibly on a bi-weekly basis, as well as participating in Top Ten Tuesdays, Stacking the Shelves and whatever else I discover that interests me.

5. Finalize and update my blog's graphics. I do have someone working on a banner but there's been a delay. Time to either go a different route or try to push past the delay.

6. Visit at least five new blogs each week (in addition to those visited as part of the above mentioned link up feature). I usually do this, but I'd like to be more systematic, take notes on what I find that I like or don't, and learn as much as I can about blogging.

7. Increase overall quality of reviews - take more notes while reading, more careful editing, more thoughtful thoughts. 

8. Create an action plan for promoting my blog to increase my number of followers and make my blog more attractive to sources of review copies. Because I don't host author interviews or giveaways which I imagine are generally a good way to draw in new and repeated readers, I need to think carefully about what else I can do.

And two that are not blog/reading related:

9. Increase my level of physical activity so that my overall health will improve. 

10. Be more conscious about organizing and maintaining my home.

What are your resolutions? Any advice for me about achieving mine?

The Sinners Club by Kate Pearce

The Basics:
The Sinners Club by Kate Pearce
Kensington Books
Book 1 in The Sinners' Club
Erotica
Published December 31, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

It's known as the Sinners Club. . .a private gentlemen's club whose members have mysterious pasts and secret fantasies too hot to reveal. . .

Total Pleasure

Unsure of his reception, Jack Lennox adopts the guise of his own secretary upon returning to his ancestral home to claim his father's earldom. When he arrives, he's stunned to discover the previous earl's lovely young widow, a woman of beguiling curves and sensual smiles, warming the bed. . .

Absolute Surrender

Mary Lennox is determined to remain in Pinchbeck Hall and a mere secretary isn't going to tell her otherwise. But Jack Smith is a man of many talents and soon she's succumbing to his erotic games of pleasure. Only Mary may have underestimated the intensity of her wanton longings and the depths of Jack's dark desires. . .

Why I picked up this book:

I was looking for a good erotic novel.

My thoughts:

First, the blurb is misleading. There are three main characters in this novel and while Jack and Mary are the traditional romantic pairing, Mary's brother Simon also figures significantly. I quite enjoyed it, but obviously not every reader will. 

All three of these characters are very sexual beings, and all three participate in various sex scenes together, in different combinations. A good portion of this novel features M/M sex, and an open mind for other kinks will be useful. I found all of the erotic scenes to be very well-written - hot, sexy and inventive. There's a lot of variety, aided in part by the multiple partners and potential combinations, but also because Mary, Simon and Jack are all quite experienced. It lived up to its genre expectations and then some!

Because of all the secrets the three characters hold, it's hard to talk about the plot without giving anything away. It's definitely a lot of back and forth - I know what lie you've told now and I'm angry about it, and then you'll apologize for it, and so on as each layer of the lying onion is peeled back.  I did appreciate that there's all this mystery and such going on, it made the book much more than the sum of its erotic parts.

In general, the book was solidly written. However, I found scene transitions a little jarring at times. Otherwise, the characters were all clearly defined and the plot was neatly laid out though it followed a certain repetitive rhythm. I enjoyed this book.

Bottom line:

The sex is good, and while it does have quite a decent story underpinning all the sex, parts of the plot are a bit repetitive. Be conscious that the book isn't just about Mary and Jack's romance, but also about Simon and Jack, and the three of them together. Pick it up for the heat or if you're already a fan of Pearce.

4 stars
For fans of m/m and menage erotica, regency erotica, Kate Pearce's previous books.

Stacking the Shelves - January 4th, 2014 Edition

Stacking the Shelves is an awesome meme hosted by Tynga's Review.

I didn't intend to acquire anything this past week because of Christmas and having so much on my plate already. 

Now, picture this: a knock on my door, which I open quickly to see the UPS guy hoofing it back to his van. I discover a box leaning against the screen door, and wonder whatever it could be. I don't recall ordering anything else in the post-Christmas sales. 

AH HA!
Books! Review copies of books! My husband came rushing to see what was the matter to find me jumping about with three gorgeous books clutched in my hand:

I'm almost finished the AW Exley book already - so good! I'll have reviews up for all of these in the next couple weeks.

Then I bought, on sale with some Christmas gift money:

This one felt a bit like caving to peer pressure - it seems to be everywhere, promoted as a mainstream bestseller. Curiosity finally won me over.

What did you pick up this week?  Have you read any of the books I grabbed? What'd you think of them?  Is there something I should have picked up but didn't?

Blindsided by Fern Michaels

The Basics:
Blindsided by Fern Michaels
Zebra
Book 22 of the Sisterhood series
Mystery, Suspense
Published Dec 31, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb:

Ladies On Fire
Myra Rutledge isn't ready to mothball the Sisterhood just yet. When Maggie Spitzer, former editor-in-chief of the Post and an honorary member of the Sisterhood, arrives with a new mission in mind, the Vigilantes are soon gathering in their war room once more. While catching up on each other's lives, they plan a brilliant campaign against a duo of corrupt judges running a moneymaking racket that sends young offenders to brutal boot camps, often on trumped-up charges. Their enemies are powerful and ruthless, but the Sisterhood have their own formidable allies--including former President Martine Connor. Once their scheme takes off, the guilty won't know what hit them. . .

My thoughts:

This book literally wasn't what I thought it was - the blurb text for the review copy I requested apparently was mixed with a different book.

Determined to do the book right, I still read it. Unfortunately, the author's style of writing didn't agree with me. 

So this is a sort of women's vigilante justice league type book. The Sisterhood is a collection of powerful, intelligent, go-getter women ranging from a former president, a retired Federal judge to an independently wealthy financier of operations and a reporter.  There's many characters in the Sisterhood itself to keep track of and I imagine that by book 22, which Blindsided apparently is, the average reader has had plenty of time to learn all of their backgrounds and personal quirks. On the plus side, there's some serious female empowerment here as the women are clearly the show while their men provide support. I appreciated the agency the women enjoyed and exercised.

This book focuses on a case in which twin judges have been abusing their power for financial gain. They've got the entire town of Baywater under their thumbs, sending off anyone guilty of a crime to rehabilitation camps located on the judges' vast properties. 

Unfortunately, the first half of the book is mostly about planning how to investigate Maggie's hunch about these two women, with very little actual action. Perhaps logical for them to come together with a solid plan (much was made of Myra's husband Charles putting together 'Legends' (covers?) for the people who would be their women and men on the ground in Baywater), said plan is never entirely clearly laid out for the reader. Instead, lots of potential ideas are thrown out, half-formed back-ups or theoreticals that are always cautioned by the characters as being simply that. I found it all a bit boring, though I imagine a fan of the series would get more out of it because they'd have an attachment to these characters already in place, as well as expectations about how all this planning would turn out.

I also had no great sense of urgency towards the case that the women were investigating. It seemed obvious that the judges were corrupt, it seemed clear that Sisterhood was far more powerful and well-connected than the twins. If there were hints early on that it was going to be more complicated than simply deciding how to mete out justice than I missed them completely.

The other problem I had was with the dialogue. It all felt a little stilted to me. There was great inner dialogue - much time is spent with Pearl, the former judge who operates an underground railroad for women and children in need, as she works to lose the agents who have been assigned to watch her (for criminal wrongdoing - I was very confused about why this stakeout was happening). Her fretting and pondering and general woolgathering was quite well-written and suited to the character and situation. I enjoyed that. Unfortunately, when everyone started talking, they felt overly formal or long winded, explaining things to each other that seemed unnecessary. In general, I wasn't impressed by the dialogue.

Now, when I break it down, I think some of my problems can be associated with being a latecomer to the series. Traditionally, I would not recommend leaping into a series at book 22 - and I take full responsibility for those problems. Some of the plot stuff, and definitely my inability to really bond with the characters I can chalk up to this. But I think the dialogue and the pacing I can fairly attribute to the book itself. Though I felt it was not a poorly written book, it also didn't engage me.  

Bottom line:

This book was simply not for me. I imagine that a fan of the series might enjoy it, though I'd caution about the pacing issues (I imagine you're accustomed to the dialogue by now if you're a fan!). If you've never read a Sisterhood book before, I'd suggest starting earlier in the series.  

2.5 stars 
For fans of Fern Michaels and the Sisterhood series.

A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway

The Basics:
A Study in Ashes by Emma Jane Holloway
Del Ray
Book Three in The Baskerville Affair trilogy
Steampunk, Romance, Fantasy
Published December 31, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE SERIES MAY INADVERTENTLY FOLLOW!

Blurb:

As part of her devil’s bargain with the industrial steam barons, Evelina Cooper is finally enrolled in the Ladies’ College of London. However, she’s attending as the Gold King’s pet magician, handcuffed and forbidden contact with even her closest relation, the detective Sherlock Holmes.

But Evelina’s problems are only part of a larger war. The Baskerville affair is finally coming to light, and the rebels are making their move to wrest power from the barons and restore it to Queen Victoria. Missing heirs and nightmare hounds are the order of the day—or at least that’s what Dr. Watson is telling the press.

But their plans are doomed unless Evelina escapes to unite her magic with the rebels’ machines—and even then her powers aren’t what they used to be. A sorcerer has awakened a dark hunger in Evelina’s soul, and only he can keep her from endangering them all. The only problem is . . . he’s dead.

Why I picked up this book:

I love Sherlock Holmes and I loved the cover of this book - the colour scheme, the gorgeous young woman who is *fully clothed*!

My thoughts:

Wow, wow, wow. Magic, machines, mystery, politics, revolution, romance - this is book is phenomenal. It's packed full of all this amazing stuff. There's complex social and political maneuverings that held me in thrall as I raced to find out the fate of the characters I loved, the steam barons and the cast of minor characters that made this world so lush.

I wish I'd read this about a month earlier so I could have bought the first two books in the series for a number of people on my Christmas shopping list.

I love Sherlock Holmes adaptations, and by the blurb, I expected this to be a sort of YA title involving his niece with Holmes cameos. It is so, so much more. There's a dozen or more characters who offer up perspectives as we race to the climax of the Baskerville Affair.

Evelina Cooper is our primary perspective, and at the heart of the tale. Holmes' niece, she's  of the Blood - able to tap into magic. Her training with the sorceror Magnus has left her distrustful of her own abilities, and afraid of the dark powers he taught her to manipulate.

I didn't read either of the first two books in the series - I will definitely pick up the trilogy as a set! Though clearly a *lot* had happened in those two books, this third book does an excellent job of getting the reader up to speed. I never felt like I was out of the loop because I'd skipped the first two books (again, I still want to read them, because this book was so good).

Everyone, most especially Evelina, is dealing with the consequences of actions in earlier books. Her interactions with the Gold King - one of the most powerful of the steam barons - have left her trapped in an agreement that made *me* feel claustrophobic for her. I loved the sense of continuity and that decisions made in earlier books were still haunting these characters, even while new decisions and actions constantly changed the dynamics of the story and the flow of events.

I was able to enjoy A Study of Ashes superficially for the action, adventure and romance, but also on a deeper level for the secrets, backstabbing and manipulation. I loved how everything fit together.

I was extremely satisfied with the end of the novel. There's lots of threads that the author can pull on to start a new trilogy if she so desires, but I still had that sense of resolution. I didn't feel cheated by any shortcuts to finish the book (a common problem for trilogies, I find) nor did I feel like any major questions related to the main thrust of this book were left unanswered.


Bottom line:
I laughed, I cried, I cheered. A Study of Ashes is an amazing book, easily making my top ten for 2013. Read this one.

5 stars
For fans of steampunk, magic and machines, mysteries, political maneuvering, revolution, good books!