Oh new reading series

So, on Jason's urging I have started reading some of the Dragon Lance books.  I have always been hesitant about starting these series.  Lets be clear, there are a lot of Dragon Lance books.  I am not reading them all.  I am reading the ones by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.  These are the works I think most of the early D&D games were based on.  In fact, the first book I read felt just like that, a D&D campaign being told as an epic story.  Which, of course, means that I am totally hooked.

I have finished the first book.  It was odd.  You do not start at the beginning.  The friendships and relationships are already established for the most part.  I felt like I was playing catch up the first few chapters.  Then the story kicked into high gear and I did not notice.  It was a great thrilling book, that quite literally had me laughing out loud frequently.

I am currently about a third of the way into the second book and much like the first it is told as a great campaign.  Also, here you don not start where you expected.  It does not pick up right where book one ended but instead a few months down the line.  I was worried I had the wrong book and checked several times to make sure it was the right one.  But the story has started and I no longer care about missing one adventure as now I am off on another.

My hope is to have the second book done before Thanksgiving.  That way I can read the third one by the New Years.

Fortune Telling

For those not aware (and there are many), I am a novice fortune teller.  I actually really love the tarot.  I collect decks and I give decks as gifts so my collection is always growing and shrinking.  Tarot has been a part of me since I was a teenager.  I read in college for my friends, I read in England also for my friends, and I have read for charity.  I do not find the cards evil. I do not see them as demonic.  I see them as a line into the unknown that guides me to the past, the present and the future of my reader's soul/psyche/river of life.

I have not been upfront with my passion, in fact I have been known to hide it in the shadows.  This has made the currents angry.  Yes, you read that right.  I believe in life currents.    I believe items have power beyond what we see.  Thus when I say the currents are mad, I mean my cards are mad at me.  They refuse to answer questions or do so in the most infuriating manner.  So, to make them happy and to return to our balance I am bring them back into the light!  I will hide "my wicked ways" no more!  There I have said it, and it feels so very good.

I do have many decks (current count is about 7) but I primarily read with only one deck.  I love her, she speaks to my soul so easily.  Yes, my deck is a girl just ask her yourself.   She is an Arthurian Legends deck published by Llewellyn's and art by Anne-Mare Ferguson.  She was given to me (as all great decks are) by my sisters who understand me better than I do myself.  She was with me in England, in fact my best friend there had the same deck!  She was also the deck that I used to first read my husband, which is how we met.

Sample of the artwork

My hope is to spend some time posting tarot card studies, linking articles on fortune telling, and may be even digital readings.

Now that I have taken months off.

Well I was not meaning to disappear for months on end.  I really was intending to come back sooner.  I just need sometime to find a way.  That means yet again I have changed the look of the blog.  Hope you like it.

Jason is still in school and doing very well.  He is a very busy bee.  He should be done fall semester 2016.  That is our hope.  Fingers crossed!!

I am still baking, crafting, and reading up a storm.   I am so far behind on my to do list that I am getting pissed at myself.   I should have been done with so many projects by now but I just cannot seem to get them started properly.  So far this month's list stand at:

• Jeremiah's Tunic
• Hoite's Apron
• Christmas gift 1
• Christmas gift 2
• Lotion Bars for stockings (requires buying a mold, like this.)
• Stockings?

It is a stout list but one I think that is do-able.  A few items can be carried over to next month.

I have been having a ball the past few months by dancing.  I have been taking belly dance with a friend/owner at Moon Haven Studios.  This is making me feel worlds better about myself.  I am so badly out of shape and this has been one of the best ways to get my energy back up.  I have danced with her before so I am not so anxious about myself around her.  I am sure at times she is ready to shoot me but it is so nice to feel safe enough about myself to talk without fear.  Truly love her for that feeling alone!!

This is from the first class a few years back.

Neglecting you lot

I have been neglecting my blog.  I know that this space serves very little purpose but it is still a nice exercise.  I should keep it up more.

