I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2015 - Finished

I Love Library Books Reading Challenge 2015 hosted by Gina @ Book Dragon's Lair.

I just managed to reach my goal, the highest level of just insert IV - 50 books.
I went away for Christmas and New Year so I had to finish early and I read my last book for this challenge on the 21st of December.
I love using my library to get books and I will definitely take part again in 2016

Our love of reading can be expensive! Not only are we purchasing books but some of us also need space to keep them. I had so much fun with this challenge last year. Let's do it again!
There are a number of levels, for those who don't have a library card yet to those that live there. Enjoy!
 Requirements:

• choose a level - you may move up as needed, just not down.
• read books you checked out of the library
• books may overlap with other challenges
• any format allowed (print, ebook, audio)
• reviews are not necessary but a list of books read is. (post with review linky is coming in January)
• a blog is not necessary, just comment that you want to join in or link up another way

Levels:

• board book - 3
• picture book - 6
• early reader - 9
• chapter book - 12
• middle grades - 18
• Young adult - 24
• adult - 36
• just insert IV - 50 

List of books:

1. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss 
2. Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck 
3. Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews  
4. Born in Fire by Nora Roberts   
5. Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews 
6. The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness 
7. Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout 
8. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard  
9. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde 
10. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson 
11. The Martian by Andy Weir 
12. The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss 
13. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
14. The Woman In Black by Susan Hill
15. The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss
16. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
17. Ovenpå er der Stille by Gerbrand Bakker  
18. The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon 
19. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
20. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot  
21. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 
22. The Magicians by Lev Grossman  
23. Seven Viking Romances by Hermann Pálsson
24. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
25. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys 
26. All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot 
27. Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
28. En Heldig Mand by Michael J. Fox
29. Mordet på Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
30. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton 
31. First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen
32. Born in Ice by Nora Roberts 
33. The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
34. The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
35. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater 
36. Born in Shame by Nora Roberts
37. The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa
38. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
39. The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland  
40. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield 
41. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater 
42. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
43. Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews
44. Terra Incognita: Travels In Antarctica by Sara Wheeler
45. I År bliver det anderledes by Maeve Binchy 
46. Julemanden og hele hans slæng by Vagn Simonsen  
47. City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
48. Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
49. Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
50. Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Steel's Edge by Ilona Andrews

The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Wal-Mart and magic is a fairy tale—and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny…
Charlotte de Ney is as noble as they come, a blueblood straight out of the Weird. But even though she possesses rare magical healing abilities, her life has brought her nothing but pain. After her marriage crumbles, she flees to the Edge to build a new home for herself. Until Richard Mar is brought to her for treatment, and Charlotte’s life is turned upside down once again.
Richard is a swordsman without peer, future head of his large and rambunctious Edger clan—and he’s on a clandestine quest to wipe out slavers trafficking humans in the Weird. So when his presence leads his very dangerous enemies to Charlotte, she vows to help Richard destroy them. The slavers’ operation, however, goes deeper than Richard knows, and even working together, Charlotte and Richard may not survive... From Goodreads.

I liked how this book also placed the characters from the previous books in quite important roles at the same time as there is a new main couple. Charlotte and Richard are perfect heroes going after the slavers. The young boys, now teenagers, George and Jack are back and they learn something about their past.
The only thing is that the main enemy from the last three books, the Spider and the Hand, is fixed in about half a page. I think there should have been a bit more about that.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z

Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb

From an extraordinary new voice in fantasy comes the stunning conclusion to the Farseer trilogy, as FitzChivalry confronts his destiny as the catalyst who holds the fate of the kingdom of the Six Duchies...and the world itself.
King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz--or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest--perhaps to death. Only Verity's return--or the heir his princess carries--can save the Six Duchies.
But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him--currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was.... From Goodreads.


A great end to this trilogy. Fitz really has to go through a lot at great cost. There is magic, dragons and a mad Prince. And one of the very interesting characters is the Fool, I'm sure he is one of the good guys but he is weird.
If I wanted to read The Realm of the Elderlings in order the next books should be the Liveship Traders Trilogy but as I have read these already I will continue with the Tawny Man Trilogy.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Big Books Bonus Club
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

Young Fitz, the illegitimate son of the noble Prince Chivalry, is ignored by all royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has had him tutored him in the dark arts of the assassin. He has barely survived his first, soul-shattering mission, and returns to the court where he is thrown headfirst into the tumult of royal life. With the King near death, and Fitz's only ally off on a seemingly hopeless quest, the throne itself is threatened. Meanwhile, the treacherous Red Ship Raiders have renewed their attacks on the Six Duchies, slaughtering the inhabitants of entire seaside towns. In this time of great peril, it soon becomes clear that the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz's hands--and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice. From Goodreads.

