Book Pledge

In 2011 I took the 50-book pledge, and recorded 72 books that I completed during the year.  At the beginning of 2012, I decided to raise the bar and see if I can read 75 books.  I didn't make it quite that far, but I recorded 65 books.  There were some I didn't include on this list, such as books I read aloud to some of the kids, and books that I worked on throughout the year but didn't actually finish cover to cover.

In 2013, I think I'll stick with 70 as my goal.  I'll be starting another page to keep track of the books as I finish them.

Following is the list of books I finished in 2012.  Some were good, and some not so much.  My thoughts on many of these are here on the blog, but not all.

1. Darcy and Fitzwilliam - Karen V Wasylowski
2. Merlin - Stephen R Lawhead
3. Already Compromised - Ken Ham and Greg Hall with Britt Beemer
4. A Darcy Christmas - Sharon Lathan, Amanda Grange, Carolyn Eberhart
5. Tchaikovsky - Roland John Wiley
6. Arthur - Stephen R Lawhead
7. And Only to Deceive - Tasha Alexander
8. The Begotten - Lisa T Bergren
9. A Poisoned Season - Tasha Alexander
10. The Skin Map - Stephen R Lawhead
11. A Fatal Waltz - Tasha Alexander
12. The Betrayed - Lisa T Bergren
13. Tears of Pearl - Tasha Alexander
14. Dangerous to Know - Tasha Alexander
15. The Bone House - Stephen R Lawhead
16. Compulsively Mr Darcy - Nina Benetton
17. The Blessed - Lisa T Bergren
18. A House for My Name - Peter J Leithart
19. A Crimson Warning - Tasha Alexander
20. The Guardian Duke - Jamie Carie
21. The Duchess and the Dragon - Jamie Carie
22. Garden of Madness - Tracey L Higley
23. Madame Tussaud - Michelle Moran
24. The Library Paradox - Catherine Shaw
25. The Lady of the Rivers - Philippa Gregory
26. The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens - Debra Bell
27. Petra - Tracey L Higley
28. Ben & Me - Cameron Gunn
29. Henry V - William Shakespeare
30. Have a New Teenager by Friday - Kevin Leman
31. The Miracle at St Bruno's - Philippa Carr
32. The Lion Triumphant - Philippa Carr
33. The Witch from the Sea - Philippa Carr
34. The Forgiven Duke - Jamie Carie
35. The King's Mistress - Emma Campion
36. Saraband for Two Sisters - Philippa Carr
37. Lament for a Lost Lover - Philippa Carr
38. Julius Caesar - William Shakespeare
39. I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This! - Bob Newhart
40. The Love Child - Philippa Carr
41. The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran
42. Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions - Ken Ham, editor
43. The Perfect Bride for Mr Darcy - Mary Lydon Simonsen
44. Anne of Green Gables - Lucy Maud Montgomery
45. The Cellist of Sarajevo - Steven Galloway
46. The Song of the Siren - Philippa Carr
47. The Forever Queen - Helen Hollick
48. The Killing Way - Tony Hays
49. The Adulteress - Philippa Carr
50. Will You Love Me in September? - Philippa Carr
51. Knave of Hearts - Philippa Carr
52. Voices in a Haunted Room - Philippa Carr
53. The Return of the Gypsy - Philippa Carr
54. Midsummer's Eve - Philippa Carr
55. The Pool of St Branok - Philippa Carr
56. A Christmas Beginning - Anne Perry
57. A Christmas Homecoming - Anne Perry
58. The Crystal Scepter - C.S. Lakin
59. Glamorous Illusions - Lisa T Bergren
60. Death in the Floating City - Tasha Alexander
61. King Alfred's English - Laurie J White
62. Sarai: A Novel - Jill Eileen Smith
63. Veil of Pearls - MaryLu Tyndall
64. Nefertiti - Michelle Moran
65. Silent Night - Deanna Raybourn

Recent Reads {And Only To Deceive}

And Only To Deceive by Tasha Alexander - Tasha Alexander titles have popped up a few times on Amazon as suggested books after searching for other historical fiction, but when I quickly skimmed past a review on a Jane Austen fan blog I thought I would give it a try.  The setting and many plot elements actually remind me far more of Deanna Raybourn's novels, her Lady Julia Grey series being a favorite of mine.  This one opens with the young society widow Lady Emily Ashton reflecting on her brief marriage and very superficial relationship with her late husband, Philip.  She readily admits that she accepted his proposal in order to escape her mother's home, and although she liked him well enough, she certainly wasn't deeply in love, nor did she feel a great loss at the news of his death while on a safari in Africa.  As information about Philip's regard for her, and his interest in Greek antiquities comes to her, she begins to regret his loss more keenly and especially that she never really got to know him.  However, her interest in her late husband's dealings in antiquities also stirs up danger and intrigue and a number of questions about how he might have been connected to a black market in antiquities and engaged in fraudulent activities.  Determined to remain free of her mother's influence and resistant to any thought of marrying again, Emily sets out to unravel the mysteries and decide which, if any, of Philip's friends she can trust.  She also decides to follow up on rumours that her husband may still be alive somewhere in Africa, and her quest places her in more danger than she realizes.  Emily is an interesting character, and while there are many elements of this story that are strikingly similar to the Lady Julia series, I think Raybourn's characters are more eccentric themselves, and certainly have a more unusual supporting cast of characters.  Alexander's novel has a lot of flair in its suspense and mystery, with just a hint of romance, so it was an easy read and left me wanting to read the follow-up novel.

Book Blogger Hop - June 24, 2016

This post contains affiliate links. 

No short answer for this week's Book Blogger Hop question from Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer! Picking favorites is always hard for me.

Who is your favorite fictional couple? 

The first couple that came to mind was Darcy and Elizabeth, because - of course! But that's an easy way out answer, and because their creator didn't continue their story past the wedding day, I decided that a favorite fictional couple should be one whose long-term relationship continues past the courtship. And because I am notorious for not being able to give just one favorite in any category, I've got a list.

Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane in the Lady Julia Grey series by Deanna Raybourn - Julia meets Brisbane when she hires him to investigate the death of her husband in the first novel in this series. Julia thinks of herself as the most ordinary member of her eccentric family, but as her relationship with the mysterious Brisbane develops, she discovers her own ability to defy convention and pursue what she wants. Brisbane is a wonderfully enigmatic leading man, with a sketchy past and a dark side, and out of his love for Julia he initially tries to protect her from himself. Of course she manages to break through that defense, and they have a passionate and adventurous marriage relationship as she insists on being involved in solving mysteries with him. Deanna Raybourn is one of my favourite authors (see all my posts featuring her books HERE), and her other books feature quirky and unusual heroines and couples as well.


 


Lady Kiera Darby and Sebastian Gage in the Lady Darby Mystery series by Anna Lee Huber - another couple that solves mysteries together in a Victorian setting, they also meet in the course of investigating a murder. Kiera is an eccentric, widowed artist, and her past experience in illustrating anatomy for her late husband means she has an observant eye for details needed to solve the case, but also means she is a suspect. Sebastian is the investigator, and the simmering attraction between them is evident from the first. Their relationship is full of ups and downs as they move towards marriage and try to find the balance in respecting each other and working together. I'm anxiously awaiting the release of the next book in this series - just a couple of weeks away now! (Another of my favorite authors - see all my posts about the Lady Darby Mysteries by Anna Lee Huber.)


 


Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves from the Lady Emily Mystery series by Tasha Alexander - seeing a trend yet? Victorian setting and mysteries. And that's not the only similarity, because once again the couple meets as a result of a murder investigation. In this case, the series opens with Lady Emily newly widowed and raising some questions about whether there had been foul play. Colin is one of her late husband's friends who steps in to help - and possibly protect - Emily, and a relationship develops between them. As the series goes on, Emily and Colin marry and continue as partners in investigation. The next in this series is slated for release in October! (Yes, another favorite author - see all my posts about the Lady Emily Mysteries by Tasha Alexander)






Jamie and Claire from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon - For the sake of naming at least one fictional couple that I love that are NOT Victorian detectives! The love story between a Jacobite highlander and the 20th century nurse unexpectedly sent back in time is unique in its development and the challenges faced by the couple. I started reading the series a few years ago, and have not yet finished, but I'm hoping to do so this year.




Who are your favorites?

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