2010 E Book Challenge

I have a Sony PRS-505 and Santa just bought me a Kindle so I'll be trying to read more ebooks in 2010. Alaine, The Queen of Happy Endings, is hosting the 2010 E Book Challenge over at Royal Reviews and I'm going for the Addicted level which is to read 12 E-Books in 2010.

I'm pretty sure I'll read more than 12 but the next level is 20 and I don't quite think I'll hit that. Maybe in 2011, LOL.

1. Spider's Bite: An Elemental Assassin Book by Jennifer Estep
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
3. The Seduction of Simone by Chérie De Sues
4. The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
5. Sending Rupert Home by Tracy Fabre
6. Stop Me by Richard Jay Parker
7. Male Call by Denise A. Agnew
8. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
9. The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters by Barbara Silkstone
10. Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep
11. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
12. The Paris Vendetta by Steve Berry
13. Storm Front by Jim Butcher
14. The Traveler's Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews

2010 E Book Challenge

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/12/2010-e-book-challenge.html

Review: HeavenSent.com by Stefanie Worth in the Holiday Brides Anthology

HR manager, Brenna has all things going for her at work but her love life is pretty miserable. Intent on changing things she signs up for the online dating service, HeavenSent.com and sends a nod to someone interesting. Just when things start to look up for her she gets laid off and stood up by her Mr. Right.

When the head of IT, Evan, invites Brenna out to lunch on what turns out to be her last day he’s accidentally caught up in the lay off aftermath. While consoling her he suddenly sees her in a very different light. But taking the leap from just friends to something more is a little more than he signed up for and Evan heads for the hills.

Little did either of them know is that the matchmakers behind HeavenSent.com are truly heavenly and they will stop at nothing to bring the pair back into each other’s arms.

HeavenSent.com was a cute and quick read. It has a timeless storyline of good friends not really seeing each other for anything more than friends until they get a kick start and once that happens they can’t stop thinking about each other. But what’s different about HeavenSent.com is that there is also a message about believing in your self and empowerment for women. I highly recommend this one if you love a good romance.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.

Review: HeavenSent.com by Stefanie Worth in the Holiday Brides Anthology

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/12/review-heavensentcom-by-stefanie-worth.html

Review: Miracle in Sumatra: The Story of Gutsy Gus by Jeanne McNaney

Because he’s so good at what he does, business in Africa for the aptly named animal trapper, Hunter, has slowed down considerably. That’s when he decides to move his business to Asia. There, in Sumatra, he knows there are enough orangutans to trap and sell to make him a very rich man.

While out looking for breakfast one morning with his parents, the little orangutan named Gus gets sidetracked looking at a little girl named Maya. He sees her and thinks to himself, “What a funny monkey.” and when she tempts him with a banana he gets separated from his parents. But this is a good thing because Hunter is in town and he’s trapped Gus’ parents.

Now with the help of a guardian angel named Gabriella and his new friend Maya Gus will rescue his parents and teach Hunter a lesson he will never forget.

Miracle in Sumatra is a touching story that teaches kids an important lesson. It also gives them a head start at thinking about wildlife and environmental conservation. The illustrations are beautifully done and the characters come to life in the bright colorful pictures. This is one is highly recommended for young readers aged 8 and up.

Review: Miracle in Sumatra: The Story of Gutsy Gus by Jeanne McNaney

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/12/review-miracle-in-sumatra-story-of.html

Review: Pirate Latitudes: A Novel by Michael Crichton

Product Description:
From one of the best-loved authors of all time comes an irresistible adventure of swashbuckling pirates in the New World, a classic story of treasure and betrayal.

The Caribbean, 1665. A remote colony of the English Crown, the island of Jamaica holds out against the vast supremacy of the Spanish empire. Port Royal, its capital, is a cutthroat town of taverns, grog shops, and bawdy houses.

In this steamy climate there's a living to be made, a living that can end swiftly by disease—or by dagger. For Captain Charles Hunter, gold in Spanish hands is gold for the taking, and the law of the land rests with those ruthless enough to make it.

Word in port is that the galleon El Trinidad, fresh from New Spain, is awaiting repairs in a nearby harbor. Heavily fortified, the impregnable harbor is guarded by the bloodthirsty Cazalla, a favorite commander of the Spanish king himself. With backing from a powerful ally, Hunter assembles a crew of ruffians to infiltrate the enemy outpost and commandeer El Trinidad, along with its fortune in Spanish gold. The raid is as perilous as the bloodiest tales of island legend, and Hunter will lose more than one man before he even sets foot on foreign shores, where dense jungle and the firepower of Spanish infantry stand between him and the treasure. . . .

Pirate Latitudes is Michael Crichton at his best: a rollicking adventure tale pulsing with relentless action, crackling atmosphere, and heart-pounding suspense.

My Review:

Finally, a much talked about book that lives up to the hype! I’ve read every single one of Michael Crichton books and loved most of them. Pirate Latitudes is right up there with Time Line, Sphere, Rising Sun and Next as one of my favorites.

From evil men, hurricanes, cannibals to a damsel in distress and a sea monster or two Captain Hunter and his cutthroat bunch of privateers took me on one wild ride after another. They are merciless yet you can’t help but root for them as they kill man after man in the quest to bring home their treasures.

This is a really quick read and not as long as some of Crichton’s other books but I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a great adventure story. I’m just one of many who will miss Michael Crichton very much.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.

Review: Pirate Latitudes: A Novel by Michael Crichton

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/12/review-pirate-latitudes-novel-by.html

Review: Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn

When Bernie’s friend Lieutenant Stine recommends him for bodyguard duty, Bernie’s first instinct is to turn down the job. But this job pays amazingly well, two thousand a day with up to a weeks worth of work. Bernie is certain there is a catch and there is. The person he’s guarding is not a person but a dog. A spoiled prize winning show dog named Princess.

After an unfortunate incident involving nice and thick bacon bit and Chet, Bernie is fired from the case but when Princess and her Countess owner are abducted they get rehired to find the two. Then during the investigation Bernie’s reporter girlfriend Suzie also turns up missing when she’s looking into the kidnapping and to make maters worse a small town sheriff starts to be more troublesome than helpful.

First off I have to vent my frustration that the cliff hanger at the end of Dog On It was not resolved here in Thereby Hangs a Tale. If anything Quinn just tempted me to read book three. I’m not so sure how I feel about that because I think that this book was just a retelling of book one. Chet gets separated from Bernie during an investigation that is solved in the end. No big surprise. But Chet and his antics and misunderstanding of the human world are adorable so I’ll be tuning in for the next installment but if it’s another similar tale (snicker) I’ll be very disappointed.

Review: Thereby Hangs a Tail by Spencer Quinn

https://www.readingwithmonie.com/2009/12/review-thereby-hangs-tail-by-spencer.html