I am completely caught up in this story. I'm not too fond of spy and political books but the difference here is that this is also fantasy and that makes it likeable. I like Fitz, he has no choice in how his life turns out. He has sworn loyalty to the king and has to do everything in his power to help him.
I will continue straight away with the last book in this trilogy.


This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Big Books Bonus Club
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.
To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?
In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation. From Goodreads.

I am enjoying this series, it is very clearly young adult but still good. I have ordered the next book from the library. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
Wacky Reading Challenges: Vampires, Witches & Ghosts, O My 

Julemanden og hele hans slæng by Vagn Simonsen

Vagn Simonsen fik aldrig opfyldt sin drøm om at blive julemand på Grønland. I stedet er han rejst rundt for at tale med julemænd andre steder på kloden og kan i denne bog fortælle, at de lever og har det godt.
Også de allerældste julemænd, som i hundredvis af år har praktiseret deres populære hverv som gaveuddelere.
Selv om julemændene udgør en broget flok, stammer de fra den samme forfader, og det kan man undre sig over, når de i dag hverken kan finde ud af at klæde sig nogenlunde ens, eller enes om, hvornår de skal bringe gaverne ud, eller om de skal give gaver til alle børn eller kun til de artigste.
Alligevel er vi nok nødt til at ?tro på julemanden?, mener Vagn Simonsen, for hvert år lover julemændene, at de og julen vil komme igen til næste år, og det løfte har de aldrig svigtet.
Mange forskellige julemænd får ordet i denne bogs 24 historier om julemændenes farlige tilværelse, der bl.a. byder på stride unger, der kan gøre livet surt for enhver julemand. Samtidig får vi brudstykker af julemandens overraskende og spændende forhistorie. Og vi kigger også lidt frem og får indtryk af, at julemandens dage som sæsonarbejder er ved at være talte.
Ligesom nisserne er julemændene efterhånden på færde året rundt.
?Julemanden og hele hans slæng? er skrevet som en oplysende og underholdende bog for både børn og voksne. From Goodreads.

This was okay but not as fun as I thought it would be. It is written as a story where the author is meeting a lot of different Santas and they tell him about their work as Santa. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: The Shorts Stack
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2015 

I År bliver det anderledes (This Year It Will Be Different) by Maeve Binchy

From the New York Times bestselling author of Circle of Friends, The Glass Lake, and Evening Class comes a stunning collection of fifteen Christmas stories filled with Maeve Binchy's trademark wit, charm, and sheer storytelling genius. In A Typical Irish Christmas, a grieving widower heads for a holiday in Ireland and finds an unexpected destination not just for himself, but for a father and daughter in crisis. . . . In Pulling Together, a teacher not yet out of her twenties sees her affair with a married man at a turning point as Christmas Eve approaches. . . . And in the title story, This Year It Will Be Different, a woman with a complacent husband and grown children enters a season that will forever alter her life, and theirs. . .  From Goodreads.

This was quite interesting, maybe not full of Christmas cheer but most of the stories contained some kind of reflection on life. I liked it even though I felt most of the stories involved cheating husbands, divorces and unhappy people.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2015 

Terra Incognita: Travels In Antarctica by Sara Wheeler

Sara Wheeler was the first woman selected by the American government to be the Writer in Residence at the US South Pole Station. She spent six weeks at the pole. In this book she reveals how people live on the bases and how the landscape affects them. From Goodreads.

This was only just okay. There were a lot of interesting historical bits and some funny episodes during her time in Antarctica. Unfortunately, it was also boring and felt quite drawn out.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Travel Around the World
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews

Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...
Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help... From Goodreads.

I remember being slightly disappointed in book two because this series is not about the same main characters in each book, though the main character is a person we have met in a previous book. This has changed as I find it quite interesting to read about a person who was a minor character earlier. Kaldar Mar is the main character but Georgie and Jack, who we met in the first book, are also important and I like them. I am continuing this series and already have book 4 ready.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
Rawk-A-Tiers: Twelve Days of Christmas
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Autumn Fun
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
Wacky Reading Challenges: Vampires, Witches & Ghosts, O My

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”
Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.
Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.
The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.
But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose. From Goodreads.

I enjoyed this very much and wished it was part of a series so I could return to this world. This was pure fantasy nearly without romance and it was quite refreshing. Nothing is like Agnieszka expects after she, surprisingly, has been chosen to serve The Dragon - the wizard, who protects her people.
I've had the first book in the Temeraire Series for years but not gotten around to reading it, I will definitely push it up my TBR list after reading this book by Naomi Novik.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly
Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?
Wacky Reading Challenges: Vampires, Witches & Ghosts, O My

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after… from Goodreads.

