Reading in 2021 - 1st quarter

 Here's my first quarter reading in 2021. 

MARCH

Historical Romance / Historical 

• Tainted (The Druid Chronicles #4) by Christina Phillips - 2013 - 5 stars
• Keeping Faith (Fair Cyprians of London Book 3) by Beverley Oakley - 2018 - 4.25 stars  
• The Other Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys #3) by Julia Quinn (audio narrated by Roslyn Landor) - 2018 - 4.5 starsThe Spy with the Red Balloon (The Balloonmakers #2) by Katherine Locke - 2018 - YA with magical elements - 4.5 stars

Spec fiction - paranormal romance, urban fantasy

• Hunter Hunted (Lizzie Grace #3) by Keri Arthur - 2018 - 5 starsDead Memory (DEAD #4) by Lizzie T. Leaf - 2012 - 4 stars
• Magic Breaks (Kate Daniels, #7) by Ilona Andrews - 2014 - 5 stars
• Small Magics (Kate Daniels #0.5; 5.3; 5.6 ) by Ilona Andrews - 2015 - 5 stars
• For the Love of a Goblin Warrior (Shadowlands, #3) by Shona Husk - 2013 - 5 stars

Crime / Mystery / Historical Mystery / Romantic Suspense

• The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes #1) by Nancy Springer - 2006 - YA -  4.5 stars
• Poirot Investigates (Hercule Poirot #3) by Agatha Christie (audio narrated by  David Suchet) - 1924 - 4.25 stars
• A Hanging at Dawn (Bess Crawford #11.5) by Charles Todd - 2020 - 4.5 stars
• Deadly Night (Flynn Brothers #1) by Heather Graham - 2011 - 5 stars

FEBRUARY

Historical Romance

• The Girl with the Make-Believe Husband (Rokesbys #2) by Julia Quinn (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) - 2017 - 4.5 stars
• The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons #2)  by Julia Quinn (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) - 2015 - 5 stars
• Marry in Scandal (Marriage of Convenience, #2) by Anne Gracie - 2018 - 5 stars
• Ghost Memories (Bone Island Trilogy, #0.5) by Heather Graham - 2000 - short story - 4 stars

Spec fiction - paranormal romance, urban fantasy, sci-fi romance, steampunk, fantasy

• Temper by Beck Nicholas - 2016- YA -  5 stars
• An Ill-Advised Rescue (Kate Daniels #5.8) by Ilona Andrews - 2013 - short story - 5 stars
• Magic Rises (Kate Daniels, #6) by Ilona Andrews - 2013 - 5 stars
• Timeless (Parasol Protectorate, #5) Gail Carriger - 2012 - 5 stars
• City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, #2) by Cassandra Clare - 2010 - 4.5 stars
• The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't (Parasol Protectorate #0.5) by Gail Carriger - 2014 - 4 stars
• The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black (audio narrated by Caitlin Kelly) -  2018 - YA - 4.25 stars

Crime / Historical Mystery 

• A Forgotten Place (Bess Crawford #10) by Charles Todd (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) - 2018 - 4.5 stars
• A Cruel Deception (Bess Crawford #11) by Charles Todd (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) - 2019 - 4 stars
• Be Mine Forever (Detectives Kane and Alton, #11) by D.K. Hood - 2021 - 5 stars

JANUARY

Historical Romance

• The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1) by Julia Quinn (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) - 2000 - 4.5 starsWhat Happened at Midnight by Courtney Milan - 2013 - novella - 4 starsIn Her Wild Highlander's Bed (Highlander Forbidden Fantasy #3) by Cathleen Ross - 2014 - 4.5 stars
• Midsummer Delights: A Short Story Collection by Eloisa James - 2018 - 4.5 stars
• Because of Miss Bridgerton (Rokesbys #1) by Julia Quinn (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) - 2016 - 5 stars

