Annual reading challenge 2017-come join us

[FlightlessDuck]

6 of 20: Star Wars: Thrawn

One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn is also one of the most captivating characters in the Star Wars universe, from his introduction in bestselling author Timothy Zahn’s classic Heir to the Empire through his continuing adventures in Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, and beyond. But Thrawn’s origins and the story of his rise in the Imperial ranks have remained mysterious. Now, in Star Wars: Thrawn, Timothy Zahn chronicles the fateful events that launched the blue-skinned, red-eyed master of military strategy and lethal warfare into the highest realms of power—and infamy.

After Thrawn is rescued from exile by Imperial soldiers, his deadly ingenuity and keen tactical abilities swiftly capture the attention of Emperor Palpatine. And just as quickly, Thrawn proves to be as indispensable to the Empire as he is ambitious; as devoted as its most loyal servant, Darth Vader; and a brilliant warrior never to be underestimated. On missions to rout smugglers, snare spies, and defeat pirates, he triumphs time and again—even as his renegade methods infuriate superiors while inspiring ever greater admiration from the Empire. As one promotion follows another in his rapid ascension to greater power, he schools his trusted aide, Ensign Eli Vanto, in the arts of combat and leadership, and the secrets of claiming victory. But even though Thrawn dominates the battlefield, he has much to learn in the arena of politics, where ruthless administrator Arihnda Pryce holds the power to be a potent ally or a brutal enemy.

All these lessons will be put to the ultimate test when Thrawn rises to admiral and must pit all the knowledge, instincts, and battle forces at his command against an insurgent uprising that threatens not only innocent lives but also the Empire’s grip on the galaxy—and his own carefully laid plans for future ascendancy.

There is one main plot that weaves throughout this book, but it takes almost 10 years worth of story to get from the beginning to end. While the chapters appear as small snippets into the careers of Thrawn, Eli Vanto, and Arihnda Pryce, then stories come together at the end to form one narrative. I did feel that there was some bad editing, because there were logical leaps and plot points missing from the overall story. Still, it was nice to see Thrawn back in the Star Wars universe. 3.75 out of 5.

Up next: Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills by Greg Rucka

 

[willowsnn3]

#17/60

If I Run by Terri Blackstock

"Casey Cox has blood on the bottom of her shoes, in her car, on her clothes. But there's no point in trying to defend herself. She just has to run. Casey didn't kill her friend Brent. She discovered his body, but she'd never try to hurt him. He's the only person she's ever trusted enough to tell the truth about what happened to her father and there's no doubt in her mind that Brent was killed trying to help her prove it. She has to run before they get to her too. Dylan Roberts was hired to find Casey and bring her back so that justice can be served. As a former Criminal Investigator for the Army, he can't imagine that tracking down one girl will be that difficult. But the more elusive Casey turns out to be, the more Dylan digs into her past to try to determine what she might be thinking. What he finds there doesn't fit the profile of a killer at all. She's unlike any other fugitive he's ever seen. The police refuse to discuss any other possibilities. There's something more going on here. Something more to this fugitive who has captured his attention. Now he just has to figure out what it is and Casey just has to stay one step ahead of everyone who's after her"-

I really liked this one and it is first in a series so I will definetly be reading the next one.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

7 of 20: Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills by Greg Rucka

An exciting adventure about two of the brave heroes from the smash hit movie Rogue One: A Star Wars Story! On the desert world of Jedha, in the Holy City, friends Baze and Chirrut used to be Guardians of the Whills, who looked after the Kyber Temple and the devoted pilgrims who worshipped there. Then the Empire came and took over the planet. The temple was destroyed and the people scattered. Now Baze and Chirrut do what they can to resist the Empire and protect the people of Jedha, but it never seems to be enough. Then a man named Saw Gerrera arrives, with a militia of his own and grand plans to take down the Empire. It seems like the perfect way for Baze and Chirrut to make a real difference and help the people of Jedha live better lives. But will it come at too great a cost

While this is considered to be a young-readers book, I found it very emotionally satisfying. It gives more background to Baze, Chirrut, and Saw from the Star Wars movie Rogue One. It tells the story of two sisters who run an orphanage in the Holy City on the moon of Jakku. I found the ending to be very satisfying and is one of my favorite new canon Star Wars novels.



