1st Quarter Reading Log 2015 ~ ImzadiRose
New Color Coded Ratings
1 ★ 1.5 ★ 2 ★ 2.5 ★<---Bad 3 ★ Great--->3.5 ★ 4 ★ 4.5 ★ 5 ★
Good
January ~
01 Event (Event Group 01) by David Golemon
Completed 1/3
2.5 of 5 stars
I read this book because I thought it would be like Andy McDermott’s Chase & Wilde series. It definitely was NOT anything like them and I don’t think I’ll be giving the rest of the series a try. I found it to be slow and dull. In this one, they are investigating an alien crash. Too many different parts of the story dealing with too many people and most of the time they are sitting around talking. Dull, but not horrible, just boring to me.
02 Meant for Her by Amy Gamet
Completed 1/4
2 of 5 stars
Hank needs Julie to help with a code, but Julie doesn’t trust anyone so she turns him down until she needs his protection. The non-romance part of this book was 4 stars, easily, it was really interesting and enjoyable. The insta-love was eye rolling but it’s standard in these type of books so it was just annoying, but the actual romance was horrible. It was off and on, they didn’t talk to each other they just made assumptions. What were they 10? That annoys me and only because the non-romance part was so enjoyable that it didn’t get rated a 1.
03 Little Boy Lost (Librarian 01) by Eric Hobbs
Completed 1/5
3 of 5 stars
This was a cute middle grade book about a boy and a girl who are in their local library and are intrigued by some artifacts from different stories. They find out that they aren’t just collectibles, but keys into the actual stories themselves. They find themselves in a story and learn later on that what they did in the story ended up affecting it, and not in a good way. It was a really cute read, really enjoyable for people who have ever wondered what it would be like to step into one of their favorite books.
04 Bridged (Mason Callahan 02) by Kendra Elliot
Completed 1/5
4 of 5 stars
I received this book from NetGalley for my review and enjoyed it. I love Kendra’s books and I’ve read everything she’s released so far. This one is the 2nd in the Mason Callahan series and in this one, a killer is seemingly picking victims by random and hanging them from bridges. Mason, a cop, and his FBI girlfriend Ava are on the case. I enjoyed everything with the case. A side story with Ava’s sister annoyed me.
05 Hide and Seek by P.S. Brown
Completed 1/5
3 of 5 stars
In this book, Peter finds himself waking up alone in a cabin. He then finds out his friends are all missing and he gets a call inviting him to play a childhood game of hide and seek to save his friends lives. He is sent all over the town trying to save each of his friends as time runs out. The story was interesting, different for the most part and pretty enjoyable. Would have liked the end to last longer and find out more of what happened at the end and get more answers.
06 State of Emergency (Collapse 01) by Summer Lane
Completed 1/5
3.5 of 5 stars
Cassidy is a smart HS student who is trying to make her way to a cabin in the mountains, a meeting place where her and her father have agreed to meet if anything were to happen. When the US is hit by an EM Pulse, things go haywire and she sets out to find her father. Along the way she meets up with Chris, a soldier, and they join forces to make their way through the new world of chaos. I liked the survival part of the story, didn’t really care for the romance part. It wasn’t insta-love, but pretty close. Enjoyable otherwise.
07 The Emperor’s Code (39 Clues 08) by Gordon Korman
Completed 1/6
3 of 5 stars
Been working my way through the audiobooks of 39 Clues. They are cute books. In this one they are in China and Tibet, and Dan and Amy are separated for the first time of the race. We’re finally starting to get some answers about a bunch of things. One of the more enjoyable stories all around with where they are, what they were doing and what they learned.
08 Storm Warning (39 Clues 09) by Linda Sue Park
Completed 1/7
3.5 of 5 stars
In this one they are on to the Bahamas and they are nearing the end of their adventure. They are learning more and more about themselves and their family. There’s a bit of stuff they learn that they just are NOT grasping, which is kind of dumb, considering how smart they are about everything else. Enjoyable otherwise.