So what I have I been doing?  Well, actually a lot.  Jason is back in school and going strong.  I am still at work.  I am also still happily yarn-ing away.

I have made a lovely shawl for Kelley, who moved to Alaska!  She is the librarian at the school in Chevak.  Kelley left in July and Shannon leaves this week.  The pictures she sends are amazing, such a different world from here.  Kelley has always been our traveler and this adventure is right up her alley.

I also made some beanie hats for a family member who will be starting chemo here soon.  We are hoping for a short run then into remission.  She should be learning more today about what the biopsy found.  Fingers crossed.  I do know that her Dr wants to be very aggressive in the treatment.  We may be making another trip to visit them again during the holiday season.

I actually really like making hats.  I have a new but great friend who is moving to Texas next week but I am going to send him some wool hats.  I hate to see my new friends go away so quickly but I cannot blame him.

I am a NINJA!  :)

We had our birthdays last week.  Jason was extra nice to me and spirited me off to Florida for a weekend to visit our best friends down there.  It is so nice to get the chance to see them again.  I know I talk to them everyday on lone but it is still great to sit down and talk over  coffee of sushi.  That was Jason's gift to me.  I made him a new thing for winter.  I made him a hooded cowl in his colors.  It was an easy fun project that he loves the final product.

Since I have been crafting so much, which feels wonderful, I have fallen way behind on my reading.  I think I need to create right now, that is what feels really good to me.  I need to also go on photo walks again.  I have not been doing that since my computer has been wonky.  I should be getting that sorted in a few weeks.  I then get to start thinking on future projects.

Hoite's has opened!

After a few bumps in the road.  Hoite's had it's opening day yesterday.  I am so very proud of David and Melinda.  This has been a lot of hard work for them.  YAY Hoites!

My lovely weekend

I had a great weekend. I really did.  I was out with Amtgard friends for the large part of it and will be posting an entry on The MacCoill Life about that.

The other big event this weekend was Hoite's Friend and Family day.  Loads of yummies.  I did not get to eat there since I was there as the shutterbug.  I did take 2 go plates for Jason and I.  I was in heaven.  I went back to my campsite and got some serious envy looks from the others!  I will be post pictures from  the event here later this week as well as the website, facebook, twitter and instagram.  I am going a little nuts with the socail media.

I went to bed early Saturday night, well early for being at a camping party.  I was not feeling right and just konked right out.  Well, I knew why Sunday morning.  Migriane....yep that dreaded pain.  I spent the whole morning hiding in the barn.  I am very photosenstive during migraines.  The barn was still too bright but not as bad as being outside.  So, I directed the clean up from in there, yep I was in charge of site clean up but could not walk around.  I just stayed inside eating chocolate (not a trigger food but a comfort food) and directing minions to oversee the cleaning.  The ride home consisted of listening to The Neverending Story and lots of whimpering.

Even with the unhappy head stuff of Sunday my weekend was glorious!  I love taking pictures for family and friends and weekends like this are great.

Random Photo

I normally keep my LARP activities off this blog.  I have a blog done up just for that but this picture is just so sweet.  I love sharing it.

Follow me to the battle Daddy.

Summer's Lazy Haze

I have caught the lazy hze of summer.  I don't know if it is everywhere or just here in the Applachian region but when summer hits everything slows to a crawl.  I have noticed that when I walk out of my cool air conditioned apartment, it feels like I have walked into invisible pea soup.  I will look forwar to Sept and Oct when the cool fall air starts to filter in.

I have not been doing as much.  This is going to change here soon.  I noticed this weekend that last time I lved downtown i was doing "photo-walks" at least once a month.  I would just walk around the neighborhood or the riverwalk and take photos.  I have not done this since we have moved back.  So that is a new goal.  To roam around and catch new moments.

I know I did not do my June book recap.  I am just going to add it in with July next week.  :)

May Reads

I am more than a little behind with this post.  I just have been slacking in a total way.  I did read or listen to a number of books in May.