8 of 20: Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson

Written by Spencer Johnson, coauthor of The One Minute Manager, this enlightening and amusing story illustrates the vital importance of being able to deal with unexpected change. Who Moved My Cheese? is often distributed by managers to employees as a motivational tool, but the lessons it teaches can benefit literally anyone, young or old, rich or poor, looking for less stress and more success in every aspect of work and life.

Got this book from my employer after a big shakeup. I've got two opinions regarding this book, and neither of them are good:

The story itself is overly simple and patronizing. It's also incredibly short for its $20 price tag. Not only is the book only 96 pages, it's written in a large font with big margins, and first quarter of the book is acknowledgements, quotes from reviews, and a forward. The story itself is 72 pages long, and is a story in a story. To sum up: You are a rat in a maze looking for cheese (fullfilment), and when the cheese moves it's because you weren't anticipating it. You must adapt to the cheese moving and find new cheese. There, I saved you $20.

When the book is given to you by an employer, be wary. Are they telling you that the Cheese is your employment? And that whatever the big shakeup was is something you as an employee should have seen coming because the cheese was getting stale or getting smaller? As opposed to the CEO moving it to Mexico?

It's drivel. It says "adapt or die". That's it. That's the story. Three words. Give me $20.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just finished #21-"Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe". It was just OK, never went anywhere, nothing interesting happened.

 

[tiggrbaby]

#35/80: Karolina's Twins by Ronald H. Balson (4/5) (Holocaust/trial)
Turns out this is the third book with the lawyer/investigator, so I'm going back to read the other two.

#36/80: Desire Lines by Christina Baker Kline (2.5/5) (romantic suspense)
Not really my cup of tea, and it was pretty obvious who did it. I'll stick to her historical fiction.

#37/80: The Way Life Should Be by Christina Baker Kline (3/5) contemporary fiction)
This was slightly better due to the cooking and recipes.

#38/80: The Wrong Side of Goodbye (Bosch #21) (4/5) (LA detective)
Now he is working a private case while helping another town. Now I have to wait until the next one comes out!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Hi !! I'm new here and hope it's not too late to join, I'm a book obsessed bibliophile that cannot stop reading! My goal every year is 250 and last year I fell 20 short so I am trying to not let that happen this year. I am on 108 right now which is Rose Blood and I just finished Avenged from the stellar ruined series and A Court of Wings and Ruin which was from the absolutely amazing A Court of Thorns and Roses series!

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

Hi !! I'm new here and hope it's not too late to join, I'm a book obsessed bibliophile that cannot stop reading! My goal every year is 250 and last year I fell 20 short so I am trying to not let that happen this year. I am on 108 right now which is Rose Blood and I just finished Avenged from the stellar ruined series and A Court of Wings and Ruin which was from the absolutely amazing A Court of Thorns and Roses series!

It is never to late to join in

 

[willowsnn3]

Plodding right along.....

#18/60

Predator by Terri Blackstock
Fifteen-year-old Ella Carmichael gave her killer all the information he needed to find her. Now her sister has vowed to protect others from doing the same, while she hunts down this online predator.

Good one about the dangers of posting too much info on online forums.

Another good one from Terri Blackstock. Don't know why I have passed over her books all these years. This is the second book of hers I have read and looks like she has a few series that I am looking forward to try.

 

[Deffenm]

25/40: The Mother's Promise
26/40: We were on a Break
27/40: Ava's Place
28/40: No Breaking my heart
29/40: The Garden of Happy endings
30/40: Daughters of the Bride
31/40: The Weekenders

I think my goal maybe set a little low since I haven't even begun prime reading time over the summer.

