Marked by Elisabeth Naughton

THERON – Dark haired, duty bound and deceptively deadly. He’s the leader of the Argonauts, an elite group of guardians that defends the immortal realm from threats of the Underworld.
From the moment he walked into the club, Casey knew this guy was different. Men like that just didn’t exist in real life—silky shoulder-length hair, chest impossibly broad, and a predatory manner that just screamed dark and dangerous. He was looking for something. Her.
She was the one. She had the mark. Casey had to die so his kind could live, and it was Theron’s duty to bring her in. But even as a 200-year-old descendent of Hercules, he wasn’t strong enough to resist the pull in her fathomless eyes, to tear himself away from the heat of her body.
As war with the Underworld nears, someone will have to make the ultimate sacrifice. From Goodreads.





This was okay and the mix of mythology and modern day is good. I liked Casey who dealt with things well even when she didn't understand them. I didn't like the Argoleans much and I am not sure if I am going to continue this series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: June Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Student Club Roster
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Deja Vu Books
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: School's Out, Well...Almost
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Summertime Mountaineering
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hogwarts Scavenger Hunt

Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution.
Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only Tóti, a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. But as Agnes's death looms, the farmer's wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they've heard.
Riveting and rich with lyricism, BURIAL RITES evokes a dramatic existence in a distant time and place, and asks the question, how can one woman hope to endure when her life depends upon the stories told by others? From Goodreads






I liked this one though it is quite a sad and depressing story. Based on a true story about the last execution in Iceland. I liked the way Agnes got treated by the family, compared to how she was treated by the District Commissioner, they soon saw her as a person instead of just a murderer.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Holding out a Hero
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

A New Witch in Town (Not to Mention the Cat) by Dani Corlee

A New Witch in Town (Not to Mention the Cat) - A Modern Tale about the Witches of Springsville
♥ a light-hearted story suitable for all audiences ♥
Kim has a dream. A normal life for her and her daughter! But too many people around her demand her attention. Being a Queen is not easy. "I would love just to be a normal witch, not a queen," she says. New characters, animals, an old secret in Isidora's life and a great peril. Will Kim be able to cope with everything? From Goodreads.

This was a disappointment. it was still cute but things happened to Kim that we got no explanation for and it felt like a couple of chapters from the middle of a book. Though I can't recommend this one, I will keep reading this series and hope it improves again. Luckily it was free.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

'You're not Mia Thermopolis any more, honey,' Dad said. I raised my head. 'I'm not?' I said, blinking. 'Then who am I?' He went, kind of sadly, 'You're Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Princess of Genovia.'
A PRINCESS??
ME???
Yeah, right.
One minute Mia's totally normal. Next minute she's heir to the throne of Genovia.
Well, her dad can lecture her until he's royal-blue in the face, but no way is Mia going to behave like some posh princess. And they think she's moving to Genovia? Er, hello? From Goodreads.






I read a lot of YA. This is more a children's book than YA in my opinion. It is sweet enough, quite cute and has some funny parts in it. It is too sweet for me and her daydreaming about being a superstar at the same time as she doesn't want to be a princess is a bit too stupid. I don't think I will read more in this series.

Wind, Sand And Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

From the TWENTIETH CENTURY CLASSICS series, a title, which describes the author's experiences during the 1920s, when he flew for the pioneering airline, Latecoere, which opened up the first mail routes across the Sahara and the Andes. First published in 1939. From Goodreads.

This is one of my husband's favourite books, but clearly not mine. It is interesting enough and has a lot of information about flying and the desert. Unfortunately I found it a bit dry. I do love his book The Little Prince, though.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Holding out a Hero
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Finding Ginny
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: School's Out, Well...Almost
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: the 50 States Amazing Book Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

I have two weeks. You'll shoot me at the end no matter what I do.
11th October 1943: A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France. Its pilot and passenger are best friends. One of the girls has a shot at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.
Devastating, shocking, compelling and inspiring - once read, never forgotten. From Goodreads.

