50 TBR Challenge : September

In one of my Yahoo reading group, members participates in a challenge call 50 Challenge Books. Our goal was to see if we can read reach 50 books by the end of the year. So at the end of each months we post a list of books that we have read. We wrote down the titles of the book, the authors name, a tidbit (or reviews) about each books and grade them. It is challenge to our self to see how many reading can we do by the end of the year. Some get pass the 50 books and then proceed to continue to read until they reach 100. It is lot of fun, cause it help members to find "new to me authors" and learn who have common taste in books that you do. Or just talk about your favorite authors and books. I think we been doing this for 3yrs running now. I just never posted it here before but I have done them at my Yahoo group reading. Below, is the list of books I read in August(click each titles book to read my reviews). This month, I have read 5 books. But since January, I have read total of 46 books so far. Oh...I'm getting closer to the 50 mark ;)

P.S. My good friend Darla is the list owner of that Yahoo group and she is participating in 50 Challenge Books as well. I think the idea came from her. Please visit her blog and see her book reviews. :)

My computer decided to stop working. I get warning that I have uninstalled something from my hard drive because it think that there might be virus on it. The thing is I couldn't see my desktop to do this. My dad's friend is going to get me another hard drive to fix it. So am going by memory of what I remember I read in September. I sure hope I get it right :)

SEPTEMBER

42. Into the Night by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemporary Military Romance)(Re-read)* * * * 1/2 stars
43. Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare (Romance Suspense)
* * * * 1/2 stars
44. Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann (Contemporary Military Romance)
(Re-read)* * * * * stars
45. Good Girls Do by Cathie Linz (Contemporary Romance)
* * * * stars
46. American Diva by Julia London (Contemporary Romance)
* * * * stars
- I haven't done review for this yet, but once I do...I will give a link here.

My Desktop Free View : Meme

I was tagged by Alice of "Hello, My Name Is Alice" to do this fun meme.





- I know this desktop is not simple and original, but it does describe me the best. Because the background are pretty and represent "home" to me. Also I love to take pictures. These two pictures are my two nieces, my older sister and me :) Can you tell which one is moi? ;) :)

Here's how you play:

A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun. You can do a screen capture by going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key). Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.

B. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.

C. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

D. Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free View post to promote it to succeeding participants.

I'm tagging the following bloggies friends:

Darla Nichtszusagen
Kat Strangely Out of Place
Angela Grey Day Knitting Play

I have 3 others friends but they are already tagged by someone else ;) And if anyone else want to participate, you're welcome to do it. And of course if not, than there no pressure, I promise :)


List of Free Viewers:

iRonnie - I Set No Corner
Thess - Thesserie
Rebecca - Skippy Heart
Knoizki - A Dialogue With K
Beng - Kauderwelch
Tina- My Good Finds
Rachel - Heart of Rachel
Alice - Hello, My Name Is Alice
Julia - Julia's Books Corner!

Friendship

Booking Through Thursday

Suggested by Marsha:
Buy a friend a Book Week is October 1-7 (as well as the first weeks of January, April, and July). During this week, you’re encouraged to buy a friend a book for no good reason. Not for their birthday, not because it’s a holiday, not to cheer them up–just because it’s a book.

What book would you choose to give to a friend and why?

And, if you’re feeling generous enough–head on over to Amazon and actually send one on its way!

- It always so easy for me when friends tell me what they want. And they will listed it in their wish list. And once in awhile, I would surprise them with a book(s) that is listed in the wish list. And their reaction is always priceless. It always a "Just Because...." book(s). I came upon "Buy a Friend a Book Week" last year (or maybe this year), and have brought a friend a book because of that website once. She is from England. And she love it. After that, I promise myself to go back to "Buy a Friend a Book Week" each months. But as each months goes by, I forgot about it. Being so busy can surely take away your free time.

If I had to chose a book, I would buy a book that I know they would like. Most of my friends have common taste as I do. So I can buy a book that I like, that I think they'll like but never tried to read yet. Or I just know the genres of books they like, even if they're different than mine. If a friend prefer Janet Evanovich's books, than I know to get them something comedies romance books. Or if they like thriller, than I know to get them Stephen King instead of a romance book. But also, I like to buy a book that is just outside of the box too. Know what I mean? ;) :)

Thanks for reminder: I may just go buy a book for a friend(s) today! :)

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Good Girls Do by Cathie Linz

(Romance)
Cathie Linz website
4 stars







TBR Challenge for August
This event stay until Friday August 31, 2007
For August, read a book that contains your name or the name of someone you know. Those of us with unusual names will probably have to take the second option--the name of someone we know. Examples from Darla shelves:
Crazy for You by Jennifer Crusie (heroine's best friend is Darla)

Remember When by Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb (Darla Price Davis is an eccentric twin)

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (my daughter's name is Dagny)
As always, let us know what you read, how you liked it, how it fits the challenge, and how long it had been in your TBR pile.