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowery

This is the second book in the Giver Trilogy.  I was not really looking forward to it.  I am not a huge fan of series books having new characters and stories in the books.  I got over it.  I loved it.  I loved the characters, I loved the society, I loved the dysfunctional views, I just loved it all.  This story centers on one girl, an orphan, who is disabled.  Who by normal practices would not have existed.  She does and her story is amazing.  I am gushing still and it has been weeks since I finished the book.  GO READ IT, read it now.

Shadow Kissed and Blood Promise By Rachel Mead

I am still enjoy the antics of Rose as my guilty literary pleasure.  I read both these books because I do handle cliff hangers well.  Well played Ms Mead!  SK had great character development and action.  Everything in the first 3/4 of this book seems to be coming up Rose-y.  Then is all goes horrible.  I was so mad by the end of this book that I almost rage quit the series.  But, I went on ahead and grabbed the next book.  BP was almost all Rose and what she was dealing with. This book allowed great platform for introductions for new characters, and new divisions of their society.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Yet, another series in a new POV.  This book does contain Cinder story as well but does center on the new Scarlet arc.  It was annoying at first.  We were left hanging off the Cinder cliff at the end of the first book.  Once the Scarlet story got under my skin I was hooking and began anxiously awaiting her segments in the story.  A great sequel to Cinder and did not disappoint.

Somekind of Fairy Tale By Graham Joyce

This was not what I was expecting. It was very different but also very enjoyable. I am glad that I decided to finish it. Overall I would say it was disappointing with too much going on to really feel a connection to any character.

I also reread SAA Books The Peach Keeper and The Girl Who Chased The Moon.

Something new and interesting

We all know how quickly technology changes.  It gets better, faster, smaller and more expensive.  Yes, for the most part smaller=$$$.  I can understand why.  Companies invest so much in developing thier products.  They have to see a return on what was put in.  Right?

Well there is a Kickstarter that is throwing that model right out the window.  They are making an uber small chip computer that will sell for 9$.  Nope, I did not miss a number there, I did say 9$.

Now do not expect a typical computer.  C.H.I.P is a tiny computer.  You can surf the net.  You can create documents using libreoffice.  You can connect it to your existing tv/monitor.  You can even connect it to a bluetooth!

I think this is a totally awesome project.  It is an open source project and the CHIP comes with "Scratch - an easy to learn language that teaches the basics of programing by making stories, games, and animations"

April reads

I have been binge reading this month.  I actually tried to read 2 other books but they did not make the cut.  I just could not do it.

Lowcountry Boneyard
Genre: sluething, southern read, murder, mystery
Netgalley

I normally do not like stepping into a series this far in but I am glad for the outcome.  Lowcountry Boneyard was a great adventure!  Yes, I spent a lot of time being confused about Colleen and the romantic background of Lix but it all was sorted by the end.  Great twist, I kinda had an inkling there was a big turn coming but it was a a blind turn.  This is another great weekend/beach read.  I would defiantly recommend this to many friends.  Hey go read this!

A Discovery of Witches
Genre: fantasy, magical realism, drama, romance

I am in love with Diana and Matthew.  I will just come right out and say it.  I love them.  They are amazing.  Matthew, a vampire, drawn to Diana, a witch, in a taboo love story.  I mean what could be better.  Oh yeah, the fact that the ruling body for Vampires, Daemons and Witches want them to end their affair and deliver their magic book.  This story is a whirlwind of mystery, intrigue, seduction and self discovery.  I am absolutely foaming at the mouth for the next one.  (already purchased and started)

Blackbird House
Genre history, fiction, short stories

This was checked out on a whim.  I was not sure what I was expecting but it was totally not what I got.  I got something so much better.  This is a collection of short stories that all connect to the same house over the course of several decades and several families.  Each story was just the right size with great plots and characters.  I listened to this in audio format which was just magical.  Each story was read by a different person making the stories really stand out.  I just cannot recommend this book enough, and please listen to the audiobook (storytelling bonus!).