This was very good. Maddie and Julie are very different but they are brought together by the war and become best friends. This book does not end well and I was crying my way through the end of it. I am pleased it didn't end well as that was the way things was in the war. The whole way through you are not in doubt about who is going to die but when it happens it is still shocking. I will at some point read the next book but I am not ready for that just now.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Pass The Parcel
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Solemnly Swear
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Pensieve
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: School's Out, Well...Almost
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Like Big Books Bonus Club
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Amazing Book Race
Novel Books & Reading Challenges - Baby Got Book

Penelope by Anya Wylde

Penelope Fairweather from rural Finnshire arrives in London with a hopeful heart. The dowager invites her for a season to catch a husband. Unfortunately Penelope's rustic finesse is as delicate as a fat bear ripping apart a honeycomb infested with buzzing bees. Fake mustaches, highwaymen, pickpockets, and a devilishly handsome duke follow. From Goodreads.

A fun romance. There is no surprise in the romance of Penelope but there is a bit of a twist in Anne's love life. A quick read and I would read more of this series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Pass The Parcel
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Hugh Jackman
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Barreling Through
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: School's Out, Well...Almost
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick One For Me
Crazy Challenge Connection Monopoly

Take Three Birds by Jilli Lime-Holt

On a mountaintop in Italy, English writer Jill comes up with an idea – to meet up in the flesh with two other writers she encountered on the internet and has shared many online laughs with. One slight problem is that Janet lives in England and has never flown. Another is that Tottie lives in France and, like a good wine, doesn't travel.
So intrepid Janet boards her first ever flight to meet Jill in Italy and together they embark on a crazy road trip in a twenty-year-old Fiat Punto, to disturb the peace of Tottie's little 'grottage' in France's Auvergne.
When two sixty-somethings and a forty-something meet up, there's lots of laughter and plenty of chatter. But will it turn out to be a lasting friendship or will the Three Birds part company vowing never to meet again? From Goodreads.





This is a memoir about three women meeting up in real life after having gotten to know each other on social media, on an author site. It is a quite funny book about the planning and execution of how and where to meet. Even though they are all British, only one lives in the UK, the others in Italy and France. They plan to meet in France.
My main problem with this book is that they kept hinting at events that have happened in their lives prior to this meeting. Events that have been described in the books they each have published. I think it should say in the blurb to read those books first if you want the full value of this book.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Arrival
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Barreling Through
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Guess Who?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: School's Out, Well...Almost
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: the 50 States Amazing Book Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe

The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

In the turbulent and mysterious Barcelona of the 1920s, David Martín, a young novelist obsessed with a forbidden love, receives an offer from an enigmatic publisher to write a book like no other before—a book for which "people will live and die." In return, he is promised a fortune and, perhaps, much more.
Once again, the author of The Shadow of the Wind takes us into the gothic universe of the Cemetery of Forgotten Books and creates a breathtaking adventure of intrigue, romance, and tragedy, and a dizzingly constructed labyrinth of secrets where the magic of books, passion, and friendship blend into a masterful story. From Goodreads.

This was quite different to what I usually read. There are still immortal characters in it but it is dark and Gothic. There is a love triangle, there is mystery and murder but at a very different level to the light stuff I like. I couldn't read a lot of this but it doesn't mean I didn't like it and I think I will read the first book in The Cemetery of Forgotten Books series.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
I love Library books 2015
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Yahtzee Challenge
Romance Readers Reading Challenges: Pass The Parcel
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Arrival
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Quidditch
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Solemnly Swear
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Student Club Roster
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Guess Who?
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Harry Potter: The Ultimate Series Tour
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: School's Out, Well...Almost
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MARCHing Through Time
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Like Big Books Bonus Club
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: the 50 States Amazing Book Hunt 
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Pick Your Fate Adventure Challenge
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Crazy Challenge Connection Scrabble, anyone?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is desperate to find out why his friends, Ron and Hermione, have been secretive all summer. But before he even gets to school, Harry survives a terrifying encounter with two Dementors, attends a court hearing at the Ministry of Magic and is escorted on a night-time broomstick ride to the secret headquarters of a mysterious group called the Order of the Phoenix. From Goodreads

