Monday, October 1, 2012

September 2012: Reads + Update

Things have been quiet around here lately. Well, I've been a bit under the weather this past month and undergoing doctor's exams and all that jazz. I'm afraid that I haven't had much energy left over for blogging lately. Instead in September, I read like a fiend -- escape and all that! You all know how it is.

Anyway, I read lots of books from my TBR in September, caught up with a few series, and also re-read some favorite books that either made me happy or that I wanted to read just because.... Again, I'm sure you all know how that goes.


My favorite books of the month? The Last Renegade by Jo Goodman, Riveted by Meljean Brook, the New Amsterdam Series by Elizabeth Bear.


The book that most confounded me last month? This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz. I swear to you, I still don't know how I feel about this book! Process, process, process.

Disappointments: The last two installments in Kresley Cole's Immortal After Dark series, Dreams of a Dark Warrior and Lothaire. I loved this series, but at this point three words describe these books for me: rinse and repeat.

Total Reads: 25   Re-reads: 4
 Contemporary Romance/Suspense: 1
 Historical Romance: 4
 Paranormal Romance: 2
 Urban Fantasy: 1
 Steampunk Romance/Spec Fic/Sci-Fi: 7
 Literary Fiction: 1
 Non-Fiction: 1
 LGBT: 8

From my TBR: 11

1.   A Lady Awakened by Cecilia Grant: C+
2.   The Werewolves of Central Park by Tom Cardamone: C-
3.   Sidecar by Amy Lane: B-
4.   The Last Renegade by Jo Goodman: A- *
5.   Storm Front (Dresden Files #1) by Jim Butcher: B
6.   The Secret of Othello: A Fisher Key Adventure #2 by Sam Cameron: B
7.   Riveted (Iron Seas #3) by Meljean Brook: B+
8.   Heart of Steel (Iron Seas #2) by Meljean Brook: B-
9.   Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City (Iron Seas #1.5) by Meljean Brook: B-
10. Sexual Revolutions in Cuba: Passion, Politics, and Memory by Carrie Hamilton: B
11. The Rift Walker (Vampire Empire #2) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith: C
12. New Amsterdam (New Amsterdam #1) by Elizabeth Bear: B+
13. Seven for a Secret (New Amsterdam #2) by Elizabeth Bear: B
14. The White City (New Amsterdam #3) by Elizabeth Bear: A-
15. Mistakes Were Made by Tristan Cole: C
16. The General's Lover (Assassin/Shifter) by Sandine Gast-Dion: D- 
17. This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz (Upcoming Review)
18. Faun by Trebor Healey (Upcoming Review)
19. Her Ladyship's Companion by Joanna Bourne: C+
20. Heart's Desire by Jacquie D'Alessandro: C
21. Nowhere to Hide by Nancy Bush: C+
22. Dreams of a Dark Warrior (IAD #11) by Kresley Cole: C-
23. Lothaire (IAD#12) by Kresley Cole: C-
24. Men of Smithfield: Max and Finn by L.B. Gregg: B
25. Tinder by Tory Temple: C+

Re-reads:
1. Here There Be Monsters (Iron Seas #0.5) by Meljean Brook (Re-read): A-
2. Coming Home by Victor J. Banis (Re-read): B
3. Gobsmacked: Men of Smithfield by L.B. Gregg (Re-read): B+
4. Happy Ending: Men of Smithfield by L.B. Gregg (Re-read): B

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What am I reading? Note that in September I read 7 books in the speculative fiction/steampunk category and I'm still in a bit of a spec fic kick. Right now I'm slowly reading Berman's best of collection of gay spec fic, Wilde Stories 2012. I saved that book to read in October for Halloween month. It's going well so far.

I'm woefully behind on reviews from August and September. Hopefully after all medical tests are done, I'll be in a better frame of mind to catch up. How was your September? I hope you had a great reading month. :D

14 comments:

  1. I hope you feel better soon! *hugs*
    And you did read like a fiend! I'm impressed :D

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    1. Thanks Alex. I couldn't believe the amount of books I read! It felt like the old pre-blogging days. :D

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  2. Fingers crossed you feel better soon.

    I'm looking forward to your Junoz Diaz review - I want to know what you mean!

    Li

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    1. Thanks Li. Ahh that Junot Diaz book! Yes, I'm working on it, and trying to process my thoughts and feelings about it.

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  3. I hope you feel better soon, Hilcia. Don't let all those tests get to you!

    Great reading month. I just read Heart of Steel and am anxious to get into Riveted. Too many obligations to just jump in to what I want right now. Soon! :)

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    1. Tracy, thank you!

      Oh, if you liked Heart of Steel you have to make a little room for Riveted in there somewhere. Don't wait too long. It's worth the read. :)

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  4. Sending positive, healing thoughts! Hope you're feeling better soon!

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    1. Oh, thanks Les! I always appreciate those. :D

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  5. Hey Hils!! I hope everything is okay with you!! Let me know! And hope you get your energy and health back soon!

    Wow, 25 books, that's awesome!! Just too bad the 2nd half of the month was so-so grade-wise ^_^; I've been in a reading slump for the past two weeks. Hoping to get out of it.

    I wished authors would learn when they need to call it an end. I love series, but sometimes, it's good to end when you're ahead ^_^; Also, not crazy at the idea of Ms Cole making the jump into YA. Sigh.

    Well you know, you're behind on your reviews, but it could be worst. You're half-way through your reads for September. A couple of minis and voila, all caught up LOL.

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    1. Nath, you know I haven't been myself for almost 2 months now. Just getting everything checked out. I need a reboot, that's all! LOL! It has been a while since I read that much (29 total with the re-reads). I went on a reading frenzy. I'm still reading like a nut.

      Anyway, the Cole books... sigh. She is still writing books set in the same timeline as past stories. Dreams of a Dark Warrior was set in the same time line as the previous two books and the same setting as the one right before it. The overall story arc is moving at a snails pace and after 12 books that doesn't make sense to me. Plus in Lothaire she introduces a whole new species of vampires! At this point? Really? There are enough species in this series that haven't even been explored yet. Anyway, yeah. I think I'll just re-read my favorite books of this series at this point. And, if Cole begins a new series I will give it a shot.

      LOL on the mini-reviews -- I can do that, but I am behind! I will catch up though. I have a 3 day weekend coming up. :D

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  6. I don't get why she would introduce a spin-off series ^_^; And it seems she is now down to one book a year for this series. When is she ever going to finish them? Glad I gave up.

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    1. Yes, exactly! Those new vampires are now part of a spin-off series, and I think her new book is about them.

      Nath, you hit the nail on the head. When is this series going to get going? At this point, I doubt that the Ascencion is really going to happen at all. . . and personally, it has taken so long that I've interest.

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