I'm a Card Carrying Member

So, I have been in my house for almost four years now. Not that that is overly significant, it's just a point of reference. Prior to buying my first home during my mid-life years, since 1984, I have lived in 8 different abodes, including the current house. I have moved around a lot. I did as a child, too, with my dad in the army. I think the idea of staying put in one place always kind of freaked me out. I never really learned how to settle down.

I have always been a workaholic as well and with a two hour commute at times and working more than 40 hours for much of my adult working life, it has made things difficult at times, as far as doing simple mundane things. There's always chores to do, errands to do, reading time to try to get in and cuddle time with the cat. He makes it difficult to get anything done.

Why am I telling you this? I'm painting a picture.

I have, for the first time since I moved away from home, found the local library and have actually registered and gotten myself a library card!!!!

That's HUGE for me!!! It only took almost four years. But since we won't be moving out of the house any time soon, I thought it was a good time to take that step.

It is, however, only the first step. I have one fatal flaw that might render my library card useless. I have a tendency that when I get a book in my hand I need to own it. I did the same thing when I worked at the book store. We had lending privileges. Oh, I would borrow books, sure. But then I'd have to turn right around and buy them anyway. It kind of defeats the purpose of reading for free.

I have yet to step into the library for browsing purposes. For the winter, they are open evenings and weekends. What had stopped my from getting my card for so long was that I looked up their hours and saw they closed at 5 and were closed on the weekends. How the heck would I ever get there? I kept planning to go on vacation, but never got around to it. I only recently found out that the hours I looked up were summer hours. So, I got my card now. Oh yeah.

Now I just have to make sure I give it a workout.

To Buy or Not to Buy: Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern

I still haven't managed to read a book, but I have been reading a tub book. Woo hoo! Reading is reading. We'll see if I can finish it. I am still trying to clean up my eBook samples so will still be writing on these for a while. It's a good filler post. Well, I think it's a good filler post. I'm not sure what anyone else thinks. I won't dwell on it.

It's time for a new installment of To Buy or Not to Buy. This week, I'm sharing my thoughts on Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern.



Book Description (From Amazon):
Publication Date: February 1, 2005
The basis for the forthcoming motion picture starring Lily Collins and Sam Claflin!

What happens when two people who are meant to be together can't seem to get it right?

Rosie and Alex are destined for each other, and everyone seems to know it but them. Best friends since childhood, they are separated as teenagers when Alex and his family relocate from Dublin to Boston.

Like two ships always passing in the night, Rosie and Alex stay friends, and though years pass, the two remain firmly attached via emails and letters. Heartbroken, they learn to live without each other. But destiny is a funny thing, and in this novel o f several missed opportunities, Rosie and Alex learn that fate isn't quite done with them yet.


This is another story that is told from, well sort of, alternating POVs. Alex and Rosie are neighbors and friends from a young age.

The story is told in letters and notes between the two, interspersed with letters from teachers to parents and parents to parents. Alex and Rosie seem to be little deviants and get in trouble often. Mostly for not paying attention and passing notes in class.

I love the way this story flows. At least in the beginning of the book, the letters are short. Since they are so short, it is easy to get carried away reading, at least for me.

The movie is coming out soon and I wanted to see what it was about. I only hope the movie is as amusing as what I've read so far.

First few letters:

To Alex
You are invited to my 7th birthday party on Tuesday the 8th of April in my house. We are having a magician and you can come to my house at 2 o'clock. It is over at 5 o'clock. I hope you will come,
From your best friend
Rosie

To Rosie
Yes I will come to your birthday party on Wensday.
Form Alex

To Alex
My birthday party is on Tuesday not Wednesday. You can't bring sandy to the party because mum says so. She is a smelly dog.
From Rosie

To Rosie
I do not care wot your stupid mum says sandy wants to come.
Form Alex


The typos and grammar are intentional as that is how it is in the book. I just fell in love with their ridiculous childish banter and got sucked right in. I wasn't planning on seeing the film, but now I think I have to.

Decision?
To buy. Done and dusted and all for the right price of $1.99.

Most Wanted - My Wednesday Wish List

I generally don't do a lot of wish list posts, but during the Christmas holidays and my two weeks off, I did a lot of searching for new books in 2015. I was probably most excited about last week's most wanted book, Oblivion. I can't wait to find out what happens with Varen.

This week's most wanted I actually found out earlier than the Christmas holiday, but I was never the less over the moon with the news.

Meg Cabot is coming out with a new Princess Mia book!!! Book 10 came out in January of 2009!!! I honestly never thought another one was going to come out and I am happy to find I was mistaken in that.

The Princess Diaries are one of my guilty pleasures. I have read them many times over and Michael Moskovitz is definitely one of my favorite male characters. These books make me laugh so hard, almost as much if not as much as the Georgia Nicholson stories.

Anyway, it comes out on June 2nd. Just in time for my birthday! If I can't get a Stanley Cup for my birthday, I might as well get a Princess Diaries book. So, thanks Meg!

So there you have it. I will be eagerly awaiting this one, you can be sure. I am doubly excited because Meg Cabot is going to be at BEA this year! Can I get a Woot! Woot!?

Book Description (From Amazon):
Publication Date: June 2, 2015
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding—but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia’s gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn’t need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother’s leaked “fake” wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia’s father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone—especially herself—that she’s not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?

Two for Two for Tuesday

I don't know about all of you in the storm corridor, but I found the storm to be lackluster and a bit of a disappointment. I was expecting a foot of snow and got maybe half that. It was supposed to keep snowing until midnight tonight, but it stopped early afternoon. Now there is absolutely no way I can get out of driving in to work tomorrow. Darn!

Well, it's a bummer, but these things, they do happen.

Anyway, I have been doing a lot of new book searching, beginning of the year and all that and have come across quite a few titles that have the same cover. I will be sharing two of the pairings today.

That's right!  It's Two for Two for Tuesday!  Woo hoo!

Anomaly (Schrodinger's Consortium Book 1 By Tonya Kuper

VS

Invisible (Tainted Elements Book 2 by Alycia Linwood





 This is Falling by Ginger Scott

VS

The Prince with Amnesia by Emily Evans






What differences can you spot?  With the girls, the eyes look different.  With the boys, it is the amazing color changing tank top!!  And I don't know, is pink tank top tanner?

I just can't figure out how the same images can be used multiple times.  Do they think no one is going to catch it?  Are you kidding me?  I live for stuff like this.  I will sit and watch a movie over and over watching the now you see it, now you don't scenes.  I could go on for hours, but I won't.

So enjoy the double dose!

To Buy or Not to Buy: Forget Me by K.A. Harrington

Oddly enough, I was just replying to Tracy at Pen and Paper about judging a book by it's cover. I remark on that because I saw Forget Me posted on GoodReads as a giveaway, which I didn't win of course, but I really loved the cover. It really sets a tone. So, I downloaded a sample once it was available which is the subject of this installment of To Buy or Not to Buy.

Forget Me by K.A. Harrington

Book Description (From Amazon):
Publication Date: August 7, 2014
Two names. One face. A dangerous secret exposed.

Morgan never minded her boyfriend Flynn’s dark and private nature. She found it mysterious and alluring. But now he’s dead, and she can’t move on. She feels much like her dying town, River’s End, with its overgrown amusement park and abandoned houses: once happy . . . now fading away.

Hoping for some closure, Morgan uploads her only picture of Flynn to the social media site FriendShare along with a note to say good-bye. But she’s shocked when the facial recognition software suggests she tag him as Evan Murphy. She’s never heard of Evan. A quick search reveals that he lives in a nearby town and looks exactly like Flynn. Same eyes, nose, jawline. Only this boy is very much alive. Digging through layers of secrets, Morgan questions everything she thought she knew about her town, her boyfriend, and even her parents’ involvement in this massive web of lies.

Forget Me is a heart-pounding novel that draws you in and keeps you guessing until the very end.

My First Impression:
I put this book on my wish list because I really liked the cover. It’s moody and mysterious. And I really couldn't wait until the book was released so I could check it out.

Morgan is heading to a party by herself because her boyfriend Flynn said he had plans with family. ON the way to the party, she sees him on the side of the road. He explains that he is just out thinking. When she gets out the car so she can look him in the face, he tells her to get back in the car and jumps in the passenger side. He says he wants to go anywhere and be with her and then starts the car for her. He keeps checking the road behind them as she drives.

Morgan demands to know what is going on with him and just as suddenly, Flynn tells her to pull over and let him out of the car. He tells her he doesn't want to go to the party, that he only wants to be with her. Morgan suggests they go somewhere and talk, but he doesn't want to talk either. He then accuses her of checking up on him and tells her he doesn't want this anymore.

He gets out of the car and starts walking down the road when he gets run down by a SUV that kept driving.

Based on the book description, I’d say this has enough mystery to be interesting. There are many questions in need of answers, the primary one being why was Flynn out alone on a darkened road and why did he keep looking down it?

Decision?
To buy.  And so I have.

Stacking the Shelves - January 25,2015: It's a Big One

I have had a bit of an issue getting my posts up lately. I've been good this week and hope that is a positive trend for the future, but December and early January were not the best for me to spend on my blog.

With that in mind, this is my Stacking the Shelves with everything I have received since not quite mid-December. I know it's a lot, but keep in mind three things. The list contains books I got for Christmas, books I purchased because I did not get them for Christmas and a lot of eBooks as a result of my ongoing clean-up efforts with my eBook samples on my iPad and the titles on my wish list. It seems to be a never-ending struggle.

Anyway, without further ado...my first STS of 2015. Drum roll please......

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.


Books Purchased:
Altered by Jennifer Rush

Haven by Kristi Cook

Of Neptune by Anna Banks

The Cupcake Queen by Heather Hepler

Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless by Liz Czukas

The 20th Anniversary Nearly-Complete Essential Starchild by James A. Owens

Guardians of the Galaxy: The Complete Collection Volume 1 by Dan Abnett

Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Four by Bill Willingham

Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Six by Bill Willingham

Ensnared: Splintered Book Three by A. G. Howard



Christmas Gifts:
Monstrous Affections edited by Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant

Mouse Guard: Baldwin the Brave and Other Tales by David Petersen

Reave the Just and Other Tales by Stephen R. Donaldson

Tales from the Perilous Realm by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Caller by Juliet Marillier

 Blu Ray of Death Comes to Pemberley adapted from P.D. James


Kindle Books Purchased:
Shadows on Snow: A Flipped Fairy Tale (Flipped Fairy Tales) by Starla Huchton, Jennifer Melzer – Free eBook

Sea of Shadows: Age of Legends (Age of Legends Trilogy Book 1) by Kelley Armstrong Holiday deal $1.99

The Resolution of Callie and Kayden (The Coincidence Book 6) by Jessica Sorensen – Dropped to $2.99

The Certainty of Violet & Luke (The Coincidence Series Book 5) by Jessica Sorensen – Dropped to $2.99

Ella and Micha: Infinitely and Always (A Novella) (The Secret) by Jessica Sorensen – Dropped to $.99

The Prelude of Ella and Micha (A Novella) (The Secret) by Jessica Sorensen – Dropped to $.99
First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles Book 4) by Alyssa Rose Ivy

Beauty and the Beast (Faerie Tale Collection Book 1) by Jenni James – Free eBook

The Iron Trial (Book One of Magisterium) (Magisterium series 1) by Holly Black, Cassandra Clare – Kindle Daily Deal

Some of the Best from Tor.com: 2014: A Tor.Com Original by Various Authors – Free eBook

Dangerous Creatures by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl – Hatchette eBook Holiday Deal

Icons by Margaret Stohl – Hatchette eBook Holiday Deal

Salt & Storm by Kendall Kulper – Hatchette eBook Holiday Deal

Unbreakable (The Legion Book 1) by Kami Garcia – Hatchette eBook Holiday Deal

The Girl in the Steel Corset (The Steampunk Chronicles Book 1) by Kady Cross – Dropped to $2.99

Holidays with Jane: Christmas Cheer by Jennifer Becton, Melissa Buell, Rebecca M. Fleming,
Cecilia Gray, Jessica Grey, Kimberly Truesdale

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani, Iacopo Bruno – Dropped to $1.99

Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey

Awake: A Fairytale (Fairytale Trilogy Book 1) by Jessica Grey

Compulsion (Heirs of Watson Island Book 1) by Martina Boone – Kindle January Monthly Deal

Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg – Kindle January Monthly Deal

Unhinged: 2 (Splintered) by A. G. Howard – Kindle January Monthly Deal

Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits Book 6) by Katie McGarry – Pre-ordered - Released 12/08/14

Wicked (A Wicked Trilogy Book 1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout - Pre-ordered - Released 12/08/14

From Me to You by Elizabeth Eulberg - Pre-ordered - Released 12/01/14, but I forgot to list it

Two of Us by Elizabeth Eulberg - Pre-ordered - Released 11/01/14, but I forgot to list it

A Hard Day's Night by Elizabeth Eulberg – Free eBook

Flat-Out Matt (Flat-Out Love Book 2) by Jessica Park – Dropped to $.99 on purchase date