09 The Game by Shane Scollins
Completed 1/7
4 of 5 stars
This book was different. The paranormal aspect wasn’t what I was expecting so that was a surprise, definitely different and interesting. The whole book kept my interest and I enjoyed it overall. My main complaint about this book is it is called “The GAME” and the actual GAME part of it lasted only 25 PAGES. What?! OMG that drives me nutters when the book isn’t about what it says it’s about. If you are going to name the book “game” and the blurb talks about the “game” the game should be the MAIN part of the story. If it had been, this would have been a 5 star book.
10 Into the Gauntlet (39 Clues 10) by Margaret Haddix
Completed 1/7
3.5 of 5 stars
The final book in the main part of the series. The series splits apart into a bunch of other series and I haven’t decided it I want to continue reading them. I did really enjoy this last book and everything that finally happened when they finally realized what they needed to do, at the very end. Took them damn long enough. It was a cute series to listen to, since they were shorter books.
11 I Can See You (Romantic Suspense 10) by Karen Rose
Completed 1/8
3 of 5 stars
I’ve been trying to work through series I started ages (in many cases years) ago, this is one of those series. I don’t know if I’m just not into these kinds of books anymore (same with the Brennan book below) or if they just aren’t good. I think it’s me. I think I’ve definitely moved beyond the romantic suspense genre, it usually bores me. This one was ok. A killer is stalking an online game and killing people IRL who he finds in the game. I thought I’d enjoy it more because of the gaming aspect, and I did like it, I just didn’t LOVE it.
12 Two Doms for Angel (Club El Diablo 05) by Holly Roberts
Completed 1/8
4 of 5 stars
These two are erotica, so I don’t give any details about those kind of books in case the person I am sending this to would be offended by such books. I did really enjoy these. Roberts is still doing BDSM the right way instead of going the way of some others (*cough*Maya Banks*cough*) and completely ignoring SSC and RACK. Ticks me off. But Roberts is doing it well and it was enjoyable.
13 Caught by Two Doms (Club El Diablo 06) by Holly Roberts
Completed 1/9
4 of 5 stars
With this book I wonder if anyone really believed what happened, because I totally didn’t, so when it changed, I wasn’t surprised at all. Nothing really is able to surprise me when it comes to books anymore which is sad, but I guess I just read too many books. It was still enjoyable.
14 The Inventor’s Secret (Cragbridge Hall 01) by Chad Morris
Completed 1/9
5 of 5 stars
I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. It was a very cute middle grade book about siblings who enter their first year at Cragbridge Hall, a wonderful school that’s so advanced they can use holo-type technology to visit things in history, rather than just reading about it in a book. Their grandfather is the founder of the school, and soon goes missing along with their parents. They were left with clues to try to find them. Such an enjoyable and fun book. I loved it a ton.
15 The Avatar Battle (Cragbridge Hall 02) by Chad Morris
Completed 1/9
5 of 5 stars
Abby and Derrick are back for another adventure in this second book. They are about to start their second semester when their talents are once again called on to stop the strange things that are happening around the school. Just as enjoyable as the first, and I recommend it for anyone who just wants to read a real feel good book, doesn’t matter the age, it’s just a good book. I loved it and I can’t wait for the 3rd when it comes out in March.
16 The Giver by Lois Lowry
Completed 1/10
No Stars, doesn’t deserve a 1 (though I rated a 1 at GRs)
I’m not going to write about this crap. It was boring until the one part, which pissed me off royally and no books sat right with me for over a week after this. I hated it, but I know that it’s my own triggers that made me hate it.
17 Stalked (Lucy Kincaid 05) by Allison Brennan
Completed 1/12
2 of 5 stars
My continued series read, I’ve been picking my way through this series and I finally decided enough was enough. I just am over this series. I never did like Lucy very much at all. She’s a mess but it’s not just that, it’s the way she acts. It’s like she always needs approval, she can’t just be content in doing things because they are the right things to do. I dunno, she just rubbed me the wrong way and I have finally decided I’m done reading this series.
18 Sandstorm (Sigma Force 01) by James Rollins
Completed 1/13
2.5 of 5 stars
I’ve been wanting to try Rollins, to get that whole Matt Reilly / Andy McDermott feel in another series, and Sandstorm was NOT it. I’ve been told that this is his worse book, so I am going to give him another try and perhaps try his standalone books as well. This one was too much talking and standing around and not enough gun fights and explosions, which is what I’m looking for. J
19 Carnival of Souls (Carnival 01) by Melissa Marr
Completed 1/16
3 of 5 stars
This one was chosen for me on my monthly TBR Poll on my blog. It’s also called the Carnival of Secrets and I thought, though I’m not really into the whole demon and witch thing, it sounded kind of neat with it’s carnival. It was OK. I didn’t hate it but I couldn’t really get fully into it because they just aren’t my thing. I was glad I read it though, but I doubt I’ll read the next in the series.
20 Reboot (Reboot 01) by Amy Tintera
Completed 1/17
3.5 of 5 stars
This book is a new take on the zombie theme and was really enjoyable. In this series, people who die are able to come back as a “reboot”. They are stronger and without emotions, so they make good soldiers. Wren is a 178, which means she was dead 178 minutes before she rebooted, which is one of the highest numbers ever. She has almost no humanity left in her, or so she thinks. When she trains Callum, a 22, her eyes are opened to so much. It was a really enjoyable story with good characters. I could have done without the romance, but that’s just what women writers think women want. I really need to start reading more male authors.
21 Don’t Turn Around (Persefone 01) by Michelle Gagnon
Completed 1/17
4 of 5 stars
At the time I’m writing this log (1/30) I can’t for the life of me remember much about this book. I know that I loved it, I rated it well and I remember the general stuff, but I can’t remember the details, which is really weird for me, especially for a book I really enjoyed and I did enjoy this one. It was all about hacking and people who are chasing both Noa and Peter. Ohhhhh, I remember some details now. It’s hard to describe but I did like it. I planned on going right onto the 2nd book but I ended up going in a different direction at the time, I really do need to get back to it.
22 Rebel (Reboot 02) by Amy Tintera
Completed 1/18
3.5 of 5 stars
The sequel of the first book and it was enjoyable. She changed her style of writing from one POV to a duel POV which I really really don’t like it when authors change that around. Pick one and stick to it, but other than that, I enjoyed it. I think that Wren was kind of stupid in this one when it came to a few things (I knew what hunting was right away) but other than that, it was pretty good with a lot of good action In it.
23 The Conspiracy of Us (Untitled 01) by Maggie Hall
Completed 1/19
3 of 5 stars
I didn’t really GET this book at all. It wasn’t awful, and I can’t even describe my issues with it. It was just confusing. I think it’s because there was no background, she was basically thrown into this life long conspiracy and she was never really told much at a time, just bits and pieces. She was dumb at some points, smart in others. The overall story was ok, and the narrator was fantastic, she’s one of my favorites, so I enjoyed that.
24 Damaged (Maggie O’Dell 08) by Alex Kava
Completed 1/19
2 of 5 stars
Another series I’m working my way through and despite the lower rating, I do still enjoy these a bit. The parts with Maggie (the main character) was fine, but the other parts of the book with the other secondary characters was so boring. It picked up for me near the end but then it was resolved in like seconds, it was WAY too short for the ending it was just “poof” all is well. Disappointing in that regards.
25 A Girl Named Digit (Digit 01) by Annabel Monaghan
Completed 1/20
4.5 of 5 stars
A really enjoyable story. Digit is a human calculator of sorts. She’s good with math and finding patterns in things. In this one, she finds a code embedded in a tv show, but doesn’t think anything of it until the next day when there is a bombing. She goes to report it with the FBI and they don’t believe her until she’s later followed. She assigned to a young (and of course cute) agent and together they try to figure out who is behind the attacks. I wish the end had been different. I saw that all coming a mile away, so that was disappointing, but overall it was a really great story with great characters.
26 The Fourth Lion by Jeff Ayers
Completed 1/23
4 of 5 stars
I received this book from the publishers for my review, and I found it enjoyable. Jake and Kayla are siblings in a exclusive DC school and their friend Amar goes missing after leaving a laptop with Jake. They along with their friend Hannah are on the hunt to find their friend even when it becomes dangerous. The only thing about this book I didn’t like was the history lessons, he described so much in detail like he wanted to teach his readers history. Looking past that, it was a good story with good characters and a cute ending. The only negative is that they were really dumb about one thing I saw coming.
27 Private Vegas (Private 08) by James Patterson
Completed 1/24
3 of 5 stars
For a book titled Private VEGAS, very very little of the book actually takes place in Vegas, so that really really ticked me off. I’ve read all but one book of the Private series (could NOT get into Private India) and I was soooooo excited about a Vegas one because I am IN LOVE with Vegas, and there was only part of one storyline going on there and it was MAYBE 25% of the book set in Vegas. Disappointing. Too much going on, too many storylines. I wish they would focus just on one or two things, it would make it so much more enjoyable. Read for the make time to read Read-a-Thon at GoodReads.
28 Silver Thaw (Mystic River 01) by Catherine Anderson
Completed 1/24
3 of 5 stars
A typical Catherine Anderson. She does romance with something deeper always going on. In this one, the MC left an abusive husband and is living on her own with her daughter in a hole of a house. When winter strikes and she’s left without power, a neighbor comes by to help and takes them to his place. Of course love ensues, not insta-love but definitely insta-attraction. Overall it was a good book, but I did have definite issues with It having to do with my own triggers.
29 Pulse (Chess Team 01) by Jeremy Robinson
Completed 1/26
3.5 of 5 stars
Read this one on my quest to find more Reilly / McDermott type books. This one was better, still not quite as much action as I’m looking for, but close. I do like the “Chess Team” members and their dynamic, that’s really neat. In this one, a man is on the quest for immortality and steals the find of Hydra to achieve it. Chess Team is called in to stop them from their experiments which is killing tons of people and to keep them from achieving immortality.
30 City of a Thousand Dolls by Miriam Forster
Completed 1/29
3 of 5 stars
This book was a different book for me, and one on the Epic Reads list of 365 Days of YA, which I am doing as a challenge of sorts. The good ~ different and engaging story, kept my attention. The one part of the ending managed to surprise me (who spoke for her) I didn’t see that coming and it’s hard to surprise me. The bad ~ she was an idiot! Eye rolling worthy. Despite cringe worthy flaws, the overall story did keep me interested and I was looking forward to the 2nd book until I saw that it is a completely separate story, nothing to do with the first, so I don’t think I’ll continue with the series.
31 Dead No More by L.R. Nicolello
Completed 1/30
4.5 of 5 stars
This was the 2nd book by this author I’ve read and I enjoyed both. While not in a named series, the books featured brothers and we revisited the couple form the first book in this one. In this one, Lily leaves the private ops sector after her finance leaves her for dead. Derick wants her help on a new case. Both characters were enjoyable and the story was good. I like the author and her books so far.
What I posted in January
Books I Reviewed in January
- ARC Review ~ Bridged by Kendra Elliot ~ 4 stars
- ARC Review ~ The Fourth Lion by Jeff Ayers ~ 4 stars
- Book Review ~ Dead No More by L.R. Nicolello ~ 5 stars
- TBR Poll Winner ~ Carnival of Secrets by Melissa Marr ~ 3 stars
My "2014 Book of the Year Bracket" posts ~
- Bracket Reveal of my top 64 books of 2014
- Initial Eliminations ~ 64 to 32
- Sweet 16
- Elite 8 ~ the best of the best for me!
- Final Four
- Semi-Finals
- The Winner!
Other bits of Randomness ~
- Bout of Books 12 Wrap-Up
- Read Play Blog ~ video game release I can't wait for!
- MLK 3 Day Read-a-Thon Wrap-Up
- GoodReads Read-a-Thon Wrap-Up
- 2015 Challenges ~ January Update
So, you're reading stats never cease to amaze me! Love it. Wish I could get that much read in a month, although I did have a pretty good month of reading for me.
ReplyDeleteYou had an excellent month for books. I am surprised you hated The Giver. I read so many rave reviews for it. To each his own though.
ReplyDeleteHappy February reading!