2010: A Year in Books

So I figured that since I was going to do the A to Z Challenge, it could be fun to keep track of everything I read this year. I hope you find something that sparks your interest below. ;)

This list is only of books and novellas I've read and finished. If I read an entire anthology I listed only the title of the anthology. It's alphabetical by author last name.

1. Veil of Midnight (Midnight Breeds 5) by Lara Adrian
2. Ashes of Midnight (Midnight Breeds 6) by Lara Adrian
3. Shades of Midnight (Midnight Breeds 7) by Lara Adrian
4. Candy Coated Passion (1) by Kat Alexis
5. Ice Cream, You Scream (2) by Kat Alexis
6. A Spanking for Valentine by Evangeline Anderson
7. Deal with the Devil by Evangeline Anderson
8. Sin Eater by Evangeline Anderson
9. Full Exposure by Evangeline Anderson
10. On the Edge (The Edge 1) by Ilona Andrews
11. Magic Bites (Kate Daniels 1) by Ilona Andrews
12. Magic Burns (Kate Daniels 2) by Ilona Andrews
13. Magic Strikes (Kate Daniels 3) by Ilona Andrews
14. Magic Bleeds (Kate Daniels 4) by Ilona Andrews
15. Curran by Ilona Andrews
16. Warrior (Blades of the Rose 1) by Zoë Archer
17. Scoundrel (Blades of the Rose 2) by Zoë Archer
18. The Turning (Blood Ties 1) by Jennifer Armintrout
19. Possession (Blood Ties 2) by Jennifer Armintrout
20. Ashes to Ashes (Blood Ties 3) by Jennifer Armintrout
21. All Soul's Night (Blood Ties 4) by Jennifer Armintrout
22. The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie (Highland Pleasures 1) by Jennifer Ashley
23. Erotique by Nicole Austin
24. Graceful Submission (1) by Melinda Barron
25. Graceful Mischief (2) by Melinda Barron
26. Undercover Submission (3) by Melinda Barron
27. Sweet Vibrations by Melinda Barron
28. Amethyst Eyes by Melinda Barron
29. Silver Borne (Mercy Thompson 5) by Patricia Briggs
30. "Here There Be Monsters" in Burning Up anthology by Meljean Brook
31. "Falling for Anthony" in Hot Spell anthology by Meljean Brook
32. The Iron Duke (Iron Seas 1) by Meljean Brook
33. Zane's Way by Maggie Casper
34. Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark 6) by Kresley Cole
35. Kiss of a Demon King (Immortals After Dark 7) by Kresley Cole
36. Pleasure of a Dark Prince (Immortals After Dark 9) by Kresley Cole
37. Demon From the Dark (Immortals After Dark 10) by Kresley Cole
38. The Hunger Games (Hunger Games 1) by Suzanne Collins
39. Catching Fire (Hunger Games 2) by Suzanne Collins
40. Mockingjay (Hunger Games 3) by Suzanne Collins
41. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
42. The Wicked West by Victoria Dahl
43. He Loves Lucy by Susan Donovan
44. Quinn's Hart by Cassandra Gold
45. Mistral's Kiss (Merry Gentry 5) by Laurell K. Hamilton
46. A Lick of Frost (Merry Gentry 6) by Laurell K. Hamilton
47. Swallowing Darkness (Merry Gentry 7) by Laurell K. Hamilton
48. Divine Misdemeanors (Merry Gentry 8) by Laurell K. Hamilton
49. Dead Until Dark (Sookie Stackhouse 1) by Charlaine Harris
50. Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse 2) by Charlaine Harris
51. Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse 3) by Charlaine Harris
52. Dead to the World (Sookie Stackhouse 4) by Charlaine Harris
53. Dead as a Doornail (Sookie Stackhouse 5) by Charlaine Harris
54. Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse 6) by Charlaine Harris
55. All Together Dead (Sookie Stackhouse 7) by Charlaine Harris
56. From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse 8) by Charlaine Harris
57. Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse 9) by Charlaine Harris
58. Dead in the Family (Sookie Stackhouse 10) by Charlaine Harris
59. A Touch of Dead (Sookie Stackhouse collection of shorts) by Charlaine Harris
60. Double Entry by Desire Holt
61. Never Seduce a Scoundrel (School for Heiresses 1) by Sabrina Jeffries
62. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
63. Run For Your Life by Andrea Kane
64. Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts 1) by Stacia Kane
65. A Tapestry of Spells (Nine Kingdoms 6) by Lynn Kurland
66. Star of the Morning (Nine Kingdoms 3) by Lynn Kurland
67. The Mage's Daughter (Nine Kingdoms 4) by Lynn Kurland
68. Princess of the Sword (Nine Kingdoms 5) by Lynn Kurland
69. Red Hot Fury (Shades of Fury 1) by Kasey MacKenzie
70. A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
71. Proof by Seduction (Carhart 1) by Courtney Milan