Spec fiction - paranormal romance, urban fantasy, sci-fi romance, time travel

• Outcast Reaper (Reaper's Ascension #0.5) by Shelley Russell Nolan - short storyReed (Hell Squad #4) by Anna Hackett - 2015 - 5 stars
• Darkness Hunts (Dark Angels #4) Keri Arthur - 2012 - 5 stars
• Dane's Redemption by Susannah Kade - 2020 - short story - 4.25 stars
• The Last Guardian (Artemis Fowl, #8) by Eoim Colfer - 2012 - children's - 5 stars
• Fast Forward by Juliet Madison - 2013 stars - 4.5 stars
• Sexiest Vampire Alive by Kerrelyn Sparks (audio narrated by Aimee Castle) - 2011 - 4.5 stars

Crime / Historical Mystery

• First Family (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell, #4) by David Baldacci - 2009 - 4.5 stars
• Siren (Makedde Vanderwall #5) by Tara Moss - 2009 - 4.5 stars
• A Pattern of Lies (Bess Crawford #7) by Charles Todd - 2016 - 4.5 stars
• The Shattered Tree (Bess Crawford #8) by Charles Todd (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) - 2016 - 4 stars
• A Casualty of War (Bess Crawford #9) by Charles Todd (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) - 2017 - 4.5 stars

Eleni's January to March 2018 reads

I'm falling a bit behind in my goal of 110 books but I've managed 20 books so far in 2018. Here is my reading for January to March.

Fantasy/Sci-fi

• Equal Rites (Discworld #3) by Terry Pratchett | 4.5 stars
• Rhio's Dancer (The Four-Sided Pentacle #2.5) by Denise Rossetti | novella | 5 stars
• Allegiant (Divergent #3) by Veronica Roth (audio narrated by Emma Galvin and Aaron Stanford ) | 4 stars

Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy/Dystopian Romance

• Lover Reborn (Black Dagger Brotherhood #10) by J.R. Ward | 4.5 stars
• Skin (Flesh #2) by Kylie Scott | 4.75 stars
• What Trouble Is: A Short Story (Flesh #2.6) by Kylie Scott | 5 stars
• Devil to Pay (Night Huntress #3.5) by Jeanine Frost | 4 stars | novella
• Love by Premonition by Holley Trent | 4.5 stars - humorous elements
• Free Fall (Retrievers #5) by Laura Anne Gilman | 4.75 stars
• Summer Knight (The Dresden Files #4) by Jim Butcher (audio narrated by James Marsters) | 4.25 stars
• The Lost (Celestial Blues #2) by Vicki Pettersson (audio narrated by Kevin Fabian) | 4 stars

Historical Romance

• A Rogue of My Own (Reid Family #3) by Johanna Lindsey (audio narrated by Rosalyn Landor) | 4 stars
• Deception on Sable Hill (Chicago World's Fair Mystery #2) by Shelley Gray (audio narrated by Tavia Gilbert) | 4 stars
• Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) by Diana Gabaldon | re-read | 5 stars
• Miss Tonks Turns to Crime: A Novel of Regency England (Poor Relation #2) by Marion Chesney (M.C. Beaton) (audio read by Davina Porter ) | 4 stars

Mystery

• Flying Too High (Phryne Fisher, #2) by Kerry Greenwood (audio narrated by Stephanie Daniel) | 4 stars
• His Majesty's Hope (Maggie Hope Mystery #3) by by Susan Elia MacNeal (audio narrated by Susan Duerden) | 4.25 stars

Graphic Novels

• Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Circus of the Damned, Volume 1: The Charmer (Anita Blake Graphic Novels) by Laurell K. Hamilton,  Jessica Ruffner, and Ron Lim (Illustrator) | graphic novel | 4 stars

Non-fiction

• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson (audio narrated by Roger Wayne) | non-fiction | 4 stars
• The Bletchley Girls by Tessa Dunlop (audio narrated by Anna Bentinck) | non-fiction | 4 stars

Happy Reading!
~Eleni

Reading in February and March

Here it is at last - the reading update for February and March.

