BookLizard's 141414 Category Challenge Part 3

The home stretch and I'm changing a few categories for the second time.

1. Vampires 14/14 FINISHED
1b. Vampires (new-to-me) 14/14 FINISHED

2. Magic Users 14/14 FINISHED
2b. Magic Users (new-to-me) 14/14 FINISHED

3. Urban Fantasy, Fantasy & Paranormal 14/14   FINISHED
3b. Urban Fantasy, Fantasy & Paranormal (new-to-me) 14/14   FINISHED

4. Love & Romance 14/14   FINISHED
4b. Love & Romance (new-to-me) 14/14   FINISHED

5. SF 14/14   FINISHED
5b. NF 14/14   FINISHED

6. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction 14/14 FINISHED
6b. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction (new-to-me) 14/14 FINISHED

7. Hodgepodge 14/14   FINISHED
7b. Hodgepodge (new-to-me) 14/14   FINISHED











And planning for 2015: http://www.librarything.com/topic/179941

1. Vampires   FINISHED

1. Dark Lycan by Christine Feehan ****1/2
   
2. Dark Wolf by Christine Feehan ***1/2
   
3. Up From the Grave by Jeaniene Frost ****
   
4. One Lucky Vampire by Lynsay Sands ****1/2
   
5. Vampire Most Wanted by Lynsay Sands ****
   
6. The King: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward ***1/2
   
7. How to Seduce a Vampire (Without Really Trying) by Kerrelyn Sparks ****
   
8. Cirque du Freak: The Manga by Darren Shan ***1/2
   
9. Frostbite: A Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead ****
   
10. Shadow Kiss: A Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead
    
11. Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall ****
    
12. Chained by Night by Larissa Ione ****
    
13. Twin Spins by Sienna Mercer ****
    
14. Date with Destiny by Sienna Mercer ***1/2
    

1b. Vampires (new-to-me)   FINISHED

1. The Vampire Shrink by Lynda Hilburn ***
   
2. The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black ***1/2
   
3. Bram Stoker's Dracula: The Graphic Novel by Gary Reed ****
   
4. Life Sucks by Jessica Abel ***1/2
   
5. Switched by Sienna Mercer ****
   
6. Vampire Forensics by Mark Collins Jenkins ***1/2
   
7. Fangtastic by Sienna Mercer ****
   
8. Re-vamped by Sienna Mercer ****
   
9. Vampalicious by Sienna Mercer ****
   
10. Take Two by Sienna Mercer ****
    
11. This Totally Bites by Ruth Ames ***1/2
    
12. Love Bites by Sienna Mercer ****
    
13. Lucky Break by Sienna Mercer ***1/2
    
14. Star Style by Sienna Mercer ***1/2
    

2. Magic Users - FINISHED

1. A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison ****1/2
   
2. Storm Front by Jim Butcher, audiobook narrated by James Marsters ****1/2
   
3. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher, audiobook narrated by James Marsters ****1/2
   
4. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher, audiobook narrated by James Marsters ****
   
5. Changes by Jim Butcher, audiobook narrated by James Marsters ****1/2
   
6. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher ****
   
7. Cold Days by Jim Butcher ****1/2
   
8. Skin Game by Jim Butcher ****1/2
   
9. Shattered: The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne ****1/2
   
10. For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison ****1/2
    
11. The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison ****
    
12. White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison ****
    
13. Dresden Files: War Cry by Jim Butcher ****1/2
    
14. Blood Work: An Original Hollows Graphic Novel by Kim Harrison ****
    

TBR:



2b. Magic Users (new to me) FINISHED

1. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronvitch ****
   
2. Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch ****
   
3. Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch ****
   
4. A Madness of Angelsby Kate Griffin ****
   
5. Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch ****1/2
   
6. Midnight Mayor by Kate Griffin ****
   
7. The Neon Court by Kate Griffin ****
   
8. The Minority Council by Kate Griffin ***1/2
   
9. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich, narrated by Lorelei King ****
   
10. Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk ****
    
11. Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King ****
    
12. Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce ****
    
13. Tris's Book by Tamora Pierce ****
    
14. Daja's Book by Tamora Pierce ****
    

TBR:
Fated by Benedict Jacka
Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco

Stolen by Kelly Armstrong
https://www.librarything.com/topic/181147#

3. Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, & Paranormal   FINISHED

1. Dancing: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Novella by Laurell K. Hamilton ****
   
2. Night Broken by Patricia Briggs ****1/2
   
3. Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole ****
   
4. Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris ****1/2
   
5. A Shiver of Light by Laurell K. Hamilton ****
   
6. Sixth Grave on the Edge by Darynda Jones ****
   
7. Soulless: The Manga by Gail Carriger ****
   
8. Tangled Thread by Jennifer Estep ****
   
9. Shifting Shadows by Patricia Briggs ****
   
10. Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison ***1/2
    
11. Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones ****1/2
    
12. Immortal: A Novel of the Fallen Angels by J.R. Ward ****1/2
    
13. Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost ****
    
14. Jason (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) by Laurell K. Hamilton ***1/2
    

TBR:

Dark Blood by Christine Feehan 9/2



3b. Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, & Paranormal (new-to-me)   FINISHED

1. Born in Blood by Alexandra Ivy ****
   
2. Ill Wind by Rachel Caine ****1/2
   
3. Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine ****
   
4. Chill Factor by Rachel Caine ****
   
5. Windfall by Rachel Caine ****
   
6. Firestorm by Rachel Caine ****
   
7. Thin Air by Rachel Caine ***1/2
   
8. Gale Force by Rachel Caine ****
   
9. Cape Storm by Rachel Caine ***
   
10. Total Eclipse by Rachel Caine ****1/2
    
11. Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep ****1/2
    
12. Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep ****1/2
    
13. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong ****
    
14. Venom by Jennifer Estep ****1/2
    

TBR:

Beautiful Ashes byJeaniene Frost 8/26
Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch 10/7
War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire
Unshapely Things by Mark Del Franco
Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher
Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead
Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur
Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green
Ghost of a Chance by Yasmine Galenorn

