Of Triton by Anna Banks (The Syrena Legacy #2) (audio)

In this sequel to Of Poseidon, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known

So here is the second half of  Of Poseidon and it clears up what will happen to Emma if she is ever found out and about her mother, the lost princess of Poseidon. Galen is such an alpha male and he borders much more on controlling in this book than he did in the first or maybe I don't remember. And Emma comes out much more child-like because of this. Her mother is still not a presence despite being in the book more. I wish there would have been more of that relationship or any other relationship. Galen and Emma spend most of the book apart though they do manage a few nice kissing scenes. Still I wanted them more together. I guess that's why there is going to be a third book. It's not entirely necessary. The plot points were pretty wrapped up at the end of this book so I guess the third one is just for kicks. Ah well, it is a cute series and the characters are genuinely enjoyable. Hopefully Galen and Emma can get time together now that the Syrena issues are settled.

Rebecca Gibel narrates this one as she did the first one. I enjoy her reading and I like the voices she does for each. She is best in Emma's chapters but I would listen to her again.

Weekly Round-up 2/24

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

 I'm reading Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel. I'm listening to Viva Jacquelina! by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren.

Last week I reviewed Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews and Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan.

from NetGalley
Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Publish date: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handle (audio) read by Khristine Hvam. 6 hours, 30 minutes

I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.
Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.

 

Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan (The Lynburn Legacy #2)

With her link to Jared broken, Kami is alone and scared. But like the feisty girl reporter that she is, she begins making plans to defeat the evil sorcerers now threatening to overtake her town. Finding allies is the first step and that might be harder than she thought.

I loved Unspoken so much and yet it took me a long time to get around to the sequel. I think that is partly because people keep talking about the ending on Twitter and I wasn't up for it yet. It turns out though if you are spoiled that the ending is shocking it actually makes it less shocking or at least that is what happened to me. It's the downside of following an author. Anyway, other than that I wish I had read Untold sooner. It was really good though less funny than the first book. I admire Kami for her willingness and courage to stand up to the sorcerers and there were some plot threads left open, aside from the obvious big character developments, that I can't wait to find out the answer. I also hope that (spoiler) the link between Ash and Kami is severed though how many times she can do that I don't know. I actually found that part pretty surprising. All in all, it was definitely a middle book. Now I can't wait for the finale.


*Just a note to say that this is my 1,000 post! That is just so amazing!*

Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (Southern series #3) (audio)

Weezie Foley is trying to get her shop together for the historical district's annual decorating contest. But standing in her way are her competitors across the street, a crazy holiday schedule, and a little old lady who gets stealing and returning Weezie's stuff.

I didn't realize that this was the third in a series. But it didn't matter. There was enough background given to get me up to speed with the characters. I think I missed out on some background relationships but not so much that I was confused. This was a cute book along the lines of the other Mary Kay Andrews books I've read. I enjoyed it though I started it before Christmas and then put it on hold to listen to Fangirl and then The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

I liked Weezie and Bebe and their friendship. They always have each others' backs and that is nice. Everyone should have a friend like that. I enjoyed the quirky, funny aspects of the book like Weezie's kooky family and her auction buying trips. And I loved the family dinner at the end of the book. I laughed so hard which is not good when you are driving. Still it made the commute go by fast. I look forward to going back for the other books.

Isabel Keating is the narrator and once again I enjoyed her reading. She narrated The Fixer Upper and I liked in her that book as well. She has the perfect accent even if it occasionally sounds a little marble-mouthed especially in the male characters. Still I think she is a great narrator for Andrews books.

5 hours, 3 minutes.

Weekly Round-Up 2/17

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

 I'm reading Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan. I'm listening to Of Triton by Anna Banks, read by Rebecca Gibel.

Last week I reviewed  Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier and Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt.

And if you are interested I've added an Audio Books by Narrator tab onto my menu. It's fun to see what books some of my favorite narrators have read. I've discovered a few books this way.
 

Of Triton by Anna Banks, read by Rebecca Gibel. 7 hours, 52 minutes.

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Viva Jacquelina! Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Over the Hills and Far Away by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren. 9 hours, 29 minutes.

The vivacious Jacky Faber returns in the tenth tale in L. A. Meyer’s Bloody Jack Adventures, a rip-roaring young-adult series applauded for its alluring combination of adventure, romance, history, and humor. Once again under the thumb of British Intelligence, Jacky is sent to Spain to spy for the Crown during the early days of the nineteenth-century Peninsular War. She finds herself in the company of guerilla freedom fighters, poses for the famous artist Goya, runs with the bulls, is kidnapped by the Spanish Inquisition, and travels with a caravan of gypsies...all while hoping to one day reunite with her beloved Jaimy Fletcher.

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (Ruby Red #3)

Picking up where Sapphire Blue left, Gwyneth is heartbroken after her last encounter with the Count. And when Gideon doesn't deny anything the Count said, she is determined to move on and not be a sad sack. But the Circle is moving closer to being closed and it is becoming apparent that the Count may not have the best intentions when it does. It's up Gwyneth and her best friend Leslie to figure out what will happen when the Circle is closed and put an end to the Count's plans.

Upfront let me just say that normally the insta-love thing bothers me. But somehow with Gwen and Gideon it doesn't. That may be because of the time travel thing. It feels like they've spend a lot of time together even though it's only been a few weeks. Still (spoiler) I feel like deciding to spend an eternity together is a bold choice from two teenagers that really just met. So I wasn't feeling that part of the ending too much. I also felt like it wrapped up pretty easily and that the shocking revelation wasn't as shocking as it was suppose to be. Usually it is a little more difficult than that. The really shocking thing was Gwen's parentage but then I guessed that in book two and I don't think it was really that much of a secret anyway. At least not to the reader.

Overall, I loved the book and the series. Gwen is the best sort of heroine, bold and feisty and not willing to be a doormat. Gideon turned out alright in the end and Leslie is truly the best friend in the world. I'm glad of how it all turned out and the ending was just right.

#1 Ruby Red
#2 Sapphire Blue

Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Brighton is desperate to achieve 100% participation for her school in volunteer activities in order to get her name on the wall next to her late father's. Jonah is unwilling to get involved in anything in his new town, instead driving to his old one every weekend where he tries to pretend everything is exactly the same. But 24 hours together can change many things and Brighton and Jonah are about to discover more about each other and themselves then they ever thought.

I read this before last year ended but saved the review for closer publication. It was absolutely one of the best books I've read in a long time and it didn't take me long at all to finish it. I stayed up til 1 a.m. one night because I simply could not put it down. It is pretty different than Tiffany's first book but that's not a bad thing. It just proves how talented a writer Tiffany is.

I loved Brighton and how her perfect facade slowly disintegrates as the night wears on and how Jacob's tough guy attitude changes too. It goes to show that you really never know what is going on in someone else's head and that Jacob completely misjudges Brighton because of her perky girl can do attitude. I am also a sucker for one night stories. There is something that happens to people in the wee hours that feels crazy and magical and I think this book captured that feeling in all the right ways. It was a great read.

Review based on ARC provided by NetGalley
Publication date: February 18th 2014 by Walker Childrens

Weekly Round-Up 2/10

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

 I'm reading Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier. I'm listening to Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews, a book I started in December and then put aside for Fangirl. It's apparently the third in a series so I'll have to go back for the other two sometime.

Last week I reviewed The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater and The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.

Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews

It's the week before Christmas, and antiques dealer Weezie Foley is in a frenzy to do up her shop for the Savannah historical district window decorating contest––which she intends to win. She throws herself into putting up a Graceland/Blue Christmas motif, with lots of tinsel, an aluminum tree, and all kinds of tacky retro stuff. The project takes up so much time that Weezie is ready to shoot herself with her glue gun by the time she's done, but the results are stunning. She's sure she's one–upped the owners of the trendy shop around the corner. But suddenly, things go missing from Weezie's display, and there seems to be a mysterious midnight visitor to her shop.
Still, Weezie has high hopes for the holiday––maybe in the form of an engagement ring from her chef boyfriend. But Daniel, always moody at the holidays, seems more distant than usual.
Throw in Weezie's decidedly odd family, a 1950s Christmas tree pin, and even a little help from the King himself, and maybe there will be a pocketful of miracles for Weezie this Christmas eve.

What's In A Name Challenge 2014

This is a fun one. I've done the What's In A Name Challenge in the past and I liked it. It's been a while but  I thought I'd sign up again. This year it's being hosted by The Worm Hole.
The categories:

• A reference to time - The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
• A position of royalty - The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo
• A number written in letters - The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente
• A forename or names - Of Triton by Anna Banks
• A type or element of weather

2014 Audiobook Challenge

Book Challenges! It's been a while but I'm ready to get back in there. So of course, I'm starting with an audio book challenge. Specifically the 2014 Audiobook Challenge hosted by The Book Nympho and Hot Listens. I'll join at the Binge Listener level. Last year I listened to 24 audio books so I'll try to top that this year. I've already got a few under my belt.




1. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, read by Rebecca Lowman and Maxwell Caulfield.
2. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, read by the author.
3. Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews, read by Isabel Keating.
4. Of Triton by Anna Banks, read by Rebecca Gibel.
5. Viva Jacquelina! by L.A. Meyer, read by Katherine Kellgren 
6. The House of Hades by Rick Riordian, read by Nick Chamian
7. The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente, read the author. 
8. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handeler, read by Khristine Hvam. 
9. When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket, read by Liam Aiken 
10. The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer, read by Maxwell Caulfield.  
11. Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, narrated by Emma Galvin. 
12. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie, narrated by Richard E. Grant. 
13. The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo, read by John Keating. 
14. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, narrated by David Suchet. 
15 The Stones of Ravenglass by Jenny Nimmo, read by John Keating. 

100 Books in a Year Challenge

My public library has a 100 Book Club. I didn't make it last year but this year I really want to. So with that in mind I'm signing up for the 100 Books in a Year Challenge from Book Chick City. Maybe this will be the extra motivation I need to get it done.

1. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
2. Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt
3. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Steifvater
4. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
5. The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
6. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
7. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
8. Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier
9. Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
10. Of Triton by Anna Banks
11. Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan
12. Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
13. Viva Jacquelina! by L.A. Meyer
14. A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
15. The House of Hades by Rick Riordian
16. The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two by Catherynne M. Valente
17. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
18. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handeler
19. When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket 
20. The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer 
21. Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
22. The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
23. The Secret Kingdom by Jenny Nimmo 
24. Once Upon a Thriller by Carolyn Keene
25. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
26. The Stones of Ravenglass by Jenny Nimmo
 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (audio)

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie—magical, comforting, wise beyond her years—promised to protect him, no matter what.

Where to begin? First, I'll never doubt Neil Gaiman again. When I started this I wasn't sure. It wasn't grabbing my interest and I wasn't feeling the narration. But once Lettie and the narrator (he is never named) go into the woods to see about the thing that was unleashed, I got interested and then I didn't want to stop. And then Ursula Monkton came to the house and I really didn't want to stop. I wanted to see how they dealt with her and where this story was going and who were Lettie and her family? Of course only a few answers are provided. And that's okay. I liked that framing of the story and how it is told as a flashback and the ending was great too. It is a beautiful fairy tale-like story and I enjoyed it immensely.

5 hours, 45 minutes
 
The narration was provided by Neil Gaiman. This is the first book I believed I've listened to of his with him as the reader and I enjoyed his reading.  I've heard he is a good narrator and I've heard right. I would definitely listen to another one of his books with him as the narrator.

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (The Raven Cycle #2)

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...
 
I find this series has sort of a dreamy, menacing quality to it. It's permeated each book so far. Granted there have only been 2 books but it's pretty palatable. I did like learning more about Ronan, who just seemed like a dangerous sardonic character in the first book. He is much more the focus of this book to the determent of Blue sadly. She becomes a secondary character in this book only notable for her romantic feelings. But her family takes a bit of a larger role and that is cool. I just wanted more of Blue and maybe less of Gansey. So Ronan's secrets and his family history are explored and someone is out to get someone like Ronan who is very much like his father. It is all oddly matter of fact. These characters take everything in stride.

The thing about this book, though, is that it is all about the set-up. The Raven Boys was the beginning and got the story moving. This one is mostly about moving the characters to where they need to be for the finale. I'm curious how that works in a 4 book series . Usually that is the job for the middle book. So will the next book also be mostly for moving the characters towards the finale? Who knows? I say this because this is a fantastic book and I flew through it at a speed that I've sadly grown unaccustomed. But when I thought about what happened in the book and what I was going to say about it, I realized that a lot happened but nothing felt like a true revelation. I know that doesn't/can't happen in every book. But I wanted for something to shock me a little.

Weekly Round-Up 2/3

Weekly Round-Up is my wrap-up of last week's activities and includes what I'm reading this week, reviews I've posted, books in the mail and anything else of interest plus From the Library, my weekly listing of what I've checked out from the library.

 I'm reading Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier. And I am listening to The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, read by the author.

I finished The Dream Thieves last week by Maggie Stiefvater so that review will be out this week.

Last week I reviewed Fangirl and Attachments, both by Rainbow Rowell.