I continued in on my Barbara Holloway series with Desperate Measures by Kate Wilhelm.

About the book: Barbara Holloway has a reputation for taking on the toughest cases in the Pacific Northwest… and winning them. But this time it looks as though she’s up against an unbeatable opponent, her father, the lawyer who taught her all she knows.
2001

My thoughts: I always like to listen to these books on Audio and I likes listening to the series in order. The characters have remained constant throughout and the book followed the same pattern as all of the others… with a twist and Barbara always prevails.

Rating 3.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,

My little purse book was The Power of No: How to Keep Blowhards and Bozos at Bay by Beth Wareham.  I read snippets here and there when I had a few moments.

About the book: The terrible yes years. You know them well: You’re suckered into working late and often, unflattering haircuts and poodle perms, back-fat-exposing blouses, too small jeans, treacherous friendships, and dudes who kiss like a Saint Bernard all because you couldn’t use that one little word that one little word with so much power N-O. More here.

My thoughts:  Much of this book was irrelevant to me because I’m not in the dating scene but I did get a few laughs from it. Her  writing style is “in your face” and she didn’t beat around the bush. It was a good little book to carry around and read in sections.  Since I feel that I have a good balance of commitment and being able to say No in my life, it wasn’t a “necessary” read for me but for some folks, it may be.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge

I picked up The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook  by Murdoch because the colors of the photos really grabbed me and screamed  Buy Me!

About the book:

Product Description

Offering handy tips and advice to help get the most out of vegetables, this volume features double-page spreads on particular ingredients and recipes.

My thoughts: This was a different kind of cookbook as it grouped foods together by occasions rather than ingredients. The pictures were beautiful and made me hungry!  It wasn’t written in American English so the spellings of words were the European way.  I read the sidebar sections completely and scanned recipes that I found interesting. While I haven’t cooked any yet, they seem easy enough and I’m looking forward to trying them.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: 100 Book Challenge,

I finally finished the second book in the Mortal Instruments series, City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. It’s  not that the book wasn’t good, I was just very busy this month and didn’t have much time to read paper books.

About the book: A murderer is looks in New York City and the victims are Downworlder children.  Clary Fran and her fellow Shadowhunters have a strong suspicion that Valentine, Clary’s father may be behind the killings. But if he is the murderer, then what’s his true motive?

My thoughts:  While it took me awhile to carve out a chunk of time to actually sit down and read this book, I managed to read 3/4 of it in one afternoon to finish it.  I like the fantasy genre and while it is a Teen book, there are a couple of mature situations in it.  The author did not play it safe and I think it added to the book and makes me really want to read the 3rd one, City of Glass,  to see how things will play out. Are things not really what they seem?

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,

The Diva Code: Miss Piggy on Life, Love, and the 10,000 Idiodic Things (Men) Frogs Do as told to Jim Lewis caught my eye at the library.

About the book: From one of the most famous divas of our time, Miss Piggy has gleaned, glommed, and garnered much wisdom about what’s wrong with everyone else and what’s right with her. Now, in the latest book from the Muppets, Miss Piggy is ready to share with vous her best advice on love, fashion, career, attitude, and her secrets of diva-dom! It’s time for you to release your inner diva!  Get what you deserve! And give others exactly what they deserve!

My thoughts: This was a very funny book of anecdotes and advice delivered in true Miss Piggy style!  Although I read a paper copy, I could hear Miss Piggy’s voice sharing her infinite wisdom to all.  It was a series of quotes, lists and advice. Very fun and a great purse book or filler.

Rating 4/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge,

My latest read B is for Beer by Tom Robbins, is a funny look at the facts about beer set in a fictional story involving a kindergartener. It’s touted as A Children’s Book for Grown-ups AND A Grown-up Book for Children. 

About the book: A Children’s Book About Beer? Yes, believe it or not–byt B is for Beer is also a book for adults, and bear in mind that it’s the work of maverick bestselling novelist Tom Robbins, internationally known for his ability to both seriously illuminate and comically entertain.

My thoughts:  I found this “once upon a time” story to be silly and funny and a quick entertaining read about beer. While it’s definitely far out there, the short book was fine for a “filler” read.  I haven’t read any of his other work but I will likely give it a try.  Not for everyone, but I thought it was cute.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge,

Continuing with the the Barbara Holloway series, I read book number 5, No Defense by Kate Wilhelm.

About the book :No Defense
Vinny and Lara Jessup’s wonderful marriage comes to a tragic end and Lara is accused of staging the accident that killed her husband. With only the word of an accused woman and a mysterious box of papers about the unsolved murder of Vinny’s son, Barbara Holloway takes on the widow’s case.
2000

My thoughts: This book continues in the series about Bobby and her father Frank along with the other workers in the law agency.  As in all the others, Barbara has a difficult case and has some digging to do. Frank took a much smaller role in this book and we continue to see the development of Barbara’s personal life.  I read it via audio book.

Rating 3/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge, Finish that Series Challenge,

I wanted to read The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger before seeing the movie as I always prefer to do it that way. This one was no different.

About the book:

This bestselling and innovative debut novel from Audrey Niffenegger explores the perfect marriage, one that is tested by challenges the couple can neither control nor predict. An imaginative extension of everyday life, the story asks: What if two people who loved each other deeply, married, and faced a life in which one person remained constant while the other slipped fluidly in and out of time?

A modern love story with a twist that invites us to linger over questions of how life and love change over time.

My thoughts: I listened to the unabridged version via audiobook. While I was a bit confused at first and had a little bit of a hard time following it initially, once I got into the groove and had some good chunks of time to listen, as opposed to a few minutes here and there, I found that I was unable to tear myself away. This is one of those books that I often thought of when I wasn’t reading it and couldn’t wait to get back to. That to me is a sign of a good book on my scale.

Rating 4.5/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge,

I’ve read all of Dan Brown’s books and was eager to read the newest one, The Lost Symbol. I listened via audio book and it was similiar to his other Robert Langdon adventures, but this one was set in Washington, DC.

About the book: (From Amazon) After scores of Da Vinci Code knockoffs, spinoffs, copies and caricatures, Brown has had the stroke of brilliance to set his breakneck new thriller not in some far-off exotic locale, but right here in our own backyard. Everyone off the bus, and welcome to a Washington, D.C., they never told you about on your school trip when you were a kid, a place steeped in Masonic history that, once revealed, points to a dark, ancient conspiracy that threatens not only America but the world itself. Returning hero Robert Langdon comes to Washington to give a lecture at the behest of his old mentor, Peter Solomon. When he arrives at the U.S. Capitol for his lecture, he finds, instead of an audience, Peter’s severed hand mounted on a wooden base, fingers pointing skyward to the Rotunda ceiling fresco of George Washington dressed in white robes, ascending to heaven. More here..

My thoughts… while this book was not as action packed as the previous Langdon novels, it hooked be right away.  I’m always intrigued when reading books that reference actual locations and landmarks and brings in true historical events situations.  I think Dan Brown is brilliant in his ability to peel back layers on the fictional “secrets” that he uncovers and dream them up in the first place. I found that there was a lot of time spent talking rather than doing  though and on the audio version, Sato’s voice was tough to listen to.. (albeit it was supposed to be that way.)

Not for everyone but I liked it..

Rating 4/5

Counts towards: Library Challenge, 100 Book Challenge, Audio Book Challenge,

Since I can combine challenges and I always like to read  full series when I can, I decided to join Royal Review’s 2010 Finish That Series Challenge for 2010. I completed a few series during 2009 so I don’t think there will be a problem completing some this year.

Challenge Guidelines:
1. Anyone can join. You don’t need a blog to participate.
–Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.

2. There are four levels:
– Curious – Finish 2 series.
– Fascinated – Finish 3 series.
– Addicted – Finish 5 series.
– Obsessed – Finish 10 series.

3. Any genre counts.

4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

I’m going for ADDICTED!

1. Debbie Macomber’s  Cedar Cove Series

16 Lighthouse Road ( read 2009)

204 Rosewood Lane (read 2009)

311 Pelican Court finished 1/5/10

44 Cranberry Point (started 1/30/10, finished 2/2/10)

50 Harbor Street (started 2/2/10, finished 2/4/10)

6 Rainier Drive (library hold)

74 Seaside Ave (library hold)

8 Sandpiper Way

92 Pacific Boulevard

5-B Poppy Lane

A Cedar Cove Christmas

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2. Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instrument’s Series

City of Bones (read 2009)

City of Ashes (finished 1/31/10)

City of Glass (library request)

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3. Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum Series

Stephanie Plum Series

1. One for the Money (1994)  finished 10/12/09
2. Two for the Dough (1995) finished 10/24/09
3. Three to Get Deadly (1997) started and finished 11/23/09
4. Four to Score (1998) started and finished 12/17/09
5. High Five (1999) started 12/18/09, finished 12/23/09
6. Hot Six (2000) starting 1/5/10, finished 1/08/10
7. Seven Up (2001) starting 2/5/10, finished 2/6/10
8. Hard Eight (2002) starting 2/6/10, finished 2/6/10
9. To the Nines (2003) library request
10. Ten Big Ones (2004)
11. Eleven on Top (2005)
12. Twelve Sharp (2006)
13. Lean Mean Thirteen (2007)
14. Fearless Fourteen (2008)
15. Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (2009)

Stephanie Plum Between-the-Numbers Novels

Visions of Sugar Plums (2002)
Plum Lovin’ (2007)
Plum Lucky (2008)
Plum Spooky (2009)

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4.Kate Wilhelm’s Barbary Holloway series:

1.Death Qualified (read 2009)

2. The Best Defense (read 2009)

3. Malice Prepense (read 2009)

4. Defense for the Devil (read 2009)

5. No Defense (starting 1/24/10, finished 1/28/10)

6. Desperate Measures (finished 3/7/10)

7. Clear & Convincing Proof

8. The Unbidden Truth

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5. Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (read in 2009)

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (read in 2009)

3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (read in 2009)

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days finished 2/4/10

5.  new book due in 2010

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6. Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games Series

1. The Hunger Games (starting 2/8/10, finished 2/17/10)

2. Catching Fire

3. The Hunger Games: Book 3