4. Love & Romance FINISHED

1. Splendid by Julia Quinn ****
   
2. No Good Duke Goes Unpunished Sarah MacLean ****1/2
   
3. Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn ****
   
4. Minx by Julia Quinn ****
   
5. The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn ****1/2
   
6. To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn ****
   
7. How to Marry a Marquis by Julia Quinn ****
   
8. Stormy Persuasion by Johanna Lindsey ****1/2
   
9. Otherwise Engaged by Amanda Quick ****1/2
   
10. Kiss of a Demon King by Kresley Cole ****
    
11. Untouchable from Deep Kiss of Winter by Kresley Cole ***
    
12. Dark Bites by Sherrilyn Kenyon ****
    
13. Son of No One by Sherrilyn Kenyon ***1/2
    
14. A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah Maclean ****1.2
    

TBR:

The Secret by Julie Garwood
Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah Maclean 9/30



4b. Love & Romance (new-to-me) FINISHED

1. Devil's Bride by Stephanie Laurens ****
   
2. Labor Day by Joyce Maynard *****
   
3. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes ****
   
4. Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrison, et al. ***1/2
   
5. Dates from Hell by Kim Harrison, et al.
   
6. A Rake's Vow by Stephanie Laurens ****
   
7. Scandal's Bride by Stephanie Laurens ***
   
8. Covet Thy Neighbor by L.A. Witt ***
   
9. Holding Out for a Fairy Tale by A. J. Thomas ****
   
10. UnRidden by Cat Johnson ****
    
11. The Walls of Troy by L. A. Witt ***
    
12. Bucked by Cat Johnson ***1/2
    
13. Let It Snow by Heidi Cullinan ****
    
14. Dirty Laundry by Heidi Cullinan ***1/2
    

TBR:

A Rogue's Proposal by Stephanie Laurens
A Secret Love by Stephanie Laurens
All About Love by Stephanie Laurens

5. SF   FINISHED

1. Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi ****1/2
   
2. Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding ****1/2
   
3. The Black Lung Captain by Chris Wooding ****
   
4. Redshirts by John Scalzi ****1/2
   
5. Iron Jackal by Chris Wooding ****1/2
   
6. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood ****
   
7. William Shakespeare's Star Wars by Ian Doescher ****
   
8. William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back by Ian Doescher ****
   
9. Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown ****1/2
   
10. William Shakespeare's The Jedi Doth Return by Ian Doescher ****
    
11. Jedi Academy: Return of the Padawan by Jeffrey Brown ****
    
12. Ace of Skulls by Chris Wooding ****1/2
    
13. Bellwether by Connie Willis ****1/2
    
14. The Stand by Stephen King ****1/2
    

TBR:
Infinite Sea by Rick Yancey 9/16

5b. NF   FINISHED

1. I Could Pee on This by Francesco Marciuliano ****
   
2. Of Beetles and Angels by Mawi Asgedom ****1/2
   
3. How Can I Deal With Bullying?: A Book About Respect by Sandy Donovan ****
   
4. Long Mile Home by Scott Helman and Jenna Russell ****1/2
   
5. A Woman's Guide to a Healthy Stomach by Jacqueline Wolf ****
   
6. Thank You Notes by Jimmy Fallon ***1/2
   
7. Columbine by Dave Cullen ****
   
8. Five Days at Memorial by Sheri Fink ****
   
9. Most Dangerous Animal of All by Gary Stewart & Susan Mustafa ****1/2
   
10. The Itty Bitty Kitty Committee by Laura Cinotto ****
    
11. The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester ****
    
12. Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot *****
    
13. Out of the Blue: A Narrative of September 11, 2001 by Richard Bernstein ***1/2
    
14. 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer *****
    

6. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction   FINISHED

1. Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor ****
   
2. The Shadow Throne by Jennifer A. Nielsen ****
   
3. Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson ****
   
4. Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon ***1/2
   
5. Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon ***1/2
   
6. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor ****
   
7. Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth ****
   
8. Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien ****
   
9. Endurance by Ann Aguirre
   
10. Wrinkle in Time audiobook by Madeline L'Engle ***
    
11. Thursdays with the Crown by Jessica Day George ****
    
12. Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel ****1/2
    
13. The Secret of the Fortune Wookie by Tom Angleberger ****1/2
    
14. The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett by Tom Angleberger ****1/2
    
    

TBR:

Girl With the Windup Heart by Kady Cross
Raging Star by Moira Young
Mortal Heart by Moira Young
Spiritglass Charade byColleen Gleason



6b. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction (new-to-me) FINISHED

1. Defy by Sara B. Larson ****1/2
   
2. Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery *****
   
3. Monkey Me and the Pet Show by Timothy Roland
   
4. A Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason ****
   
5. The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler ****
   
6. Sisters by Raina Telgemeier ****1/2
   
7. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai ****1/2
   
8. Adventures of Captain Underpants: Color Edition by Dav Pilkey ****1/2
   
9. The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee by Barry Jonsberg *****
   
10. Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires ***1/2
    
11. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger ****1/2
    
12. Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger ****1/2
    
13. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell ****1/2
    
14. Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce ****
    

TBR:

Beth's Story, 1914 by Adele Whitby
Kate's Story, 1914 by Adele Whitby
Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
Cat at the Wall by Deborah Ellis

7. Hodgepodge   FINISHED

1. Bleak House by Charles Dickens ****
   
2. The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd *****
   
3. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman ****
   
4. The Far Side Gallery by Gary Larson ****
   
5. Top Secret Twenty-one by Janet Evanovich ****1/2
   
6. Simon's Cat in Kitten Chaos by Simon Tofield ****1/2
   
7. In the Shadow of No Towers by Art Spiegalman ****
   
8. Catmas Carols by Laurie Loughlin ***1/2
   
9. Finding Me by Michelle Knight ****
   
10. The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield ****1/2
    
11. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah Maclean ****
    
12. No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah Maclean ****1/2
    
13. A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen
    
14. Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah Maclean ***1/2
    

TBR:



7b. Hodgepodge (new-to-me)   FINISHED

1. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley ***1/2
   
2. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Book One by Denise Mina ****
   
3. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Book Two by Denise Mina ****
   
4. Longbourn by Jo Baker ****1/2
   
5. Usual Rules by Joyce Maynard ****
   
6. Cascade by Maryanne O'Hara ****1/2
   
7. Touching History by Lynn Levy Spencer *****
   
8. The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats by Sandra Markle ****1/2
   
9. The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson ****
   
10. The Map Thief by Michael Blanding ****
    
11. The Grumpy Guide to Life by Grumpy Life ***
    
12. The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo ****
    
13. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai ****1/2
    
14. Taylor Swift: The Story of Me by Riley Brooks
    

Nice clean new thread to finish out the year. Cool!

Happy new thread! I'm glad to see you're still enjoying the Ketty Jay series. I've still only read the first two books, but I'm saving the last two for next year! :)

Happy new thread! How is it the final quarter of the year already?!

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread! 186 on the old thread, no. The story, really there were 2 of them, didn't take place in the future. One had a kind of experimental feel to it but no supernatural, or even madness, in it. The other one was a workplace alienation setting with a bit of madness once the main character left the factory. It was a bit like a dystopian setting, but it really wasn't anything that hasn't actually existed.

9> Thanks, I did clean up my categories a bit.

10> Good to pace yourself!

11> I don't know where the time went. I just realized that soon I'm going to have to start writing 2015.

12> Thanks!

13> I have another anthology checked out now. I'm hoping it's better than the last one.

Happy new thread!!!

Thanks, Eva! I think I'm going to have to make one more category change if I want to have a chance to finish.

125. Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs ****



Contains 4 new stories as well as previously published stories and the novella Alpha and Omega. I think the stories have more impact when read between the novels, but the collection was strong with Briggs introducing each story and telling where it fits.

126. The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats by Sandra Markle ****1/2



I know most people don't like bats, but don't you just hate bugs? Especially mosquitoes? This children's book offers insight into the plight of the poor little bats that have been dying in great numbers in the past 7 years. The author presents the case as a mystery - offering possible causes and then dispelling them until finally revealing the truth. But finding the cause doesn't mean they've found a cure or preventative. Hopefully these little creatures will still be around for the next generation of scientists to study, and maybe this book will be what inspires that generation.

Read it for Halloween if you think bats are scary - but read it.

127. Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor ****



Final book in the trilogy. A bit long in parts, but the writing is beautiful.

I've only read the first of the series. I think I should get back to it and read the last two. Glad to hear it had good writing.

20> Parts of it were poetic.

128. The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson ****



Good insight into the events of the day. Good for the history, but the ending is dated.

129. The Map Thief by Michael Blanding ****



I didn't include the subtitle - The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps - because it wasn't really gripping, but it was interesting. In 2005, map dealer E. Forbes Smiley III was caught stealing rare maps from Yale University. Further investigation found he had stolen dozens of maps from various libraries. The book starts with his getting caught, then goes back to show how he got there and how he (almost) got away with it. The author also includes the history of the maps to show their significance, and introduces the various people who trusted Smiley and were betrayed by him.

Catching up with you. Nice new thread!

130. Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth ****



Contains short stories and excerpts from Four's point of view. Good for fans of the series.

24> Thanks! I've been following your thread, but just haven't commented.

>26 BookLizard: No worries. :-)

>25 BookLizard: I'm glad you liked this book. I found it at a library book sale and added it to our collection with nothing to go on but the author's name. We certainly do have fans of the series!

28> Are they still fans after they read the last book?

131. The Ace of Skulls by Chris Wooding ****1/2



The fourth and *sniff, sniff* final book in the Tales of the Ketty Jay series. Would have been 5 stars but the author did some things that were really annoying . . . but I also wouldn't want them any other way. You'll have to read to see what I mean. A great series for fans of the Firefly TV show.

>30 BookLizard: - Say WHAT!? The final book in the series? NOOoooooo...... Friggin'dangblastit. Looks like I can plan for a Tales of The Ketty Jay binge read. That is a positive, anyways.

Ooh, only four books! I have to admit it is a relief to know that the series is so short. It's on my list :)

31 & 32> Yeah, you're both lucky you can binge. Enjoy!

Swinging by to say hi! Looks like you've been finding enjoyable books! I think Chris Wooding is not for me though. I'm not so forgiving of annoying things!

I want:

>35 BookLizard: Haha yes! I want that shirt too!

>35 BookLizard:
Love it!

132. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai narrated by Doan Ly ****1/2



A quick "read" on audiobook. It's a novel in verse, so I'm not sure what it would be like to read read - probably a whole different experience.

Hà is only 10 when her family flees to Alabama after the fall of Saigon. Through vignettes, the reader watches her struggle with a new language and a new culture as she comes to term with her altered circumstances.

133. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai ****1/2



Malala Yousafzai is the youngest person to win a Nobel Prize. She is an advocate for education, particularly for girls and women in her native Pakistan. She gained international support when, in October 2012, she was shot by the Taliban as she rode the bus home from school. She was just 15 years old. This month, Malala was named as a co-winner for the Nobel Peace Prize.

This book, her autobiography, was published in October 2013. Although it doesn't flow as well as I would have liked, I still recommend it.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT . . .

134. Covet Thy Neighbor by L. A. Witt ***



Well, this is embarrassing. In my defense, I didn't jump straight from Malala to this. LOL. I've been reading various nonfiction titles and short stories and things.

Anyhow, this title was newly added to Overdrive and it caught my eye. I mean, with the eye candy on the cover, how could it not? And when I read the description (tattoo artist's hot new neighbor turns out to be *gasp* a youth pastor for a church), I just had to see how the author pulled it off. That would be, not entirely convincingly. But it was a quick read and the characters were both likeable, so you could do worse if you like m/m romance.