72. Darkfever (Fever 1) by Karen Marie Moning
73. Bloodfever (Fever 2) by Karen Marie Moning
74. Miss Bramble and the Leviathan by Kristen Painter
75. Not Just an Orgy by Sally Painter
76. Roping the Wind (Turner Brothers 1) by Kate Pearce
77. Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? (Turner Brothers 2) by Kate Pearce
78. Riding the Line (Turner Brothers 3) by Kate Pearce
79. The Duke and I (Bridgertons 1) by Julia Quinn
80. The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgertons 2) by Julia Quinn
81. An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons 3) by Julia Quinn
82. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (Bridgertons 4) by Julia Quinn
83. To Sir Phillip, With Love (Bridgertons 5) by Julia Quinn
84. When He Was Wicked (Bridgertons 6) by Julia Quinn
85. It's In His Kiss (Bridgertons 7) by Julia Quinn
86. On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons 8) by Julia Quinn
87. Glory in Death (In Death 2) by J.D. Robb
88. Immortal in Death (In Death 3) by J.D. Robb
89. Rapture in Death (In Death 4) by J.D. Robb
90. Ceremony in Death (In Death 5) by J.D. Robb
91. Vengeance in Death (In Death 6) by J.D. Robb
92. Holiday in Death (In Death 7) by J.D. Robb
93. Midnight in Death (In Death 8) by J.D. Robb
94. Conspiracy in Death (In Death 9) by J.D. Robb
95. Loyalty in Death (In Death 10) by J.D. Robb
96. Witness in Death (In Death 11) by J.D. Robb
97. Judgement in Death (In Death 12) by J.D. Robb
98. Blood Brothers (Sign of Seven 1) by Nora Roberts
99. The Hollow (Sign of Seven 2) by Nora Roberts
100. The Pagan Stone (Sign of Seven 3) by Nora Roberts
101. The MacGregor Brides by Nora Roberts
102. Yes, Captain by Rebecca Royce
103. A Little Harmless Sex (Harmless 1) by Melissa Schroeder
104. A Little Harmless Pleasure (Harmless 2) by Melissa Schroeder
105. A Little Harmless Obsession (Harmless 3) by Melissa Schroeder
106. Hel Hath No Fury by KC Sehlhorst
107. The Taste of Magick by Riley Shane
108. Amethyst Bound by L. Shannon
109. The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld 1) by Gena Showalter
110. The Darkest Kiss (Lords of the Underworld 2) by Gena Showalter
111. Sins of the Heart (Otherkin 1) by Eve Silver
112. Club Shadowlands (Masters of the Shadowlands 1) by Cherise Sinclair
113. Dark Citadel (Masters of the Shadowlands 2) by Cherise Sinclair
114. Breaking Free (Masters of the Shadowlands 3) by Cherise Sinclair
115. Lean on Me (Masters of the Shadowlands 4) by Cherise Sinclair
116. "Simon Says" in Doms of the Dark Haven by Cherise Sinclair
117. The Dom's Dungeon by Cherise Sinclair
118. Master of the Mountain by Cherise Sinclair
119. Master of the Abyss by Cherise Sinclair
120. The Starlight Rite by Cherise Sinclair
121. Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunters 4) by Nalini Singh
122. Slave to Sensation (Psy/Changelings 1) by Nalini Singh
123. Visions of Heat (Psy/Changelings 2) by Nalini Singh
124. Caressed by Ice (Psy/Changelings 3) by Nalini Singh
125. Mine to Possess (Psy/Changelings 4) by Nalini Singh
126. Hostage to Pleasure (Psy/Changelings 5) by Nalini Singh
127. Branded by Fire (Psy/Changelings 6) by Nalini Singh
128. Blaze of Memory (Psy/Changelings 7) by Nalini Singh
129. Bonds of Justice (Psy Changelings 8) by Nalini Singh
130. "Whisper of Sin" in Burning Up (Psy/Changelings 0.5) by Nalini Singh
131. Play of Passion (Psy/Changelings 9) by Nalini Singh
132. Edge of Sight (Guardian Angelinos 1) by Roxanne St. Claire
133. Ruthless (House of Rohan 1) by Anne Stuart
134. The Wicked House of Rohan (House of Rohan prequel) by Anne Stuart
135. Blonde With a Wand (Babes on Broomsticks 1) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
136. Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood 1) by J.R. Ward
137. Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood 2) by J.R. Ward
138. Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood 3) by J.R. Ward
139. Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood 4) by J.R. Ward
140. Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood 5) by J.R. Ward
141. Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood 6) by J.R. Ward
142. Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood 7) by J.R. Ward
143. Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood 8) by J.R. Ward
144. Crave (Fallen Angels 2) by J.R. Ward

