Lily Bard Omnibus

LILY BARD:
The Lily Bard Mysteries Omnibus by Charlaine Harris

Life In A Small Town Can Be Murder!

Shakespeare's Landlord.

Lily Bard is trying to keep a low profile, stay invisible, but she soon learns that is an impossibility in a small town. With a shattered past and a fear of discovery, the last thing Lily wanted was to be implicated in a murder, however she reluctantly finds that if she is to prove her innocence she is going to have to solve this murder on her own. But in retrospect the death of Shakespeare's landlord could have been the best thing to ever happen to Lily.

Shakespeare's Champion.

When Lily unwittingly steps in to break it up a public fight, she also puts herself in the middle of the towns growing tensions. Not long after she discovers a murder victim. When all she wanted was to be left in quiet, she is again drawn into the lives of those in this small town discovering she is losing more friends then she realised she ever had. If Lily is to survive this race war with her life she is going to have to get to the bottom of this murder.

Shakespeare's Christmas.

Christmas isn't Christmas without family, food and a murder or two. As Lily heads home for the holidays, and also for her sisters wedding, Lily is facing up to some old demons. However someone has kidnapped a child and is desperate enough to kill any who would dare take that child from them. Unavoidably Lily becomes involved, but this time she is not alone. With Jack by her side Lily will uncover a devastating truth and discover a new side of herself.

Shakespeare's Trollop.

When Lily discovers the body of the town trollop in a compromising position she, as with everyone else in town, must assume that the murderer is one of her lovers. Meaning that just about every man in town is a suspect. However as the clues are gathered Lily must admit that things are not adding up. But in a case where little makes sense and where one death leads to another, discovering the truth will not be easy.

Shakespeare's Counselor.

The time has come for Lily to face her past if she is to embrace her future. Very reluctant to join but determined to do so, Lily begins attending meetings for rape survivors. Unfortunately after only a few weeks someone has decided to send a message to her group in the form of a murdered rape victim. As the bodies pile up in this dangerous game of cat and mouse, Lily experiences great loss, abuse of her trust and ultimately a new future.

Lily Bard Mysteries Omnibus is a great series of Who-Done-It tales centred around a strong, independent, intelligent women with a dark past and no future. Written without any supernatural influence by a skilled author of the genre, these in-depth and well thought out murder mysteries will keep you guessing just as much its well developed and colourful characters will keep you entertained.

Charlaine Harris Webpage

Charlaine Harris @ Hachette

On sale: 01 January 2011
Price (AU): $35.00
ISBN: 9780575096448
Recommended age: 18+
In a word: Lily / Murder
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: five out of five
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Delirium Trilogy Book 1

DELIRIUM:
Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Love Sick!

Love is violent, dangerous, unpredictable, and painful. Love hurts. Anyone is capable of love, that's the scary part, that this disease can capture anyone at anytime without warning. That's not entirely true, there are warning signs, but once a person is infected with love there is only one cure. The Cure. At eighteen years of age all citizens are given the cure, it's too dangerous to perform the cure before that age, but until that age all are susceptible.

Her whole life she has known the dangers of delirium, of love. In the past people would die for love, they'd kill for love, they'd beg, lie, cheat and steal for love. But without love there has been less chaos, less fighting and crime. Yet with only months, days left until her own cure, she is discovering all the things they don't tell you. That without love, without the pain, there is no joy, no happiness and nothing to connect you to those around you. Nothing to connect you to the world.

Delirium is a world where love is outlawed; a disease that can be cut out and removed leaving behind a shell of a life, compliant, unquestioning and uncaring. But as one girl begins to question all that she knows, all that she has been taught, she learns the hardest lesson of all. That love is all that matters. An interesting and intriguing story that may take a little too warm up, but once it gets rolling sets up a most compelling beginning to a new series.

Lauren Oliver Webpage

Lauren Oliver @ Hachette

On sale: 01 February 2011
Price (AU): $27.99
ISBN: 9780340980927
Recommended age: 15+
In a word: Love
Re-read it: probably
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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2012 Reading Challenge: Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge

Book Chick City is also hosting the Horror & Urban Fantasy Challenge which sounds like fun.
I'm attempting the 24 Books Read.

Objective: No audio books or non fiction books are permitted however any other fiction book is accepted.

Challenge Levels: 
24 Books Read - 24 horror & urban fantasy novels read in 2012
48 Books Read - 48 horror & urban fantasy novels read in 2012

The challenge begins January 1st and continues through the end of December, 2012

Books read so far:
1. Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater
2. Darkness by Joann I. Martin Sowles
3. Emblaze Jessica Shirvington
4. Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
5. Switched by Amanda Hocking
6. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan
7. Heaven by Christoph Marzi
8. Fracture by Megan Miranda
9. Green Heart by Alice Hoffman
10. Queen Of The Night by Leanne Hall
11. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
12. Green Monkey Dreams by Isobelle Carmody
13. Swift by R J Anderson
14. Renegade by R J Anderson
15. Yes Or No by Maggie Stiefvater
16. Hounds Of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater
17. Faery Tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr
18. White Horse by Alex Adams
19. The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
20. The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
21. The Traitors by Tom Becker
22. The Interrogation Of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
23. Wild Child by Jeanne Willis
24. A Corner Of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
25. Daughter Of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor
26. Witch by Fiona Horne
27. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
28. Trolls by Brian & Wendy Froud
29. Eve & Adam by Michael Grant, Katherine Applegate
30. Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
31. Care and Feeding of Sprites by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
32. Preloved by Shirley Marr
33. Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake
34. Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart
35. The Blood Countess by Tara Moss
36. The Spider Goddess by Tara Moss
37. Blood Storm by Rhiannon Hart
38. The Skeleton Key by Tara Moss

38/24 books read. 158%done!

2012 Reading Challenge: New Authors Reading Challenge

Book Chick City is also hosting the New Authors Reading Challenge which should be quite exciting.

For this I'm attempting 25 New Authors.

Objective: I'm not quite sure if the challenge is meant to be new authors in 2012 or just new authors to me so I think for myself I will just assume it is new authors in 2012.

Challenge Levels: 

15 New Authors

25 New Authors

50 New Authors

The challenge begins January 1st and continues through the end of December, 2012

Books read so far:

1. Switched by Amanda Hocking
2. Fracture by Megan Miranda
3. The Fairy Ring by Mary Losure
4. White Horse by Alex Adams
5. The Interrogation Of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
6. Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Mass
7. A Portrait Of A Starter by Lissa Price
8. Starters by Lissa Price

9. Forsaken by Lisa Stasse

10. Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

10/25 books read. 40%done!

2012 Reading Challenge: Australian Women Writters Challenge

AustralianWomenWritters.com is running another Aussie Author Challenge that I thought might be fun.

Any book is accepted as long as the author is a women and Australian.

I am attempting the Franklin-fantastic and hope to discover some great new authors in the process.

Objective: This challenge hopes to help counteract the gender bias in reviewing and social media newsfeeds that has continued throughout 2011. It actively promotes the reading and reviewing of a wide range of contemporary Australian women's writing throughout 2012, the National Year of Reading.

Genre Challenges: 

Purist: one genre only
Dabbler: more than one genre
Devoted eclectic: as many genres as you can find

Challenge Levels:

Stella (read 3 and review at least 2 books)

Miles (read 6 and review at least 3)
Franklin-fantastic (read 10 and review at least 4 books)

The challenge begins January 1st and continues through the end of December, 2012

Books read so far:

1. Genesis by Lara Morgan
2. Emblaze Jessica Shirvington
3. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan
4. Queen Of The Night by Leanne Hall
5. Green Monkey Dreams by Isobelle Carmody
6. The Interrogation Of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
7. A Corner Of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
8. A Magical Journey by Serene Conneeley
9. Witchy Magic by Lucy Cavendish
10. Witch by Fiona Horne
11. Preloved by Shirley Marr
12. Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart
13. The Blood Countess by Tara Moss
14. The Spider Goddess by Tara Moss
15. Blood Storm by Rhiannon Hart
16. The Skeleton Key by Tara Moss

16/10 books read. 160%done!