Shadow of the Night
Genre: fantasy, magical realism, drama, romance, history

I had to jump right into this book when I finished A Discovery of Witches.  I am not sure that was wise.  May be it would have been best to have a palette cleaner in between.  I did really enjoy this book.  Matthew and Diana are still entrancing and awesome.  Their adventures in 1590 were amazing.  Yet, by the end of this book I was a bit overdone.  Too much too soon.  I am going to get the last book in a few weeks.  This is a great series and I still want everyone to read these books.  Great characters, great dialogue, and a wonderful story.


I am trying to use the goodread widgets just becasue, well they are easy!

TBR

Meg's favorite books »

random dress idea

I like to sew but I have not done it much in the last few years.  Inspiration has hit but I don't think the dress will come to be.  Still I want to share my idea.

The dress pattern from Colette.

The dress is in 2 parts.  The base dress and a cumberband.  The base can always be worn alone.

I would want something more durable for the base dress.

I think the cumberband allows for some fun and whimsy to be added to the dress.

both fabrics are from spoonflower.com

yep I am a fangril.

Red Lips

Ages ago I wrote a post about buying RED lipstick.  I was struggling with the idea to wear it.  Would I look trashy?  Would I be mocked?  Would it turn bright orange?  Ok, the third one is an issue I have with many lipsticks.  I actually had a cosmetic clerk take it as a personal challenge to find one of her red lipstick products that would not turn orange on me...I cannot wear Clinque reds.  I have come to find out that I am not the only person who has those first 2 issues.  Loads of people do.

After several weeks, I cracked and wore it.  I was quiet and tried to hide that day.  When I say hide I mean from everyone, myself included.  That first day I was so nervous but nothing bad happen.  My coworkers commented that I had bright lips and asked if I normally wear make up (I do everyday).  Today is probably the 4th or 5th time I have worn my RED lips.  I love them!  I feel more confident, more attractive, and more outgoing.  I find on days when I wear this lipstick I think more about my other make up and about my appearance overall.

Many men and loads of women do not understand the power of lipstick.  I grew up with my Grandmothers always wearing lipstick.  I do not remember either of them wearing a true red in front of me, but I have seen the pictures where Grandmother Kelley was wearing hers.  She was a knock out!  When I became a teenager they both (Grandmother Wilhoite too) started hinting that lipstick was important.  "A lady always wears lipstick" one of them would say as they quickly applied lipstick before getting out of the car.  By this time in their life both wore muted or subtle lips,  I was young and very much a tomboy so I just rolled my eyes.  It was not until I was in Grad school that I understood.  Lipstick was not only a way to look pretty but a way to feel pretty inside.  I am still a tomboy, and I will go lazy days without lipstick.  But I feel more like myself with it.

Katy Kelley

Margaret Wilhoite

and me

I am not the only one who has noticed this trend.  I just read an article about red lips; How Lipstick (Yes, Lipstick) Can Instantly Make Your Day Better.  Reading this article is a good way to see into how I see lipstick.

"The most important part of wearing lipstick, however, is how you feel when you wear it. A recent poll by the British Heart Foundation found that 26 percent of women reported feeling more confident while wearing red lipstick, and it's not hard to see why."

So break out a red lipstick and try it out.  Feel the boost!  My color of choice Revlon Super Lustrous in Certainly Red.

March Books

This month I did something new.  I signed up with NetGalley to be a reviewer.  This will allow me to read upcoming books.  I am looking forward to all the new authors and stories that I might have otherwise missed.  I will add Netgalley to the entries that are Net Galley ARC, also I will post the reviews to Goodreads before here (most likely).