 

[Tiggerish]

Weeks 19 & 20 (I took a break and went to Disney World for 10 days) I read four books these two weeks, which brings me to 67/104.

Capturing Beauty by Brenda S. Anderson. Christian romantic fiction with the standard happy ending.

A Discovery of Hope by T.I. Lowe. Another Christian romantic fiction with the standard happy ending.

Remembering Dresden by Dan Webb. Christian mystery. It was a little unrealistic but had lots of interesting facts about the bombing of Dresden towards the end of WWII.

Treasure Harbor Series, Novella 1-7 by 7 different authors. Christian romantic fiction. Each story is set in the same location, the little coastal town of Treasure Harbor. The town is being swarmed by people looking for a 18th century pirate's treasure about a couple of gold coin were found on one of its beaches. All seven of the novella have a happy ending.

 

[disneychrista]

I've been away on a mini-vacation (not Disney) but here are my latest reads.

#15.5 - Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
Just when Glennon Doyle Melton was beginning to feel she had it all figured out―three happy children, a doting spouse, and a writing career so successful that her first book catapulted to the top of the New York Times bestseller list―her husband revealed his infidelity and she was forced to realize that nothing was as it seemed. A recovering alcoholic and bulimic, Glennon found that rock bottom was a familiar place. In the midst of crisis, she knew to hold on to what she discovered in recovery: that her deepest pain has always held within it an invitation to a richer life.

#16.5 The Sapphire Affair by Lauren Blakley (Jewel #1)
Bounty hunter Jake Harlowe knows how to track a criminal. So when a group of swindled shareholders hires him to trail their former CEO, Jake expects a quick trip to the Cayman Islands to close another case. Until a devastatingly beautiful woman gets in the way.
Steph Anderson is visiting the Caymans for a rock climbing and dive trip—or so she tells Jake. She’s really trying to find out whether or not her stepfather embezzled money from his company. The last thing Steph needs is the distraction of a sexy, charming man whose kisses drive her wild.

Disappointment that my library doesn't have Book 2, guess I won't get to know how the story concludes.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

#8 Echoes in Death by JD Robb
NY Detective Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke are returning HOME from a social GALA when a naked women runs in front of her car screaming about the devil.
This beginning leads to Eve investigating a bunch of similar attacks. Very graphic at points of very beautiful woman.
First time reading in this series and first time reader of Robb. The story oved fairly quickly and I did like the relationship between Eve and husband Roarke. But I think this is well into the series and I do not know if I could take the relationship for a long series.
The story takes place somewhat in the future but really the gadgets and technology are not sci fi and more center around being able to get a cup of coffee anywhere in your house, droid servants, and cars you can work or sleep in.
I enjoyed book but and maybe will read another but can't see reading them all. Had no idea that JD Robb is actually Nora Roberts until I was almost done with the book.


(If anyone is interested, I would gladly send kindle gift versions of any of my works, Written for You, Cemetery Girl, Three Twigs for the Campfire, or Reigning. You can see them all reviewed click here Goodreads. If you are interested just PM here or there or like post.)

 

[Tiggerish]

Week 21 - I read 5 books this week which brings me to 72/104.The books I read were:

One Good Dog by Susan Wilson. Adam has fought his way up from a childhood in the foster care system transforming himself into a powerhouse executive with a trophy wife and daughter. Then, in an uncontrollable fit of rage, he strikes a female subordinate and it all falls apart. His wife divorces him and takes everything including custody of his daughter. His company cannot get rid of him fast enough and he is convicted of assault and sentenced to work in a food kitchen for one year. Adam gets hooked up with a rescued pit bull who had been trained for and used as a fighting dog. During the course of the year, the man and the dog bond and in doing so, change each other for the better.

Faithful by Alice Hoffman. An automotive accident leaves one girl in a permanent coma and the other with an extreme case of survivor's guilt. The book is the story of her struggle to come to terms with her past and shape her future. It is well written story, filled with emotion - from dark suffering to the blessings of unexpected friendships and new love.

Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenorrn. It is a good thing this was a free downloaded book else I would want my money back. I read it to the end thinking I would get into it. I did not. The main character owns a shop which sells fine china teapots and tea as well as serving a limited lunch menu and treats. She is also a tarot reader, a witch and dabbles in the paranormal. A ghost asks her to avenge the ghost's murder and with the help of some friends, she does. There is a side plot about an evil force that gets loose from the other side and has to be defeated.

The Seventh Sergeant by Lis Isaeso. Christian romantic fiction featuring a horse ranch that works with former soldiers with war injuries including PTSD. It is one of a series and I have read a couple of the other books. It has the standard happy ending.

Amish Widow's New Hope by Samantha Price. Books set in the Amish community are a huge Christian fiction subset. This one was unusually unrealistic. A boy and girl each leave their Amish community during the year of freedom (a year where Amish young adults are allowed to live outside their Amish community to test their commitment to the Amish faith and lifestyle). The two meet up and fall in love and decide to marry and return to the Amish community immediately after the wedding. Just before the wedding, the young man is killed while taking his motorcycle for one last ride. The young woman returns to their Amish community and joins the church. She is treated as if she is a widow, despite a lack of an actual wedding. Soon she realizes that she is pregnant from their one and only time of pre-marital sex. However, since this happened before her return to the community and her officially joining the church, no one in the Amish community has a problem with it and both the young man's parents are excited to have a grandchild to remember their son. Of course, she and her deceased finance's brother fall in love and marry to provide the happy ever after ending.

 

[disneychrista]

#17.5 The Witness by Nora Roberts

Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.
Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems -- and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail's reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something -- and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed.



Needless to say I have blown my goal out of the water, since I just started my 19th book and my goal was to read 18 for the year and we are less than half way through. I am impressed with myself and in past several years I would have been lucky to finish 6 books. I guess I had forgotten how much I enjoy reading.

 

[nemofans]

I haven't been getting updates for this thread so I have been forgetting to put my reviews on here. I have 10 books to add here & I hope to get them done this week. I don't understand why I don't get alerts when there's new posts.

 

[nemofans]

Finished book #19/70 - All The Ugly And Wonderful Things by Brin Greenwood

This book bothered me. It's written well, but it's about a relationship between an adult male & a young girl. I understand her home life is not good and she needed someone looking out for her, but when it became sexual, I had a hard time with it. 2 stars

As the daughter of a meth dealer, Wavy knows not to trust people, not even her own parents. Struggling to raise her little brother, eight-year-old Wavy is the only responsible "adult" around. She finds peace in the starry Midwestern night sky above the fields behind her house. One night everything changes when she witnesses one of her father's thugs, Kellen, a tattooed ex-con with a heart of gold, wreck his motorcycle. What follows is a powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer.

 

[disneychrista]

I don't understand why I don't get alerts when there's new posts.

I does seem to be hit & miss for me, getting new post alerts.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

#9 Tricky Twenty Two by Janet Evanovich

I saw this and said why not. I am pretty sure this is catered for woman especially looking through the reviews for this book and other ones in the series. It seemed almost every review I read was from woman. Even though I am not the intended market, I liked this book. I have not read any other in the series and the ending just went completely overboard but I had fun. And to me, having fun is one of the most important things when reading. I love humorous writers and Ms Evanovich is really quite funny. Some of the jokes were predictable and sometimes things were obviously set up for a laugh, but at least the joke was funny. Even if they were set up, the humor was on target. I even enjoyed the battle for attention from the 2 suitors which was one of the parts definitely not directed to me.
Overall I am glad to have found a new humorous writer, and will without doubt try another form this series.

(If anyone is interested, I would gladly send kindle gift versions of any of my works, Written for You, Cemetery Girl, Three Twigs for the Campfire, or Reigning. You can see them all reviewed click here Goodreads. If you are interested just PM here or there or like post.)