I haven't tackled the TBR pile as much as I'd liked but continued listening to audio books. 15 out of the 20 books belonged to a series - yes I did start some new ones because of availability but I do want to dwindle down my series to something more manageable *grin*.

1. Warlock Holmes: A Study in Brimstone  (Warlock Holmes #1) by G.S. Denning | 4.5 stars
2. Dragon Blood (Hurog #2) by Patricia Briggs (audio read by Joe Manganiello) | 5 stars
3. The Bad Guys: Apocalypse Now (Bad Guys #4) by Aaron Blabey (childrens) | 5 stars
4. Stone Castles by Trish Morey | 5 stars
5. Beauty and the Beast (Spindle Cove #3.5) by Tessa Dare (novella) | 5 stars
6. The BFG by Roald Dahl (audio read by David Walliams) | 5 stars
7. Magic Study (The Chronicles of Ixia #2 - Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder | 4.5 stars
8. Don't Look Back (Lake & March #2) by Amanda Quick (audio read by Josephine Bailey) | 5 stars 
9. Red Hot Lover (Winged & Dangerous #3) by Mel Teshco (novella) | 5 stars
10. The Untamed Bride (Black Cobra Quartet #1) by Stephanie Laurens (audio read by Simon Peeble) | 4.5 stars
11. Late for the Wedding (Lake and March #3) by Amanda Quick (audio read by Josephine Bailey) | 5 stars
12. Hit (Makedde Vanderwall #4) by Tara Moss (audio read by Tara Moss) | 4.25 stars
13. Secrets of Sloane House  (Chicago World's Fair Mystery #1) by Shelley Gray (audio read by Tavia Gilbert) | 4 stars
14. A Stolen Season by Tamara Gill | 4.5 stars
15. One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress, #2) by Jeaniene Frost (audio read by Tavia Gilbert) | 5 stars
16. Devil's Bride (Cynster #1) by Stephanie Laurens | 4 stars
17. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo graphic novel (Millenium #1 graphic novels) by Denise Mina  | 4 stars
18. Homer's Odyssey by  Seymour Chwast (graphic novel) | 4 stars
19. The Singing Bones: inspired by Grimm's Fairy Tales by Shaun Tan (scultpures to passages from fairy tales) | 5 stars
20. The Seventh Son (The Tales of Alvin Maker #1) by Orscon Scott Card (audio read by various readers) | 4 stars

Happy Reading!

March reading

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
A slow start with the word of financial espionage and libel suit against Mikael Blomvkist. He gets an offer to work on a decades old murder and because it has the potential to lead to more info on the espionage, he accepts.

Lisabeth Salander, a freelancer with Milton Security (intelligence reports) is an girl who is unconventional in her looks, her attitude and her social niceties. We see her deal with her work and other personal matters. She's a loner and she is a ward of the state despite being 25.

About the first quarter is interesting but it is in a different style to what I'm used to - it is telling the story in many cases. But especially since we are introduced to Henrik Vanger and his mystery, and also Lisabeth, I was drawn more and more into the story. The last quarter especially has you gasping.

Apparently the Swedish title is Men Who Hate Woman, and that definitely suits the story and the mystery.
(Mystery & Suspense)


Mistral's Kiss by Laurell K. Hamilton (book 5 of The Merry Gentry series)
Merry continues on her journey to stay alive in the Unseelie court. She and her men re-awaken old magic that had been lost. While of course there is some more sex with her guards (so she can get pregnant and therefore be named heir to the Unseelie Court - before her cousin Cel can). Definitely an erotic urban fantasy - I'm wondering if there are any positions left!!!

It is the intrigue of the courts that is fascinating and there is more and more as the book unfolds. The words flow effortlessly making it an easy read, despite all the political intrigue.
(Horror & Urban Fantasy)

Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four Vol 1: Family of Heroes

This was a kid friendly version of the Fantastic Four. Good artwork as usual.  

The Avengers: I am an Avenger by Marvel Comics
A collection of comic issues that include the changing of the official Avenger line up. It's really interesting to see it jump and see the changes over the years. Great artwork as you would expect.

Astonishing X-Men: Exogenetic by Warren Ellis

Fab artwork and because I don't read things in order of series, I do ponder over storylines. You can read as a one off though. 

Storyteller: Writing Lessons From 27 Years of The Clarion Writers' Workshop by Kate Wilhelm
A really interesting read of two of the lecturers at Clarion. Very interesting of how it got started, and the whole process. And for once I read it without reading anything else (one reason was because I had to return to its owner). Still, it was good to read something on the craft and writing as a topic. I haven't done that in so long.

As you can see I have read more comics - actually, I should say I FINISHED the comics. I have quite a few books in the process of being read. I usually have books at different stages of reading and depending on my mood is what I would read. But with Storyteller, I tended to just to mainly concentrate on that book. And it was good to go back to that for a little bit at least. I'll see how I go.

Anyhow, the update:

6 books added this month = 19 books 

Speculative Fiction 2/12 (no change)

Horror & Urban Fantasy 4/24 (up by 1)

Mystery & Suspense 2/12 (up by 1)

Stephen King 0/12 

Romance 3/24 (no change)

How are you all going with your reading? 

March Reads

Here's what I read for March....

Dance With the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon (A Dark Hunter Novel) - Paranormal Romance

Oh poor Zarek - what a tortured soul he is. I liked discovering his tenderness and the different layers being peeled back. More questions about Acheron. Great book - though initially the POV changes were abit jolty but after awhile I got the feel for them and then didn't notice them. Definitely will be reading more of this series.

The Curse of Dracula by Marv Wolfman  - Graphic Novel

This was well, graphic. Into the horror style. Enjoyed.

Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich - Mystery Detective (humour)

Enjoyed this - Diesel pops up again and the match-making is funny. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Astonishing X-men Vol 3: Torn by Joss Whedon & John Casaday - Graphic Novel

Another good installment in these volumes (volumes are made up of a number of issues, so I'm getting it in one hit instead).

Claiming His Bought Bride by Rachel Bailey - Silhouette Desire - Romance

What a fabulous debut by Ms Rachel Bailey!! A wonderful person whom I admire very much. Thoroughly LOVED it and the second chance theme. Way to go!

Review of this book here. It is the pick of the month. 

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern - Women's fiction

Intriguing book and characters, with some you're not sure what to make of. A good read.

Challenge Updates....

Speculative Fiction - 6 out of 24 so far

100+ books - 20 so far

Yep that's the another 10....

11. Deadly Desire by Keri Arthur

12. Drawing Faces by Rosie Dickins and Jan McCafferty

13. The Greek Boss's Demand by Trish Morey

14. Iron Soldiers: a story of arms & armour by Dave Luckett
15. Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon

16. The Curse of Dracula by Marv Wolfman

17. Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich

18. Astonishing X-men Vol 3: Torn by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday

19. Claiming His Bought Bride by Rachel Bailey

20. The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

Support Library Challenge - first 10 books done (out of 50)

1. Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordon
2. Astonishing X-men Vol 1: Gifted by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday
3. Astonishing X-men Vol 2: Dangerous by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday
4. Drawing Faces by Rosie Dickins and Jan McCafferty
5. Iron Soldiers: a story of arms & armour by Dave Luckett
6. Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon
7. The Curse of Dracula by Marv Wolfman
8. Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich
9. Astonishing X-men Vol 3: Torn by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday
10.The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern

So going well; While I like challenges, I'm not going to get stressed about these ones. After all, it's meant to be fun!!

Until next time, happy reading!!

Oh and please go over to the Bootcamper blog to see what Dana is reading at the moment.

~yia