I chose to read this book for the TBR Challenge for August, the challenge originally came from the yahoo group that I joined with Darla (please visit her blog). And each months the challenge will be different. Because the name "Julia" contain my name, the book fit the August TBR challenge above this post. I did not have chance to read the book until now. And I know am late to post it, since it is now September, but it better late than never *grin*. Shortly, I will have the TBR Challenge for September at my side bar. Watch for it :)

Julia Wright, love her job at the local library in Serenity Falls. She didn't think anything can go wrong in a nice and quiet place like this...not until her wacky mother, her sister and her little niece all decided to move in and crash her quiet home. And a new "bad boy" guy Luke, decided to come to town in his Harley and shaken her up

Luke Maguire, who left home to get away from his father, never thought he would set a foot back to a dull town in Serenity Falls ever again. But when his father died and left him to take care of the family bar, he was forced to return home. People still remember him as bad boy who was always causing trouble. And Luke never denied or correct them on it. After being away for so long, a stint in the Marines and then deep undercover in the FBI, he dread coming home. However he never thought he would stay, not until he met the feisty librarian Julia. Something about Julia made him want to stay and shake her up a bit and tempted the good girl to be bad.

At first I wasn't sure how to reacted to the book at the beginning. Because Julia's family was bit too much wacky and weird for me, to be honest. I almost put the book aside and pick up another book, but I decided to keep reading. Since I know some of my friends, who always give me good recommendation I trust, seem to like the book. So I want to see what is it they like about it. I love that Luke had two layer of personality side in him. The bad and the good. I love how he not what everyone thoughts he seem to be. And I love that he is the type of character I like to read in heroes. I love that Julia is Liberian with a "good girl" rep but that Luke trying to changed that in her to become bad.

Good Girls Do was a fun and good book. There are humors and delightful moments and the main characters are hot together. But while I enjoyed the book, it is not my favorite book.

Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann

(Contemporary Military Romance)
Suzanne Brockmann website
5 stars






This is the 6th installment to the Troubleshooter team 16, and I'm re-reading this book with my friend Angela. I've delay posting the review for this book (and the rest of the installments) because I've been reading other books at same time as well. And just haven't gotten around to post reviews than. I brought this one when it was first released in hardcover. And it was also the first book that was personalize autographed by Suzanne too. I knew I couldn't wait for it to release in paperback, so I brought it even though I was bit upset that it was releasing in hardcover. Since than I started to buy all Suzanne latest books in hardcover because I thought it worth it :)

This book is one of my favorite, because we finally get the story that center on the longest time greatest lover, Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke. We watch both suffer through emotional heartbreak, pain, jealousy and loves through out the whole series from the beginning. Finally, we get to see their story and learn more about Sam past, his family and history background.

The book begin when bad boy Navy SEALs, Sam Starrett is on his way driving to Florida to met up with Mary Lou after waiting 3 weeks for her to sent the divorce papers back. And she was not answering his calls. The divorce was all set, after both Sam and Mary Lou realized that their marriage was screwed up and didn't want to live with these quilt and make each other miserable anymore. But instead, Sam was greet with a dead body in the kitchen, once he reached the destination house. He discover that Haley has disappeared and wonder if Mary Lou is dead.

FBI agent Alyssa locke is assigned to lead the murder investigation of the dead body. Upon finding out that Sam's daughter Haley is missing, she met up with him in Florida. It has been 6 months since she last saw him, when both worked together to stop terrorists from assassination U.S president. But seeing each other again, have stirred up memory of the past, and their love for each other arise once again. Sam is weak when it come to Alyssa and want to get her back even though he knew FBI agent Max Bhagat had feeling for her. When some information has surfaces that could links Sam to unsolved assassination plot, she is faced with dilemma to arrest him or risk losing her career. Wanting to fight the attraction between them, Alyssa did everything she can to solve the crime.

While Alyssa investigation, Lieutenant Commander, Tom Paoletti is order to go to the base for questioning regarding the weapons the terrorists had used and whether if he has any connection to them. And Kelly decided to help to prove Tom innocence.

The WWII tell flashback romance story between interracial relationship and connection with people in present day.

