Books Read in 2010

1. Super Sekrit ARC that I can't even mention - 1/03/10 The Golden Spiral (Hourglass Door Trilogy, #2)(ok mentioning it now since its been out awhile)
The Golden Spiral by Lisa Mangum
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Okay, I have a confession to make. I read this book a while back. As in, January-ish. No, I'm not telling any secrets about it.
Since it was so long ago I can't give a stellar review, but I was sucked in immediately and I was so surprised at how fast this book went. I felt so bad for so many people in this book and I am so curious to see what happens next.





2. Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2) Frostbite (Vampire Academy #2) by Richelle Mead - 1/10/10
Frostbite (Vampire Academy, #2) by Richelle Mead
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Oops so yet another book I read out of order so I need to read the first one before continuing with the series. I did enjoy it though and it was easy to pick up because the author clued you into what happened before. It wasn't like other books where you can be clueless and had no idea what went on before. I love Rose's character and I can't wait to read more about her story and the rest of their world.






3. Blaze of Memory (Psy-Changeling, #7) Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh - 01/23/10
Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book took a whole different direction than the previous books I think. There wasn't as much Psy interaction with the Council except for breif parts, and not too much Cat interaction. The Wolf pack was pretty much left out, and I'm so curious about two members that I'm hoping they get their own story soon! However, it was so interesting to hear more about the Forgotten, more about Shine, and the letters from the great grandmother showing the history. There was a little more about the Arrows and Ming which I liked, and I can't wait to see how this all plays out. I also cannot wait to find out more about the Ghost and Judd Lauren's role. Dev and Katya's story was great and I thought they had so much chemistry. I couldn't wait until they finally got together. Ack, there is so much in this series and I'm so curious as to how everything will work and fit together in the end!


4. Witch & Wizard by James Patterson - 02/06/10
Witch & Wizard Witch & Wizard by James Patterson
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book had a lot of potential and I really expected more out of it. It still was very entertaining, but I thought there needed to be more explanation involved. There are a lot of questions still unanswered and lots of details that I think were left out. I still enjoyed the story though and I'm curious as to how it all pans out for the brother and sister.




5. The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel - 02/17/10
The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children, # 5) The Shelters of Stone by Jean M. Auel
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was probably my fourth or fifth time reading this book. I started this series when I was a Freshman in high school and I felt like I waited forever for the newer books in the series! This one came out in 2002, and I am eagerly awaiting the 6th installment. This and Valley of Horses are my favorites in the series. I love Ayla and Jondalar, and I love how intelligent they both are. I love the references made in the books as to how they develop their ideas and pass on the knowledge. I am SO curious as to what will be the next part of their lives in the future book.


6. How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier - 03/08/10
How to Ditch Your Fairy How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. I thought this would be much funnier and have some more meat to it, but it just didn't. It had tons of potential to be the cutsey YA book that I fall for, but I wasn't. I liked it, but I probably wouldn't read it again.







7. Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, #1)Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead - 03/11/10
Vampire Academy
by Richelle Mead
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
After already reading the second book in this series first, I knew what would happen to some characters and how the plot would go. However, I didn't know how everything would come down to those plot points referenced in the second book. Because I knew what would happen to two characters it was weird reading about them sort of after the fact. It was fun knowing the secrets surrounding the accident and "Spirit", and I was pleased with how Rose put the pieces together. Looking forward to more books in this series!



8. Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #8)Lover Mine by JR Ward - 05/08/10
Lover Mine
by J.R. Ward
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was not anything like what I was expecting! So many things happened, and I feel like writing a review months after I read it doesn't do this book justice. I can say though that I called a certain thing and I can't wait to see how the rest of this series turns out! I wasn't a huge supporter of JM/Xhex early on in the series but I loved their story. There are still so many things unanswered and so many questions I have, but I know that everything will tie together like it always does...looking forward to it.


9. Life of Pi by Yann Martel - 07/25/10
Life of PiLife of Pi by Yann Martel
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book took me a really long time to get into, but once I felt that hook 1/3 of the way in I couldn't put it down. This book was an ok book until the very last few pages of the book and then it became excellent. This book was very thought provoking and left me thinking even weeks after I finished it. I know the outcome I'd like to believe in my heart, and what logics tells me, so I won't say which portion I choose to accept as the ending, but I loved that twist at the end.





10. Gone (Dreamcatchers #3) by Lisa McMann - 08/22/10
Gone  (Dream Catcher, #3)Gone by Lisa McMann
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Honestly not the way I expected this series to end. The harsh realities Janie is faced with and the choices she must ultimately live with at her own demise are heartbreaking. I truly wish there was another option for Janie and that there was another book in this series. This was again though another quick read and I love McMann's writing style. I would love to know how Janie's story ends, yet at the same time without that finality of it in writing she can continue to be in the stage of her life she is in now without us readers greiving or mourning her.