Strange and Ever After by Susan Dennard
Generes: fantasy/teen/steampunk/magic

This is the last book in the Something Strange and Deadly trilogy.  I am still in love with Eleanor, Daniel, Jie, Joseph and Oliver.  They are wonderful characters with great development.  But, I am unhappy with the story.  At times it felt like the plot was lost with all action.  The love arc felt rushed and confused.  Most of all I was just disappointed with the ending.  It felt too bland.  I also missed the wit, that clever banter found in the first 2 books was sadly lacking in the third.  Overall I would recommend this to anyone who has read the other books but only with the caveat that this is the last book and end of the story.

The Liar's Bench by Kim Michele Richardson
Generes: fiction/southern US/teen/history
NetGalley Book

I am conflicted about this book.  It has a great story but it felt like forever getting to it.  The flashbacks were frequent and not always necessary to the course of the story.  Certain details were referred to but not told of until much much later in the book.  I liked the first quarter and the last quarter of the book but it just felt too disorganized in the middle.  Overall I liked this book.  Mudas is an excellant character.  The setting of 1972 Kentucky is pretty well done.

Cold Deception by D.B. Tait
Generes: mystery/romance
NetGalley Book

I guess I was in need of change.  I actually really enjoyed this book.  I have not read a mystery in ages.  I should really start to fx that.  I was thinkig I was just getting a fluffy mystery with a little romance but I got so much more. Julia is a strong and relatable character who you will cheer to suceed. She has just been released from prison and finding her footing when everthing just goes plain wrong. Set in Austrlia, a new setting for me, with wonderful discrpitions of the land and people.

Seconhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell
Generes: paranormal, romance, witchy, mystery
Audiobook

This was my pick for the "year of new to me books".  I went out on a limb with this book.  It is not something I would have looked at if Goodreads had not kept putting it on the recommend screen.  I am very glad that they did.  It was a bit of cute to end the month on.  Now, this is not some great mystery thriller.  But instead a great little kookie read for a weekend of giggles.  I really like the main character and her back story.  Oscar is adorable.  I am looking forward to tracking down more of these to read later on.  On the plus side, the voice actress for the audio book is very pleasant!!



I am rather excited about my reading list for April.  It is shaping up to be all over the place!  I love it when that happens. So far this is my TBR list:

• Discovery of Witches
• Lowcounttry Boneyard (Netgalley)
• The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy (Netgalley)
• Blackbird House (audiobook)

Weekly photo challenge

I have hit a creative wall when it comes to my photography.  I need an infusion of ideas.  I went serching for a photography challenge.  I found many 30 day challenges but they did not thrill me at all.  In fact, they seemed rather bland all and all.

I stumbled accrossed the weekly challenge on The Daily Post and I like the format.  I know that if you are on wordpress you can particpate easily but I am not on wordpress.  I will still be posting a new picture for the weekly challenge, just not sure on what day.  The challenges are announced on Friday,  I think Wednesday will give me enough time to complete the task.

March 20th announcement

Fresh (not new photo)

My favorite app

 I know everyone claims to have a favorite app but this app has been on every one of my phones!  Yes, both my iphone and my android phones.  That is a huge plus in my book.  Since I started this app as a webapp in my Chrome browser I did not have to start over when I moved to the dreaded iphone. 

DUOLINGO

This is a forgien language study app.  It consists of different quizes at varying levels.  I am level 7 but still in the first teir of the German program.  As you complete lessons they will turn golden but if you let it sit idle for too long they will go back to needing work or strengthening.

I am studing German, which I had taken in High School.  Jason lived for many years in Geramny so it is what I want to learn.  I really enjoy it.  The lessons are short and very easy to digest.  I recommned this to anyone of any age who wants an easy way to learn a new langauge or maintain a langauge.

Screen of the web page for me.

Lesson selection screen and Question screen in the moblie app.

Tarot card of the year

I was sorting emails this morning when I finally open the Llewellyn's tarot newsletter.  (For those who do not know, I am an amateur tarot reader.  In fact that is how I met Jason, but that is a whole another post.) The main article was about my favorite card, Strength.  It was actually chosen by Jeanette Roth at the North Star Tarot Conference to be the card for 2015.