This is a good continuation of The Raven Boys, and, although it centres around Ronan and his abilities, all the other characters are still a very important part of the story. I also like that one of the bad guys might turn good or at least not turn out to be as bad as expected. I have ordered the third book from the library.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Haunted House
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
Rawk-A-Tiers: Twelve Days of Christmas
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt
Wacky Reading Challenges: Locations A-Z
Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Angelfield House stands abandoned and forgotten. It was once the imposing home of the March family--fascinating, manipulative Isabelle, Charlie her brutal and dangerous brother, and the wild, untamed twins, Emmeline and Adeline. But Angelfield House conceals a chilling secret whose impact still resonates...
Now Margaret Lea is investigating Angelfield's past--and the mystery of the March family starts to unravel. What has Angelfield been hiding? What is its connection with the enigmatic author Vida Winter? And what is it in Margaret's own troubled past that causes her to fall so powerfully under Angelfilds spell? From Goodreads.

This was really interesting, more than I thought it would be. There were a few twists and turns that I just didn't see coming and that I love in a book. Well worth a read.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Haunted House
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
Rawk-A-Tiers: Twelve Days of Christmas
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly
Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?

The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland

Logan Wilde is accidentally drawn into the mysterious, dangerous world of the Menagerie when he discovers a griffin hiding under his bed . . . and it leads him straight to the weirdest girl in seventh grade, Zoe Kahn.
Zoe is panicking. Her family has been guarding the Menagerie for centuries. If they don't get the cubs back fast, the whole place will be shut down. To save the griffins' lives, she's willing to break all the rules, even if it means letting an outsider like Logan help. But the real mystery remains: Is someone trying to sabotage the Menagerie? From Goodreads.

This was a fun book full of mythical beings. I think it was a good book for the age group it has been written for. I borrowed it from the library but as of this time it doesn't seem like the library has the next book in the series but I will keep an eye on it.

This book qualifies for: (the 3 last are linked as there is not room in the tag line)
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Dewey's Read-a-Thon October 2015
I love Library books 2015
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
Rawk-A-Tiers: Travel Around the World
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
A Million More Pages: Breast Cancer
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection: Pick a Theme 2015-2016
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z
Wacky Reading Challenges: Locations A-Z
Setting Alphabet Reading Challenge
Nothing but Reading Challenges: 50 States Challenge
Crazy Challenge Connection: Monopoly
Wacky Reading Challenges: Vampires, Witches & Ghosts, O My

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the hostility of the villagers. From Goodreads.

I should know better than reading anything that is called a classic. This was supposed to be a horror but I didn't find it scary at all, but quite boring. There was never any doubt who the killer was and it all just moved along extremely slowly. Not for me.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
FrightFall RaT 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XVI
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: Companion Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
Rawk-A-Tiers: Reading by the Numbers
A Million More Pages: Scavenger 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
Wacky Reading Challenges: Autumn Fun
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z

The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa

The first major English translation of one of contemporary Japan's bestselling and most celebrated authors. 
From Akutagawa Award-winning author Yoko Ogawa comes a haunting trio of novellas about love, fertility, obsession, and how even the most innocent gestures may contain a hairline crack of cruel intent.

A lonely teenage girl falls in love with her foster brother as she watches him leap from a high diving board into a pool--a peculiar infatuation that sends unexpected ripples through her life.
A young woman records the daily moods of her pregnant sister in a diary, taking meticulous note of a pregnancy that may or may not be a hallucination--but whose hallucination is it, hers or her sister's?
A woman nostalgically visits her old college dormitory on the outskirts of Tokyo, a boarding house run by a mysterious triple amputee with one leg.
Hauntingly spare, beautiful, and twisted, The Diving Pool is a disquieting and at times darkly humorous collection of novellas about normal people who suddenly discover their own dark possibilities. From Goodreads

 

Unfortunately I found these three novellas boring and uninteresting. I only finished them because they were so short. They stories are twisted but neither beautiful nor darkly humorous as described in the blurb. 

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Rhyme Time
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
A Million More Pages: Summer Games
Wacky Reading Challenges: Favorite Album - Away From the Sun
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Wacky Reading Challenges: Animal House
Crazy Challenge Connection: Read your age

Born in Shame by Nora Roberts

Three modern sisters bound by the timeless beauty of Ireland...
Shannon's life is rocked by an emotional earthquake when she learns the identity of her real father: Thomas Concannon.
Obeying her late mother's last wish, American Shannon travels to County Clare, Ireland, to meet the sisters she never knew she had. Warmed and comforted by the bond that grows between her and her sisters, her heart is lured by the charm of the Irish countryside and tempted by the attraction of horseman Murphy Muldoon.
Murphy takes one look at Shannon and knows that she is the woman he's waited for all his life. But Shannon is a practical woman. Will she open her heart and mind to the timeless, magical bond that connects them? Or will she reject fate's plan and leave Murphy to return to her life in America?
And amid the lush Irish landscape, she discovers the possibility of a love that is meant to be. From Goodreads.



I have really enjoyed this Born In trilogy of Nora Roberts. Shannon experiences the loss of her parents that she loved and the loss of her identity as her mother reveals that her father was not her biological father. I like that though these books of course have a happy ending, the characters have to struggle with loss and work their way through it. It also shows that you can get past the loss but it will always stay with you. 
Finally Murphy falls in love with the extremely lovely, nearly too nice, young man, who has been part of all the books. I will definitely read more of Nora Roberts' books.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Wacky Reading Challenges: Word Search 2015
Wacky Reading Challenges: Mini Challenge 2015
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: I Spy
Rawk-A-Tiers: Get Ready for Autumn!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars
A Million More Pages: Summer cAMMP BINGO
Wacky Reading Challenges: Favorite Album - Away From the Sun
Wacky Reading Challenges: Book Tag Challenge #7
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt
Wacky Reading Challenges: Character Names, A-Z
Crazy Challenge Connection: Scrabble, anyone?

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”
It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.
Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.
His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.
But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.
For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore. From Goodreads.

This was okay and I enjoyed it. I like the magic in it and Blue's special skill of being able to enhance her mother and aunt's powers. I like that I am not completely sure whether the ley line magic is good or evil or if it is a good idea to wake it. I will continue this series and have already ordered the next book from the library.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Crazy Challenge Connection A-Z Locations - 2014
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa

Don't look at Them
Don't speak of Them
Never enter Their world
Those are the rules that Ethan Chase lives by when it comes to the dark fairies that robbed him of his sister.
But they are still on his trail and Ethan can't fight fate forever.
Now the deadly fey are at his school, colliding with his real life, Ethan will sacrifice everything to keep his mortal friends safe, even if it means becoming entangled in the world he's spent his whole life trying to deny.
His destiny and birthright are calling.
And now there's no escape. From Goodreads.






This is the first book in the The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series but I would recommend that you read The Iron Fey series first as there is a lot of background story there. Ethan brings Kenzie with him to Fairy after they are threatened but it is not a place for humans. Kenzie is an interesting character and has a lot of guts, but she has her reasons which are revealed at the end of the book.  I liked this and already have the next book sitting on my shelf ready to read.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Word Hunt 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Pack Your Picnic Basket
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Rhyme Time
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Theme Challenges
Rawk-A-Tiers: Scavenger Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge
A Million More Pages: Reading Under The Stars 

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds it harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother…
Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey’s clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she’s going to change Josey’s life—because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey is soon forgoing pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding.
Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicably appear whenever she needs them, and—most amazing of all—has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush.
As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time—even for her. It seems that Della Lee’s work is done, and it’s time for her to move on. But the truth about where she’s going, why she showed up in the first place—and what Chloe has to do with it all—is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey’ s fast-changing life.
Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day.. From Goodreads.

This was different. Josey, the main character of this book wasn't my favourite person in this book. Della Lee was far more interesting and I would love to be having books turn up out of the blue like Chloe.
Another interesting character is Rawley who can't break a promise, he has a small role but is still quite important in connection with Josey's awful mother.
I also liked the twist at the end that I really hadn't seen coming.
I am definitely going to read more of  Sarah Addison Allen's books.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: Getting Acquainted
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
Rawk-A-Tiers: Troupe Task 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt

Born in Ice by Nora Roberts

Three modern sisters bound by the timeless beauty of Ireland...
When the harsh storms of winter descended upon western Ireland, the locals stayed indoors - and visitors stayed away. Brianna Concannon's bed-and-breakfast became a cold and empty place. But that was fine with Brianna. She enjoyed the peace and quiet, even when the icy winds howled at her window.
But this year, cool, capable and thoroughly domestic Brianna is expecting an unusual guest - mystery writer Grayson Thane, from America. A restless wanderer with a painful past, he plans to spend the cold winter alone. But sometimes fate has a plan of its own.
Sometimes a fire can be born in ice... From Goodreads.

I enjoyed this second book in the series. This is about Brianna who was mentioned a lot in the first book. Brianna sometimes seems cowed but she just wants peace in the family. She finally stands up for herself when she finds out about lies told 10 years ago that hurt her deeply. The romance is no surprise but there are a lot of other interesting stories going on at the same time. I am looking forward to the last book in the series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
The Challenge Factory: Scavenger Hunt Part XV
Rawk-A-Tiers: Summer At The Beach
Rawk-A-Tiers: Words With ... Myself!
Rawk-A-Tiers: House Games
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe