Monday, November 1, 2010

October 2010 Reads, Updates & Judith Ivory

October was an excellent reading month for me, not so much in quantity, but in quality. As you'll see, I had quite a few favorite reads and very few disappointments. It was one of those rare, lucky months. An interesting note? My favorite picks are all by favorite authors and three of them are new releases, keeping a few of these authors at the top of my list. :)

Challenge Updates: On October 9th I posted the last scheduled review for the 2010 M/M Romance Challenge. I signed up for 20+ books read and reviewed, and read/reviewed 22. So, I'm 100% done for this year. Yes! You can access my completed list here.

On the other hand, I can't seem to get going on the book I originally chose for the Big Book Challenge. The size is not a problem, the story is just not clicking for me and frankly it might be a DNF at this point. I've already read two other Big Books and am thinking of changing this title for another one. If I can't get back to it by end of week, I will definitely change it. :(

October reads:

Total books read: 14
Re-reads: 1
New reads: 13

Favorite books this month? (Click on titles and link to reviews)
Biggest Disappointment?
  • The Indiscretion by Judith Ivory: C-
I was looking forward to reading The Indiscretion by Judith Ivory and I'm afraid I wasn't too thrilled with it by the time I finished. That first part of the book, "The English Moor" had potential, but as the story moved along it just fizzled for me. I never really got to know those characters -- not really -- there were reasons behind their actions, but no real depth. I didn't really like the main characters and that was also a problem. I didn't understand why Sam didn't just turn around and walk away from Lydia. To top it all off, Sam's lack of self-worth was very unattractive. I don't think this couple would have had a happily ever after if not for some last minute, unexpected circumstances. I enjoyed some aspects of the writing, especially during that first part of the book, and that kept me reading and searching for more. I will be reading The Proposition
Balance of books read:

White Tigress by Jade Lee: D
Crazy for Love by Victoria Dahl: B (Upcoming Review)
Somebody Killed his Editor: Holmes & Moriarity (Book #1) by Josh Lanyon: B+
Cade Coulter's Return by Lois Faye Dayer: C+ (Upcoming Review)
Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie: Solid B
Holiday in Death (In-Death Series, Book #7) by J.D. Robb: B
I Love This Bar by Carolyn Brown: B
A Christmas Promise by Mary Balogh: B+ (Upcoming Review)
Rising Moon (Nightcreatures Series, #6) by Lori Handeland (Re-read): B+

Did you have a good reading month? Any favorites or recommendations?

13 comments:

  1. Good job!!
    I finished 3 out of 5 challenges I joined this year.
    I only joined for 5 MM books and have completed those. I also finished the Sookie Stackhouse challenge and the Romance Reading Challenge 2010.
    Still working on my monthly re-read challenge and I am WAY behind on the 20 Romance Reading Challenge 2010 from RoyalReviewers-only read 9 out of 20 so far.

    :o)

    MsM

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  2. Strange Bedpersons was a cheap read for my Kindle and I finished it over the weekend. I really liked it.

    I'm partway through I Love this Bar and I'm having a hard time getting into it. I'm going to try and finish it, though.

    I'm looking forward to your Crazy for Love review.

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  3. I've fallen by the wayside on the challenges. :( I'm still hoping to complete the Big Book Challenge. *fingers crossed*

    Wasn't Wicked Intentions good? Wish the next few books were already out - I could totally get into a Hoyt fest. :)

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  4. Thanks MsM. You're doing great on your Challenges! I won't finish the rest of mine until the end of the year, except MAYBE the Big Book Challenge, we'll see. :)

    Wasn't Strangebedpersons fun?! I'm glad you enjoyed it. And LOL on I Love This Bar! I left a comment for Orannia on my Mini post that might apply to you, Phyl. *g* I don't know that this book is for everyone.

    Leslie, this is my first year joining Challenges and it's no easy task keeping up.

    I loved Wicked Intentions and like you can't wait for the next book! If the rest of the books in this series are like this first one, I'll be a happy camper.

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  5. Is a solid B better than a regular B? :P Just wondering.

    Wow, I really need to read The Iron Duke LOL. I think you had a great month, too bad about The Indiscretion though.

    Oh, A Christmas Promise, that's the new Balogh right?

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  6. Good reading Hilcia! I want to read all your favorites - LOL they're in my tbr pile already. I'm glad you liked them. :P

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  7. Congrats on the m/m challenge! I've read 18 m/m books so far this year...and I only signed up for five :)

    I have The Iron Duke on my TBR list, can't wait to read it. I finished a fantastic manga series in October - cried my eyes out at the end of it though!

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  8. Nath yes, you need to read The Iron Duke! A Christmas Promise is new release. Actually the re-release of one of her popular Christmas/Holiday 1992 Signet books. :) I'm glad I finally have it. :)

    RE Solid B: For me a solid B makes the book just that a solid read (not perfect, but meaty and well-rounded with more positives than negatives)-- and yes better than a B, which in some instances can be weaker, although not necessarily a B-. Most of my re-reads and comfort reads are Solid Bs. :)

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  9. Ames, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. You're in for some good reading. :)

    Orannia, you're doing a great job on your MM Challenge. :) I'm still reading MM, just not including them on my Challenge list any longer. This way I'll review only the books that "call" to me. LOL!

    Hope you enjoy The Iron Duke, and I'm so glad you had a great reading month and enjoyed that manga series. I love it when I find emotional reads like that. :)

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  10. Looks like a really good reading month for you, Hils!

    A lot of books and some really decent grades, too!

    I'm doing okay with my reading challenges for 2010... have completed some, am partway through with some and have totally failed others that I just don't care about anymore. I've already established that I won't get to 100 books in 2010, so now I just hope to beat last year's number!

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  11. Christine, this was indeed an excellent reading month for me! Out of 14 books read, 6 were either excellent, great or books I loved. Only two that didn't work for me. That doesn't happen often. :D

    I like the way you're looking at those Challenges. Changing your goals is a great way to make that one work for YOU!

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  12. What a list! Nice reading this month.

    I was so in love with Linnea Sinclair for a while, and now I can't read her... not sure why. I'll need to get Games of Command and retry.

    Bayou Moon and The Iron Duke are on my reader, will have to get to next!

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  13. Mariana, re: Sinclair. That happens to me with some authors. I think it's fatigue. I usually give myself a break a try them again later. :)

    Ohhh, I hope you enjoy Bayou Moon and The Iron Duke! I enjoyed both equally but, but... The Iron Duke? Hmm... awesome!

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