She spoke about the history and evolution of the card meaning.  What I liked the most is that her interpretation of the strength card is the same as mine.

Jeanette surprised us all again by going back to the root of the word that is on the oldest cards that still exist: "La Forza." Jeanette says that the original meaning of that word is courage. So the question is more properly expressed as:
"The question is not will you handle your problems with physical strength or by using your will but, rather, do you have the courage to face the things you need to face?"

I have always seen and used the card in this fashion.  There is something on the horizon that you will have to muster the strength to face.

February reads

I did a lot of reading in February, which is surprising since I also moved.  Jason and I are officially living in downtown Chattanooga.  I love the new place, and I will have a reading patio come the spring.  I am looking forward to morning cuppas and books on the patio!!  SQUEE!




Freak of Nature by Julia Crane

This was a freebie that I downloaded on a whim ages ago just to have as a back up book.  I should have started it sooner.  It is written a bit simply but that is due to the age of the main character, Kaitlyn.  This is a very interesting twist on the coming of age story type.  It is a story of a young lady who has donated her body to science.  Her body has been used to create the first cyborg weapon/soldier but her mind, her emotions, she has survived.  Worth a read and I am planning on picking up more in this series once time allows.

Hit List and Bullet by Anita Blake

I really have enjoyed the series,  But now I am on the fence.  The books did go back towards Anita Blake vampire executioner and smart/bad ass.  It still seemed to not have the correct ratio with her ever problematic love life and her profession.  Plus the ending of a major arc was SO DISAPPOINTING!  I mean you build up to this point over many books and then finish it in 3 pages at the end of a book.  Not cool!  I have been reading the reviews on the next book and cannot honestly find the desire to read it yet.  May be later on this year I will pick it up.


Vampire Academy and Frost Bite (Vampire Academy #2) by Rachelle Mead

I am sucked in (no that pun was not intended).  I picked up this series after reading a few quotes on Goodreads and it is enjoyable.  Good character development, and some nice story lines to go along with it.  This series is so worthy of recommendations.  Yes, it is vampires and teenage drama angst.  Just think of it as a guilty pleasure like Pretty in Pink.


The Gallery of Vanished Husbands by Natasha Solomons

Look I read big people ficition.  This was a whim.  I am still not sure how I feel about it.  I liked it, the story was engaging.  It just felt a bit bland.  Too much detail on one side and not enough in others, very unbalanced.  I can understand the imbalance  but still makes me not happy.  I am not sure if I would think to recommend this book to others.  It just does not stand out at all.

First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen

Very much worth the wait.  I loved this book.  Which is not surprising, I love this author.  I have read this book twice.  I love rereading her stories.  Bay shines in this book as the main spotlight along with Claire.  All the Waverly women are there in thier odd glories.  It is most assuredly magical realism.  I cannot place why I love these stories or why I tell everyone to read them but I do.  So enjoy and look forward for more great things from this author.

This is not a rant

I am not ranting, I am venting.  Nothing following this is a statement made in anger.  I just want to let you know that.

Today has been a slow day in the office where I am working.  So, of course, we are talking in the office area.  I tell a funny story from living in England.  I was not even thinking about explaining why I lived in England.  Of course, that is the next question asked.

Coworker: Why did you live in England?
Me: um, I was going to school to get my masters degree.
Coworker:  Really!  What in?
Me: Radio Production
Coworker:  So why are you not working in that?

I hate that question.  It is an honest question to ask.  I cannot fault them for it at all.  I smile and explain that when the economy hit the rough patch everything consolidated.  There are truly not that many radio positions in this region.  They smile and the conversation moves on.  Me, I am left wondering what is wrong with me.  Where did I fail, did I miss a simple step somewhere?  No, I don't tell them about the years of applying to every station east of the Mississippi, nor do I tell them I have interviewed with every radio group in town.

I don't know where I made my mistake.  I wish I did, I would fix it but....