The books are getting more sinister. Harry is feeling left out as he doesn't know what is happening and even when he gets together with Ron and Hermione it doesn't get better. The really brilliant but very nasty new character in this book is Umbridge who will do anything to keep Fudge as Minister of Magic. She slowly but surely takes over the school.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
2015 Witches & Witchcraft Challenge
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Quidditch
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Solemnly Swear
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Student Club Roster
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: MASH with a Hufflepuff
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: 2015 Reading Challenge!
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Like Big Books Bonus Club
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Backpacking Around The Globe
Novel Books & Reading Challenges - Baby Got Book

Raw Deal by Mark Henwick

Prequel to the best-selling Bite Back series.
“I’d lost my entire team, and nearly lost my life. In a way, I had lost my life, and was left with this—a tightrope walk between hunting down creatures people didn’t believe existed, and being locked up as one.”
After a career-ending incident on a covert military operation, Amber Farrell is surprised to find herself back in her home town of Denver working as a rookie policewoman. But what happened in the army casts a shadow across her life from which she will never be free.
The prequel to the Bite Back series introduces Amber Farrell, a kick ass lady with a secret problem—she’s been bitten by a vampire. She’s working hard to start a new life, hold down a job and meet all the expectations put on her. When people start to die suspiciously in Denver, Amber has to decide between duty and instinct, between what she should do and what she must do. From Goodreads



This was good. Amber is a strong character. I like that this is not a typical vampire story. Amber was bitten by a vampire, was supposed to be dead, but is still alive. Nobody knows if or when she is going to turn but the military still lets her get out to hunt vampires, though they are keeping a close eye on her. I have added this series to my ever growing TBR pile of books.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
The Challenge Factory - R6: Team Challenge SSS
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Pensieve
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: School's Out, Well...Almost
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members

Malicious Mischief by Lora Young

Delia Eastman returns home from teachers’ college with two goals: find a teaching position and sidestep her mother’s insistence on finding her a husband. But employers don’t care for women who are smarter than they. Neither do suitors. As she struggles to find her place, she discovers her sleepy Missouri River town has turned into a powder-keg of rivalry between the steamships and the railroads.
Increasingly violent vandalism on the railroad brings her face-to-face with Endy Webster, a handsome trainmaster whose investigation into the crimes leads him to the door of a prominent steamship owner—Delia’s father.
As Delia tries to clear her father’s name, she keeps tangling with Endy. He’s intelligent. He’s charming. And he’s guarding secrets. Thinking he might know more than he’s telling, Delia reluctantly agrees to partner with him to solve the mystery. With the vandalism becoming deadly, they’ll need every scrap of intelligence and logic to stay alive. Working together may not be their first choice, but it might be their last.  From Goodreads.

This is a Christian, historical mystery.  Neither Christian nor historical fiction are genres I read a lot but I liked this one. Yes, there is a lot of mention of going to church and reproach of people using bad language but it was not done in a pushy way and did not get in the way of the story.
I like Delia, the MC of this story. She is quite intelligent and strong and she has her own opinions of things. This gives her problems as she is suppose to be a meek and obedient girl who should only think of getting married. The mystery was good as it was not as it seemed.

This book qualifies for:
Goodreads Reading Challenge 2015
Novel Books & Reading Challenges Wheel-A-Thon II
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: May Challenges
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Arrival
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Holding out a Hero
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: I Solemnly Swear
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Game of Life
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: The Pensieve
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Diagon Alley Supply List
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Meet a Million Members
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: the 50 States Amazing Book Hunt
A Million More Pages Hogwarts: Dragon Nursery
Nothing but Reading Challenges - 50 States Challenge
Crazy Challenge Connection Scrabble, anyone?