You'll see more installment relationship between FBI agent Max Bhagat and Gina Vitagliano. They have kept in touch, even after that one nightmare incident when the plan was hijacked. He have tried to fight his feeling for Gina ever since, but she want more from him and won't give up. And so they met again.

We will also see another favorite character again, FBI agent Jules Cassidy who is there to listen to everyone problem. And we also met some of the previous SEALs again. Also we first met cop Ric Alvarado, who story is in the latest book #11 Force of Nature.

Gone Too Far is lot of intense emotion that is compelling and passionate between Sam and Alyssa. It very refreshing on reading story about interracial relationship and finding love. The characters all blend in together making interesting story. This is less adventures but a small action at the end. It focus more on Sam background and history and relationship between his relationship with Alyssa. Also it focus on previous characters relationship too.

This is one of my favorite book, cause all my favorite characters are seen in this book. We watch them grow as they find loves. And it the final HEA for Sam and Alyssa. Great book!

Comfort Food

Booking Through Thursday

Okay . . . picture this (really) worst-case scenario: It’s cold and raining, your boyfriend/girlfriend has just dumped you, you’ve just been fired, the pile of unpaid bills is sky-high, your beloved pet has recently died, and you think you’re coming down with a cold. All you want to do (other than hiding under the covers) is to curl up with a good book, something warm and comforting that will make you feel better.

What do you read?

(Any bets on how quickly somebody says the Bible or some other religious text? A good choice, to be sure, but to be honest, I was thinking more along the lines of fiction…. Unless I laid it on a little strong in the string of catastrophes? Maybe I should have just stuck to catching a cold on a rainy day….)

Okay when I think of comfort read, I think of a book that I can escape from and forget about everything else. Just sitting in bed and be by myself for awhile. SO I couldn't just pick one.

I might turn to my favorite classic books, mostly my childhood favorite. Or I might read a book from Nicolas Sparks. Many of his books have inspirational. And the books might get me in touch with being closer to someone I loved who died recently. But than, I might want to laugh a little and would chose to read Janet Evanovich's Stephanie's Plum books. Those are a laugh a minute everytime. And there are yummy men to drool over. These books always make me cheerful and smiles.

But nothing compare to reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Everytime I read it, I felt like am a kid who is sitting down on the floor and listening to Diana telling me one of the greatest book in history. I can truly see myself escape from her books and not worry about anything else. It will swept me away into the history back to the places where Clare end up and fall in love with Jamie all over again. I'd be pulled into the adventures and the battle they faced. And felt like I was with them everywhere they go. The book is too much detailed and too many fact about the battle war, but once you get pass through all that - it is worth it when the scenes focus on Jamie and his love for Clare. Every scenes with them is heart warming, romantic and yet sad too. Their love for one another made me appreciate things around me and the people in my life. So yes, I can escape into Outlander :)

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare

(Romantic Suspense)
Pamela Clare website
4 half stars






Kara McMillan, a single mom and journalist reporter, has given up on men after her boyfriend dumped her when he found out she was pregnant. It have been more than 5 years now, and most of her priority is focus on her job and her son. But everything changed when her friend Holly took her to a bar, buy her drinks and tell her to find someone she want to spent the night with and make her intentions be known. Enter Senator Reece Sheridan, the man she had interviewed over the phone but never met. Although she have only seen him from the front page papers, she thought he is good looking in person. After many Margarita later, the conversation about sex and Kara being drunk made her act like an idiot.....enough for her to feel embarrassment the next day after she remember the things she said last night. But Reece find himself having fun and enjoy her company that he ask her out on a date a few day later. One date lead to another, and their love affair take them to next levels.

Kara next assignment take her to dangerous risk, when she was given a lead by whistleblower about something happen near the factory in Denver area. She went to investigate and found something that she feel she need to report. But to prove it existed, she must have the whistleblower's video tapes and the state health department documents. But someone has threaten her life because she won't stop and back off. And suddenly, now their love affair has turn into political scandal and had attempts on Kara life and even her career. And not only that, she had put her family in danger as well.

The book started out great, but than the story began to slowly moved along and it all about the issues of Kara investigation mostly on environment issues. It also almost(but not really) slowly took the characters time to built up their attraction before they get to bedroom scenes. But when it finally did happen, some scenes was sensual love scenes and sexually romantic. And the action pick up in middle too. I love how Kara's son Connor interacted with Reece and accepted him in his mother life. And I love how Reece understood how hard it was for single mom like Kara to struggle with being there for her son and going to work everyday. Both Kara and Reece has a common likeness with past family background. Both characters were likable. Kara was brave, strong and determined person. And Reece was patience, kind, sweet and a tough guy.