135. The Grumpy Guide to Life by Grumpy Cat ***



Disappointing. I'm not a huge fan of Grumpy Cat, but I love cats and I have a REAL grumpy cat - not just a cat who looks grumpy because of her coloring:









Instead of grumpy, Grumpy Cat comes off as lazy and hateful most of the time. Sometimes the jokes are funny; sometimes not. Sometimes they have kernels of wisdom; sometimes not.   For example:

Grumpy:   "Absence makes the the heart grow fonder . . . of your absence."

Lazy:   "Know when to quit: before you even get started."

Hateful:   "Being an enemy means hating someone, NO MATTER WHAT."

Wisdom:   "The internet is a very efficient way to waste time."

Stupidity:   "Reading is like watching TV, except it's excruciatingly slow and mind-numbingly boring."

136. Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison ***1/2



Nice to have an anthology that is aptly named. The stories from the Hollows are good. Some I had read before. One I haven't read yet because I haven't gotten to that point in the series, but I'll read it at some point, maybe this year, so I'm counting the book anyway. The tales from Beyond are not so great. I can see why the author didn't expand them into a full-blown series. I can only see one of them as possibly working in book-length.

137. Switched by Sienna Mercer ****



First book in My Sister the Vampire - a cute chapter book series. When perky cheerleader Olivia moves to a new town and new school, she's nervous about making friends. Goth girl Ivy thinks the new girl looks familiar and when she sees an emerald ring on Olivia's hand - exactly like the ring she herself wears on a chain around her neck - the girls discover they are identical twins separated at birth! Of course, they don't tell their parents and take turns posing as each other, which, while predictable for us adults, is such fun! I'm planning to continue with the series to discover how one girl can be a born vampire and the other not.

138. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo ****



A truly different approach to decluttering and organizing. Not everything is original, but some of her methods turn conventional wisdom on its head. Most books have you declutter a little at a time, room by room. In this system you do everything at once in certain categories in a certain order. So you start with your clothes and pile EVERYTHING together - only then can you see how many tops, jackets, dresses, etc. you really have. If something doesn't bring you joy, you get rid of it. It's easiest to start with clothes because it's easy to let go of clothes that don't fit right, have stains, are out of style, etc.

Another revolutionary thought that I love is to store items with like items. Most methods have you store things close to where you use them, but the problem with clutter isn't getting things out when you need them - it's putting things away when you're done!

Of course, I haven't actually DONE anything she recommends yet - I've been too busy reading - but this book gives me hope.

>41 BookLizard:
Beautiful cat! I have a grumpy dog, so I can relate. :)

45> Thanks! She's actually mellowed a little with age.

139. The Adventures of Captain Underpants: Color Edition by Dav Pilkey****1/2



I never read the series before, but couldn't resist checking out the full color edition. Very amusing if you like juvenile and potty humor.

140. Catmas Carols by Laurie Loughlin ***1/2



This was a gift. Some songs worked better than others, but overall it was amusing.

141. Taylor Swift: The Story of Me by Riley Brooks **



I recently realized I like Taylor Swift, so when I saw this children's book, I thought it would be a good way to get basic facts about her and her career. Not so much. I understand it's for young children, but I still expected more from Scholastic (the publisher). Some chapters were basically a list of the awards she won without any information about the criteria or the group awarding it. A chapter called Cover Girl was basically a cosmetics ad. It even said that you could wear the same makeup as Taylor! SRSLY? This is for little kids! Also, there were some beautiful photos but no captions to tell you who the people were or where the pictures were taken, and they usually had nothing to do with the text.

Skip it.

Recap for October

Vampires -
Vampires (new-to-me) - 1

Magic Users -
Magic Users (new-to-me) -

Urban Fantasy, Fantasy & Paranormal - 2
Urban Fantasy, Fantasy & Paranormal (new-to-me) - FINISHED

Romance -
Romance (new-to-me) - 1

SF - 1
NF - FINISHED

Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction - 2
Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction (new-to-me) - 2

Hodgepodge - 1
Hodgepodge (new-to-me) - 7 FINISHED

55 books to read in 2 months. Many will be children's books, but still unlikely that I will complete the challenge.

142. Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend by Mark Collins Jenkins ***1/2



Uncovered various folktales and legends about vampires or vampire-like creatures, but it read like a high school student's paper - a bunch of facts strung together with no real order or interpretation.

143. Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed: A Memoir of the Cleveland Kidnappings by Michelle Knight ****



The first victim of the Cleveland kidnapper recounts her unhappy childhood and the horror of her kidnapping and torture. She doesn't give the gory details of her abuse, but instead focuses on the positive things that helped her survive - like the thought of her son Joey. Although the story wanders a bit, the book is quite readable. A touching story about survival and the power of a mother's love.

144. Jim Butcher's Dresden Files: War Cry by Jim Butcher ****1/2



The White Council is losing the war with the Red Court of vampires. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and they make Harry Dresden a Warden. His mission is to lead three younger wardens to an isolated house in Iowa to rescue a group of scholars being targeted by the vampires. If only it were that easy . . .

LOVED the artwork. Ramirez is so cute and SO Ramirez. Thomas isn't bad either. This isn't just a filler story - we learn more about the war and the traitor on the White Council.

>49 BookLizard: No it's Becky. Bwahaha!

>51 BookLizard: Too bad that could have been really good if it was better written.

>52 BookLizard: Very sad what happened to these ladies.

>53 BookLizard: I am finally getting back to Harry this month. Summer Knight is up for me. Woohoo!

54> Becky?

Glad you're getting back to Harry. He really is a knight . . . in rusty armor.

>55 BookLizard: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/25/taylor-swift-no-its-becky_n_5883126.htm...

Me too. It's been too long since I've payed Harry a visit.

>141 BookLizard: I still expected more from Scholastic (the publisher) *snort* We recently had a meeting of the district's library clerks and we (mainly the elementary schools) were instructed not to put any more books from the book fairs into the collections.

