Burnout

To all of my readers -

I am so very sorry. I haven't even felt much like reading recently. In fact, I didn't read anything for almost a week. Then I got Catching Fire, the sequel to The Hunger Games, from the library. Now I'm reading again. ^_^

I tried to take on too much. In addition to maintaining this blog, I started a personal blog.

And I volunteered to help with a multitude of projects. After a couple of weeks, I began to feel overwhelmed. This all started back in early February. Late last month, I got to the point where I felt like I was failing everything I attempted.

I became so afraid of failing everyone, myself included, I just sort of seized up. I still need to contact some of those I offered to help and let them know why I didn't. Some of them may see this post, but most will not.

I haven't written a single review this month. I just - a few minutes ago - posted something on my personal blog for the first time in four weeks. That was only a small thing, part of a meme I try to participate in weekly (The Friday 56, which [I think] began here).

I will still be maintaining this blog, though I can not promise I will post often. I still want to do a review a week, but I don't know that I will be able to stick to that schedule. I have several reviews to catch up on as it is, so I can't make any promises.

I shall try.

Thanks for understanding,
TuraLura

Charmed, I'm Sure

Summary: Greiman combines historical and paranormal elements in this wonderfully sweet romance.

For those of you who don't know me, I adore the paranormal. Any aspect, from magic to shape-shifters, make a book more likely to appeal. I also love historical romance. The first romance book I ever read was historical. When I started reading paranormal romances several years ago, I stopped reading historicals. Until I discovered the historical paranormal subgenre. It's like these books were made for me. I love them.

Charming the Devil is the first romance I've read by Lois Greiman, but it won't be the last. I've fallen in love with this world she's created.

The paranormal elements in this book are small, but play a necessary part in the plot. Faye Nettles is a new witch, unsure of her own abilities. She knows she possesses some small powers, but not what she can do with them. Not even what her abilities entail.

At the start of the book, she is charged with a mission. She is to look into the death of one Lord Brendier. Her first task is to investigate Rogan McBain and his possible involvement.

But McBain reminds her of a tormentor from her past. He has the same tall, muscular build. The same grace and speed of movement. He terrifies her. So much so that she sends a flowerpot careening into his face when he rescues her from an overeager admirer at a party.

Not on purpose, mind you. You see, in addition to not knowing what powers she has, she can't always control them.

The other ladies of Lavender House - the home for witches where she currently resides - convince her to apologize to the man. She does still need to investigate him, after all.

And so, early the next morning, before the rest of the ton is even awake, he finds her on his doorstep. Scared, but ready to apologize.

They meet several more times under unusual circumstances - only at one other party - in the course of getting to know each other. Faye has to hide behind her false identity, concocted to protect her by the inhabitants of Lavender House, though she desperately wants to tell him the truth. For quite a while, she addresses him by his surname to keep distance between them. Until her attraction grows too strong to fight.

I can't really say much more without giving too much away. They do have a happy ending - natch. The journey was entertaining. I giggled several times. I nearly cried when they finally did get it together.

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Rating: 8 out of 10 (Very good. Highly recommend.)

Heat Level: 2.5 (Mild, bordering on Sensual)

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Source: I was given this book to review by The Season. This my first book review for The Season, hence the altered format. This review also appears here: http://historicalromancereleases.com/wordpress/2010/04/review-charming-the-devil/

Where to Buy: Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million

2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge

I just discovered this challenge yesterday and knew I had to participate. I've been reading a lot of library books ever since the book store I worked at closed in January.

Full details and rules can be found at the hosting blog, Home Girl's Book Blog.

This challenge comes in four levels. I'm going to attempt the "Just my Size" level, which means checking out and reading 50 books. I'll list the books here as I check them out. Once I finish a book, I'll change the font color to red.

1. Fade - Lisa McMann
2. The Light of Burning Shadows - Chris Evans
3. Altar of Eden - James Rollins
4. Evernight - Claudia Gray
5. Stargazer - Claudia Gray
6. Black Order (Sigma Force, #3) - James Rollins
7. Going Bovine - Libba Bray
8. My Soul To Take - Rachel Vincent
9. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side - Beth Fantaskey
10. Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
11. Graceling - Kristin Cashore
12. The Doomsday Key (Sigma Force, #6) - James Rollins
13. Suite Scarlett - Maureen Johnson
14. The Dream-Hunter - Sherrilyn Kenyon
15. The Scarecrow (Jack McEnvoy, #2) - Michael Connelly
16. The Dragon Book: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy - various
17. Evil at Heart (Beauty Killer, #3) - Chelsea Cain
18. Map of Bones (Sigma Force, #2) - James Rollins
19. In the Serpent's Coils (Hallowmere, #1) - Tiffany Trent
20. By Venom's Sweet Sting (Hallowmere, #2) - Tiffany Trent
21. Between Golden Jaws (Hallowmere, #3) - Tiffany Trent
22. The Faerie Path - Frewin Jones
23. The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
24. Warrior Queen: The Story of Boudica, Celtic Queen - Alan Gold
25. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
26. Intertwined - Gena Showalter
27. The Memorist (The Reincarnationist #2) - M.J. Rose
28. Change of Heart - Jodi Picoult
29. Gone (Dreamcatcher #3) - Lisa McMann
30. 13 Little Blue Envelopes - Maureen Johnson
31. Paper Towns - John Green
32. Inkheart (Inkheart #1) - Cornelia Funke
33. The Reincarnationist (The Reincarnationist #1) - M.J. Rose
34. Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1) - Eoin Colfer
35. Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, #2) - Eoin Colfer
36. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity code (Artemis Fowl, #3) - Eoin Colfer
37. The Key to the Golden Firebird - Maureen Johnson
38. Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, #4) - Eoin Colfer
39. Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony (Artemis Fowl, #5) - Eoin Colfer
40. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox (Artemis Fowl, #6) - Eoin Colfer
41. The Luxe (The Luxe, #1) - Ana Godbersen
42. The Good, the Bad, and the Undead (The Hollows, #2) - Kim Harrison
43. The Dark Divine - Bree Despain
44. Every Which Way But Dead (The Hollows, #3) - Kim Harrison
45. Half-Moon Investigations - Eoin Colfer
46. Airman - Eoin Colfer
47. Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl, #7) - Eoin Colfer
48. Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, #1) - Kim Harrison
49. Sandstorm (Sigma Force, #1) - James Rollins
50. My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers, #2) - Rachel Vincent
51. Hex Hall - Rachel Hawkins
52. Sisters Red - Jackson Pearce
53. The Forest of Hands and Teeth - Carrie Ryan
54. City of Bones - Cassandra Clare
55. Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson
56. Inkspell (Inkheart, #2) - Cornelia Funke
57. Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut
58. City of Ashes - Cassandra Clare
59. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
60. The Dead-Tossed Waves - Carrie Ryan
61. The King's Rose - Alisa Libby
62. Hourglass (Evernight, #3) - Claudia Gray
63. An Abundance of Katherines - John Green
64. Fire - Kristin Cashore
65. Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, #1) - John Flannagan

Total Library Books Read as of 28 December: 57

Made it to 50! Not going to make it to 75, though, as it's already December.

The Book Blogger Hop!

It's Friday! Which means it's time for Crazy for Books' weekly Book Blogger Hop. Head on over there and check out some of the other book review blogs listed. Who knows? Maybe you'll find an interesting blog or two (or three) to follow!

I did. ^_^

Brain Asplosion

Obviously my brain didn't actually explode when I read God Soul Mind Brain by Michael Graziano. XP

Though I do believe it's a bad sign when a book aimed at "the most general, non scientific audience"(p 11) has me searching for a dictionary multiple times throughout the course of the book. The author adores ten-dollar words. I have a fairly large vocabulary myself, or I thought I did before reading this book.

For example, the author really likes the word ubiquitous. I thought I knew what it meant, but I wasn't sure. According to Merriam-Webster Online, the word means "existing or being everywhere at the same time: constantly encountered: widespread [a ubiquitous fashion]". Why not just say widespread? The meaning isn't identical, but it would get the point across. Without making people look for a dictionary.

There were other words I had to look up but ubiquitous was the most, well, ubiquitous of the lot. ^_^

My only other issue with the book is the length of some of the paragraphs. A single page of uninterrupted text is hard on the eyes. Why do that to your readers? Give the eyes a break!

The book has a lot of science in it, which is to be expected. It is, after all, about neuroscience and the search for the soul. I have a pretty good background in science, having taken the equivalent to two semesters each of biology, chemistry, and physics - all at a college level. (Biology and Chemistry were AP courses taken in high school. I actually did take two semesters of physics in college.) Surprisingly, none of that helped my understanding of the various neuroscience principles outlined in this work as much as my single semester of general psychology. Turns out there is a lot of overlap between the two.

I don't recommend reading this book unless you have a good background in the sciences and a good vocabulary. Or at least a good dictionary.

Also, a good memory. By the time I got to the end of this book, I had forgotten what point the author was trying to make. Obviously, it didn't come across very well.


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Source: I read this book as an e-ARC from NetGalley. God Soul Mind Brain releases September 1, 2010.

Where to Pre-Order: Barnes & Noble