Sunday, February 27, 2011

TSS: Reading Slump

The Sunday Salon.com


I've hit another reading slump in the last couple of weeks.  It isn't that I don't have the time to read or that I'm not in the mood to read.  I've simply been too tired.  Every so often I go through a period of insomnia and the nights have been bad lately.  I am a worrier by nature and in the quiet of the night my brain sometimes goes into over drive.  During these times none of the usual suggestions for sleep help all that much so I end up exhausted during the day.  The good thing is that these periods seem to have a time limit and then I go back to sleeping fairly normally.  I'm hoping that I'm through the worst of this one.  Needless to say my reading has suffered because I've simply been too tired to concentrate.

Here is a quick rundown of what has been and will be happening:

Read but needs review:  Qigong Illustrated by Christina J. Barea - I finished this one last week but have been too tired to write a well thought out review.

Currently Reading:  Traitor to the Blood by Barb & J. C. Hendee (Noble Dead, series 1, book 4) - I'm hoping to finish this one today or tomorrow and have it reviewed sometime later this week.

Up Next:  Absolutely, Positively by Heather Webber (Lucy Valentine 3) just showed up at the library for me.  I'll probably pick it up tomorrow but I'm not letting myself start reading until I get the other two reviews written.

Books for Review:
I won't be requesting any more books from the library until I get at least a couple of these reviewed.  Not to mention the two shelves on our bedroom bookshelf that are packed with books I already own and want to read.

I love that I will never run out of books that I want to read but sometimes I do with I could read faster so I wouldn't feel so far behind all the time!

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Bookstore links are generally affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Book Blogger Hop 2/25

Book Blogger Hop


Each weekend, Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the Book Blogger Hop.  It is a great way for book lovers and book bloggers to find new book blogs and get to know each other.

This week's question comes from I Read Banned BooksDo you ever wish you had named your blog something different?

Actually sometimes I do.  When I started my blog I really thought I would limit it to books and book related things.  Now though, I would like to expand a little doing reviews of other kinds of products or just some random thoughts.  While I know I can do that under Library Girl Reads, the name doesn't totally fit anymore.  This is why I started my Outside the Library feature so people who only want the book related stuff know they can skip over those posts.

Thanks for hopping by.  If you are new here, I hope you take some time to look around and see what I have to offer.

Upcoming reviews include:
Current Giveaway:  The House of Six Doors by Patricia Selbert (US only, ends 2/25)

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Daemons Are Forever by Simon R. Green

Daemons are Forever (Secret Histories, Book 2)
Title:  Daemons Are Forever
Author:  Simon R. Green
Publisher:  Roc
Publication Date:  June 2009
Format:  Paperback, 432 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Series:  The Secret Histories #2

After bringing down his family in The Man with the Golden Torc, Eddie Drood must now try to rebuild the Drood army to save the world.  Without the Droods keeping world leaders, aliens, demons, and other things that go bump in the night in line, everyone is waiting to see who will make the first move to seize power.  When Eddie decides to make a show of power by attacking the Loathly Ones, he discovers that he is once again in over his head.  Add in a traitor in the Drood family, a cast of very colorful characters, and some time travel and get ready for one wild ride!

I am loving this series!  Green writes with so much humor that I find myself smiling and even laughing out loud while reading.  That is not an easy thing to do when the entire plot focuses on saving the world from an other worldly invasion.

The characters are fantastic.  Each has their own little quirks and they play off each other quite nicely.  Molly and Eddie keep things light on the romantic front with their banter but their actions show a deep commitment to each other.  While a lot of the character interaction seems to take place on the surface, Green does reveal small details that give insights into the characters' pasts.

The action in the book is non-stop.  From trying to bring the family back together and training them to defend themselves without the aid of the golden torc to the first attack on the Loathly ones to the final moments when all hope seems lost, there are few breaks in the action to contemplate decisions.  Green does sneak in some moments of self-reflection and these are a great way to understand the characters' self-doubts and motivations.