Extreme Exposure was a easy pace reading with sexual romance, likable characters and good plot. I didn't get that wow moments even though there was/is some hot scenes and when a bit of action finally happen. Also when someone redeem themself and did wonderful thing at the end. But I enjoy the book and think it was good. I consider reading the next book, but I think that will be a couple few days :)

Extreme Exposure is part of a series and it the first book. It continue with Hard Evidence and with the novella "Heaven Can't Wait" in Catch of the Day. The next installment is Unlawful Contact

Into the Night by Suzanne Brockmann

(Contemporary Military Romance)
Suzanne Brockmann website
4.5 stars






This is the next installment to Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter team 16 series. This is the 5th book and I'm re-reading this with my friend Angela. I finish the book on Sept 5th, but I just now start published it today instead.

A White House Public Relations Assistant, Joan DaCosta is sent to serves as liaison and setup a demonstration of SEAL rescue techniques when the President decides to present an award to the team at their naval base in San Diego. It was there when she met Mike Muldoon, who is assigned to interact with civilians who come to the naval base for a tour. He end up having attraction toward her, but Joan put a stop to it and tell him that he is too young for her and that she think of him as "little brother".

The WWII background is about Vince DaCosta and Charlotte Fletcher DaCosta, who is Joan's grandparent. Vince is a veteran of WWII, who fought in the Pacific and also was injured at "Bloody Tarawa". During the war, Charlotte met Vince while she was working in a Senator's office in Washington, D.C. And because Vince knew that her first husband died at Pearl Harbor, he thought he is second to Charlotte heart. But in truth, he never knew that he was always first in her heart.

Than we see the next installment of rising heartbreak relationship between Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke as they tried to hide their feeling for each other and move on with their lives. Sam start to speculate the relationship between Alyssa and Max. Sam is now married to Mary Lou, who is a SEAL groupie and the mother of his baby. She thought that if she married a SEAL, with a home and a baby, it would bring her automatic happiness. But never have she known that she got lot of lesson to be learn. Through out their marriage, Sam was miserable without his Alyssa.

Ihbraham Rahman, is born in Saudi Arabia but he's naturalized American citizen. Mary Lou thinks that he is "the yard guy" since he always is seen in the neighbor, cutting someone lawn. She find that it help to tell him her problem when she with him. But than she later discover something about him, that she wonder if he is who he said he is. And this worry her because she think she have fallen in love with him.

Into the Night is less adventure, a little action but is more romance and a bit of sad heartbreak. The exciting part happen at the half end of the pages. You will met up with the Troubleshooter team 16 and FBI: Jules and Max again. And including other new players. There are so many times that I want to slap Joan on the head, because she drive me nuts. And Mike, even though he is good looking and sweet he drive me nuts too. And Sam, Alyssa and Mary Lou drama just make me sad but yet I want to slap them too *grin*. I did enjoy the book, but it is one of my least favorite of the series.

Goldilocks

Booking Through Thursday

Okay, so the other day, a friend was commenting on my monthly reading list and asked when I found the time to read. In the ensuing discussion, she described herself as a “goldilocks” when it comes to reading–she needs to have everything juuuuuust right to be able to focus. This caught my attention because, first, I thought that was a charming way of describing the condition, but, two, while we’ve talked about our reading habits, this is an interesting wrinkle. I’d never really thought about it that way.

So, this is my question to you–are you a Goldilocks kind of reader?

Do you need the light just right, the background noise just so loud but not too loud, the chair just right, the distractions at a minimum?

Or can you open a book at any time and dip right in, whether it’s for twenty seconds, while waiting for the kettle to boil, or indefinitely, like while waiting interminably at the hospital–as long as the book is open in front of your nose, you’re happy to read?


- I'm not sure if I describe myself as the Goldilocks, since I can read either way. If I waited the perfect time to read, than I will never get any of my reading done. I'm always reading in front of my TV, during commercial break or when certain scenes on the shows does not interested me. Sometime I even have a small musics in the background playing while am reading too. And I do read while am boiling water or heating up something in the oven. I pretty much read anywhere, anytime. When I want to read, I just get to it. (except when am riding in car. the motions make me feel ill/sick when I read)

However, depending on how the authors writing flow, I may need to find the right time and place to read it and have less noises in the background. Because sometime I need to read the book slowly and smoothly to understand the story better. Some need concentration and "mood". Example: The Outlander series...IMO.

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!