>57 mamzel: I recently started doing some volunteer work at a local middle school. I worked the Scholastic Book Fair and was really surprised at all the junk that was being sold. I expect sidelines at bookstores, but not at an event that's supposed to encourage book sales and reading in the student body. Besides the chocolate calculators and such, the percentage of junk books was surprisingly high too, e.g. Minecraft manuals; and the physical quality of the books was terrible. A lot of Scholastic books end up being pulled for repairs (mostly cheap/poor binding.) I would say that that is the way it has always been, but it's not. I have Scholastic Books that I bought forty years ago that are still in very good condition (yellowing of pages due to non-archival paper notwithstanding); and I still see the older books in second-hand markets. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Scholastic has become so transparently capitalistic; but I am :-/

57> Sad. Remember when Scholastic published Harry Potter?

58> I'm all for encouraging reading, but there's a difference between fluff and junk.

145. The Categorical Universe of Candice Phee by Barry Jonsberg *****



I never just open a book and start reading in the middle, but I did for this book and I'm glad I did because otherwise I might have missed this gem. This book reminds me of Rules by Cynthia Lord, except funnier. Twelve year old Candice has autism spectrum disorder (what used to be called Asperger's Syndrome). She is very literal which makes it hard for her to make friends until a new student transfers in from another dimension (or so he says). With his help, Candice hopes to heal the rifts in her family. The humor more than offsets the sad parts and although one thread ties up too neatly in the end, you're willing to forgive because you've been rooting for Candice all along.

146. Fangtastic by Sienna Mercer ****
147. Re-vamped by Sienna Mercer ****
148. Vampalicious by Sienna Mercer ****





Books 2-4 in the My Sister the Vampire series. Such a fun, lightweight series. It's not great writing (too many coincidences and things go too easily) but it's funny which makes me cut it some slack.

149. Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires ***1/2



Cute children's graphic novel, but just didn't live up to my expectations.

150. The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield, narrated by Bianca Amato & Jill Tanner ****1/2



A reread on audiobook. Some parts went slow - probably parts I skimmed when reading - but the two narrators did a great job of bringing the characters alive.

151. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger ****1/2



Exceeded my expectations. Written like a case file. Tommy is collecting stories from other middle school students about their experiences with Origami Yoda in an effort to determine if there's really something special about the finger puppet or if it's all an elaborate hoax. Very funny.

>64 BookLizard: - I love that title! The cover is amusing, too. ;-)

65> It's the first in a series. I think I'll be reading the sequel - Darth Paper Strikes Back.

Popping in to say hello and Happy Friday. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

67> Thanks, Roberta. I've been visiting your thread but you've been reading mysteries instead of fantasy.

152. A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah Maclean ****1/2



A reread from my favorite new historical romance author. The fourth, and presumably final, book in the series Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover is coming out later this month. Book Three ended with a major plot twist, so I need to reread the others searching for clues. It does make a difference in my enjoyment of the books being in on the secret this time.

Yes I have. Mysteries are my first and true love. Lol

153. Seventh Grave and No Body by Darynda Jones ****1/2



Seventh book in the Charley Davidson series. Charley is a P.I. with a special gift - she can see the departed and help them cross to the other side. These books combine mystery and fantasy with a big dose of humor.

154. Immortal: A Novel of the Fallen Angels by J.R. Ward ****1/2



The sixth and final book in the series. I was surprised that this was the last book. Good and evil are battling over 7 souls with the fate of all creation hanging in the balance. Each of the previous books dealt with one soul and sometimes felt drawn out. This one was the perfect length.

155. Promised by Caragh M. O'Brien ****



Final book in the Birthmarked trilogy. Stronger than the middle book. I think I waited too long between reading them since it lost some of the emotional impact. The ending is unrealistically tidy but satisfying on some levels.

156. Take Two by Sienna Mercer ****



Fifth book in the My Sister the Vampire series. Written for girls - not something adults would normally enjoy, but I like it for some reason.

157. Holding Out for a Fairy Tale by A. J. Thomas ****



The title caught my eye. A cop from a drug cartel family is dragged back into family affairs when his cousin is kidnapped and her brother demands he find her. To complicate matters even more, the FBI agent assigned to the case is a past fling that he never could forget.

158. Endurance by Ann Aguirre ****



Novella in the Razorland series. Would make no sense if you haven't read the first book in the series. Good YA dystopian series.

159. A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen ****



The touching story of a recovering drug addict and a special cat who save each other. Not perfect writing, but good enough.

160. Frostbite: A Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead ****



161. Shadow Kiss: A Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead ****



Books 2 & 3 in the graphic novel adaptations of the Vampire Academy series.

162. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah Maclean ****



163. No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah Maclean ****1/2



Rereads in preparation for the 4th book.

HeHeHe - My Sister the Vampire looks like a good guilty pleasure.

Grumpy Cat - he certainly blew his credibility with that comment on reading!

& I remember liking Binky the Space Cat. I thought I was the only one who ever saw that book.

80> My Sister the Vampire is fun and funny even though it's for children. I think I'm still reading it because of the characters - cheerleader Olivia discovers she has a Goth twin Ivy. And of course, they have to switch and dress as each other. Not believable, but enjoyable. :-)

I was never a huge fan of Grumpy Cat anyway, but I was expecting more from Binky. I guess I just have high standards because of Simon's Cat.

Oh! Simon's Cat looks fun. For cats, I like Hondo and Fabian. Okay, I like dogs too.

82> I read the first book years ago, but I didn't realize there was a second book. Will have to look for it.

164. A Wrinkle in Time (Madeline L'Engle's Time Quintet) by Madeline L'Engle, read by the author ***



Do NOT listen to the audiobook. I really enjoyed the book when I was young, but the author makes Meg seems like a whiny little b!+(# Maybe she was all along and I just missed that as a kid, but it was just annoying.

165. This Totally Bites by Ruth Ames ***1/2



I never really understood the popularity of the Candy Apple series, so I was pleased when Scholastic came out with Poison Apple series - more Goth than Bunny. (You'll have to read the My Sister the Vampire series to know exactly what that means, but I think you can guess.)

Emma-Rose Paley is a night owl who prefers rainy days over sunshine, has pale skin and dark hair, and hates garlic. When her great-aunt Margo comes to visit from Romania (or to be more specific, Transylvania), Emma-Rose thinks the woman is a vampire, and worse yet, that she may turn into a vampire herself!

Not as fun or funny as MStV, but acceptable.

166. Blood Work: An Original Hollows Graphic Novel by Kim Harrison ****



A prequel to the Hollows book series. This graphic novel tells the story of how Ivy and Rachel met and their first big case. I don't like the way Ivy was drawn, or Kisten. Rachel was pretty good.

167. Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book by Tom Angleberger ****1/2



Funny this series is. Read it you must.

In the second installment of the series, Dwight's (and Yoda's) archenemy Harvey makes a Darth Vader origami puppet to fight Origami Yoda. Will the Dark Side succeed in getting Dwight expelled?

>77 BookLizard:
Such a lovely story.

88> It was nice. My favorite true cat story is still Making Rounds with Oscar.

168. Thursdays with the Crown by Jessica Day George ****



Third book in the Castle Glower series. Not as good as the first book. The castle doesn't appear enough and all the escapes and reunions get pretty old pretty fast.

>89 BookLizard:
Aw, that looks sweet too - I'll check that one out.

Recap for November

Vampires - 2
Vampires (new-to-me) - 6

Magic Users - 2 FINISHED
Magic Users (new-to-me) -

Urban Fantasy, Fantasy & Paranormal - 2
Urban Fantasy, Fantasy & Paranormal (new-to-me) - FINISHED

Romance - 1 FINISHED
Romance (new-to-me) - 1

SF -
NF - FINISHED

Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction - 4
Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction (new-to-me) - 4

Hodgepodge - 5
Hodgepodge (new-to-me) - FINISHED

27 books for the month. It helps that most of them were children's book. 2 more categories finished for a total of 5. At the end of October I had 55 books left to read. 27 is just about 1/2 of that number. 28 left to read in December. Many are children's books, but I think it's highly unlikely I will finish all the categories. The 2 toughest will be Magic Users New-to-Me and Love/Romance New-to-Me. Magic Users have to be humanish - witches and wizards, not fairies or other creatures who can do magic.

Wish me luck!

Good luck!

Normally I read the least in December due to all the holiday-stuff, but I'll absolutely send some good lucks your way! :)

93> Thanks, Lori!

94> Same here, but I took a few days before Christmas off of work so I'm hoping to get some reading done. Also planning to "read" a couple of audiobooks which will keep me from getting sick to death of the Christmas music. Thanks for wishing me luck.

Good luck! Sending good reading vibes your way :)

Thanks, rabbitprincess. I spent my day off yesterday reading instead of housecleaning. Oops. :-)

169. Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost ****



New series by one of my favorite authors, Jeaniene Frost. It's not the Night Huntress series by a long shot, but it has its moments. The main character Ivy starts out strong, but has to rely on the male lead, Adrian, to enter the demon realms to save her kidnapped sister. He's constantly telling her not to trust him and she eventually finds out why. Lots of stuff about fate and destiny, but Ivy is determined to overcome all obstacles.

Yay! I've reached last year's goal of 169 books. Last year I didn't finish until December 22, so I'm a little bit ahead of the game - sort of. I "cheated" and started early this year. Read 6 books last December. But it's my challenge and I'll cheat if I want to. I'll celebrate again when I read 6 more books. :-)

<170. Bellwether by Connie Willis ****1/2



Many thanks to christina_reads for steering me in this direction. I was originally planning to read Doomsday Book for Connie Willis month, but she let me know this one was funnier. It was also much shorter.

In the not-so-distant future (except it's set in the 1990s), Sandra works for a science firm, studying the origin of fads. Management is like management everywhere (think Office Space), and the mail girl is beyond incompetent. By chance, Sandra meets Bennett, a scientist who works in the biology department on the other side of the facility. He's working on a project involving monkeys, but his true passion is chaos theory. And he has plenty of chaos to study at work.

It was SO funny and so true. I kept highlighting parts dealing with Management. Each chapter starts with a definition, first a dictionary version, then one more like you'd find in the Urban Dictionary. I can't recommend this highly enough to people looking for science fiction that doesn't feel like science fiction.

it's my challenge and I'll cheat if I want to - Sing it to the tune of "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to."
I start my challenge when my winter break starts (Dec. 13). I get a lot of reading done over my vacation so it gives a good jump start to the challenge. I also try to take on a chunkster. This year's was Bleak House. I'm thinking of starting next year with whatever Austen book is selected for that challenge's first.

101> Yeah, but I couldn't come up with anything better than "you would cheat too if it happened to you."

I took a few days off before Christmas so I'm hoping to get some reading done then. I won't be starting early next year! And I won't be trying for 15x15 - I'm going for 180 or 135 with my "magic squares."

171. Night Unbound by Dianne Duvall ****



Book 5 in the Immortal Guardians series. The series is a cross between Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series and J. R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood (except without all the swhear whords and extra "h"s). The Immortal Guardians (the "good" vampires) hunt down the bad vampires. Their powerful, mysterious leader is Seth (think Acheron). Although there are similarities with these other series, it really stands on its own. Should be read in order.

172. Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover by Sarah Maclean



Fourth and final book in The Rules of Scoundrels series. The third book ended with a surprise reveal, so I had high hopes for this one. I even reread the previous books looking for clues about the surprise. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to its promise. The heroine went from a strong capable woman to a simpering fool. The hero went from a savvy but scrupulous businessman to a jerk face. It was the secondary characters who saved this book from being terrible, but it was still disappointing.

173. Jason (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter) by Laurell K. Hamilton ***1/2



Fairly short novel in the series. A total sexfest. Not much happens to advance the plot except Anita figures out that her problem isn't with women, but with Jade, and she decides she's not going to give in to Jade's pressure to date .

174. Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich, narrated by Lorelei King ****



A spinoff of the Stephanie Plum series featuring Diesel, the mysterious supernatural guy from the Between the Numbers books. Diesel is in Salem, MA to find and retrieve some powerful, magical stones. To do so, he needs Lizzie's special talents to find the stones before his bad cousin Wulf does.