I am a peaceful person but...

I am generally a very mild laid back kind of person.  I like it that way.  So when I say that I am irritated to the point of being pissy you will understand.

Ok for those who do not know my background, I am a radio person.  I have my MA in Radio and a BA in Mass Media.  I loved working in the radio station.  Since entering the working force I have not been able to find a job in radio.  I tried and tried but bills and life required a job in anything.  So, I gave up my dream.  My dream to work in public radio.  I love that public radio is local and unique to the area.

Today during lunch I was listening to my local NPR station WUTC.  There was a happy/upbeat/reggae-esque song playing that was followed by a slow/mellow/ballad.  Yes, this is a bad transition.  There needed to be a medium song in there or another song totally.  This is forgivable.  What has me in a state is that the DJ pressed STOP!  Yes, he stopped the song, no fade just a hard stop.  Then popped on to say "Sorry that was not the song I wanted", 3 seconds dead air, new upbeat song starts.  What REALLY drives me batty is HE has done this once before in recent weeks.  How inept are you that you did not check that the song PROGRAMMED to run next is indeed the correct bloody song!

I should go in and demand his job just due to that fact I have not messed up my playlist since my first show nor have I have hard stopped a song.

**edit
With futher research the DJ has been there for 28 years!  No excuse!

Crafty time

I missed last weeks posting due to just feeling utterly ill and now Jason has been sick so i am just totally behind on everything.  I have been crafting but no desire to actually sit at the computer and post.  I am still crocheting a lot.  It is easy to do at work.  But soon (like this month) we will be moving into a new apartment and I will I have sewing space again and will be having fun with that.

I have not been baking.  I find it very hard for bread to rise in a cold kitchen.  Once in the apartment I will be baking again.

Below are my crochet works for the past month.

1. Eggy shopping bag
2. kindle cover (shown as WIP but is done)
3. (WIP) Baby Owl
4. Flower Doily
5. (not shown) Gypsy wig.

January Book Wrap

Last year I was pitiful in my reading.  I set a goal to read 50 books and fell just shy of that goal.  This year my goal again is 42 (sames as 2013).  As you read at the end of December, I have a plan this year.  A good start to the books reading goal.

I started the month off not with my January pick but instead with a book that was gifted to me.  Liz gave me Seeing Redd (book 2 of The Looking Glass Wars).  I did enjoy this book but it became obvious quickly that this would never be a stand alone read and that it was written as a middle book.  I thoroughly enjoyed the character arcs and the storyline itself progressed in a most enjoyable fashion.  I am slightly addicted to all things Alice so I am always happy to enjoy a re-imagining of my favorite classic.

My book selection for Jan was Hollow City by Ransom Riggs. This is the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children and just as creepily enchanting. This book picks up almost exactly where the first one let off. Kudos, for no missing beats. Hollow City is a journey book and that makes it jam pack with adventures. I loved the characters, I am not going to spoil anyone read so that is all I will say. Sadly, this is another middle book and leaves off with another cliffhanger. That being said, I was not disappointed in this ending. It just felt right. I look forward to book 3.

Next month's book to read will be the new SAA's book First Frost. This will be her first true style sequel. She will be doing another story set in the realm of Garden Spells, Bascom NC and featuring the oddly delightful Waverly girls. I am trying not to read too much on the new book but I did want to reread the magic found in Garden Spells. I melt. This books just makes me melt into smiles and giggles. I love Bay, Claire and Sydney. I feel like I know them. This books is always a pleasure to read.

I love that I have access to a digital library.  It means I can try new series without the hideous cost.  My last book of the month was Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.  This is a "teen" book but I enjoyed it.  I still dislike when teen writers go too simple, which this book did on occasion.  I really enjoyed the main character Miss Fitts and her evolving arc during the book.  The story was action packed once it was going and had at least one good surprising twist in there.  I would say give this book a chance but be ready to want to continue the series.

Currently reading: