It's Monday! What am I Reading this Week?

Last week sucked for me and my TBR stack! Trent got sick and then I got ill. So I was exhausted and distracted! I finished ONE book! That's it!

I took part in the Bout of Books read-a-thon, but didn't get much done! So yeah, if I want to reach my goal I need to buckle down and read! So this week Oct. 31st-6th, I'm going to have my own self imposed Read-a-thon!

I aim to read at LEAST 3 books by next weekend! I know that's a big (for me) goal but I will do my best!

Also I want to catch up on the Anna Karenina read-a-long! It's a LOT to catch up on but I want to do it! I was really enjoying the book until I got distracted by life stuff! :(


So here's my stack this week:

• Anna Karenina
• Cheat River Three-Scott Baker Sweeney
• The Night Eternal
• God's Eye-A.J. Scudiere

Now if I get those read (big IF)

• Before I Fall
• Frost Moon
• Blood Rock

Soo..wish me luck! I'll need it! 

The Sunday Salon

So it's almost November..yay! November is a month of Birthdays for me, Hubby's is the 1st, mine is the 11th, and my sister's is the 18th! Then of course there is Thanksgiving! It's going to be very busy! I'm hoping for a much better reading month! October started out with lots of hope for a lot of books read, but alas, it did not come to be. I tanked. BIG TIME!

 

Boo on you October! Boo to you Sir!

I had too many distractions this month. Work and adjusting to that, my son getting sick, and basically just me being exhausted a LOT. So yeah, my goals went unmet. I hate that. :(

I am hopeful for a better month in November! I really want to hit my goal of  110 books in 2011 so I'll have to put the pedal to the metal! Rawr! 

Review: Pyxis

Two worlds.... One 16-year-old girl must learn to protect them both. The nightmares haunting Corinne and her friend Mason hint at a universe that exists beyond the one they know. Her destiny is to protect a weakness between the two worlds, but the person who was supposed to teach her how is dead. As Corinne and Mason search for answers, she tries to ignore the sparks igniting between them, but can't deny she feels safe only when he's nearby. Will they find help before their nightmares break free?

My Review: 

I had anxiously awaited my copy of Pyxis for what seemed like an eternity! K.C. Neal kindly put me on the list for reviewers and I was delighted to be able to get the chance to read this. I really love Corinne and Mason. I cannot wait to see how their relationship grows from here. I do like the chemistry between them. It doesn't come out of left field or anything like that. They have history. It's not a "their eyes met across the room and there were sparks...it was instant true love" kind of relationship. They know each other, like each other, and that grows into a romance. Perfecto!

I really liked the fact that the Pyxis isn't clearly explained. I think that adds to the mystery and intrigue. That is a plus for me because I hate it when everything is just dumped on my lap right away. It kind of keeps me from wanting to read more! So on this note, K.C. Neal got it very right. I want to keep reading and to see what happens.

The supporting cast of characters are all individuals. They don't blend into the background and fade out when the main characters step in. Ang is awesome! She's definitely a friend I'd like to have around. She's got Corinne's back. She's solid and someone Corinne seems to need to maintain balance.

Sophie and her "groupies" are pretty much annoying as they should be. Sophie is the Queen B and she proves it time and time again. Although, I have a feeling there is more to her then we know yet. I think in the next book we'll see some different developments come to light. I cannot wait! I hope that she can become a redeemable person.

So all in all, it's an excellent start to a series!

Quick Review: Shut Out

Book Details:
Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

My Review:
I won this book and am very happy that I did! I really enjoyed it, although I was a bit conflicted by the plot. The idea of high school kids going on a sex strike kind of weirds me out. I am not a prude nor do I have my head buried in the sand, I just was iffy about it. However, I pushed past those feelings and continued reading.

I do want to point out that it is FUN. It's am amazingly well written story and has very well drawn out characters! I enjoyed reading it and am glad that I did! I definitely like the way that Kody Keplinger writes! Shut Out is a breath of fresh air in YA!

Did I enjoy it? YES
Do I recommend it? YES!

Bout of Books Update Post *STICKY POST*

I'm going to use this post to update daily, instead of bogging you down with posts (ahem sorry about that with the last readathon!) I'm starting this when my son gets on the bus this morning (24th) so that should be around 7am CST.

10/24
Number of pages I’ve read today: a palty 15 pages, long story, but hopefully more done tomorrow
Total number of books I’ve read: 0
Book Titles: Clockwork Angel (started page 71/335)
Note: Catching up on my read-a-longs today! I fell behind last week! Also, I did not participate in the challenge for today. I'm not good with love triangles! LOL

10/25
Number of pages I’ve read today: only slightly better with 29 pages
Total number of books I’ve read: 0
Book Titles: Clockwork Angel (started page 100/335)
Note: No excuses, I just got distracted. I watched the Zombie Apocalypse show on the History channel instead of reading. :(
Challenge: Dream Cast
My Book: Allison Hewitt is Trapped

 Kristen Bell as Allison

Michelle Rodriguez as Renny

Anthony Stewart Head as Collin
There you have it folks! My attempt as casting a "book movie!"

10/26
Number of pages I’ve read today: 36
Total number of books I’ve read:0
Book Titles: Clockwork Angel (started page 136/335)

10/27
Number of pages I’ve read today: 54
Total number of books I’ve read:0
Book Titles: Clockwork Angel (started page 190/335)
Notes: My son has been home with me the last couple of days. He caught a tummy bug from school! I'm surprised I've read as much as I did! 

10/28
Number of pages I’ve read today: 74
Total number of books I’ve read: 0
Books: Clockwork Angel (started page 264/335)

10/29
Number of pages I’ve read today: 74
Total number of books I’ve read: 1
Book Titles: Clockwork Angel (started page 264/335)

End Totals:

Total Pages:  264

Total Books:  1

Signing Up for Bout of Books

Yes, my children, I have what is called by "professionals" as an "addiction" to readathons! I cannot deny that I do sign up for almost every one I come across! I love them! I look forward to them with giddy glee! So when I saw that this one was coming up I said...."Dewey's Reading Hangover be Damned! I'm joining up!" So here I be! Making my post o' intent!

So this one will go from 12:01am 10/24 through 11:59 pm 10/30 my time (which is CST) and yeah..rock on party peeps! 


This 'thon is using the hashtag #boutofbooks  so look for me spazzing out on the big T! (@lexley)


So...what will I try to read? Good question! I dunno...yet! I hope to get about 3 books finished though!

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 8pm-12am (CST)

14th Update:

Feelings: Getting a bit frazzled, but still reading. Going to stop the hourly updates now and just focus on the reading. I'll post this at midnight and start posting in four hour chunks from then on.
Book: The Night Eternal
Pages Read: 20/371
Time Reading: 45 minutes
Food Stuffs: energy drink and CHOCOLOATE
Challenges:
 Feed Me Seymour
End Results:
Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com

15th Update:

Feelings:  sleepy now
Book: The Night Eternal
Pages Read: 41/371
Time Reading: 55minutes
Food Stuffs: chinese foods!
Challenges:
none
End Results: I think I may be fading a little bit. Im definitely losing steam.
Blogs Visited:

16th Update
Feelings: Getting very sleepy right about now.
Book: The Night Eternal
Pages Read: /371
Time Reading: NOTHING I Went all off course and watched some tv
Time Socializing:
Food Stuffs:
Challenges:
End Results: I am not doing well at all. I am very tired and thinking I am throwing in the towel! :(
Blogs Visited:

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 7pm-8pm (CST)

13th Update:

Feelings: Pretty happy! Still feeling pretty energetic!
Book: Tomorrow, When the War Began (gave up for now) moved onto The Night Eternal
Pages Read: 74/276 (tomorrow) --9/371
Time Reading: 35 minutes
Time Socializing: only with kidlet and big man
Food Stuffs: water, kit kat and energy drink
Challenges:
Mid Event Survey
End Results: Going strong still....

Mid Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now? Tomorrow, When The War Began
2. How many books have you read so far? finished 1 and read another completely-2
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? The Night Eternal
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? I took off work for the weekend. I usually have to work weekends.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Yes, he's called Trent and he's 7 years old. I deal with him ..well by taking a break and hanging out with him for a bit. He's a cool distraction!
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How much I get read in one day. It's not as much as some people but it's pretty good for me!
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? No, not really. It seems to be running pretty well actually! :) As per usual!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Get a babysitter, or get my husband to take the day off?
9. Are you getting tired yet? Not quite yet, ask me again in about four hours! LOL
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Take little breaks every hour. Move around. Drink lots of water. Switch up the snacks a bit. A little junk food and then a little healthy food.

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 6pm-7pm (CST)

12th Update:

Feelings: Getting a bit yawny over here! I am going to get up and walk around while I read. That might help!
Book: Tomorrow, When The War Began
Pages Read: 68/276
Time Reading: 55minutes
Time Socializing: not much
Food Stuffs: grapes! finally some healthy snackage!
Challenges:
no challenges
End Results:
Decent amount of reading. This book isn't thrilling me like I had hoped. I'll give it one more hour and then I'll switch to a different one. 


Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 5pm-6pm (CST)

11th Update:

Feelings: Stuffed, pleasantly stuffed.. Still really friggen happy to be doing this!

Book: Tomorrow, When the War Began
Pages Read: 43/276
Time Reading: 45 minutes
Time Socializing: a phone call interrupted my reading time :(
Food Stuffs: diet coke
Challenges:
Book Trailer Challenge
End Results: Not the best most productive hour but still pretty good!


Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com
balletbookworm.blogspot.com

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 4pm-5pm (CST)

10th Update:

Feelings: Yup! I'm still here and still a going!
Book: #3 Tomorrow, When the War Began
Pages Read: 15/276
Time Reading: 15 minutes
Time Socializing: Not online. I spent some time making dinner with the kidlet!
Food Stuffs: Pizza for me and noodles for the kid. He's wacko for the ramen! *I know I know not the most nutritious but I am not exactly the best role model today. I've been snacking pretty constantly!*
Challenges:
none this hour
End Results: Not much reading done, but I feel a bit more recharged. So all good!



Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com
booksidoneread.com
thestorygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 3pm-4pm (CST)

9th Update:

Feelings: Decent. Still moving and reading! Funtimes!
Book: Finished Allison Hewitt is Trapped
Pages Read:348
Time Reading: 1 hour
Time Socializing: 0
Food Stuffs: water
Challenges:
none
End Results:
Whew! Now onward to book #3!

Blogs Visited:

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 2pm-3pm (CST)

8th Update:

Feelings: Feeling a bit tired...antsy but I think I can manage to keep going!
Book: Allison Hewitt is Trapped
Pages Read: 279/348
Time Reading: 60 minutes
Time Socializing: 0
Food Stuffs: same full throttle (getting a little warm now) and some water
Challenges:
A Music Bath 

End Results: I can see the end of a book! It's definitely a little energizing!


Blogs Visited:
http://whiteinkdrops.wordpress.com/
24hourreadathon.com

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 1pm-2pm (CST)

7th Update:

Feelings: A bit fidgety like.
Book: Allison Hewitt is Trapped
Pages Read: 230/348
Time Reading: 55minutes
Time Socializing:-
Food Stuffs: full throttle and water
Challenges:
AKA Challenge 
End Results: I'm still a goin'!


Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 12pm-1pm (CST)

6th Update:

Feelings: Kinda lagging a little bit. I think it may be time for a mini-break to stretch and what not, I dunno?
Book: Allison Hewitt is Trapped
Pages Read: 195/348
Time Reading: 50 minute
Time Socializing: didn't keep track but not a whole lot
Food Stuffs: chips and salsa, a full throttle energy drink
Challenges:
None
End Results:
I've caught myself yawning a little bit. I think I may need to take a stretch break or something. Definitely going to do that now.

Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 11am-12pm (CST)

5th Update:

Feelings: Motivated...
Book: Allison Hewitt is Trapped
Pages Read: 150/348
Time Reading: 45minutes (had to help the kidlet put batteries in his toy which entailed a search for the screwdriver...) and a mini challenge
Time Socializing: not much this hour.
Food Stuffs: water...
Challenges:
Book Puzzle Challenge
End Results: Chugging along...need to grab some lunch or something soon.


Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com
librariansbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: Book Puzzle Challenge

My entry is:

There you go! It is probably pretty easy! :)

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 10am-11am (CST)

4th Update:

Feelings: Determined and still in the mood to partay! Here we go!
Book: still Allison Hewitt is Trapped
Pages Read: 117/348
Time Reading: 50 minutes
Time Socializing: 10 minutes playing around on twitter.
Food Stuffs: sweet tea and water
Challenges:
None right now
 End Results: pretty good still. I'm not running out of steam just yet.


Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com
mustreadfaster.blogspot.com
facebook.com

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 9am-10am (CST)

3rd Update:

Feelings: Still pretty good! I'm somewhat determined to avoid internet chit chat this hour! I wanna get as much reading as I can done!
Book: Allison Hewitt is Trapped
Pages Read:70/348
Time Reading: 55 minutes
Food Stuffs: sweet tea and cheesy grits..true southern food! lol
Challenges:
None this hour..will probably take a reading break after this book and do a few challenges! Should be fun!
End Results:
I read a bit more this hour! I'm loving this book very much! I love a good zombie book!

Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 8am-9am (CST)

2nd Update:

Feelings: Still very energetic!
Book: #2 Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux
Pages Read:30/348
Time Reading: 45 minutes
Food Stuffs: still just coffee and water
Challenges:
None this hour.....
End Results: Not as much reading as I would have hoped. Too many distractions! Curse you internets! Curse you!!! Now hour 3...let's rock this!


Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: 7am-8am (CST)

1st Update:

Feelings: Super excited to do this again! I LURVE da readathon! I'm well rested and fed and definitely a bit hyper! Let's do this thang!
Book: Finishing up Pyxis for the first book.
Pages Read: Starting at 115/178 ending:
Time Reading: 58 minutes
 Food Stuffs: Coffee and water
Challenges: Introduction
1)Where are you reading from today? My living room, in my comfy chair!
2)Three random facts about me…I've got wet hair right now, I'm learning how to use this laptop, and I'm wide awake for a change!
3)How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours? 12 I think....
4)Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)? I do! I would love to finish 4 books from start to end.
5)If you’re a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?  It's all about the fun! Don't stress out! Just relax and enjoy it!
End Results: Finished Pyxis...!

Blogs Visited:
24hourreadathon.com

Are We There Yet? Are We There Yet?

Youngin's it should be 6am CST (I'm writing this ahead of time)  and I'm just now getting up and ready! My coffee should be brewing right now,  and I'm probably rubbing the sleep crust out of my eyes! I'm most likely very twitchy from the excitement! I've got my stack all stacky and my chair all comfy! In other words...I'm ready to go!

I've stocked up on noshables and drinkables. I've taken the whole entire weekend off work! Woot! I have even borrowed a laptop so I don't have to share the computer! Which means HOURLY updates! Yay! I know the hourly thing may get old after a while, but for now thems my plans!

This is me right about now:

I'm probably doing a lot of this as well:

Waiting for the time to come to start reading and getting into the action! I swear to you I will probably go cross eyed looking at that darn thing!

Ready to Partay?

To Do List:

**This person's tattoo is my hero!***

Ahem...My to do list for today and tomorrow goes as such:

• Read Pyxis
• Catch up on Read-a-longs, Anna Karenina, Northanger Abbey, and Clockwork Angel
• Remember to GO TO BED at 8pm on Friday Night!
• Laundry
• Vacuum ERRRthing!
• Remember to Remind the Husband not to forget to pick up a few things on his way home from work ...
• SQUEEEEEE! Read-a-thon!

Read-A-Thon Let's Get Ready To Rumble.......

I am so ready for this thon my face might melt off! I have my stack and tomorrow morning I will replenish my snack and caffeine supplies! I'm ready....

So my stack, which is not set in stone but merely self suggestions...goes as such:

• Allison Hewitt is Trapped 
• The Night Eternal
• God's Eye
• Frost Moon
• Blood Rock
• The Lady of the Rivers
• Bad Moon 
• Blood Rights
  
• I have a crapton of ebooks on my Nook I may pick from too! 

Those are NOT  set in stone. I just think that I'd love to get at least 5 books read this weekend!
If you have your stack already picked I would LOVE to see what you have put aside for this weekend! Lemme see! :)

Monday: Reading Menu

Hey guys! This is a weekly doohickey hosted by Sheila at Bookjourney! You chronicle your weekly reading plans and visit other people's blogs to see what they are reading too! It's definitely fun times and one of my favorite days of the week!

With the read-a-thon coming up this weekend, I'm not planning on reading much this week. I've got some read-a-longs going, a book to finish, and one to read!

Read-a-Longs:


To Finish: 



Review: 

Read-a-thon Thoughts

I'm still pondering what I want to read for Dewey's Read-a-thon next weekend, I really need to get my books picked out.  I have been thinking some thoughts, which could be quite dangerous! I think to motivate myself,  I'd really like to donate to a charity that promotes literacy! So what I am planning on doing is donating $1 (us) for every book I finish during the 24 hour period of Dewey's.

My money is going towards

http://www.kidsneedtoread.org

This is a great program that donates money and books to libraries all over! They have even helped a few libraires in my neck of the woods, so I know they are legit. Also for you geeky geeks out there (like me) this is the foundation backed by Nathan Fillion. :)

Now my post here is basically..is anyone willing to sponsor me? I won't take any money personally. What I would ask you to do is pledge a certain amount per book, then donate the money directly by yourself.  Make sense?

If you do want to pledge something then please leave a comment. If you have any suggestions about this..well please leave a comment. I am just tossing this idea out there into the webspace.

Book Flail of the Week

Lookit! Lookit! I got this today in the mail! I am so excite! I cannot wait to crack this book wide open and read it so hard! I made Trent laugh like a maniac, when I opened the envelope and saw this book! I squealed! I danced! I whooped! He laughed.

Book Launch: Bad Moon by Todd Ritter (OUT TODAY!)

BAD MOON

By Todd Ritter

The case of a boy missing for 40 years

explodes into the present in Todd Ritter’s

second novel, featuring Perry Hollow Police

Chief Kat Campbell.

On the same night that Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, nine-year-old Charlie Olmstead jumped
on his bike to see if he could get a better look. It was the last anyone ever saw of him. After Perry
Hollow Police Chief Jim Campbell found Charlie’s bike caught up above a waterfall, he assumed the worse, and so did everyone else except Charlie's mother.

Years later, Eric Olmstead—and famous author and Charlie’s brother—has come back to bury his mother and fulfill her last request: Find his brother. To do so he goes to the current police chief and his former sweetheart Kat Campell, and it isn’t long before they discover that finding Charlie was his
mother's secret obsession, and while she never found him she uncovered clues suggesting that he wasn’t the only victim.

BAD MOON, Todd Ritter’s excellent follow-up to his acclaimed debut, tells the haunting story of a small town that found lies easier to believe than the truth.


About the Author

Todd Ritter has been a journalist for fifteen years and is currently at the Star-Ledger. During that
time, he has done everything from covering police standoffs to interviewing celebrities and even
writing obituaries. He lives in suburban New Jersey. His second novel, BAD MOON, a follow up to
DEATH NOTICE, launches in October, 2011, also with Minotaur Books.

Check out

www.ToddRitterOnline.com

for excerpts, book trailers, and a tour of Perry Hollow

Publisher: Minotaur Books
ISBN: 0312622813
Hardcover: $24.99

Winner: Frightfall Fall Read-a-thon Mini Challenge

COngrats! 

SenoraG said...

This is such a cute mini challenge, thanks for hosting. Here is my Weapon

October 3, 2011 7:17 PM

Thanks for participating and I hope you had fun with my little ole challenge! :)