The only thing I didn't like about this book is that some parts in the beginning felt very repetitive.  Yes, there needed to be a quick recap of some main events from the first book in order to understand how Eddie came to be the head of the family but I don't think that there needed to be quite as many of those explanations.  Green can be a bit wordy at times but that doesn't really distract from the fast pace of the book.

I would highly recommend reading this series in order.  I'm not sure it would even be understandable any other way.

Daemons Are Forever is part of our personal book collection and no one anywhere had any expectation of a review.

Review of previous book in the series:  The Man with the Golden Torc

Available for Purchase from*:
* All bookstore links are affiliate links and I will earn a small percentage for each item purchased.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

TSS: New Bookstore Affiliates

I have never been comfortable with sales.  I hated selling girl scout cookies as a kid or doing any kind of fundraiser.  I always feel bad asking people to buy something.  It is even harder now because I know how many people are struggling financially.  So when I think about making a little money from my blog I am a bit torn.  There is the feeling that reading and reviewing is something that I am doing because I enjoy it so I shouldn't be thinking about earning any money.  Then there is the idea that I am a stay at home mom with essentially no income except the money that I make from taking surveys so earning at least enough money to cover the cost of shipping out books would really help.  Anything more than that would be a bonus.

So after much thought, I've decided to join some bookstore affiliate programs and just put them out there.  I'm not asking you to purchase anything but if you are interested in any of the books (or other things) that I review, I would really appreciate it if you would consider using one of my links if you decide to make a purchase.



I've been an Amazon.com affiliate for quite a while now.  I've earned a little money but honestly, it has been a pretty small amount.  And that is totally okay!  I never expected to make bundles from this *wink*

I know not everyone likes to shop at Amazon though so I've added some additional options:

Find books fast

AbeBooks.com - Passion for Books Logo (125x125)

IndieBound connects you with a local, independent bookstore which is always a great shopping option!



And I finally have an option for my international readers:

The Book Depository


I will be adding direct links at the end of each review for the stores that have the book for purchase.  I also have links for each of these stores, on my right sidebar.  I do not plan to fill the blog with advertising but I wanted to offer my readers some relevant shopping options.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Book Blogger Hop 2/19

Book Blogger Hop


Each weekend, Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books hosts the Book Blogger Hop.  It is a great way for book lovers and book bloggers to find new book blogs and get to know each other.  I haven't participated in a very long time because I just wasn't finding time to get these posts written.  I'm hoping to jump back in for a bit now though.

This week's question is from a GREAT readWhat book(s) would you like to see turned into a movie?

I would love to see Kim Harrison's Hollows series turned into movies.  These books have such great characters and the stories cover a huge range of emotions.

Thanks for hopping by.  If you are new here, I hope you take some time to look around and see what I have to offer.

Upcoming reviews include:
Current Giveaway:  The House of Six Doors by Patricia Selbert (US only, ends 2/25)

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The House of Six Doors by Patricia Selbert

The House of Six Doors
Title:  The House of Six Doors
Author:  Patricia Selbert
Publisher:  Publishing by the Seas
Publication Date:  February 22, 2011
Format:  Paperback, 330 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Official Website:  http://thehouseofsixdoors.com/

When Mama takes Serena and her sister from their Caribbean island home to the United States, she insists that they will have a better life.  However from the first, things begin to go wrong.  Will they truly find a better life or will Mama's stubbornness and desire for wealth destroy their chances at happiness?

I had a hard time with the beginning of this book.  I could not relate to the character of Mama in any way and I felt so bad for Serena that she and her sister were forced here and there as Mama searched for a way to be successful.  I wasn't bothered by the portrayal of the immigrant who didn't understand how things worked in the United States as much as Mama's reaction to finding out that things were not the way she thought they should be.  She was so loud and harsh, insisting that she was right and everyone else was wrong.  Her attitude drove away so many of the friends who could have helped make the journey easier.

The best part of the book for me was not the time in the United States at all but instead Serena's memories of Curacao.  These memories, especially the ones of Oma, comforted Serena during the difficult times with her mother.  They brought the island color into an otherwise drab existence.  Selbert moves between the present in the United States and the memories of Curacao with ease.

One final difficulty that I had with this book was that it was way too easy to see what was coming.  Events were not foreshadowed as much as they were spelled out.  I think that lessened the impact of the event when it actually happened.

The overall story was interesting once I moved beyond my dislike of Mama and tried to focus on Serena.  Selbert packs a lot of issues into this book so it was a heavier read than I was expecting.

For another perspective, check out some of the other blogs participating in the blog tour:

Chocolate Reality
Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews

I was sent a copy of The House of Six Doors by BookSparks PR in exchange for my honest review and participation in this blog tour.

Giveaway

Thanks to BookSparks PR, I am able to share a copy of The House of Six Doors with one of my readers.

Giveaway Rules:
  • Open to US mailing addresses
  • No PO Boxes
  • Must be over 13 to enter
  • Ends 11:59 PM EST on February 25, 2011
  • Total number of possible entries per person is 3
  • The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be selected
Required Entry:  Leave a comment on this post with a way to contact you if you win.

Extra Entries:
  • +1 Follow with Google Friend Connect or subscribe by email & let me know
  • +1 Promote this giveaway by sharing on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog & leaving me the link
Feel free to leave all entries in one comment.  Good luck!

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

OTL: We Use Coupons

As a stay at home mom, I think part of my job is to manage our family finances responsibly.  Sometimes it feels like my husband's entire pay check just goes toward paying for the house and the routine bills, leaving very little left over for the little extras.

One of the ways that I try to stretch the budget is by using coupons.  I know I have a lot to learn in this area and I haven't figured out how to maximize the savings yet.  This is one of the reasons I like WeUseCoupons.com.  They have so many resources to help me use coupons from Coupon Previews to an awesome coupon database which lets you search for coupons for your favorite products.  The discussion forums are another way to learn from other coupon users experiences.

In February and March, WeUseCoupons is partnering with Operation Troop Aid to send care packages to US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  I love how so many people use coupons to donate extra products to so many different organizations.  If you can help by sending products or a donation, please check out the post on the front page of WeUseCoupons for all the details.

For great video clips about couponing, check out 

WeUseCoupons does offer an affiliate program and I am a member.  I will earn a small amount of money each time an affiliate link on my page takes you to WeUseCoupons.  Signing up for the program was very easy and it takes very little work on my part.  If you would like to become a WeUseCoupons affiliate, please enter librarygirlreads.blogspot.com or 541 in the referral area so I will receive credit.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Monday, February 14, 2011

The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari

The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari
Title:  The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari
Authors:  Donita K. Paul and Evangeline Denmark
Illustrator:  Vincent Nguyen
Publisher:  WaterBrook Press
Publication Date:  January 11, 2011
Format:  Hardcover, 40 pages
Age Group:  4-8
Series:  The Dragon and the Turtle #2
Official Website:  The Dragon and the Turtle

Roger the turtle and Padraig the dragon are having a camping adventure and are determined to spend the entire night outside.  The noises in the night make them nervous but they stick together and invent stories to explain them.  When a smaller animal needs help will they be brave enough to leave the tent and come to the rescue?

The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari is a very cute book.  I absolutely love the illustrations.  Roger and Pedraig are very fun characters.  Although they both get scared during the night, they are able to get past their fears because they are together.  This is a great lesson for kids.  There are lots of potential topics for discussion in the book as well.  The very last page of the book includes a Bible verse and some talking points that can be used with children.

One thing that I did find confusing about this book is that a good portion of it seems to be written in British English.  I have not read the first book in this series, The Dragon and the Turtle, so I don't know if it is written in the same style or if the language used in this book was supposed to be part of the adventure.  Either way, I think the language could really throw off American children with the unfamiliar words and phrases.  I suppose this could be used as another point of discussion.

My daughter is only 2 so this book is a little old for her at this point.  She promptly claimed it when we took it out of the package though, saying "Mine!" and holding it closely.  I actually had to wait for her to take a nap before I could get a good look at it!  Although she enjoys the pictures, we will wait a bit before trying to actually read the story.

I received The Dragon and the Turtle Go On Safari through the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing in exchange for my honest review.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Friday, February 4, 2011

OTL: Mega Swagbucks Friday

Search & Win


The first Friday of each month, I post about Swagbucks.  That is because every Friday means Mega Swagbucks for searching (but I don't want to overwhelm people with reminders every Friday)!  Haven't tried Swagbucks yet?  It is super easy - simply use the Swagbucks search engine to do your normal Internet searching and sometimes you will be rewarded with Swagbucks which can then be redeemed for some great prizes. My theory is that if I'm going to be searching the Internet anyway, I may as well get rewarded for doing it.

My favorite prize is the Amazon.com gift card.  I earned almost $200 in Amazon.com gift cards through Swagbucks last year.  There are also tons of other gift cards available plus you can redeem for various merchandise as well.

On Fridays, Swagbucks gives out more Mega Swagbucks (anything over 10) than usual which means you can earn your desired prizes even faster.  The most I've gotten from one search so far is 59 Swagbucks.  I'd love to hear if one of my readers finds a high value one today or any other day!

Don't forget to check out the Special Offers section and keep an eye out for Swag Codes as well.  Both of those can help those bucks add up!  Daily Polls get you 1 Swagbuck each day and they recently added other trusted survey sites for another option to earn.  The latest option for earning Swagbucks is by watching videos with Swagbucks TV.  You can randomly get rewarded or let your meter fill up for a guaranteed win.  Swagbucks has also added a games section where you can enter tournaments for a chance to win big buck or play for free and get a smaller amount of winnings.

Swagbucks links contained within this post are referral links and I will earn some Swagbucks if you sign up using those links.

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1)
Title:  Magic Bites
Author:  Ilona Andrews
Publisher:  Ace Books
Publication Date:  March 2007
Format:  Paperback, 260 pages
Age Group:  Adult
Series:  Kate Daniels (Book 1)

Kate Daniels lives near and works in Atlanta at a time when magic and technology fight for control of the city.  When the magic is up, anything mechanical refuses to function but the untrained sorcerer can cast a spell and the monsters come out to play.  As the magic ebbs and tech regains a hold, paranormal problems tend to remain.  Kate's job as an independent mercenary is to take care of these problems.  But when her guardian is murdered and she begins to investigate, Kate finds herself in the middle of a very dangerous situation and in way over her head.

I've heard a bit about the Kate Daniels novels here and there and they have been on my 'to read' list for a while now.  I really wasn't looking to start yet another series though because I have so much trouble keeping up with the ones I am already reading.  Then I read the short story A Questionable Client in the anthology Dark and Stormy Knights and I knew I had to start reading this series.

Kate is a great main character.  She is tough yet realizes her own vulnerability.  She has a smart mouth which gets her into more trouble than it gets her out of.  Her sense of humor is dark and twisted which fits perfectly with the tone of the story.  There are many things about Kate that are hidden and we are given small clues throughout the book to a larger story.  I'm really looking forward to learning more about Kate in future books because there seems to be so much more to discover.

The story is intense and moves quickly.  Kate must navigate so much unfamiliar territory in this book and I could feel how unsettled this made her.  Andrews uses great descriptive passages but does not waste words going on excessively.  There are few moments to stop and ponder the larger meaning of events because something is always happening.  This keeps Kate off balance throughout the entire book as just when she thinks she has things figured out something changes and the questions become more than they seemed at first glance.

Another thing that I loved about this book is that the vampires are really creepy.  They are not human in any way and they most definitely do not sparkle.  The were-creatures have some humanity to them since they do have a human form but they are still presented in a darker way than in many books today.  The darkness of the monsters seemed more real than some of the lighter versions we've been seeing in books recently.

I am really looking forward to continuing with this series and seeing what happens to Kate next.  Thanks so much to my in-laws for giving me Magic Bites for Christmas.  No one had any expectation of a review.

Related Post:  My review of Dark and Stormy Knights edited by P.N. Elrod

Note: All opinions provided on this blog are my own. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links and I do earn a small percentage for each item purchased through those links. Any other referral or associate links will be noted within the post.