Quick Book Meme

I've been tagged by Ana. Here it goes:

1. Total number of books I own:

I can tell you that I have 116 books in my keeper shelf, but I also have lots (I haven't counted) books in my TBR pit.

2. Last book I bought:

The last book I bought was Julia Quinn's latest book, The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever

3. Last Book I read:

I last book I read was Austenland by Shannon Hale.

4. Five books that mean a lot to me:

OMGosh, this one is a hard one...

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

5. Tag 5 people:

Janelle from Eclectic Closet: Random Thoughts & Ponderings
Debbie from ~debbie's~ Crazy Mixed Up Life Stories
Wendy from The Misadventures of Super Librarian
Kristie (J) from Ramblings on Romance
Fatin from Mad's House

Quote of the Day

"I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."
Rita Rudner

How Normal Are You?

You Are 60% Normal

Otherwise known as the normal amount of normal You're like most people most of the time But you've got those quirks that make you endearing You're unique, yes... but not frighteningly so!

How Normal Are You?

Quote of the Day

"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow; Don't walk behind me, I may not lead; Walk beside me, and just be my friend."
Albert Camus

Austenland

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Here's the blurb:

Jane Hayes is a seemingly normal young New Yorker, but she has a secret. Her obsession with Mr. Darcy, as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, is ruining her love life: no real man can compare. But when a wealthy relative bequeaths her a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane’s fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become realer than she ever could have imagined.

Decked out in empire-waist gowns, Jane struggles to master Regency etiquette and flirts with gardeners and gentlemen—or maybe even, she suspects, with the actors who are playing them. It’s all a game, Jane knows. And yet the longer she stays, the more her insecurities seem to fall away, and the more she wonders: Is she about to kick the Austen obsession for good, or could all her dreams actually culminate in a Mr. Darcy of her own?

Jane a graphic artist, has an obsession with Mr. Darcy, yummy Colin Firth. She compares all her boyfriends to Mr. Darcy, and unfortunately they do not measure up. When her great aunt Carolyn leaves her a non-refundable ticket to resort who cater to Austen/regency enthusiasts, she takes it hoping that she'll be rid of her obsession once and for all.

I can understand the whole obsession with Mr. Darcy. The character must be the most desired man in the world of fiction. Here's a man that is proud and judgmental, but he falls in love with a woman that some feel isn't an appropriate match. But he pursues her and professes his love, but she refuses him. Soon after Miss Bennett, she learns the truth about Mr. Darcy. He helps her, shows her that she important to him, all that matters is making her happy. Who doesn't want to be treated that way?

I wasn't too sure if I would enjoy this book, I have read some of the Austen type companions to the novels, some I've enjoyed and some I haven't, but this one was the first that is set in a Regency reenactment resort. But I was pleasantly surprised. It started off a little slow to me, but we learn that Jane is Darcy obsessed and is somewhat ashamed of it, and then we learn about Aunt Carolyn's gift, and then it goes on to the trip, and it just takes off. Jane adjusting to the costumes, time, the speech and keeping her act together. The characters were very well written, the dialog was quick and funny. I loved it.

I really don't want to give too much info, I don't want to ruin the experience for someone else.

I highly recommend the book.

Rate: 4.5/5, Library book

Her Royal Spyness

The first book of a new series by one of my favorite authors, Rhys Bowen, Her Royal Spyness: solves her first case.

Here's the blurb:

Her ridiculously long name is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, daughter to the Duke of Atholt and Rannoch. And she is flat broke. As the thirty-fourth in line for the throne, she has been taught only a few things, among them, the perfect curtsey. But when her brother cuts off her allowance, she leaves Scotland, and her fiancŽ Fish-Face, for London, where she has:

a) worked behind a cosmetics counter-and gotten sacked after five hours
b) started to fall for a quite unsuitable minor royal
c) made some money housekeeping (incognita, of course), and
d) been summoned by the Queen to spy on her playboy son.

Then an arrogant Frenchman, who wants her family's 800-year-old estate for himself, winds up dead in her bathtub. Now her most important job is to clear her very long family name.

As usual I cannot go wrong with a Rhys Bowen book. I absolutely adore her books. I was first introduced to her books by my friend Carol Ann, who gave me Evans Above. After reading it, I just HAD to get my hands on her others. So far I'm up to date with the Molly Murphy series, and I'm half way through with the Constable Evan Evans series.

And now there's another series to look forward to... I loved the book. I enjoyed heroine, Georgie,she seemed so down to earth (considering she was 34th in line for the throne), I loved that she wasn't afraid to work, I loved the way she cared for her granddad and looked out for her older brother. I also enjoyed that she was clumsy at times and not afraid to admit. There were also other characters that I enjoyed Belinda, Darcy (yep, it has a Darcy!), Fig, Binky and her grandfather. I think what I enjoyed mostly of the story was quickly it happened, but it didn't seemed rushed.

Rate: 4.5/5, Library Book

Quote of the Day

"Do you love me because I am beautiful, or am I beautiful because you love me?"
Oscar Hammerstein II, Cinderella

Trip to the library....

Had to pick some books that were on hold for me. Here's what came home with me:

Going Dutch by Katie Fforde
An English Murder by Louise Doughty
The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner
Until The Final Hour: Hitler's Last Secretary by Traudl Junge
The Class Menagerie by Jill Churchill
Not Quite A Lady by Loretta Chase
Me ANd Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter

Hmm, choices...

Quote of the Day

""Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat.
"I don't much care where --" said Alice.
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the Cat.
"--so long as I get somewhere," Alice added as an explanation."
Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Another One Bites The Dust...

This one I saw coming...

All the best Tara!

Quote of the Day

"There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles."
Anonymous

The Maid and the Lover

Death at Sandringham House by C.C. Benison

Here's the blurb:

A MURDER FIT FOR A QUEEN...

When housemaid Jane Bee accompanies the Royals on their annual Christmas jaunt to Sandringham, she believes she's in for a bit of a snooze. Aside from her regular duties, there's nothing much to do in the wilds of Norfolk... until the body of a woman turns up in the village hall - a woman who just happens to be a dead ringer for the Queen, right down to her glittering crown.

While the royal bodyguards tighten their security ans the police concentrate their efforts on a notorious animal rights group. Her Majesty bids Jane to do her own discreet digging. But when Jane learns the origin of the dead woman's tiara, she finds herself suddenly unstitching an upstairs/downstairs tapestry of indiscretions going back fifty years. And then a second brazen murder occurs in the very heart of Sandringham House, and it looks like the coming New Year could be more horribilis than any yet.

It took me two days to read this book, well two afternoons really. I enjoyed the characters, and the setting of the story. The story didn't really do it for me though. I was a little confused at times, but the author did tie everything up for me at the end. I was surprised on who was the criminal.

I wonder if I would have a different opinion if I had read the first book of the series. Usually reading out of order doesn't bother, but I'm just curious if it would have helped.

Rate: 2.5/5




Dark Lover by J.R. Ward
Here's the blurb:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There also exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Among them, none relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed- orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead…

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both…

I really enjoyed this book. I did find it a little over the top, but considering it's a paranormal/vampire book, it has to be over the top. I found it dark, I couldn't help myself by imagining it as black and white or being set like a film noir. Something like Robert Rodriguez's movie Sin City. I enjoyed the characters, I thought Wrath behind like the leader that he is, I understood Beth's concern and doubts on what happening, their chemistry was sizzling. My only complaint character wise would be Marisa, I really didn't like her, she got on my nerves and don't get me started on her brother Havers (ok, another complaint). I didn't care for most of the Mr. X scenes, I admit I skimmed through most of them. In my opinion the scene stealer throughout was the book was Fritz, the butler, I really liked him. I can't wait to get my hands on Lover Eternal, but I'm pacing myself...

Rate: 4/5 Keeper Shelf