2012 Reading Challenge: Aussie Author Challenge

Booklover Book Review is running the Aussie Author Challenge again this year and again I had to join in.

Although I pasted last years True Blue challenge by reading over 12 books I failed my own personal challenge of 24 books read. So this year there will be no tampering with the challenge for me, I am simply hoping to complete the Dink-Di challenge.

Objective: Read and review books written by Australian Authors - physical books, ebooks and audiobooks, fiction and non-fiction!

Challenge Levels:

Tourist - Read and review 3 books by at least 2 different Australian authors.

Dinky-Di - Read and review 12 books by at least 6 different Australian author.

The challenge begins January 1st and continues through the end of December, 2012

Books read so far:

1. Genesis by Lara Morgan
2. Emblaze Jessica Shirvington
3. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan
4. Queen Of The Night by Leanne Hall
5. Green Monkey Dreams by Isobelle Carmody
6. The Interrogation Of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
7. A Corner Of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
8. A Magical Journey by Serene Conneeley
9. Witchy Magic by Lucy Cavendish
10. Witch by Fiona Horne
11. Preloved by Shirley Marr
12. Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart
13. The Blood Countess by Tara Moss
14. The Spider Goddess by Tara Moss
15. Blood Storm by Rhiannon Hart
16. The Skeleton Key by Tara Moss

16/12 books read. 133%done!

2012 Reading Challenge: 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge

Another year, another 100 books read. At least I hope.

Book Chick City is hosting 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge.
If you're going to attempt a challenge, this is the challenge to attempt.

Objective: No Audio Books are included in this challenge just Fiction and Nonfiction books.

Challenge:
The challenge is simple to read 100 books within the year. .

The challenge begins January 1st and continues through the end of December, 2012

Books read so far:
1. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
2. Lily Bard Mysteries Omnibus by Charlaine Harris
3. The Scorpio Races Maggie Stiefvater
4. The Scariest Thing Of All by Debi Gliori
5. Darkness by Joann I. Martin Sowles
6. 50 Things Every Young Lady Should Know by Kay West
7. Aurora Teagarden Mysteries Omnibus 1 by Charlaine Harris
8. Genesis by Lara Morgan
9. Tortured by Caragh O'Brien
10. Prized by Caragh O'Brien
11. Emblaze Jessica Shirvington
12. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
13. Switched by Amanda Hocking
14. Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan
15. Eve by Anna Carey
16. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
17. Runes Of Elfland by Brian Froud
18. Heaven by Christoph Marzi
19. Fracture by Megan Miranda
20. The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross
21. Green Heart by Alice Hoffman
22. Fantasy Art Journal
23. Queen Of The Night by Leanne Hall
24. Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris
25. The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford
26. The Fairy Ring by Mary Losure
27. Green Monkey Dreams by Isobelle Carmody
28. Swift by R J Anderson
29. Renegade by R J Anderson
30. Yes Or No by Maggie Stiefvater
31. Hounds Of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater
32. Faery Tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr
33. White Horse by Alex Adams
34. The Midnight Palace by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
35. Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
36. The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
37. The Traitors by Tom Becker
38. The Interrogation Of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
39. Throne Of Glass by Sarah J. Mass
40. 1.4 by Mike Lancaster
41. A Portrait Of A Starter by Lissa Price
42. Starters by Lissa Price
43. Aurora Teagarden Mysteries Omnibus 2 by Charlaine Harris
44. Wild Child by Jeanne Willis
45. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
46. Betty Bib's Fairy Handbook by Betty Bib
47. A Treasury Of Flowers Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker
48. Forsaken by Lisa Stasse
49. A Corner Of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
50. Daughter Of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor
51. A Magical Journey by Serene Conneeley
52. Witchy Magic by Lucy Cavendish
53. Witch by Fiona Horne
54. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
55. Trolls by Brian & Wendy Froud
56. Eve & Adam by Michael Grant, Katherine Applegate
57. Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
58. Care and Feeding of Sprites by Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
59. The Painted Bridge by Jamie McGuire
60. Preloved by Shirley Marr
61. Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake
62. Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart
63. The Blood Countess by Tara Moss
64. Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey
65. The Spider Goddess by Tara Moss
66. Blood Storm by Rhiannon Hart
67. The Skeleton Key by Tara Moss

