Lunar Love Giveaway Hop (US)

2nd Annual
Lunar Love Giveaway Hop

March 8th to 13th

Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Bookworm Lisa

This hop features books with paranormal, supernatural, science fiction or space travel element or books that have something to do with the moon or have a moon on their cover.

I don't think I've read a lot of books that have something to do with the moon or have a moon on their cover. But as soon as I read the title of this hop, The Lunar Chronicles from Marissa Meyer popped up in my mind. I haven't read these two though I've already have it (Scarlet is on her way to my house. :)), but I like both cover. A lot. As for the other choices, I just came up with these three for the alternative since I guess some of you already have or read The Lunar Chronicles. :)

There will be ONE winner to get the paperback of one of these books from Amazon. Sorry, it's US only for now. The winner will be mentioned at Twitter or will be emailed.

To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter. And remember to check out the other blogs on the hop as well! Good luck! ^^

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Feed My Reader (1)

This is my very first time posting this meme hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer ... 

I realized I often requesting books from Net Galley but reading it later so slowly. Or, buying/downloading some from Kobo. But by putting it to this post, I'll have a reminder on how much money I've spent or how many books I keep putting on my TBR list.

So here's for this week:

Peregrine Harker & The Black Death by Luke Hollands

MURDER. SPIES. EXPLOSIONS. REVENGE.

Peregrine Harker is about to learn you're never too young to die.

London 1908: A secret society stalks the murky streets, a deadly assassin lurks in the shadows and a series of unexplained deaths are linked by a mystery symbol…

When boy-detective Peregrine Harker stumbles across a gruesome murder he sparks a chain of events that drag him on a rip-roaring journey through a world of spluttering gas lamps, thick fog, deadly secrets and dastardly villains.

Every step of Peregrine’s white-knuckle adventure brings him closer to the vile heart of a terrifying mystery – the true story behind the Brotherhood of the Black Death.

Playing the Maestro by Aubrie Dionne

Melody Mires has sworn off dating musicians, but when the sexy European conductor Wolf Braun takes over her struggling symphony, her hesitation almost flies out the window with the notes of her flute—until he opens his mouth. Wolf is arrogant, haughty, and seems to have a personal vendetta against Melody. Oh, and he’s her boss. If she wants to keep her job as principal flutist, she’ll have to impress Wolf while simultaneously keeping her undeniable attraction to herself.

Wolf came to America to get as far away from his past as possible, and to recover some of the swagger he had as one of the world’s best maestros. He never imagined being forced to reassess the entire orchestra’s talent—and potentially fire anyone who doesn’t make his cut. Dating the attractive flutist is out of the question, but as their feelings reach a fever pitch, can they risk both their careers for a chance at love?

His Reluctant Rancher (Three River Ranch #2) by Roxanne Snopek

The last place city girl Desiree Burke expected to find herself was living at and working on a ranch, much less butting heads with the ranch’s sexy cowboy owner, Zach Gamble. But that’s exactly where she ends up after an incident at work leads her to her best friend Rory’s doorstep. Desiree is a gifted physical therapist, and Rory knows exactly where her brand of tough love is needed the most.

Zach’s been through hell and back. A devastating car crash left his brother gone, his father paralyzed, and him with mental scars a mile wide. His survivor guilt alone makes him sure he doesn’t deserve to find love. But as Des works her way into his ranch, his family, and his life, suddenly the last person who belonged there is the only one he believes belongs…with him.

The Empowerment Mindset: Success through self-knowledge by Calvin Helin

The Empowerment Mindset takes readers on a powerful journey of self-discovery so that they can transform unfulfilled lives to instead reflect happiness, success, and genuine empowerment. Helin notes that, “If you don’t acquire the knowledge to improve your life, you will trap future generations of your family in the same cycle of disappointment.” Beyond vague platitudes this book shows the practical way to greater success and happiness through the adoption of an “empowerment mindset”—a way of living that empowers people to take charge of their lives. If Helin’s past books are an accurate gauge, The Empowerment Mindset, is destined to become the most influential empowerment book of the 21st century.

Review: The Lass Wore Black by Karen Ranney

Release Date: 29 January 2013
Publisher: AVON BOOKS
Format: Paperback
Source: My own copy
Buy It: The Book Depository or Amazon
Add It: Goodreads

He was her Highland lover, but would he be her savior?

Catriona Cameron was once famed for her seductive beauty and charm. Now she saw no one, hiding from the world...and no one dared break through her self-imposed exile.

No one, that is, until Mark Thorburn burst into her home, and Catriona's darkened world began to have color again. Thorburn, secretly the heir to an Earldom, claimed he was a footman. But Catriona didn't care about the scandal their passion could cause...for this very touch sparked her back to a life of sensuality, one she thought she'd never have again.

Little does she know that Mark is part of a masquerade. One that will end when they become the target of a madman set on revenge. Mark realizes he will have to do more than win her love...he will have to save her life as well.

* * * * *

My very first of Karen Ranney, and I liked it, a lot.

At first I didn't really like Catriona. She's indeed spoiled, self-destruct  and selfish. But I guess that's her flaws and it made her more real. After all that she's been through, it kinda made sense that she's bitter than before. I liked this dialogue between Sarah, Mark's assistant, and Catriona.

"Pain does something to a body. I've seen enough of Dr. Thorburn's patients. Some of them, pain makes angles. Some of them, it makes into devils. Which one were you?"

"I'm afraid I was a devil," she said softly.

Sarah nodded. "I'm thinking I'd be the same."

I realized that I might be just like her, or worse. Who knows? But it's a good thing that she learned the lesson. That's another lesson I learned from this novel. You can be a bitch nobody like. But you can change it. Either they'd like it or not, it doesn't really matters. What matters the most is that you change yourself to be better. And it'd make you feel good inside.