11. Mockingjay (Hunger Games, #3) Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins - 08/26/10
Mockingjay
by Suzanne Collins
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was amazing, but not what I was expecting as far as ending the series, or well....anything of what I was expecting at all really. I really thought there should have been more, but I guess as readers we always want more. I want another Katniss/Peeta story please! ;)
I didn't personally care for the end, but as I think about it more and more I guess that was probably the best way for it to end. I never realized the emotional damage Katniss would finally have to deal with would come out in the end. I knew she would have to face it, and I can't say I was surprised at how she did deal with it. I bawled like a baby throughout so much of this book and I couldn't believe some of the deaths. Bawled even more at the happy/sad moments (Annie's baby, the real or not real parts) and of course I loved the real or not real love moment. Best.Line.Ever.


12. Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3) Shadow Kiss (VA #3) - Richelle Mead - 08/30/10
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, #3)
by Richelle Mead
rating: 4 of 5 stars
I swear each book in this series leaves you with a cliff hanger ending and this one is no exception. Once I started reading these books I found I couldn't stop and wouldn't put them down (even at the beach on vacation with the family) and I devoured these, one after another.
Rose continues to amaze me and make me wonder. Sometimes I think she has it figured out and is mature and wise beyond her years, but then she goes and says or does something stupid to make me reevaluate her. Still though, this book was very intense and left me wanting more.

13. Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, #4)Blood Promise (VA #4) by Richelle Mead - 09/01/10
Blood Promise
by Richelle Mead
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Rose continues to amaze me and I can't believe how strong she was. I was wanting her to stay with Dimitri, yet at the same time I knew she had to figure out a way to bring him back.
The parts with Lissa/Avery left me guessing and I couldn't figure out what was going on there, so needless to say that one completely caught me off guard and threw a total twist in there. I can't help but feel that there is so much more surrounding Spirit that the girls will need to find out and learn in order for them to continue to thrive and survive. Again, another cliff hanger ending...

14. Spirit Bound (Vampire Academy, #5)Spirit Bound (VA #5) by Richelle Mead - 09/03/10
Spirit Bound
by Richelle Mead
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. The ending, Dimitri, Rose and Adrian...just all wow.
I have no clue how the next book will end or even begin for that matter, but I have a few ideas. Seriously looking forward to December!






15. Only the Good Spy Young (Gallagher Girls #4) by Ally Carter - 09/05/10Only the Good Spy Young (Gallagher Girls, #4)Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Honestly not my favorite book in the series and I'm not sure why. Definitely more answers, more adult situations they were dealing with, and way more danger, but maybe I just wanted more. There are still so many questions left unanswered, but I am still loving this series! Cannot believe the ending though!





16. Ethernal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost - 09/05/10
Eternal Kiss of Darkness (Night Huntress World, #2)Eternal Kiss of Darkness by Jeaniene Frost
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Is it me, or did it seem like they fell for each other way faster than any other romance novel? One of the things I love/hate about romance novels is that they do fall in love so fast. It progresses the story and you know they should be together when they do get together right away, but for Kira and Mencheres I thought they went way too fast. Weird right? I still loved their story and thought it was ironic that the first girl Mencheres "meets" after being celebate for thousands of years happens to be Mrs. Right. You think he wouldn't want to play the field for a little while, right?
Different aspects of the vampire side of things, and you learn a lot more about their ways, or secrets of the past. Want more Cat/Bones books now please! :)


17. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson - 09/12/10
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Definitely had no idea what I was getting into when I picked this book up. Of course I'd heard the hype surrounding it so I thought I'd see what the big deal was. So unprepared for the raw nature of the book and the details of the treatment of women throughout the book. There are some parts I could say I saw coming, but for the most part this book had several twists and turns and I didn't see the ending come that way. Looking forward to the next books.
What is it though with Mikael? Women seem to fall for him and hop into bed with him left and right...really is he that attractive or amazing or what is it?

18. Last Sacrifice - Richelle Mead - 12/27/10
Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6)Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
There were surprises and twists as usual in this series, and it left you guessing a lot along the way. I felt a lot of things were resolved, yet there were some unanswered questions at the end like what would happen with Sydney the Alchemist, what will happen to Adrian, etc. I'm glad to hear there will be a spin-off series featuring Sydney as well as some new characters. Some things seemed to work out a little too perfectly (Lissa becoming Queen, her and Dimitri guarding Lissa and Christian, who the Dragomir sibling was), but overall I really enjoyed the series and liked how it ended. I was surprised to find out who really killed Tatiana, yet at the same time it made sense.