67/100 books read. 67%done!

2011 Challenges - The Results

 2010 was such a good year for me challenge wise that for 2011 I decided to aim a little higher.
For most of the year I seemed to be doing quite well, unfortunately towards the end life seemed to get in the way some and as a result I managed to fail every challenge I set myself in 2011, as you can see below.
At least there is always next year...

100+ Challenge

98/100 books read. 98%done!

Aussie Author Challenge

16/24 books read. 67%done!

Short Story Challenge

2/6 books read. 33%done!

Nemesis - Book 2

NEMESIS:
Nemesis and the Troll King

by Ashley Du Toit

Seeking Redemption To Save A Life!

Yarg, the Troll King, was shocked one day to discover that be had a brother, a brother who was human, and that he too was human. As a proud Troll, Yarg had trouble believing that he could be human, but deep down he thought it must be so. So he set of to find Nemesis, the one dragon who could tell him once and for all if it could be true, that he could be human.

With one thoughtless act of cruelty, Yarg was responsible for a fairy becoming lost, frozen in time, and as punishment was stripped of his memories and turned into a troll. Now with only seven day remaining, Yarg must remember all the harm he has caused and find redemption for himself if he is to save a fairies life, and return to his human form.

Nemesis and the Troll King returns to the magical realms where amazing beings call home. A dangerous and fun filled adventure that is full of werewolves, witches, centaurs and nuffins. This charming story will delight and entertain all children, and although it is not necessary to have read Nemesis and the Fairy of Pure Heart to understand this book, children will find it just as enchanting as this exciting tale.

Ashley Du Toit Webpage

On sale: 01 June 2009
Price (AU): $19.95
ISBN: 9780980611236
Recommended age: 5-11
In a word: Rescue Mission
Re-read it: possibly
Recommend: to children
Star rating: three out of five
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Shift

Shift by Em Bailey

A Friendship You'll Die To Have!
 

Ever since the incident, and since her father left, Olive has looked at the world differently and has not liked what she saw, especially about herself. Cutting herself off from her former friends, from Alison, and throwing out everything about her old self, her old life, she has replaced it all. From new friends to a new wardrobe and a bedroom makeover, she has finally found a new version of herself that she is happy with. Unfortunately so has someone else.

When she first discovered the shapeshifter she feared no one would believe her until it was too late. But when her life was shattered and her perceptions changed she realised that believing in shapshifters was something only a crazy girl would do, and she was not crazy, at least not anymore. So when the so called 'shapeshifter' befriends her she no longer holds the crazy fear of losing her identity or her life. However she may be crazy not to fear.

Shift mingles together all aspects of friendship from loyalty, acceptance and encouragement to misunderstandings, manipulation and malaise. Not all friendships are healthy, and while some are only fleeting and created out of need, others can be down right dangerous. However it is a true friend who will stand by you when you need them most. A genuinely engaging story that surprises and leaves you wondering.

Em Bailey Webpage

Em Bailey @ Hardie Grant Egmont

On sale: 01 September 2011
Price (AU): $22.95
ISBN: 9781921564390
Recommended age: 14+
In a word: Shifters
Re-read it: yes
Recommend: yes
Star rating: four out of five
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