Updated 29 December 2010

2010 A to Z Reading Challenge

I got this from a friend of mine, and decided to give it a try. I still am not sure where I'm gonna get a book that starts with 'X', but that's not stopping me! Maybe it'll make me branch out into something I normally wouldn't grab. And I've found a lot of great books that way before. So here goes...

The details:
*Runs January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2010
*Only books completed to be listed
*Each book only counts one, so you can include a re-read the first time
*Ignore articles like A, An and The at the beginning of a title
*For the letter X, any book with the letter X in it is acceptable
*Read in any order, doesn't need to be A, B, C...

My List

A - Archangel's Kiss (Guild Hunters 4) by Nalini Singh
B - Breaking Free (Masters of the Shadowlands 3) by Cherise Sinclair
C - Candy Coated Passion by Kat Alexis
D - Dark Desires After Dusk (Immortals After Dark 6) by Kresley Cole
E - Edge of Sight (Guardian Angelinos 1) by Roxanne St. Claire
F - From Dead to Worse (Sookie Stackhouse 8) by Charlaine Harris
G - Graceful Submission by Melinda Barron
H - He Loves Lucy by Susan Donovan
I - Ice Cream, You Scream by Kat Alexis
J - Judgement in Death (In Death 12) by JD Robb
K - A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught
L - Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood 2) by JR Ward
M - Mistral's Kiss (Merry Gentry 5) by Laurell K. Hamilton
N - Never Seduce a Scoundrel by Sabrina Jeffries
O - An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgertons 3) by Julia Quinn
P - The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Q - Quinn's Hart by Cassandra Gold
R - Roping the Wind (Turner Brothers 1) by Kate Pearce
S - A Spanking for Valentine by Evangeline Anderson
T - The Turning (Blood Ties 1) by Jennifer Armintrout
U - Undercover Submission by Melinda Barron
V - Veil of Midnight (Midnight Breeds 5) by Lara Adrian
W - Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? (Turner Brothers 2) by Kate Pearce
X - A Little Harmless Sex (Harmless 1) by Melissa Schroeder
Y - Yes, Captain by Rebecca Royce
Z - Zane's Way by Maggie Casper


Last Updated 07 December 2010

Review: Archangel's Kiss - Nalini Singh

I think I start every single review I do for Nalini Singh’s books exclaiming how much she manages to impress me, how great it is, and how much I love it.

This one is no different. Archangel’s Kiss proves, once again, that Nalini Singh is a master at writing. She deftly weaves multiple storylines together, builds interest in supporting characters, and gives yet more depth to Raphael and Elena.

Archangel’s Kiss picks up a little over a year after Angel’s Blood (the first full-length novel in the Guild Hunters series). Elena’s spent that time in a healing coma, and has just woken as a newly Made angel. One who doesn’t know how to be an angel, and has to learn everything – even those things she once knew, like how to fight.