I listened to it for a couple of hours yesterday while driving with my brother. He kept calling it Stephanie Plum and saying "the guy" was Ranger. What do men know? Diesel is nowhere near as sexy as Ranger. But Lizzie is a bit goofy and lucky like Stephanie. It was funny and I'm looking forward to listening to the next one.

>105 BookLizard:
I just found the first in that series in my bookcase (I think I picked it up when Borders were shutting down) - is it a good series? I'm wary after having gotten burned on that *shiver* Sookie Stackhouse-mess, but I've heard the first ones of the Anita Blakes are more mystery than sex-fest. :)

107> Why did you keep reading the Sookie Stackhouse series if you hated it?

It's hard to say if you'd like this one or not without knowing exactly why you hated Sookie. After reading the first one, you should have a good idea if you'll like it or not. It starts off with Anita being a reanimator (raising the dead, usually so they can be questioned) and acting as a consultant for the police in supernatural matters. There are mysteries in the early books, then vampire politics become more important and Anita starts getting more magical powers. It's in Book 10, Narcissus in Chains, that it takes a turn towards the sexfest.

Glad you liked Bellwether. Watch out for those fairy godmothers!

& good to hear that the Poison Apple series isn't that bad. Kids need something quick and easy to read that lets them escape for awhile, without the bunnies.

>108 BookLizard:
One of my friends who loved it was nice enough to gift me a boxed set and since she had nobody else to talk about them with, I mowed through them all. I did find an extremely happy Bookmoocher that I passed the set on to after reading, so something good came of it. :) My main issue with Sookie was that she did stupid things to get herself into trouble - I prefer when my heroes find themselves in trouble because the antagonist is stronger/better/more powerful, not because they make dumb decisions. I recently watched the first three seasons of the TV-series and actually liked that better! As long as Anita is not stoopid, I'll happily root for her. :)

109> Watch out for those fairy godmothers! - made me think of Maleficent, which is a good movie and not as scary as I thought it would be.

110> Anita is not naive like Sookie. She's more stubborn than stupid. She usually gets in trouble trying to protect someone else or refusing to back down from a fight.

175. Chained by Night by Larissa Ione ****



Second book in the Moonbound Clan Vampire series. It's 1:30 in the morning, so I'm not even gonna try to explain it. If you like vampire romances, read them.

>111 BookLizard:
That'll work just fine! Having morals is a good reason to get into trouble. :)

176. UnRidden by Cat Johnson ****



So, I'm nearing the end of my challenge and need some "new-to-me" romances to try and finish off the category. Looking through OverDrive to see what's available, I stumble across this erotic romance about a romance writer and a pair of hot cowboys. The sex was steamy, the romance was unlikely, and the sex was steamy.

When rating books, I judge them based on what they are, not how they compare to other books in other genres. So a 4 star romance is not the same as a 4 star fantasy which is not the same as a 4 star work of literature. This was good as far as erotic romances go - plenty of hot sex and a decent storyline.

177. The Walls of Troy by L. A. Witt ***



I wanted to like this male/male romance, but the writing was badly in need of editing. The main characters were both likable, but the author made stupid mistakes like having a guy answer the door shirtless then 3 pages later having him take his shirt off. Some other parts seemed out of order as well - like she cut and pasted scenes around and didn't bother proof-reading. And the typos at the end were pretty bad. The story was mostly unbelievable, but you couldn't help but root for the main characters. Readable, but not recommended.

>115 BookLizard:
You'd think that at least one of the beta-readers would have picked up on stuff like that. Mainly annoying because it takes the reader out of the story.

116> It looks like she comes out with a new book every month or so, and writes under 2 different names. Sometimes she coauthors books and gets top billing, so maybe she's sort of like the James Patterson of the erotica world? Except not as good?

178. Bucked by Cat Johnson ***1/2



Second book in the Studs in Spurs series - sequel to UnRidden featuring the other man from the threesome. Sweeter and less hot, but still erotica.

Trying to finish my "Romance New-to-Me" category.

179. Love Bites by Sienna Mercer ****



Book 6 in the My Sister the Vampires series finds the girls traveling to Transylvania to meet their grandparents.

180. Let It Snow by Heidi Cullinan ****



A sweet M/M romance set at Christmas time. Hair stylist Frankie get lost trying to get home from his parents' new house in a blizzard. When he ends up at a cafe in a small town in Minnesota, he's afraid of the reception he'll get from the small-minded, homophobic residents - especially the trio of lumberjacks in one booth. After getting directions from the woman at the counter, he begins his journey back only to end up off the road and in a ditch. Walking back towards town, he stops at the first cabin he comes across which is empty but obviously inhabited. He falls asleep while waiting for the owners to come home and awakes to find the three lumberjacks looking down at him. What will the three bears do with this Goldilocks?

I liked this book because it was more a romance than an erotic romance.

I'm starting to have hope that I'll be able to finish 6 out of the 7 categories I have left to read. 16 books in 17 days is possible if most of them are children's books, right?

181. Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk ****



First book in a new-to-me series. Allie is a Hound - she can track magical spells back to their creators. Magic comes with a cost, so when someone tries to use a young boy to offset that cost, Allie is brought in to track down the source - her estranged father.

At one point reading this book, I thought the main character was TSTL, but after giving it more thought - they all were. I mean, I like it when I can solve at least part of the mystery on my own - and I can understand how the reader can make connections that the characters can't - but when something obvious is right in their faces and none of them even consider it? Like I said, she wasn't the only one who was stupid. And there was some insta-love, but we can forget about that.

I think this was the author's first novel, and it was good except for that one glaring thing. I'll be continuing on with the series.

>122 BookLizard: Too Stupid To Live?
If so, that's funny!

123> Yep, it's a common term among romance readers.

182. Dirty Laundry by Heidi Cullinan ***1/2



So, I liked the other book I read from this author, Let It Snow, so I decided to try this since it was also part of a series I had read before. The romance was unbelievable from the start. The OCD was interesting, but I'm not sure how accurate the portrayal was. The BDSM was a bit much. It was just too busy and they got busy too often.

183. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell ****1/2



I can see why all the teens love this book. Set in the 1980s in Omaha, Nebraska. A story about a complicated first love. I was up half the night reading it.

>126 BookLizard: So good, isn't it?!

127> It is, and the ending . . . is happier than I was expecting, while still being realistic.

184. Lucky Break by Sienna Mercer ***1/2



Not as good as the previous books in the series. Maybe I'm just too old for stories about waiting for your boyfriend to give you your first kiss. Or maybe it's just my mood. I wish I had something more cheerful to read.

Debating whether or not I should open one of my SantaThing presents early. Since it's one in the morning and I'm still planning on making a run to Toys 'R Us, I'm thinking I can probably wait.

Right now I'm reading The Stand on my Kindle and Star Style in a book. :-P

185. Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich, read by Lorelei King ****



Audiobook for the second Lizzie and Diesel book. Very similar to the Stephanie Plum series, but with a paranormal twist.

I have enjoyed reading your reviews over the year. Stopping by to wish you a happy holiday season and all the best in 2015.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

186. Star Style by Sienna Mercer ***1/2



Book 8 in the series. I can't figure out the original publishing timeline. In the U.S., the series is being published by Scholastic. In Canada & the U.K., it's Egmont. I found the series translated into 3 languages - French, German, & Turkish (Turkish? Really?).

So, the quality is either going down, or I'm starting to get a little sick of it. They don't seem as funny as the earlier books. It's like they're taking themselves too seriously. I guess I'm used to series sort of "growing" with the readers, but this isn't one of those series. If I were a girl, I would love and devour these - I mean, more than I already have. I'll continue with the series, but I'm not as impressed as I was with the first few books.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas - or maybe the day off even if you don't celebrate. Looking forward (mostly) to a new year of reading.

I have 10 more books to read this year - hopefully. *tick-tock tick-tock* 9 categories finished - 3 or 4 I can probably finish. So I'll likely fall short by 3 books or so, but I'm not too disappointed.

Hope to see you all over in the 2015 Category Challenge:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/179941#

>175 It's 1:30 in the morning, so I'm not even gonna try to explain it. LOL!

You sure are reading lots of interesting sexy books lately. Maybe I need to add a new category to list for 2015. Hmm...

I finished Harry Dresden Book 5. I love how Harry is not going it alone anymore and he is owning up to craving the chaos and danger. I have Book 6 queued up for next year.

I hope you Christmas was nice. Happy New Year!

136> You sure are reading lots of interesting sexy books lately LOL. That's one way of putting it. They were for my "Romance New-to-Me" category. I usually read paranormal or historical romance. I don't like contemporary romance, but if it's kinky, it holds my interest - at least for a little while. They were all short - 200 pages or so - and helped me finish off the category.

You're in for a treat with the next couple of Dresden books. I don't remember why, but I gave books 6 & 7 each 5 stars when I read them.

My Christmas was nice, but I didn't get in much reading. *pouts* I blame it all on the Minion pajamas (searched all over creation to find them for my niece). I'm hoping to wind up my challenge on New Year's Eve.

187. Bad Kitty Gets a Bath by Nick Bruel ****1/2



A Christmas present from my niece to "Ant Liz cat lover." :-) Adorable, funny early chapter book. The illustrations are hilarious. Recommended for cat lovers of any age.

Re: Walker Paper series

You are so wicked! Another series! Yes, I will join you. When do you plan to start it? My library has Books 1-4 and 7 & 8. I'll check the other 2 library systems I use for the missing ones.

139> When do you want to start?

188. Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce ****



First book in the Circle of Magic quartet. Not as good as the Song of the Lioness quarter. I'm not exactly sure why this would be Sandry's book any more than Tris, Briar, or Daja's book except maybe she's the "biggest" hero at the end.

The four youngsters are brought together in a sort of school and discover that they have magical abilities. No, it's not a ripoff of Harry Potter - the books came out about the same time.

>140 BookLizard: How about February? I think that will give me time to get my reading organized a bit. I also have Blood Rites queued up and I want to read that before I start this series. I love Thomas of the White Court. At least so far I do.

142> Yes, there's a lot to love there. February sounds good to me.

189. Tris's Book by Tamora Pierce ****



Second book in the Circle of Magic Series. Good.

>138 BookLizard:
That looks really cute!

145> It is! If you go to Amazon, you can do their "Look Inside" to get an idea of the cuteness and the artwork.

>146 BookLizard:
Great idea! Thanks!

190. Daja's Book by Tamora Pierce ****





191. Briar's Book by Tamora Pierce ****



Books 3 & 4 in the Circle of Magic Quartet. A nice series for kids. I liked how the characters grew over the series, and all were involved in each book.

2 more categories finished. 5 more books to go.

You can do it!

150> Thanks for the vote of confidence!

192. Twin Spins by Sienna Mercer ****



Book 9 in the My Sister the Vampire series. A bit of a filler in the series. Predictable, but enjoyable. It sets up the next story arc that will take the girls back to Transylvania.

193. Date with Destiny by Sienna Mercer ***1/2



Book 10 in the series. The covers are still fabulous.

194. The Secret of the Fortune Wookie by Tom Angleberger ****1/2



These books are so funny, and this volume gives props to librarians - school librarians in particular.

195. The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett by Tom Angleberger ****1/2



I love this series. It's funny and punny and the doodles are great.

One book and less than 2 hours left . . . CAN SHE DO IT???

Yes she can!

196. The Stand by Stephen King ****1/2



So I started this back in July for the group read and finally finished it tonight. It was really good - really long, but really good.

And that brings us to the end of my 2014 Category Challenge. It's still 2014 somewhere, so I'll call this a success. See you in the new group!

Congratulations on completing your challenge!

160> Thanks!

Congrats on finishing!!!

161> Thanks! I would have finished before midnight if it weren't for phone calls from well-wishers and a lying Kindle (it kept saying I had about an hour left in the book - for 2-3 hours!).

Well done! See you in the 2015 group!

Congrats on completing your challenge!

Whoop! Whoop! Glad you finished your year with a shared read. I'll see you over in 2015 for more shared reading.