What If (Entangled Embrace) (If Only...) by A.J. Pine – Priced at $.99

Waterfall: A Novel (River of Time Book 1) by Lisa T. Bergren – Deal at $.01 on purchase date

The Glass Magician (The Paper Magician Series, Book 2) by Charlie N. Holmberg – Kindle Daily Deal

Midnight in Austenland: A Novel by Shannon Hale – Kindle Daily Deal

Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern – Publisher discount - $1.99

The Very Best of Charles de Lint by Charles de Lint – Free eBook

Fool Me Twice: An If Only novel (If Only . . . Book 1) by Mandy Hubbard – The Big Deal: Kindle Books Up to 85% Off

Magnolia by Kristi Cook – Kindle Daily Deal

Cascade: A Novel (River of Time Book 2) by Lisa T. Bergren – The Big Deal: Kindle Books Up to 85% Off

Twin Roses: A Beau Rivage Short Story by Sarah Cross

Manga Purchased:
Infernal Devices Book 3: The Clockwork Princess

Kiss of the Rose Princess 2

Meteor Prince 1

Alice in the Country of Joker: The Nightmare Trilogy 2

Say “I Love You” 5

Alice in the Country of Clover: The Lizard Aide

 That's it for now, but I really do think it is more than enough.   At least for the time being.  TTFN!!

Quasi-Book Review: Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae

It's clean up time again.  I am trying to read the samples of books where I have additional books from the series on my wish list or to read the start of the the first book if I already own it in an attempt to determine if I want to purchase any more of the series.

I feel this battle is never ending.  My book/Kindle wish list is added with the same frequency of the goodies I put in my basket when I go food shopping while hungry.  My eyes are bigger than my stomach or my wallet.  In this case, a large portion of said books on my wish list that I am trying to get control of are eBooks that cost under $5.00, so they're not really expensive, but why buy something and waste the money if it's not going to appeal to after I've purchased the book.

One such book is Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae.  It is the first in the series.  I bought it last summer.  I read a sample and thought $1.99 was an acceptable price, but never got around to reading it.  As I say, if it is on my Kindle, I can't see it, so it doesn't really exist and it doesn't equate into the count of books I own.  At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Anyhoo, as there are now several additional books in the series available, I thought it time to seriously give it a try.  I got through the first chapter and have determined this is not a book or series I can read.

The problem?  How to explain.

Emma Wise wakes up in pain in a hospital room.  She is visited by Social Services and is told that not only was she in a car accident that she miraculously survived, but that her parents did not survive and the aunt she never knew she had has been granted complete guardianship over her until Emma turns 18 in another year.  And, oh yeah, her heretofore unknown aunt also lives in Alaska where Emma will be relocating to.

It is a lot going on and I am okay with that. It's kind of exciting, the fear of the unknown, uprooting your entire life and moving to a far away land where they have 6 months of darkness.  Oh, the sleeping I'd get done.

No, that is not my problem with the story.  My problem stems from these three lovely sentences below:

Unanswered questions pierced my already fragile heart. - Location 190 of 4233.
Regret started to seep into the cracks of my shattered heart. - Location 247 of 4233
I missed my mom and the thought of her sent a piercing pain straight through the  middle of my heart.  - Location 259 of 4233

So, in the space of one chapter, Emma's heart has been pierced twice and shattered once.  It's a wonder she's still alive!  I especially take issue with unanswered questions piercing her fragile heart.  Questions don't pierce hearts, arrows do, pain does.  But not questions.  Questions can pierce the veil of sleep, but a heart?

I get it.  She's distraught.  She's just found out the only family she thought she had is dead and that she was lied to about not having any other family.  I understand that her life will never be the same, that she will never be the same.  I understand and sympathize with her pain.  I just wish she found a better way to communicate her entire world shattering into dust around her.

So, yeah.  I have issues.  This may the first book I bought that I realized I could not read and I really do like the premise, but I can't.  The prose are overwrought and melodramatic.  Harsh I know I am being and I do apologize for that, but I just can't afford to buy books anymore that I'm not going to read.  Due to the time I can actually spend reading and the number of books on my wish list, I have to be super critical and hack and slash my wish list where I may.  The Hidden Wings series just isn't making the cut.

Book Description (From Amazon):

Publication Date: December 14, 2013

What happens when Darkness and Light collide?

Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise.
As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm, and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.

Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is.

A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously, captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.