I liked Mark, a lot... I liked the idea that even though he can't save them all, his patients, the poor people he met and care, he never gave up to do his best. I liked the face that he kept pursuing his dream to be a doctor although his father and bothers despised him. It's a good thing he's close enough to grandfather.

This novel was almost like any other historical romance. Not that difference, but I always like novels where the heroines or heroes has some flaws. Aren't we all?

Also, there are so many things I learned after reading this novel. It's not something new, but it's a reminder.

1st lesson:

Since I'm a student, there were great sentences (or dialogues) from this book that  taught/reminded me of things related to my study:
- A wise man observes.
- "The patient will always know more than we do," Dr. Cameron had once said. "They don't know that they know, but listen to their complaints. That will tell you as much as your examination."
- Dr. Cameron had also insisted that he write out his notes within minutes of visiting a patient. "Don't wait until the next day. You won't remember the details that can make the difference between life and death. Write down the patient's color, his demeanor, whether he talks about other things or only his health. Is his aspect good, or do lines form on his face? Are his pupils expanded? Is the sclera white or gray? Are there dark circles beneath his eyes? Is his breath foul? Your words might prove invaluable to a physician who comes after you." <--- Ha! This is the opposite of me. I procrastinate very often. It's a BIG reminder for me.

2nd lesson:

Most of the time we think that our life was harder than everyone. But there's always anyone else who's more suffered. Always see things from the bright side. 

3rd lesson:

Be more grateful. You should be grateful and more grateful.

4th lesson:

You can't save all of those people who need help. But you can at least touch one life.

How could they help each one of them?

When she'd said as much to Dina, the older woman only smiled. "We can't, my dear. But we can touch one life, and then another. We can bring some beauty and joy to some, if only for a moment."

It kinda reminded me to what one of my lecturer had once said: "Be the light in a darkness."

In the end, I can't tell you about the characters, the plot, the flow of the story ... I didn't really think it's that different. But the lessons I've learned that made me love this book.

And it turned out that her previous book, A Scandalous Scot, is about Jean, Catriona' sister. Guess I should read it too.

Take Control of Your TBR Pile

It's March. And it's time for

Take Control of Your TBR Pile challenge!

It was hosted by Kimba the "Caffeinated Book Reviewer".

The rule's pretty simple: 

Beginning March 1st, 2013 and ending March 31, 2013 at midnight read books from your TBR pile ALL books must have been published before March 2013. 

That's totally helpful to reduce your TBR pile, isn't it?

Of course, I need to read books for another challenge. So I might books that cover all of them (of course, except for the ARCs from Net Galley)

So, I planned to read at least 7 books this month. There are some candidates:

1. The Lass Wore Black by Karen Ranney - DONE

2. Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas

3. Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas

4. Loving Evangeline by Linda Howard

5. Delicious by Sherry Thomas

6. Doukakis's Apprentice by Sarah Morgan

7. Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

8. The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

9. Lothaire by Kresley Cole

10. Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

11. The Revenge of Lord Eberlin by Julia London

12. When She Was Wicked by Anne Barton

13. Slightly Tempted by Mary Balogh

14. The Scoundrel Takes a Bride by Stefanie Sloane

15. Defiant Impostor by Miriam Minger

16. The Captain of All Pleasures by Kresley Cole

17. Werewolf in Denver by Vicki Lewis Thompson

18. Nerd who Loved Me by Vicki Lewis Thompson

19. Nerd Gone Wild by Vicki Lewis Thompson

20. Darker than Night by Kim Lenox

21. Leaping Hears - J.R. Ward

22. Shadow's Claim - Kresley Cole

23. Infinity - Sherrilyn Kenyon

24. Barbara Freety - The Way Back Home

25. Claimed by the Highlander by Julianne Maclean

26. Taken by Sin by Jaci Burton

27. Black City by Elizabeth Richards

28. Texas Rain by Jodi Thomas

29. The Near Witch by Victoria Schawb

30. Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Too many to chose? What do you think?

February Wrap-Up

Okay, this is absolutely one of my habits: being lazy to write down reviews.

My excuse would be because I have papers to work on. :p

So here's the list of books I read in February

1. Deck the Halls With Love: A Lost Lords of Pembrook Novella (The Lost Lords of Pembrook #2.5) by Lorraine Heath
2. Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
3. Hooked (Hooked #1) by Liz Fichera
4. My Cowboy Valentine: Be Mine, Cowboy\Hill Country Cupid (Hill Country Heroes #4) by Jane Porter, Tanya Michaels
5. A Werewolf in Manhattan (Wild About You #1) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
6. Werewolf in the North Woods (Wild About You #2) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
7. Mortal Seductions (Mortal #2) by Allyson James
8. Werewolf in Seattle (Wild About You #3) by Vicki Lewis Thompson
9. A Reputation For Revenge : The Greek Billionaire's Baby Revenge by Jennie Lucas

To fulfill my reading challenge(s) : 

- E-copy from Net Galley (My own challenge. I requested more than I could chew) : 2, 3, 4

- 2013 TBR Pile Challenge (Only books released in 2012 and earlier, no ARCs) : 1, 5, 6, 7, 8

- "Sports" Reading Challenge : 3 (It's about golf)

- 2013 Series Reading Challenge : 5,6,8 (Wild About You Series by Vicki Lewis Thompson, 1 book left)

- 2013 Reading Romances Challenge (February: Foreigners do it better!) : 8, 9 (Russian and Scottish)

Hmmm... I've just realized that I read about werewolves 4 books in a row. Ha! 

The only book I spent some times writing the review seriously was Eleanor and Park. As for the rest, it's just few sentences. Hopefully I can do better next month. Not for the reading, but for writing down the review. Although I doubt it. :p