And she must learn quickly. The other angels, and archangels, have taken an interest in her. She’s like a shiny new toy. One that someone is anxious to see how quickly they can break, hoping to take their place with the Cadre by that show of power. Refuge, a safe place for the angels, is suddenly no longer safe as attacks begin to happen, one after the other. Circling the threat closer and closer to Elena.

Then there’s Lijuan. The eldest of the archangels has taken a deadly interest in Elena, and is throwing a ball in her honor at the Forbidden City in Beijing. While rumors of her making the dead walk as living flourish, there’s danger in accepting, but even more in refusing. Because this is not a social gathering to congratulate Elena, it’s all about power. Testing Elena’s and Raphael’s, and Lijuan showing hers. Making it an invitation that can’t be refused.

Archangel’s Kiss held me in a sort of thrall from the first word, to the last. We see Elena training with Raphael’s Seven to get her up to speed, and work closer towards that first flight. The details in every page painted a clear picture of how the angels live. From their shirts, to their houses, to the beauty of flight. The action and mystery of the plot sped the story along, compelling me to not put my Kindle down until I hit the last sentence. There were many light moments to offset the growing darkness that surrounded and threatened them, including fields blooming in winter, a class with angel-children, and playful teasing with Illium. And, of course, there was the not-so-light heat and chemistry between Elena and Raphael. The sexual tension that builds between them is mind-blowing.

Nalini deftly delves into the relationship of Elena and Raphael, showing the gradual growth and trust build between them beautifully and realistically. Their respective histories begin to unfold for us, and them. There are the horrors that hide in Elena’s mind, even from her, and Raphael’s past complete with the secret of his parents. Both of them were in unfamiliar territory, but they worked through it. With each other. And for each other. I can’t think of anything more romantic than that.

Raphael said that Elena would intrigue him through eternity. I think it’s safe to say that this series will intrigue me for just as long. I’m fascinated with the world, and the characters that populate it. I feel as though I’ve been given the gift of seeing the world Nalini’s created, and it’s left me breathless for the next installment.

Grade: A+

Book Link

2010 Oscar Nominations!!

Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart
George Clooney in Up in the Air
Colin Firth in A Single Man
Morgan Freeman in Invictus
Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Actor in a Supporting Role
Matt Damon in Invictus
Woody Harrelson in The Messenger
Christopher Plummer in The Last Station
Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds

Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side
Helen Mirren in The Last Station
Carey Mulligan in An Education
Gabourey Sidibe in Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia

Actress in a Supporting Role
Penelope Cruz in Nine
Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air
Mo'Nique in Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

Directing
James Cameron - Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino - Inglorious Basterds
Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air

Animated Feature Film
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up

Art Direction
Avatar
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Nine
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria

Cinematography
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
The White Ribbon

Costume Design
Bright Star
Coco Before Chanel
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Nine
The Young Victoria

Documentary Feature
Burma VJ
The Cove
Food, Inc.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Which Way Home

Documentary Short
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province
The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner
The Last Truck: Closer of a GM Plant
Music by Prudence
Rabbit a la Berlin

Film Editing
Avatar
District 9
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

Foreign Language Film
Ajami
El Secreto de Sus Ojos
The Milk of Sorrow
Un Prophete
The White Ribbon

Makeup
Il Divo
Star Trek
The Young Victoria

Music (Original Soundtrack)
Avatar
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Hurt Locker
Sherlock Holmes
Up

Music (Original Song)
Almost There - The Princess and the Frog
Down in New Orleans - The Princess and the Frog
Loin de Paname - Paris 36
Take It All - Nine
The Weary Kind (Theme) - Crazy Heart

Short Film (Animated)
French Roast
Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty
The Lady and the Reaper
Logorama
A Matter of Loaf and Death

Short Film (Live Action)
The Door
Instead of Abracadabra
Kavi
Miracle Fish
The New Tenants

Sound Editing
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Star Trek
Up

Sound Mixing
Avatar
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Star Trek
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Visual Effects
Avatar
District 9
Star Trek

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Up in the Air

Writing (Original Screenplay)
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

Last year, Kat and I did a running commentary of not only the Red Carpet, but the Academy Awards themselves. It was such a blast we plan to do the same thing again this year!

So come join us March 7th for the Biggest Night in Hollywood!

Count down to Oscar Night HERE!!