 

[FlightlessDuck]

9 of 20: Ms. Marvel, Vol. 2: Generation Why by G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona, and Jacob Wyatt

Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! If Kamala can stop fan-girling out about meeting her favorite super hero, that is. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity -- by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! But why is Lockjaw really with Kamala? As Ms. Marvel discovers more about her past, the Inventor continues to threaten her future. Kamala bands together with some unlikely heroes to stop the maniacal villain before he does real damage, but has she taken on more than she can handle? And how much longer can Ms. Marvel's life take over Kamala Khan's? Kamala Khan continues to prove why she's the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is!

Collecting Ms. Marvel(2014) #6-11.

This is the 2nd collected volume of the 2014 Ms. Marvel series. Kamala comes face-to-face with her first arch-nemesis, The Inventor. Of course, we get an obligatory team up with an established character to help with sales. But at least the comic is meta about it. 4 out of 5 stars.

10 of 20: Ms. Marvel, Vol. 3: Crushed by G. Willow Wilson, Takeshi Miyazawa, and Elmo Bondoc

Kamala faces a new, terrifying threat: Excessive feelings!

Love is in the air in Jersey City as Valentine’s Day arrives! Kamala Khan may not be allowed to go to the school dance, but Ms. Marvel is! Well sort of--by crashing it in an attempt to capture Asgard’s most annoying trickster! Yup, it’s a special Valentine’s Day story featuring Marvel’s favorite charlatan, Loki! And when a mysterious stranger arrives in Jersey City, Ms. Marvel must deal with...a crush! Because this new kid is really, really cute. What are these feelings, Kamala Khan? Prepare for drama! Intrigue! Romance! Suspense! Punching things! All this and more! The fan-favorite, critically acclaimed, amazing new series continues as Kamala Khan proves why she’s the best (and most adorable) new super hero there is! Plus, see what happens when S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jemma Simmons goes undercover at Kamala’s school!

Collecting Ms. Marvel (2014) #12-15 and S.H.I.E.L.D. #2

Kamala continues to grow as a hero as she learn more about her roots as an Inhuman. I was a little disappointed by the romantic subplot that featured heavily in this book, but overall it was still pretty good. 3.5 out of 5.

11 of 20: Between the Rivers: Manhattan 1880-1920 (Images of America: New York) by Jeff Hirsch

The decades between 1880 and the 1920s were glorious ones for Manhattan. This sliver of land located between the rivers was evolving from a bustling seaport into a world financial center. Manhattan rapidly became America's preeminent East Coast steamship port. Steamers were becoming a frequent and luxurious mode of transportation. They arrived in Manhattan carrying passengers from all walks of life--the very rich and the very poor. Wealthy travelers made their voyages on the palatial reaches of the upper decks and were the catalyst that spawned the gilded era of Manhattan's hotels. Working-class passengers, on the other hand, traveled deep below decks. From the damp, dark reaches of the steamers poured a flood of immigrant labor and talent that enriched the area's industries. In the 1880s, no building stood as tall as the spire of architect Richard Upjohn's Trinity Church. Along the city streetscape, trolleys were pulled by horses, and steam-powered, elevated trains sliced north from the battery to upper Manhattan. The 1890s began the defining decades of the skyscraper. The technology originated in Chicago but soared to new heights in Manhattan. By the turn of the century, there were more skyscrapers on the island than anywhere else in the world.

I am a big history nerd, especially when it comes to areas of the country where I have family. I have a lot of Images of America books for my local area, but I had family who lived in New York City between 1890 and 1920, so I got this book as well. While I enjoyed city pictures of the city, I was a little disappointed that there weren't more pictures of people and day-to-day life. 3 out of 5 stars.

 

[disneychrista]

#18.5 It Ends With Us Colleen Hoover
Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She's come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up - she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily's life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.
Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He's also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily, but Ryle's complete aversion to relationships is disturbing.
As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan - her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.