A Million More Pages - Hogwarts: The Game of Life

The Game of Life hosted by A Million More Pages on Goodreads.

The Game Of Life, Bookish Edition
May 1st-July 31st
-/////-

1. Career
Pick one of these careers and spell it out using book titles, author's first or last name, or series names.
☆Artist
☆Athlete
☆Doctor
☆Lawyer
☆Teacher
T: Take Three Birds by Jilli Lime-Holt
E: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
A: The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
C: A New Witch in Town (Not to Mention the Cat) by Dani Corlee
H: Raw Deal by Mark Henwick
E: Marked by Elisabeth Naughton
R: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

-/////-

2. Go to college
Pick one option:
☆Read a book set in a college
☆Read a book where the MC went to college (must be mentioned in the book - leave sentence)
☆Read a Non-fiction book with Science as a Main Genre
Malicious Mischief by Lora Young ((loc 68) Two years at teacher college is a long time. I missed you while you were away)

-/////-

3. Get Married
Pick one option:
☆Read a book where the MC gets married (wedding must actually take place in book - leave sentence with vows/ceremony)
☆Read a book with a wedding ring on the cover
☆Read a book with the root word "Bride" in the title
Penelope by Anya Wylde (They also grumbled that Penelope's vows were said a little bit too loudly to be considered proper. But when Miss Penelope Winifred Rose Spebbington Fairweather and the Duke of Blackthorne, Charles Cornelius Radclyff were pronounced husband and wife, the Grand Dames, along with the rest of those present, cried their hearts out)

-/////-

4. Buy a house
Pick a house and read (1) book whose title begins with the same first letter of that house.
☆Split Level (S)
☆Mobile Home (M)
☆Log Cabin (L)
☆Cozy Condo (C)
☆Dutch Colonial (D)
☆Beach House (B)
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
☆Farmhouse (F)
☆Tudor (T)
☆Victorian (V)

-/////-

5. Have Kids
Pick one option
☆Read a book with a child on the cover
☆Read a book where the main character is a parent to a child 18 or younger.
☆Read a children's book (must be at least 140 pages, but doesn't need YA as a main page genre)
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot 

-/////-
6. Retire
Pick one option

☆Read a book where the main character is retired
☆Read a book where the main character likes to relax (i.e. Has spa days, plays golf, etc.)
☆Read a book where the main character loves their job
Wind, Sand And Stars by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

SPIN TO WIN Bonus Opportunity

For everyone who signs up on or before May 14th (11:59PM PT), in your sign-up post pick a number from 1-10. On May 15th, I will go to Random.org and have it randomly choose a number from 1-10. Anyone who picked the chosen number wins (1) extra bonus point!
**Note: you must include your number in your sign-up post, so I can track it, and you must be signed up before 5/15 to be eligible for the Spin To Win bonus opportunity.**

I picked number 5

Points:
1 point per task finished (total of 6)
3 bonus points for finishing all tasks
1 bonus point if the career you spell out is seven letters
1 bonus point if one of your books has the word "Life" in its title.

✪ Minimum Page Length: 125 (140 for YA)
✪ Are Rereads Allowed? Yes
☛ Restrictions?
✪ Can I start a book before Challenge Start Date? Yes
✪ Children Allowed with restrictions: Yes
☛ Restrictions: must also have YA as Main Page Genre, restriction doesn't apply for Task 5c.
✪ Posting Requirements when complete:
☛Book title/cover, author, date read
✪ Are Audiobooks Allowed? Yes
✪ Manga,Comics, Graphic Novels Allowed? No
✪ Can I Ignore A/An/The in Titles? Yes
✪ Author Names Count in Matching Letters? Yes, but only for task 1
✪ Can a book be used more than once in this challenge?: No
✪ Can the Tasks be done in any order: Yes
✪ Can Series titles be used for meeting requirements? Yes, but only for task 1
✪ Verification Required For Points: No